On the same day that I received your last kind letter, Matilda
received one from Sir George which was dated from Edinburgh, and
informed us that he should do himself the pleasure of introducing
Lady Lesley to us on the following evening. This as you may
suppose considerably surprised us, particularly as your account
of her Ladyship had given us reason to imagine there was little
chance of her visiting Scotland at a time that London must be so
gay. As it was our business however to be delighted at such a
mark of condescension as a visit from Sir George and Lady Lesley,
we prepared to return them an answer expressive of the happiness
we enjoyed in expectation of such a Blessing, when luckily
recollecting that as they were to reach the Castle the next
Evening, it would be impossible for my father to receive it
before he left Edinburgh, we contented ourselves with leaving
them to suppose that we were as happy as we ought to be. At nine
in the Evening on the following day, they came, accompanied by
one of Lady Lesleys brothers. Her Ladyship perfectly answers the
description you sent me of her, except that I do not think her so
pretty as you seem to consider her. She has not a bad face, but
there is something so extremely unmajestic in her little
diminutive figure, as to render her in comparison with the
elegant height of Matilda and Myself, an insignificant Dwarf.
Her curiosity to see us (which must have been great to bring her
more than four hundred miles) being now perfectly gratified, she
already begins to mention their return to town, and has desired
us to accompany her. We cannot refuse her request since it is
seconded by the commands of our Father, and thirded by the
entreaties of Mr. Fitzgerald who is certainly one of the most
pleasing young Men, I ever beheld. It is not yet determined when
we are to go, but when ever we do we shall certainly take our
little Louisa with us. Adeiu my dear Charlotte; Matilda unites in
best wishes to you, and Eloisa, with yours ever
M. L.
LETTER the SIXTH
LADY LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL
Lesley-Castle March 20th
We arrived here my sweet Freind about a fortnight ago, and I
already heartily repent that I ever left our charming House in
Portman-square for such a dismal old weather-beaten Castle as
this. You can form no idea sufficiently hideous, of its dungeon-
like form. It is actually perched upon a Rock to appearance so
totally inaccessible, that I expected to have been pulled up by a
rope; and sincerely repented having gratified my curiosity to
behold my Daughters at the expence of being obliged to enter
their prison in so dangerous and ridiculous a manner. But as
soon as I once found myself safely arrived in the inside of this
tremendous building, I comforted myself with the hope of having
my spirits revived, by the sight of two beautifull girls, such as
the Miss Lesleys had been represented to me, at Edinburgh. But
here again, I met with nothing but Disappointment and Surprise.
Matilda and Margaret Lesley are two great, tall, out of the way,
over-grown, girls, just of a proper size to inhabit a Castle
almost as large in comparison as themselves. I wish my dear
Charlotte that you could but behold these Scotch giants; I am
sure they would frighten you out of your wits. They will do very
well as foils to myself, so I have invited them to accompany me
to London where I hope to be in the course of a fortnight.
Besides these two fair Damsels, I found a little humoured Brat
here who I beleive is some relation to them, they told me who she
was, and gave me a long rigmerole story of her father and a Miss
SOMEBODY which I have entirely forgot. I hate scandal and detest
Children. I have been plagued ever since I came here with
tiresome visits from a parcel of Scotch wretches, with terrible
hard-names; they were so civil, gave me so many invitations, and
talked of coming again so soon, that I could not help affronting