ABSTRACT
Lady Torrendale had not forgotten her good custom, taken up at Woodlands, of sending Miss Melbourne notes, in what she called the language of ‘the dear region.’ When these contained any thing that could amuse the social circle, they were read aloud; but sometimes the ‘gipsy jargon’ was so unintelligible, as to be evidently intended for Miss Melbourne’s eye alone. One evening when the usual party, consisting of Sowerby, his sister, Mrs. Melbourne, and Matilda, were assembled, one of these rose-coloured billets arrived; and, being delivered to Mr. / Sowerby by mistake, for one he had that day expected, was read by him, with good emphasis, for the benefit of the company. It was without a signature, and the following is a literal transcript of the contents:
‘My dear soul,
‘We are all at sea without the admiral; are there no hopes of Vice or Rear? Above all things the Orange flag is to be preferred; but perhaps you would less scruple about the Mitre?’
