the house and stables at Bretton were said to have been enormous; and it
was doubtless with considerable curiosity that the family at Cannon Hall,
on their return to Yorkshire, hurried over to inspect the alterations
which their neighbour was effecting.


_Mrs Spencer-Stanhope to John Spencer-Stanhope._
CANNON HALL, _December 4th, 1805._

We drove to Bretton this morning. We walked all over the gardens and
the House. The number of people is enough to distract one Architect.
Improvers, Agents, etc., etc., without end. Much is done, and still
much remains to be done. Madame B. says she shall quite rejoice to
leave the place. The plants appear in great order and are very
valuable. The Collection is extremely large, but at present the plants
are so very small that to the ignorant they appear of little value--
which we know is impossible to be the case.

Thanks for the account of your studies; as for mine, I cannot give a
very favourable report of them. Hume's _Henry 8th_, Warton on Pope,
_Cowper's Letters_, and _The Idler_, are the books I have at present
in hand; but I have not much leisure. We are at present alone, and
with my family round me, I do not wish for company. It is not a bustle
of company I _like_, for I do not like the Society of the Country--it
is morning, noon, and night.

Roscius is now performing at Sheffield--I should like to see him
there!