| Description | Franckfort Sepr 13 1788
Dear Father
Mislead concerning the departure of the Post I have been obliged to delay writing to you, otherwise I should certainly have taken an earlier opportunity of quieting your anxiety. From Bruxelles, hence, we have had a very agreable journey, fine weather has greatly contributed; at Louvain we met with a Gentleman travelling to Franckfort alone in a chaise, beeing desirous of Company we readily agreed, & thus avoided travelling in a desagreable diligence, with a little augmentation of expence.
Passing so near Spa I could not refrain from turning a little out of the road to see so famous a place, we spent there a forenoon, the situation is beautiful & it possesses every advantage which can render it agreable, but gambling predominates there in such a degree that all other amusements are excluded, this place furnishes to the Bishop of Liege an immense revenue, the spoils of ruined families; from hence we continued our journey without intermission, after you pass Cologne the road goes through the finest Country that it is possible to behold, a fertile plain covered with rich vinyards & bordered with the most romantique hills at the foot of which runs the Rhine, offers a prospect which every traveller must admire.
The day after my arrival I delivered Mr Streiber’s letters according to their respective adresses, the polite & Friendly behaviour which I have met with from the whole familly, will ever be rembered with Gratefulness by your Son. Mr Streiber Senr has furnished us with necessary letters to facilitate our journey from hence to Eisenach where I hope to arrive before the middle of the n[ext ] week, it will be in a time of mourning Mr [Rein]hard having lately lost his wife, howev[er I] do not think it necessary to prolong ou[r stay] here on that account, as he expects [us] daily. I have received your letter with [one for] Mr Reinhard inclosed. Mr Glover & Sta[rtin] sett off to morrow for England they offered to take this letter but I thought it surer to sent it by the Post.
My Kindest Love to my Sister & believe me to be
Your dutiful Son,
Mattw R Boulton |