of home concerns, how solicitous for her household, how open to all the pleasantness of life, how entirely free from that other-worldliness--as George Eliot has called it-which is supposed to have accompanied a Puritan ancestry and training.

Mary Rogers to Thomas Rogers.

Newington Green: July 4, 1772.

'My ever dear T. R.,-As this method of communicating our thoughts to each other is now the only resource left, it is with great pleasure I sit down to assure you with sincerity how much I regret your absence, and to endeavour in some measure to alleviate it by acquainting you with all my proceedings since you left us. But, as I know the anxiety that always attends you upon account of every branch of your family, I must first begin by assuring you that we all continue perfectly well. Tommy is got quite well, and is in exceedingly good spirits. The four are at this time particularly happy in exercising Obey's nag about the field, and are very proud in showing their horsemanship. Tommy has been twice to the bath on horseback before Richard, and the horse carries him. extremely well. We went to drink tea with Mrs. Wilson 3 after you left us on Tuesday, and had the pleasure to meet Mr. and Mrs. Welch; Mr. Wilson also was at home, and all conduced to make the visit very agreeable. On The four were Daniel, Thomas, Samuel, and Martha; Maria, the youngest, was only twelve months old.

1

2 Sitting before Richard on the horse.

Thomas

Mother of Thomas and Joseph Wilson of Highbury. Wilson was the great chapel-builder of the Independents, whose life was written by his son Josiah.

Mr. Welch was Mr. Rogers's partner in the banking house.

MRS. ROGERS'S LETTERS

13

Wednesday evening we went to town to see Mr. Raper1 and Miss Raper in Norfolk Street, who both agreed to dine with us at the Green next day, and Mr. Harry Raper being there-and a bachelor at present-offered to be of the party. The coach accordingly fetched them in the morning to dinner upon beans and bacon, a couple of chickens, and a piece of roast beef, and we widows and widowers drank your health and Mrs. Henry Raper's. The two gentlemen and little Harry 2 walked home again. about seven o'clock, and Miss Raper stayed with us till last night-her father and self being to return to Wendover this morning. . . Yesterday morning Dr. and Mrs. Grant called on us and engaged us and Miss Sally [Raper] to dine with them on Thursday next. In the afternoon Mrs. Dunn and family drank tea with us. . . . .. Mrs. Price writes today to Bridgend, but desires I will likewise mention that she and Mrs. Barker returned home to-day, safe and well, about three o'clock, and very little fatigued with their journey. They desire compliments to you, and many thanks for the kind call you made them.. Your trunk went this morning from the Saracen's Head. Richard is gone to have the horse shod, so I can't tell the name of the waggoner. Adieu! my dearest T. R. I hope to hear this evening that you are well, which will always afford the truest pleasure to

'Your ever affectionate and unalterable

Thomas Rogers, Esq.

'M. R.

To be left at the Post Office, Swansea, Glamorganshire.'

1 Matthew Raper of Wendover Dean, Bucks, father of the Matthew

Raper afterwards vice-president of the Antiquarian Society.

* This little Harry was afterwards Admiral Raper.

Mary Rogers to Thomas Rogers.

'Newington Green: Saturday, July 11th, 1772.

'My ever dear T. R.,-Many thanks for your very kind and agreeable letter, which I received on Wednesday last. I assure you I would have endeavoured not to have merited your hint if I had thought you had the least expectation to have heard from me at Cardiff, as it is, and always will be, my highest temporal wish to promote your pleasure in every instance. It gave me great satisfaction to hear of your health last night from Mrs. Price, but don't accuse me of recrimination if I say that a line from your hand would have given your poor M. R. a little more self-consequence; but I know you mean always kind to me, and therefore I ought not to complain. I called on Saturday evening on Miss Crisp, and agreed for Patty to go to day-school: 1. 18. entrance and 2l. 128. 6d. per quarter, for which she learns reading and working, and has five dinners per week. She began on Wednesday, and seems at present very happy with it. The boys left us on Wednesday in pretty good spirits. Tommy continues his bathing as usual. On Thursday we dined at Dr. Grant's, and a most melting day it was. There was no company but an uncle of the doctor's. They wanted us to have gone to Vauxhall in the evening, but we excused ourselves, and agreed to accompany the doctor and Mrs. Grant to Foote's on Monday next to see the Nabob. I came into it, as I thought it would be agreeable to Miss Sally Raper. . . She talks of leaving us on Wednesday or Thursday next. The doctor says there is no banker in London besides yourself who would have

MRS. ROGERS'S LETTERS

15

had the courage to have ventured on a journey at this crisis. I suppose you have before this heard of Mrs. Peach's marriage with Mr. Lyttelton. I begin to think that I have got a husband that is possessed of the art of divination. . .

'We heard the other day that Mr. Gordon's Nursery was in full perfection, and Miss Sally and Miss Mitchell expressing a wish to see it we took a ride there last night, and it perfectly answered our expectations. We laid out ten shillings with them among us, and Mr. Gordon and his son were extremely polite, and made us a present of a most pompous nosegay, which consisted chiefly of his most curious flowers, particularly some charming magnolia flowers, of which tree he has scores. in bloom. . . We all happily continue well, and our little Maria is as lively as a bird, and, in her mother's opinion, daily increases in charms. Master Rickards was baptized yesterday by the name of Samuel and yesterday Mr. Rickards himself was seized with a fever and speckled sore-throat, and was obliged to sit up in bed while his son was christened. They have had Dr. Grieve, and he is to be blistered to-day, but I believe they don't think him in danger. Adieu! my ever dear

and own T. R. May happiness ever attend you, and may your own M. R. (if Providence spares her life) grow more deserving of your love! All join in love and compli

ments; and I remain

'Your constantly affectionate

Thomas Rogers, Esq., jun.

To be left at the Post Office, Worcester.'

'M. R.

There is a letter from Samuel Rogers addressed to his father while he was on the same journey. It is a child's letter-he was then approaching the close of his ninth year-and it gives a pleasant glimpse of a happy boyhood.

Samuel Rogers to his Father.

'19th July, 1772.

'Dear Papa,-I hope you have had a good journey, and hope my grandpapa and all my aunts are very well, and my cousin Tommy Bowles. I went to school July 8th, but school began July 6th. I had a very pleasant ride back again from the Pack Horse at Turnham Green. My mamma chose to leave off dipping Maria.

'July the 6th I went to Sadler's Wells, and I thought it was very pretty. Me and Tommy and Dan and Patty and Hannah and Nurse all went together in the coach. At last the makerony started out of the floor, with a long pig-tail as big as my wrist, and an artificial nosegay; and came strutting about with his fine cocked hat, and his hand in his bosom.

'Thomas Rogers, Esq., jun.,

'At

'I am, your dutiful son,

'SAMUEL ROGERS.

The Hill," near Stourbridge, Worcestershire.'

His mother follows this up with a letter dated from Newington Green on the 21st July.

Mary Rogers to Thomas Rogers.

'I had the pleasure to receive my dearest T. R.'s kind letter this morning, and am rejoiced to hear he spends his time so joyously-a proof that he enjoys.