England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Epistolary fiction; Essays
We arrived here my sweet Freind about a fortnight ago, and I already
heartily repent that I ever left our charming House in Portman-square
for such a dismal old weather-beaten Castle as this. You can form no
idea sufficiently hideous, of its dungeon-like form. It is actually
perched upon a Rock to appearance so totally inaccessible, that I
expected to have been pulled up by a rope; and sincerely repented
having gratified my curiosity to behold my Daughters at the expence of
being obliged to enter their prison in so dangerous and ridiculous a
manner. But as soon as I once found myself safely arrived in the inside
of this tremendous building, I comforted myself with the hope of having
my spirits revived, by the sight of two beautifull girls, such as the
Miss Lesleys had been represented to me, at Edinburgh. But here again,
I met with nothing but Disappointment and Surprise. Matilda and
Margaret Lesley are two great, tall, out of the way, over-grown, girls,
just of a proper size to inhabit a Castle almost as large in comparison
as themselves. I wish my dear Charlotte that you could but behold these
Scotch giants; I am sure they would frighten you out of your wits. They
will do very well as foils to myself, so I have invited them to
accompany me to London where I hope to be in the course of a fortnight.
Besides these two fair Damsels, I found a little humoured Brat here who
I beleive is some relation to them, they told me who she was, and gave
me a long rigmerole story of her father and a Miss _Somebody_ which I
have entirely forgot. I hate scandal and detest Children. I have been
plagued ever since I came here with tiresome visits from a parcel of
Scotch wretches, with terrible hard-names; they were so civil, gave me
so many invitations, and talked of coming again so soon, that I could
not help affronting them. I suppose I shall not see them any more, and
yet as a family party we are so stupid, that I do not know what to do
with myself. These girls have no Music, but Scotch airs, no Drawings
but Scotch Mountains, and no Books but Scotch Poems—and I hate
everything Scotch. In general I can spend half the Day at my toilett
with a great deal of pleasure, but why should I dress here, since there
is not a creature in the House whom I have any wish to please. I have
just had a conversation with my Brother in which he has greatly
offended me, and which as I have nothing more entertaining to send you
I will gave you the particulars of. You must know that I have for these
4 or 5 Days past strongly suspected William of entertaining a
partiality to my eldest Daughter. I own indeed that had _I_ been
inclined to fall in love with any woman, I should not have made choice
of Matilda Lesley for the object of my passion; for there is nothing I
hate so much as a tall Woman: but however there is no accounting for
some men’s taste and as William is himself nearly six feet high, it is
not wonderful that he should be partial to that height. Now as I have a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account