My mother does not seem at all the worse for her journey, nor are any of us, I hope, though Edward seemed rather fagged last night, and not very brisk this morning; but I trust the bustle of sending for tea, coffee, and sugar, &c., and going out to taste a cheese himself, will do him good.

Letter 19.

I love the way the ladies of the house found errands for Edward to do!

People staying in lodgings in Bath were usually responsible for supplying their own servants and food: the houses they occupied usually only provided rooms and furniture. Any other services were not within the remit of the landlord.

So this explains why Edward was sent out to get provisions:-)

Here is an account submitted by the longest established of all the tea merchants in Bath, Lamb's of Stall Street, dated 1771.

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Lacon Lamb began trading in Stall Street in 1745,and in 1758 moved to a prime site for trading on the corner of the street.

Teeh business passed to his son Mark( together with his wife).

They were foremost among the tea merchants in Bath and were also agents for Twinings, the very famous London tea merchants. Go here for a history of that firm.