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Samuel Rogers and his Contemporaries
Samuel Rogers to Sarah Rogers, 13 October 1805
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Vol. I Contents
Chapter I. 1803-1805.
Chapter II. 1805-1809.
Chapter III. 1810-1812.
Chapter IV. 1813-1814.
Chapter V. 1814-1815.
Chapter VI. 1815-1816.
Chapter VII. 1816-1818.
Chapter VIII. 1818-19.
Chapter IX. 1820-1821.
Chapter X. 1822-24.
Chapter XI. 1825-1827.
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I. 1828-1830.
Chapter II. 1831-34.
Chapter III. 1834-1837.
Chapter IV. 1838-41.
Chapter V. 1842-44.
Chapter VI. 1845-46.
Chapter VII. 1847-50.
Chapter VIII. 1850
Chapter IX. 1851.
Chapter X. 1852-55.
Index
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‘Tunbridge: 13th Octr. 1805.

‘My dear Sarah,—You will no doubt be surprised to receive another letter from this Castle of Indolence; but

1 It was, in fact, in the early autumn of 1805.

24 ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES  
here I have remained (with only two short flights to town) partly from my own dilatory nature, but still more from my companion’s, till I begin to despair of ever moving till Mount Zion and Mount Ephraim are loosened from their foundations. A set of people so warm-hearted, so distinguished for talent and temper, were perhaps never assembled before. Our happiness was the subject of hourly congratulation from each to each, and the unfeigned regret with which we have parted is the best proof of it. This morning, after breakfasting together, we lost the Beckfords, who are gone to Eastbourne, and to-morrow we set off for Lord Robert Spencer’s. On the way we shall pass a day or two at Brighton, where I hope to see Patty and her nursery, and also the Chinnerys, and we shall at Worthing just look in upon the Jerseys. Perhaps you know that the late Lord J. died here, when we were in the very act of setting off on a party of pleasure. We have had music every evening; your friend Moore and Miss Susan Beckford have charmed us out of ourselves, and our mornings have passed away in curricles and sociables and four. Our morning excursions have generally mustered twenty, and you will smile to hear that I have exhibited daily as a curricle driver. Mr. Jodrell’s barouche was an addition to us for a week, and he seemed a very good-humoured man. Your time has passed much more quietly, and I dare say much more profitably. Pray write to me in St. James’s Place and tell me, my dear Sarah, what you mean to do. It was my intention to visit Wassall,1 and I sent a message by

1 The residence of his brother Daniel.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS IN 180525
Tom to know when it would suit best; but I suppose, on account of the Durys, I heard nothing on the subject till long nights and cold weather came to cool my spirit of enterprise; and now, I must own, I could look with more pleasure to it as a dream of the next summer. I have, moreover, a foolish cold which has for some days kept me to a barley-water diet. I rejoice to think that Mr. H. is better. Pray give my best remembrances to one and all, and believe me to be, ever yours,

‘Saml. Rogers.

‘I hope to be in town by the end of this month at farthest. I have heard nothing for the last three weeks, tho’ I have written to Maria. Poor Lady Buggin1 died here last week, and Mr. Cumberland, at the head of his Corps, escorted her body out of the town. He was here for a week and was very much affected by her death. Miss S. Beckford is a daughter of Fonthill, very beautiful, and a prodigy in every respect. She was surprised to hear that I knew Miss Brettell, whom she knew in Wiltshire. To-morrow the only relic of our party will be T. Hope. We have had a most delightful autumn, and I have spent it very differently from the last—but every dog has his day. Remember, Sarah, I do not allude to that pleasant time we spent together at the first coming of winter. At Woolbeding (Lord Robert Spencer’s) I expect to see Mr. and Mrs. Fox; but I begin amazingly to long for winter quarters. I wish you had

1 Wife of Sir George Buggin, of Cumberland Place. She died on the 29th September, and was buried at St. Dunstan’s-in-the-East by torchlight.

26 ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES  
partaken a little of my gaiety here, my dearest Sarah, for I have had more than enough to spare, and none would have contributed or received her share with greater success than yourself. Many, many thanks for your kind letter, which I found lying on my table when I went last to town.’