To: Henrietta Knight, afterwards Lady Luxborough. [Cranford, Middlesex.] December 1727 (endorsement). Text: MS, BL Add. 34196, fols 40–1. 1

I was hinder’d from answering y^r letter yesterday, my Dear Sister, by some company which came down to Cranford. you are surely very much in y^e right to comply with M^r Knights desire, and I am hopeful that you will receive the 61benefit you expect from change of air. I wish for many reasons that I was still in France, where I should be glad to receive you, and to take my part in doing y^e honours of the country to you. but the blundering malice of certain Ministers, have has contriv’d to keep me in a country where they had no intention I should live, nor I much inclination to settle myself.