ABSTRACT
My dearest Father will I am sure wish to hear of us before our sea Voyage, which must yet be distant as we travel so slowly 2 — How do I wish that as easily & as soon I could hear from You, dearest Sir, & learn how your poor patient does! 3 — To leave you with added anxiety on your spirits, & to think of her very suffering state encreased my depression at the moment of departure excessively — I trust I shall find a few lines from you or our Sarah at our arrival at Dublin, & shall beg you to direct to me at George Kiernan’s Esqre Henry Street Dublin 4 — My unwillingness to talk about going prevented my making this request whilst I was yet with you — but there will still be ample time I am but too sure for letters to arrive before us. — The Major’s Horse, tho’ I fear it will not be enough spaced, will not carry us more than 4 or 5 & twenty miles a day — but if this is on some accounts to be regretted, it is on others not without advantages — The Journey has rather rested than fatigued me, & I really stood in need of rest at the time of setting out — We proceeded the first night 1 no further than Slough — the Weather & the sky were more beautiful than I ever remember them in the middle of October — I hoped it might be de bon augure [augur well] — & thought already of what my feelings wd be on returning thro’ the same road! — We breakfasted tuesday morng at Maidenhead, where I think I once was with my dearest Father in our Journey to Willbury 2 — I imagined we had even been in the same room — it did not make me hate it — near Maidenhead bridge I saw Taplow, a seat of Ld Inchiquin’s 3 very sweetly situated on the declivity of a hill, surrounded by fine trees, & the Thames running before it — At Reading — we only changed horses — dined late, & slept at Speen Hill, an Inn very pleasantly situated near Newbury — I was very much delighted with the general beauty of Berkshire — & yet more with some particular parts of Wiltshire, which are extremely romantic & picturesque — the cottages are sweetly situated in many places & look clean & comfortable — Wed: Morng 4 we breakfasted at Hungerford — passed thro’ Marlborough Forest 5 wch is filled with beautiful deer, & wth squirrels wch reminded me of Norbury Park — We saw the elegant entrance into Ld Aylesbury’s grounds, 6 but the House is not in Sight — I love the country & beautiful scenery so much, that few things cd more compleately have carried me from myself than the sight of many places we have passed thro’ — & I encourage in myself the dwelling on whatever can give me pleasure & am glad of whatever can chear my party — dear Willy is the only one with me who requires no chearing from outward objects — he is always merry & happy — makes acquaintance wth all the drivers & all the little boys who flock round the chaise at the Inns where we stop, & enjoys whatever he meets with — at Marlborough we were met by Sir Adam Williamson, & very kindly welcomed — he carried Fanny in his carriage wth two of his Nieces to his House 7 — & Phillips followed with Willy & me in the Gig 1 — we dined & spent the night & part of the <nex>t day 2 at his house at Avebury, where we were much pressed to stay — but the lateness of the season induced the Major to resist this invitation. [xxxxx 6 words] Yesterday after an early dinner we proceeded to Swindon, & passed thro’ Wroughton one of the most beautiful Situations I ever saw, & wch strikes particularly after passing over many miles of barren downs — it is not far from the Devizes — the cottages hereabouts are very picturesque, & inviting — we slept at Cricklade, a small place where I began my letter wch I conclude at Cirencester in terrible haste — Heaven bless you dearest Sir — I recommend myself to All our dear tribe — & earnestly hope this may find my poor Mother amended —
