Woodsheal was here in
his way home. He left our Friends at Givet very
well at present; but Struan had been ill wtwith
a 1983 (1983)
a pain in his Stomach, which he thinks is
rheumatickrheumatic, as it is very violent while it lasts.
Woodsheal’s Business carried him to Charleville,
where we were for some time before we came
home. There is there a Convent for Ladies,
where we often visited Madame Victoire,
who is a most excellent Person &and the Ab-
bess; &and who should be there now but our
Queen’s two younger Sisters1. He went to
the Convent, &and begged of the Lady Ab-
bess, that he might have the honour of
seeing these two Princesses, who, hearing
of his Country &and the Attachment he had
to the Royal Family, came to the Grate,
&and spoke to him with ease &and great polite-
ness. Hearing the Abbess asking for this
Family, She told the Princesses of our
having been there. How it came into
his head I know not; but you’ll say it
was not blate2 in him to desire, these
Ladies would write a line to Mrs Oli-
phant, to which they consented, went to
their apartment, not only wrote the letter
inclosedenclosed, signed by both; but likewise wrote
their own &and their SistersSisters’ names with their
Ages. &and where they were born. You have
inclosedenclosed the exact Copy of both. We have
never shewnshown any bodyanybody the Princess’sPrincesses’ letter,
&and you are the first. The Reason is, they may
make up some Story, as if we were cor-
responding with them. The Eldest of the
two was the Writer, &and very prettily it is
wrote, especially for so young a Creature,
&and in a hurry. Besides, they wrote a Letter
to their Mother by him, who was then at
Bruxelles upon a Visit to Prince Charles
&and

1984 (1984)
&and his Sister. The Letter to her was di-
rected to Madam la princesse de Stol-
berg Nes Princesse de Horn. You will
observe, that the French always call
Louisa Louise. He missed the Mother,
She being gone some jaunt with Prince
Charles &and his Sister.”