A Young Girls first visit to Bath in the 1790's

In November 1792, when she was about 15, Elizabeth Canning visited Bath in the company of her Aunt Bess and her Aunt Fanny, where they were the guests of her wealthy Uncle Rev. William Leigh and her Aunt Harriet Canning Leigh, who had taken a house for the season in Marlborough Buildings.

In one of her first letters, Elizabeth tells her mother that she is finding her Uncle a little hard to live with, as he was a Tory and opposed to proposals for Parliamentary Reform, while her family were Whigs. Indeed, her mother was a close friend of Richard Sheridan, a keen supporter of reform. In the same letter, she relates how she spent the previous weekend. On Friday evening, her Aunts had been invited to a party, to which they went at about seven O’clock, leaving Elizabeth at home with two young female companions who occupied themselves with crafts, card games, and, of course, gossip until nine O’clock, when they had supper and then sat in front of a blazing fire telling stories until bed. 

On Saturday, she and her Aunt Fan passed the day by drawing while her cousin Letitia read. In the evening, her Aunts went to another party, but her Uncle stayed at home with the girls. 

On Sunday, Elizabeth could not accompany her family to Church as she had a cold, so she "lost the pleasure of hearing Mr Leigh’s Sermon which they tell me was very much approved", This sermon was subsequently published as “A sermon preached in Bath, during the month of December 1792, at the parish church of Walcot, and the chapels of St Margaret and Queen-square pointing out the necessity of building a free church”. In the evening, the party was joined by Miss Linley (probably Sheridan’s wife's sister Jane Nash Linley, a noted singer), and after they had dined, they had "Music all the Evening."

On Monday, they were at home all day. The morning was spent studying, and in the evening, they played music, read, did needlework, and played their favourite card game, Casino, at which Elizabeth tells us she is "grown, a most knowing hand."

On Wednesday, Jenny Linley joined them at breakfast. Jenny was a sister to the famous singer Elizabeth Linley and the daughter of leading Bath musician Thomas Linley, who had died earlier that year. Jenny was a fine musician and teacher in her own right and lent Elizabeth Haydn’s lessons for practising.

The next day, the party were keenly anticipating a visit from Dr Bain, who had attended Elizabeth Linley Sheridan during her final illness.

'Miss L [Linley] leaves this place tomorrow morning with her father; it is very provoking she should be going so soon – who do you think we expect at any moment? No less a person than, than the charming Doctor; - when I heard he was expected today, I began to lament, the remains of Scabby Mouth, which I have so often mentioned, but lo! Just as I was beginning these lamentations, Miss [Jane Nash] Linley observed, that Dr Bain intended, going abroad, when he was married.  Married! We all cried and pray who has carried of[f] this prize, this soft, this [illegible]  Doctor. La Lady grin as much as you please of large fortune was the answer well the Scabby Mouth said I, since my chance is gone, you may grin as much as you please, there’s a story to tell the King of _______________ I was most agreeably surprised Yesterday (on returning from a jolting in the carriage) by your letter. You were a very good old lady for telling me all your manoeuvres at Isleworth so soon. I am sorry about the things, but it can not be helped – they took me to the [Lower Assembly] Rooms last Night [this was the first of the Fancy Balls which replaced the Cotillion Balls] but for the Novelty of the thing, I should have thought it very stupid, I saw a good many faces that I had seen before, among the rest Mrs Smith and one of the Miss Scots, who is turned into a Mrs Mc-Somebody, to the great delight of her Mama, my three Aunts, played Cards, & were all successful the little one [Bess Patrick?] brought home her Louis d’or, Jassun [sic] you. I was very much amused looking over the Table of Cassino, at which Aunt Fan played, and observing the faces & vexation of the losing party. We came home at ten o’clock – tomorrow I am to go to the undress Ball [a Fancy Ball]. .'

“at length a little past seven arrived and we set sail, were soon safe landed, at the Upper Rooms. By that time I felt all impatience to be in the Ball room, & was picturing to myself all the charms I could conceive, such a place to have, when we entered it. I was fully gratified, for to be sure I never saw so brilliant an assembly. It was amazingly crowded, although the minuets had not begun, so much so that we found some difficulty to get seats.”

After watching the Minuets

“there was a great humming & hawing whether or no I should dance. If I could get a partner, I felt at first as if I should be afraid but the sound of the music did so insinuate itself into my ears, that all idea of fear took itself off & I declared to Mrs Leigh  that I should like to dance, if I could get some mighty smart partner”

After a break for tea

“Mrs Leigh was not unmindful of her little niece, for she sent her good man to look for some dapper little personage for me & indeed he succeeded very well, for he soon brought us a Young Gentleman of about fifteen the smartest little mister you ever saw. When I perceived the gentleman I began to fear lest I should be obliged to accept him, but might have saved myself that trouble, for the pride of the old aunts was up at the idea of my making my first company with a lump of a boy”

After this unfortunate start

“Mr Leigh was dispatched after two or three dapper people that Mrs L had in her mind’s eye for me, among the rest Sir William Andre.”

Sir William was 32 and had become a Baronet when his brother was executed as a spy by the Americans.

“we were standing on the upper bench, so that we could all around the room to where we saw Mr Leigh rushing about till he got to Sir W and there was a little parleying and then they walked together as if coming towards us. Then my heart began to palpitate half afraid and yet wishing to dance but after being kept in suspense for some time Mr Leigh returned to us unsuccessful as for Sir William he had refused several ladies already & could not possibly dance then without offending them, another was engaged, & a third was tired, so among them your poor little pixie was obliged to content herself without cutting capers. Which indeed I did not much lament as, as the heat was so great that I almost doubt I should not have been able to have got down the dance, but the next time I go to a Ball now that I know the manoeuvres of it I shall get them to look out for a partner earlier in the evening, and then I shall have a better chance. Altogether I was very well satisfied with the evening’s amusements and came home in very good spirits, to supper, between eleven and twelve. I slept very well & dreamt all night of the fine rooms.”