11 October 1813 – Monday – from Godmersham Park

You will have Edward’s Letter tomorrow.  He tells me that he did not send you any news to interfere with mine, but I do not think there is much for anybody to send at present.  We had our dinner party on Wedy with the addition of Mrs & Miss Milles who were under a promise of dining here in their return from Eastwell whenever they paid their visit of duty there, & it happened to be paid on that day.– Both Mother & Daughter are much as I have always found them.– I like the Mother, 1st because she reminds me of Mrs Birch & 2dly because she is chearful & grateful for what she is at the age of 90 & upwards.– The day was pleasant enough.  I sat by Mr Chisholme & we talked away at a great rate about nothing worth hearing.– It was a mistake as to the day of the Sherers going being fixed; they are ready but are waiting for Mr Paget’s answer.–

I enquired of Mrs Milles after Jemima Brydges & was quite grieved to hear that she was obliged to leave Canty some months ago on account of her debts & is nobody knows where.– What an unprosperous Family!– On saturday soon after breakfast Mr J.P. left us for Norton Court.– I like him very much.– He gives me the idea of a very amiable young Man, only too diffident to be so agreable as he might be.– He was out the cheif of each morng with the other two– shooting & getting wet through.– Tomorrow we are to know whether he & a hundred young Ladies will come here for the Ball.– I do not much expect any.–

The Deedes’ cannot meet us, they have Engagements at home.  I will finish the Deedes’ by saying that they are not likely to come here till quite late in my stay — the very last week perhaps — & I do not expect to see the Moores at all.– They are not solicited till after Edward’s return from Hampshire.  Monday, Nov:r 15th is the day now fixed for our setting out.–

Poor Basingstoke Races!– there seem to have been two particularly wretched days on purpose for them;– & Weyhill week does not begin much happier.– We were quite surprised by a Letter from Anna at Tollard Royal last Saturday–but perfectly approve her going & only regret they should all go so far, to stay so few days.  We had Thunder & Lighteng here on Thursday morng between 5 & 7 — no very bad Thunder, but a great deal of Lightg — It has given the commencement of a Season of wind & rain; & perhaps for the next 6 weeks we shall not have two dry days together.–

Lizzy is very much obliged to you for your Letter & will answer it soon, but has so many things to do that it may be four or five days before she can.  This is quite her own message, spoken in rather a desponding tone.– Your Letter gave pleasure to all of us, we had all the reading of it of course, I three times— as I undertook to the great relief of Lizzy, to read it to Sackree, & afterwards to Louisa.– Sackree does not at all approve of Mary Doe & her nuts– on the score of propriety rather than health.– She saw some signs of going after her in George & Henry, & thinks if you could give the girl a check, by rather reproving her for taking anything seriously about nuts which they said to her, it might be of use.– This, of course, is between our three discreet selves– a scene of triennial bliss.–

Mrs Britton called here on Saturday. I never saw her before. She is a large, ungenteel Woman, with self-satisfied & would-be elegant manners.– We are certain of some visitors tomorrow; Edward Bridges comes for two nights in his way from Lenham to Ramsgate & brings a friend — name unknown — but supposed to be a Mr Harpur, a neighbouring Clergyman; & Mr R. Mascall is to shoot with the young Men, which it is to be supposed will end in his staying dinner.– On Thursday, Mr Lushington MP. for Canterbury & Manager of the Lodge Hounds, dines here & stays the night.– He is cheifly Young Edward’s acquaintance.– If I can, I will get a frank from him & write to you all the sooner.

I suppose the Ashford Ball will furnish something.– As I wrote of my nephews with a little bitterness in my last, I think it particularly incumbent on me to do them justice now, & I have great pleasure in saying that they were both at the Sacrament yesterday.  After having much praised or much blamed anybody, one is generally sensible of something just the reverse soon afterwards.  Now, these two Boys who are out with the Foxhounds will come home & disgust me again by some habit of Luxury or some proof of sporting Mania — unless I keep it off by this prediction.– They amuse themselves very comfortably in the Eveng— by netting; they are each about a rabbit net, & sit as deedily to it, side by side, as any two Uncle Franks could do.– I am looking over Self Control again, & my opinion is confirmed on its’ being an excellently-meant, elegantly-written Work, without anything of Nature or Probability in it.  I declare I do not know whether Laura’s passage down the American River, is not the most natural, possible, every-day thing she ever does.–

[To be continued on the following day, Tuesday 12th October]