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not rooms, we were conducted into a very gaudy little apart- 
ment, where the master of the house sat,” “as if in con- 
templation, though everything conspired to show that the 
house and its inhabitants were carefully arranged for our 
reception. Mr. Ferry started from his pensive attitude and 
begged us to be seated,”’ and for the entertainment of his guests 
displayed the perhaps puerile wonders (chiefly mechanical), he 
evicently delighted in, providing also ‘‘ a repast of cakes, sweet- 
meats, oranges and jellies.”” ‘‘ The sights occasioned us a good 
merry walk hcme”’ through the Bathwick meadows, “ indeed 
we laughed all the way, and thought but little how time went, 
till we were again crossing the Avon.’”’ Some days later she 
attended a Public Breakfast at Spring-Gardens. 
Volatile Miss Burney, laughing at the hospitality shewn the 
party at Bathwick Villa in 1780, as Mme. D’Arblay nearly 
sixty years later, was laid to rest in Walcot cemetery, within 
sight of the villa standing then not a quarter of a mile away 
“across the Avon.” 
As for Alderman James Ferry, he may well have sat in 
“pensive attitude,” at the time of the visit described. He was 
of advanced age, and the house and grounds were then heavily 
mortgaged. For some years he had occupied the position of 
City Chamberlain; being removed from office in September, 
1780, early in 1782 he was declared to be unable to pay 
the balance due to the city of his accounts as Chamberlain. 
He forthwith resigned his position as Alderman, etc., and was 
then granted by the Corporation ‘‘ an Annuity of One Hundred 
Pounds tax free.” 
On April 8th, 1782, was offered at auction, 
“ All that new-built House and Garden, situated at Bath- 
wick, now in the possession of Mr. Ferry—commanding 
many beautiful views of Bath and the country circumjacent.— 
The Gardens consist of about an acre and a quarter, laid out in 
modern taste, with serpentine gravel walks, valuable 
shrubbery, evergreens, fishponds, bridges, fruit trees in the 
highest perfection.—The distance is only 1151 measured 
yards from Bath Market to the Garden gate, and further 
distance to the Public Rooms is very inconsiderable.”’ 
In July, 1783, an advertisement states :— 
“ Bathwick Villa. The Nobility and Gentry are respectfully 
informed that the delightful Villa and pleasant Gardens, late the 
seat of James Ferry, Esq: Will on Thursday the toth Instant be 
opened for Tea, Coffee, &c. A Subscription is taken at the Bar 
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