Pièce 19 - Letter from Henrietta Maria Milnes to her husband Robert Pemberton Milnes

1 folded sheet.

Hotel de Bruxelles, Rue Richelieu [Paris]. Addressed to R. P. Milnes at Fryston, redirected to him c/o the Dowager Lady Galway, Bawtry. - Expresses worry about her lack of funds and Harriette's poor health, which means they cannot hurry. Trouble on the route with a broken carriage axle and a blacksmith who 'said he hated to have any thing to do with women' and tried to charge them too much to mend it; this delayed them 'sadly' and meant they missed seeing 'Duke Wyvill'. Very comforting to have Robert's letter; thanks him for 'mentioning the Dancing Master &c Harriette really seeems now anxious to take advantage of your kindness in giving her the opportunity of what will certainly be a great improvement to her'. They are 'so comfortable here' that if she were not anxious to see her sisters she would wish they were staying there for the winter.

With note from Henrietta Eliza Milnes to her father. Discusses whether they should just try to sell the carriage there rather than pay for work to make it fit for the journey to Boulogne. Her mother tells her he would like her to take some lessons from Tamburini, but it is not possible as he is 'quite engaged with singing at the Italiens and the [?]'; may take some lessons with Bordogni. If they take a man servant here, would her father prefer him to be in livery? Some society news. As her father wishes her to have some dancing lessons, she will ask the Actons or someone else 'what academies I could go to, for it is... no use for me to figure about by myself'. Her 'complexion is certainly better but I have still some spots and am thin as a rat'.