28 Feb 1797: Jane Capper to Mrs. Stapleton

[In a later hand (spidery, as if written by an aged person), written in faded ink: 'From Mrs Capper, Governess to Mr Eliot's daughter, to Mrs Stapleton, Feb 28 1797']

Dear Madam

I was affraid I should not find time today (I could not yesterday) to thank you for your Letter and my good Lady for Intentions in Poor Joseph's Favour and I have now the satisfaction of saying that if her Ladyship has heard his Uncle's Accusations, tho' deliver'd in a stile well suited to the most Criminal Conduct and having nobody to Approve any thing he said for we were alone and I had not heard Joseph's story. Yet I am persuaded her Ladyship would have felt more inclined to Pity than blame him, as the Faults he laid to his charge (and which thank God nothing worse than faults) evidently arose from the treatment he rec[eive]d. I have dwelt longer on this subject than I ought, that no apprehension might remain of misconduct sufficient to render him unworthy of her Ladyships goodness. To compromise the affair would by all means be my work but that I am affraid is not to be done as his wife has got a nephew of her own in his place, what strikes me as the Best - but I will not enter on that as it will not leave me time to apologize for the imperfect manner in which I was obliged to finish my commission so far as concerns the Cloak itself. I hope it will please being made exactly to measure. One thing I should mention which so much liv'd and may I think suit my Lady viz a Ribbon sew'd to the inside of the back of the Cloak and brought round the waist and her over the fore part of the Cloak which prevents its slipping about or hanging loose, and it allows the Cloak to spread more or less according to fancy. Mrs Tolman would undertake to pack it up. I sent her word. She must leave room for a Book to be put into the Box, which I procured in Readiness but when it (the Box) arrived it only just held the Cloak and she sent me word if any thing was put in it would rub it but if I had had time I should have contriv'd that matter. I was to have sent also some Patterns from Davice, but receiving orders to go to Broomfield (which as it prov'd did take Place) I sent the Box unclos'd to her to put in her ???? and see that it went to the Coach last night, which I make no doubt it did I hope to have an hour with her tonight at ½ past 9, which is my Hour of Receiving Visitors. her Suitor and her Call'd in on Sunday.

All the Intelligence I could get of Mr [William] Pitt of Mr [Edward James] Eliot was dryely he was better, but since your Letter he has explain'd himself that he had got rid of his Cold and was otherwise very for the first time since our Arrival in London I saw him yesterday he was in the Garden making himself very merry about the Invasion.

My young Lady is just return'd from Visiting Lady Chatham [and] Miss Townshend all she says very well

I am
Dear and Hon[ore]d Madam
Most Respectfully Yours
J Capper

*Original letter is part of the Eliot collection at the Cornwall Record Office.
Catalog reference: EL/B/4/3/15