Two hundred and forty two years ago today this letter was on its way from Bath to London. The recipient was George Aust, 1741- 1829. The author, at present, is unknown. Aust was a civil servant for over fifty years, eventually rising to Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1790-1796. In the letter his friend, who had been to Bath for a cure, describes his experiences there: 'Bath June 7th : [17]84 Dear Aust, I shall turn my Back on this Place to Morrow, & have found so little (if any) Benefit from It, that I shall not hastily set my Face towards it again. I am endebted to yr regular Correspondence for the chief Epistolary Amusement I have had. - I hope to dine at Richmond on Thursday; alors comme alors, but I shall long regret the Time I have spent here now to no purpose. Mine is grown a more complicated Case than It was at first; but no Man Who is acquainted with this Place wd come to it for Health at Midsummer. It is hot, & in a Hole, till you get on the Hills wch. surround the City.' Internal evidence suggests the disgruntled author is also intimately connected with parliamentary affairs. He mentions, for example, Sir J Harris (James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury) and later states 'I do not clearly see my way through the present Sessions, & doubt the W ---s election will take up more time & Discussion that it deserves, & Both Sides will grow warmer about it.' A delightfully candid 'slice of life' from the unknown author whose initials appear to be JC. It may be possible to trace him with further research.