| Administrative History | See D5430/76/22 for biographical information on Elizabeth Winchester |
| Transcript or Index | Grillons Hotell, London February 15th [1805]
Dear Mother
I received your letter stated January 16th which had been to Castle Howard, and also one since I came to Town, I should have written before this, but when you know how unpleasantly I am situated, I know you will excuse it. I think I told you in one of my letters that the House was not finished, nor is not likely to be for this fortnight, indeed it is only to be made just comfortable that they can live in it this Season, and it is to be completed next year, they say it is all neglect that it is not finished now. I must now tell you that we are at a French Hotell in Albermarle Street, her Grace had taken apartments for them, my lord & lady have a drawing Room, a Bed Room, a Dressing Room for my lord, and two Garrets for which they pay fifteen Guineas a Week, besides an extravagant price for every thing else that they have you can have no Idea how very dirty every thing is, I do not think I ever was more uncomfortable in my life, we never come to Town that we have a House ready to come to, and to think of her grace putting us in a French Hotell, there are only about four or five English people in the House, and I have to Dine and Drink Tea & Sup with such a dirty set of French people, that can scarce speak five words of English that one can understand but the Duchess likes everything that is French, and must give them every encouragement. I am a thousand times worse of here than I was in France in Many respects, I am only a little way from Devonshire House, so that I stop there and beg a bit of supper, almost every Night and dine there when I can the Children are all settled there, so that the Nurses are very Well off, indeed it is only myself that has all the disagreeables to put up with. I have quite made up my Mind to leave my lady I would have gone now, only as she is in the family way again I have consented to stay another year, I am really quite tired of it, we are always living in this uncomfortable way, and my spending my time for fifteen pounds a year, I am determined not to do it any longer, I assure[?] I think it very hard to live as I do, neither getting any thing, or being at all comfortable.
I have seen my Brother several times, he is very Well and gave me a full account of his Visit into Derbyshire, he says he should not like to live there again, it appears so dull and different, after being a Many years in London, I wish he could have stayed a little longer with you. I wonder if I shall ever have an opportunity of coming to stay a little While with you, I do not think the family will come to Chatsworth this year again, but it is a long time till August or September, they may change their Minds before that time. I was very sorry to hear of the Death of poor Sally Greaves, am glad to hear Mrs Greaves bears the loss of her so Well, my Brother thinks Mrs Greaves such a pretty old Woman. Am very sorry to find that Mr Bessley has not yet settled my Uncles Affairs, I hope he will soon, if he does not I suppose Mr Coaker[?] must use means to Make him settle it, I am afraid Mr Thomas Mower is in great distress, I don’t think there ever was such an unfortunate family as we are. Am sorry to hear that my Uncle & Aunt Winchester are so unfortunate again, I wish Lydia had a situation that was likely to suit her, is there none of the Arkwrights that is likely to want a young person, it would be such a disadvantage to her not having been out, that was she to come to London, they would all make that an objection I wish she could get something in the Country for a year or two, and after that it would be very easy to meet with something in London. Am sorry to find you suffer so much from the Cold this Winter, and that your sight is so bad, I hope as the weather gets Warmer that you will find yourself better. There is nothing talk[e]d of in London but Mr Pitts Death and the great change in the Ministry, I wonder if they will do any better than the others did. you would see from the papers that Lord Morpeth has got a place, it is something of the Board of Controul [Control], but I do not know exactly what it will bring him in twelve Hundred a year and nothing hardly to do, I expected he would have had something much greater, he is also one of the Kings privy Counsell that is a great Honor, but nothing more. The Duchess of Devonshire is so busy & I believe very happy that Mr Fox is brought in she is a strange Woman. I suppose they will endeavour to make peace, and then they will be able to go Abroad and to have more of the French here. I should have lik[e]d very much to have seen Lord Nelsons funeral, I believe there never was such a grand sight seen in this Country before, I daresay I should have seen it had I been in Town as they all went from Devonshire House almost, the Duchess had Rooms taken at the Dublin Coffee House, I think they told me the Duke paid forty Guineas for places, I believe people thought nothing of paying Ten & fifteen Guineas for a place at a Window, the people in the City made fortunes almost that day. Mrs Bunting was so fortunate as to have two Tickets to go in to St Pauls made her a present of, she took Mr Lawton with her, and they got to St Pauls at eight in the Morning, the funeral did not Arrive there till between four & five in the Afternoon, Mrs Bunting says she never saw any thing so grand and Solemn as it was, she saw him let down into the Grave. The Coulers were let down with him. Mrs Bunting cannot speak of it without Tears, the sight was so very Affecting, the whole was so Well conducted, that there was as little confusion as possible considering, the Crowed Mrs Bunting was in St Pauls form eight in the Morning till Seven at Night, the Duchess and all the Ladies were Dress[e]d by Six in the Morning, I suppose there never was such a day Remember[e]d as it was, there was thousands of people in the Streets by four in the Morning. Mr Pitt is not Burried yet, I suppose he is to be in a bout a Week, I believe there is great preparations meting[?] but I suppose his funeral will appear nothing to those who saw Lord Nelsons, I am afraid I shall not get to see him lie in State, he is to be Burried by his father in Westminster Abbey. I have forgot to tell you that my Lord cannot give any franks till he is Elected again, by accepting a place under Government, he must be fresh elected, I do not know of he is to go down to Morpeth as if his Agent there can have it done with out his going down, I must therefore beg franks till he is reelected. I shall write a few lines to Mary, but cannot send it in this for fear of it being too heavy. I will thank you to give my Duty to my Father who I hope is Well My love to Mary & Cousin Lydia, Duty to my Aunt when you Write to her. Accept Duty yourself and believe me to be your Dutiful Daughter E Winchester
My Brother said he wrote a few days ago. I will write to Mary to Morrow or next Day. I hope you will let me hear from you soon, you can direct to Park Street as usual you will see by the papers when my lord is returned member again, I suppose it will be in a Week or Ten Days I have not heard anything of Lydia Winchesters friend that was to bring me a letter, when she does I will take care to send it, perhaps she may not find out where we are. |