Mrs. Pendarves to Mrs. Ann Granville. Pall Mall, 7 Feb., 1729-30. My dearest sister knows well how to indulge every sentiment of my heart, and always does in the highest degree heal it when vexed, and doubles all its joys. It is a mistaken notion that speaking to a friend of the affliction they are under adds to their pain-far from it: 'tis a comfort, for when the mind is possessed of any particular object, it is the greatest satisfaction to talk it over, and any other subject is unnatural and irksome. Don't say your advice is not wanting, for when our reason is overwhelmed with the gusts of passion, and unable to exert itself, then a friend's advice is absolutely necessary to support and recal us to a right behaviour; but I would not have you infer from this that I am in great affliction. I am also extremely sorry for my poor aunt, but more grieved at the painful condition she lies in than at the thought of her death; for she has been so miserable a woman ever since she lost Mrs. Tillier, that the world will be no loss to her, though she will be to the world: I have resigned her for some time, and she seems very sensible of her own danger. I must own Sir John gives me great pain; I never saw more tenderness and concern than he shows upon her account, and I really believe he will not long survive her. I am glad you have got Madame de Sevigne's letters. I am afraid they will lose a great deal of their spirit by being translated. You will find they never were intended to be published, by the little odd circumstances often mentioned; but they are so tender that they delight me, and in the French have a great deal of wit. I will send the Japan book to the coffee-house for Mr. Skin, and Timoleon the new play. The news you write of my Lord Carteret' was put in the papers, but I have not heard it confirmed. I have not seen any of the agreeable Percivals a great while, they have sent often to me to come and dine with them, but I have not been able to leave my aunt. You may take all my lovers amongst you, and try what you can make out of them. Let me see, there's first Don Diego, solemn and stately, and if you will take his own word, well read in all arts and sciences. Passive obedience and non-resistance is his text, and the doctrine that he will teach with a vengeance. The next is a deserter; he can be of no use, he was a pretty plaything enough-could sing and dance, but as he has listed under another banner, I strike him out of my list. Now, as for those others laid to my charge I declare myself not guilty. The first in quality is an Adonis in person, but his mind, alas! how idle, how vain! however, he would make a pretty show by a fair lady's side in a fine berline, with six prancing Flanders mares, and as for his domestick behaviour, he would acquit himself as well as most of his neighbours, but as that won't satisfy me, I deliver him over to society, perhaps they will accept of him on his own terms. An alderman, a councillor, and two or three more such odd animals I will send down in a bag together, and you may cast lots for them, they are not worth my wearing. They may do well enough 1 Lord Carteret was, at the date of this letter, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and on the 19th of June of the same year, the usual time of holding that appointment having expired, the Duke of Dorset was appointed to succeed him, and he had no public employment from that time till February, 1742, when he became prime minister. in the country, but they would be as awkward here as if I was to wear a commode.1 but I never see Piggy: she is quite out of my way; she might call upon me, because she has a coach at command. I shall always love her for her civility to you, though considering the pleasure it procured her her merit on that account is not so prodigious; however, I respect her for knowing so well how to bestow her favours. You did not answer about Mrs. Wyndham. Mr. Southwell is a good husband. Allusion is again made in this letter to mental sufferings which of course relate to the cruel desertion of Lord Baltimore, and it is much to be regretted that the letter of Ann Granville on that subject has not been found. From this period a more serious tone pervades the letters of Mrs. Pendarves, whose mind evidently had constantly improved under her trials, and whose character was strengthened and developed in proportion as fortitude was required. Her aunt, Lady Stanley, died the month following the date of the above letter. Her death is thus recorded in the Historical Register: "March 1st, 1730. Dy'd in her apartment at Somerset House, of which palace she was housekeeper, the Lady Stanley, wife of Sir John Stanley, Bart., one of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs. She was sister of George Granville, Lord Lansdown, of Biddiford in the county of Devon." 1 Commode [French]. The head-dress of women. "Let them reflect how they would be affected should they meet with a man on horseback, in his breeches and jack boots, dressed up in a commode and a night rail."-Spectator. "She has contrived to show her principle by the setting of her commode; so that it will be impossible for any woman that is disaffected to be in the fashion."-Addison's Freeholder. She, like some pensive statesman, walks demure, GRANVILLE. |