10 LETTERS TO QILBEBT WHITE 



Northamptonshire, where I have been almost three weeks, & 

 from whence I return'd but yesterday. I may with great Truth 

 return You a Compliment which You made me in a late Letter, 

 that I go to no place which gives me Pleasure, without thinking 

 of, & wishing for You. Our County is remarkeably open, &, 

 consequently very proper for Field Diversions, I think if we 

 were ever again to live there, I should become quite a Country 

 Gentleman bating smoking Tobacco. But I must give you a 

 more particular account of my Expedition : We set out — but 

 you'll hardly forgive ye manner — in our Chair, and proceeded 

 thro' bad weather & Koads to Finedon ye seat of Sr Jno Dolbeu, 

 a handsome House, large, & well furnish'd. His Garden has few 

 other Beauties than it's Situation, & a long shady walk of 650 

 yards, from ye end of which you see 13 Spires. Sr John with 

 ye constant Complaint of ye Stone, & scarce recover'd from a 

 violent Fever, behaves with all ye cheerfulness & Civility of a 

 man studious to please : his Family consisted of his Son, my 

 agreable cosen ; his second Daughter, Mr Afflick of Christchurch 

 a Relation & Curate to Sr Jno, Mr Hind, Dr Grey, who is famous 

 for good Humour & good Sense, my Father & self. We rose 

 every morning between 7 & 8, took a walk, or went a coursing, 

 return'd to Breakfast between 9 & 10, met Sr Jno, for Miss went 

 with us : after Breakfast began a Concert of musick of 8 Hands ; 

 after went to Church where Sr John has put up an Organ, & 

 furnish'd ye rest of ye Church very handsomely. After Church to 

 music again. At two went to Dinner, where there is constantly 

 10 good Dishes ; after Dinner walk'd, or rode — but alas always 

 in ye Chair — 'till tea time : then to Music again, till ye Bell rung 

 for family Prayers about 8 ; then to Supper of 7 Dishes ; at half 

 an Hour after 10 Sr John went to Bed, & we adjourn'd to a 

 little parlour, where we sat laughing till near twelve. This was 

 our way of living for 9 days, after which my Father hurried me 

 away to Twy well, our own House : but I found it ye Ruins of 

 what I left it fourteen years ago. Every thing run to Ruin, the 

 very Rats instinctively had quit it. Here we were visited by 

 Farmers and Parsons, & people hearty, but homely : all ye 

 Elegancy and Delicacy of my late life chang'd ; much Tobacco, 

 much Ale, much noise, & common sense at ye best, but deliver'd 

 with a mighty Emphasis ; & generally ye Sentence begun with 

 " in my opinion." After 4 days we set out for London, & re- 

 turn'd by Northampton, & between making a few visits while I 

 stay'd, & returning a Different Road from what I went, I saw a 

 good deal of ye Country. I'm sure you would like it ; as we 

 walk'd ye Fields, we sprung large Coveys of Partridge & started 

 Hares. I should be glad of a hunting Seat there, merely for 

 your Service ; I call my Father to witness how often I repeat'd 

 " if White was here how happy he'd be ! " 



