Lady Harriet Cavendish to her sister, Lady Georgiana Morpeth, 23 September 1802:
'I am now going, my dearest G. (depending upon your secrecy), to transcribe for you some of George's verses, which he gave me last night. Some lines are very good and some very bad, but it will give you a good idea of our proceedings and I think them very amusing. It is a parody on Burns' Tim [sic] O'shanter, and called John O'Thanet. The beginning is long and tiresome, so I shall not send it you. You must know that [italics]John[end italics] is making a tour round the Island, and arrives at Ramsgate just in time for the ceremonies' ball:--
[transcribes 17 lines of satirical poem on Ramsgate social life, opening:
'"When now the moon shot forth her gleams
And ocean glistened in her beams,
When winds blow cold and loud and drear
And Ladies 'gin to walk the Pier,
When chattering teeth by Luna's light
Just stammer out a 'charming night'"]
'I send you these merely because they give a faithful account of our evening walks.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Lady Harriet Cavendish Manuscript: Unknown
