01 September 1789: Maitland, Penelope (1731-1805) to West, Charlotte (1769-1860)

Penelope believes Charlotte�s illness is the result of her being pregnant. PLAIN TEXT TRANSCRIPTION: 1 September 1789 I cannot express my thanks to my dear Mrs W. for Her sweet & welcome letter (date 22d. Augt.) according to her Kind desire I dispatch an Avant-Courier to a longer letter, Which I hope to send her after her return from Ripley, just To assure her of my health, which thro� extraordinary mercy Has held good this Summer, and that of my dr Nuns, excepting a Pain in the Side of the youngest, which occurs so frequent & Violent as to give me much uneasiness; nor does she look Well, tho� she mentions no other Complaint. I sometimes hope It may be rheumatic, as it does not always keep to the same Spot. I intend writing the case to the Docr. at B: and wish My next may enable me to give you a better account. She Joins with Vesta in Love, compl[imen]ts. & every best wish. I am sorry you are not well, my dear freind, but I am Suspicious it may be from a Cause that may end well. However this is, I sincerely hope your little Jant [jaunt] to the Country may conduce to your being better. I have a thousand things to say in answer to your Charming letter, but want of time, and situation, restrains my Pen at present, It Can only assure you with the utmost sincerity,/ that so far from any apologies due for Speaking of yourself & your Concerns to me particularly, you never can indulge [next page] Me so truly, nor can you exceed on these points, even if you Told me the minutias of your little pritty dwelling � may Health & truest Happiness attend you in it & your aimable Partner � Who I beg will accept of my compliments, and Both be assur�d that I long to merit the kind partiallity you are so good to entertain for My dearest Mrs West, Your affectionate Freind &c L�Abbesse Your Military Freind set forth Yesterday in a chaise with the Curate of this Place, for a Week�s Shooting at Hatfield � N:B: your Seal was on yr Number of yr Lodging, but I think it Seems to have been 1. [Transcription by Charlotte Kinnear, Cristina Erquiaga, and Christopher Hollings for Bodleian Student Editions] Transcribed by students on the Bodleian Student Editions programme.