London May 11^th.

Dear Sir

It is some comfort to say that my dear child recovers strength:¹ & we do flatter ourselves that when her health is restored the other blessing may by added, The rest of us are well: my sister excepted, who has suffered a great deal for some time past. I lament that I must be separated from my natural friends for a longer time than I intended. our Physician has ordered Sarah to some sea bathing place as soon as possible: so we shall go, I believe to one of those on ^the coast of Kent. this will retard our return till midsummer at lest [sic].

I hope this will find you & y^r family well. I shall be glad to hear they are so. & also all the news of the country

Poor Bel Lloyd was carried off in the fulness [sic] of his expectations: for the old ma[...]n[...] had certainly been very ill.² How he will bear the disclosure of M^r B. Lloyd’s circumstances I know not. He & M^r Mostyn Edwards were bound for him: & I am told his affairs were in a dreadful state.

I saw M^r Fitzmaurice a few days ago. He is setting off for swisserland: & looks very ill indeed.³

Let me recommend the people of y^r parish to be very attentive to any vagrants who may come & fall ill among you least they sh^d bring the anglesea fever among you which is got to a most alarming height; & now spreads into Caernarvonshire. if any unfortunate people sh^d come among you they sh^d be kept apart; treating them with all humanity.

with our joint good wishes concludes

Dear Sir
y^rs most faithfully

Tho. Pennant.

Be so good as to attend at Holywell the 20^th. at the selling of the Gates & promote the bidding all you can.⁴

Remember me to M^r Parry & beg his attendance.

an acc^t is just come of another bloody action near Conde. - - a drawn battle.⁵

---

---

---

Editorial notes

1. Pennant's younger daughter, Sarah, suffered from frequent bouts of illness, probably tuberculosis, from October 1792. She died on 16 April 1794. See Evans, 'The Life and Work of Thomas Pennant (1726–1798)', pp. 73–4.
2. The 'old man' mentioned may be Sir Edward Lloyd (?1710–1795), first baronet. Bell Lloyd was his heir. DWB s.n. Mostyn family of Mostyn Hall, Flints., etc.
3. Thomas Fitzmaurice died on 28 October 1793. Hist P.
4. See the notice of a meeting to be held at Holywell on 21 May 1793 in the Chester Chronicle, 19 April 1793. This advertises the letting by auction of the tolls arising at the tollgates of the Flint and Holywell turnpike districts.
5. This refers to action between the besieged French Revolutionary army and an opposing army of Austrian Habsburg and French Royalist personnel at Condé-sur-l'Escaut on the Belgian border on 1 and 8 May 1793. See here [external link] [accessed 5 April 2019].