Unsigned Autograph Letter from Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, to her 'Dearest Friend' the bluestocking Mrs Mary Wortley Montagu; franked by the writer's husband 'Portland'.

4to, 2 pp. Bifolium, with letter on both sides of first leaf, and frank ('For Mrs Montagu at Mr Purdies in Orange Court, Bath'), with red wax seal (bust of a man), on reverse of second. 42 lines of text. Clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with strip of mount adhering to second leaf. Begins by describing her state of health, complaining of 'a Constant pain in my Head & Opression [sic] at my breast', for which she has been 'blooded'. She hopes Mrs Montagu will 'come to Town for I fear if you dont come soon I shall be gone to Bullstrode as I hope nothing will prevent us spending the Holidays at Whitsuntide in the Country as it wou'd be so great a Disappointment to poor Titchfield [her son William, later the third Duke of Portland]'. Describes London as 'at present the gayest Place that can be Imagined assemblies, Balls & Masquerades without number'. Gives celebrity gossip, including the news that 'Lady Frances Carteret is to be married on Saturday'. Carteret married the Marquis of Tweeddale in 1748, and this fact, coupled with a postscript referring to 'Neddy' (her son Edward, born 1744) going 'into Breeches yesterday', points to 1748 as the date of the letter.