Macaulay, Catharine (1731-1791) to Mr. & Mrs. Northcote
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01794.38 Author/Creator: Macaulay, Catharine (1731-1791) Place Written: Bath Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 January 1775 Pagination: 3p. : docket ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy
She has news from Boston that Bostonians have appointed their own governor. She expresses regret for the declining state of England. To Mrs. Nortcorte she describes her health and writes about her daughter.
A full inventory is available.
After the death of her husband George Macaulay in 1766, Catharine Macaulay married an Anglican minister William Graham. Letters from her female descendents are in GLC 1795. Notable in that collection are letters of her daughter, Catharine Sophia Macaulay [Gregorie], to Macaulay while the latter toured America and France. This collection of Lady Catharine's correspondence was broken-up for public sale in 1993. The Gilder Lehrman Collection has also acquired other letters written to her, including GLC 1784.01-1800.04. There are approximately 190 items between these accession numbers. GLC 1784-1793 and 1796-1800 are individual documents written by important American figures including John Adams, Ezra Stiles, John Dickinson, William Cooper, Richard Henry Lee, Mercy Otis Warren and the pseudonymous "Sophronia." Most of the documents relate to the events leading the Revolution. A few, notably the letters from Mercy Otis Warren and "Sophronia" concern the new Constitution and the French Revolution.
Dear Sr
I hope by this time Mr Dilly has fully justified himself of the matter of Brownes accusation. I must own to you I was a good deal startled at yr intelligence as I regarded such a proceeding as a flagrant breach of the laws of hospitality Mr Dilly however assures me that there is not one word of truth in Brownes Assertion I pity that poor Wretch for being obliged to his recourse to such mean and destructive arts [struck: to excuse his own conduct] to justifie or rather, [inserted: to] excuse his own conduct and in those parts of it where perhaps nobody has any right to call him to an account
I have had a Letter from London which informs me that dispatches are arrived from Boston with the account that the Bostonians have appointed a Governor of their own [illegible insertion] as this news is not confirmed to me by a second intelligence I doubt its authenticity
You must undoubtedly my friend have felt a sympathetic glow on reading the noble sentiments contained in the resolutions of the American Congress[.] In the declining rotten State of England to hear our own children as [strikeout: they cre] the Americans are called breathing sentiments which revealed have done honor to our country in its most virtuous its more rigorous Days must fill with great satisfaction every Englishmans breast untainted with the vices of the age
I have [struck: heard] seen the Manuscript of the petition of the same Congress to the King and according to the judgement I could form from one reading it is a first rate composition It is not to [2] [be] published till after it has been presented to the parliament
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[struck: I had a letter from Dr this morning]
I had this morning a letter from Dr Wilson he has received the letter from you which was entrusted to my care and is highly pleased with it
I hope there will be no occasion for yr giving yr self the trouble of a Journey to London on the business of defending Sr George Young from the malicious and unfair attacks of his enemies I am Dear Sr
Your Very Sincere Friend
and Obed Servt
Cath Macaulay
To Mrs Northcote
Your expressions my Dear Friend of regard for a present which if it is of any real value is highly your clue is quite of a peace with all the rest of your Affectionate conduct to me
In answer to yr kind solicitude concerning my health I have the pleasure to inform you that the I am not quite so strong as Hercules[,] so young as Hebe[,] nor yet so free from bodily complaint as many more vulgar characters than these yet upon the whole I have not had so good a Winter for many years as I have experienced this season
So then my unabated zeal for the welfare the prosperity and the liberties of the British Empire more than from any prospect of success in this profligate slate of public conduct I have drawn up an Actress to my Countrymen on the present important [struck: state of] crisis of Affairs It was composed under many disadvantages from weakness in the eyes and pain in the stomach and I immagine the intention with the well accepted by the friends of Liberty
[3] My Daughter has spent her Christmas holidays in Missery on account of a swelled face which has been general among the children at Bath she is infinitely obliged to you for the favorable opinion you entertain of her industry and perseverance in regard to her education and promises she will use her utmost endeavors to prevent your being a false prophet
I told Mr Lytton yr. news and gave yr compliments he is now gone to London on the melencholly occasion of his friend Mr Price having broke his Leg
My Daughters and my Joint compliments to yr self Mr [struck: Nortchco] Northcote and Miss Stoderd conclude me
Dear Madam
Your very sincere friend
& Obedient Servt
Cath: Macaulay
Bath Jan 20: 1775
PS I am very glad to hear so good an account of yr health
[docket:]
1775
Jan 20
[struck: Two letters from]
To Mr and Mrs Northcote
[struck: with my answer]
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