September.
For the first fortnightthree weeks after I returned to Portsmouth,
I recollect but little, and was extended the whole time
on a bed of sickness — almost death! Morning & night –
morning & night – It was the same to me – and I was
nearly consumed by the fever within me, & reduced to
a mere skeleton. The letters which I received during
this period are the only guides to my knowledge of what
passed. On 29th. Septr. I caused Emma to write to Mr.
Baber, to excuse my absence, & to explain the cause.
On Octr. 3d. she wrote also, by my desire, to Mr Petrie.
On Octr. 4th. she Wrote to Dr. Bliss, to request him to take
my name off the books of Magd. Hall, as I felt it would
be ^too great an expense to continue my terms, whilst I
myself received nothing from the Museum. On the 9th.
Octr. #she wrote to Mr Roscoe, to express my sincere regret
& disappointment, in not being able to meet him at
Holkham, as we had agreed. I mentioned also to him
my progress in the Catalogue, & my discoveries. – On
Octr. 11.^or 12th I received a letter from Mr Roscoe (which
must have crossed mine on the road) infor###ming me he
meant to be at Holkham about the 20th. of the month.
How very unfortunate! On Octr. 10th. l received a letter
from Mr Baber, in reply to mine – On Octr. 14th. I recd.
a letter from Dr. Bliss, in which he tells me he has caused
my name to be taken from the books ^of Magdalen Hall agreeably to my wishes;
& adds, to me, some very flattering testimonies from
the Vice Chancr. & ^Profr. Thos. Gaisford, at ##a dinner given by the
Warden of Wadham. On the fifteenth, I received a
letter from Mr Coke, inviting me in the kindest terms
to come to Holkham. This ###was impossible, however I
might wish it.
About this time (15th.) I had just strength enough
to sit up in an arm-chair, & read a little. I
procured Clarendon’s ^History of the Rebellion from my Father‘s library and began the bloody
story of the Civil Wars. Mr Comerford also very civilly sent in for my
amusement a satirical poem directed against the Reformation
& Protestants, written in the style of Butler & intitled – “England’s
Reformation,” by T. Ward. 2. Vols. 8vo. 1747.
From this time to the 21.st. I continued in nearly the same
state, but with a small addition of strength. On the 20th. I
received a letter from Henry, stating he had settled for my
lodgings, &c. but could not succeed in taking others for me.
He sent me, at my request, that part of the Holkham Catalogue
which contains the Greek Fathers, which I propose to go on
with as soon as I am able. A day or two ago, I wrote to Mr
Coke, expressing my sorrow ^at being obliged to decline his invitation to Holkham.
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