1784 SIK S. STUAET'S PEDIGREE 117 



Sunday and yesterday were fine days, during which most 

 of the snow was melted, except under the hedges of the 

 uplands. As I recollect that the havock among the ever- 

 greens about town was great, I was surprized to see how 

 well mine have escaped. My crocus's, retarded a month by 

 the severity of the season, are now in high beauty, and 

 make a glowing appearance. My hepaticas are also fine. 

 There is a good appearance for the bloom of wall-fruit. 

 My Persian Iris's given me by your father, blow well : but 

 stocks and wall-flowers are killed. Thomas has saved many 

 lettuces. 



I now see why the late Sir S. Stuart* thought he had 

 pretensions to the Viscountcy of Purbeck. His maternal 

 Grandfather, Sir Eichard Dereham of Dereham - abbey, 

 married the Hon. Frances Villiers, the eldest daughter 

 of Eobert, Viscount Purbeck, who left no son. By this 

 lady Sir Eichard Dereham had two children, Sir Thomas 

 Dereham and the late Lady Stuart. Sir Thomas dying 

 unmarried at Eome in 1739, Lady Stuart became sole 

 heir to her Brother Sir Thomas Dereham. So that if Sir 

 S. Stuart had any claim, it was through his mother Eliz. 

 Dereham, who was Grand -daughter to Eobert, Viscount 

 Purbeck. 



Mrs. Yalden has got a bad cough and cold, caught by her 

 attention to poor Mrs. Etty, who has been in great distress 

 indeed. As to Mr. Etty, I can give but a bad account of 

 him. He got home from Alton on Monday se'nnight, as 

 well as could be expected ; but was seized the next day with 

 a delirious fever that deprived him of his reason for some 

 time : however, thank God, he is become very calm, has had 

 some fine sleep, and is much better. A great quantity of 

 blains are now come out over his body and limbs. Mrs. 

 Etty has the satisfaction to have with her Mrs. Stebbing 



* Of Hartley House, near Selborne. 

 V 



