I am rather vexed than disappointed at the delays of the formal Mr.
Bricknall. All men of business are like him when they know you
cannot easily get out of their hands. Mr. Newton in town, tho' far
preferable to old Southouse, is full of delays and avocations. I
press him as much as I can to get through the Writings, and hope you
will be so good as to do the same both in your own name and in mine
with the aforesaid Bricknall.
You know that the country merely in itself has no charms for me,
and I do not see _that as yet_ my presence can be of any use. I
therefore propose staying here the remainder of the month; towards
the middle of it I shall see my friend Holroyd, who is obliged upon
some particular business to make the tour of Ireland, Scotland and
Yorkshire,[141] but who will certainly be at Beriton, as the active
little man writes me word, by the end of June. By that time I hope
we may persuade Mr. Scott to make us a visit, which may in many
respects be of use. In the mean time I am only concerned at the
solitary life you lead there, and though nobody that I know possesses
more resources against the complaint of Ennui, yet I could wish
you had more living company than Sir John Dalrymple. Surely Mrs.
or at least Miss Roberts could come over. In the mean time I have
sent you Robertson's book,[142] in which I think you will find much
entertainment and information.
Mrs. Eliott, with whom I dined yesterday, told me she had just
wrote to you. I suppose she acquainted you with the doubtful tho'
pleasing suspense they are in since Colonel Nugent's death.[143] We
are _amazing_ friends, and I am actually employed in fishing out
intelligence for them, by the means of my connections with Lord
Berkeley.
I am, with best _Wishes_ to William,
Dear Madam,
Most truly yours,
E. G.
[141] Mr. Holroyd owned property in Ireland, and at Greave Hall,
near Ferrybridge, in Yorkshire.
[142] William Robertson (1721-1793) published in 1758 his
_History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary and James
VI._, and in 1769 his _History of the Reign of the Emperor
Charles the Fifth_.
[143] Lieutenant-Colonel Nugent, of the 1st Foot Guards, son to
Viscount Clare, and groom of the bedchamber to the king, died at
Bath, April 26, 1771. The Eliots were connected with Lord Clare
through the Craggs family.
[Sidenote: THE PRICE OF WHEAT.]
106.
_To his Stepmother._
May the 13th, 1771.