BIB_ID
414562
Accession number
MA 1581.189
Creator
Smith, William, 1730-1819.
Display Date
Bury St. Edmunds, England, 1818 November 24.
Credit line
Purchased from Benjamin Ifor Evans, 1959.
Description
1 item (2 pages, with address) ; 22.9 x 18.4 cm
Notes
This letter is from a large collection of letters written to Sir George Howland Beaumont (1753-1827) and Lady Margaret Willes Beaumont (1758-1829) of Coleorton Hall and to other members of the Beaumont family. See collection-level record for more information (MA 1581.1-297).
This letter was formerly identified as MA 1581 (Smith) 12.
Address panel with postmarks and seal to "Sir George Beaumont Bart / Coleorton Hall / Ashby de la Zouch." The letter had originally been address to Sir George at Grosvenor Square in London but that address has been crossed through and his address at Coleorton written under it.
This letter was formerly identified as MA 1581 (Smith) 12.
Address panel with postmarks and seal to "Sir George Beaumont Bart / Coleorton Hall / Ashby de la Zouch." The letter had originally been address to Sir George at Grosvenor Square in London but that address has been crossed through and his address at Coleorton written under it.
Provenance
Purchased as a gift of the Fellows from Benjamin Ifor Evans, 1954.
Summary
Thanking him for "...a most delightful Letter...But to tell you a plain but palpable Truth my Taste & powers are so blunted that I have lost my mirth & this 'goodly frame, the Earth seems to me a sterile promontory' &c &c. I am gradually falling into a wasting decay & am attack'd by a disorder tho not of immediate danger yet a certain indication of approaching Dissolution - This lowers not my Spirits, tho' it speaks plain. An approaching Diabetes wasted my strength & substance, & reduces me fast, tho without pain or anguish, & I may say without reluctance - for I have liv'd in a long period, & I hope am in some degree resign'd to what all must submit...I eat, drink & sleep well - tho soon weary & unfit for Society & very feeble. I have yet many comforts, tho too frequent calls on a wasting constitution & am far from all fears that may disturb a man in his latter days - with perfect resignation & Hopes - What should a very old man wish for more? Nothing, but an easy departure, Repentance & a trust in the Mercy of a Gracious Saviour. After all this, you will not be surpriz'd that I should decline the pleasant tho unprofitable remarks on former delights - & forgive me in closing a too serious & perhaps impertinent account of old age without the Ills which too often attend it. For I can truly say I am happy...;" sending his respects and those of his wife.
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