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and I'm afraid he will leave it off The first day we came to
Bath； he fell into a violent passion； beat two black…a…moors； and
I was afraid he would have fought with their master； but the
stranger proved a peaceable man。 To be sure； the gout had got
into his head； as my aunt observed； but； I believe； his passion
drove it away； for he has been remarkably well ever since。 It is
a thousand pities he should ever be troubled with that ugly
distemper； for； when he is free from pain； he is the best
tempered man upon earth； so gentle； so generous； so charitable；
that every body loves him； and so good to me； in particular； that
I shall never be able to shew the deep sense I have of his
tenderness and affection。
Hard by the Pump…room； is a coffee…house for the ladies； but my
aunt says； young girls are not admitted； insomuch as the
conversation turns upon politics； scandal； philosophy； and other
subjects above our capacity； but we are allowed to accompany them
to the booksellers' shops； which are charming places of resort；
where we read novels； plays； pamphlets； and newspapers； for so
small a subscription as a crown a quarter； and in these offices
of intelligence （as my brother calls them） all the reports of the
day； and all the private transactions of the Bath； are first
entered and discussed。 From the bookseller's shop； we make a tour
through the milliners and toymen； and commonly stop at Mr Gill's；
the pastry…cook； to take a jelly； a tart； or a small bason of
vermicelli。 There is； moreover； another place of entertainment on
the other side of the water； opposite to the Grove； to which the
company cross over in a boat It is called Spring…garden； a
sweet retreat； laid out in walks and ponds； and parterres of
flowers； and there is a long…room for breakfasting and dancing。
As the situation is low and damp； and the season has been
remarkably wet； my uncle won't suffer me to go thither； lest I
should catch cold： but my aunt says it is all a vulgar prejudice；
and； to be sure； a great many gentlemen and ladies of Ireland
frequent the place； without seeming to be the worse for it。 They
say； dancing at Spring…gardens； when the air is moist； is
recommended to them as an excellent cure for the rheumatism。 I
have been twice at the play； where； notwithstanding the
excellence of the performers； the gayety of the company； and the
decorations of the theatre； which are very fine； I could not help
reflecting； with a sigh； upon our poor homely representations at
Gloucester But this； in confidence to my dear Willis You
know my heart； and will excuse its weakness。
After all； the great scenes of entertainment at Bath； are the two
public rooms； where the company meet alternately every evening。
They are spacious； lofty； and； when lighted up； appear very
striking。 They are generally crowded with well…dressed people；
who drink tea in separate parties； play at cards； walk； or sit
and chat together； just as they are disposed。 Twice a…week there
is a ball； the expence of which is defrayed by a voluntary
subscription among the gentlemen； and every subscriber has three
tickets。 I was there Friday last with my aunt； under the care of
my brother； who is a subscriber； and Sir Ulic Mackilligut
recommended his nephew； captain O Donaghan； to me as a partner；
but Jery excused himself； by saying I had got the head…ach； and；
indeed； it was really so； though I can't imagine how he knew it。
The place was so hot； and the smell so different from what we are
used to in the country； that I was quite feverish when we came
away。 Aunt says it is the effect of a vulgar constitution； reared
among woods and mountains； and； that as I become accustomed to
genteel company； it will wear off。 Sir Ulic was very
complaisant； made her a great many high…flown compliments； and；
when we retired； handed her with great ceremony to her chair。 The
captain； I believe； would have done me the same favour； but my
brother seeing him advance； took me under his arm； and wished him
good night。 The Captain is a pretty man； to be sure； tall and
strait； and well made； with light…grey eyes； and a Roman nose；
but there is a certain boldness in his look and manner； that puts
one out of countenance But I am afraid I have put you out of
all patience with this long unconnected scrawl； which I shall
therefore conclude； with assuring you； that neither Bath； nor
London； nor all the diversions of life； shall ever be able to
efface the idea of my dear Letty； from the heart of her ever
affectionate
LYDIA MELFORD
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
DEAR MOLLY JONES；
Heaving got a frank； I now return your fever； which I received by
Mr Higgins； at the Hot Well； together with the stockings； which
his wife footed for me； but now they are of no survice。 No body
wears such things in this place O Molly！ you that live in the
country have no deception of our doings at Bath。 Here is such
dressing； and fidling； and dancing； and gadding； and courting and
plotting O gracious！ if God had not given me a good stock of
discretion； what a power of things might not I reveal； consarning
old mistress and young mistress； Jews with beards that were no
Jews； but handsome Christians； without a hair upon their sin；
strolling with spectacles； to get speech of Miss Liddy。 But she's
a dear sweet soul； as innocent as the child unborn。 She has tould
me all her inward thoughts； and disclosed her passion for Mr
Wilson； and that's not his name neither； and thof he acted among
the player…men； he is meat for their masters； and she has gi'en
me her yallow trollopea； which Mrs Drab； the mantymaker； says
will look very well when it is scowred and smoaked with silfur
You knows as how； yallow fitts my fizzogmony。 God he knows what
havock I shall make among the mail sex； when I make my first
appearance in this killing collar； with a full soot of gaze； as
good as new； that I bought last Friday of madam Friponeau； the
French mullaner Dear girl； I have seen all the fine shews of
Bath； the Prades； the Squires； and the Circlis； the Crashit； the
Hottogon； and Bloody Buildings； and Harry King's row； and I have
been twice in the Bath with mistress； and na'r a smoak upon our
backs； hussy。 The first time I was mortally afraid； and flustered
all day； and afterwards made believe that I had got the heddick；
but mistress said； if I didn't go I should take a dose of
bumtaffy； and so remembering how it worked Mrs Gwyllim a
pennorth； I chose rather to go again with her into the Bath； and
then I met with an axident。 I dropt my petticoat； and could not
get it up from the bottom。But what did that signify； they
mought laff but they could see nothing； for I was up to the sin
in water。 To be sure； it threw me into such a gumbustion； that I
know not what I said； nor what I did； nor how they got me out；
and rapt me in a blanket Mrs Tabitha scoulded a little when we
got home； but she knows as I know what's what Ah Laud help you！
There is Sir Yury Micligut； of Balnaclinch； in the cunty of
Kalloway I took down the name from his gentleman； Mr 0 Frizzle；
and he has got an estate of fifteen hundred a year I am sure he
is both rich and generousBut you nose； Molly； I was always
famous for keeping secrets； and so he was very safe in trusting
me with his flegm for mistress； which； to be sure is very
honourable； for Mr 0 Frizzle assures me； he values not her
portion a brass varthing And； indeed； what's poor ten thousand
pounds to a Baron Knight of his fortune？ and； truly； I told Mr 0
Frizzle that was all she had trust to As for John Thomas； he's a
morass fellor I vow； I thought he would a fit with Mr 0 Frizzle；
because he axed me to dance with him at Spring Garden But God he
knows I have no thoughts eyther of wan or t'other。
As for house news； the worst is； Chowder has fallen off greatly
from his stomick He cats nothing but white meats； and not much
of that； and wheezes； and seems to be much bloated。 The doctors
think he is threatened with a dropsy Parson Marrofat； who has
got the same disorder； finds great benefit from the waters； but
Chowder seems to like them no better than the squire； and
mistress says； if his case don't take a favourable turn； she will
sartinly carry him to Aberga'ny； to drink goat's whey To be
sure； the poor dear honymil is lost for want of axercise； for
which reason； she intends to give him an airing once a…day upon
the Downs； in a post…chaise I have already made very creditable
connexions in this here place； where； to be sure； we have the
very squintasense of satiety Mrs Patcher； my lady Kilmacullock's
woman； and I are sworn sisters。 She has shewn me all her secrets；
and learned me to wash gaze； and refrash rusty silks and
bumbeseens； by boiling them with winegar； chamberlye； and stale
beer。 My short sack and apron luck as good as new from the shop；
and my pumpydoor as fresh as a rose； by the help of turtle…water
But this is all Greek and Latten to you； Molly If we should
come to Aberga'ny； you'll be within a day's ride of us； and then
we shall see wan another； please God If not； remember me in your
prayers； as I shall do by you in mine； and take care of my
kitten； and give my kind sarvice to Sall；