1. From George, 1st Lord Lyttleton.
2. From Rev John ‘Orator’ Henley.
5. From George James (‘Gilly’)Williams..
8. From Madame La Marquise de Stainville.
9. From Charles Townshend, n.d..
15. From Mr. Rogers
Selwyn: Letter from Lady Diana Spencer, Letter 3
Selwyn led a very social life and spent much of his time travelling around England and France, just socialising. One of his most frequent correspondents and to whom he made visits was the writer of these two letters. Lady Di was also a socialite who had many friends to visit and obligations to travel to as shown by these letters.
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The letter reads:
”No 4 Russel Street
Wednesday 13
I have just taken a House for you in one of the most airy situations in Bath, it must be taken for a Month certain & as much longer as you please. I thought this wou'd be no objection, as it is so good a House & as it grows very difficult to get good Houses. Mr Wade found it out for me & says it belongs to a Gentleman & is proud of having got it so cheap 5 guineas a week which is at least a Guinea cheaper than he would have got it had it ever been let before. In short the Gentleman is a dove for the furniture is the best in Bath. In consideration of all this Mr Wade says he hopes if the furniture should be spoil'd (by Italian nastiness) something will be given when you go you make amends. I have been too ill to go out today therefore was oblig'd to trust to Mr Wade about the House, indeed he is a better judge than I am. There is another circumstance which I hope is no objection that it is within a few doors of us, for we were oblig'd to leave the South Parade, it was so intollerably (sic) close & stinking & we are now in Russel Street near the Circus your house is in Bennet Street close by.
The House consists of 2 rooms & a small one for a servt below, 2 rooms over that & very good Bed Chambers over that & 4 Garrets over all. Mr Wade says they are very good rooms and the cleanest best furnish'd House in the Town. The offices etc are good also. They also provide you with Linnen remarkably good. You pay the washing. There are Beds at present in one of the Ground floor parlours & one in the first floor but they will take them away or change them as you desire.
I am quite out of Breath for I never did so much business in my life before or write so long a letter. If after all you show disapprove of what I have done I shall be in a fine fidget. So my poor little girls have the Chicken Pox. When do you come? pray let me know; Fires are order'd in your House that it may be quite air'd; it will be ready to receive you immediately.
Part of this letter was dictated by Mr Wade, part by my footman, part by my maid which makes an agreeable mixture of . I hope you like it. Mr B: [Beauclerk] is not at all well his pains return'd - I am very disinterested you must allow in taking this House direct for by that means I can have no hopes of Mary & Eliz: coming here.
You will be very ingenious if you can decipher this letter, I can not. “
