| Description | (Postmarked 8 Feb.)
My dear Nanny
To my great surprise as well as reluctance I find my self yet in London & although I have labord most assiduously to get out of this filthy City yet nevertheless I find I have many engagements & much business yet unfinished; so that I cannot pretend to fix a day for my departure however you may be assured that I am as much tired of London as any fine Lady ever was of the Country but my desires to embrace my dear ones at Soho is still a stronger Motive & wither my business is done or not I will certainly leave this place by ye middle of the week
I had no sooner recvd. & paid for your Etruscan Cap, Muff & gauzes but I recvd. ye news of the Princess dowagers death however every thing will do for second mourning except ye Cap & that will keep untill ye mourning is over
I was at ye Pantheon on Wednesday night when all the world was there as youl see by ye newspapers by wch. I encreased my Cold & Cant sleep for coughing & on Thursday night our Neighbour Sands kept his Wedding & gave a dance to a great number of his aquaintance which with the fiddles hautboys & Tabor & Pipe kept up a perpetual rally all night untill 6 o Clock in the Morng. so that although I wanted Sleep yet it was impossable to get one wink for you must know that I lye in the back room as one Mr Greg lyes where you & I did. After the dance was over they all sung Songs untill about 8 in ye Morning—such is the tast of the Sober Cityzens
The King & Queen sat up all last night with the Dowager & are under great afflictions at her death. It is supposed there will be 6 Weeks mourning & 6 Weeks Second Mourning. It wi[ll] be a real mourning to many of the Silk Mercers & to ye Spittle fields Workmen. & it will also be some disapointment to me in my new Buttons The Play Bills were taken down again to day & no diversions will be open next week
I am obliged to write to derby & two others letters so that I shall not have time to write to Mrs Fothergill to night to whom & Family make my Compliments & likewise to ye Doctor
Kiss my little folks dearly & say Pappa loves ’em
adieu god bless you & good night my dear Nanny adieu
[Address-label:] To / Mrs. Boulton / at Soho near / Birmingham |