"...but let me take this opportunity, my dear Georgiana, to intreat you to put a total stop to a practice that hurts my feelings because it so greatly injures you. I mean till your affairs are completely settled not to spend any money (however tifling the sum) idly. Your finely bound books pain me more than I can describe. Even the most common books, the rarest print, or whatever may most claim your wishes to purchase, you should steadily deny yourself..."-Lady Spencer
Tomorrow, my dearest Georgiana, you will have been born 28 years, and yesterday* you have been married 11. The first of these events was attended with almost every advantageous circumstance that birth could give. and the latter set you up in so elevated a situation that you must always be liable to the censures or approbation of the world. I bless God it is not yet too late, if you will exert yourself in earnest, of those who know you, and I must add that if you have any regard for your own peace of mind or mine, you will set about doing it immediately.
"...You frighten me about your money matters. Tell me quickly what it is, but let me scold you beforehand, for either it is a new scrape, which is abominable, or it is an old one, which you are unpardonable for not having told me sooner."
"You have acquired already a reputation as a mother, do not go and lose it for the first little temptation that comes in..."
"Many thanks for your invitation to Althorp, indeed I have a great pleasure in going to see you there or elsewhere sometime or other, but I always resolved not to visit that place till your father's monument should be put up - as I hate to have (what so often has happened) those sort of things talked of and not done."
"I see you on the edge of a thousand precipices, in danger of losing the confidence of those who are dearest to you...I see you running with eagerness to those -must I miscall them friends?- Who tho' their intentions might not be wrong, are by constantly talking to you on subjects which are always better avoided imperceptibly your most hurtful enemies, all these and more keep me on the rack."
You & I must have some serious conversation and make some firm resolutions upon the subject of gaming. I cannot do it without wounding my conscience, but your doing it wounds it doubly, as it reproaches me with what I can never make myself easy about, the bad example I have set you, and which you have have but too faithfully imitated...
"I am sure I need not warn you to observe the strictest sobriety and moderation in your dress. Let it be simple and noble, but pray do not let it be singular, and how glad I should be if you could tell me you had quite done with rouge. The credit such a conduct would be to your character would far outweigh the trivial and really false idea of your looking more shewy. There must be some period for taking up a different character of dress, and when can you find a better than now at your return after so considerable an Absence..."
"You should especially at such places as Turnbridge keep up a civility and dignity in your behaviour to the men of your own set, and a courteous good humour'd affability to the company in general whom you are little acquainted with, whereas I suspect, if you will examine your own conduct, you put on that killing cold look sometimes have to those you should be prevenante to, and a great deal more familiarity and ease than is either necessary or proper to the men about you..."
"I am sorry Ly E. Foster's cough is worse, indeed she should not stay in such a climate as this, every hour may be of the utmost consequence to her."
"I hope Lady Eliz does not loose sight of going abroad."
"For God's sake try to compose yourself...I hoped the Duke knew the whole of what you had lost and that it was all settled."
"Has John ever had any real symptoms of worms? If he has I imagine they might easily be got rid of."
"Is it necessary that you and your sister must be in every crowd-of every party-let off every balloon. You see I am cross."
"As a sister you have the most obvious obligation of guiding minds younger than your own and attached to you by the tenderest ties, into every sentiment of virtue and duty, and never to lead them by your example or your conversation into vice and folly."
"Do not say that money matters are hopeless, a firm resolution not to buy so much as a yard of ribband will soon effect wonders you are little aware of."
"Play at whist, commerce, backgammon, trictrac or chess but never at quinze, lou, brag, faro, hazard or any games of chance, and if you are pressed to play always make the fashionable excuse of being tied up not to play at such and such a game."
"In your dangerous path of life you have almost unavoidably amassed a great deal of useless trash - gathered weeds instead of flowers...You live so constantly in public you cannot live for your own soul."
"Here commences our correspondence, my dear Georgiana from which I propose myself more real pleasure than I can express, but the greatest part of it will vanish if I do not find you treat me with that entire Confidence that my heart expects."