‘My dear Sarah,—The weather was so severe as we came that Rees travelled the greater part in the
carriage. But we have been out every day. On Tuesday there was a large party to
see Anderden’s pictures. It seems
he lives about five miles off, and I had no great fancy to go; but the
Duke said they were excellent, and as
he seemed to wish it, I went. On Wednesday some of us went to Sir John Cope’s and we were rewarded. The
gallery, unfurnished, is 130 feet long, and the house, as Lady Holland said, is much larger than Holland
House. The passages and staircases are endless, and the views from the windows
very extensive. We dine punctually at seven and breakfast at ten. On Tuesday
the Duke sent for the Raivier family (the Tyrolese), and
for the two last evenings they have sung (yesterday while we dined). Today, I
believe, the Duke is gone a-hunting. The church is in the park, and his nephew,
Mr. Wellesley, is Rector. The
commissioners wished the Duke to decide in favour of Sir John
Cope’s, then on sale; but he was deterred by the expense
of repairing it. His architect told him that the roof must be taken off and
that then the walls would come down—reason enough against the purchase if
well founded. On Saturday I shall go to Dropmore and return to town early on
Monday. Every day at dinner there has been the addition of some neighbours,
and,
| 456 | ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES |
‘Of the society I will say nothing at present: some I like better than before, and some less. Silchester is within six miles of us, but the Roman Camp at Sandwich contents me.’
