Appendix A - Transcription of ‘The Watsons’

Summary

THE first winter assembly of the Town of L. D.— in Surry was to be held on Tuesday Octr. y^e 13^th, & it was generally expected to be a very good one; a long list of Country Families was confidently run over as sure of attending, & sanguine hopes were entertained that the Osbornes themselves would be there. — The Edwardes’ invitation to the Watsons followed of course. The Edward's were people of fortune who lived in the Town & kept their Coach; the Watsons inhabited a village about 3 miles distant, were poor & had no close carriage; & ever since there had been Balls in the place, the former had were accustomed to invite the Latter to dress dine & sleep at their House, for on every monthly return throughout the winter. — On the present as only two of M^r.W.'s children were at home, & one was always necessary to him as occasion, one only of the Family in Stanton Parsonage could profit by companion to himself, for he was sickly & had lost his wife, one only could profit by the kindness of their friends; Miss Emma Watson was to make her first who was very recently returned to her family from the care of an Aunt who had public appearance in the Neighbourhood; & Miss Watson drove her brought her up, was to make her first public appearance in the Neighbourhood;—& her eldest Sister, whose delight in a Ball was not lessened by a ten years Enjoyment, had & all her finery in the old chair to D. on the important morning of the some merit in chearfully undertaking to drive her & all her finery in Ball; without being able to stay & share the pleasure herself, because the old Chair to D. on the important morn^g. — her Father who was an Invalid could not be left to spend the Even^g.

alone

As they splashed along the dirty Lane Miss Watson thus instructed & cautioned her inexperienc’d sister.— “I dare say it will be a very good Ball, & among so many officers, you will hardlywant partners. You will find M^rs.