Bridget Hawkins (Roper-Curzon) to Martha Jefferson (Randolph)

O is it really true that my Dr Jefferson dictated the paragraph in my friend Botidoux’s letter—that when you had time, you might acknowledge the receipt of my last letters. I flatter myself still that you are not quite so indifferent to your friend as to send her such a message, were it not at least in joke. I am doing a [. . .] friendly office, which is to rise very early, (although I went very late to bed), to inform you of a paragraph I read in the newspaper yesterday, you will find your name is mentioned in it: I was willing to give you the earliest intelligence of it, that you might prepare your answer to any questions your Father, (who will certainly see it), might ask you on the occasion, you know he can get it but by the same post as you will receive this—you have never talked to him on that subject I imagine, as I think you never mentioned it to me in any of your letters. My dear girl I am to be married on Wednesday, (the day after to morrow), I have not been myself for this week past & am now really un peu derangée dans le tête, the idea that I quit all my friends, my dearest & nearest relations so soon, to follow a man, who may soon forget the many promises he has made me, & in the end prove totally different from what we all imagine him to be, makes my feelings too acute to bear discription—if—but I will not anticipate, imagining evils or dwell on this subject on which I can never converse half an instant without showing myself, (Mama says), an idiot. direct all your next to Watterperry where we go directly after the ceremony. Adieu, pity your distressed friend, indeed I am very unhappy, tho’ I have every reason to be quite the contrary, a description of my journey &etc you shall have soon; & pray Jef write to me, tell how your father read the enclosed I know he takes the English newspapers, consequently must have seen it, Tell Beliour, [Mde de Laitite?] & my Dr Mde de Crofton that I will write to them soon; I hope Belle & Bot will exert their friendship & write to me before I answer their last letters as I shall be in a continual hurry for some time to come. I know not what I write indeed Jef, but you will I know excuse me, I was obliged to write this early knowing I should not find time otherwise, so no one is up in the house & I have no paper but bits of letters, how ever, they are of little consequence so as you gain intelligence of this infernal paragraph—I wonder much, who wrote it—was it not Mr Miles? he is in England—Miles breakfasted with me about a week ago, poor girl she is very unhappy, her mother being very ill—this is only surmise perhaps he never has even heard of it, there fore don’t believe it. pray write soon &

believe me most sincerely & affecly your
B. H.

I am not quite sure of my direction, but will inquire & add it in an hours time.

Mrs Carson Watterperry House, near Wheatly Bridge, Oxfordshire; give my direction to my correspondants.

Mrs Carson
Watterperry
near Wheatley Bridge Oxfordshire

J’espere que toutes ces dames prieront pour la pauvre Toquin. ainsi que les demoiselles de la classe—

Tr (ViU: ER); undated; date editorially conjectured based on internal evidence; in an unknown hand; with possible transcription errors. Enclosure not found.
Date Range
Date
May 19, 1788
Collection
Repository