England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Epistolary fiction; Essays
You could not have applied for information concerning the report of Sir
George Lesleys Marriage, to any one better able to give it you than I
am. Sir George is certainly married; I was myself present at the
Ceremony, which you will not be surprised at when I subscribe myself
your
Affectionate
Susan Lesley
LETTER the THIRD
From Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss C. LUTTERELL
Lesley Castle February the 16th
I _have_ made my own reflections on the letter you enclosed to me, my
Dear Charlotte and I will now tell you what those reflections were. I
reflected that if by this second Marriage Sir George should have a
second family, our fortunes must be considerably diminushed—that if his
Wife should be of an extravagant turn, she would encourage him to
persevere in that gay and Dissipated way of Life to which little
encouragement would be necessary, and which has I fear already proved
but too detrimental to his health and fortune—that she would now become
Mistress of those Jewels which once adorned our Mother, and which Sir
George had always promised us—that if they did not come into Perthshire
I should not be able to gratify my curiosity of beholding my
Mother-in-law and that if they did, Matilda would no longer sit at the
head of her Father’s table—. These my dear Charlotte were the
melancholy reflections which crowded into my imagination after perusing
Susan’s letter to you, and which instantly occurred to Matilda when she
had perused it likewise. The same ideas, the same fears, immediately
occupied her Mind, and I know not which reflection distressed her most,
whether the probable Diminution of our Fortunes, or her own
Consequence. We both wish very much to know whether Lady Lesley is
handsome and what is your opinion of her; as you honour her with the
appellation of your freind, we flatter ourselves that she must be
amiable. My Brother is already in Paris. He intends to quit it in a few
Days, and to begin his route to Italy. He writes in a most chearfull
manner, says that the air of France has greatly recovered both his
Health and Spirits; that he has now entirely ceased to think of Louisa
with any degree either of Pity or Affection, that he even feels himself
obliged to her for her Elopement, as he thinks it very good fun to be
single again. By this, you may perceive that he has entirely regained
that chearful Gaiety, and sprightly Wit, for which he was once so
remarkable. When he first became acquainted with Louisa which was
little more than three years ago, he was one of the most lively, the
most agreable young Men of the age—. I beleive you never yet heard the
particulars of his first acquaintance with her. It commenced at our
cousin Colonel Drummond’s; at whose house in Cumberland he spent the
Christmas, in which he attained the age of two and twenty. Louisa
Burton was the Daughter of a distant Relation of Mrs. Drummond, who
dieing a few Months before in extreme poverty, left his only Child then
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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