02 Apr 1785: Edward James Eliot to Edward, 1st Lord Eliot

My Hon[oure]d Lord

As I have not yet heard any Thing of your Intentions about coming up to Town this spring, I am affraid I must begin to apprehend that you have no fix'd Determination of coming up at all: I should be sorry to give place to such an Idea at any time; but must own I am more concern'd at it now, as it obliges me to enter upon a subject by letter which I had very much wish'd to have mention'd by word of mouth; that wish having I am affraid kept me silent upon it, longer than perhaps I ought to have been. You will probably by this formallity of Preface have gone before me in supposing the subject to be, as indeed it is of the last importance to me; and that both in itself and as to what you shall think upon It. In one word, I am to acknowledge to you my attachment to Lady Harriot Pitt; which has been so long attributed to me by Report; which was indeed attributed much sooner than there was any ground for it, and which was some time ago supposed to have proceeded much farther than, you may readily suppose, it has yet gone. Tho[ugh] I could not prevail upon myself to mention it, perhaps, the first moment that I might, which was no very Easy matter either (I mean to Determine the Precise moment) Neither have I made an Engagement for myself on such a subject without your knowledge or Consent.

You may possibly not be more inclined to enter upon this subject by Letter than myself and there is no necessity you should: If you are certainly coming to Town, I shall think it my Duty to wait your Time. If not, as soon as the immediate pressure of Publick business will allow, I shall Desire your leave to see you in the Country. In the mean while I thought it grew absolutely necessary to say so much; and if I have not said more or Dwell longer upon it, it is not because I am Not very anxious and very solicitous on every part of the subject I have mention'd: I consider this as a communication I was bound to make; I leave the rest to future - Discussion - if I may call it so; by conversation or by correspondence as you shall think proper to Direct.

I am my Hon[oure]d Lord,
your ever Dutiful
and ever affectionate Son,

Ed J Eliot

Putney Heath April 2d Saturday 1785

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