1

ALICE HATTON.

2
3Sept. 1699.
4
6    I return my most humble thankes for y^e honour of y^r Lord^ps letter.
7I have not yet bin any were, but at shopes and a veseting; but I
8believe shall be on Munday at a ball at St. Jeames, where, as they
9tell me, ther is a famose new danser to apere, which is to charme
10us all, but not make amends for y^e loss of M^rs Ibbings who danced
11at Lincolns Inn Feild and is lately dead. But as y^e quallity of y^e
12Ladys that dance at Court is not to be compared w^th so mean a
13person as a player, so I am shure most of there indiferent danceing
14is not to be mentioned w^th her good. There is one M^r Colson I
15am shure my Lady has seen at diner w^th my Unckle is going to

page I,241

16be married, w^ch one would wonder at, there being nothing to be
17liked in him but his fin diamond ring. I beg humble duty to my
18Lady. I will write to her next post.
19
23
24

25

THE SAME.

26
27Sept. 1699.
28
30    I am so overjoy'd when I hear from y^r Lord^sp, its not to be
31express'd. I desire you will beg pardon for me to my Lady for
32writting such a short letter to her, and tell her I was last night at
33S^t Jeames, and y^t ther was but a few dancers. Y^e best were Lady
34Hartington, Lady Betty Candish, M^rs Lutteril, M^rs Godfery, and
35Lady Essex, and M^rs Roper who was y^e new dancer. Indeed she
36did it very well, but had too much indeavour'd to imitat Lady
37Hartingtons noding her head, w^ch is only becomeing to herself. Y^e
38best of y^e men was Lord Antrim, Lord Anglese, and Lord Essex.
39But my Lord Antrim has cut of his hear, and got one of y^e new
40fassioned perewks, w^ch have so much hear in them y^t a good one
41cant cost les then 60 pound, and y^t monstros bignes w^th his lettle
42face did not look so well. I hear Lady Banbery is dead, and y^e

page I,242

43Wardon of All Souls. Next week Lady Ann Churchill is to be
44married to Lord Spencer. My Aunt Portman desires you to write
45to my Aunt Mary, to bie her a set of y^e French baskets they use
46for a desert, and y^e couler are to be white and gold and grean, and,
47when you get hers, Nevil desires a set too, and if you will take
48care to bay my Aunt Mary for them, and they'l bay you again.
49My Aunt sayes y^t, if you will give me leave to learn to draw, M^rs
50Tollett shall teach me. I desire my duty to my Lady and service
51to all my friends at Kirby.
52
56

page I,245

57

ALICE HATTON.

58
5920 Jan^y, 1700?
60
61    I take it, my L^d, as very great honour y^t you will trouble y^rself
62to write to me, but when I consider how weak y^r eyes are I had
63rather by w^thout y^e happynys of y^r Ld^sps letters then have you in y^e
64lest hurt y^r eyes. I was last night (w^th Lady Longuevil and
65Lady Arundel) at y^e Princess's, and Lady Long: was so kind to
66offer to carry me to y^e Oppera to day w^th her and Lady Portland;
67but I was so unfortunate as to be engaged to go to Lady
68Denbighs to see y^e famous M^rs Binges dance, or els I should have
69bin glad to have waited on Lady Long;, tho I had seen it before
70and think it very silly. M^r Abel is to have a fine musicke meeting
71to morrow, and y^e tickets are guineas a piece, w^ch is a little to
72much for me to throw away; so I shall not be there, and I find so
73many y^t can afford it better of my mind, y^t I fancy, if he had had
74lower rates, he would have got more. They say here y^t M^rs Reves
75is to have my Lord Leicesters second son, whom L^d Romney
76designes to make his heir. Tis to be hoped he will use her better
77then his B^ro did her sister; for, as the town sayes, he beat her w^thin
78a week after she was married, which I think should make this young
79lady afraid. I have so much buisness here y^t I hope my Lady will
80excuse me till next post. I beg my duty to her, and I am, my L^d,
81Y^r Ld^sp
82most obedient and dutyfull daughter,
83A.E.H.