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1782 (Letter 31 CB p. 284) On April 12th 1782 Richard writes to George; Our Cousins are settled much to their satisfaction, and think both have received benefit from the Air and Waters, but especially John who has had no return of his Complaint and is in much better Spirits, but still languid and incapable of bearing fatigue. However, Clementina adds that: "The young man himself was not patient enough to stay long, but went back sooner than was prudent to London and to office work. Before long he was failing again, and Richard's entreaty that he should come to Driffield was successful. John seems to have liked the place and to have been happy with his cousin, whose manners I suspect were calm and soothing; better reports soon began to be sent, and as the weeks went on John became strong enough to share in the cheerful neighbourly gaieties that the young vicar loved." (CB pp. 284 - 285) "Richard and John (still a guest at Driffield, and reported in every letter as gaining health) made a little tour together in the last days of July, and on August 1st an account of it was despatched to George." (Letter 32 CB pp. 286 ) Richard to George August 1st 1781 On Sunday we rode to Cheltenham ... went to the public Breakfast next Morning, met with the Prescots there and above a Hundred People besides, thence through Twekesbury to Worcester, the neatest City I have seen a great while, from thence to Bromsgrove, where being the second Day of the Races, we dined with the County Members and about 40 more at the Ordinary, went to the Races in the Afternoon, and through a beautiful Country to Birmingham, a Town almost entirely new built and containing near 50000 Inhabitants but in general little better than Spittal Fields, the Houses being run up in a slight irregular Manner, on short Leases, we were extremely entertained with Clay's Manufactory of Japan and Buttons and some others, dined with my old Friend Tames, who accompanied us to the Theatre equal in Elegance to Covent Garden within and far Superior to any other Theatre without, indeed this and the new Church are the only buildings worth attention. Next Morning we took leave of Birmm and rode to the Leasowes, which is fully equal to the Description given by Dodsley and pleases me more than anything of the kind I ever saw. ..I never wished more for Your Company in my life than during our Walk. An Hour's Ride carried us to Hagley, the Seat of the late Lord Littleton. The Prospects from the Park are beyond Description, and the ground being irregular varys them continuelly we spent three very agreeable Hours here and then rode to Kidderminster, a fine Country, all the Way and got to Worcester that Night. We found the city crouded with Company, at the Assizes, but got excellent Accommodations after Breakfast rode to Malvern, a public watering place, on the side of a range of the most romantic Hills imaginable, immensely high and commanding a fine Country-dined at the Ordinary with a very genteel Party of Gentlemen and Ladies, who all live in Houses near Buxton and dine together-Slept [ ] at Gloster and home next Day, perfectly pleased [ ] Expedition in every Respect. However, soon after this jaunt in the country John must have returned to London. (Letter 33 CB p 297) George to Richard February 6th 1783, John wrote me word that he is better, but Mr. Balchen told me to day that he does not think he can live. He is going at last to Spain with Harrison -- may it succeed. Mother is as well as usual but seems to Miss the company of Mary, with her cheerful letters, your last made her cry [ ] Mary is gone to Pottrills. Ms. Black comments: "Whether this (Pottrills) is a local or personal name I cannot tell at all: in any case Mary had gone to join her brother." She then adds that: "Mrs. Cumberland was at this time established in lodgings near to the Balchens at Newington, and had made and unmade as many arrangement before finally coming thihter [ ] so that George has been kept going to and fro with messages to the people of the house." CB then says that; "John Balchen's proposed voyage is explained in a letter from himself." (Letter 34 CB p. 297) John Balchen to George Cumberland my Apothecary here advises another Climate; and the peace being at length arrived Mr.Tapp has an intimate Friend Captain of a Ship that is going to Cadiz (the New Betsey; Carbin) and a Mr. Harrison who once lived with Mr. T. and was afterwards his Factor at Cadiz is coming to Ostend to go with Captain Carbin to Spain. Ms. Black then add that later on "George was writing [below] with great exasperation to give a further account of their young cousin's affairs": (Letter 35 CB p. 301) At the end of April 1783 George wrote to Richard: John was going abroad, all settled and the Passage even agreed on when Mr. T came down to demand his final determination, his wavering spirits here failed him and he refused to go. He was taken at his word contrary to Mary's entreaties and no time allowed to recal the resolution. [George meets John and the sister at his mother's lodgings shortly after] John declared with vehemence that it was not his fault he did not go abroad, as he did everything in his power to accomplish it, about that Mr. T had been with the apothecary, who seemed not to approve it, and added that if he lived till the autmn and got better, he would get himself pressed as a common sailor sooner than stay another Year in this country. Ms. Black then writes that: "George hereupon interviewed Dr. Smith and tried to get Mr. Tapp to meet with him, but the latter came to the appointment too late. Dr. Smith advised the voyage, but when George repeated his opinion. Mr. Tapp: ' remarked that it was a family disorder, that nothing could save him. And appeared averse to the measure -- adding that most likely Mary would soon go too.' Ms. Black comments: "Whether Mr. Tapp had learned more precisely than George the total hopelessness of John Balchen's case, or whether John was robbed of his last chance by the ill-timed dictation of his uncle [?], no one can now declare." (CB p. 301). Note Ms. Black's belief that Mr. Tapp is an uncle of the Balchens, if so I believe he is a maternal great uncle. (Letter 36 CB pp. 301 - 302) Less than three weeks later (sometime in May 1783) George wrote to Driffield, to announce that: on Saturday last at 6 o' clock poor John died in his Sisters arms - who has been very ill ever since tho prepared for what was to happen . -- I wish you would come to Town on this occasion, as it is a very critical time indeed and you may judge from your own observations -- Mary it is hardly thought will live -- but if she does she is to be taken to Hackney -- for security and preservation. Mr. T said if she left her mother she could not go anywhere but to him with propriety -- this I denied as she was of an age to live anywhere with reputation. It is rather remarkable that I dreamt I saw him dying the evening he died -- and that he recommended Mary and his niece to my protection -- When I told Mr. T. this, he said, they were taken care of that he had been present at making his will when he had left what he possessed between his Mother, Sister and Niece - with legacies to himself Mr. Tapp, Mr. Crowley and his two cousins Richard and George But come to Town, if possible, you may be a comfort to Mary, and it will be respectful to John's memory. Ms. Black says that: "Richard, having not long before offered himself to Mary and been refused, thought that his coming up would be liable to misinterpretation and remained in Gloucestershire the letter [from Richard] ends with a very kind message to Mary Balchen: 'That if it will be of use to her little girl [Sally Read] to change the Air this Summer I shall be happy to see her come down with my Mother - she will be no addition to our trouble or expence, but a great one to our Satisfaction' " (CB pp. 302 - 305). During this period George was beginning to extricate himself from the Royal Exchange office, but the process was painful and acrimonious and the treatment he was beginning to receive from his superiors angered him greatly. Details as to how George escaped the stifling confines of office work will be provided in later editions. At this point, Ms Black states that: "It transpires that Mary Balchen had apparently heard of her cousins indignation against the magnates of the Royal Assurance Office, and had written urging upon him a more charitable frame of mind. The draft of his reply shows that she had at this time gone to Margate as it is addressed to her there." (Letter 37 CB pp. 308 - 309) George Cumberland to Mary Balchen and dated August 1783. It afforded me the highest satisfaction, my dear Mary, to hear at last of your health improving -- I assure you without flattery I have suffered much anxiety from your silence and the difficulty I found of getting any intelligence about you, however we are now made amends, etc. ---
All that is in our power almost is to live inoffensively, and while we do so we have a right to make the best of our situation but I have another Idea which is that to live inoffensively, we must not only shew ourselves content with the good things allotted to us by partaking of them, but we must make use of our understandings to perceive that they are really good, for very few people I believe are sensible to that Existence, accompanied with health and the means of continuing it is a Portion of inestimable value--- Do not therefore again slight this valuable enjoyment, but labour to repair your own of this sort by labouring to recover your health, look around you and you will find there is much good to be enjoyed yet, and if you would be happy look neither before nor behind, but around you and believe me if you do this impartially, you will find no cause to envy the Lot of others, and much to be satisfied with your own. I dont care who calls this a Sermon it is the language of reflection and Truth and such only will I ever use to you on all occasions bruised as you have been with afflictions, I hold you sound and would not for my breath utter a Word of unseasonable Levity, or flatter you with false reasoning. This philosophic letter is contrast to his much ealier letter (13 above) in
which he writes:
(Letter 38 CB p. 318) On January 9th 1784 George Cumberland wrote to his mother at Driffield: Dear Mother: Be assured I have taken the first opportunity since my Brother came to Town of writing you any news -- and first let me acquaint you that the business of your Stock is at length accomplished, through the perseverance of Richard, and after a great deal of attendance on his part -- he having persuaded your Sister [Mary Man] to at last to administer, and this day she received the Dividends and Transferred the Stock into you name. This is an interesting letter so more will be added in later editions but there is another mention of Mary Man later on, as follows: I afterwards saw Mrs. Mann in the street, and she desires her love and thanks for the Guinea which my Brother gave her this morning in your name for transacting the Business, and seems very pleased. For my own part I am half worn out with fatigue and bad hours, but hope to recruit all (Letter 39 CB p. 320) Richard to George January 10th 1784: She [Ms. Townsend] appologised for not calling on Miss Balchen when at Bristol by telling me a dreadful story of fall down a flight of steps which confined her to Bed for six Weeks and had like to be fatal --- Ms. Townsend was a buxom creature often found galloping around the countryside in a hearty manner, quite the opposite of the pale, sickly, fatigued Balchens. Richard was greatly captivated by her gregarious nature. (Letter 40 CB p. 324 - 325) from George to Richard dated Wednesday February 25th, 1784 I mean to resign as soon as possible, and quit an ungrateful and disgraceful office in that hansome manner which shall most make them feel their own unjust conduct towards me -- As Harry [Henry Man] has answered your Queries I need not enquire at the Stock Exchange, as I see the committee return them thanks in the papers -- I took a coach to Newington to day by way of airing and spent an hour or more with Mary she seems in good health, and spirits as I have seen her for a good while and walked back with me to the Bridge foot -- We had some conversation about her suit and she says she is told she shall gain her cause in case the will is set aside, which seems to be on that account the desire of Mr. Tapp -- What we have here is yet another legal wrangle. This time it would appear that the will left by Mary's brother John is in dispute, probably by thier mother. Richard makes a flying visit to London during which he visited Mary Balchen and writes the following letter. (Letter 41 CB pp. 325 - 326) Richard to George February 1784: I wish to mention one thing that has frequently come into my Mind since I returned -- that you would not suffer any little circumstance to break off your intimacy with Mary B. nor to be too severe in your observations on her Conduct when you meet. When I took leave of her, she seemd I thought a little hurt at your late neglect and as her Health is far from being established, and her Situation sufficiently distressing -- this is no time to look for explanation, but rather for every possible Attention from her Friends, and that her Pride will not permit her to acknowledge it, I believe there is no one she has a higher regard for than Yourself -- therefore let me entreat You to visit her on her own terms, when you conveniently can, and endeavour to promote her present Happiness, rather than refute her Prejudices which you must acknowledge are of the most amiable kind --- Do not mention that I took Notice to You of her Neglect on my second visit there. (Letter 42 CB p. 329) on May 11th 1784 George to Richard On Sunday afternoon I called on Mary Balchen and found her very ill indeed with a feverish disorder and putrid Sore Throat and after sitting some time found she grew better, but I persuaded her at last to let Fanny Man [Frances Man] call on Johnsons - she seemed as [s]he has always done of late, uncommunicative, cool and scarcely enquired after any body -- and I suspect from all this that somebody is labouring hard to sever our intimacy - for she is entirely guided I now perceive. They now do not move at all, but why I cannot learn. (Letter 43 CB p. 337) George to Richard November 10th 1784 PS Mary looks very indifferently - the child improves much, Our Mother so so I dined with her today. Mr. Balchen -- Mr. Cross writes is dying by inches -- Jefferson with him at Taplow -- Why don't you go to Breedon who wants society as much as you do? Holman is said to be a great actor, I have not seen him Mr. Tapp has left Hackney - Marys cause comes on this week in Chancery and they hope to set aside the Will which she prays in her petition. I have found an Acqua-tinta and Hoffmans Paris mode of Printing -- I sent my mode of Printing to M [ ]s last review and they have copied it into all the papers, but not quite correct. Mr. Balchen is John Balchen who died January 1785, his father Henry had died in 1780 although there are no references to this event in the letters as selected by Ms. Black. We now know that this M was Maty's Review (see Blake Quarterly). More details of the Cumberland - Man - Balchen relationship will be added to these pages over time. THE END THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE This letter is taken out of sequence and given complete as it is of more general interest than familial. It does not involve any of the back and forth among the family and is more a narrative unto itself. Richard Cumberland and John Balchen took an 'expedition' to view the Fleet before its sailing. There are references in the letter as to how to revive people who have drowned. Richard was a member of a society that plucked people from the Thames and that advocated a particular technique for their revival. This will be elaborated on in later editions. August 29th 1782 Richard wrote to George the following from Portsmouth (CB pp. 289 - 293): I told you in my last we had thought of an Expedition hither and set out for that purpose last Sunday Evening -- We got to Winchester the next Day thro an exceeding fine Country, visited the French Prison, etc. thence to Dyers at Bishops Stoke who accompanied us to Southampton - after Dinner took a Cutter and Sailed to the Isle of Wt. with a brisk Gale 16 Miles in an Hour and 40 m. Slept at Cowes and viewed the Island as far as our legs would carry us - thence next Morning in the Passage with good Company to this Place across to Gosport and called on Mr. Collins -- only his brother at home. -- Next walked around the Yard -- an astonishing Exhibition ended in the Afternoon took a Wherry and went aboard the royal George at Spithead -- as being one of the finest Ships in the Fleet, we met with the most civil Behavior from the Officers; who shewed us every Part worth seeing, introduced us to each other in their little Births and were very communicative -- we took notice of the number of Women in Board and they assured us there were about two hundred and near double the number of Men. We were about an Hour seeing everything and then returned to our Boat and thro a rough Sea to the Point - in the Evening we went to the Theatre the worst of Strollers - the Boxes full of naval and military Officers with Ladies of the Ton [Town] and we frequently heard and saw the rough Salutes This Morning we strolled around Works at the Camp of Spithead and whilst talking with an Officer saw two Guns fired from the Men of War, which he observed was previous to their sailing as [ ] waited to see them under Way we Walked to Southsea Castle and found a number of people on the battery eagerly looking at the Fleet -- They told us a large Ship had just founder'd and shewed us the mizzen and main Masts lying sloping out of the Water and a croud of Boats busy about them with the help of a Glass I distinguished a Blue flag at the Mizzen Mast, yet we flatter'd ourselves it was only a Transport - we retur'd to the Camp with a melancholly News and before we reached Portsmouth was shocked with a confirmation of its being the Royal George admiral Keppenfelt and scarce a Man saved. You can not think how much were affected. It was the identical Ship in which we had begun to take an Interest -- the genteel treatment we had met with on the preceding Evening - the more than possibility of our being delay'd our visit till this Morning or perhaps renewed it and the recollection of every Face we had seen on Board struck us at once -- we walked to the Point and came up just as they brought one of the poor Fellows on shore and were rolling him on a barrow in his wet cloaths and in the Rain - we thrust ourselves among the Mob and made them carry him to the next tavern assisted in pulling off his Cloaths procured warm Blankets and pursued the methods and recommended by the Society -- but they were applied too layte -- finding him in good Hands and hearing other Bodies were brought ashore, we went out and found a Woman in the same Condition on the Shore and no one attempting to do anything to save her. We ordered them to take her up and follow us into another public House, where we shut out the mob and put the People on the same method of Treatment, before the Fire whilst a warm Bed was got ready -- with great difficulty I made them persevere in the frictions, fumigations etc. and left Balchen to see it continued, a person coming in and saying that a Man was just carried into a House with signs of Life. It was a Distillers I got in with difficulty through the Croud and saw two Bodies a Man and a Woman lying on the Stone Hearth without any Fire. I applied to the Master of the House for a Fire and Blankets and had they been applied in Time think it would have been successful as he was the stoutest made Man I had seen - I next procured proper assistance at another House for the Woman and no means were left untried, but in vain and after the greatest exertion I ever made for tow hours had the Mortification of only leaving the Bodies in a more descent situation than I found them -- after making the People Amends for their trouble I returned to our Inn and found Balchen there as much Fatigued as Myself. The careless Indifference to call it no Worse, of the generality of People here on this truly mournful Occaision has given me a worse opinion of Human Nature than ever. I had before been Witness of such Scene of Debauchery as had not to be paralleld in any part of London. From Seven in the Morning till Night the Street swarm with common women of the most abandoned Cast, Gosport is if anything worse still. In every other respect they are tolerable good Towns and together with the Publick Buildings, Fortifications, Camps, and fleet have a beautiful Appearance from the sea. Being disappointed of a vessel to Southampton, we are going there in the coach to Night -- I just hear -- the Captain and above one hundred Men were saved but the Admiral is lost the Occasion of this Calamity is said to be this. The Cock which communicated with the Pump wanting repair they have hove all her Guns out on the opposite Side to careen -- when a slight squal of Wind taking her, the Sea washed in at her lower Tier and she went down instantly. A Victualling Cutter along side went with her, the master of which saved himself and the captain on a Hencoop and the latter leaping out of the Stern gallery into the Sea. The Tide was strong and most of the Boats to leeward and more might have picked up. I cannot help mentioning a Circumstance that has since made me smile. It was the False Delicacy of the Point Ladies at the publick House we were in - who could not be persuaded to strip and rub the Bodies until a clean Shift had been procured and then their Lamentations over them were curious indeed -- One of the poor creatures left two Children at Gosport, the other lost one from her Arms. Very few of the Women were saved being below Decks -- many of them Sailors Wives who kept a little Market on Board whether considered in a publick or private light, few great calamities have ever happened as an end, where there was so little reason to expect any danger it has made a strong Impression on me that will not wear off for some time. Don't send any extracts of these to the Morning Post as it is wrote in a hurry and I cannot be certain as to the Numbers lost etc. You will have a better account in the Papers.
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Next to your account of your
health returning I am delighted with your remarks on my return You are
right, we should overlook little Injuries and great ones, my little Saint.
But how few of us can do as we should? In fact my Injuries have been of long
standing but I resolved never to trouble others with them, and as little as
possible to suffer them to trouble myself If you and I should ever be
permitted to meet in a certain better Country than this, we will talk about
these and many other things, and then they will serve for amusement, but here
there are some subjects which are better never entered into, as they only help
to disturb the small share of tranquility which our philosophy procures us, and
for my part I have resolved to try to be as happy as I can, if I cannot be so
happy as I wish, now this is the Doctrine I would recommend to you as you can
neither prevent the Loss of good, or hinder the existence of badness, either by
arguments or retrospection, een take things as you find them.