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## Wales 1774
In 1774, the Thrales went with [[Dr. Samuel Johnson]] on a tour of Wales.
## France 1775
In September 1775 there was a trip to Paris for:
1. [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester]];
2. [[Henry Thrale|Henry]];
3. [[Hester Maria Thrale|Queeney]] (the eldest child);
4. [[Dr. Samuel Johnson]]; and
5. [[The library and Streatham Worthies#10. Giuseppe Marc'Antonio Baretti - painted 1773|Joseph Baretti]].
### Coaching accident
On 27 September 1775 [[Henry Thrale]] narrowly escaped serious injury after being thrown from the coach during an accident.
> [!QUOTE] [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Thrale]] …
> The Banks of the [Seine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seine) however are surprizingly beautiful, & the whole Country carries an Air of Fertility that is inexpressibly delightful: to see Cherries, Apples, Grapes. Asparagus, Lentils & French Beans planted in large portions all around one, & inviting the Traveller to partake the Bounties of the Nation is so perfectly agreeable that one frets to see so many People **beg**, where one is morally certain nobody can starve.
>
> These Reflexions are interrupted by the Recollection of a Frightful Accident which befel the Carriage in which were Mr Thrale, Baretti[^1] and the Girl[^2] their Postillion fell off his Horse on a strong Descent, the Traces were broken, one of the Horses run over and the Chaise carried forwards with a most dangerous Rapidity, which Mr Thrale not being able to endure till somebody came up—jumped out with intent to stop the Horses for Baretti & Queeney—however he only hurt himself & they went on till Sam[^3]came up. who had been miserably embarrassed with a vicious Horse which had retarded him so long, and afterwards flung him.
>
> This was therefore a day of Distress, & my Master[^4] found himself so ill when we arrived at St Germains that the Surgeon he sent for, advised him to go on to Paris & get himself bled & take a good deal of Rest which he hoped would restore him.
>
> He left us therefore at St Germains & Mr Baretti kindly went with him to give him Assistance & pet us some Habitation to receive us at Paris.
>
> [[Dr. Samuel Johnson|Dr Johnson’s]] perfect unconcern for the Lives of three People who would all have felt for his, shocked and amaz’d me,—but that, as Baretti says, is true Philosophy; Mrs Strickland did not give it so kind a Name, I soon her Indignation towards him prevailing over her Friendship for me.
>
> We slept at St Germains where we had excellent Beds, & on the next day I perceived Queeney[^2] had hurt her Side in yesterday's Scuffle, but how much Reason have I to rejoyce that no more Harm befel her.
> [!QUOTE] Anecdotes of [[Dr. Samuel Johnson]] by [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Thrale]]:
> He[^5] gave himself no concern about accidents, which he said never happened.
>
> Nor did the running away of the horses on the edge of a precipice between Vernon and St. Denis, in France, convince him to the contrary, _"for nothing came of it,"_ he said, _"except that Mr. Thrale leaped out of the carriage into a chalk-pit, and then came up again looking **as white**!"_
>
> When the truth was, all their lives were saved by the greatest Providence ever exerted in favour of three human creatures; and the part Mr. Thrale took from desperation was the likeliest thing in the world to produce broken limbs and death.
### King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette
On 19 October the party were admitted to the Court of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette at Fontainebleau, and [[King Louis XVI & Queen Marie Antoinette|enjoyed dinner and an evening at the theatre with them]].
## See also
![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]]![[henry-thrale-1724-1781🔎#^henry-thrale-infoblock]]![[samuel-johnson-1709-1784🔎#^samuel-johnson-infoblock]] •
#history/person/BARETTI/giuseppe-marc-antonio-born-1719
#history/person/JOHNSON/samuel-born-1709
#history/person/SALUSBURY/hester-lynch-born-1741
#history/person/THRALE/henry-born-1724-1730
#history/person/THRALE/hester-maria-born-1764
#history/place/france
#history/place/wales
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[^1]: Giuseppe Marcantonio Baretti.
[^2]: Eldest child Hester Maria Thrale.
[^3]: Samuel Johnson.
[^4]: Henry Thrale.
[^5]: Samuel Johnson.