easy it is more than I am quite; for it is come out that the late Prince of Wales had bought them every one.

I have not yet had time to have your granite examined, but will next week. If you have not noticed to your sisters any present of Ormer shells, I shall contradict myself, and accept them for my Lady Lyttelton,' who is making a grotto. As many as you can send conveniently, and anything for the same use, will be very acceptable. You will laugh when I tell you, that I am employed to reconcile Sir George and Moore; the latter has been very flippant, say impertinent, on the former's giving a little place to Bower,' in preference to him. Think of my being the mediator!

The Parliament is to meet for a few days the end of this month, to give perfection to the Regency-bill. If the King dies before the end of this month, the old Parliament revives, which would make tolerable confusion, considering what sums have been laid out on seats in this. Adieu! This letter did not come kindly; I reckon it rather extorted from me, and therefore hope it will not amuse. However, I am in tolerable charity with you, and yours ever.

385. TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.

4

Arlington Street, May 21, 1754.

I DID not intend to write to you till after Thursday, when all your Boscawens, Rices, and Trevors are to dine at Strawberry Hill; but an event has happened, of which I cannot delay giving you the instant pleasurable notice; now will you, according to your custom, be guessing, and, according to your custom, guessing wrong; but lest you should from my spirits make any undutiful or disloyal conjectures for me, know, that the great Cû of the Vine is dead, and that John the first was yesterday proclaimed undoubted monarch. Nay, champion Dimmock himself shall cut the throat of any Tracy, Atkins, or Harrison, who shall dare to gainsay the legality of his

1 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Rich, Bart., and second wife of George Lord Lyttelton. She was separated from her husband, and died in 1795.-CUNNINGHAM. 2 Author of 'The World,' and some plays and poems. Moore had written in defence of Lord Lyttelton against the 'Letters to the Whigs;' which were not known to be Walpole's.-WALPOLE.

;

3 Archibald Bower, author of the 'History of the Popes '-died 1766.-CUNNINGHAM. The daughters of Mr. Montagu's uncle, John Morley Trevor, of Glynd in Sussex Anne, married to General Boscawen; Lucy, married to Edward Rice, Esq.; and Miss Grace Trevor, who was living at Bath in 1792.-WRIGHT.

5

Anthony Chute, Esq., of the Vine, Hants; who had been member for Newport, Hants.-WRIGHT.

title. In short, there is no more will than was left by the late Erasmus Shorter' of particular memory.

I consulted Madame Rice, and she advised my directing to you at Mrs. Wettenhall's: to whom I beg as many compliments as if she wrote herself "La blanche Whitnell." As many to your sister Harriot and to your brother, who I hear is with you. I am sure, though both you and I had reason to be peevish with the poor tigress, that you grieve with me for her death. I do most sincerely, and for her Bessy: the man-tiger will be so sorry, that I am sure he will marry again to comfort himself. I am so tired with letters I have written on this event, that I can scarce hold the pen. How we shall wish for you on Thursday-and shan't you be proud to cock your tail at the Vine? Adieu !

386. TO SIR HORACE MANN.

Strawberry Hill, May 23, 1754.

PRAY continue your Mémoires of the war of the Delmontis; I have received two tomes, and am delighted with them. The French and Irish Parliaments proceed so heavily, that one cannot expect to live to the setting up the first standard; and it is so long since the world has furnished any brisk event, that I am charmed with this little military entremets. My Lady Orford will certainly wish herself at Florence again on the behalf of her old friend; I always wish myself there; and, according to custom, she and I should not be of the same party: I cannot help wishing well to the rebellious. You ask, whether this Countess can deprive her son of her estate? -by no means, but by another child, which, at her age, and after the variety of experiments which she has made in all countries, I cannot think very likely to happen. I sometimes think her succession not very distant; she is very asthmatic. Her life is as retired as ever, and passed entirely with her husband, who seems a martyr to his former fame, and is a slave to her jealousy. She has given up nothing to him, and pays such attention to her affairs, that she will

1 Walpole's maternal uncle. See vol. i. p. lxvii.-CUNNINGHAM.

2 This alludes to the proceedings of a mad prior of the family of the Marchese Delmonti; who, with a party of ruffians, had seized upon a strong castle called Monte di Santa Maria, belonging to his brother the Marchese, and situated near Cortona. From hence he and his band ravaged the neighbouring country; and it was only with great difficulty that the troops of the Grand Duke of Tuscany succeeded in dislodging them.-DOVER.

3 The Marquis Delmonti.-WALPOLE.

soon be vastly rich. But I won't be talking of her wealth, when the chief purpose of my writing to-night is, to announce the unexpected riches and good fortune of our dear Mr. Chute,-I say our dear Mr. Chute, for though you have not reason to be content with him, yet I know your unchangeable heart—and I know he is so good, that if you will take this occasion to write him a line of joy, I am persuaded it will raccommode everything; and though he will be far from proving a regular correspondent, we shall all have satisfaction in the reestablishment of the harmony.-In short, that tartar his brother is dead; and having made no will, the whole, and a very considerable whole, falls to our friend. This good event happened but three days ago, and I wait with the utmost impatience for his return from the Vine, where he was at the critical instant. As the whole was in the tyrant's power, and as every art had been used to turn the vinegar of his temper against his brother, I had for some time lived persuaded that he would execute the worst purposes-but let us forgive him!

I like to see in the Gazette that Goldsworthy' is going to be removed far from Florence: his sting has long been out-and yet I cannot help feeling glad that even the shadow of a competitor is removed from you.

We are going to have a week of Parliament-not to taste the new one, of which there is no doubt, but to give it essence: by the Regency-bill, if the King had died before it had sat, the old one must have revived.

There is nothing else in the shape of news but small-pox and miliary fevers, which have carried off people you did not know. If I had not been eager to notify Mr. Chute's prosperity to you, I think I must have deferred writing for a week or two longer it is unpleasant to be inventing a letter to send so far, and must be disappointing when it comes from so far, and brings so little. Adieu!

387. TO SIR HORACE MANN.

Arlington Street, June 5, 1754. THOUGH I Wrote to you but a few days ago, when I told you of Mr. Chute's good fortune, I must send you a few lines to-night upon a particular occasion. Mr. Brand,' a very intimate friend of

1 Consul to Lisbon, [see vol. i. p. 158].-WALPOLE.

2 Thomas Brand, of the Hoo, in Hertfordshire, [vol. i. p. 17].-WALPOLE.

mine, whom I believe you have formerly seen in Italy, is just set out for Germany on his way to Rome. I know by long and uninterrupted experience, that my barely saying he is my friend, will secure for him the kindest reception in the world from you: it would not express my conviction, if I said a word more on that head. His story is very melancholy: about six or seven years ago he married Lady Caroline Pierpoint,' half-sister of Lady Mary Wortley;' a match quite of esteem: she was rather older than he; but never were two people more completely, more reasonably happy. He is naturally all cheerfulness and laughter; she was very reserved, but quite sensible and faultless. She died about this time twelvemonth of a fever, and left him, with two little children, the most unhappy man alive. He travels again to dissipate his grief: you will love him much, if he stays any time with you. His connections are entirely with the Duke of Bedford.

I have had another letter from you to-day, with a farther journal of the Delmonti war, which the rebels seem to be leaving to the Pope to finish for them. It diverted me extremely. Had I received this letter before Mr. Brand set out, I would have sent you the whole narrative of the affair of Lord Orford and Miss Nicoll; it is a little volume. The breach, though now by time silenced, was, I assure you, final.

We have had a spurt of Parliament for five days, but it was prorogued to-day. The next will be a terrible session from elections and petitions. The Oxfordshire' will be endless; the Appleby outrageous in expense. The former is a revival of downright Whiggism and Jacobitism; two liveries that have been lately worn indiscriminately by all factions. The latter is a contest between two young Croesus's, Lord Thanet and Sir James Lowther: that, a convert ;

5

1 Daughter of Evelyn, Duke of Kingston, by his second wife.-WALPOLE.

2 Lady Mary Wortley, in a letter to her daughter, of the 23nd of July, 1753, says, "The death of Lady Carolina naturally raises the mortifying reflection, on how slender a thread hangs all worldly prosperity! I cannot say I am otherwise much touched at it. It is true she was my sister, as it were, and in some sense; but her behaviour to me never gave me any love, nor her general conduct any esteem."WRIGHT.

3 See the Appendix to the last volume of this edition.-CUNNINGHAM.

4 This was the great Oxfordshire contest between the Jacobites and the Whigs. The candidates of the former party were Viscount Wenman and Sir Edward Turner, Bart.; those of the latter, Viscount Parker, eldest son of the Earl of Macclesfield, and Sir James Dashwood, Bart. Great sums were spent on both sides; in the election the Jacobites carried it; but on petition to the House of Commons, the ministers, as usual, seated their own friends.-DOVER.

5 Sackville Tufton, eighth Earl of Thanet [died 1786].-DOVER.

6 Sir James Lowther had succeeded his collateral relation, Henry third Viscount

this, an hereditary Whig. A knowing lawyer said, to-day, that with purchasing tenures, votes, and carrying on the election and petition, five-and-fifty thousand pounds will not pay the whole expense-it makes one start! Good night! you must excuse the nothingness of a supernumerary letter.

388. TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.

Strawberry Hill, Saturday, June 8, 1754.

By my computation you are about returned to Greatworth; I was so afraid of my letters missing you on the road, that I deferred till now telling you how much pleasure I shall have in seeing you and the Colonel' at Strawberry. I have long been mortified that for these three years you have seen it only in winter: it is now in the height of its greenth, blueth, gloomth, honey-suckle and seringahood. I have no engagement till Wednesday se'nnight, when I am obliged to be in town on law business. You will have this to-morrow night; if I receive a letter, which I beg you will direct to London, on Tuesday or Wednesday, I will meet you here whatever day you will be so good as to appoint. I thank the Colonel a thousand times. I cannot write a word more; for I am getting into the chaise to whisk to the Vine for two days, but shall be in town on Tuesday night. Adieu!

389. TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.

Strawberry Hill, June 29, 1754.

I SHALL take care to send your letter the first time I write to Mr. Bentley. It is above a fortnight since I heard from him. I am much disappointed at not having seen you yet; I love you should execute your intentions while you intend them, because you are a little apt to alter your mind, and as I have set mine on your seeing Strawberry Hill this summer, while it is in its beauty, you will really mortify me by changing your purpose.

It is in vain that you ask for news: I was in town two days ago, but heard nothing; indeed, there were not people enough either to

Lonsdale, in his vast estates. He became afterwards remarkable for his eccentricities, and we fear, we must add, for his tyranny and cruelty. Mr. Pitt created him Earl of Lonsdale, in the year 1784. He died in 1802.-Dover.

1 Colonel Charles Montagu.-CUNNINGHAM.