She had literary talents that were developed under Sterne's influence, and she wrote many long and interesting letters from India, vividly describing the life and customs there.

[1] In 1754, the girls were sent to a boarding school in England, spending the holidays with their uncle and aunt, Thomas and Elizabeth Pickering.

They met frequently, exchanged miniature portraits, and Sterne's admiration seems to have turned into an obsession which he took no trouble to conceal.

[6] After her departure, Sterne brought out in his Sentimental Journey, which contains some extravagant references to her and, although their relationship was platonic, it aroused considerable interest.

[8] Eliza left her children in England with her grandfather, Charles Whitehill, who was now living in retirement at Worfield, Shropshire, and sailed to Bombay to join her husband.

[13] The final break came in January 1773 when, after discovering this, Eliza fled from his house and took refuge for a time on board HMS Prudent in the protection of the Commodore Sir John Clarke.

Eliza lived for a year in India with her uncle John Whitehill, then Chief at Masulipatnam and afterwards Governor of Madras.

[19] In May 1777 Eliza became seriously ill and in June 1778 she went to Bristol, where she may have stayed with her husband's kinsman, Sir William Draper.

She died at Clifton on 3 August 1778 and was buried in Bristol Cathedral, where there is an elaborate monument by the sculptor John Bacon.

[20] The inscription reads: "Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Eliza Draper in whom genius and benevolence were united; she died August 3rd.

[21] Daniel Draper remained in the service of the East India Company until 1782, when he retired to England and purchased an estate at Great Stanmore, Middlesex.