19 Jan 1788: Edward James Eliot to Mrs. Stapleton

My Dear Mrs Stapleton

I am in hopes I have a much better account to give you tonight than was contain'd in my last. My poor Little Dear Girl's [Harriet Hester Eliot] Lip is a great deal easier to her, and I trust is in a way of getting well fast. She has not indeed entirely recover'd her good looks (exclusive of the Blemish it is, poor little thing to her, at present), nor, I think, her spirits; but both those things may very well have been occasion'd by the Confinement.

Lady Chatham is really very well; as is Mrs Sperry [Elizabeth Sperry, governess and nurse to Lady Chatham's children], the latter seems now determined to prosecute her debt; and it seems as if it would be much most satisfactory to herself to do so, in any event.

My second Brother [William Eliot] arrived here from Exeter today, Little Girl got sight of a thick dark brown great-coat of his, and insisted for a long time upon its being yours; which indeed it was very like.

I remain my Dear madam
your very sincere and affectionate
Humble Servant
ED J Eliot

Burton Pynsent January 19th 1788

*Original letter is part of the Eliot collection at the Cornwall Record Office.
Catalog reference: EL/B/4/3/2