The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford — Volume 4
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Title: The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford — Volume 4
Author: Horace Walpole
Release date: January 1, 2004 [eBook #4919]
Most recently updated: December 28, 2020
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4919
Credits: This etext was produced by Marjorie Fulton
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LETTERS OF HORACE WALPOLE, EARL OF ORFORD — VOLUME 4 ***
This etext was produced by Marjorie Fulton.
For easier searching, letters have been numbered. Only the
page numbers that appear in the table of contents have been
retained in the text of letters. Footnotes have been regrouped
as endnotes following the letter to which they relate.
The Letters of Horace Walpole,
Earl of Orford:
Including Numerous letters Now First Published
From The Original Manuscripts.
In Four Volumes.
Vol. IV.
1770-1797.
Philadelphia: Lea And Blanchard.
1842.
C. Sherman & Co. Printers
19 St. James Street.
Contents Of Vol. IV.
[Those Letters now first collected are marked N.]
1770.
1. To Sir David Dalrymple, January 1.-Thanks for his "History
of Scottish Councils." The spirit of controversy the curse of
modern times. Attack on the House of Commons. Outcry against
grievances. Despotism and unbounded licentiousness--(N.) 25
2. To the same, Jan. 23.-Mr. Charles Yorke's rapid history.
Lord Chatham's attempt to enlarge the representation. Sir
George Savile and Mr. Burke's attack on the House of Commons.
Modern Catilines. Corruption of senators. Wilkes, Parson Horne,
and JUnius--[N.] 26
3. To George Montagu, Esq. March 31.-Print of Alderman
Backwell--28
4. To the same, May 6.-Backwardness of the season. Marriages.
Masquerades. New establishment at Almack's. Intercourse between
age and youth--28
5. To the same, June 11.-Description of Lord Dysart's house at
Ham--29
6. To the same, June 29.-Promising a visit on his way to Stowe.
Death of Alderman Beckford--31
7. To the same, July 1.-On not finding him at home--32
8. To the same, July 7.-Account of his visit to Stowe, Lines
addressed to Princess Amelia--33
9. To the Earl of Strafford, July 9.-Visit to Stowe, Alderman
Beckford's death--35
10. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 12.-Visit to Stowe--36
11. To George Montagu, Esq. July 14.-Reversion of Walpole's
place--37
12. To the same, July 15-Correcting a mistake in his last--38
13. To the same Oct. 3.-Fit of the gout. The gate of age--38
14. To the same, Oct. 16--39
15. To the Earl of Strafford, Oct. 16.-Convalescence. Dispute
with Spain--39
16. To the Earl of Charlemont, Oct. 17.-In answer to an
application on behalf of an artist, and a wish to be permitted
to read his tragedy--[N.] 40
17. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Nov. 15.-Soliciting his interest in
Cambridgeshire for Mr. Brand--41
18. To the same, Nov. 26.-Mr. Bentham's "History of Ely
Cathedral"--41
19. To the same, Dec. 20.-Mr. Essex's projected "History of
Gothic Architecture." Antiquarian Society. Dean Milles.
Gentlemen engravers at Cambridge--42
20. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Dec. 25.-Planting of
poplar-pines. Dryden's "King Arthur" altered by Garrick--43
21. To the same, Dec. 29.-Change in the French ministry.
Overthrow of the Duc de Choiseul. Banishment of the Duc de
Praslin. New law arrangements at home--44
1771.
22. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 10.-Suggestions for getting the
projected History of Gothic Architecture patronized by the
King--45
23. To the same, May -29.-Letters of Edward the Sixth--46
24. To the same, June 11.-On the various attacks upon his
writings. Archaeologia, or Old Women's Logic. Mr. Masters--47
25. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 17.-Visit to Ampthill.
Houghton Park. Mausoleum of the Bruces--[N.] 48
26. To the Earl of Strafford, June 20 . -Intended visit to
Paris. Madame du Deffand. New French ministry. The Duc
d'Aiguillon. Life of Cellini. Charles Fox--49
27. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, June 22.-On the cross to be erected
at Ampthill to the memory of Catherine of Arragon--50
28. To the same, June 24.-Thanks for some prints and letters--
51
29. To John Chute, Esq. July 9.-Account of his journey to
Paris--51
30. To the Hon. H. S, Conway, July 30.-French politics.
Distress at court. Vaudevilles against Madame du Barry.
Amusements at Paris. Gaillard's "Rivalit`e de la France et de
l'Angleterre"--52
31. To John Chute, Esq. Aug. 5.-Progress of English gardening
in France. New arr`ets. General distress. State of Le Soeor's
paintings at the Chartreuse. The charm of viewing churches and
convents dispelled. Shock at learning the death of Gray--55
32. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 11.-Reflection on the death
of Gray. Lady Beauchamp. Opium a false friend--57
33. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Aug. 12.-Reflections on the death of
Gray--58
34. To the Earl of Strafford, Aug. 25.-Climate of Paris. French
economy and retrenchment. Mademoiselle Guimard. Mademoiselle
Heinel. Suppression of the French Parliaments. Ruinous
condition of the palaces and pictures--59
35. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept. 7.-Return to England.
Deplorable condition of the French finances--61
36. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Sept. 10.-Thanks for some particulars
of Gray's death. Dr. James Browne. Gray's portrait--62
37. To the same, Oct. 12.-Mr. Essex's design for the cross at
Ampthill. Calvin and Luther--63
'38. To the same, Oct. 23.-Armour of Francis the First. Ancient
window from Bexhill. Tomb of Capoccio--63
1772.
39. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, January 7.-Effects of an
explosion of powder-mills at Hounslow--64
40. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 28.-Dean Milles. Relics of Gray.
Letters on the English nation. Garrick and his writings.
Wilkes's squint--65
41. To the same, June 9--66
42. To the same, June 17.-Thanks for some literary researches.
Letters of Sir Thomas Wyat. Lives of Leland, Hearne, and Wood.
Browne Willis. Peter Gore and Thomas Callaghan--66
43. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 22.-Panic occasioned by
Fordyce's bankruptcy. Cherubims. Exercise. Letters of Guy
Patin. Charles Fox's annuities. Lives of Leland, Hearne, and
Wood. Entry in Wood's Diary. Freemasonry. Peter Gore--68
44. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, July 7.-King Edward's letters.
Portrait of Gray. Death of Mr. West the antiquary. His
collections. Foote's comedy of "The Nabob"--70
45. To the same, July 28.-Archaeologia, or, Old Women's Logic.
Antiquarian Society. Life of Sir Thomas Wyat. William Thomas's
"Peleryne"--70
46. To the same, Aug. 25.-Thanks to Dr. Browne for a goar-stone
and seal belonging to Gray. Lincoln and York cathedrals. Roche
Abbey. Screen of York Minster--71
47. To the same, Aug. 28.-Indolence of age. inquiries after
some prints--72
48. To the same, Nov. 7.-Fit of the gout. Regret at not being
able to see Mr. Essex--73
49. To the same.-On the rapacity of a gentleman who had thinned
Mr. Cole's collection of prints--74
50. To the Countess of Ailesbury, Dec. 20.-Account of Reynal's
"Histoire Philosophique et Politique du Commerce des Deux
Indes"--74
1773.
51. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 8.-Mr. Masters's answer to
"Historic Doubts." Antiquarians. Freemasonry. Governor Pownall.
Edition of "M`emoires du Comte de Grammont." Dedication to
Madame du Deffand. Gray's "Odes"--75
52. To the same, Feb. 18.-Miscellaneous antiquities. Governor
Pownall's System of Freemasonry. Mrs. Marshall's "Sir Harry
Gaylove, or Comedy in Embryo"--77
53. To the Rev. William Mason, March 2.-Thanks for submitting
his collections for the "Life of Gray" to his correction.
Origin of the differences between them. Takes to himself the
chief blame in the quarrel--(N.) 78
(54. To the same, March 27.-Mason the author of "The Heroic
Epistle to Sir William Chambers." Account of Gray's going
abroad with him--79
55. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, April 7.-ArchaEologia, or Old Women's
Logic. Masters's answer to "Historic Doubts." Sale of Mr.
West's collections--80
56. To the same, April 27.@Character of authors. Shenstone's
and Hughes' "Correspondence." Declines acquaintance with Mr.
Gough. Scotch metaphysicians. Anstey's "New Bath Guide."
"Heroic Epistle." Oliver Goldsmith. Johnson's pension--81
57. To the same, May 4.-On being mentioned by the public orator
at Cambridge--82
58. To the same, May 29.--83
59. To Dr. Berkenhout, July 5.-Declining to supply materials
for a biographical notice of himself--84
60. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 30.-Visit to Houghton.
Deplorable state of his nephew's private affairs. Mortification
of family pride--84
61. To the Earl of Strafford, Sept. 24.-Journey to Houghton.
State of his nephew's affairs. Lady Mary Coke's ardour of
peregrination. Beatific print of Lady Huntingdon. Whitfield and
the Methodists. Death of the Duke of Kingston--85
62. To the same, Nov. 15.-Best way of contending with the folly
and vice of the world. Proposed tax on Irish absentees. Lady
Mary Coke's mortifications. Count Gage and Lady Mary Herbert--
86
63. To Lady Mary Coke.-On her ardour of peregrination--87
64. To the Hon. Mrs. Grey, Dec. 9.-Advice from Dr. Walpole to
Lady Blandford suffering from a fit of the gout--89
65. To Sir David Dalrymple, Dec. 14.-Thanks for his "Remarks on
the History of Scotland"--[N.] 90
1774.
66. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, May 4.-Reasons for his long silence.
Temptations to visit Strawberry. Fate of Mr. Bateman's
collection of curiosities. Conjectured fate of Strawberry--90
67. To the same, May 28.-Pennant's "Tour to Scotland and the
Hebrides." Ossian. Fingal's Cave. Brave way of being an
antiquary. Mr. Gough described. Fenn's "Original Letters."
Society of Antiquaries. Old friends--91
68. To the same, June 21.-Efficacy of James's powder. Old
friends in old age our best amusement. Flattery. Queen
Catherine's Cross at Ampthill--93
69. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 23.-On the General's tour of
military observation. Politics. Quebec-bill--94
70. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Aug. 15.-Account of his antiquarian
pursuits. Journey into Worcestershire. Matson. Gloucester
Cathedral. Monument of Edward the Second. Bishop Hooper's
house. Prinknash. Berkeley Castle. Murder of Edward the Second.
Thornbury Castle. The vicar of Thornbury--95
71. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 18.-On the General's
introduction to the King of Prussia. Account of his own journey
into Worcestershire--98
72. To the same, Sept. 7.-On the General's visit to the mines
of Cremnitz. Visit to Berkeley Castle. Lord Malton presented at
court in coal-black hair--99
73. To the same, Sept. 27.-Rejoices at the General's flattering
reception at foreign courts. Character of the Germans. Italian
women. Reasons for not taking a trip to Paris. French dirt. New
elections. Mode of passing his time--101
74. To the same, Sept. 28.-Cautions for his conduct at Paris.
Entreaty to take much notice of Madame du Deffand. Her
character. Wishes to have back his letters to her. Mademoiselle
de l'Espinasse. The Duchesse de Choiseul. Monsieur Buffon.
Comte de Broglie--103
75. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Oct. 11.-Elections. His nephew's
mental alienation--105
76. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 16.-New elections. Wilkes's
popularity. Charles Fox. Character of M. de Maurepas. Reasons
for not meeting him at Paris--106
77. To the same, Oct. 29.-On the General's being deprived of a
seat in the new Parliament. Objects to be seen at Paris. Church
of the Celestines. Richelieu's tomb at the Sorbonne. H`otel de
Carnavalet. Versailles. The Luxembourg. Pictures at the Palais
Royal. Church of the Invalids. St. Roch. The Carmelites. The
Val de Grace. The Sainte Chapelle. Tomb of Cond`e; and of
Cardinal Fleury--108
78. To the Countess of Ailesbury, Nov. 7.-Domestic news.
Marriages. Wilkes's popularity. Mr. Burke's success at Bristol.
"Wit-and-a-gamut." Comforts of old age--110
79. To the Earl of Strafford, Nov. 11.-Concert at Isleworth.
Leoni. The Opera. The Duchess of Kingston--112
80. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Nov. 12. Thanks for his
attentions to Madame du Deffand. American disturbances. General
Burgoyne's "Maid of the Oaks," The Duc de la Vali`ere.
Chevalier de Boufflers. Madame de Caraman. Madame de Mirepoix.
Abb`e Raynal. Mademoiselle de Rancoux. Le Kain. Mo]`e.
Preville. M. Boutin's English garden--112
81. To the same, Nov. 27.-Deaths. Disturbed state of America.
The Duchess of Kingston. French despotism. Madame du Deffand.
Opera. The Bastardella. Death of lord Holland--115
82. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Dec. 15.-Remonstrances from
America. Lord Chatham--118
83. To the same, Dec. 26.-The Prince de Conti. Proceedings of
the French Parliament. Petitions from America. Burke's
speeches. Duchesse de Lauzun. St. Lambert--119
84. To the same, Dec. 31.-Biblioth`eque du Roi. Abb`e
Barthelemi. Duc de Choiseul. "History of Furness Abbey"--121
1775.
85. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 9.-Nell Gwynn's letter. Strutt's
"Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants of England." Duke
Humphrey's skull at St. Albans--124
86. To the Hon. H . S. Conway, Jan. 15.-Party-men. Lord George
Germain. Mr. Burke. Lord Chatham. Marquis of Rockingham.
Operations of the Bostonians. General Gage. New Parnassus at
Batheaston. Bouts-rim`es. Lines on a buttered muffin, by the
Duchess of Northumberland. Lord Palmerston's poem on Beauty.
Rulhi`ere's Russian Anecdotes--124
87. To the same, Jan. 22.-Debate in the House of lords on Lord
Chatham's motion for withdrawing the troops from Boston. Plan
for cutting off all traffic with America. Illness of the Duke
of Gloucester. Committee of oblivion. Death of Dowdeswell and
Tom Hervey--[N.]
128
88. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, April 11.-Warm approbation of mason's
Life of gray. Verses by Lord Rochford, Anne Boleyn's brother--
129
89. To the same, April 25.-Mason's Life of Gray. "Peep in the
Gardens at Twickenham." Whitaker's History of Manchester.
Bryant's Ancient Mythology--132
90. To the same, June 5,-Genealogical inquiries. Blomefield's
Norfolk--134
91. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 9.-Projected trip to Paris.
American news. Story of Captain Mawhood, the teaman's son--136
92. To the same, August 9.-Preparations for a journey to Paris.
War between the Lord Chamberlain and Foote for refusing to
license his play--[N.] 137
93. To the Countess of Ailesbury, Aug. 17.-Journey to
Paris--138
94. To the same, Aug. 20.-Arrival at Paris. Madame du Deffand.
Madame Clotilde's wedding. M. Turgot's economy--139
95. To Mrs. Abington, Sept.-Regret at not knowing she was at
Paris. Compliment to her great merits as an actress--[N.) 140
96. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept. 8.-On Lady Ailesbury being
overturned in her carriage. Madame du Deffand. Lady Barrymore.
Madame de Marchais Madame de Viri. French opinion of our
dispute with America--140
97. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 6.-Illness of Madame du
Deffand. Economy and reformation of the bon-ton at Paris.
Horse-race on the Plain de Sablon. French politics, and
probable changes--142
98. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Dec. 10.-English version of Gray's
Latin Odes--144
99. To the Countess of Ailesbury, Dec. 11.-Trial of the Duchess
of Kingston. Le Texier's French readings--145
100. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Dec. 14.-Society of Antiquarians.
Opening of Edward the First's tomb. Prints from pictures at
Houghton--146
101. To Thomas Astle, Esq. Dec. 19.-On the attainder of George
Duke of Clarence, found in the Tower--147
1776.
102. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 26.-Subject of the Painting at
the Rose Tavern in Fleet-street. Attainder of George Duke of
Clarence--148
103. To Edward Gibbon, Esq. February.-Thanks for the first
volume of the "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"--[N.] 149
104. To the same, Feb. 14.-Panegyric on the first volume of the
"Decline and Fall"--[N.) 150
105. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, March 1.-On the old painting at the
Rose Tavern in Fleet-street. Antiquarian accuracy--151
106. To Dr. Gem, April 4.-French politics. Resistance of the
Parliament to the reformations of Messieurs de Malesherbes and
Turgot. Extraordinary speeches of the Avocat-G`en`eral. Our
dispute with America--151
107. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, April 16.-Death of the Rev. Mr.
Granger. Trial of Duchess of Kingston--153
108. To the same, June 1.-Mr. Granger's prints and papers
purchased by Lord Mountstuart--154
(109) To the same, June 11.-Vexations and disappointments of
the gout--155
110. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 30.-Gallery and beauty-room
at Strawberry. Lady Diana Beauclerk. His own talents and
pursuits. Picture of his mind--156
111. To the' Rev. Mr. Cole, July 23.-Thanks for the present of
a vase. Condolence on the ill state of his health--157
112. To the same, July 24.-Effects of General Conway's illness
on his own mind. Outliving one's friends. Mr. Penticross--158
113. To the same, Aug. 19.-Inquiries after Dr. Kenrick Prescot.
Death of Mr. Damer--159
114. To the same, Sept. 9.-Alterations at Strawberry. Lord
Carmarthen--160
115. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 31.-Folly and madness of
the dispute with America. Opening of Parliament. Prospect of a
war with France. Reasons for his retirement--(N.] 161
116. To the Earl of Strafford, Nov-. 2.-retirement. Effects of
our climate. Unhappy dispute with America. Prospect of war with
France--162
117. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Dec. 9.-Sir John Hawkins's "History
of Music"--163
1777.
118. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Feb. 20.-Purchase of the shutters of
the altar at St. Edmondsbury--163
119. To the same, February 27.-Requesting the loan of some of
his manuscripts. Dr. Dodd--165
120. To the same, May 22.-Continuance of his nephew's mental
illness. Love of Cambridge. Inclination to a sequestered life.
Charles the Fifth--166
121. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, June 19.-Macpherson's success with
Ossian the ruin of Chatterton. Rowley's pretended poems.
Chatterton's death--167
122. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 10.-M. d'Agincourt's
"Histoire de l'Art par les Monumens." The "Hayssians." Madame
de Blot. M. Schomberg. Madame Necker's character of Walpole--
168
123. To Robert Jephson, Esq. July 13.-Advice respecting the
representation of his tragedy. Success of Sheridan's School for
Scandal--[N.] 169
124. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Aug. 31.-True wisdom. Illness of the
Duke of Gloucester. Monasteries. Recluse life. "In six weeks my
clock will strike sixty!"--171
125. To the same, Sept. 16.-Thanks for the loan of manuscripts.
Nonsense. Sincerity the foundation of long friendship. Sir
Joshua Reynolds's portrait of Soame Jenyns. Duke of
Gloucester's recovery--172
126. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept. 16.-Description of a
machine called the Delineator. His "unlearnability"--173
127. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Sept. 22.-Suggesting a life of
Thomas Baker, author of "Reflections on Learning." Burnet's
History. Christiana, Queen of Sweden. Calvin--173
128. To Robert Jephson, Esq. Oct. 1.-"The Law of Lombardy"--
[N.] 175
129. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 5.-Apologies for not
meeting him at Goodwood. Disinclination to move from home.
"Threescore to-day State of his health and spirits. His idea of
old age--176
130. To Robert Jephson. Esq. Oct. 17.-Criticism on ,The Law of
Lombardy"--[N.] 177
131. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Oct. 19.-Burnet's History. Duke
Lauderdale. Sir John Dalrymple and Macpherson's Histories.
Friendship. Efficacy of the bootikins--179
1778.
132. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, March 31.-Politics. Life of Mr.
Baker--181
133. To the same, April 23.-Life of Baker. Pennant's "Welsh
Tour." Warton's "History of English Poetry." Lord Hardwicke's
State Papers." Aspect of the times--181
134. To the same, May 21.-Restoration of Popery. Lord Chatham's
interment. Intercourse with Chatterton. Detection of his
forgeries--182
135. To the Rev. William Mason.-Visit from Dr. Robertson. The
Doctor's contemplated "History of King William." Macpherson's
and Sir John Dalrymple's scandals--184
136. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, June 3.-Patriots and politics. Dr.
Franklin. Lord Chatham's interment. His merits and demerits.
Mr. Tyrwhit. Chatterton's forgeries--186
137. To the same, June 10.-His political creed, and opinion of
parties and political men. Life of Mr. Baker. Rowley and
Chatterton. Mat. Prior. Mr. Hollis. Mrs. Macauley--187
138. To the Countess of Ailesbury, June 25.--Mr. Conway's
governorship. Cuckoos and Nightingales. Robbery of Mrs. Clive--
189
139. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 8.-Suggesting the propriety
of pacification with America. Conduct of the Opposition. French
neutrality. Partition of Poland--189
140. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, July 12.-Projected Life of Mr.
Baker. Dr. Kippis's "Biographia Britannica." Addison's
character of Lord Somers. Whitgift and Abbot. Archbishop
Markham. Calvin and Wesley. Popery and Presbyterianism.
Churches and convents--191
141. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 18.-Sailing of the Brest
fleet. Political prospects--192
142. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, July 24.-Answer to the attack upon
him prefixed to Chatterton's works. Gray's tomb, and Mason's
epitaph--193
143. To the same, Aug. 15.-Rowley's pretended poems. Walpole's
defence. Bishop Walpole'-s tomb. Baker's Life--194
144. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug, 21.-Recollections of
Sussex. Arundel Castle,. Tombs of the Fitzalans. Knowle and
Penshurst. Summer Hill. Leeds Castle. Goldsmiths' Company.
Aquatic adventure--195
145. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Aug. 22.-Chatterton. Attacks on
Walpole in the Critical Review. Lord Hardwicke and the Carleton
Papers. Literary squabbles. The "Old English Baron." Lady
Craven's "Sleep Walker." A literary adventure--196
146. To the same, Sept. 1.-Attack on him in the Critical
Review. Cabal in the Antiquarian Society. Their Saxon and
Danish discoveries, and Roman remains. Value of Mr. Cole's
collections,. Visit from Dr. Kippis--198
147. To the same, Sept. 18.-"Biographia Britannica." Life of
the first Lord Barrington. Anecdote of the present peer--200
148. To the same, Oct. 14.-Defence of Sir Robert Walpole
against a charge of instigating George the Second to destroy
the will of his father. Lord Chesterfield--202
149. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 23.-Account of his
pursuits--201
150. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Oct. 26.-Completion of his Life of
Mr. Baker--204
151. To the same, Nov. 4.-Attack of the gout. Character of Mr.
Baker--205
152. To Lady Browne. Nov. 5.-Reflections on the state of' his
health. Lady Blandford's obstinacy--[N.] 206
153. To the same, Dec. 18.-Admiral Keppel's trial. Lord Bute.
Lord George Germaine. Lady Holderness, Lord and Lady
Carmarthen--[N.] 207
154. To the Earl of Buchan, Dec. 24.-Reply to inquiries after
certain portraits--[N.) 209
155. To Edward Gibbon, Esq.-On the attacks upon his History of
the Decline and Fall--[N.] 210
1779.
156. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 3.-Life of Mr. Baker. Damage
done by the great tempest on New-year's morning. Death of
Bishop Kidder. Tamworth Castle. Lord Ferrers's passion for
ancestry--211
157. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Jan. 9.-Mrs. Miller's follies at
Batbeaston. Ennui. His recent illness. Prospects of old age.
Admiral Keppel's trial. Grecian Republics. Anecdote of Sir
Robert Walpole. Character of Sir William Meredith--212
158. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 15.-Life of Mr. Baker. Pamphlet
respecting Chatterton--213
159. To the same, Jan. 28.-Reasons for not printing his
pamphlet concerning Chatterton. His Hieroglyphic Tales--214
160. To the same, Feb. 4.-Answer to Mr. Cole's objections to
his Life of Baker--215
161. To the same, Feb. 18.-His opinion of Hasted's history of
Kent. Lord Ferrers and Tamworth Castle--215
162. To Sir David Dalrymple, March 12.-Thanks for his "Annals."
Portrait of Duns Scotus--[N.] 216
163. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, March 28.-Swinburne's Travels in
Spain. The Alhambra. Character of Moses. Cumberland's Masque of
"Calypso." Design of a chimney-piece, by Holbein--216
164. To Edward Gibbon, Esq.-Congratulations on his
,Vindication" of his "History"--[N.] 218
165. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, April 12.-St. Peter's portrait.
Richard the Third. Truth and Falsehood. Murder of Miss Ray by
Mr. Hackman. Shades of madness. Solace in books and past ages--
218
166. To the same, April 20.-Plates after designs by Rubens--219
167. To the same, April 23.-Sale of the pictures at Houghton--
220
168. To Mrs. Abington.-Regrets at not being able to accept an
invitation--(N.) 220
169. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, May 21.-History of the Abbey of Bec.
Keate's "Sketches from Nature." Church of Reculver. Person of
Richard the Third--221
170. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, May 22.-Attack on Jersey. War in
America. Masquerades. Festino at Almack's. Lord Bristol's
wonderful calf--221
171. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, June 2.-State of his health.
Strictures on a volume of the ArchEeologia. Pictures at
Houghton--222
172. To the Rev. Dr. Lort, June 4.-Painted shutters from the
altar of St. Edmund's Bury--224
173. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 5.-Disturbances in Ireland.
Spanish declaration of war. Treatment of America. Tickell's
"Cassette Verte." Dr. Franklin. "Opposition Mornings." Story of
Mrs. Ellis and her great O--225
174. To the same, June 16.-Sailing of the Brest fleet.
Probability of a war with Spain. Dispute with America. State of
Ireland. F`ete at the Pantheon--227
175. To the Hon. George Hardinge, July 4.-Thanks for drawings
of Grignan. Letters of Madame de S`evign`e, and of her
daughter. Character of Coulanges--229
176. To the Countess of Ailesbury, July 10.-Conjectures on the
political state of the country. Washington and Clinton.
Difficulty of conquering America--230
177. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, July 12.-Value of the pictures at
Houghton--231
178. To the same, Aug. 12.-Thanks for offer of painted glass.
"History of Alien Priories"--232
179. To the Countess of Ailesbury, Aug. 13.-Situation of
General Conway in Jersey. Constancy of Fortune. Folly of
pursuing the war with America--233
180. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept. 12.-Alarms for the
General's situation at Jersey. Battle between Byron and
D'Estaing. Mrs. Damer. Eruption of Vesuvius--234
181. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Nov. 16.-Mr. Tyson's Journal. Old
Gate at Whitehall. Nichols's "Alien Priories." Rudder's
"History of Gloucestershire." Removal of old friends--235
182. To the same, Dec. 27.-Earl-bishops. Lord Bristol. Rudder's
"History of Gloucestershire"--236
1780.
183. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 5.-Congratulations on his
providential escape. Count-bishops. Old painting found in
Westminster-abbey. Tomb of Ann of Cleve. Reburial of the crown,
robes, and sceptre of Edward the First. Sale of the Houghton
pictures--237
184. To Robert Jephson, Esq., Jan. 25.-His opinion of Mr.
Jephson's "Count of Narbonne;" and advice on casting the parts-
-[N.] 238
185. To the same, Jan. 27.-Tragedy of the "Count of Narbonne."
Warburton's panegyric on the "Castle of Otranto." Miss Aikin's
"Fragment." "Old English Baron"--[N.] 240
186. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Feb. 5.-New volume of the
"Biographia Britannica." Characters of Dr. Birch, Dr.
Blackwell, and Dr. John Brown. Dr. Kippis's threat. Cardinal
Beaton. Dr. Bentley. Mr. Hollis. Barry the painter--242
187. To the same, Feb. 27.-Rodney's victory. Home prospects.
Party divisions. History of Leicester. Cit`e des dames.
Christiana of Pisa--242
188. To the same, March 6.-Thanks for his portrait in glass.
History of Leicester. Dean Mills and Mr. Masters. Pine-apples.
Charles the Second's gardener--245
189. To the same, March 13.-Atkyns's Gloucestershire.
Hutchinson's Northumberland. Romantic Correspondence of Hackman
and Miss Ray. Sir Herbert Croft's,,Love and Madness."
Chatterton. "The Young Villain." Lord Chatham. Lady Craven's
"Miniature Picture"--246
190. To the same, March 30.-Projected reform of the House of
Commons. Annual parliaments--248
191. To the same, May 11.-Death of Mr. Tyson, and of his old
friend George Montagu. His character--248
192. To the same, May 19.-Character of Joseph Spence--249
193. To the same, May 30.-Altar-doors from St. Edmundsbury.
Annibal Caracci and Shakspeare--250
194. To Mrs. Abington, June 11.-Invitation to Strawberry Hill--
[N.] 251
195. To the Earl of Strafford, June 12.-Lord George Gordon and
the Riots of London. Persecutions under the cloak of religion.
Highway robberies. Ambition the most detestable of passions--
251
196. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, June 15.-London riots. Black
Wednesday. Lord George Gordon in the Tower. Electioneering
rioting in Cambridgeshire. Mr. Banks and the Otaheitans--253
197. To the same, July 4.-Wishes his having written the Life of
Baker to be kept a secret--254
198. To the Earl of Strafford, Sept. 9.-Folly of election
contests. Dissatisfaction in the fleet--255
199. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Sept. 27.-Electioneering agitations.
Death of Madame du Deffand--256
200. To the same, Oct. 3.-"Life of Mr. Baker." Dr. James Brown-
-256
201. To the same, Nov. 11.-Mr. Gough's "Topography."
Introduction of ananas. Rose, the gardener of Charles the
Second. Folly of antiquaries--257
202. To the same, Nov. 24.-Mr. Gough's "Topography." Character
of Mr. Pennant. Dean Milles. Judge Barrington. Dulness and
folly of Grose's Dissertations. Rejoices in having done with
the professions of author and printer, and determines to be
comfortably lazy--259
203. To the same, Nov. 30.-In answer to a request for a copy of
his Anecdotes for the University Library at Cambridge.
Character of Mr. Gough--260
204. To Sir David Dalrymple, Dec. 11.-Thanks for communications
for his Anecdotes of Painters. Hogarth. Colonel Charteris.
Archbishop Blackbourne and Mrs. Conwys. Poetry of Richardson
and Hogarth. Lord Chesterfield's story of Jervas. Origin of Oil
Painting--261
205. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Dec. 19.-Friendship between Gray and
Mason. Views of Strawberry Hill--263
1781.
206. To Sir David Dalrymple, Jan. 1.-Thanks for his favourable
opinion of his father. His reasons for not writing his Life.
Dr. Kippis and his "Biographia Britannica." Lord Barrington and
the Hamburgh lottery. Character of King William. Folly of
reburying the crown and robes of' Edward the First. "Dr.
Johnson's notions of sacrilege--[N.) 264
207. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Jan. 3.-On the General's speech
for quieting the troubles in America. Melancholy state of the
country--266
208. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Feb. 7.-Death of Lady Orford at
Pisa--268
209. To the same, Feb. 9.-Wolsey's negotiations. Value of Mr.
Cole's manuscripts. Character of Mr. Pennant--269
210. To the Earl of Buchan, Feb. 10.-Thanks for being elected
member of the Scotch Society of Antiquaries--[N.] 269
211. To Sir David Dalrymple, Feb. 10.-Sir William Windham and
Sir Robert Walpole, Archibald Duke of Argyll. Scotch Society of
Antiquaries. Portrait of Lady Mary Douglas--[N.] 270
212. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, March 2.-Reasons for becoming a
member of the Scotch Antiquarian Society--272
213. To the same, March 5.-Inquiries after Lord Hardwicke's
"Walpoliana"--273
214. To the same, March 29.-Contradicting a report of Mr.
Pennant's indisposition of mind--273
215. To the same, April 3.-Lord Hardwicke's "Walpolianae"--274
216. To the same, May 4.-Character of Dr. Farmer. On his own
rank as an author. Pennant's "Welsh Tour." Madame du Deffand's
dog Tonton--274
217. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, May 6.-Relief of Gibraltar. Lord
Cholmondeley at Brookes's. Winnings of Charles Fox and
Fitzpatrick. India affairs. Arrival of Tonton--275
218. To the same, May 28.-Scotch thistles. French politics.
Resignation of Necker. Proposals for a pacification with
America. Charles Fox and the Marriage-bill. Folly of retiring
from the world--277
219. To the same, June 3. 'Projected French attack on Jersey.
Siege of Gibraltar. "The Young William Pitt's" first display.
Mr. Bankes. Theatricals. Consequences of lord Cornwallis's
victories--279
220. To the Earl of Strafford, June 13.-Visit from Mr. Storer--
281
221. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, June 16.-Sir Richard Worsley's
History of the Isle of wight. Nichols's Life of Hogarth. "AEdes
Strawberrianae." Miseries of having a house worth being seen--
282
222. To the Earl of Charlemont, July 1.-On Mr. Preston's poems-
-[N.] 284
223. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, July 7.-Orthodoxy and heterodoxy--
284
224. To the same, July 26--286
225. To the Earl of Strafford, Aug. 31.-Difficulty of sending
an entertaining letter. Mason's English Garden. Marriage of
Lord Althorp--286
226. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept. 16.-Their long and
uninterrupted friend- ship. Madame du Deffand's papers. Henley
bridge--287
227. To John Nichols, Esq. Oct. 31.-Criticisms on his Life of
Hogarth--288
228. To Robert Jephson, Esq. Nov. 7.-On his tragedy of "The
Count of Narbonne"--[N.] 290
229. To the same, Nov. 10.--[N.] 292
230. To the same, Nov. 13.--[N.] 293
231. To the same, Nov. 18.--[N.] 293
232. To the Hon. H. S. Conway,- Nov. 18.-On Mr. Jephson's
tragedy of "The Count of Narbonne"--294
233. To Robert Jephson, Esq. Nov. 18.-Favourable reception of
"The Count of Narbonne"--[N.] 295
234. To the Earl of Strafford, Nov. 27.-Surrender of the
British forces at York Town. Gloomy forebodings of the
consequences. General spirit of dissipation--296
235. To the Earl of Buchan, Dec. 1.-British disgraces in
America. Ancient portraits--[N.) 297
236. To Robert Jephson, Esq. Dec. 3.-On his expression of
dissatisfaction at some alterations in the scenes of his play--
[N.] 299
237. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Dec. 30.-The gout described. Etching
of Browne Willis. Character of Mr. Gough. Mr. George Steevens.
Rowley and Chatterton controversy--299
1782.
238. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Jan. 27.-Interview with, and
characters of Mr. Gough and Mr. Steevens--302
239. To the same,. Feb. 14.-Thanks for the loan of some
manuscripts. Society of Antiquaries. Description of his
regimen. His great nostrum--303
240. To the same, Feb. 15.-Specimen of Mr. Gough's "Sepulchral
Monuments." Antiquarian solemnities ridiculed. Count-bishop
Hervey. Martin Sherlock the English traveller--304
241. To the Rev. William Mason.-New French translation of the
Elder Pliny. Common jargon of Poetry--307
242. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Feb. 22.-Rowley and Chatterton
controversy--308
243. To the Hon. George Hardinge, March 8.-On the success of
General Conway's motion for putting an end to the American war-
-309
244. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, March 9.-Character of Dr. Farmer.
Declaration of war by the Emperor against the Crescent.
Ambition and interest under the mask of religion--310
245. To the same, April 11.-His preference of English to Latin
inscriptions. Mason's Archaeological Epistle to Dean Milles.
Melancholy death of Mr. Chamberlayne. Dr. Glynn--310
246. To the same, May 24.-On his own illness. The Chatterton
controversy--312
247. To the same, June 1.-Bishop Newton's Life. Pratt's "Fair
Circassian." Cumberland's "Anecdotes of Painters in Spain"--313
248. To John Nichols, Esq., June 19.-Dr. Henry Bland the
translator of Cato's speech into Latin--315
249. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, June 21.-Old age and solitude.
Marivaux and Cr`ebillon. Multiplicity of writers. Errors in
Nichols's "Select Poems"--315
250. To the same, July 23.-Merits of Nichols's "Life of
Bowyer." Dr. Mead. Carteret Webb. Great men. Dr. Birch's
Catalogue of Manuscripts in the British Museum--316
251. To the Earl of Strafford, Aug. 16.-Inclemency of the
season. Robberies. Comte de Grasse. Mrs. Clive's declining
health. Philosophy of deceiving one's self--317
252. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 20.--[N.] 318
253. To the Earl of Buchan, Sept. 15.-Dr. Birch's Catalogue.
Mr. Tyrwhitt's book on the Rowleian controversy--[N.] 319
254. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept. 17.-On the General's being
appointed Commander-in-chief. His new coke ovens--319
255. To the Earl of Strafford, Oct. 3.-General Elliot's success
at Gibraltar. Necessity of peace. Increase of highway
robberies. Mr. Mason--320
256. To the Rev. Mr. Cole, Nov. 5.--On Mr. Cole's illness. His
death--321
1783.
257. To George Colman, Esq. May 10.-Thanks for his translation
of Horace's Art of Poetry--322
258. To the Earl of Buchan, May 12.-Congratulations on the
success of the Scotch Antiquarian Society. Roman remains.
Biography of illustrious men. Account of John Law. Papers in
the Scotch college at Paris, and paintings in the Castle of
Aubigny--N.) 324
259. To the Hon. George Hardinge, May 17.-Sir Thomas Rumbold's
Bill of pains and penalties--325
260. To the Earl of Strafford, June 24.-Visits of the French to
England. Their Anglomanie. George Ellis. Beau Dillon.
"Antoinette." Mr. Mason. Fashionable life--326
261. To the same, Aug. 1.-Complains of his own inactivity and
indifference. Speculations on the peace. Lord Northesk. Shock
of an earthquake--328
262. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 15.-Addresses of the Irish
Volunteers. Political speculations. Mr. Fox--330
263. To the same, Aug. 27.--[N.) 331
264. To the Earl of Strafford, Sept. 12.-Visit to Astley's
theatre. Sir William Hamilton. Mr. Mason's new discoveries in
painting. Pursuit of health--332
265. To the same, Oct. 11.-Disturbed state of Ireland.
Parliamentary reform. Yorkshire Associations Leaders of
friction. Lord Carlisle's tragedy. Lord and lady Fitzwilliam--
334
266. To Lady Browne, Oct. 19.-State of his health--[N.)336
267. To Governor Pownall, Oct. 27.-Observations on a defence of
Sir Robert Walpole by the Governor. Character of Home. Sylla.
Liberality of George the First and Second to his father--336
268. To the same, Nov. 7.-The same subject--339
269. To the Earl of Strafford, Nov. 10.-Situation of Ireland.
Flowers of Billingsgate. Flood and Grattan. Meeting of the
delegates. Difference between correcting abuses and removing
landmarks. Character of Mr. Fox--339
270. To the same, Dec. 11.-Excellence of letter-writing.
India-bill. Air-balloons. Mrs. Siddons. Lord Thurlow. Flood and
Courtenay--341
1784
.
271. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, May 5.-Congratulations on the
General's retirement from place and Parliament. Mr. Fox's
election--342
272. To Miss Hannah More, May 6.-Thanks for her poem, the "Bas
Bleu"--[N.] 344
273. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, May 21.-Epitaph-writing. Lord
Melcombe's Diary. Cox's Travels--345
274. To the Countess of Ailesbury, June 8.-Voltaire's Memoirs.
Lord Melcombe's Diary. Severity of the weather--346
275. To the Hon. H. S. Conway', June 25.-Benefits of retirement
from public life. Local grievances. Highway robberies. The good
things of life--347
276. To the same, June 30.-Inclemency of the season. Death of
Lady Harrington. Lunardi's balloon--348
277. To the Earl of Strafford, Aug. 6.-Earthquakes. The Deluge.
Uncertainty of human reasoning--349
278. To Mr. Dodsley, Aug. 8.-Declining Mr. Pinkerton's offer of
a dedication to him of his Essay on Medals--[N.] 350
279. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 14.-Frequency of robberies
in his neighbourhood. Disturbed state of Ireland--350
280. To John Pinkerton, Esq. Aug. 24.-Thanks for the perusal of
his poems, and invitation to Strawberry Hill--[N.] 351
281. To the Earl of Strafford, Sept. 7.-Congratulations on the
return of fine weather. Air-balloons and highwaymen. Sir
William Hamilton. Mrs. Walsingham. Mrs. Damer's "sleeping
dogs"--351
282. To John Pinkerton, Esq. Sept. 27.-Criticisms on his
comedy--N.] 353
283. To the same, Oct. 6.-Further criticisms on his comedy.
Remarks on English poetry, on poetry in general, and on the
drama--N.] 354
284. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 15.-Speculations on the
perfection of air-balloons--356
285. To John Pinkerton, Esq. Oct. 28.-His own publications and
literary career. Remarks on Mr. Pinkerton's projected History
of the Reign of George the Second--[N.] 358
286. To Miss Hannah More, Nov. 13.-On the poems and conduct of
Ann Yearsley, the Bristol tnilkwoman. Danger of encouraging her
poetical propensity. Fate of Stephen Duck--360
287. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Nov. 28.-Continental politics.
Poetical epistle to Lady Lyttelton--362
1785.
288. To Miss Hannah More, April 5.-In answer to an anonymous
letter from Miss More, ridiculing the prevailing adoption of
French idioms into the English language--363
289. To John Pinkerton, Esq. June 22.-Strictures on "Heron's
Letters of Literature." Mr. Pinkerton's proposed amendment of
the English language. Lady Mary Wortley Montague. Mr. Hume and
Mr. Gray--[N.] 365
290. To the same, June 26,-Further criticisms on Heron's
"Letters." Definition and exemplification of grace. Remarks on
Waller, Milton, Cowley, Boileau, Pope, and Madame de S`evign`e-
-[N.] 367
291. To the same, July 27.-Declining to print Greek authors at
the Strawberry Hill press--[N.] 371
292. To the same, Aug. 18.-Declines to print an edition of the
Life of St. Ninian--[N.] 372
293. To the same, Sept. 17.-Advising him not to reply to the
critiques of anonymous adversaries--[N.] 372
294. To George Colman, Esq. Sept. 19.-On sending him a copy of
the Duc de Nivernois' translation of his "Essay on Modern
Gardening"--[N.] 374
295. To the Earl of Buchan, Sept. 23.-Literary stores in the
Vatican, and in the Scottish College at Paris. Mr. Herschell's
discoveries--[N.] 374
296. To John Pinkerton, Esq. Sept. 30.-Advice on his intended
publication of Lives of the Scottish Saints. His opinion of
Bishop Headley. Reflections on his own life--[N.] 376
297. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 6.-Jarvis's window at New
College. Blenheim. Beau Desert. Stowe. "The Charming Man."
Boswell's "Tour to the Hebrides"--377
298. To the Earl of Charlemont, Nov. 23.-Order of St. Patrick--
(N.] 379
299. To Lady Browne, Dec. 14.-Last illness and death of Kitty
Clive. Lord John Russell's marriage--[N.] 379
1786.
300. To Miss Hannah More, Feb. 9.-On her poem of "Floria,"
dedicated to him--380
301. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 18.-Account of his visit to
the Princess Amelia at Gunnersbury. Stanzas addressed to the
Princess. Her answer. Purchase of the Jupiter Serapis and Julio
Clovio--381
302. To Richard Gough, Esq. June 21.-Thanks for the present of
his "Sepulchral Monuments." The Duc de Nivernois' translation
of his "Essay on Gardening"--383
303. To the Earl of Strafford, Aug. 29.-The new bridge at
Henley. Mrs. Damer's colossal masks. Visit from Count Oginski.
Out-pensioners of Bedlam. Lord George Gordon. Archbishop
Chicheley and Henry the Fifth--384
304. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Oct. 29.-Two Charades by Colonel
Fitzpatrick. Precocity of Robert Stewart, afterwards Marquis of
Londonderry--386
305. To the Right Hon. Lady Craven, Nov. 27.-Apologies for not
having written, and thanks for a drawing of the Castle of
Otranto--387
1787.
306. To Miss Hannah More, Jan. 1.-With a present of "Christine
de Pise." Her "Cit`e des Dames." Mrs. Yearsley--388
307. To the Right Hon. Lady Craven, Jan. 2.-On her ladyship's
travels. Sir John Mandeville. Lady Mary Wortley. Peter the
Hermit--389
308. To Miss Hannah More, Feb. 23.-Christina's 11 Life of
Charles the Fifth"--390
309. To the Rev. Henry Zouch, March 13.-Proposing to return the
letters he had received from him--[N.) 391
310. To Miss Hannah More, June 15.-The Irish character. Miss
Burney--(N.] 391
311. To the Hon, H. S. Conway, June 17.-Expected visit from the
Princess Lubomirski. "The Way to keep Him"--393
312. To the Earl of Strafford, July 28.-St. Swithin. The Duke
of Queensberry's dinner to the Princess de Lamballe. Mrs.
French's marble pavement. Lord Dudley's obelisk. Miss Boyle's
carvings--394
313. To Miss Hannah More, Oct. 14.-Ingratitude of Anne Yearsley
to her. Mrs. Vesey. Dr. Johnson's Letters. Bruce's Travels.
Gibbon's History. Figaro--395
314. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Nov. 11.-On the small Druidical
temple presented by the States of Jersey to the General.
Stonehenge--397
1788.
315. To Thomas Barrett, Esq. June 5.-Gibbon's "Decline and
Fall." Sheridan's speech against Mr. Hastings--398
316. To the Earl of Strafford, June 17.-General Conway's comedy
of "False Appearances." Sheridan's speech against Mr. Hastings-
-399
317. To Miss Hannah More, July 4. Newspaper reading. General
Conway's play--401
318. To the same, July 12.-On his own writings. Authorship
after seventy. Voltaire at eighty-four. Fate of his last
tragedy. Mrs. Piozzi. Pipings of Miss Seward and Mr. Hayley--
402
319. To the Earl of Strafford, Aug. 2.-On a reported discovery
of new letters of Madame de S`evign`e. Letters of the Duchess
of Orleans. Druidical temple from Jersey--404
320. To John Pinkerton, Esq. Aug. 14.-Criticism on his Ode for
the Scottish Revolution Club--[N.) 405
321. To Miss Hannah More, Aug. 17.-Rumoured discovery of new
letters of Madame de S`evign`e. Library of Greek and Latin
authors at Naples--[N.] 406
322. To the Earl of Strafford, Sept. 12.-Account of the
Druidical temple at Park- place. The Duchess of Kingston's
will--407
323. To Miss Hannah More, Sept. 22.-Ingratitude of Mrs.
Yearsley. Education of the Great. Walpolia'na. Virtuous
intentions. Enthusiasts and quack- doctors--408
324. To the Right Hon. Lady Craven, Dec. 11.-Wisdom of retiring
from the world in time. Voltaire. Lord Chatham. Mr. Anstey.
King of Prussia's Memoirs. Poverty of the French language, as
far as regards verse and pieces of eloquence--[N.] 411
1789.
(325. To the Miss Berrys. Feb. 2.-Acceptance of an invitation.
Expressions of delight on being in their society--[N.] 413
326. To the same, March 20.-Madame de la Motte's M`emoire
Justificatif. General illumination for the King's recovery.
Hairs of Edward the Fourth's head--[N.] 413
327. To Miss Hannah More, April 22.-Darwin's Botanic Garden.
Loves of the Plants. Success of General Conway's comedy--[N.]
414
328. To the Miss Berrys, April 28.-Darwin's Botanic Garden. His
poetry characterized--[N.]415
329. To the same, June 23.-Destruction of the Opera-house by
fire. The nation tired of Operas. "The room after." Mr. Batt
and the Abb`e Nicholls--[N.] 416
330. To Miss Hannah More, June 23.-On her poem of Bishop
Bonner's Ghost. Offers to print it at Strawberry Hill. Bruce's
Travels--[N.] 418
331. To Miss Berry, June 30.-Arabian Nights. Bishop Atterbury.
Sinbad the Sailor versus AEneas. Mrs. Piozzi's Travels. King's
College Chapel. Effects of criticism and comparison. Pageantry
of popery--[N.] 419
332. To Miss Hannah More, July 2.-Thanks for permission to
print "Bishop Bonner's Ghost." Account of his fall. Gratitude
to Providence for his lot--421
333. To Miss Berry, July 9.-Recovery from his fall. Present
state of France. Tumults at Versailles on the reported
resignation of Necker. Marshal Broglio appointed
commander-in-chief Camp round Paris. Mutinous disposition of
the army. Voltaire's correspondence. His letters to La
Chalotais--422
334. To Miss Hannah More, July 10.-"Bishop Bonner's Ghost"--425
335. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 15.-Dismissal of Necker.
Paris in an uproar. Storming and destruction of the Bastille.
Speculation on the probable results. The Duke of Orleans and
Mirabeau--425
336. To Miss Hannah More, July 20.-Result of her "double
treachery." A visit from Bishop Porteiis. The visit returned--
427
337. To Miss Berry, July 29.-Anarchy in Paris. Account of La
Chalotais. Treachery of Calonne. Character of the Duc de
Vrilli`ere. St. Swithin's day. Predicts the fall of Necker--
(N.] 428
338. To John Pinkerton, Esq. July 31.-Remarks on his Inquiry
into the early History of Scotland"--(N.] 431
339. To Miss Hannah More, Aug. 8.-On sending her copies of
"Bonner's Ghost."
Complains of letters--[N.] 432
340. To John Pinkerton, Esq., Aug. 14.-Confesses his want of
taste for the ancient
histories of nations. Remarks on the different modes of
treating antiquities--[N.] 433
341. To the same, Aug. 19.-Compliments him on his strong and
manly understanding. Account of his own studies--[N.] 434
342. To Richard Gough, Esq. Aug. 24.-Strictures on the injuries
done to Salisbury cathedral by the recent alterations--435
343. To the Miss Berrys, Aug. 27.-Illness of the Countess of
Dysart. Richmond and Hampton Court gossip--(N.) 436
344. To the same. Sept. 4.-On their declining a visit to
Wentworth House. The Duke of Clarence at Richmond. Miss
Farren's Beatrice. Account of Lady Luxborough. Wentworth Castle
described. Violences in France. Destruction of chateaus in
Burgundy. Assemblage of deserters round Paris. Patience of Lady
Dysart under her suffering. Mademoiselle d'Eon in petticoats--
[N.] 437
345. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept. 5.-Thanks to him for a
poem. Death of Lady Dysart. Terrible situation of Paris.
Predicts that the kingdom will become a theatre of civil wars--
440
346. To Miss Hannah More, Sept. 7.-Congratulation on the
demolition of the functions of the Bastille. The `Etats a mob
of kings. Time the composer of a good constitution. Negro
slavery. Suggests the possibility of relieving slaves by
machine work. Utility of starting new game to invention.
Barrett's History of Bristol. The Biographia Britannica and
Chatterton--441
347. To the same, Nov. 4.-Death of Lady Dysart and Lord
Waldegrave. Mrs. Yearsley's Earl Goodwin. Death of Mr. Barrett.
Succedaneum for negro labour. Suggests the propriety of Mr.
Wilberforce's starting the abolition of slavery to the `Etats.
Character of the `Etats--444
1790.
348. To Miss Hannah More, Feb. 20.-With his contribution to a
charitable subscription--446
349. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 25.-Charles Fox and the
Westminster gridiron. Puerile pedantry of the French `Etats.
Destruction of the statues of Louis Quatorze. Bruce's Travels--
[N.) 447
350. To the Earl of Strafford, June 26.-Reflections on the
state of France. Consciences of tyrants. Luther and Calvin.
Fate of projectors--448
351. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 1.-Bruce's Travels. French
barbarity and folly. Grand Federation in the Champ de Mars.
Rationality of the Americans. Franklin and Washington. A great
man wanted in France. Return of Necker. His insignificance--
[N.] 448
352. To Miss Berry, July 3,-His alarm at their design of
visiting Italy. Atrocities of the French `Etats. Good-humoured
speech of Marie Antoinette. Winchester Cathedral. Netley Abbey.
Visit from the Duchess of Marlborough--[N.] 450
353. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 9.-Peace of Spain. Miss
Gunning's reported match with Lord Blandford--452
354. To the Earl of Strafford, Aug. 12.-Lord Barrymore's
exhibitions at the Richmond theatre. Reflections on the
progress of the French Revolution--452
355. To Sir David Dalrymple, Sept. 21.-Pictures at Burleigh.
Shakspeare Gallery. Macklin's Gallery--454
356. To the Miss Berrys, Oct. 10.-On their departure for Italy.
Regrets at the loss of their society--[N.] 455
357. To the same, Oct. 31.-Burke's "Reflections." Calonne's
"Etat de la France"--[N.] 457
358. To the same, Nov. 8.-Pacification with Spain and Brabant.
Earl Stanhope and the Revolution Club. Mr. Burke's "Reflections
on the French Revolution" characterized. Visit from the Prince
of Furstemberg--[N.] 458
359. To Miss Berry, Nov. 11.-Mr,,;. Damer's departure for
Lisbon. Effects of Burke's pamphlet on Dr. Price. Mr. Merry's
"Laurel of Liberty." The Della Crusca school of poetry
described--[N.] 460
360. To the Miss Berrys, Nov. 18.-Character of the Bishop of
Arras. Dr. Price's talons drawn by Mr. Burke. Revolution Club
exploded--[N.) 461
361. To the same, Nov. 27.-Anxiety for a letter from Florence--
[N.] 463
362. To Miss Agnes Berry, Nov. 29.-Thanks for her letter.
Correggio. Guercino, a German edition of Guido. Lord Stanhope's
speech against Calonne's book. Dr. Price's answer to Burke.
Reasons for creating Mr. Grenville a peer. Richmond arrivals.
Duke of Clarence. Mrs. Fitzherbert. Duke of Queensbury. Madame
Griffoni. Works of Massaccio. Fra Bartolomeo. Benvenuto
Cellini's Perseus--464
363. To the Miss Berrys, Dec. 20.-Character of Mr. Burke's
"Reflections." Mrs. Macaulay's reply to it--[N.] 465
1791.
364. To Miss Berry, Jan. 22.-Recovery from a severe illness.
Death of Mrs. French. Illness of George Selwyn--[N.] 466
365. To the Miss Berrys, Jan. 29.-Effects of his late illness.
Picture of himself. Death and character of George Selwyn.
Mademoiselle Pagniani. Story of Miss Vernon and Martindale. The
Gunninghiad. Visit from Mr. Batt. Overthrow of the French
monarchy. The Duchess of Gordon and Mr. Dundas--[N.] 468
366. To Miss Berry, Feb. 4.-Regrets at their absence, and
anxiety for their return. Destructive tempest. The rival
Opera-houses. Taylor's pamphlet against the Lord Chamberlain--
(N.) 470
367. To the same, Feb. 12. -Hi@ anxiety for their return, but
resolution not to derange their plans of economy. Comte de
Coigny. Instability of the present government of France. Horne
Tooke's libel in the House of Commons. Christening of Miss
Boycot--(N.] 472
368. To Miss Agnes Berry, Feb. 13.-Narrative of the history of
a marriage supposed to have been likely to take place between
Miss Gunning and the Marquis of Blandford--[N.] 474
369. To the Earl of Charlemont, Feb. 17.-On a surreptitious
edition of The Mysterious Mother, published at Dublin--[N.] 476
370. To Miss Agnes Berry, Feb. 18.-Codicil to Gunning's story.
Opening of the Pantheon. Dieu et mon Droit versus Ich Dien--
(N.] 477
371. To the Miss Berrys, Feb. 26.-More of the Gunnings: Arrival
of Madame du Barry to recover her jewels. The King of France's
aunt stopped from leaving France. Majesty of the mob. The
Monster. Gibbon's account Of Necker in retirement; and opinions
of Burke's Reflections. Madame du Barry and the Lord Mayor.
Recovery of her jewels. Jerningham's poetry--(N.) 479
372. To the same, March 5.-London unknown to Londoners. "Who is
Sir Robert Walpole?" Destruction of the Albion Mills. Automaton
snuff-box [N.] 481
373. To Miss Berry, March 19.-Mrs. Gunning's letter to the Duke
of Argyle--[N.] 484
374. To the Miss Berrys, March 28.-King's message on the
situation of Europe. Blusterings of the Autocratrix. Bounces
and huffs of Prussia. Royal reconciliation. Taylor and the Lord
Chamberlain. Prosecution of the Gunnings. Gunnilda's letter to
Lord Blandford--(N.) 486
375. To Miss Berry, April 3.-On her fall down a bank at Pisa.
Kemble and Mrs. Siddons. Mrs. Damer's reception at Elvas. Death
of Dr. Price. Outrageous violence of the National Assembly.
Paine's answer to Burke--[N.] 488
376. To the same, April 15.-Lady Diana Beauclerc's designs for
Dryden's Fables. War with Russia. Madame du Barry dining with
the Prince of Wales. Increased population of London. Story of
the young woman at St. Helena. A party at Mrs. Buller's
described--[N.) 490
377. To Miss Berry, April 23.-Resignation of the Duke of Leeds.
Progress of the repairs at Clivedon. The abolition of the
slave-trade rejected. Captain Bowen's pamphlet against
Gunnilda. Hannah More and the Gretna Green runaway. Lord
Cholmondeley's marriage. Indian victory--(N.] 492
378. To the same, May 12,-Congratulations on her recovery.
Earnest wish to put them in possession of Clivedon during his
life. Unhappy quarrel between Mr. Burke and Mr. Fox. Mrs.
Damer's arrival from Spain--[N.] 495
379. To the same, May 19.-Thanks for her punctuality in
writing. Advantages of resources in one's self. Internal armour
more necessary to females than weapons to men. Duchesse de
Brissac. Duc de Nivernois. Hastings's impeachment. The Countess
of Albany in London. Her presentation at court. Her visit to
the Pantheon--[N.] 497
380. To the same, May 26.-The Duchess of Gordon's journal of a
day. Arrival of Sir William Hamilton with the Nymph of the
Attitudes. Strictures on Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson.
Johnson's abuse of Gray. Burke's "Letter to a member of the
National Assembly." His character of Rousseau. Lodge's
"Illustrations of British History" panegyricised. Lord Mount-
Edgcumbe's bon-mot on M. d'Eon--[N.] 500
381. To the Miss Berrys, June 2--"This is the note that nobody
wrote." Interview with, and description of, Madame d'Albany--
[N.] 504
382. To the same, June 8.-Frequency of highway robberies. The
birthday. Madame d'Albany. Mrs. Fitzherbert. Mrs. Cosway. Lally
de Tollendal's tragedy. French politics. Rage for building in
London. Visit to Dulwich College--[N.] 505
383. To the same, June 14. Mrs. Hobart's rural breakfast. Dr
Beattie. Malone's Shakspeare--[N.] 508
384. To Miss Berry-, June 23.-Madame du Barry at Mrs. Hobart's
breakfast. Dr. Robertson's "Disquisition." French anarchy.
Madame d'Albany at the House of Lords--[N.] 510
385. To the same, July 12.-Calonne in London. Attack of the
rheumatism--[N 512
386. To the Miss Berrys, July 26.-Tom Paine in England, Crown
and Anchor celebration of the French Revolution. Birmingham
riots. Flight of the King of France to, and return from,
Varennes. Marriage of the Duke of York. Catherine of Russia.
Bust of Mr. Fox--[N.] 512
387. To Miss Berry, Aug. 17.-Spirit of democracy in
Switzerland. Peace with Russia. M. de Bouill`e's bravado. Sir
William Hamilton's pantomime wife. Antique statues--[N.) 514
388. To the Miss Berrys, Aug. 23.-Miss Harte and her attitudes.
Conversation with Madame du Barry. Account of a boat-race. The
soi-disante Margravine in England--[N.] 516
389. To the same, Sept. 11.-Lord Blandford's marriage. Sir W.
Hamilton married to his Gallery of Statues. Successes in India-
-[N.] 517
390. To the same, Sept. 18.-Mrs. Jordan. Miss Brunton's
marriage. Lord Buchan's jubilee for Thomson. Character of the
"Seasons." Danger of returning to England through France--[N.]
519
391. To the same, Sept. 25.-Valombroso. Ionian antiquities.
Egyptian pyramids. Mr. Gilpin and Richmond Hill--[N.) 520
392. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Sept: 21.-The French emigrants
at Richmond. Progress of the French Revolution. The Legislative
Assembly. The King's forced acceptance of the new constitution.
Predicts the flight of La Fayette and the Lameths. Condorcet
turned placeman. Character of Mirabeau--(N.] 522
393. To Miss Hannah More, Sept. 29.-State of his health. The
Bishop of London's charity sermon. Miss Berrys. Anxiety for
their safe return from Italy. Miss Burney. Mrs. Barbauld's
Verses on the Abolition of the Slave-trade--[N.) 523
394. To Miss Berry, Oct. 9.-Anxiety for their safe return.
Account of a visit to Windsor Castle. St. George's chapel. The
new screen. Jarvis's window. West's paintings. Story of Peg
Nicholson. Thanks for their disinterested generosity in
returning to England. The Bolognese school. General Gunning and
the tailor's wife--[N.] 526
395. To John Pinkerton, Esq. Dec. 26.-His feelings and
situation on his accession to the title of Earl of Orford--[N.]
--528
1792.
396. To Miss Hannah More, Jan. 1.-Increase of trouble and
business occasioned by his accession to the title--529
397. To Thomas Barrett, Esq., May 14.-Darwin's Triumph of
Flora"--530
398. To Miss Hannah More, Aug. 21.-The Massacre of Paris.
Butcheries at the Tuilleries. Tortures of the King and Queen.
Heroic conduct of Madame Elizabeth. Thankfulness for the
tranquillity of England. Mrs. Wolstoncroft's "Rights of Women."
Gratitude for past comforts, and submission to his future lot--
[N.] 531
399. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Aug. 31.-Detail of French
Atrocities. Anecdotes of the Duchess of York. State of his
health--533
1793.
400. To Miss Hannah More, Feb. 9.-French horrors. Beheading Of
Louis the Sixteenth. Assignats. Diabolical conduct of the Duke
Of Orleans. heroism of Madame Elizabeth. Sublime sentence of
Father Edgeworth. Speculations on the future--535
401. To the same, March 23.-On her -' Village Politics." French
atheism. Massacre of Manuel. Condorcet's new constitution--538
402. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, June 13.-On parties and
party-men. Injury done to the cause of liberty by the French
republicans--540
403. To the same, July 17.-Sultriness of the season. English
felicity, French atrocities. Separation of Maria Antoinette
from her son--541
404. To the Miss Berrys, Sept. 17.-Reminds them of his first
introduction to them--[N.] 542
405. To the same, Sept. 25.-Visit of the Duchess of York to
Strawberry Hill--[N.] 543
406. To the same, Oct. 6.-Inertness of the grand alliance
against France--[N.] 544
407. To Miss Hannah More, Oct.-On the answer to her pamphlet
against M. Dupont. Atrocities of the French atheists--[N.] 546
408. To the Miss Berrys, Oct. 15.-Arrest of the Duchesse de
Biron, and of the Duchesse de Fleury. Execution of Marie
Antoinette. The Duchesse de la Vali`ere--[N.] 547
409. To the same, Nov. 7.-Murder of Maria Antoinette. Loss of
Lord Montagu and Mr. Burdett in the falls of Schaflhausen.
Suicide of Mr. Tickell. "Death an endless sleep." Mr. Lysons'
Roman Remains. Account of his Own readings--[N.] 549
410. To Miss Berry, Dec. 4.-Visit to Haymarket Theatre. Young
Bannister in "The Children of the Wood." The Comte de Coigni.
Fate of the Duc de Fleury--[N.] 552
411. To the same, Dec. 13.-Reported successs of Lord Howe, and
the Duke of Brunswick. Quarrel between Robespierre and
Barr`ere. Fate of Barrave, Orleans, and Brissot. Mr.
Jerningham's play. Character of Mrs. Howe--(N.] 553
1794.
412. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, Jan. 16.-On the gloomy prospect
of affairs. Jasper Wilson's Letter to Mr. Pitt--555
413. To Miss Berry, April 16.-Successes in Martinico. Mrs.
Piozzi's "British Synomymes." Mr. Courtenay's verses on him--
[N.] 556
414. To Miss Hannah More, April 27.-An invitation to meet Lady
Waldegrave--556
415. To the Miss Berrys, Sept. 27.-Visit to Mrs. Damer's new
house. Her bust of Mrs. Siddons. Canterbury. A Ghost story.
Lord Holland's buildings at Kingsgate. Recommends them to
visit Mr. Barrett at Lee--(N.) 558
416. To Miss Berry, Oct. 7.-On the advisability of her
accepting a situation at court--(N.] 561
417. To the Miss Berrys, Oct. 17.-On their visit to Mr. Barrett
at Lee--(N.] 563
418. To the Rev. Mr. Beloe, Dec. 2.-On his intending to
dedicate his translation of aulus Gellius to Lord Orford--
564
1795.
419. To Miss Hannah More, Jan. 24.-With his subscription to the
fund for promoting the dispersion of the Cheap Repository
Tracts. Death of Condorcet, Orleans, etC. Justice of
Providence--565
420. To the same, Feb. 13.-On receiving some ballads written by
her for the Cheap Repository. Bisliol) Wilson's edition of
the Bible presented to her by Lord Orford--566
421. To William Roscoe, Esq. April 4.-On his sending him a copy
of his Life of Lorenzo de Medici--567
422. To the Hon. H. S. Conway, July 2.-The Queen's expected
visit to Strawberry Hill--569
423. To the same, July 7.-Account of the Queen's visit to
Strawberry Hill--569
1796.
424. To Miss Berry, Aug. 18.-Mr. and Mrs. Conway. Madame
Arblay's "Camilla." Arundel Castle. Monuments of the
Fitzalans. Account of a visit from Mr. Penticross--[N.] 570
425. To the same, Auff. 24.-Arundel Castle. Chapel of the
Fitzalans--[N.) 572
426. To Miss Hannah More, Aug. 29.-Giving an account of his
health; and expressing gratitude to God for the blessings he
enjoys--573
427. To Richard Gough, Eq. Dec. 3.-Thanking him for
the second volume of his "Sepulchral Monuments"--574
(428. To Miss Berry, Dec. 15.-Account Of the debates in the
House of Commons on the Loan to the Emperor. Death of Lord
Orford--[N.] 575
1797
429. To the Countess of Ossory, Jan. 13--576
End of Volume IV.
Letter 1 To Sir David Dalrymple.(1)
Arlington Street, Jan. 1, 1770. (page 25)
Sir,
I have read with great pleasure and information, your History
of Scottish Councils. It gave me much more satisfaction than I
could have expected from so dry a subject. It will be perused,
do not doubt it, by men of taste and judgment; and it is happy
that it will be read Without occasioning a controversy. The
curse of modern times is, that almost every thing does create
controversy, and that men who are willing to instruct or amuse
the world have to dread malevolence and interested censure,
instead of receiving thanks. If your part of our country is at
all free from that odious spirit, you are to be envied. In our
region we are given up to every venomous mischievous passion,
and as we behold all the public vices that raged in and
destroyed the remains of the Roman Commonwealth, so I wish we
do not experience some of the horrors that brought on the same
revolution. When we see men who call themselves patriots and
friends of liberty attacking the House of Commons, to what,
Sir, can you and I, who are really friends of liberty, impute
such pursuits, but to interest and disappointed ambition! When
we see, on one hand, the prerogative of the Crown excited
against Parliament, and on the other, the King and Royal Family
traduced and insulted in the most shameless manner, can we
believe such a faction is animated by honesty or love of the
constitution? When, as you very sensibly observe, the authors
of grievances are the loudest to complain of them, and when
those authors and their capital enemies shake hands, embrace,
and join in a common cause, which set can we believe most or
least sincere? And when every set of men have acted every
part, to whom shall the well-meaning look up? What can the
latter do, but sit with folded arms and pray for miracles?
Yes, Sir, they may weep over a prospect of ruin too probably
approaching, and regret a glorious country nodding to its fall,
when victory, wealth, and daily universal improvements, might
make it the admiration and envy of the world? Is the Crown to
be forced to be absolute? Is Caesar to enslave us, because he
conquered Gaul? Is some Cromwell to trample on us, because
Mrs. Macaulay approves the army that turned out the House of
Commons, the necessary consequence of such mad notions? Is
eloquence to talk or write us out of ourselves? or is Catiline
to save us, butt so as by fire? Sir, I talk thus freely,
because it is a satisfaction, in ill-looking moments, to vent
one's apprehensions in an honest bosom. YOU Will not, I am
sure, suffer my letter to go out of your own hands. I have no
views to satisfy or resentments to gratify. I have done with
the world, except in the hopes of a quiet enjoyment of it for
the few years I may have to come; but I love my country, though
I desire and expect nothing from it, and I would wish to leave
it to posterity, as secure and deserving to be valued, as I
found it. Despotism, or unbounded licentiousness, can endear
no nation to any honest man. The French can adore the monarch
that starves them, and banditti are often attached to their
chief; but no good Briton can love any constitution that does
not secure the tranquillity and peace of mind of all.
(1) Now first collected.
Letter 2 To Sir David Dalrymple.(2)
Arlington Street, Jan. 23, 1770. (page 26)
Sir,
I have not had time to return you the enclosed sooner, but I
give you my honour that it has neither been out of my hands,
nor been copied. It is a most curious piece, but though
affecting art has very little; so ill is the satire disguised.
I agree with you in thinking it ought not to be published yet,
as nothing is more cruel than divulging private letters which
may wound the living. I have even the same tenderness for the
children of persons concerned; but I laugh at delicacy for
grandchildren, who can be affected by nothing but their pride-
-and let that be hurt if it will. It always finds means of
consoling itself.
The rapid history of Mr. Yorke is very touching.(3) For
himself, he has escaped a torrent of obloquy, which this
unfeeling and prejudiced moment was ready to pour on him. Many
of his survivors may, perhaps, live to envy him! Madness and
wickedness gain ground--and you may be sure borrow the chariot
of virtue. Lord Chatham, not content with endeavouring to
confound and overturn the legislature, has thrown out, that one
member more ought to be added to each county;(4) so little do
ambition -,And indulgence scruple to strike at fundamentals!
Sir George Savile and Edmund Burke, as if envying the infamous
intoxication of Wilkes, have attacked the House of Commons
itself, in the most gross and vilifying language.(5) In short,
the plot thickens fast, and Catilines start up in every street.
I cannot say Ciceros and Catos arise to face them. The
phlegmatic and pedants in history quote King William's and
Sacheverel's times to show the present is not more serious; but
if I have any reading, I must remember that the repetition of
bad scenes brings about a catastrophe at last! It is small
consolation to living sufferers to reflect that history will
rejudge great criminals; nor is that sure. How seldom is
history fairly stated! When do all men concur in the Same
sentence? Do the guilty dead regard its judicature, or they
who prefer the convict to the judge? Besides, an ape of Sylla
will call himself Brutus, and the foolish people assist a
proscription before they suspect that their hero is an
incendiary. Indeed, Sir, we are, as Milton says--
"On evil days fallen and evil tongues!"
I shall be happy to find I have had too gloomy apprehensions.
A man, neither connected with ministers nor opponents, may
speculate too subtly. If all this is but a scramble for power,
let it fall to whose lot it will! It is the attack on the
constitution that strikes me. I have nothing to say for the
corruption of senators; but if the senate itself is declared
vile by authority, that is by a dissolution, will a re-election
restore its honour? Will Wilkes, and Parson Horne, and Junius
(for they will name the members) give us more virtuous
representations than ministers have done? Reformation must be
a blessed work in the hands of such reformers! Moderation, and
attachment to the constitution, are my principles. Is the
latter to be risked rather than endure any single evil? I
would oppose, that is restrain, by opposition check, each
branch of the legislature that predominates in its turn;--but
if I detest Laud, it does not make me love Hugh Peters.
Adieu, Sir! I must not tire you with my reflections; but as I
am flattered with thinking I have the sanction of the same
sentiments in you, it is natural to indulge even unpleasing
meditations when one meets with sympathy, and it is as natural
for those who love their country to lament its danger. I am,
Sir, etc.
(2) Now first collected.
(3) On the 17th, Mr. Charles Yorke was appointed lord
chancellor, and a patent was ordered to be made out, creating
him a peer, by the title of Lord Morden; but, three days after,
before the patent could be completed, he suddenly closed his
valuable life, at the early age of forty-eight.-E.
(4) Lord Chatham, on the preceding day, had made his celebrated
speech on the state of the nation, which had the good fortune
to be ably reported by Sir Philip Francis, and attracted the
particular attention of Junius. The following is the passage
which gave Walpole so much offence:--"Since we cannot cure the
disorder, let us endeavour to infuse such a portion of new
health into the constitution, as may enable it to support its
most inveterate diseases. The representation of the counties
is, I think, still preserved pure and uncorrupted. That of the
greatest cities is upon a footing equally respectable; and
there are many of the larger trading towns which stilt preserve
their independence. The infusion of health which I now allude
to would be to permit every county to elect one member more in
addition to their present representation." Sir Philip
Francis's report of this speech was first printed by Almon in
1792. Junius, in a letter to Wilkes, of the 7th of September
1771, says--"I approve highly of Lord Chatham's idea of
infusing a portion of new health into the constitution, to
enable it to bear its infirmities; a brilliant expression, and
full of intrinsic wisdom." There can be little doubt that
Junius and Sir Philip Francis were present in the House of
Lords, when this speech was delivered. See Chatham
Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 406.-E.
(5) The speeches of Sir George Savile and Mr. Burke, above
alluded to, will be found in Sir Henry Cavendish's Debates.-E.
Letter 3. To George Montagu, Esq.
Arlington Street, March 31, 1770. (page 28)
I shall be extremely obliged to you for Alderman Backwell. A
scarce print is a real present to me, who have a table of
weights and measures in my head very different from that of the
rich and covetous. I am glad your journey was prosperous. The
weather here has continued very sharp, but it has been making
preparations for April to-day, and watered the streets with
some soft showers. They will send me to Strawberry to-morrow,
where I hope to find the lilacs beginning to put forth their
little noses. Mr. Chute mends very slowly, but you know he has
as much patience as gout.
I depend upon seeing you whenever you return this wayward. You
will find the round chamber far advanced, though not finished;
for my undertakings do not stride with the impetuosity of my
youth. This single room has been half as long in completing as
all the rest of the castle. My compliments to Mr. John, whom I
hope to see at the same time.
Letter 4 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill May 6, 1770. (page 28)
If you are like me, you are fretting at the weather. We have
not a leaf, yet, large enough to make an apron for a Miss Eve
at two years old. Flowers and fruits, if they come at all this
year, must meet together as they do in a Dutch picture; our
lords and ladies, however, couple as if it were the real
Giovent`u dell' anno. Lord Albemarle,(6) you know has
disappointed all his brothers and my niece; and Lord
Fitzwilliam is declared sposo to Lady Charlotte Ponsonby.(7)
It is a pretty match, and makes Lord Besborough as happy as
possible.
Masquerades proceed in spite of church and King. The Bishop of
London persuaded that good soul the Archbishop to remonstrate
against them; but happily the age prefers silly follies to
serious ones, and dominos, comme de raison, carry It against
lawn sleeves.(8)
There is a new Institution that begins to and if it proceeds,
will make a considerable noise. It is a club of both sexes to
be erected at Almack's, on the model of that of the men at
White's. Mrs. Fitzroy, Lady Pembroke, Mrs. Meynel, Lady
Molyneux, MISS Pelham, and Miss Loyd, are the foundresses. I
am ashamed to say I am of so young and fashionable a society;
but as they are people I live with, I choose to be idle rather
than morose. I can go to a young supper, without forgetting
how much sand is run out of the hourglass. Yet I shall never
pass a triste old age in turning the psalms into Latin or
English verse. My plan is to pass away calmly; cheerfully if I
can; sometimes to amuse myself with the rising generation, but
to take care not to fatigue them, nor weary them with old
stories, which will not interest them, as their adventures do
not interest me. Age would indulge prejudices if it did not
sometimes polish itself against younger acquaintance; but it
must be the work of folly if one hopes to contract friendship
with them, or desires it, or thinks one can become the same
follies, or expects that they should do more than bear one for
one's good humour. In short, they are a pleasant medicine,
that one should take care not to grow fond of. Medicines hurt
when habit has annihilated their force; but you see I am in no
danger. I intend by degrees to decrease my opium, instead of
augmenting the dose. Good-night! You see I never let our
long-lived friendship drop, though you give it so few
opportunities of breathing.
(6) George, third Earl of Albemarle. His lordship had married,
on the 20th of April, Anne, youngest daughter of Sir John
Miller, Bart. of Chichester. He died in October 1772.-E.
(7) Lady Charlotte Ponsonby, second daughter of William, second
Earl of Besborough. The marriage took place on the 1st of
July.-E.
(8) Dr. Johnson, having read in the newspapers an account of a
masquerade given at Edinburgh, by the Countess Dowager of Fife,
at which Boswell had appeared in the character of a dumb
conjuror, thus wrote to him:--"I have heard of your masquerade.
What says your synod to such innovations? I am not studiously
scrupulous, nor do I think a Masquerade either evil in itself
or very likely to be the occasion of evil, yet, as the world
thinks it a very licentious relaxation of manners, I would not
have been one of the first masquers in a country where no
masquerades had ever been before."-E.
Letter 5 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, June 11, 1770. (page 29)
My company and I have wished for you very much to-day. The
Duchess of Portland, Mrs. Delany, Mr. Bateman, and your cousin,
Fred. Montagu, dined here. Lord Guildford was very obliging,
and would have come if he dared have ventured. Mrs. Montagu
was at Bill-hill with Lady Gower. The day was tolerable, with
sun enough for the house, though not for the garden. You, I
suppose, will never come again, as I have not a team of horses
large enough to draw you out of the clay of Oxfordshire.
I went yesterday to see my niece(9) in her new principality of
Ham. It delighted me and made me peevish. Close to the
Thames, in the centre of all rich and verdant beauty, it is so
blocked up and barricaded with walls, vast trees, and gates,
that you think yourself an hundred miles off and an hundred
years back. The old furniture is so magnificently ancient,
dreary and decayed, that at every step one's spirits sink, and
all my passion for antiquity could not keep them up. Every
minute I expected to see ghosts sweeping by; ghosts I would not
give sixpence to See, Lauderdales, Tollcmaches, and Maitlands.
There is one old brown gallery full of Vandycks and Lelys,
charming miniatures, delightful Wouvermans, and Polenburghs,
china, japan, bronzes, ivory cabinets, and silver dogs, pokers,
bellows, etc. without end. One pair of bellows is of filigree.
In this state of pomp and tatters my nephew intends it shall
remain, and is so religious an observer of the venerable rites
of his house, that because the gates never were opened by his
father but once for the late Lord Granville, you are locked out
and locked in, and after journeying all round the house, as you
do round an old French fortified town, you are at last admitted
through the stable-yard to creep along a dark passage by the
housekeeper's room, and so by a back-door into the great hall.
He seems as much afraid of water as a cat; for though you might
enjoy the Thames from every window of three sides of the house,
you may tumble into it before you guess it is there. In short,
our ancestors had so little idea of taste and beauty, that I
should not have been surprised if they had hung their pictures
with the painted sides to the wall. Think of such a palace
commanding all the reach of Richmond and Twickenham, with a
domain from the foot of Richmond-hill to Kingston-bridge, and
then imagine its being as dismal and prospectless as if it
stood "on Stanmore's wintry wild!" I don't see why a man should
not be divorced from his prospect as well as from his wife, for
not being able to enjoy it. Lady Dysart frets, but it is not
the etiquette of the family to yield, and @ she must content
herself with her chateau of Tondertentronk as well as she can.
She has another such ample prison in Suffolk, and may be glad
to reside where she is. Strawberry, with all its painted glass
and gloom, looked as gay when I came home as Mrs. Cornelis's
ball-room.
I am very busy about the last volume of my Painters, but have
lost my index, and am forced again to turn over all my Vertues,
forty volumes of miniature MSS.; so that this will be the third
time I shall have made an index to them. Don't say that I am
not persevering, and yet I thought I was grown idle. What
pains one takes to be forgotten! Good-night!
(9) Charlotte, daughter of Sir Edward Walpole, married to Lord
Huntingtower, who had just succeeded to the title of the Earl
of Dysart, on the death of his father.-E.
Letter 6 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, June 29, 1770. (page 30)
Since the sharp mountain will not come to the little hill, the
little hill must go to the mountain. In short, what do you
think of seeing me walk into your parlour a few hours after
this epistle! I had not time to notify myself sooner. The
case is, Princess Amelia has insisted on my going with her to,
that is, meeting her at Stowe on Monday, for a week. She
mentioned it to me some time ago, and I thought I had parried
it; but having been with her at Park-place these two or three
days, she has commanded it so positively that I could not
refuse. Now, as it would be extremely inconvenient to my
indolence to be dressed up in weepers and hatbands by six
o'clock in the morning, and lest I should be taken for chief
mourner going to Beckford's funeral,(10) I trust you will be
charitable enough to give me a bed at Adderbury for one night,
whence I can arrive at Stowe in a decent time, and caparisoned
as I ought to be, when I have lost a brother-in-law(11) and am
to meet a Princess. Don't take me for a Lauson, and think all
this favour portends a second marriage between our family and
the blood-royal; nor that my visit to Stowe implies my
espousing Miss Wilkes. I think I shall die as I am, neither
higher nor lower; and above all things, no more politics. Yet
I shall have many a private smile to myself, as I wander among
all those consecrated and desecrated buildings, and think what
company I am in, and of all that is past; but I must shorten my
letter, or you will not have finished it when I arrive. Adieu!
Yours, a-coming! a-coming!
(10) William Beckford, Esq. Lord Mayor of London, who died on
the 21st of June, during his second mayoralty, in the
sixty-fifth year of his age. On the 5th of the following
month, at a meeting of the Common Council, "a motion being made
and question put, that the statue of the Right Hon. William
Beckford, late Lord Mayor, deceased, be erected in the
Guildhall of this city, with the inscription of his late
address to his Majesty, the was resolved in the affirmative."
The speech here alluded to is the one which the Alderman
addressed to his Majesty on the 23d of May, with reference to
the King's reply--"That he should have been wanting to the
public, as well as to himself, if he had not expressed his
dissatisfaction at the late address." At the end of the
Alderman's speech, in his copy of the City Addresses, Mr. Isaac
Reed has inserted the following note:--"It is a curious fact,
but a true one, that Beckford did not utter one syllable of
this speech. It was penned by Horne Tooke, and by his art put
on the records of the city and on Beckford's statue; as he told
me, Mr. Braithwaite, Mr. Sayers, etc. at the Athenian club.
Isaac Reed." There can be little doubt that the worthy
commentator and his friends were imposed upon. In the Chatham
Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 460, a letter from Sheriff
Townsend to the Earl expressly states, that with the exception
of the words "and necessary" being left out before the word
"revolution," the Lord Mayor's speech in the Public Advertiser
of the preceding day is verbatim the one delivered to the
King.--E.
(11) George third Earl of Cholmondeley. He married, in 1723,
Mary the youngest daughter of @Sir Robert Walpole.-E.
Letter 7 To George Montagu, Esq.
Adderbury, Sunday night, July 1, 1770. (page 32
You will be enough surprised to receive a letter from me dated
from your own house, and may judge of my mortification at not
finding you here; exactly as it happened two years ago. In
short, here I am, and will tell you how I came here; in truth,
not a little against my will. I have been at Park-place with
Princess Amelia, and she insisted on my meeting her at Stowe
to-morrow. She had mentioned it before, and as I have no
delight in a royal progress, and as little in the Seigneur
Temple, I waived the honour and pleasure, and thought I should
hear no more of it. However, the proposal was turned into a
command, and every body told me I could not refuse. Well, I
could not come so near, and not call upon you; besides, it is
extremely convenient to my Lord Castlecomer, for it would have
been horrid to set out at seven o'clock in the morning, full-
dressed, in my weepers, and to step out of my chaise into a
drawing-room. I wrote to you on Friday, the soonest I could
after this was settle(], to notify myself to you, but find I am
arrived before my letter. Mrs. White is all goodness; and
being the first of July, and consequently the middle of winter,
has given me a good fire and some excellent coffee and bread
and butter, and I am as comfortable as possible, except in
having missed you. She insists on acquainting you, which makes
me write this to prevent your coming; for as I must depart at
twelve o'clock to-morrow, it would be dragging you home before
your time for only half an hour, and I have too much regard for
Lord Guildford to deprive him of your company. Don't therefore
think of making this unnecessary compliment. I have treated
your house like an inn, and it will not be friendly, if you do
not make as free with me. I had much rather that you would
take it for a visit that you ought to repay. Make my best
compliments to your brother and Lord Guildford, and pity me for
the six dreadful days that I am going to pass. Rosette is fast
asleep in your chair, or I am sure she would write a
postscript. I cannot say she is either commanded or invited to
be of this royal party; but have me, have my dog.
I must not forget to thank you for mentioning Mrs. Wetenhall,
on whom I should certainly wait with great pleasure, but have
no manner of intention of going into Cheshire. There is not a
chair or stool in Cholmondeley, and my nephew, I believe, will
pull it down. He has not a fortune to furnish or inhabit it;
and, if his uncle should leave him one, he would choose a
pleasanter country. Adieu! Don't be formal with me, and don't
trouble your hand about yours ever.
Letter 8 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, Saturday night, July 7, 1770. (page 33)
After making an inn of your house, it is but decent to thank
you for my entertainment, and to acquaint you with the result
of my journey. The party passed off much better than I
expected. A Princess at the Heart of a very small set for five
days together did not promise well. However, she was very
good-humoured and easy, and dispensed with a large quantity of
etiquette. Lady Temple is good-nature itself, my lord was very
civil, Lord Besborough is made to suit all sorts of people,
Lady Mary Coke respects royalty too much not to be very
condescending, Lady Anne Howard(12) and Mrs. Middleton filled
up the drawing-room, or rather made it out, and I was so
determined to carry it off as well as I could, and happened to
be in such good spirits, and took such care to avoid politics,
that we laughed a great deal, and had not one cloud the whole
time.
We breakfasted at half an hour after nine; but the Princess did
not appear till it was finished; then we walked in the garden,
or drove about in cabriolets, till it was time to dress; dined
at three, which, though properly proportioned to the smallness
of company to avoid ostentation, lasted a vast While, as the
Princess eats and talks a great deal; then again into the
garden till past seven, when we came in, drank tea and coffee,
and played at pharaoh till ten, when the Princess retired, and
we went to supper, and before twelve to bed. You see there was
great sameness and little vivacity in all this. It was a
little broken by fishing, and going round the park one of the
mornings; but, in reality, the number of buildings and variety
of scenes in the garden, made each day different from the rest,
and my meditations on so historic a spot prevented my being
tired. Every acre brings to one's mind some instance of the
parts or pedantry, of the taste or want of taste, of the
ambition or love of fame, or greatness or miscarriages, of
those that have inhabited, decorated, planned, or visited the
place. Pope, Congreve, Vanbrugh, Kent, Gibbs, Lord Cobham,
Lord Chesterfield, the mob of nephews, the Lytteltons,
Granvilles, Wests, Leonidas Glover, and Wilkes, the late Prince
of Wales, the King of Denmark, Princess Amelia, and the proud
monuments of Lord Chatham's services, now enshrined there, then
anathematized there, and now again commanding there, with the
temple of Friendship, like the temple of Janus, sometimes open
to war, and sometimes shut up in factious cabals--all these
images crowd upon one's memory, and add visionary personages to
the charming scenes, that are so enriched with fanes and
temples, that the real prospects are little less than visions
themselves.
On Wednesday night, a small Vauxhall was acted for us at the
grotto in the Elysian fields, which was illuminated with lamps,
as were the thicket and two little barks on the lake. With a
little exaggeration I could make you believe that nothing was
so delightful. The idea was really pretty; but as my feelings
have lost something of their romantic sensibility, I did not
quite enjoy such an entertainment alfresco so much as I should
have done twenty years ago. The evening was more than cool,
and the destined spot any thing but dry. There were not half
lamps enough, and no music but an ancient militia-man, who
played cruelly on a squeaking tabor and pipe. As our
procession descended the vast flight of' steps into the garden,
in which was assembled a crowd of people from Buckingham and
the neighbouring villages to see the Princess and the show, the
moon shining very bright, I could not help laughing as I
surveyed our troop, which, instead of tripping lightly to such
an Arcadian entertainment, were hobbling down by the
balustrades, wrapt up in cloaks and greatcoats, for fear of
catching cold. The Earl, you know, is bent double, the
Countess very lame; I am a miserable walker, and the Princess,
though as strong as a Brunswick lion, makes no figure in going
down fifty stone stairs. Except Lady Anne, and by courtesy
Lady Mary, we were none of us young enough for a pastoral. We
supped in the grotto, which is as proper to this climate as a
sea-coal fire would be in the dog-days at Tivoli.
But the chief entertainment of the week, at least what was so
to the Princess, was an arch, which Lord Temple has erected to
her honour in the most enchanting of all picturesque scenes.
It is inscribed on one side, 'Amelia Sophia Aug.,' and has a
medallion of her on the other. It is placed on an eminence at
the top of the Elysian fields, in a grove of orange-trees. You
come to it on a sudden, and are startled with delight on
looking through it: you at once see, through a glade, the river
winding at the bottom; from which a thicket arises, arched over
with trees, but opened, and discovering a hillock full of
haycocks, beyond which in front is the Palladian bridge, and
again over that a larger hill crowned with the castle. It is a
tall landscape framed by the arch and the overhovering trees,
and comprehending more beauties of light, shade, and buildings,
than any picture of Albano I ever saw. Between the flattery
and the prospect the Princess was really in Elysium: she
visited her arch four or five times every day, and could not
satiate herself with it. statues of Apollo and the Muses stand
on each side of the arch. One day she found in Apollo's hand
the following lines, which I had written for her, and
communicated to Lord Temple:--
T'other day, with a beautiful frown on her brow,
To the rest of the gods said the Venus of Stowe,
"What a fuss is here made with that arch just erected,
How our temples are slighted, our antirs neglected!
Since yon nymph has appear'd, We are noticed no more,
All resort to her shrine, all her presence adore;
And what's more provoking, before all our faces,
Temple thither has drawn both the Muses and Graces."
"Keep your temper, dear child," Phoebus cried with a smile,
"Nor this happy, this amiable festival spoil.
Can your shrine any longer with garlands be dress'd?
When a true goddess reigns, all the false are suppress'd."
If you will keep my counsel, I will own to you, that originally
the two last lines were much better, but I was forced to alter
them out of decorum, not to be too pagan upon the occasion; in
short, here they are as in the first sketch,--
"Recollect, once before that our oracle ceased,
When a real divinity rose in the East."
So many heathen temples around had made me talk as a Roman poet
would have done: but I corrected my verses, and have made them
insipid enough to offend nobody. Good night! I am rejoiced to
be once more in the gay solitude of my own little Temple. Yours
ever.
(12) Lady Anne Howard, daughter of Henry fourth Earl, and
sister of Frederick fifth Earl of Carlisle.-E.
Letter 9 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Strawberry Hill, July 9, 1770. (page 35)
I am not going to tell you, my dear lord, of the diversions or
honours of Stowe, which I conclude Lady Mary has writ to Lady
Strafford. Though the week passed cheerfully enough, it was
more glory than I should have sought of my own head. The
journeys to Stowe and Park-place have deranged my projects so,
that I don't know where I am, and I wish they have not given me
the gout into the bargain; for I am come back very lame, and
not at all with the bloom that one ought to have imported from
the Elysian field. Such jaunts when one is growing old is
playing with edged-tools, as my Lord Chesterfield, in one of
his Worlds,(13) makes the husband say to his wife, when she
pretends that gray powder does not become her. It is charming
at twenty to play at Elysian fields, but it is no joke at
fifty; or too great a joke. It made me laugh as we were
descending the great flight of steps from the house to go and
sup in the grotto on the banks of Helicon: we were so cloaked
up, for the evening was very cold, and so many of us were
limping and hobbling, that Charon would have easily believed we
were going to ferry over in earnest. It is with much more
comfort that I am writing to your lordship in the great
bow-window of my new round room, which collects all the rays of
the southwest sun, and composes a sort of summer; a feel I have
not known this year, except last Thursday. If the rains should
ever cease, and the weather settle to fine, I shall pay you my
visit at Wentworth Castle; but hitherto the damps have affected
me so much, that I am more disposed to return to London and
light my fire, than brave the humours of a climate so
capricious and uncertain, in the country. I cannot help
thinking it grows worse; I certainly remember such a thing as
dust: nay, I still have a clear idea of it, though I have seen
none for some years, and should put some grains in a bottle for
a curiosity, if it should ever fly again.
News I know none. You may be sure it was a subject carefully
avoided at Stowe; and Beckford's death had not raised the glass
or spirits of the master of the house. The papers make one
sick with talking of that noisy vapouring fool, as they would
of Algernon Sidney.
I have not happened to see your future nephew, though we have
exchanged visits. It was the first time I had been at
Marble-hill, since poor Lady Suffolk's death; and the
impression was so uneasy, that I was not sorry not to find him
at home. Adieu, my good lord! Except seeing you both, nothing
can be more agreeable than to hear of yours and Lady
Strafford's health, who, I hope, continues perfectly well.
(13) No. 18. A Country Gentleman's Tour to Paris with his
Family.-E.
Letter 10 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Arlington Street, July 12, 1770. (page 36)
Reposing under my laurels! No, no, I am reposing in a much
better tent, under the tester of my own bed. I am not obliged
to rise by break of day and be dressed for the drawing-room; I
may saunter in my slippers till dinner-time, and not make bows
till my back is as much out of joint as my Lord Temple's. In
short, I should die of the gout or fatigue, if I was to be
Polonius to a Princess for another week. Twice a-day we made a
pilgrimage to almost every heathen temple in that province that
they call a garden; and there is no sallying out of the house
without descending a flight of steps as high as St. Paul's. My
Lord Besborough would have dragged me up to the top of the
column, to see all the kingdoms of the earth; but I would not,
if he could have given them to me. To crown all, because we
live under the line, and that we were all of us giddy young
creatures, of near threescore, we supped in a grotto in the
Elysian fields, and were refreshed with rivers of dew and
gentle showers that dripped from all the trees, and put us in
mind of the heroic ages, when kings and queens were shepherds
and shepherdesses, and lived in caves, and were wet to the skin
two or three times a-day. Well! thank Heaven, I am emerged
from that Elysium, and once more in a Christian country!--Not
but, to say the truth, our pagan landlord and landlady were
very obliging, and the party went off much better than I
expected. We had no very recent politics, though volumes about
the Spanish war; and as I took care to give every thing a
ludicrous turn as much as I could, the Princess was diverted,
the six days rolled away, and the seventh is my sabbath; and I
promise you i will do no manner of work, I, nor my cat, nor my
dog, nor any thing that is mine. For this reason, I entreat
that the journey to Goodwood may not take place before the 12th
of August, when I will attend you. But this expedition to
Stowe has quite blown up my intended one to Wentworth Castle: I
have not resolution enough left for such a journey. Will you
and Lady Ailesbury come to Strawberry before, or after
Goodwood? I know you like being dragged from home as little as
I do; therefore you shall place that visit just when it is most
convenient to you.
I came to town the night before last, and am just returning.
There are not twenty people in all London. Are not YOU in
despair about the summer? It is horrid to be ruined in coals in
June and July. Adieu. Yours ever.
Letter 11 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, July 14, 1770. (page 37)
I see by the papers this morning that Mr. Jenkinson(14) is
dead. He had the reversion of my place, which would go away,
if I should lose my brother. I have no pretensions to ask it,
and you know It has long been my fixed resolution not to accept
it. But as Lord North is your particular friend, I think it
right to tell you, that you may let him know what it is worth,
that he may give it to one of his own sons, and not bestow it
on somebody else, without being apprised of its value. I have
seldom received less than fourteen hundred a-year in money, and
my brother, I think, has four more from it. There are besides
many places in the gift of the office, and one or two very
considerable. Do not mention this but to Lord North, or Lord
Guilford. It is unnecessary, I am sure, for me to say to you,
but I would wish them to be assured that in saying this, I am
incapable of, and above any finesse, or view, to myself. I
refused the reversion for myself several years ago, when Lord
Holland was secretary of state, and offered to obtain it for
me. Lord Bute, I believe, would have been very glad to have
given it to me, before he gave it to Jenkinson; but I say it
very seriously, and you know me enough to be certain I am in
earnest, that I would not accept it upon any account. Any
favour Lord North will do for you will give me all the
satisfaction I desire. I am near fifty-three; I have neither
ambition nor interest to gratify. I can live comfortably for
the remainder of my life, though I should be poorer by fourteen
hundred pounds a-year; but I should have no comfort if, in the
dregs of life, I did any thing that I would not do when I was
twenty years younger. I will trust to you, therefore, to make
Use of this information in the friendly manner I mean it, and
to prevent my being hurt by its being taken otherwise than as a
design to serve those to whom you wish well. Adieu! Yours
ever.
(14) Charles Jenkinson, at this time one of the lords of the
treasury. In 1786, He was created Baron Hawkesbury, and in
1796 advanced to the dignity of Earl of Liverpool.-E.
Letter 12 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, Sunday, [July 15, 1770.] (page 38)
I am sorry I wrote to you last night, for I find it is Mrs.
Jenkinson(15) that is dead, and not Mr.; and therefore I should
be glad to have this arrive time enough to prevent your
mentioning the contents of my letter. In that case, I should
not be concerned to have given you that mark of my constant
good wishes, nor to have talked to you of my affairs, which are
as well in your breast as my own. They never disturb me; for
my mind has long taken its stamp, and as I shall leave nobody
much younger than myself behind me for whom I am solicitous, I
have no desire beyond being easy for the rest of my life I
could not be so if I stooped to have obligations to any man
beyond what it would ever be in my power to return. When I was
in Parliament, I had the additional reason of choosing to be
entirely free; and my strongest reason of all is, that I will
be at liberty to speak truth both living and dead. This
outweighs all considerations of interest, and will convince
you, though I believe you do not want that conviction, that my
yesterday's letter was as sincere in its resolution as in its
professions to you. Let the matter drop entirely, as it is now
Of no consequence. Adieu! Yours ever.
(15) Amelia, daughter of William Watts, Esq. formerly governor
of Fort William, in Bengal.-E.
Letter 13 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, Oct. 3, 1770. (page 38)
I am going on in the sixth week of my fit, and having had a
return this morning in my knee, I cannot flatter myself with
any approaching prospect of recovery. The gate of painful age
seems open to me, and I must travel through it as I may! If
you have not written one word for another, I am at a loss to
understand you. You say you have taken a house in London for a
year, that you are gone to Waldeshare for six months, and then
shall come for the winter. Either you mean six weeks, or
differ with most people in reckoning April the beginning of
winter. I hope your pen was in a hurry, rather than your
calculation so uncommon; I certainly shall be glad of your
residing in London. I have long wished to live nearer to you,
but it was in happier days. I am now so dismayed by these
returns of gout, that I can promise myself few comforts in any
future scenes of my life.
I am much obliged to Lord Guildford and Lord North, and was
very sorry that the latter came to see Strawberry in so bad a
day, and when I was so extremely ill, and full of pain, that I
scarce knew he was here; and as my coachman was gone to London,
to fetch me bootikins, there was no carriage to offer him; but,
indeed, in the condition I then was, I was not capable of doing
any of the honours of my house, suffering at once in my hand,
knee, and both feet. I am still lifted out of bed by two
servants; and by their help travel from my bedchamber down to
the couch in my blue room; but I shall conclude, rather than
tire you with so unpleasant a history. Adieu! Yours ever.
Letter 14 To George Montagu, Esq.
Arlington Street, Oct. 16, 1770. (page 39)
At last I have been able to remove to London; but though long
weeks are gone and over since I was seized, I am only able to
creep about upon a flat floor, but cannot go up and down
stairs. However, I have patience, as I can at least fetch a
book for myself', instead of having a servant bring me a wrong
one. I am much obliged to Lord Guildford for his goodness to
me, and beg my thanks to him. When you go to Canterbury, pray
don't wake the Black Prince. I am very unwarlike, and desire
to live the rest of my time upon the stock of glory I saved to
my share Out Of the last war. I know not more news than I did
at Strawberry; there are not more people in town than I saw
there, and I intend to return thither on Friday or Saturday.
Adieu! Yours ever.
Letter 15 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Arlington Street, Oct. 16, 1770. (page 39)
Though I have so very little to say, it is but my duty, my dear
lord, to thank you for your extreme goodness to me and your
inquiring after me. I was very bad again last week, but have
mended so much since Friday night, that I really now believe
the fit is over. I came to town on Sunday, and can creep about
my room even without a stick, which is more felicity to me than
if I had got a white one. I do not aim yet at such preferment
as walking up stairs; but having moulted my stick, I flatter
myself I shall come forth again without being lame. The few I
have seen tell me there is nobody else in town. That is no
grievance to me, when I should be at the mercy of all that
should please to bestow their idle time upon me. I know
nothing of the war-egg, but that sometimes it is to be hatched
and sometimes to be addled.(16) Many folks get into the nest,
and sit as hard upon it as they can, concluding it will produce
a golden chick. As I shall not be a feather the better for it,
I hate that game-breed, and prefer the old hen Peace and her
dunghill brood. My compliments to my lady and all her poultry.
(16) The dispute with Spain relative to the possession of the
Falkland Islands, had led to a considerable augmentation both
of the army and navy; which gave an appearance of authenticity
to the rumours of war which were now in circulation.-E.
Letter 16 To The Earl Of Charlemont.(17)
Arlington Street, Oct. 17, 1770. (page 40)
My lord,
I am very glad your lordship resisted your disposition to make
me an apology for doing me a great honour; for, if you had not,
the Lord knows where I should have found words to have made a
proper return. Still you have left me greatly in your debt.
It is very kind to remember me, and kinder to honour me with
your commands: they shall be zealously obeyed to the utmost of
my little credit; for an artist that your lordship patronises
will, I imagine, want little recommendation, besides his own
talents. It does not look, indeed, like very prompt obedience,
when I am yet guessing only at Mr. Jervais's merit; but though
he has lodged himself within a few doors of me, I have not been
able to get to him, having been confined near two months with
the gout, and still keeping my house. My first visit shall be
to gratify my duty and curiosity. I am sorry to say, and beg
your lordship's pardon for the confession, that, however high
an opinion I have of your taste in the arts, I do not equally
respect your judgment in books. it is in truth a defect that
you have in common with the two great men who are the
respective models of our present parties--
"The hero William, and the martyr Charles."
You know what happened to them after patronising Kneller and
Bernini--
"One knighted Blackmore, and one pensioned Quarles."
After so saucy an attack, my lord, it is time to produce my
proof. It lies in your own postscript, where you express a
curiosity to see a certain tragedy, with a hint that the other
works of the same author have found favour in your sight, and
that the piece ought to have been sent to you. But, my lord,
even your approbation has not made that author vain; and for
the lay in question, it has so many perils to encounter, that
it never thinks of producing itself. It peeped out of its
lurking corner once or twice; and one of those times, by the
negligence of a friend, had like to have been, what is often
pretended in prefaces, stolen, and consigned to the press.
When your lordship comes to England, which, for every reason
but that, I hope will be Soon, you shall certainly see it; and
will then allow, I am sure. how improper it would be for the
author to risk its appearance in public. However, unworthy as
that author may be, from his talents, of your lordship's
favour, do not let its demerits be confounded with the esteem
and attachment with which he has the honour to be, my lord,
your lordship's most devoted servant.
(17) James Caulfield, Earl of Charlemont, an Irish nobleman,
distinguished for his literary taste and patriotism. Of him
Mr. Burke said, ,He is a man of such polished manners, of a
mind so truly adorned and disposed to the adoption of whatever
is excellent and praiseworthy, that to see and converse with
him would alone induce me, or might induce any one who relishes
such qualities, to pay a visit to Ireland." He died in 1799,
and in 1810, his Memoirs were published by Francis Hardy, Esq.
in a quarto volume.-E.
Letter 17 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Nov. 15, 1770. ((page 41)
Dear sir,
If you have not engaged your interest in Cambridgeshire, you
will oblige me much by bestowing it on young Mr. Brand, the son
of my particular acquaintance, and our old schoolfellow. I am
very unapt to trouble my head about elections, but wish success
to this.
If you see Bannerman, I should be glad you would tell him that
I am going to print the last volume of my Painters, and should
like to employ him again for some of the heads, if he cares to
undertake them: though there will be a little trouble as he
does not reside in London. I am in a hurry, and am forced to
be brief, but am always glad to hear of you, and from you.
Yours most sincerely.
letter 18 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Nov. 20, 1770. (page 41)
I believe our letters crossed one another without knowing it.
Mine, it seems, was quite unnecessary, for I find Mr. Brand has
given up the election. Yours was very kind and obliging, as
they always are. Pray be so good as to thank Mr. Tyson for me
a thousand times; I am vastly pleased with his work, and hope
he will give me another of the plates for my volume of heads
(for I shall bind up his present), and I by no means relinquish
his promise of a complete set of his etchings, and of a visit
to Strawberry Hill. Why should it not be with you and Mr.
Essex, whom I shall be very glad to see--but what do you talk
of a single day? Is that all you allow me in two years?
I rejoice to see Mr. Bentham's advertisement at last. I depend
on you, dear Sir, for procuring me his book(18) the instant it
is possible to have it. Pray make my compliments to all that
good family. I am enraged, and almost in despair, at Pearson
the glass-painter, he is so idle and dissolute. He has done
very little of the window, though what he has done is glorious,
and approaches very nearly to Price.
My last volume of Painters begins to be printed this week; but,
as the plates are not begun, I doubt it will be long before the
whole is ready. I mentioned to you in my last Thursday's
letter a hint about Bannerman, the engraver. Adieu!
(18) The "History and Antiquities of the Conventual and
Cathedral Church at Ely," which appeared in the following
year.-E.
Letter 19 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Dec. 20, 1770. (page 42)
Dear Sir
I am very zealous, as you know, for the work; but I agree with
you in expecting very little success from the plan.(19)
Activity is the best implement in such undertakings, and that
seems to be wanting; and, without that, it were vain to think
of who would be at the expense. I do not know whether it were
not best that Mr. Essex should publish his remarks as simply as
he can. For my own part, I can do no more than I have done,-
-sketch out the plan. I grow too old, and am grown too
indolent, to engage in any more works: nor have I time. I wish
to finish some things I have by me, and to have done. The last
volume of my Anecdotes, of which I was tired, is completed and
with them I shall take my leave of publications. The last
years of one's life are fit for nothing but idleness and quiet,
and I am as indifferent to fame as to politics.
I can be of as little use to Mr. Granger in recommending him to
the Antiquarian Society. I dropped my attendance there four or
five years ago, from being sick of their ignorance and
stupidity, and have not been three times amongst them since.
They have chosen to expose their dullness to the world, and
crowned it with Dean Milles's(20) nonsense. I have written a
little answer to the last, which you shall see, and then wash
my hands of them.
To say the truth, I have no very sanguine expectation about the
Ely window. The glass-painter, though admirable, proves a very
idle worthless fellow, and has yet scarce done any thing of
consequence. I gave Dr. Nichols notice of his character, but
found him apprised of it. The Doctor, however, does not
despair, but pursues him warmly. I wish it may succeed!
If you go over to Cambridge, be so good as to ask Mr. Grey when
he proposes being in town; he talked of last month. I must beg
you, too, to thank Mr. Tyson for his last letter. I can say
no more to the Plan than I have said. If he and Mr. Essex
should like to come to town, I shall be very willing to talk it
over with them, but I can by no means think of engaging in any
part of the composition.
These holidays I hope to have time to arrange my drawings, and
give bannerman some employment towards my book, but I am in no
hurry to have it appear, as it speaks of times so recent; for
though I have been very tender of not hurting any living
relations of the artists, the latter were in general so
indifferent, that I doubt their families will not be very well
content with the coldness of the praises I have been able to
bestow. This reason, with my unwillingness to finish the work,
and the long interval between the composition of this and the
other volumes, have, I doubt, made the greatest part a very
indifferent performance. An author, like other mechanics,
never does well when he is tired of his profession.
I have been told that, besides Mr. Tyson, there are two other
gentlemen engravers at Cambridge. I think their names are
Sharp or Show, and Cobbe, but I am not at all sure of either.
I should be glad, however, if I could procure any of their
portraits; and I do not forget that I am already in your debt.
Boydell is going to recommence a suite of illustrious heads,
and I am to give him a list of indubitable portraits of
remarkable persons that have never been engraved; but I have
protested against his receiving two sorts; the one, any old
head of a family, when the person was moderately considerable;
the other, spurious or doubtful heads; both sorts apt to be
sent in by families who wish to crowd -their own names into the
work; as was the case more than once in Houbraken's set, and of
which honest Vertue often complained to me. The Duke of
Buckingham, Carr, Earl of Somerset, and Thurloe, in that list,
are absolutely not genuine--the first is John Digby Earl of
Bristol. Yours ever.
(19) Mr. Essex's projected History of Gothic Architecture.
See vol. iii. Letter 366 to the Rev. Mr. Cole, Aug. 12,
1769.-E.
(20) Dr. Jeremiah Milles, dean of Exeter, many years president
of the Antiquarian Society. He engaged ardently in the
Chatterton controversy, and published the whole of the poems
purporting to be written by Rowley, with a glossary; thereby
proving himself a fit subject for that chef-d'oeuvre of wit and
poetry, the Archaeological Epistle, written by Mason.
Walpole's answer is entitled, "Reply to the Observations on the
Remarks of the Rev. Dr. Milles, Dean of Exeter and President
of the Society of Antiquaries, on the Wardrobe Account of 1483,
etc." It is inserted in the second volume of his collected
Works-E.
Letter 20 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Arlington Street, Christmas-day. (page 43)
If poplar-pines ever grow,(21) it must be in such a soaking
season as this. I wish you would send half-a-dozen by some
Henley barge to meet me next Saturday at Strawberry Hill, that
they may be as tall as the Monument by next summer. My
cascades give themselves the airs of cataracts, and Mrs. Clive
looks like the sun rising out of the ocean. Poor Mr.
Raftor(22) is tired to death of their solitude; and, as his
passion is walking, he talks with rapture of the brave rows of
lamps all along the street, just as I used formerly to think no
trees beautiful without lamps to them, like those at Vauxhall.
As I came to town but to dinner, and have not seen a soul, I do
not KNOW whether there is any news. I am just going to the
Princess,(23) where I shall hear all there is. I went to King
Arthur(24) on Saturday, and was tired to death, both of the
nonsense of the piece and the execrable performance, the
singers being still worse than the actors. The scenes are
little better (though Garrick boasts of rivalling the French
Opera,) except a pretty bridge, and a Gothic church with
windows of painted glass. This scene, which should be a
barbarous temple of Woden, is a perfect cathedral, and the
devil officiates at a kind of high-mass! I never saw greater
absurdities. Adieu!
(21) The first poplar-pine (or, as they have since been called,
Lombardy poplar) planted in England was at Park-place, on the
bank of the river near the great arch. It was a cutting
brought from Turin by Lord Rochford in his carriage, and
planted by General Conway's own hand.
(22) Brother of Mrs. Clive. He had been an actor himself, and,
when his sister retired from the stage, lived with her in the
house Mr. Walpole had given her at Twickenham.
(23( The Princess Amelia.
(24) Dryden's dramatic opera of King Arthur, or the British
Worthy, altered by Garrick, was this year brought out at Drury
Lane, and, by the aid of scenery, was very successful.-E.
Letter 21 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Arlington Street, Dec. 29, 1770. (page 44)
The trees came safe: I thank you for them: they are gone to
Strawberry, and I am going to plant them. This paragraph would
not call for a letter, but I have news for you of importance
enough to dignify a despatch. The Duc de Choiseul is fallen!
The express from Lord Harcourt arrived yesterday morning; the
event happened last Monday night, and the courier set out so
immediately, that not many particulars are yet known. The Duke
was allowed but three hours to prepare himself, and ordered to
retire to his seat at Chanteloup: but some letters say, "il ira
plus loin." The Duc de Praslin is banished, too, and Chatelet
is forbidden to visit Choiseul. Chatelet was to have had the
marine; and I am Sure is no loss to us. The Chevalier de Muy
is made secretary of state pour la guerre;(25) and it is
concluded that the Duc d'Aiguillon is prime-minister, but was
not named so in the first hurry. There! there is a revolution!
there is a new scene opened! Will it advance the war? Will it
make peace? These are the questions all mankind is asking.
This whale has swallowed up all gudgeon-questions. Lord
Harcourt writes, that the d'Aiguillonists had officiously taken
opportunities of assuring him, that if they prevailed it would
be peace; but in this country we know that opponents turned
ministers can change their language It is added, that the
morning of Choiseul's banishment'(26) the King said to him,
"Monsieur, je vous ai dit que je ne voulais point la guerre."
Yet how does this agree with Franc`es's(27) eager protestations
that Choiseul's fate depended on preserving the peace? How
does it agree with the Comptroller-general's offer of finding
funds for the war, and of Choiseul's proving he could not?--But
how reconcile half the politics one hears? De Guisnes and
Franc`es sent their excuses to the Duchess of Argyle last
night; and I suppose the Spaniards, too; for none of them were
there.--Well! I shall let all this bustle cool for two days;
for what Englishman does not sacrifice any thing to go his
Saturday out of town? And yet I am very much interested in
this event; I feel much for Madame de Choiseul, though nothing
for her Corsican husband; but I am in the utmost anxiety for my
dear old friend,(28) who passed every evening with the Duchess,
and was thence in great credit; and what is worse, though
nobody, I think, can be savage enough to take away her pension,
she may find great difficulty to get it paid--and then her poor
heart is so good and warm, that this blow on her friends, at
her great age, may kill her.(29) I have had no letter, nor had
last post--whether it was stopped, or whether she apprehended
the event, as I imagine--for every one observed, on Tuesday
night, at your brother's, that Franc`es could not open his
mouth. In short, I am most seriously alarmed about her.
You have seen in the papers the designed arrangements in the
law.(30) They now say there is some hitch; but I suppose it
turns on some demands, and so will be got over by their being
granted. Mr. Mason, the bard, gave me yesterday, the enclosed
memorial, and begged I would recommend it to you. It is in
favour of a very ingenious painter. Adieu! the sun shines
brightly; but it is one o'clock, and it will be set before I
get to Twickenham. Yours ever.
(25) The Chevalier, afterwards Mar`echal de Muy, was offered
that place, but declined it. He eventually filled it in the
early part of the reign of Louis XVI.-E.
(26) The Duc de Choiseul was dismissed from the ministry
through the intrigues of Madame du Barry, who accused him of an
improper correspondence with Spain.-- E.
(27) Then charg`e des affaires from the French court in London.
(28) It appears by Madame du Deffand's Letters to Walpole, that
she had addressed to him, on the 27th of December, one of
considerable length, filled with details relative to the
dismissal of the Duc de Choiseul, which took place on the 24th,
and the appointment of his successor; but this letter is
unfortunately lost.-E.
(29) By the reduction which the Abb`e de Terrai, when he first
entered upon the controle g`en`eral, made upon all pensions,
Madame du Deffand had lost three thousand livres of income. To
her letter of the 2d of February 1771, announcing this
diminution, Walpole made the following generous reply:--"Je ne
saurois souffrir une telle diminution de votre bien. O`u
voulez-vous faire des retranchemens? O`u est-il possible que
vous en fassiez? Ne daignez pas fire un pas, s'il n'est pas
fait, pour remplacer vos trois Mille livres. Ayez assez
d'amiti`e pour moi pour les accepter de ma part. Accordez-moi,
je vous conjure, la gr`ace, que je vous demande aux genoux, et
jouissez de la satisfaction de vous dire, j'ai un ami qui ne
permettra jamais que je me jette aux pieds des grands. Ma
Petite, j'insiste."-E.
(30) Mr. Bathurst was created Lord Apsley, and appointed Lord
Chancellor; Sir William de Grey was made Chief Justice of the
Common Pleas; Mr. Thurlow, attorney-general and Mr. Wedderburn,
solicitor-general.-E.
Letter 22 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Jan. 10, 1771. (page 45)
As I am acquainted with Mr. Paul Sandby, the brother of the
architect,(31) I asked him if there was a design, as I had
heard, of making a print or prints of King's College Chapel, by
the King's order'! He answered directly, by no means. His
brother made a general sketch of the chapel for the use of the
lectures he reads on architecture at the Royal Academy. Thus,
dear Sir, Mr. Essex may be perfectly easy that there is no
intention of interfering with his work. I then mentioned to
Mr. Sandby Mr. Essex's plan, which he much approved, but said
the plates would cost a great sum. The King, he thought, would
be inclined to patronise the work; but I own I do not know how
to get it laid before him. His own artists would probably
discourage any scheme that might entrench on their own
advantages. Mr. Thomas Sandby, the architect, is the only one
of them I am acquainted with; and Mr. Essex must think whether
he would like to let him into any participation of the work.
If I can get any other person to mention it to his Majesty, I
will; but you know me, and that I have always kept clear of
connexions with courts and ministers, and have no interest with
either, and perhaps my recommendation might do as much hurt as
good, especially as the artists in favour might be jealous Of
One who understands a little of their professions, and is apt
to say what he thinks. In truth, there is another danger,
which is that they might not assist Mr. Essex without views of
profiting of his labours. I am slightly acquainted with Mr.
Chambers,(32) the architect, and have a good opinion of him: if
Mr. Essex approves my communicating his plan to him or Mr.
Sandby, I should think it more likely to succeed by their
intervention, than by any lord of the court; for, at last, the
King would certainly take the opinion of his artists. When you
have talked this over with Mr. Essex, let me know the result.
Till he has determined, there can be no use in Mr. Essex's
coming to town.
Mr. Gray will bring down some of my drawings to Bannerman, and
when you go over to Cambridge, I will beg you now and then to
supervise him. For Mr. Bentham's book, I rather despair of it;
and should it ever appear, he will have had people expect it
too long, which will be of no service to it, though I do not
doubt of its merit. Mr. Gray will show you my answer to"Dr.
Milles.(33) Yours ever.
(31) Paul Sandby, the well-known artist in water-colours, was
brother to Thomas Sandby, who was professor of architecture in
the Royal Academy of London.-E.
(32) Afterwards Sir William Chambers, author of the well-known
"Treatise on Civil Architecture;" a "Dissertation on Oriental
Gardening," etc. In 1775, he was appointed to superintend the
building of Somerset-house, in the Strand.-E.
(33) In the early part of this year, Walpole's house in
Arlington-street was broke open, without his servants being
alarmed; all the locks forced off his drawers, cabinets, etc.
their contents scattered about the rooms, and yet nothing taken
away. In her letter of the 3d of April, Madame du Deffand
says, "Votre aventure fait tenir ici toute sorte de propos: les
uns disent que l'on vous soup`connait d'avoir une
correspondence secr`ete avec M. de Choiseul.-E.
Letter 23 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, May 29, 1771. (page 46)
Dear Sir,
I have but time to write you a line, that I may not detain Mr.
Essex, who is so good as to take charge of this note, and of a
box, which I am sure will give you pleasure, and I beg may give
you a little trouble. It contains the very valuable seven
letters of Edward the sixth to Barnaby Fitzpatrick. Lord
Ossory, to whom they belong, has lent them to me to print, but
to facilitate that, and to prevent their being rubbed or hurt
by the printer, I must entreat your exactness to copy them, and
return them with the copies. I need not desire your particular
care; for you value these things as much as I do, and will be
able to make them out better than I can do, from being so much
versed in old writing. Forgive my taking this liberty with
you, which, I flatter myself, will not be disagreeable. Mr.
Essex and Mr. Tyson dined with me at Strawberry Hill; but could
not stay so long as I wished. The party would have been still
more agreeable if you had made a fourth. Adieu! dear Sir,
yours ever.
Letter 24 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, June 11, 1771. (page 47)
You are very kind, dear Sir, and I ought to be, nay, what is
more, I am ashamed of giving you so much trouble; but I am in
no hurry for the letters. I shall not set out till the 7th of
next month, And it will be sufficient if I receive them a week
before I set out. Mr. C. C. C. C. is very welcome to attack me
about a Duchess of Norfolk. He is even welcome to be in the
right; to the edification I hope of all the matrons at the
Antiquarian Society, who I trust will insert his criticism in
the next volume of their Archaeologia, or Old Women's Logic;
but, indeed, I cannot bestow my time on any more of them, nor
employ myself in detecting witches for vomiting pins. When
they turn extortioners like Mr. Masters,(34) the law should
punish them, not only for roguery, but for exceeding their
province, which our ancestors limited to killing their
neighbour's cow, or crucifying dolls of wax. For my own part,
I am so far from being out of charity with him, that I would
give him a nag or new broom whenever he has a mind to ride to
the Antiquarian sabbat, and preach against me. Though you have
more cause to be angry, laugh -,it him as I do. One has not
life enough to throw away on all the fools and knaves that come
across one. I have often been attacked, and never replied but
to Mr. Hume and Dr. Milles--to the first, because he had a
name; to the second, because he had a mind to have one:--and
yet I was in the wrong, for it was the only way he could attain
one. In truth, it is being too self-interested, to expose only
one's private antagonists, when one lets worse men pass
unmolested. Does a booby hurt me by an attack on me, more than
by any other foolish thing he does? Does not he tease me more
by any thing he says to me, without attacking me, than by any
thing he says against me behind my back? I shall, therefore,
most certainly never inquire after or read Mr. C. C. C. C.'s
criticism, but leave him to oblivion with her Grace of Norfolk,
and our wise society. As I doubt my own writings will soon be
forgotten, I need not fear that those of my answerers will be
remembered.
(34) There is a note on this letter in Cole's handwriting. Mr.
Mason had informed him, that Mr. Masters had lately read a
paper at the Antiquarian Society against some mistake of Mr.
Walpole's respective a Duchess of Norfolk; and he adds, "This I
informed Mr. Walpole of in my letter, and said something to him
of Masters' extortion in making me pay forty pounds towards the
repairing his vicarage-house at Waterbeche, which he pretended
he had fitted up for my reception."
Letter 25 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.(35)
Strawberry Hill, June 17, 1771. (page 48)
I was very sure you would grant my request, if you could, and I
am perfectly satisfied with your reasons; but I do not believe
the parties concerned will be so too, especially the heads of
the family, who are not so ready to serve their relations at
their own expense as gratis. When I see you I will tell you
more, and what I thought I had told you.
You tax me with four days in Bedfordshire; I was but three at
most, and of those the evening I went, and the morning I came
away, made the third day. I will try to see you before I go.
The Edgcumbes I should like and Lady Lyttelton, but Garrick
does not tempt me at all. I have no taste for his perpetual
buffoonery, and am sick of his endless expectation of flattery;
but you who charge me with making a long visit to Lord and Lady
Ossory,--you do not see the mote in your own eye; at least I am
sure Lady Ailesbury does not see that in hers. I could not
obtain a single day from her all last year, and with difficulty
got her to give me a few hours this. There is always an
indispensable pheasantry that must be visited, or some thing
from which she cannot spare four-and-twenty hours. Strawberry
sets this down in its pocket-book. and resents the neglect.
At two miles from Houghton Park is the mausoleum of the Bruces,
where I saw the most ridiculous monument of one of Lady
Ailesbury's predecessors that ever was imagined; I beg she will
never keep such company. In the midst of an octagon chapel is
the tomb of Diana, Countess of Oxford and Elgin. From a huge
unwieldy base of white marble rises a black marble cistern;
literally a cistern that would serve for an eating-room. In
the midst of this, to the knees, stands her ladyship in a white
domino or shroud, with her left hand erect as giving her
blessing. It put me in mind of Mrs. Cavendish when she got
drunk in the bathing-tub. At another church is a kind of
catacomb for the Earls of Kent: there are ten sumptuous
monuments. Wrest and Hawnes are both ugly places; the house at
the former is ridiculously old and bad. The state bedchamber
(not ten feet high) and its drawing-room, are laced with Ionic
columns of spotted velvet, and friezes of patchwork. There are
bushels of deplorable earls and countesses. The garden was
execrable too, but is something mended by Brown. Houghton Park
and Ampthill stand finely: the last is a very good house, and
has a beautiful park. The other has three beautiful old
fronts, in the style of Holland House, with turrets and
loggias, but not so large within. It is the worst contrived
dwelling I ever saw. Upon the whole, I was much diverted with
my journey. On my return I stayed but a single hour in London,
saw no soul, and came hither to meet the deluge. It has rained
all night, and all day; but it is midsummer, consequently
midwinter, and one can expect no better. Adieu!
(35) Now first printed.
Letter 26 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Strawberry Hill, June 20, 1771. (page 49)
I have waited impatiently, my dear lord, for something worth
putting into a letter but trees do not speak in parliament, nor
flowers write in the newspapers; and they are almost the only
beings I have seen. I dined on Tuesday at Notting-hill(36)
with the Countesses of Powis and Holderness, Lord and Lady
Pelham, and Lord Frederick Cavendish--and Pam; and shall go to
town on Friday to meet the same company at Lady Holderness's;
and this short journal comprises almost my whole history and
knowledge.
I must now ask your lordship's and Lady Strafford's commands
for Paris. I shall set out on the 7th of next month. You will
think, though you will not tell me so, that these are Very
juvenile jaunts at my age. Indeed, I should be ashamed if I
went for any other pleasure but that of once more seeing my
dear blind friend, whose much greater age forbids my depending
on seeing more often.(37) It will, indeed, be amusing to
change the scene of politics for though I have done with our
own, one cannot help hearing them--nay, reading them; for, like
flies, they come to breakfast with one's bread and butter. I
wish there was any other vehicle for them but a newspaper; a
place into which, considering how they are exhausted, I am sure
they have no pretensions. The Duc d'Aiguillon, I hear, is
minister. Their politics, some way or other, must end
seriously, either in despotism, a civil war, or assassination.
Methinks, it is playing deep for the power of tyranny. Charles
Fox is more moderate: he only games for an hundred thousand
pounds that he has not.
Have you read the Life of Benvenuto Cellini,(38) my lord? I am
angry with him for being more distracted and wrong-headed than
my Lord Herbert. Till the revival of these two, I thought the
present age had borne the palm of absurdity from all its
predecessors. But I find our contemporaries are quiet good
folks, that only game till they hang themselves, and do not
kill every body they meet in the street. Who would have
thought we were so reasonable?
Ranelagh, they tell me, is full of foreign dukes. There is a
Duc de la Tr`emouille, a Duc d'Aremberg, and other grandees. I
know the former, and am not sorry to be out of his way.
It is not pleasant to leave groves and lawns and rivers for a
dirty town with a dirtier ditch, calling itself the Seine; but
I dare not encounter the sea and bad inns in cold weather.
This consideration will bring me back by the end of August. I
should be happy to execute any commission for your lordship.
You know how earnestly I wish always to show myself your
lordship's most faithful humble servant.
(36) near Kensington. The villa of Lady Mary Coke.
(37) In the February of this-year Madame du Deffand had made
her will, and bequeathed Walpole all her manuscripts-. In her
letter of the 17th, informing him that she had so done, she
says, "Je fis usage de votre 'j'y consens.' J'ai une vraie
satisfaction que cette affaire soit termin`ee, et jamais vous
ne m'avez fait un plus v`eritable plaisir qu'en pronon`cant ces
deux mots."-E.
(38) The celebrated Florentine sculptor, "one of the most
extraordinary men in an extraordinary age," so designated by
Walpole. His Life, written by himself, was first published in
English in 1771, from a translation by Dr. T. Nugent; of which
a new edition, corrected and enlarged, with the notes and
observations of G. P. Carpani, translated by Thomas Roscoe,
appeared in 1822.-E.
Letter 27 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, June 22, 1771. (page 50)
I just write you a line, dear Sir, to acknowledge the receipt
of the box of papers, which is come very safe, and to give you
a thousand thanks for the trouble you have taken. As you
promise me another letter I will wait to answer it.
At present I will only beg another favour, and with less shame,
as it is of a kind you will like to grant. I have lately been
at Lord Ossory's at Ampthill. You know Catherine of Arragon
lived some time there.(39) Nothing remains of the castle, nor
any marks of residence, but a very small bit of her garden. I
proposed to Lord Ossory to erect a cross to her memory on the
spot, and he will. I wish, therefore, you could, from your
collections of books, or memory, pick out an authentic form of
a cross, of a better appearance than the common run. It must
be raised on two or three steps; and if they were octagon,
would it not be handsomer? Her arms must be hung like an order
upon it. Here is something of my idea.(40) The shield
appendant to a collar. We will have some inscriptions to mark
the cause of erection. Adieu! Your most obliged.
(39) After her divorce from Henry the Eighth.
(40) A rough sketch in the margin of the letter.
Letter 28 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, June 24, 1771. (page 51)
Dear Sir,
when I wrote to you t'other day, I had not opened the box of
letters, and consequently had not found yours, for which, and
the prints, I give you a thousand thanks; though Count Bryan I
have, and will return to you. Old Walker(41) is very like, and
is valuable for being mentioned in the Dunciad, and a
curiosity, from being mentioned there without abuse.
Your notes are very judicious,(42) and your information most
useful to me in drawing up some little preface to the Letters;
which, however, I shall not have time now to do before my
journey, as I shall set out on Sunday se'nnight. I like your
motto much. The Lady Cecilia's Letters are, as you say, more
curious for the writer than the matter. We know very little of
those daughters of Edward IV. Yet she and her sister
Devonshire lived to be old; especially Cecily, who was married
to Lord Wells; and I have found why: he was first cousin to
Henry VII., who, I suppose, thought it the safest match for
her. I wish I knew all she and her sisters knew of her
brothers, and their uncle Richard III. Much good may it do my
Lord of Canterbury with his parboiled stag! Sure there must be
more curiosities in Bennet Library!
Though your letter is so entertaining and useful to me, the
passage I like best is a promise you make me of a visit in the
autumn with Mr. Essex. Pray put him in mind of it, as I shall
you. It would add much to the obligation if you would bring
two or three of your MS. volumes of collections with you.
Yours ever.
(41) Dr. Richard Walker, vice-master of Trinity College, by
Lambourne.
(42) From King Edward's Journal relating to Mr. Fitzpatrick.
Letter 29 To John Chute, Esq.
Amiens, Tuesday evening, July 9, 1771. (page 51)
I am got no farther yet, as I travel leisurely, and do not
venture to fatigue myself. My voyage was but of four hours. I
was sick only by choice and precaution, and find myself in
perfect health. The enemy, I hope, has not returned to pinch
you again, and that you defy the foul fiend. The weather is
but lukewarm, and I should choose to have all the windows shut,
if my smelling was not much more summerly than my feeling; but
the frowsiness of obsolete tapestry and needlework is
insupportable. Here are old fleas and bugs talking of Louis
Quatorze like tattered refugees in the park, and they make poor
Rosette attend them, whether she will or not. This is a woful
account of an evening in July, and which Monsieur de St.
Lambert has omitted in his Seasons, though more natural than
any thing he has placed there. I f the Grecian religion had
gone into the folly of self-mortification, I suppose the
devotees of Flora would have shut themselves up in a nasty inn,
and have punished their noses for the sensuality of having
smelt to a rose or a honeysuckle.
This is all I have yet to say; for I have had no adventure, no
accident, nor seen a soul but my cousin Richard Walpole, whom I
met on the road and spoke to in his chaise. To-morrow I shall
lie at Chantilly, and be at Paris early on Thursday. The
Churchills are there already. Good night-- and a sweet one to
you!
Paris, Wednesday night, July 10.
I was so suffocated with my inn last night, that I mustered all
my resolution, rose with the alouette this morning, and was in
my chaise by five o'clock I got hither by eight this evening,
tired, but rejoiced; I have had a comfortable dish of tea, and
am going to bed in clean sheets. I sink myself even to my dear
old woman(43) and my sister; for it is impossible to sit down
and be made charming At this time of night after fifteen posts,
and after having been here twenty times before.
At Chantilly I crossed the Countess of Walpole, who lies there
to-night on her way to England. But I concluded she had no
curiosity about me-and I could not brag of more about her-and
so we had no intercourse. I am wobegone to find my Lord F -* *
* in the same hotel. He is as starched as an old-fashioned
plaited neckcloth, and come to suck wisdom from this curious
school of philosophy. He reveres me because I was acquainted
with his father; and that does not at all increase my
partiality to the son.
Luckily, the post departs early to-morrow morning I thought you
would like to hear I was arrived -well. I should be happy to
hear you are so; but do not torment yourself too soon, nor will
I torment you. I have fixed the 26th of August for setting out
on my return. These jaunts are too juvenile. I am ashamed to
look back and remember in what year of Methuselah I was here
first. Rosette Sends her blessing to her daughter. Adieu!
Yours ever.
(43) Madame du Deffand; who, in her letter to Walpole of the
12th of June, had said, "Je sens l'exc`es de votre
complaisance; j'ai tant de joie de l'esp`erance de vous revoir
qu'il me semble que rien ne peut plus m'affliger ni
m'attrister."--E.
Letter 30 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Paris, July 30, 1771. (page 52)
I do not know where you are, nor where this will find you, nor
when it will set out to seek you, as I am not certain by whom I
shall send it. It is of little consequence, as I have nothing
material to tell you, but what you probably may have heard.
The distress here is incredible, especially at court. The
King's tradesmen are ruined, his servants starving, and even
angels and archangels cannot get their pensions and salaries,
but sing, "Woe! woe! woe!" instead of Hosannahs. Compi`egne is
abandoned; Villiers-coterets and Chantilly(44) crowded, and
Chanteloup(45) still more in fashion, whither every body goes
that pleases; though, when they ask leave, the answer is, "Je
ne le defends ni le permets." This is the first time that ever
the will of a King of France was interpreted against his
inclination. Yet, after annihilating his Parliament, and
ruining public credit, he tamely submits to be affronted by his
own servants. Madame de Beauveau, and two or three
high-spirited dames, defy this Czar of Gaul- Yet they and their
cabal are as inconsistent on the other hand. They make
epigrams, sing vaudevilles(46) against the mistress, hand about
libels against the Chancellor, and have no more effect than a
sky-rocket; but in three months will die to go to court, and to
be invited to sup with Madame du Barry. The only real struggle
is between the Chancellor(47) and the Duc d'Aiguillon. The
first is false, bold, determined, and not subject to little
qualms. The other is less known, communicates himself to
nobody, is suspected of deep policy and deep designs, but seems
to intend to set out under a mask of very smooth varnish; for
he has just obtained the payment of all his bitter enemy La
Chalotais' pensions and arrears. He has the advantage, too, of
being but moderately detested in comparison of his rival, and,
what he values more, the interest of the mistress.(48) The
Comptroller-general serves both, by acting mischief more
sensibly felt; for he ruins every body but those who purchase a
respite from his mistress.(49) He dispenses bankruptcy by
retail, and will fall, because he cannot even by these means be
useful enough. They are striking off nine millions la caisse
militaire, five from the marine, and one from the afaires
`etrang`eres: yet all this will not extricate them. You never
saw a great nation in so disgraceful a position. Their next
prospect is not better: it rests on an imbecile, both in mind
and body.
July 31.
Mr. Churchill and my sister set out to-night after supper, and
I shall send this letter by them. There are no new books, no
new Plays, no new novels; nay, no new fashions. They have
dragged old Mademoiselle Le Maure out of a retreat of thirty
years, to sing at the Colis`ee, which is a most gaudy Ranelagh,
gilt, painted, and becupided like an Opera, but not calculated
to last as long as Mother Coliseum, being composed of chalk and
pasteboard. Round it are courts of treillage, that serve for
nothing, and behind it a canal, very like a horsepond, on which
there are fireworks and justs. Altogether it is very pretty;
but as there are few nabobs and nabobesses in this country, and
as the middling and common people are not much richer than Job
when he had lost every thing but his patience, the proprietors
are on the point of being ruined, unless the project takes
place that is talked of. It is, to oblige Corneille, Racine,
and Moli`ere to hold their tongues twice a-week, that their
audiences may go to the Colis`ee. This is like our
Parliament's adjourning when senators want to go to Newmarket.
There is a Monsieur Gaillard writing a "History of the
Rivalit`e de la France et de l'Angleterre."(50) I hope he will
not omit this parallel.
The instance of their poverty that strikes me most, who make
political observations by the thermometer of baubles, is, that
there is nothing new in their shops. I know the faces of every
snuff-box and every tea-cup as well as those of Madame du Lac
and Monsieur Poirier. I have chosen some cups and saucers for
my Lady Ailesbury, as she ordered me; but I cannot say they are
at all extraordinary. I have bespoken two cabriolets for her,
instead of six, because I think them very dear, and that she
may have four more if she likes them. I shall bring, too, a
sample of a baguette that suits them. For myself, between
economy and the want of novelty, I have not laid out five
guineas--a very memorable anecdote in the history of my life.
Indeed, the Czarina and I have a little dispute; she has
offered to purchase the whole Crozat collection of pictures, at
which I had intended to ruin myself. The Turks thank her for
it! Apropos, they are sending from hence fourscore officers to
Poland, each of whom I suppose, like Almanzor, can stamp with
his foot and raise an army.
As my sister travels like a Tartar princess with her whole
horde, she will arrive too late almost for me to hear from you
in return to this letter, which in truth requires no answer,
v`u que I shall set out myself on the 26th of August. You will
not imagine that I am glad to save myself the pleasure of
hearing from you; but I would not give you the trouble of
writing unnecessarily. If you are at home, and not in
Scotland, you will judge by these dates where to find me.
Adieu!
P. S. Instead of restoring the Jesuits, they are proceeding to
annihilate the Celestines, Augustines, and some other orders.
(44) The country palaces of the Duke of Orleans and the Prince
of Cond`e; who were in disgrace at court for having espoused
the cause of the Parliament of Paris, banished by the
Chancellor Maupeou.
(45) The country seat of the Duc de Choiseul, to which, on his
ceasing to be first minister, he was banished by the King.
(46) The following `echantillon of these vaudevilles was given
by Madame du Deffand to Walpole:--
"L'avez-vous vue, ma Du Barry,
Elle a ravi mon `ame;
Pour elle j'ai perdu l'esprit,
Des Fran`cais j'ai le bl`ame:
Charmants enfans de la Gourdon,
Est-elle chez vous maintenant?
Rendez-la-moi,
Je suis le Roi,
Soulagez mon martyre;
Rendez-la-moi,
Elle est `a moi,
Je suis son pauvre Sire.
Llavez-vous vue, etc.
"Je sais qu'autrefois les laquais
Ont f`et`e ses jeunes attraits;
Que les cochers,
Les peruquiers,
L'aimaient, l'aimaient d'amour ex`eme,
Mais pas autant que je l'aime.
L'avez-vous vue," etc,-E.
(47) Maupeou.
(48) Madame du Barry.'''
(49) The Abb`e Terrai was comptroller-general of the finances.
His mistress, known in the fashionable circles of Paris by the
name of La Sultane, received money, as it was supposed, in
concert with the Abb`e himself, for every act of favour or
justice solicited from the department over which he presided.-E.
(50) In a letter to Walpole, Madame du Deffand thus speaks of
this work:--"Il m'arrive une bonne fortune apr`es laquelle je
soupirais depuis longtemps: c'est un livre qui me plait
infiniment; il est de M. Gaillard; il a Pour titre 'Rivalit`e
de la France et de l'Angleterre;' il est par chapitres, et
chaque chapitre est les `ev`enemens du r`egne d'un Roi de
France et d'un Roi d'Angleterre contemporains. Il est bien
loin d'`etre fini; il n'en est qu'a Philippe de Valois et
Edouard Trois. Il n'y a que trois volumes; il y en aura
peut-`etre douze ou quinze." The work, which was not completed
till the year 1774, extended to eleven Volumes.-E.
Letter 31 To John Chute, Esq.
Paris, August 5, 1771. ((page 55)
It is a great satisfaction to Me to find by your letter of the
30th, that you have had no return of your gout. I have been
assured here, that the best remedy is to cut one's nails in hot
water. It is, I fear, as certain as any other remedy! It
would at least be so here, if their bodies were of a piece with
their understandings; or if both were as curable as they are
the contrary. Your prophecy, I doubt, is not better founded
than the prescription. I may be lame; but I shall never be a
duck, nor deal in the garbage of the Alley. I envy your
Strawberry tide, and need not say how much I wish I was there
to receive you. Methinks, I should be as glad of a little
grass, as a seaman after a long voyage. Yet English gardening
gains ground here prodigiously-not much at a time, indeed--I
have literally seen one, that is exactly like a tailor's paper
of patterns. There is a Monsieur Boutin, who has tacked a
piece of what he calls an English garden to a set of stone
terraces, with steps of turf. There are three or four very
high hills, almost as high as, and exactly in the shape of, a
tansy pudding. You squeeze between these and a river, that is
conducted at obtuse angles in a stone channel, and supplied by
a pump, and when walnuts Come in I suppose it will be
navigable. In a corner enclosed by a chalk wall are the
samples I mentioned: there is a stripe of grass, another of
corn, and a third en friche, exactly in the order of beds in a
nursery. They have translated Mr. Whately's book,(51) and the
Lord knows what barbarism is going to be laid at our door.
This new anglomanie will literally be mad English.
New arr`ets, new retrenchments, new misery, stalk forth every
day. The Parliament of Besan`con is dissolved; so are the
grenadiers de France. The King's tradesmen are all bankrupt;
no pensions are paid, and every body is reforming their suppers
and equipages. Despotism makes converts faster than ever
Christianity did. Louis Quinze is the true rex
Ckristianissimus, and has ten times more success than his
dragooning great-grandfather. Adieu, my dear Sir! Yours most
faithfully.
Friday, 9th.
This was to have gone by a private hand, but cannot depart till
Monday; so I may be continuing my letter till I bring it
myself. I have been again at the Chartreuse; and though it was
the sixth time, I am more enchanted with those paintings(52)
than ever. If it is not the first work in the world, and must
yield to the Vatican, yet in simplicity and harmony it beats
Raphael himself. There is a vapour over all the pictures, that
makes them more natural than any representation of objects-1
cannot conceive bow it is effected! You see them through the
shine of a southeast wind. These poor folks do not know the
inestimable treasure they possess--but they are perishing these
pictures, and one gazes at them as at a setting sun. There is
the purity of a Racine in them, but they give me more pleasure-
-and I should much sooner be tired of the poet than of the
painter.
It is very singular that I have not half the satisfaction in
going into C, churches and convents that I used to have. The
consciousness that the vision is dispelled, the want of fervour
so obvious in the religious, the solitude that one knows
proceeds from contempt, not from contemplation, make those
places appear like abandoned theatres destined to destruction.
The monks trot about as if they had not long to stay there; and
what used to be the holy gloom is now but dirt and darkness.
There is no more deception than in a tragedy acted by
candlesnuffers. One is sorry to think that an empire of common
sense would not be very picturesque; for, as there is nothing
but taste that can compensate for the imagination of madness, I
doubt there will never be twenty men of taste for twenty
thousand madmen. The world will no more see Athens, Rome, and
the Medici again, than a succession of five good emperors, like
Nerva, Trajan, Adrian, and the two Antonines.
August 13.
Mr. Edmonson called on me; and, as he sets on to-morrow, I can
safely trust my letter to him. I have, I own,, been much
shocked at reading Gray's(53) death in the papers. 'Tis an
hour that makes one forget any subject of complaint, especially
towards one with whom I lived in friendship from thirteen years
old. As self lies so rooted in self, no doubt the nearness of
our ages made the stroke recoil to my own breast; and having so
little expected his death, it is Plain how little I expect my
own. Yet to you, who of all men living are the most forgiving,
I need not excuse the concern I feel. I fear most men ought to
apologize for their want of feeling, instead of palliating that
sensation when they have it. I thought that what I had seen of
the world had hardened my heart; but I find that it had formed
my language, not extinguished my tenderness. In short, I am
really shocked--nay, I am hurt at my own weakness, as I
perceive that when I love any body, it is for my life; and I
have had too Much reason not to wish that such a disposition
may very seldom be put to the trial.(54) You, at least, are
the only person to whom I would venture to make such a
confession.
Adieu! my dear Sir! Let me know when I arrive, which will be
about the last day of the month, when I am likely to see YOU.
I have much to say to you. Of being here I am most heartily
tired, and nothing but the dear old woman should keep me here
an hour-I am weary of them to death-but that is not new! Yours
ever.
(51) Entitled "An Essay on Design in Gardening," Mr. Whately
was at this time under-secretary of state, and member for
Castle Rising. In January, 1772, he was made keeper of the
King's private roads, gates, and bridges, and died in the June
following.-E.
(52) The Life of St. Bruno, painted by Le Soeur, in the
cloister of the Chartreuse.
(53) On the 24th of July," says Mr. Mitford, "Gray, while at
dinner in the college hall, was seized with an attack of the
gout in his stomach. The violence of the disease resisted all
the powers of medicine: on the 29th he was seized with
convulsions, which returned more violently on the 30th; and he
expired on the evening of that day, in the fifty-fifth year of
his age." Works, Vol. i, P. lvi-E.
(54) "It will appear from this and the two following letters,"
observes Mr. Mitford, "that Walpole's affection and friendship
for Gray was warm and sincere after the reconcilement took
place; and indeed, before that, and immediately after the
quarrel, I believe his regard for Gray was undiminished."
Works, vol. iv. p. 2 12-E.
Letter 32 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Paris, August 11, 1771. (page 57)
You will have seen, I hope, before now, that I have not
neglected writing to you. I sent you a letter by my sister,
but doubt she has been a great while upon the road, as they
travel with a large family. I was not sure where you was, and
would not write at random by the post.
I was just going out when I received yours and the newspapers.
I was struck in a most sensible manner, when, after reading
your letter, I saw in the newspapers that Gray is dead! So very
ancient an intimacy(55) and, I suppose, the natural reflection
to self on losing a person but a year older, made me absolutely
start in my chair. It seemed more a corporal than a mental
blow; and yet I am exceedingly concerned for him, and every
body must be so for the loss of such a genius. He called on me
but two or three days before I came hither; he complained of
being ill, and talked of the gout in his stomach--but I
expected his death no more than my own--and yet the same death
will probably be mine.(56) I am full of all these
reflections-but shall not attrist you with them: only do not
wonder that my letter will be short, when my mind is full of
what I do not give vent to. It was but last night that I was
thinking how few persons last, if one lives to be old, to whom
one can talk without reserve. It is impossible to be intimate
with the Young, because they and the old cannot converse on the
same common topics; and of the old that survive, there are few
one can commence a friendship with, because one has probably
all one's life despised their heart or their understandings.
These are the steps through which one passes to the unenviable
lees of life!
I am very sorry for the state of poor Lady Beauchamp. It
presages ill. She had a prospect of long happiness. Opium is
a very false friend. I will get you Bougainville's book.(57)
I think it is on the Falkland Isles, for it cannot be on those
just discovered; but as I set out to-morrow se'nnight, and
probably may have no opportunity sooner of sending it, I will
bring it myself. Adieu! Yours ever.
(55) It will b recollected, that General Conway travelled with
Gray and Walpole in 1739, and separated from them at Geneva.-E.
(56) Gray's last letter to Walpole was dated March 17, 1771; it
contained the following striking passage:--"He must have a very
strong stomach that can digest the crambe recocta of Voltaire.
Atheism is a vile dish, though all the cooks of France combine
to make new sauces to it. As to the soul, perhaps they may
have none on the Continent; but I do think we have such things
in England; Shakspeare, for example, I believe, had several to
his own share. As to the Jews (though they do not eat pork), I
like them, because they are better Christians than Voltaire."
Works vol. iv. p. 190.-E.
(57) An English translation of the book appeared in 1773, under
the title of "History of a Voyage to the Malonine, or Falkland
Islands, made in 1763 and 1764, under the command of M. de
Bougainville; and of two Voyages to the Straits of Magellan,
with an account of the Patagonians; translated from Don
Pernety's Historical Journal, written in French." In the same
year was published a translation of Bougainville's "Voyage
autour du Monde." This celebrated circumnavigator retired from
the service in 1790. He afterwards was made Count and Senator
by Napoleon Buonaparte, became member of the National Institute
and of the Royal Society of London, and died at Paris in 1811,
at the age of eighty-two.-E.
Letter 33 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Paris, August 12, 1771. (page 53)
I am excessively shocked at reading in the papers that Mr. Gray
is dead! I wish to God you may be able to tell me it is not
true! Yet in this painful uncertainty I must rest some days!
None of my acquaintance are in London--I do not know to whom to
apply but to you--alas! I fear in vain! Too many circumstances
speak it true!--the detail is exact;--a second paper arrived by
the same post, and does not contradict it--and, what is worse,
I saw him but four or five days before I came hither: he had
been to Kensington for the air, complained of the gout flying
about him, of sensations of it in his stomach: I, indeed,
thought him changed, and that he looked ill--still I had not
the least idea of his being in danger--I started up from my
chair when I read the paragraph--a cannon-ball would not have
surprised me more! The shock but ceased, to give way to my
concern; and my hopes are too ill-founded to mitigate it. If
nobody has the charity to write to me, my anxiety must continue
till the end of the month, for I shall set out on my return on
the 26th; and unless you receive this time enough for your
answer to leave London on the 20th, in the evening, I cannot
meet it till I find it in Arlington-street, whither I beg you
to direct it.
If the event is but too true, pray add to this melancholy
service, that of telling me any circumstance you know of his
death. Our long, very long friendship, and his genius, must
endear to me every thing that relates to him. What writings
has he left? Who are his executors?(58) I should earnestly
wish, if he has destined any thing to the public, to print it
at my press--it would do me honour, and would give me an
opportunity of expressing what I feel for him. Methinks, as we
grow old, our only business here is to adorn the graves of our
friends, or to dig our own! Adieu, dear Sir! Yours ever.
P. S. I heard this unhappy news but last night; and have just
been told, that Lord Edward Bentinck goes in haste to-morrow to
England; so that you will receive this much sooner than I
expected: still I must desire you to direct to
Arlington-street, as by far the surest conveyance to me.
(58) His executors were, Mason the poet and the Rev. Dr. Brown,
master of Pembroke Hall. "He hath desired," wrote Dr. Brown to
Dr. Wharton, "to be buried near his mother, at Stoke, near
Windsor, and that one of his executors would see him laid in
the grave; a melancholy task, which must come to my share, for
Mr. Mason is not here." Works, vol. iv. p. 206.-E.
Letter 34 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Paris, August 25, 1771. (page 59)
I have passed my biennial six weeks here, my dear lord, and am
preparing to return as soon as the weather will allow me. It
is some comfort to the patriot virtue, envy, to find this
climate worse than our own. There were four very hot days at
the end of last month, which, you know, with us northern people
compose a summer: it has rained half this, and for these three
days there has been a deluge, a storm, and extreme cold. Yet
these folks shiver in silk, and sit with their Windows open
till supper-time. Indeed, firing is very dear, and nabobs very
scarce. Economy and retrenchment are the words in fashion, and
are founded in a little more than caprice. I have heard no
instance of luxury but in Mademoiselle Guimard, a favourite
dancer, who is building a palace: round the salle `a manger
there are windows that open upon hot-houses, that are to
produce flowers all winter. That is worthy of * * * * * *.
There is a finer dancer, whom Mr. Hobart is to transplant to
London; a Mademoiselle Heinel or Ingle, a Fleming.(59) She is
tall, perfectly made, very handsome, and has a set of attitudes
copied from the classics. She moves as gracefully slow as
Pygmalion's statue when it was Coming to life, and moves her
leg round as imperceptibly as if she was dancing in the zodiac.
But she is not Virgo.
They make no more of breaking parliaments here than an English
mob does of breaking windows. It is pity people are so
ill-sorted. If this King and ours could cross over and figure
in, Louis XV. would dissolve our parliament if Polly Jones did
but say a word to him. They have got into such a habit of it
here, that you would think a parliament was a polypus: they cut
it in two, and by next morning half of it becomes a whole
assembly. This has literally been the case at Besan`con.(60)
Lord and Lady Barrymore, who are in the highest favour at
Compiegne, will be able to carry over the receipt.
Everybody feels in their own way. My grief is to see the
ruinous Condition of the palaces and pictures. I was yesterday
at the Louvre. Le Brun's noble gallery, where the battles of
Alexander are, and of which he designed the ceiling, and even
the shutters, bolts, and locks, is in a worse condition than
the old gallery at Somerset-house. It rains in upon the
pictures, though there are stores of much more valuable pieces
than those of Le Brun. Heaps of glorious works by Raphael and
all the great masters are piled up and equally neglected at
Versailles. Their care is not less destructive in private
houses. The Duke of Orleans' pictures and the Prince of
Monaco's have been cleaned, and varnished so thick that you May
see your face in them; and some of them have been transported
from board to cloth, bit by bit, and the seams filled up with
colour; so that in ten years they will not be worth sixpence.
It makes me as peevish as if I was posterity! I hope your
lordship's works will last longer than these of Louis XIV. The
glories of his si`ecle hasten fast to their end, and little
will remain but those of his authors.
(59) "It was at this time," says Dr. Burney, "that dancing
seemed first to gain the ascendant over music, by the superior
talents of Mademoiselle Heinel, whose grace and execution were
so perfect as to eclipse all other excellence. Crowds
assembled at the Opera-house, more for the gratification of the
eye than the ear; for neither the invention of a new composer,
nor the talents of new singers, attracted the public to the
theatre, which was almost abandoned till the arrival of this
lady, whose extraordinary merit had an extraordinary
recompense; for, besides the six hundred pounds' salary allowed
her by the Honourable Mr. Hobart, as manager, she was
complimented with a regallo of six hundred more from the
Maccaroni Club. 'E molto particulare,' said Cocchi, the
Composer; 'ma quei Inglesi non fanno conto d'alcuna cosa se non
ben pagata:' It is very extraordinary that the English set no
value upon any thing but what they pay an exorbitant price
for."-E.
(60) The Parliaments of Besan`con, Bourdeaux,
Toulouse and Britany, were, in succession, totally suppressed
by Louis XV. New courts were assembled in their stead; most of
the former members being sent into banishment.-E.
Letter 35 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Arlington Street, Sept. 7, 1771. (page 61)
I arrived yesterday,(61) within an hour or two after you was
gone, which mortified me exceedingly: Lord knows when I shall
see you. You are so active and so busy, and cast bullets(62)
and build bridges, are pontifex maximus, and, like Sir John
Thorold or Cimon, triumph over land and wave,
that one can never get a word with you. Yet I am very well
worth a general's or a politician's ear. I have been deep in
all the secrets of France, and confidant of some of the
principals of both parties. I know what is, and is to be,
though I am neither priest nor conjuror -and have heard a vast
deal about breaking carabiniers and grenadiers; though, as
usual, I dare say I shall give a woful account of both. The
worst part is, that by the most horrid oppression and injustice
their finances will very soon be in good order-unless some
bankrupt turns Ravaillac, which will not surprise me. The
horror the nation has conceived of the King and Chancellor
makes it probable that the latter, at least, will be
sacrificed. He seems not to be without apprehension, and has
removed from the King's library a MS. trial of a chancellor
who was condemned to be hanged under Charles VII. For the
King, qui a fait ses `epreuves, and not to his honour, you will
not wonder that he lives in terrors.
I have executed all Lady Ailesbury's commissions; but mind, I
do not commission you to tell her, for you would certainly
forget it. As you will, no doubt, come to town to report who
burnt Portsmouth;(63) I will meet you here, if I am apprised of
the day. Your niece's marriage,(64) pleases me extremely.
Though I never saw him till last night, I know a great deal of
her future husband, and like his character. His person is much
better than I expected, and far preferable to many of the fine
young moderns. He is better than Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, at
least as well as the Duke of Devonshire, and Adonis compared to
the charming Mr. Fitzpatrick. Adieu!
(61) Mr. Walpole arrived at Paris on the '10th of July, and
left it on the 2d of September-E.
(62) Mr. Conway was now at the head of the ordnance, but with
the title and appointments of lieutenant-general only. The
particular circumstances attending this are thus recorded in a
letter from Mr. Walpole to another correspondent at the time
(January 1770), and deserve to be known:--"The King offered the
mastership of the ordnance, on Lord Granby's resignation, to
Mr. Conway, who is only lieutenant-general of it: he said he
had lived in friendship with Lord Granby, and would not profit
by his spoils; but, as he thought he could do some essential
service in the office, where there were many abuses, if his
Majesty would be pleased to let him continue as he is, be would
do the business of the office without accepting the salary."-E.
(63) On the 27th of July, a fire had broken out in the dockyard
at Portsmouth, which, as it might be highly prejudicial to the
country at that period, excited universal alarm. The loss
sustained by it, which at first was supposed to be half a
million, is said to have been about one hundred and fifty
thousand pounds.-E.
(64) The marriage of Lady Gertrude Seymour Conway to Lord
Villiers, afterwards Earl of Grandison.
Letter 36 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, Sept. 10, 1771. (page 62)
However melancholy the occasion is, I can but give you a
thousand thanks, dear Sir-., for the kind trouble you have
taken, and the information you have given me about poor Mr.
Gray. I received your first letter at Paris; the last I found
at my house in town, where I arrived only on Friday last. The
circumstance of the professor refusing to rise in the night and
visit him, adds to the shock. Who is that true professor of
physic? Jesus! is their absence to murder as well as their
presence?
I have not heard from Mr. Mason, but I have written to him. Be
so good as to tell the Master at Pembroke,(65) though I have
not the honour of knowing him, how sensible I am of his
proposed attention to me, and how much I feel for him in losing
a friend of so excellent a genius. Nothing will allay my own
concern like seeing any of his compositions that I have not yet
seen. It is buying them too dear--but when the author is
irreparably lost, the produce of his Mind is the next best
possession. I have offered my press to Mr. Mason, and hope it
will be accepted.
Many thanks for the cross, dear Sir; it is precisely what I
wished. I hope you and Mr. Essex preserve your resolution of
passing a few days here between this and Christmas. Just at
present I am not My own master, having stepped into the middle
of a sudden match in my own family. Lord Hertford is going to
marry his third daughter to Lord Villiers, son of Lady
Grandison, the present wife of Sir Charles Montagu. We are all
felicity, and in a round of dinners. I am this minute returned
from Beaumont-lodge, at Old Windsor, where Sir Charles
Grandison lives. I will let you know, if the papers do not,
when our festivities are subsided.
I shall receive with gratitude from Mr. Tyson either drawing or
etching of our departed friend; but wish not to have it
inscribed to me, as it is an honour, more justly due to Mr.
Stonehewer. If the Master of Pembroke will accept a copy of a
small picture I have of Mr. Gray, painted soon after the
publication of his Ode on Eton, it shall be at his service--and
after his death I beg, it may be bequeathed to his college.
Adieu!
(65) Dr. James Brown. Gray used to call him "le petit bon
homme;" and Cole, in his Athene Cantab, says of him--"He is a
very worthy man, a good scholar, small, and short-sighted." In
the Chatham Correspondence there will be found an interesting
letter from the Master of Pembroke to Lord Chatham, in which he
thus speaks of his illustrious son, the future minister of this
country: " Notwithsanding the illness of your son, I have
myself seen, and have heard enough from his tutors, to be
convinced both of his extraordinary genius and most amiable
disposition. He promises fair, indeed to be one of those
extraordinary persons whose eminent parts, equalled by as
eminent industry, continue in a progressive state throughout
their lives; such persons appear to be formed by Heaven to
assist and bless mankind." Vol. iv. p. 311.-E.
Letter 37 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, Oct. 12, 1771. (page 63)
Dear Sir,
As our wedding will not be so soon as I expected, and as I
should be unwilling You Should take a journey in bad weather, I
wish it may be convenient to you and Mr. Essex to come hither
on the 25th day of this present month. If one can depend on
any season, it is on the chill suns of October, which, like an
elderly beauty, are less capricious than spring or summer. Our
old-fashioned October, you know, reached eleven days into
modern November, and I still depend on that reckoning, when I
have a mind to protract the year.
Lord Ossory is charmed with Mr. Essex's cross(66) and wishes
much to consult him on the proportions. Lord Ossory has taken a
small house very near mine; is now, and will be here again,
after Newmarket. He is determined to erect it at Ampthill, and
I have written the following lines to record the reason:
In days of old here Ampthill's towers were seen;
The mournful refuge of an injured queen.
Here flowed her pure, but unavailing tears;
Here blinded zeal sustain'd her sinking years.
Yet Freedom hence-her radiant banners waved,
And love avenged a realm by priests enslaved.
From Catherine's wrongs a nation's bliss was spread,
And Luther's light from Henry's lawless bed,
I hope the satire on Henry VIII. will make you excuse the
compliment to Luther, Which, like most poetic compliments, does
not come from my heart. I only like him better than Henry,
Calvin, and the Church of Rome, who were bloody persecutors.
Calvin was an execrable villain, and the worst of all; for he
copied those whom he pretended to correct. Luther was as
jovial as Wilkes, and served the cause of liberty without
canting. Yours most sincerely.
(66) Mr. Cole applied to Mr. Essex, who furnished a design for
the cross, which was followed.
Letter 38 To The Rev Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, Oct. 23, 1771. (page 63)
I am sorry, dear Sir, that I cannot say your answer is as
agreeable and entertaining as you flatter me my letter was; but
consider, you are prevented coming to me, and have flying pains
of rheumatism--either were sufficient to spoil your letter.
I am sure of being here till to-morrow se'nnight, the last of
this month; consequently I may hope to see Mr. Essex here on
Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday next. After that I cannot answer
for myself, on account of our wedding, which depends on the
return of a courier from Ireland. If I can command any days
certain in November, I will give you notice: and yet I shall
have a scruple of dragging you so far from home at such a
season. I will leave it to your option, only begging you to be
assured that I shall always be most happy to see you.
I am making a very curious purchase at Paris, the complete
armour of Francis the First. It is gilt, in relief, and is
very rich and beautiful. It comes out of the Crozat
collection.(67) I am building a small chapel, too, in my
garden, to receive two valuable pieces of antiquity, and which
have been presents singularly lucky for me. They are the
window from Bexhill, with the portraits of Henry III. and his
Queen, procured for me by Lord Ashburnham. The other, great
part of the tomb of Capoccio, mentioned in my Anecdotes of
Painting on the subject of the Confessor's shrine, and sent to
me from Rome by Mr. Hamilton, our minister at Naples. It is
very extraordinary that I should happen to be master of these
curiosities. After next summer, by which time my castle and
collection will be complete (for if I buy more I must build
another castle for another collection), I propose to form
another catalogue and description, and shall take the liberty
to call on you for your assistance. In the mean time there is
enough new to divert you at present.
(67) This curiosity was at first estimated at a thousand
crowns, but Madame du Deffand finally purchased it for Walpole
for fifty louis. "Ce bijou," she says, "me parait un peu cher
et ressemble beaucoup aux casques du Ch`ateau d,Otrante: si
vous persistez `a le d`esirer, je le payerai, je le ferai
encaisser et Partir sur le champ. C'est certainement une
pi`ece tr`es belle et tr`es rare, mais infiniment ch`ere."-E.
Letter 39 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Late Strawberry Hill, Jan. 7, 1772. (page 64)
You have read of my calamity without knowing it, and will pity
me when you do. I have been blown up; my castle is blown up;
Guy Fawkes has been about my house: and the 5th of November has
fallen on the 6th of January! In short, nine thousand
powder-mills broke loose yesterday morning on
Hounslow-heath;(68) a whole squadron of them came hither, and
have broken eight of my painted-glass windows; and the north
side of the castle looks as if it had stood a siege. The two
saints in the hall have suffered martyrdom! they have had their
bodies cut off, and nothing remains but their heads. The two
next great sufferers are indeed two of the least valuable,
being the passage-windows to the library and great parlour--a
fine pane is demolished in the round-room; and the window by
the gallery is damaged. Those in the cabinet, and
Holbein-room, and gallery, and blue-room, and green-closet,
etc. have escaped. As the storm came from the northwest, the
china-closet was not touched, nor a cup fell down. The
bow-window of brave old coloured glass, at Mr. Hindley's, is
massacred; and all the north sides of Twickenham and Brentford
are shattered. At London it was proclaimed an earthquake, and
half the inhabitants ran into the street.
As lieutenant-general of the ordnance, I must beseech you to
give strict order that no more powder-mills may blow up. My
aunt, Mrs. Kerwood, reading one day in the papers that a
distiller's had been burnt by the head of the still flying off,
said, she wondered they did not make an act of parliament
against the heads of stills flying off. Now, I hold it much
easier for you to do a body this service; and would recommend
to your consideration whether it would not be prudent to have
all magazines of powder kept under water till they are wanted
for service. In the mean time, I expect a pension to make me
amends for what I have suffered under the government. Adieu!
Yours.
(68) Three powder-mills blew up on Hounslow-heath, on the 6th
of January, when such was the violence of the explosion that it
was felt not only in the metropolis, but as far as Gloucester,
and was very generally mistaken for the shock of an
earthquake.-E.
Letter 40 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Jan. 28, 1772. (page 65)
It is long indeed, dear Sir, since we corresponded. I should
not have been silent if I had had any thing worth telling you
in your way: but I grow such an antiquity myself, that I think
I am less fond of what remains of our predecessors.
I thank you for Bannerman's proposal; I mean, for taking the
trouble to send it, for I am not at all disposed to subscribe.
I thank you more for the note on King Edward; I mean, too, for
your friendship in thinking of me. Of Dean Milles I cannot
trouble myself to think any more. His piece is at Strawberry:
perhaps I may look at it for the sake of your note. The bad
weather keeps me in town, and a good deal at home; which I find
very comfortable, literally practising what so many persons
pretend they intend, being quiet and enjoying my fireside in my
elderly days.
Mr. Mason has shown me the relics of poor Mr. Gray. I am sadly
disappointed at finding them so very inconsiderable. He always
persisted, when I inquired about his writings, that he had
nothing by him. I own I doubted. I am grieved he was so very
near exact--I speak of my own satisfaction; as to his genius,
what he published during his life will establish his fame as
long as our language lasts, and there is a man of genius left.
There is a silly fellow, I do not know who, that has published
a volume of Letters on the English Nation, With characters of
our modern authors. He has talked such nonsense On Mr. Gray,
that I have no patience with the compliments he has paid me.
He must have an excellent taste; and gives me a woful opinion
of my own trifles, when he likes them, and cannot see the
beauties of a poet that ought to be ranked in the first line.
I am more humbled by any applause in the present age, than by
hosts of such critics as Dean Milles. Is not Garrick reckoned
a tolerable author, though he has proved how little sense is
necessary to form a great actor'? His Cymon, his prologues and
epilogues, and forty such pieces of trash, are below
mediocrity, and yet delight the mob in the boxes as well as in
the footman's gallery. I do not mention the things written in
his praise; because he writes most Of them himself! But you
know any one popular merit can confer all merit. Two women
talking Of Wilkes, one said he squinted--t'other replied,
"Squints!--well, if he does, it is not more than a man should
squint." For my part, I can see how extremely well Garrick
acts, without thinking him six feet high. It is said
Shakspeare was a bad actor; why do not his divine plays make
our wise judges conclude that he was a good one? They have not
a proof of the contrary, as they have in Garrick's works--but
what is it to you or me what he is? We may see him act with
pleasure, and nothing obliges us to read his writings.(69)
(69) The best defence of Garrick against the charges which
Walpole so repeatedly brings against him will be found in the
estimation in which he was held by the most distinguished of
his contemporaries. His friend Dr. Johnson thought well of'
his talent in prologue writing: "Dryden," he said, "has written
prologues superior to any that David has written; but David has
written more good prologues than Dryden has done. It is
wonderful that he has been able to write such variety of them.
A true conception of character and natural expression of it,
were his distinguished excellences; but I thought him less to
be envied on the stage than at the head of a table. He was the
first man in the world for sprightly conversation."-E.
Letter 41 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, June 9, 1772. (page 66)
Dear sir,
The preceding paper(70) was given me by a gentleman, who has a
better opinion of my bookhood than I deserve. I could give him
no satisfaction, but told him, I would get inquiry made at
Cambridge for the pieces he wants. If you can give any
assistance in this chase, I am sure you will: as it will be
trouble enough, I will not make my letter longer.
(70) This letter enclosed some queries from a gentleman abroad,
respecting books, etc. relating to the order of Malta.
Letter 42 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, June 17, 1772. (page 66)
Dear sir,
You are a mine that answers beyond those of Peru. I have given
the treasure you sent me to the gentleman from whom I had the
queries. He is vastly obliged to you, and I am sure so am I,
for the trouble you have given yourself"and, therefore I am
going to give you more. King Edward's Letters are printed.(71)
Shall I keep them for you or send them, and how? I intend you
four copies--shall you want more? Lord Ossory takes a hundred,
and I have as many; but none will be sold.
I am out of materials for my press. I am thinking of printing
some numbers of miscellaneous MSS. from my own and Mr. Gray's
collection. If you have any among your stores that are
historic, new and curious, and like to have them printed, I
shall be glad of them. Among Gray's are letters of Sir Thomas
Wyat the elder.(72) I am sure you must have a thousand hints
about him. If you will send them to me I will do you justice;
as you will see I have in King Edward's Letters. Do you know
any thing of his son,(73) the insurgent, in Queen Mary's reign?
I do not know whether it was not to Payne the bookseller, but I
am sure I gave somebody a very few notes to the British
Topography. They were indeed of very little consequence.
I have got to-day, and am reading with entertainment, two vols.
in octavo, the Lives of Leland, Hearne, and Antony Wood.,(74)
I do not know the author, but he is of Oxford. I think you
should add that of your friend Brown Willis.(75) There is a
queer piece on Freemasonry in one of the volumes, said to be
written, on very slender authority, by Henry VI. with notes by
Mr. Locke: a very odd conjunction! It says that Arts were
brought from the East by Peter Gower. As I am sure you will
not find an account of this singular person in all your
collections, be it known to you, that Peter Gower was commonly
called Pythagoras. I remember our newspapers insisting that
Thomas Kouli Khan was an Irishman, and that his true name was
Thomas Callaghan.
On reading over my letter, I find I am no sceptic, having
affirmed no less than four times, that I am sure. Though this
is extremely awkward, I am sure I will not write my letter over
again; so pray excuse or burn my tautology.
P. S. I had like to have forgotten the most obliging, and to me
the most interesting part of your letter-your kind offer of
coming hither. I accept it most gladly; but, for reasons I
will tell you, wish it may be deferred a little. I am going to
Park-place (General Conway's), then to Ampthill (Lord
Ossory's), and then to Goodwood (Duke of Richmond's); and the
beginning of August to Wentworth Castle (Marquis of
Rockingham's); so that I shall not be at all settled here till
the end of the latter month. But I have a stronger reason. By
that time will be finished a delightful chapel I am building in
my garden, to contain the shrine of Capoccio, and the Window
with Henry III. and his Queen. My new bedchamber will be
finished too, which is now all in litter: and, besides,
September is a quiet month; visits to make or receive are over,
and the troublesome go to shoot partridges. If that time suits
you, pray assure me I shall see you on the first of September.
(71) "Copies of seven original Letters from King Edward VI. to
Barnaby Fitzpatrick." Strawberry Hill, 1772.-E.
(72) He was the contemporary and friend of Surrey, and was
accused by Henry VIII. of being the paramour of Anne Boleyn;
but the King's suspicion dying away, he was appointed, in 1537,
Henry's ambassador to the Emperor. His poems have recently
been published in the Aldine edition of the Poets; and in the
Biographical Preface to them are included some of his admirable
letters.-E.
(73) Sir Thomas Wyatt "the younger," son of the preceding, who
is presumed to have received that designation from having been
knighted in the lifetime of his father. Having joined in the
effort to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne, he was condemned
and executed for high treason, on the 11th of April 1554.-E.
(74) The editor was W. Huddersford, fellow of Trinity
College.-E.
(74) Browne Willis, the antiquary, and author of "A Survey of
the Cathedrals of England;" "Notitia Parliamentaria," etc. He
was born at Blandford in 1682, and died in February 1760. Dr.
Ducarel printed privately, immediately after his death, a small
quarto pamphlet, entitled " Some Account Of Browne Willis, Esq.
LL. D." One of Willis's peculiarities was his fondness for
visiting cathedrals on the saints, days to which they were
dedicated.-E.
Letter 43 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Strawberry Hill, Monday, June 22, 1772. (page 68)
It is lucky that I have had no dealings with Mr. Fordyce;(75)
for, if he had ruined me, as he has half the world, I could not
have run away. I tired myself with walking on Friday: the gout
came on Saturday in my foot; yesterday I kept my bed till four
o'clock, and my room all day-but, with wrapping myself all over
with bootikins, have scarce had any pain-my foot swelled
immediately, and today I am descended into the blueth and
greenth:(76) and though you expect to find that I am paving the
way to an excuse, I think I shall be able to be with you on
Saturday. All I intend to excuse myself from, is walking. I
should certainly never have the gout, if I had lost the use of
my feet. Cherubims that have no legs, and do nothing but stick
their chins in a cloud and sing, are never out of order.
Exercise is the worst thing in the world, and as bad an
invention as gunpowder.
Apropos to Mr. Fordyce, here is a passage ridiculously
applicable to him, that I met with yesterday in the letters of
Guy Patin: "Il n'y a pas long-temps qu'un auditeur des comptes
nomm`e Mons. Nivelle fit banqueroute; et tout fra`ichement,
c'est-`a-dire depuis trois jours, un tr`esorier des parties
casuelles, nomm`e SanSon, en a fait autant; et pour vous
montrer qu'il est vrai que res humanae faciunt circulum, comme
il a `et`e autrefois dit par Plato et par Aristote, celui-l`a
s'en retourne d'o`u il vient. Il est fils d'un paysan; il a
`et`e laquais de son premier m`etier, et aujourd'hui il n'est
plus rien, si non qu'il lui reste une assez belle femme."--I do
not think I can find in Patin or Plato, nay, nor in Aristotle,
though he wrote about every thing, a parallel case to Charles
Fox:(77) there are advertised to be sold more annuities of his
and his society, to the amount of five hundred thousand pounds
a-year! I wonder what he will do next, when he has sold the
estates of all his friends!
I have been reading the most delightful book in the world, the
Lives of Leland, Tom earne, and Antony Wood. The last's diary
makes a thick volume in octavo. One entry is, "This day Old
Joan began to make my bed." In the story of Leland is an
examination of a freemason, written by the hand of King Henry
VI., with notes by Mr. Locke. Freemasonry, Henry VI., and
Locke, make a strange heterogeneous olio; but that is not all.
The respondent, who defends the mystery of masonry, says it was
brought into Europe by the Venetians--he means the Phoenicians.
And who do you think propagated it? Why, one Peter Gore--And
who do you think that was?--One Pythagoras, Pythagore. I do
not know whether it is not still More extraordinary, that this
and the rest of the nonsense in that account made Mr. Locke
determine to be a freemason: so would I too, if I could expect
to hear of more Peter Gores.
Pray tell Lady Lyttelton that I say she will certainly kill
herself if she lets Lady Ailesbury drag her twice a-day to feed
the pheasants, and you make her climb cliffs and clamber over
mountains. She has a tractability that alarms me for her; and
if she does not pluck up a spirit, and determine never to be
put out of her own way, I do not know what may be the
Consequence. I will come and set her an example of
immovability. Take notice, I do not say one civil syllable to
Lady Ailesbury. She has not passed a whole day here these two
years. She is always very gracious, says she will come when
you will fix a time, as if you governed, and then puts it off
whenever it is proposed, nor will spare one Single day from
Park-place-as if other people were not as partial to their own
Park-places, Adieu! Yours ever.
Tuesday noon.
I wrote my letter last night; this morning I received yours,
and shall wait till Sunday, as you bid me, which will be more
convenient for my gout, though not for other engagements, but I
shall obey the superior, as nullum tempus occurrit regi et
podagrae.
(75) The greatest consternation prevailed at this time in the
metropolis, in consequence of the banking-house of Neale,
James, Fordyce, and Down having stopped payment. Fordyce was
bred a hosier in Aberdeen. For a memoir of him, see Gent. Mag.
vol. x1ii. p. 310.-E.
(76) Cant words of Walpole for blue and green. He means, that
he came out of his room to the blue sky and green fields.
(77) Gibbon, in a letter to Mr. Holroyd, of the 8th of
February, in reference to the recent debate in the House of
Commons, on the clerical petition for relief from subscription
to the Thirty-nine Articles, says--"I congratulate you on the
late victory of our dear Mamma, the Church of England. She had,
last Thursday, seventy-one rebellious sons, Who pretended to
set aside her will, on a account of insanity; but two hundred
and seventeen worthy champions, headed by Lord North, Burke,
Charles Fox, etc., though they allowed the thirty-nine clauses
of her testament were absurd and unreasonable, supported the
validity of it with infinite honour. By the bye, Charles Fox
prepared himself for that holy work by passing twenty-one hours
in the pious exercise of hazard; his devotions cost him only
about five hundred pounds an hour, in all, eleven thousand
pounds."-E.
Letter 44 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, July 7, 1772. (page 70)
Dear Sir,
I sent you last week by the Cambridge Fly, that puts up in
Gray's-inn-lane, six copies of King Edward's Letters, but fear
I forgot to direct their being left at Mr. Bentham's, by which
neglect perhaps you have not yet got them; so that I have been
very blamable, while I thought I was very expeditious; and it
was not till reading your letter again just now that I
discovered my carelessness.
I have not heard of Dr. Glynn, etc., but the housekeeper has
orders to receive them. I thank you a thousand times for the
Maltese notes, which I have given to the gentleman, and for the
Wyattiana: I am going to work on the latter.
I have not yet seen Mr. 's print, but am glad it is so like. I
expected Mr. Mason would have sent me one early; but I suppose
he keeps it for me, as I shall call on him in my way to Lord
Strafford's.
Mr. West,(78) one of our brother antiquaries, is dead. He had
a very curious collection of old pictures, English coins,
English prints, and manuscripts. But he was so rich, that I
take for granted nothing will be sold. I could wish for his
family pictures of Henry V. and Henry VIII.
Foote, in his new comedy of The Nabob, has lashed Master Doctor
Miles and our Society very deservedly for the nonsensical
discussion they had this winter about Whittington and his Cat.
Few of them are fit for any thing better than such researches.
Poor Mr. Granger has been very ill, but is almost recovered. I
intend to invite him to meet you in September. It is a party I
shall be very impatient for: you know how sincerely I am, dear
Sir, your obliged and Obedient humble servant.
(78) James West, Esq. He was for some time one of the
secretaries of the treasury, vice president of the Society of
Antiquaries, and president of the Royal Society. His curious
collection of manuscripts were purchased by the Earl of
Shelburne, and are now deposited in the British Museum.-E.
Letter 45 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, July 28, 1772. (page 70)
Dear Sir,
I am anew obliged to you, as I am perpetually, for the notice
you give me of another intended publication against me in the
Archaeologia, or Old Woman's Logic. By Your account, the
author will add much credit to their Society! For my part, I
shall take no notice of any of his handycrafts. However, as
there seems to be a willingness to carp at me, and as gnats may
on a sudden provoke one to give a slap, I choose to be at
liberty to say what I think Of the learned Society; and
therefore I have taken leave of them, having so good an
occasion presented as their council on Whittington and his Cat,
and the ridicule that Foote has thrown on them. They are
welcome to say any thing on my writings, but that they are the
works of a fellow of so foolish a Society.
I am at work on the Life of Sir Thomas Wyat, but it does not
please me; nor will it be entertaining, though you have
contributed so many materials towards it. You must take one
trouble more it is to inquire and search for a book that I want
to see. It is the Pilgrim; was written by William Thomas, who
was executed in Queen Mary's time; but the book was printed
under, and dedicated to, Edward VI. I have only an imperfect
memorandum of it, and cannot possibly recall to mind from
whence I made it. All I think I remember is, that the book was
in the King's library. I have sent to the Museum to inquire
after it; but I cannot find it mentioned in Ames's History of
English Printers. Be so good as to ask all your antiquarian
friends if they know such a work.
Amidst all your kindness, you have added one very disagreeable
paragraph:--I mean, you doubt about coming here in September.
Fear of a sore throat would be a reason for your never coming.
It is one of the distempers in the world the least to be
foreseen, and September, a dry month, one of the least likely
months to bring it. I do not like your recurring to so very
ill-founded an excuse, and positively will not accept it,
unless you wish I should not be so much as I an, dear Sir, Your
most faithful humble servant,
H. W.
Letter 46 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, Aug. 25, 1772. (page 71)
Dear sir,
I thank YOU for your notices, dear Sir, and will deliver you
from the trouble of any further pursuit of the Peleryne of
Thomas. I have discovered him among the Cottonian MSS. in the
Museum, and am to see him.
If Dr. Browne is returned to Cambridge, may I beg you to give
him a thousand thanks for the present he left at my house, a
goarstone and a seal, that belonged to Mr. Gray. I shall lay
them up in my cabinet at Strawberry among my most valuables.
Dr. Browne, however, was not quite kind to me; for he left no
direction where to
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