| Description | Dear Father,
I had begun a letter to you at Franckfort, but was, during our short stay in that town, so taken up with visiting and seeing the curiosities which that place affords at present, as not to be able to finish it. I have therefore profited of the first opportunity of giving you some news of our proceedings.
In company of Mr. Reinhard I had a most agreeable journey from Eisenach to Franckfort, and can assure hitherto it has so perfectly agreed with me that I hope at my arrival in England to have lost every unhealthy appearance. We spent four days at Franckfort in the greatest bustle: it is extremely full of strangers, and stars and bobbaus glitter in every corner. The day of election is fixed, and Leopold, the succeeding emperor, is expected in a fortnight. The fair has more suffered than profited from the awaited festivity, and particular[l]y those citizens in whose houses the ambassadors are lodged; they are obliged to let them their best appartments at a price fixed under the reign of Charles 6, and consequently very inequivalent to the present value. The pomp displayed hitherto is nothing remarkable; one sees much more elegant equipages at a birth day in London.
Mr. Reinhard departed from Franckfort at the same time as we; I have, in parting from him, left an excellent friend, and whose conduct to me during my stay in this country has been such as to intitle him to the warmest gratefullness and aknowledgement from my side. I have, according to your wishes, defrayed his expences upon our journey and during his stay in Franckfort; but he absolutely refused my offer of paying expences back, and in such a manner as to convince me that it would offend him to insist upon it. Mr. Streiber has remitted him upon your account £11. 10. for my board at his house this last time.
We have, during our stay in Franckfort, recieved the greatest civilities from Mr. Streiber’s friends and relations here; they all extreemly wish his son would return home.
I have recieved for our journey 50 Carolines, and Mr. Streiber desires me to inform you that he intends drawing upon Mr. Matthews for 50£ sterling. As he had not my account with him at Franckfort he could [not] know precise sum, and therefore begs, in case the amount due him should not be so much, you would nevertheless give Mr. Matthews orders to honour his drawft, and he will upon his return to Eisenach, settle the rest of the account.
May God continue to give us such fine weather, and I hope soon to embrace you in good health and spirits. Remember [me] kindly to my sister, and compliments to all friends at Soho.
I remain your dutiful son,
Mattw. R. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |