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

I thought My Dr Jefferson we had made an agreement to write to each other once every week—just before I left London I wrote you a letter of 5 pages, (therefore you can not complain of its shortness) & have not received any answer whatsoever—I have puzzled my brain for some days past to find an excuse for you but impossible—perhaps you have not time as you are so soon to make abjureation. I am willing to plead you not guilty you see my Dr if I can—now let us settle matters, write me a letter of 6 pages bien serré on papier de dessein—dont be frightened I have read lately a charming story, (the tears start in my eyes at the idea), which I will transcribble for you likewise. I wish to consult you on two or three subjects & will write you one exactly the same length, I know you love to receive long letters as well as my self, you shall be made acquainted with too, our projects for next summer & the winter following, of every thing I have done since my arrival in this country—this is all very fair & I am persuaded no Lawyers Clerk in England could draw up an agreement better—un peu d’orguielle mais cela ne fait rien—I am surprised I have not heard from Belle Cour she is a letter in my debt, tell her I love her dearly and beg she will write soon—La Charière has never written to me, I take it very unkind of her—You told me in your last Mde Crofton proposed writing to me, I have waited with great impatience for her letter & every post has brought me but a disappointment, say every thing most affectionate from me to her, likewise to Mde du Choris—tell Mde Taubenheim & sister with my respectful Compts how much I think myself indebted to them for their kindness & attention to me, that I want now to express my gratitude, I should certainly have written to them on quitting Panthemont, had I not fear’d being troublesome—now do pray my Dr Jeff try & get me a pacquet of letters & above all write me a long one yourself, tell me who are friends in the classes, if there has been any squabbles? when do you make abjuration? how you intend telling your father &c &c, whatever regards you, can but interest your friend. When I go to town which will be in about 6 weeks, I shall send you the books & some prints, apropos, did you receive those I sent you sometime ago by Mr Giffard, with some things for Mde De [Villery?]? I hope you did & that they pleased, mention this circumstance in your next—I have some story-books for Polly, which shall send by the same opportunity, kiss the Dr girl for me & give my love to Dashwood, tell her Lady Jane Maitland is married to a Mr [Loyed?]—I am quite shocked when I reflect I have not answered her letter, I hope to receive another from her soon, which I will answer immediately, & she shall find me a better correspondant for the future—How does Charlotte & Papa do? I often think of the apples they used to buy me & how we used to plague them—I fear pauvre Joquin is nearly forgot by this time in the class, give my kind love to all the girls, I often think of you all & long to see you again. This is a wonderful stupid letter—indeed my Dr Jefferson, I fear you will repent having been so good natured as to agree to admit me amongst your correspondants—I have now wrote you a tolerable long letter, perhaps you’ll think it too much so therefore to prevent your sleeping over it will bid you Adieu—

Let me once more repeat write soon—tell Botidoux I expect a letter from her soon & not an envellope & I will be sure to give her des detailes sur tous ce quelle veut—Beg Mde Crofton to write to me, I shou’d be delighted at receiving a letter from her, you have not an idea how much I love her—Give me a description of all the new pensioners that enter—how is Mlle Saintra? Is Godet liked, I’ve an idea she goes with Bellecour—my love to Mde Devullier—you will say this letter is nothing but loves & compliments—so Vink continues with Mde Deslplat—if Taubenheim gives me leave I’ll write to her next post—I heard Annesley’s father is in England, so that you will either soon have her with you or never see her again—I will send some lines if agreeable, on condition that you will always write to me on the small ones—Can’t Polly write to me—it does not signify you know if well or ill among between friends, if it did, I should certainly write this over again, for in my life I never saw such a wretched scrawl—Be so good as to send tofor a bill of the peticoat which I stole of [Bakers?] and I will send him the money in the same parcel your books & etc will go—it really had an odd appearance, I dare say it was the occasion of many an ill natured remark thing being said of me, if so I am supremely happy at having been able to afford the good ladies any subject for conversation, trop heureuse assurement, are the mistresses good humour’d, who is it the ton to admire? Who belongs to Mde Jerus & Croftons party’s? How inquisitive you are Hawkins. I say no more Jefferson, only one more Adieu—There has been lately two very pretty stories in the news paper which I will send you—if there is any verses in thesend them me—is the folles copied? Is Bass’s flame extinguished yet—poor girl if not, fear she must be nearly consumed, I should imagine. Is Barley sugar in vogue—shall I send you some English—I heard of Beikers t’other day she is very well—likewise of Lady B & Sophie—How goes on Beuville? Are the dispositions of any changed—What is the fashion most to read & what kind of books? or what [. . .], are you all as gourmands as autrefois—

Tr (ViU: ER); undated; in an unidentified hand; with possible transcription errors.
Date Range
Date
January 1, 1788 to December 31, 1788
Collection
Repository