LORD LIEUTENANT AND CUSTOS ROTULORUM IN THE COUNTY OF DERBY

From an engraving by Edward Scriven after G. Hayter, Member of the

The weather has, I told you, been more like summer even than spring, but to-day not quite so fine; 'tis commonly the case when one goes into the country. However I am now only going for a short time till Thursday at furthest. Farewell and Heaven preserve you.1

The Hon. Mrs. Damer to Mary Berry

STRAWBERRY HILL, Wednesday, April 20, 1803.

I must not forget to tell you that you are by two shillings a week further from ruin than I announced as, on enquiry, your two horses are only to pay eight shillings per week at Bushey Park, and your Gardener says that at home they cost ten now for hay and straw. The weather, as I told you in my last, seemed inclined to change, and since I came it has been a positive storm from the North West. This and other reasons among which, and not least, is the chance of finding a letter from you there, has determined me to go to town this evening instead of to-morrow morning. I shall be as quiet in my room in town, I think, for this evening as no one knows I came, and it will give me time, a commodity I want, as I mean to return on Saturday.

London, Wed. evening.-I was interrupted by the carriage being at the door. I found no letter from you here but one from Mrs. Cholmeley, who wants a direction of you, and one from Lady Douglas who encloses a letter to be sent to you, also not knowing where to direct, and desiring that I would inform her when I hear that your plans are "finally settled." I am sure for the latter request she ought to send a recipe.

Parliament met yesterday but the same mystery is kept up. Not a word from Ministry, only an exhausted "hope" (that is his word) from the Chancellor of the

1 Add. MSS. 37727, f. 58.

Exchequer that in a few days he should have it in his power to make a communication, &c. &c.

You are, of course, in the same agreeable state of uncertainty that I am, and really, it does grow quite tiresome. By what you say, however, should you not have any positive certainty before your intended time for leaving Nice, still I think you will move on and particularly as, upon the whole, peace seems the most probable. I wish, as I said, it may be to Geneva or de ces côtés, and as they are to facilitate your plans, that the Greatheads may meet you there. I cannot think you would want Spa, nor do I think it likely this year to be a place that would much suit you,-in point of society, I mean, as from obvious causes, foreigners cannot be driving, as they did formerly, from all quarters of Europe to take les amusements as well as les eaux de Spa. And as to the place itself, I believe, whenever you do see it, you will think it as little worth seeing as I do. But all this is mere conversation. Your plans will be made and formed, and so I would have them, before you even read these remarks, and what is more, these plans will be made and formed most probably, not exactly as you yourself would have them. You must do the best you can-I only hope it may be "the best" also for yourself. As you talked of commissions I would have you observe that I shall on my way to you probably go by Paris and will execute any for you there that you may think me capable of executing. I own I am not of Agnes's mind in that, for to Paris I always like going, and have never yet, without some reason that made me anxious to be in England, desired to come away. Good-night, for I must leave some blank paper, to be filled I hope in answer to a letter from you.

1 Henry Addington was Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as First Lord of the Treasury.

Friday, April 22.

I have been disappointed in still receiving no letter from you since the 14th and you not having been so well and comfortable of late, and my wish to hear more of your plans (conditional plans in case of peace, I mean) makes me more anxious. I shall still despatch this to Aix. The last, I believe, would have found you still at Nice, but I follow orders in these cases. I also send Lady Douglas's, not knowing what better to do with it, and one post is already lost by my having been out of town when she sent it here. I have had too a letter from Mrs. William Lamb with the same sort of enquiry and want of direction.

There seems now to be every favourable symptom of the present continuance of peace, and this I think you will have known as soon nearly as I can.

Do not let anything I said about Spa weigh in the least. If I thought you would, I should not have said. it, and after all, it is seeing you again and being again with you, my only earthly comfort, that can really signify to me, and as to Brussels, on reflection it might prove a better place to us all, taking in all circumstances, than I at first considered it. The constant resource of a Theatre, always pretty good there, is all I ever want by way of amusement, and our mornings might be differently disposed according to our different tastes, without interfering with each other. We were last night talking this over together, Madame de Staremberg and I. Her joke about Brussels was as you saw, supposing you "Mondaines."

I have been seeing Mr. Lucan this morning and settling about having my carriage ready and the little matters necessary done and a seat put on for dear good James, who would break his heart if he did not go with me. Pray think seriously about Constable,