415. TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.

Arlington Street, May 4, as they call it, but the weather and the almanack of my feelings affirm it is December.

I WILL answer your questions as well as I can, though I must do it shortly, for I write in a sort of hurry. Osborn could not find Lord Cutts,' but I have discovered another, in an auction, for which I shall bid for you. Mr. Müntz has been at Strawberry these three weeks, tight at work, so your picture is little advanced, but as soon as he returns it shall be finished. I have chosen the marbles for your tomb; but you told me you had agreed on the price, which your steward now says I was to settle. Mr. Bentley still waits the conclusion of the session, before he can come amongst us again. Every thing has passed with great secrecy one would think the devil was afraid of being tried for his life, for he has not even directed Madame Bentley to the Old Bailey. Mr. Mann does not mend, but how should he in such weather?

We wait with impatience for news from Minorca. Here is a Prince of Nassau Welbourg, who wants to marry Princess Caroline of Orange: he is well-looking enough, but a little too tame to cope with such blood. He is established at the Duke of Richmond's, with a large train, for two months. He was last night at a great ball at my Lady Townshend's, whose Audrey will certainly get Lord George Lenox.' George Selwyn t'other night, seeing Lady Euston with Lady Petersham, said, "There's my Lady Euston, and my Lady us'd to't." Adieu!

MY DEAR SIR:

416. TO RICHARD BENTLEY, ESQ.

Arlington Street, May 6, 1755. Do you get my letters? or do I write only for the entertainment of the clerks of the post-office? I have not heard from you this month! It will be very unlucky if my last to you has miscarried,

1 Sir John, created Lord Cutts of Gowran in 1690, distinguished himself at the siege of Buda: he accompanied King William to England, was made a lieutenantgeneral, and died without issue in 1707. Sir Richard Steele dedicated to him his "Christian Hero." Lord Cutts married Mr. Montagu's grandmother; he was her third husband.-ED. 1837.

Lord George Lenox married Lady Louisa Ker, daughter of the Marquis of Lothian. Audrey married Captain Orme.-ED. 1837 and WRIGHT.

as it required an answer, of importance to you, and very necessary to my satisfaction.

I told you of Lord Poulet's intended motion. He then repented, and wrote to my Lady Yarmouth and Mr. Fox to mediate his pardon. Not contented with his reception, he determined to renew his intention. Sir Cordell Firebrace' took it up, and intended to move the same address in the Commons, but was prevented by a sudden adjournment. However, the last day but one of the session, Lord Poulet read his motion, which was a speech. My Lord Chesterfield (who of all men living seemed to have no business to defend the Duke of Newcastle after much the same sort of ill usage) said the motion was improper, and moved to adjourn. T'other Earl said, "Then pray, my Lords, what is to become of my motion ?" The House burst out a-laughing: he divided it, but was single. He then advertised his papers as lost. Legge, in his punning style, said, 'My Lord Poulet has had a stroke of an apoplexy; he has lost both his speech and motion." It is now printed; but not having succeeded in prose, he is turned poet-you may guess how good!

The Duke [of Cumberland] is at the head of the Regency—you may guess if we are afraid! Both fleets are sailed. The night the King went there was a magnificent ball and supper at Bedford House. The Duke was there: he was playing at hazard with a great heap of gold before him: somebody said he looked like the prodigal son and the fatted calf both. In the dessert was a model of Walton bridge in glass. Yesterday I gave a great breakfast at Strawberry Hill to the Bedford Court. There were the Duke and Duchess, Lord Tavistock and Lady Caroline, my Lord and Lady Gower, Lady Caroline Egerton, Lady Betty Waldegrave, Lady Mary Coke, Mrs. Pitt," Mr. Churchill and Lady Mary, Mr. Bap. Leveson," and Colonel Sebright. The first thing I asked Harry was, "Does

1 Member for the county of Suffolk. He died in 1759.-WRIGHT.

2 "It was," writes Lord Chesterfield to Mr. Dayrolles, on the 2nd of May, "an indecent, ungenerous, and malignant question, which I had no mind should either be put or debated, well knowing the absurd and improper things that would be said both for and against it, and therefore I moved for the House to adjourn. As you will imagine that this was agreeable to the King, it is supposed that I did it to make my court, and people are impatient to see what great employment I am to have; for that I am to have one, they do not in the least doubt, not having any notion that any man can take any step, without some view of dirty interest. I do not undeceive them. I have nothing to fear; I have nothing to ask; and there is nothing that I can or will have."-WRIGHT.

3 Daughter of Sir Henry Atkins, and wife of George Pitt, Baron Rivers.— CUNNINGHAM.

4 The Honourable Baptist Leveson, youngest son of the first Lord Gower.-WRIGHT

the sun shine?" It did; and Strawberry was all gold, and all green. I am not apt to think people really like it, that is, understand it; but I think the flattery of yesterday was sincere; I judge by the notice the Duchess took of your drawings. Oh! how you will think the shades of Strawberry extended! Do you observe the tone of satisfaction with which I say this, as thinking it near? Mrs. Pitt brought her French horns: we placed them in the corner of the wood, and it was delightful. Poyang has great custom: I have lately given Count Perron some gold fish, which he has carried in his post-chaise to Turin: he has already carried some before. The Russian minister has asked me for some too, but I doubt their succeeding there unless, according to the universality of my system, everything is to be found out at last, and practised everywhere.

I have got a new book that will divert you, called Anecdotes Littéraires it is a collection of stories and bon-mots of all the French writers; but so many of their bon-mots are impertinences, follies, and vanities, that I have blotted out the title, and written Misères des Sçavants. It is a triumph for the ignorant. Gray says (very justly), that learning never should be encouraged, it only draws out fools from their obscurity: and you know I have always thought a running footman' as meritorious a being as a learned man. Why is there more merit in having travelled one's eyes over so many reams of papers, than in having carried one's legs over so many acres of ground? Adieu, my dear Sir! Pray don't be taken prisoner to France, just when you are expected at Strawberry!

417. TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.

Arlington Street, May 13, 1755.

It is very satisfactory to me to hear that Miss Montagu was pleased with the day she passed at Strawberry Hill; but does not it silently reproach you, who will never see it but in winter? Does she not assure you that there are leaves, and flowers, and verdure? And why will you not believe, that with those additions it might look pretty, and might make you some small amends for a day or two

Like running footmen before coaches,

To tell the Inn what Lord approaches.-Swift.

I am surprised that Mr. Croker (usually so well informed in the manners and customs of the English) failed in finding out the meaning of a leading coach (see Lord Hervey's Memoirs).-CUNNINGHAM.

purloined from Greatworth? I wish you would visit it when in its beauty, and while it is mine! You will not, I flatter myself, like it so well when it belongs to the Intendant of Twickenham, when a cockle-shell walk is made across the lawn, and everything without doors is made regular, and everything riant and modern; for this must be its fate!' Whether its next master is already on board the Brest fleet, I do not pretend to say; but I scarce think it worth my while to dispose of it by my will, as I have some apprehensions of living to see it granted away de par le Roy. My Lady Hervey dined there yesterday with the Rochfords. I told her, that as she is just going to France, I was unwilling to let her see it, for if she should like it, she would desire Mademoiselle, with whom she lives, to beg it for her. Adieu!

418. TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.

May 19.

It is on the stroke of eleven, and I have but time to tell you, that the King of Prussia has gained the greatest victory2 that ever was, except the Archangel Michael's-King Frederick has only demolished the dragoness. He attacked her army in a strong camp on the 6th; suffered in the beginning of the action much, but took it, with all the tents, baggage, &c. &c. two hundred and fifty pieces of cannon, six thousand prisoners, and, they say, Prague since. The Austrians have not stopped yet; if you see any man scamper by your house, you may venture to lay hold on him, though he should be a Pandour. Marshal Schwerin was killed. Good night!

3

419. TO RICHARD BENTLEY, ESQ.

Strawberry Hill, June 10, 1755.

MR. MÜNTZ3 is arrived. I am sorry I can by no means give any commendation to the hasty step you took about him. Ten guineas were a great deal too much to advance to him, and must raise expec

1 Frances, Countess Waldegrave, is now (1857) refurnishing Strawberry Hill. It is impossible to restore completely this romance in lath and plaster, but much will be done, and in excellent taste.-CUNNINGHAM,

2 On the banks of the Moldaw near Prague.-CUNNINGHAM.

3 Upon Mr. Bentley's recommendation, Mr. Walpole had invited Mr. Müntz from Jersey, and he lived for some time at Strawberry Hill.—BERRY.

2

tations in him that will not at all answer.' You have entered into no written engagement with him, nor even sent me his receipt for the money. My good Sir, is this the sample you give me of the prudence and providence you have learned? I don't love to enter into the particulars of my own affairs; I will only tell you in one word, that they require great management. My endeavours are all employed to serve you; don't, I beg, give me reasons to apprehend that they will be thrown away. It is much in obscurity, whether I shall be able to accomplish your re-establishment; but I shall go on with great discouragement, if I cannot promise myself that you will be a very different person after your return. I shall never have it in my power to do twice what I am now doing for you; and I choose to say the worst beforehand, rather than to reprove you for indolence and thoughtlessness hereafter, when it may be too late. Excuse my being so serious, but I find it is necessary. You are not displeased with me, I know, even when I pout: you see I am not quite in good-humour with you, and I don't disguise it; but I have done scolding you for this time. Indeed, I might as well continue it; for I have nothing else to talk of but Strawberry, and of that subject you must be well wearied. I believe she alluded to my disposition to pout, rather than meant to compliment me, when my Lady Townshend said to somebody t'other day, who told her how well Mrs. Leneve was, and in spirits, "Oh! she must be in spirits: why, she lives with Mr. Walpole, who is spirit of hartshorn!"

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Princess Emily has been here :-"Liked it ?"—" Oh no!—I don't wonder; I never liked St. James's." She was so inquisitive and so curious in prying into the very offices and servants' rooms, that her [equerry] Captain Bateman was sensible of it, and begged Catherine not to mention it. He addressed himself well, if he hoped to meet with taciturnity! Catherine immediately ran down to the pond, and whispered to all the reeds, "Lord! that a princess should be such a gossip!" In short, Strawberry Hill is the puppet-show of the

times.

I have lately bought two more portraits of more portraits of personages in "Grammont," Harry Jermyn3 and Chiffinch: my Arlington Street is

1 Mark the then (1755) encouragement for art, and this from Horace Walpole.— CUNNINGHAM.

2 Bentley was at this time (1755) in Jersey, in exile for debt.-CUNNINGHAM.

3 Youngest son of Thomas, elder brother of the Earl of St. Albans. He was created

Baron Dover in 1685, and died without issue in 1708.-WRIGHT.

There were two Chiffinches, who are often confounded-Will Chiffinch and Tom