There are few letters for 1750 in my collection. In July Mrs. Montagu
went to Tunbridge Wells, whilst Mr. Montagu prepared to accept the
invitation of his Huntingdon constituents to the races, etc., held
there. Miss Anstey, who had accompanied Lady Romney[490] to Tunbridge,
remained with Mrs. Montagu for a while. Dr. Conyers Middleton and his
wife not being in good health, went to London to consult physicians.
In June, from Horace Walpole’s letters to George Montagu we learn the
doctor was suffering from jaundice and dropsy, and was much broken in
health. He died on July 28, 1750. In a letter of Mr. Montagu’s, dated
August 4, from London, he says--
“This morning at Vaillante’s the bookseller, I met Dr. Green,[491]
the Regius Professor, who told me the Friday before his death
Dr. Middleton sent for Dr. Plumtree, told him he thought he had
but a very short time to live, desired him freely to tell him his
opinion, which from the knowledge he had of him, he hoped he would
make no scruple to do, upon which the Professor told him he thought
he could live but a few hours; then he asked the Professor if from
his pulse he thought his death would be easy, who answered that he
did. He further told the Professor he had taken Dr. Heberden’s[492]
medicines till he found they did him no good, his case being out
of the Power of Physick. Dr. Green said he had left his niece an
annuity, but did not say what, nor any further about his will. He
was buried at St. Michael’s, Cambridge.”
[490] _Née_ Priscilla Pym, wife of 2nd Baron Romney.
[491] Dr. John Green, born 1706, died 1779; afterwards Bishop of
Lincoln.
[492] Dr. William Heberden, born 1710, died 1801; physician and
author.
Mrs. Montagu mourned sincerely for one who had acted as a grandfather,
a godfather, and an instructor to her.
[Page heading: ANNIVERSARY OF WEDDING-DAY]
Of a splendid letter she wrote to Mr. Montagu on the return of the
anniversary of her wedding-day, August 5, only a few sentences can be
inserted from its length.
“MY DEAREST,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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