No. 5 Henrietta Street,
Thursday 16 Dec. 1802.
Dear Mrs. Pennington is always right,—the letter was a mere nothing. Such will, I hope, prove the more rationally alarming report of Constantinople's sudden and unlooked for destruction. Be that as it may, our charming Dr. Randolph took occasion to draw thence a most beautiful and impressive sermon last Sunday, when he preached better than ever I heard him, to a heterogeneous congregation, which attracted my notice as much as the discourse did: Mr. Pitt, Dr. Maclean, the Duchess of York, and Bishop of West Meath....
Harriet Bowdler is a sad loss to me, and so are the Mores. Bath is scarce Bath this year somehow: were it not for Laura Chapel and Pump, I should regret leaving solitude and Brynbella; but then Laura and Pump are two good things for soul and body, and what is all the rest?...
The Mores removed this year from Bath to a new house they had built at Barley Wood, in the parish of Wrington, and which became their permanent home. It would seem that a similar move was responsible for the loss of Harriet, (properly Henrietta Maria) Bowdler, sister of the editor of the Family Shakespeare. She herself was a writer of poems and essays, and also of a volume of sermons, published anonymously, which were so good that Bishop Porteous is said to have offered preferment to the unknown author.
Pitt, who was now living in retirement at Walmer Castle, was much harassed by debts, and in October visited Bath for his health. It was for his birthday dinner this year that Canning wrote the song, "The Pilot that weathered the Storm."
The Bishop of Meath, Thos. Lewis O'Beirne, had been educated for the priesthood in the Roman Church, but received English Orders and was made Bishop successively of Ossory and Meath. He appears to have been an excellent prelate, reviving the office of Rural Dean, and carefully examining his Ordination candidates.
Tuesday, 21 Dec. 1802.
Well, well! as Sir George Colebrooke says, if we must not meet we may write, I suppose; and I really will try to rejoice if my absent friends are happy. Dear Siddons's letter was of more real value than you seem to think. All our News Papers and News Talkers have been telling how she was hissed in Dublin, and how ill it had made her.... But all is well, and so that wise man Mr. Twiss, with his clear, straightforward understanding, said it would be; and February will bring her home with all her money safe I hope....
Our weather here is wondrous mild and soft, good for Brynbella planting, and very good for the very poor people, who cannot keep themselves and their one cow alive in hard frost....
The hostile reception of Mrs. Siddons at Dublin was the result of an unfounded report that she had refused to act for a local charity. It appears that she gave her assent when the manager suggested it, but the latter, for some reason, failed to arrange for the performance.
The remaining letters from Bath have no particular interest, but it appears that just before her departure Mrs. Piozzi had rather a sharp attack of illness, apparently influenza.
Thursday, 14 Ap. 1803.
... Dr. Parry and Mr. Bowen both called yesterday to bid me go out at noon this memorable Thursday. So I went, but found no enjoyment, except in returning without any apparent harm, or fresh access of Fever, which they had all so imbued my mind with, that I felt nothing while from home but fears of a relapse. It does not appear however that such an accident has happen'd to me as yet: and perhaps God Almighty will permit us to see Brynbella once again.
Sunday, 17 Apr. 1803.
... We shall set out, if it please God, to morrow sennight, and sleep at Fleece Inn, Rodborough....
My airing in the carriage did me good, and the knocking knees took a walk with me yesterday, up Pulteney Street and down again,—no more. To-day I will go twice up and down, and so season myself by degrees....
Brynbella, 19 Jun. 1803.
Assure yourself, dear Mrs. Pennington, that my thoughts towards you are in no wise changed: and if I always thought you the best letter writer in our King's dominions, (before they were contracted by loss of Hanover,) how much more do I think so since your last arrived, full as it is of pungent and tender reproaches....
There are two Bishops and one Dean dead, you see, and their families left low in the world; yet the Democrates keep on stripping clergymen of every reason for becoming such; and tear away tythes etc. without mercy....
Sweet Siddons is at Cheltenham healing her honourable heart I hope, and washing away its cares. Mr. Whalley is happy, it is a cordial to hear of somebody being happy. You are too nervous—as the phrase is; meaning that your nerves are too irritable to be placidly content; and that is the best state to be in....