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As to myself, I have to confess I did not really feel perfectly at ease, & co’d not assist thinking of the Boat that had been pushed out to Sea in the preceeding Week (which also occurr’d to Mrs M.) & began to inquire whether it wo’d not be most prudent for us to return to the Island & get what accomodation we co’d relatively than persist in vainly buffeting the weather ’till Darkness surrounded us, but this being now I found likely to be attended with as much issue as proceeding homewards, the latter was undoubtedly to be preferr’d. About this time I had a letter from my Father acquainting me of their return to Greenwich from Gosport & of their surprize at seeing my Sister in their technique to Dorking, who had a Tumour along with her Neck of a substantial dimension, in consequence of which they took her with them to Greenwich to have it inspected by the College of the Hospital, where having in vain attempted to disperse it, it was at size judged expedient that it sho’d be opened, to attend which operation my Aunt Marsh was despatched for from Dorking, as my (step)Mother declar’d she co’d not be within the room at the time..

On listening to however of 智慧齒 of Mr B’s (who was no favorite of hers) she tho’t correct to say she sho’d be glad to receive her once more. Dentists say it is best to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day. The following day Mr Presland, Lieut’t of the Goliath, a really nice younger Man & intimate Buddy of Mr Williams’s, spent the Evening with us, as he did again on Friday the 20th, when in the Afternoon, Mr Williams, he & I went & had a game at Fives, with Racquets, at the Tennis Courtroom at the Halfway Homes. On settling our Accounts the next day, we found that for 2 days pleasure (together with one night time only) tho’ we were at no expence going & returning to & from the Island, yet the entire expence got here to upwards of £9, or £3 apiece for Mess’rs Williams, Presland & myself; Miss Stewart on our barely objecting to her paying a share, without delay taking us at our word, which was quite hard on Mr Presland, as Mr W. & I had at any fee a full third. half every to pay for our Wives & selves.

My Father being now no extra, we subsequent proceeded to the melancholy enterprise of reading the desire (which my Mother now produc’d seal’d up) for which purpose we sent for our Friend Mr Cooke, who accordingly got here quickly after we had executed breakfast. My Sister nevertheless, being too young to attend to injunctions of this type, & having in fact no Idea of the reason for it, soon started to prattle about Mamma being in the Pit hole, on which my Father instantly left us & didn’t appear extra that Night.’ Mary was despatched to stay with one in all her aunts at Dorking, the boys going to boarding faculty and being appeared after when at home by Aunt Pratten, an older sister of their father’s. When the Funeral was over we were all remov’d home again, in the Night, being charg’d not to mention our late Mom, & have been all 5 of us positioned in a Semicircle upon the Matt within the Hall to eat our Suppers, during which my Father walked in & out from the Parlour trying upon us in melancholy Silence. Lack of the marriage Ring, which Mr W. on looking for early in the Morning co’d not discover, after at least an hour’s search, on which he was going out to procure one other, but recollecting that it was handed in regards to the Evening earlier than after Supper & that Mr Fielder the Attorney (who made the Settlement & was staying within the House) had amongst others, tried it on, he went to his Room to ask if he had not acquired it, when he discover’d it on his little finger the place it had stay’d ever because the Evening before unnotic’d by him.

Their mother died in 1759, as a consequence, in line with John Marsh, that after the delivery of William ‘my Mother by no means take pleasure in’d her Health, owing because it was thought, to her breeding so quick.’ He describes the aftermath of the funeral – ‘As for me, with my Brothers & Sister, we have been too younger to have the least Concept of our Loss. Delving additional into the background of this incident, as related by John Marsh, gives us a revealing insight into the involvement of Thomas Williams with one of many political issues of the day. On the occasion of his wedding, Thomas Williams appears to have been the instigator for it to be performed nevertheless it is difficult to think of one thing much less suited to the celebration of an impending marriage. For that reason he determined to stay at Salisbury for a yr or two longer and finally moved in 1783, instantly after the marriage of his sister and Thomas Williams. On the 14th. ‘the Ladies went in the Coach & Mr Williams & I on horseback to Dover, in our street to which Mr W. was surprized & a lot pleas’d with a sudden view of the Sea & Coast of France beyond it, it being a very superb & clear day.