02 Apr 1794: Edward James Eliot to Mrs. Stapleton

My Dear Mrs Stapleton

Having had the pleasure of hearing very good accounts of your recovery from your accident, from my Journal, from the first; and having had then this morning confirm'd by your Medical attendant, I think I may venture to trouble you with a short letter, just to say that Mr [William] Pitt is Thank God! perfectly well, and has been for some days past in as high spirits as, without some very particular reason, I ever knew him. He has been yesterday and today on horseback by eight oClock in the morning, a certain sign with Him of having felt no fatigue of some time: his Business in the House of Commons is drawing fast to a conclusion, and will I think certainly be at an end before Easter. I am not able as yet to fix any time for my getting out of town.

There are papers today from Barbados which mention all the Landings on Martinique to have been effected without difficulty; and the Reduction of the Island in a fair way of being soon accomplish'd. The supposed capture of 13 ships by the French squadron off Brest wants Confirmation: more especially as it seems to come from the same quarter as the arrival of all the French ships with Saltpetre etc some time ago, which has never been confirm'd yet, an East India Packet has arrived but brings nothing very material. The Gov[erno]r there had fitted out a force to go in quest of the Privateers which had taken the Royal Charlotte, as was mention'd some weeks ago.

I remain
My Dear Madam
Your Affectionate H[umble] Serv[an]t

Ed J Eliot

London
April 2nd 1794

P.S. I saw, as I observed, Mr Woodforde this morning, and also his son; both seemingly very happy with their call to Town.

*Original letter is part of the Eliot collection at the Cornwall Record Office.
Catalog reference: EL/B/4/3/5