_To Lady Maclairn, from Mrs. Serge._
Putney, June the 9th.
“My dear cousin.”
This letter will surprise you I dare say; and, it may be, puzzle you,
unless you remember your giddy Lydia Hatchway; but old love with me
is not forgot, though so many years have passed since we last met.
However, I doubt not but as Mrs. Serge, you will still acknowledge
your former friend; and trusting to this hope, I sat down to inform
you of my intentions to renew the hintercourse so long interrupted by
various hevents. The bad state of health of my eldest girl have, for
a long time, been a great affliction to Mr. Serge as well as myself.
We have tried Bath, and consulted several doctors without gaining any
advantage. We are now advised by a very clever young man, whom my Jerry
meets frequently at his horacle’s, a Counsellor Steadman’s, to trust
to her youth and change of air; and it is determined that this summer
shall be given to journeying. Thank God, my Jerry is a hindependent
man, having given up business, with a very _heasy_ fortune, so we
have no cares about _hexpences_; but we have been for a time quite
undetermined in regard to the road we should take. I was for the
_tower_ of Norfolk; but I have been out-voted. My daughter Nora, who
has just left her school in ---- square, talkes much of the beauties
of _Vales_, and have bought a set of prints to shew us; but I am not
willing to leave England, and with a sick person it vould be very
improper to go to a place vhere the people do not understand English;
so Vales is out of the question. But Nora talks much, at present, of
some lakes in your part of the world, which it seems, are _wisited_
by every person of taste; and although I never heard of them before,
I am much inclined to indulge her with a sight of them, as I can, at
the same time, gratify my wish of seeing your ladyship. My husband
highly approve of this plan; but fear that you will not relish so many
_hintruders_, even for a night or two; but I tell him I am certain
you will welcome us as _hold_ friends if you can make it convenient
to lodge us. We shall travell slow, on account of Caroline and our
horses; and rest with you a day or two. You may expect to see us, bag
and baggage, about the end of this month; but I shall hope to hear from
you before we finally determine on our journey, and in case our wisit
suit you, will give you notice of our happroach before you see us. With
compliments to Sir Murdoch and Mr. Maclairn,
I remain
Your affectionate cousin and friend,