Letter – William Blackett to John Erasmus Blackett – 11 Apr 1807

Cumberland Place  Saturday 

April 11th 1807

My Dear Sir

      Your letter which I rec'd this morning has indeed given us very great concern; at my uncles advanced age so very severe an illness must reduce him very much & I greatly fear if he gets over this attack it will be long before he recovers his strength again, however we hope as he is rather better, that this mild heat here will be of service to him, & that we may all meet again this Spring in the north, very few people here have escaped a violent cold attended with a <Boweley> complaint, & it has been fatal to many young people, thank god we have been tolerably well; Mary Anne has had a bad cold for some time, but is much better, & the wind being now got to the west we may hope for some mild warm weather. I think you are right on not returning in <Wm> Scotts Gig he has not yet had sufficient practise to make an experienced <Ship>, & those high Gigs are easily upset on hard roads, he is certainly much improved & seems to be a steady young man; I wish his Father <could go home>, but I fear there is no chance of it til a peace takes place & that if Austria does not now come forward is I fear far distant. Ld Collingwood is am sure welcome to any Trees we have at Matfen & I desire you will send to the Gardiner for any thing of that sort you may want from thence; the late Gardiner was so idle a fellow that our stock of young trees may now be rather short, but we shall have plenty soon & I have a very good opinion of the new Gardiner he is very industrious, & a hard working man & I hope will get the plantations & Garden in good order. Mary Anne intended writing to Lady Collingwood by this post but as she must now be much engaged by the illness of Miss Collingwood she will defer it for a few days. We hope soon to hear a better account of my Uncle Harry we are <……> greatly obliged to Mr Ingham for his kind care & attention. I have not seen nor <met> the Beaumonts any while since I have been in Town, her Pride will I trust have a fall, & whatever mortification she may experience she deserves it <all none> will pity her. A dissolution of Parliament will I hope not take place as his Majesty is most decidedly against it & many Members who like to keep their places will <grow> to the present Ministry. Will you have the goodness to send us a line as we are very anxious to know how my uncle Harry goes on, with our love & best wishes to yourself & Lady Collingwood & young people believe me Dear Sir very affectionately yours

      Wm Blackett