A Series of Letters between Mrs. Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot, from the Year 1741 to 1770

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

246-247

text excerpt

This place is at present a perfect scene of gaiety. There is a set of officers from Flanders, extremely well-bred agreeable men, who are very fond of music and dancing, and this gives great life to all our public diversions. On twelfth night we had an assembly of about ninety people, and there was fine crowding to make one's way through them, as the room is much too small for such a place as this. The first part of the evening, as it was properly a card assembly, every body played cards, but in the midst of this profundity of whist, folks who love music, were agreeably surprized by the sudden striking up of several instruments, which were introduced to entertain the company, by the officers. This was a matter of great offence, and violently shocked some of the elder ladies, who thought it was monstrous to be so interrupted in their game, and that such a horrid noise was a downright infringement of the rights of the assembly, so the musicians were ordered to depart in the midst of their tune. Adieu! I am going to drink a quart of milk and tea with Don Quixote, and then I shall be at your service again.

excerpt from 'A Series of Letters between Mrs. Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot, from the Year 1741 to 1770' pp. 246-247 (206 words)

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1674744964260