: Cavendish's concern; but fighting must be in the end what Lord Mordant has done can never be put up; nor he will not submit. We conclude nothing but the great earl of Aylesbury can assist this matter: he must come up of necessity. The report of our nursery, I humbly praise God, is very good. Master (her son) improves really, I think, every day. Sure he is a goodly child; the more I see of others, the better he appears I hope God will give him life and virtue misses and their mamma walked yesterday after dinner to see their cousin Alington. Miss Kate wished she might see him*; so I gratified her little person. Unless I see cause to add a note, this is all at this time from yours only entirely, R. RUSSELL. Look to your pockets: a printed paper says you will have fine papers put into them, and then witnesses to swear. LADY R. RUSSELL TO LORD W. RUSSELL. Stratton, 1681. Thursday morning. A MESSENGER, bringing things from Alsford this morning, gives me the opportunity of sending this by the post. If he will leave it at Frimley, it will let you know we are all well; if he does not, it may let such know it as do not care, but satisfy no one's curiosity in any other point; for, having said thus much, I am ready to conclude, * A new born son of Lady Allington's. VOL. V. S the word he has most command of; so was not disobliged by the little fellow. The girls were fine, in remembrance of the happy twenty-ninth of September*; and we drank your health, after a red deer pie; and at night your girls and I supped on a sack posset: nay, master (her son) would have his room; and for haste burnt his fingers in the posset; but he does but rub his hands for it. It is the most glorious weather here that ever was seen. The coach shall meet you at the cabbage garden: be there by eight o'clock, or a little after; though I guess you can hardly be there so soon, day breaks so late; and indeed the mornings are so misty, it is not wholesome to be in the air so early. I do propose going to my neighbour Worsley to-day. I would fain be telling my heart more things-any thing to be in a kind of talk with him; but, I believe, Spencer stays for my dispatch: he was willing to go early; but this was to be the delight of this morning, and the support of the day. It is performed in bed, thy pillow at my back; where thy dear head shall lie, I hope, to-morrow night, and many more, I trust in his mercy, notwithstanding all our enemies or ill wishers. Love, and be willing to be loved by, R. RUSSELL. I have not seen your brother; yet I wish matters go well. Lord Russell's birth-day. LADY R. RUSSELL TO LORD W. RUSSELL. I put We laid Stratton, 20th October, 1681. Saturday night. THE hopes I have, my dearest life, that this will be the concluding epistle, for this time, makes me undertake it with more cheerfulness than my others. We are very busy in preparing, and full of expectation to see a coach come for us: just at twelve this morning I heard one was not altogether so welcome as Mr. Whithead will be: it proved Lady Worsley; but miss, who had me by the hand, would not quit it, but led me to her dinner, and told my Lady Worsley I said I would dine with her; then she would dine there too; and miss consented she should: so we took your table to my chamber, and pleased all parties, I hope, I being so, now it is over. her to work as soon as we had eaten. up all your pears: I intend them to go by Monday's carrier. Your hawks we know not what to do with, but stay they must, I say, till we are gone, and horses come back; but your new dog I hope you will think of, for what to do with him I know not: I have a mind to have him led along with the waggon; for then he will be safe going through towns, and Betty Forster may take care of him at nights; but I hope you will tell us your mind to-morrow, if you can think of any thing but parliamentary affairs. I pray God direct all your consultations there; and, my dearest dear, you guess my mind. A word to the wise. I never longed more earnestly to be with you, for whom I have a thousand kind and grateful thoughts. You know of whom I learned this expression; if I could have found one more fit to speak the passion of my soul, I should send it you with joy; but I submit with great content to imitate, but never shall attain to any equality, except that of sincerity and I will ever be (by God's grace) what I ought, and profess, thy faithful, affectionate, and obedient wife, : R. RUSSELL. I seal not this till Sunday morning, that you might know all is well then. Miss sends me word she is so, and hopes to see papa quickly; so does one more. LADY R. RUSSELL TO LORD W. RUSSELL, Stratton, November, 1681. Monday, ten o'clock. I HAVE felt one true delight this morning already, being just come from our nurseries, and now am preparing for another; these being my true moments of pleasure, till the presence of my dearest life is before my eyes again: how I long for it I will not go about to tell you; nor how I take your abusing me about my perfections: you should leave those things to your brother to say when occasion serves. On Friday, he may know how soon he may be put to his best language *; for Wednesday is the day of trial, and the report to be made on Friday; but now we have choice of old and young. There is a young, handsome, well-natured, discreet gentlewoman, solely at the This seems to have been, either in jest or earnest, some intended proposal of marriage to be made by Mr. James Russell. |