25 March 1812

Eliza Fenwick, 5 Tavistock Square, London, to Mary Hays, Wandsworth Common, Wednesday, 25 March 1812] [with attached note to her son, Orlando].1

       This is a villainous coaxing boy! He writes to me & directs to you to get us both on his side [of] the question. Well his arts have succeeded & he may come to Town on Friday morning & meanwhile I shall fix on some place for him to sleep for I have not yet heard from his father tho’ I have twice written. I can only account for this by supposing that a plan his brother & he have undertaken together may have carried him out of town somewhere.

       I am much better to-day I feel more like what I wish though the symptom which I complained of still continues.

       Your information about Lady Alleyne is very pleasing I felt sorry that that advantageous introduction was likely to prove of little avail. People are so much governed by appearances that such a patronage is of great consequence to a young woman. A Packet is due on the 28th Inst so in the course of next week we shall no doubt hear from Eliza.

       Thank you once more for the indefatigable guardianship you exercise over my boy. I hope the complaint coming through you will not renew Mrs W—s jealousy on the score of Lanno’s communications to you? Adieu our letters cross’d each other on the road. As the roads will be now dirty & he may have to walk about in Town a good deal, Lanno may as well take the outside of the Stage. I shall make him walk back because his eagerness then won’t induce him to run half the way.

                        Yrs most truly

                                     E   F.

Dear Lanno,

        I shall be glad to see you on Friday. Come on the outside of the 9 oClock stage which brings you to Fleet Street by which you will escape all the dirt or at least the worst of it. Bring a clean shirt & a waistcoat with you which will last you till the Wednesday or thursday of next week & those days I suppose you will think hollidays enough. I long to see you I assure you & am as ever

                              yr affectionate Mother

                                                      E. Fenwick

Pray give my Compliments to Mr & Mrs Wilkinson and family.

Wednesday Morning March 25th

5 Tavistock Square

1 Fenwick Family Papers, Correspondence, 1798-1855, New York Historical Library; Wedd, Fate of the Fenwicks  80-81; not in Brooks, Correspondence.