The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford Volume III Part 77

(986) Francis Lord Beauchamp, son of the first Marquis of Hertford. His first wife, by whom he had no issue, was Alice Elizabeth, youngest daughter and coheiress of Herbert second Viscount Windsor. This lady died in 1772; when his lords.h.i.+p married, secondly, in 1776, Isabella Anne, daughter and heiress of Charles Ingram, Viscount Irvine of Scotland.-E.

(987) Cross-readings from the Public Advertiser, by Caleb Whitefoord. [The paper was ent.i.tled, "A New Method of reading the Newspapers," and was subscribed, "Papyrius Cursor;" a signature which Dr. Johnson thought singularly happy, it being the real name of an ancient Roman, and expressive of the thing done in this lively conceit--of which the following may serve as a specimen:--

"Yesterday Dr. Jones preached at St. James's and performed it with ease in less than 15 minutes.

The sword of state was carried before Sir J. Fielding, and committed to Newgate.

There was a numerous and brilliant court; a down look, and cast with one eye.

Last night the Princess Royal was baptized; Mary, alias Moll Hacket, alias Black Nell.

This morning the Right Hon. the Speaker--was convicted of keeping a disorderly house.

This day his Majesty will go in state to fifteen notorious common prost.i.tutes.

Their R. H. the Dukes of York and Gloucester were bound over to their good behaviour.

At noon her R. H. the Princess dowager was married to Mr.

Jenkins, an eminent tailor.

Several changes are talked of at court, consisting of 8040 triple bob-majors.

At a very full meeting of common council, the greatest show of horned cattle this season.

An indictment for murder is preferred against the wors.h.i.+pful company of Apothecaries.

Yesterday the new Lord Mayor was sworn in, and afterwards tossed and gored several persons.

This morning will be married the Lord Viscount and afterwards hung in chains, pursuant to his sentence.

Escaped from the new gaol, Terence M'Dernan, if he will return, he will be kindly received,"

Letter 324 To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, Dec. 16, 1766. (p-age 500)

I wrote to You last post on the very day I ought to have received yours; but being at Strawberry, did not get it in time. Thank you for your offer of a doe; you know when I dine at home here, it is quite alone, and venison frightens my little meal; yet, as half of it is designed for dimidium animae meae Mrs. Clive (a pretty round half), I must not refuse it; venison will make such a figure at her Christmas gambols! only let me know when and how I am to receive it, that she may prepare the rest of her banquet; I will convey it to her. I don't like your wintering so late in the country. Adieu!

Letter 325 To George Montagu, Esq.

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1767. (page 501

I am going to eat some of your venison, and dare to say it is very good; I am sure you are, and thank you for it. Catherine, I do not doubt, is up to the elbows in currant jelly and Grat.i.tude.

I have lost poor Louis, who died last week at Strawberry. He had no fault but what has fallen upon himself, poor. soul! drinking: his honesty and good-nature were complete; and I am heartily concerned for him, which I shall seldom say so sincerely.

There has been printed a dull complimentary letter to me on the quarrel of Hume and Rousseau. In one of the reviews they are so obliging as to say I wrote it myself: it is so dull, that I should think they wrote it themselves--a kind Of abuse I should dislike much more than their criticism.

Are not you frozen, perished? How do you keep yourself alive on your mountain! I scarce stir from my fireside. I have scarce been at Strawberry for a day this whole Christmas, and there is less appearance of a thaw to-day than ever. There has been dreadful havoc at Margate and Aldborough, and along the coast.

At Calais, the sea rose above sixty feet perpendicular, which makes people conclude there has been an earthquake somewhere or other. I shall not think of my journey to France yet; I suffered too much with the cold last year at Paris, where they have not the least idea of comfortable, but sup in stone halls, with all the doors open. Adieu! I must go dress for the drawing-room of the Princess of Wales. Yours ever.

Letter 326 To Dr. Ducarel.

April 25, 1767. (page 501)

Mr. Walpole has been out of town, Or should have thanked Dr.

Ducarel sooner for the obliging favour of his most curious and valuable work,(988) which Mr. Walpole has read with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction. He will be very much obliged to Dr.

Ducarel if he will favour him with a set of the prints separate; which Mr. Walpole would be glad to put into his volumes of English Heads; and shall be happy to have an opportunity of returning these obligations.

(988) Ent.i.tled "Anglo-Norman Antiquities considered, in a Tour through part of Normandy."-E.

Letter 327 To The Earl Of Strafford.

Strawberry Hill, July 29, 1767. (page 502)

My dear lord, I am very sorry that I must speak of a loss that will give you and Lady Strafforct concern; an essential loss to me, who am deprived of a most agreeable friend, with whom I pa.s.sed here many hours. I need not say I mean poor Lady Suffolk.(989) I was with her two hours on Sat.u.r.day night; and, indeed, found her much changed, though I did not apprehend her in danger. I was going to say she complained--but you know she never did complain--of the gout and rheumatism all over her, particularly in her face.

It was a cold night, and she sat below stairs when she should have been in bed; and I doubt this want of care was prejudicial.

I sent next morning. She had a bad night; but grew much better in the evening. Lady Dalkeith came to her; and, when she was gone, Lady Suffolk said to Lord Chetwynd, "She would eat her supper in her bedchamber." He went up with her, and thought the appearances promised a good night: but she was scarce sat down in her chair, before she pressed her hand to her side, and died in half an hour.

I believe both your lords.h.i.+p and Lady Strafford will be surprised to hear that she was by no means in the situation that most people thought. Lord Chetwynd and myself were the only persons at all acquainted with her affairs, and they were far from being even easy to her. It is due to her memory to say, that I never saw more strict honour and justice. She bore knowingly the imputation of being covetous, at a time that the strictest economy could by no means prevent her exceeding her income considerably. The anguish of the last years of her life, though concealed, flowed from the apprehension of not satisfying her few wishes, which were, not to be in debt, and to make a provision for Miss Hotham.(990) I can give your lords.h.i.+p strong instances of the sacrifices she tried to make to her principles. I have not yet heard if her will is opened; but it will surprise those who thought her rich. Lord Chetwynd's friends.h.i.+p to her has been unalterably kind and zealous, and has not ceased. He stays in the house with Miss Hotham till some of her family come to take her away. I have perhaps dwelt too long on this subject; but, as it was not permitted me to do her justice when alive, I own I cannot help wis.h.i.+ng that those who had a regard for her, may at least know how much more she deserved it than even they suspected. In truth, I never knew a woman more respectable for her honour and principles, and have lost few persons in my life whom I shall miss so much. I am, etc.

(989) Henrietta Hobart, Countess of Suffolk. She died at Marble Hall, on the 24th of July.-E.

(990) Her great-niece.

Letter 328 To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, July 31, 1767. (page 503)

I find one must cast you into debt, if one has a mind to hear of you. You would drop one with all your heart, if one would let you alone. Did not you talk of pa.s.sing by Strawberry in June, on a visit to the Bishop? I did not summon you, because I have not been sure of my own motions for two days together for these three months. At last all is subsided; the administration will go on pretty much as it was, with Mr. Conway for part of it. The fools and the rogues, or, if you like proper names, the Rockinghams and the Grenvilles, have bungled their own game, quarrelled, and thrown it away.

Where are you? What are you doing? Where are you going or staying? I shall trip to Paris in about a fortnight, for a month or six weeks. Indeed, I have had such a loss in poor Lady Suffolk,(991) that my autumns at Strawberry will suffer exceedingly, and will not be repaired by my Lord Buckingham. I have been in pain, too, and am not quite easy about my brother, who is in a bad state of health. Have you waded through or into Lord Lyttelton?(992) How dull one may be, if one will but take pains for six or seven-and-twenty years together! Except one day's gout, which I cured with the boolikins, I have been quite well since I saw you: nay, with a microscope you would perceive I am fatter. Mr. Hawkins saw it with his naked eye, and told me it was common for lean people to grow fat when they grow old. I am afraid the latter is more certain than the former, I submit to it with a good grace. There is no keeping off age by sticking roses and sweet peas in one's hair, as Miss Chudleigh does still.

If you are not totally abandoned, you will send me a line before I go. The Clive has been desperately nervous; but I have convinced her it did not become her, and she has recovered her rubicundity. Adieu!

(991) "Votre pauvre sourde!" writes Madame du Deffand to Walpole, on the 3d of August. "Ah! mon Dieu! que j'en suis f'ach'ee; c'est une veritable perte, et je la partage: j'aimais qu'elle v'ecut; j'aimais son amiti'e pour vous; j'aimais votre attachement pour elle: tout cela, ce me semble, m''etait bon."-E.

(992) His "History of the Life of King Henry the Second, and of the Age in which he lived," in four volumes quarto.-E.

Letter 329 To George Montagu, Esq.

Friday, Aug. 7, 1767. (page 503)

As I am turned knight-errant, and going again in search of my old fairy,(993) I will certainly transport your enchanted casket, and will endeavour to procure some talisman, that may secrete it from the eyes of those unheroic harpies, the officers of the customhouse, YOU must take care to let me have it before to-morrow se'nnight.

The house at Twickenham with which you fell in love, is still unmarried; but they ask a hundred and thirty pounds a-year for it. If they asked one hundred and thirty thousand pounds for it, perhaps my Lord Clive might snap it up; but that not being the case, I don't doubt but it will fall, and I flatter myself, that you and it may meet at last upon reasonable terms. That of General Trapaud is to be had at fifty pounds a-year, but with a fine on entrance of five hundred pounds. As I propose to return by the beginning of October, perhaps I may see you, and then you may review both. Since the loss of poor Lady Suffolk, I am more desirous than ever of having you in my neighbourhood, as I have not a rational acquaintance left. Adieu!

(993) Madame du Deffand. The following pa.s.sages from her letters to Walpole will best explain the reasons which induced him to undertake the journey:--"Paris, 5 Juillet. Je crois entrevoir que votre s'ejour ici vous inqui'ete, et que la complaisance qui vous am'ene vous coute beaucoup; mais, mon Tuteur, songez au plaisir que vous me ferez, quelle sera ma reconnaissance. Je ne vous dirai point combien cette visite m'est necessaire; vous jugerez par vous-m'eme si je vous en ai impose sur rien, et si vous pourrez jamais vous repentir des marques d'amiti'e que vous m'avez donn'ees. Mon Dieu! que nous aurons de sujets de conversations!"--"Dimanche, 23 Ao'ut. Enfin, enfin, il n'y a plus de mer qui nous s'epare; j'ai l'esperance de vous voir d'ees aujoqrd'hui. J'ai pri'e hier Madame Simonetti d'envoyer chez moi au moment de votre arriv'ee; si vous voulez venir chez MOi, comme j'esp'ere, vous aurez sur le champ mon carrosse. Je me flatte que demain vous dinerez et souperez avec moi t'ete-'a-t'ete; nous en aurons bien 'a dire. Sans cette maudite compagnie que j'ai si sottement ra.s.sembl'ee, vous m'auriez trouv'ee chez vous 'a la d'escente de votre chaise; cela vous auroit fort d'eplu, mais je m'en serois mocqu'ee." Madame Simonetti kept the H'otel garni du Parc Royal, Rue du Colombie. In a journal which Walpole kept of this journey to Paris, is the following entry:--"August 23.

Arrived at Paris a quarter before seven; at eight, to Madame du Deffand's; found the Clairon acting Agrippine and Ph'edre. Not tall; but I liked her acting better than I expected. Supped there with her, and the d.u.c.h.esse de Villeroi, d'Aiguillon, etC.

etc."-E.

Letter 330 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.(994) Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1767. (page 504)

Last night by Lord Rochford's courier, we heard of Townshend's death;(995) for which indeed your letter had prepared me. As a man of incomparable parts, and most entertaining to a spectator, I regret his death. His good-humour prevented one from hating him, and his levity from loving him; but, in a political light, I own I cannot look upon it as a misfortune. His treachery alarmed me, and I apprehended every thing from it. It was not advisable to throw him into the arms of the Opposition. His death avoids both kinds of mischief. I take for granted you will have Lord North for chancellor of the exchequer.(996) He is very inferior to Charles in parts; but what he wants in those, will be supplied by firmness and spirit.