I am glad Mr. Frederick Montagu thinks so well of me, as to be sure I shall be glad to see him without an invitation. For you, I had already perceived that you would not come to Strawberry this year. Adieu! To GEORGE MONTAGU, Esq. Arlington-street, Nov. 26, 1758. How can you make me formal excuses for sending me a few covers to frank? Have you so little right to any act of friendship from me, that you should apologise for making me do what is scarce any act at all? However, your man has not called for the covers, though they have been ready this fortnight. I shall be very glad to see your brother in town, but I cannot quite take him in full of payment. I trust you will stay the longer for coming the later. There is not a syllable of news. The parliament is met, but empty and totally oppositionless. Your great1 Cu moved in the lords, but did not shine much. The great Cu of all Cues is out of order, not in danger, but certainly breaking. My eyes are performing such a strict quarantine, that you must excuse my brevity. Adieu ! To GEORGE MONTAGU, Esq. Arlington-street, Dec. 26, 1758. It is so little extraordinary to find you doing what is friendly and obliging, that one don't take half notice enough of it. Can't you let Mr. Conway go to Sluys without taking notice of it? How would you be hurt, if he continued to be oppressed? what is it to you whether I am glad or sorry? Can't you enjoy yourself whether I am happy or not? I suppose, if I were to have a misfortune, you would immediately be concerned at it! How troublesome it is to have you sincere and goodnatured! Do be a little more like the rest of the world. 1 The earl of Halifax. [Ed.] 2 The duke of Montagu. [Ed.] I have been at Strawberry these three days, and don't know a tittle. The last thing I heard before I went was, that colonel Yorke is going to be married to one or both of the Miss Crasteyn's, nieces of the rich grocer that died three years ago. They have two hundred and sixty thousand pounds a-piece. A marchioness or a grocer-nothing comes amiss to the digestion of that family. If the rest of the trunk was filled with money, I believe they would really marry Carafattatouadaht-what was the lump of deformity called in the Persian Tales, that was sent to the lady in a coffer? And, as to marrying both the girls, it would cost my lord Hardwicke but a new marriage bill: I suppose it is all one to his conscience whether he prohibits matrimony or licenses bigamy. Poor sir Charles Williams' is relapsed, and strictly confined. As you come so late, I trust you will stay with us the longer. Adieu ! TO THE HON. H. S. CONWAY. Arlington-street, Jan. 19, 1759. I HOPE the treaty of Sluys advances rapidly. Considering that your own court is as new to you as monsieur de Bareil and his, you cannot be very well entertained: the joys of a Dutch fishing town and the incidents of a cartel will not compose a very agreeable history. In the mean time, you do not lose much though the parliament is met, no politics are come to town one may describe the house of commons like the price of stocks: Debates, nothing done. Votes, under par. Patriots, no price. Oratory, books shut. Love and war are as much at a stand neither the duchess of Hamilton nor the expeditions are gone off, yet. Prince Edwards has asked to go to Quebec, and has been refused. If I was sure they would refuse me, I would ask to go thither, too. I should not dislike about as much laurel as I could stick in my window at Christmas. He had become insane, and died in that state, 1759. [Ed.] Mr. Conway was sent to Sluys to settle a cartel for prisoners with the French. Monsieur de Bareil was the person appointed by the French court for the same business. [Or.] 2 Elizabeth Gunning, duchess dowager of Hamilton. [Or.] 3 Afterwards created duke of York. [Or.] We are next week to have a serenata at the opera-house for the king of Prussia's birth-day: it is to begin, Viva Georgio, e Frederigo viva! It will, I own, divert me to see my lord Temple whispering for this alliance, on the same bench on which I have so often seen him whisper against all Germany. The new opera pleases universally, and I hope will yet hold up its head. Since Vanneschi is cunning enough to make us sing the roast beef of old Germany, I am persuaded it will revive: politics are the only hot-bed for keeping such a tender plant as Italian music alive in England. You are so thoughtless about your dress, that I cannot help giving you a little warning against your return. Remember, every body that comes from abroad is censé to come from France, and whatever they wear at their first re-appearance immediately grows the fashion. Now if, as is very likely, you should, through inadvertence, change hats with a master of a Dutch smack, Orford will be upon the watch, will conclude you took your pattern from monsieur de Bareil, and in a week's time we shall all be equipped like Dutch skippers, You see I speak very disinterestedly; for, as I never wear a hat myself, it is indifferent to me what sort of hat I don't wear. Adieu! I hope nothing in this letter, if it is opened, will affect the conferences, nor hasten our rupture with Holland. Lest it should, I send it to lord Holderness's office; concluding, like Lady Betty Waldegrave, that the government never suspect what they send under their own covers. TO THE HON. H. S. CONWAY. Arlington-street, January 28, 1759. You and monsieur de Bareil may give yourselves what airs you please of settling cartels with expedition: you don't exchange prisoners with half so much alacrity as Jack Campbell1 and the duchess of Hamilton have exchanged hearts. I had so little observed the negociation, or suspected any, that, when your brother told me of it yesterday morning, I would not believe ↑ Abbate Vanneschi, an Italian, and director of the opera. [Or.] Afterwards duke of Argyll. [Or.] 2 a tittle-I beg Mr. Pitt's pardon, not an iota. It is the prettiest match in the world—since yours-and every body likes it but the duke of Bridgewater and lord C** * * * What an extraordinary fate is attached to those two women! Who could have believed that a Gunning would unite the two great houses of Campbell and Hamilton? For my part, I expect to see my lady Coventry queen of Prussia. I would not venture to marry either of them these thirty years, for fear of being shuffled out of the world prematurely to make room for the rest of their adventures. The first time Jack carries the duchess into the Highlands, I am persuaded that some of his second-sighted subjects will see him in a winding-sheet, with a train of kings behind him as long as those in Macbeth. We had a scrap of a debate on Friday on the Prussian and Hessian treaties. Old Vyner3 opposed the first, in pity to that poor woman, as he called her, the empress queen. Lord Strange objected to the gratuity of 60,000l. to the landgrave, unless words were inserted to express his receiving that sum in full of all demands. If Hume Campbell had cavilled at this favourite treaty, Mr. Pitt could scarce have treated him with more haughtiness; and, what is far more extraordinary, Hume Campbell could scarce have taken it more dutifully. This long day was over by half an hour after four. As you and monsieur de Bareil are on such amicable terms, you will take care to soften to him a new conquest we have made. Keppel has taken the island of Goree. You great ministers know enough of its importance: I need not detail it. Before your letters came we had heard of the death of the princess royal: you will find us black and all black. Lady North 2 Francis Egerton, last duke of Bridgewater; he died unmarried, 1803, when the dukedom became extinct. He bequeathed the bulk of his property to Lord Francis Gower, the son of his sister. [Ed.] 3 Robert Vyner, esq., member of parliament for Lincolnshire. [Ed.] 4 The Hon. Augustus Keppel, second son of William Anne, earl of Albemarle, was commodore on the coast of Africa, and took Goree, a small and barren island upon that coast, near Cape Verd, on the 29th of December, 1758; it was deemed of great importance on account of its trade. He was a very distinguished naval commander; created viscount Keppel, 1782; and died, unmarried, 1786. [Ed.] Anne, princess of Orange, eldest daughter of king George II. and queen Caroline. [Ed.] umberland and the great ladies put off their assemblies: diversions begin again to-morrow with the mourning. You perceive, London cannot furnish half so long a letter as the little town of Sluys; at least, I have not the art of making one out. In truth, I believe I should not have writ this unless lady Ailesbury had bid me; but she does not care how much trouble it gives me, provided it amuses you for a moment. Good night! 6 P.S. I forgot to tell you that the king has granted my lord Marischall's pardon, at the request of monsieur de Knyphausen.7 I believe the pretender himself could get his attainder reversed if he would apply to the king of Prussia. TO MR. GRAY. Arlington-street, Feb. 15, 1759. THE enclosed, which I have this minute received from Mr. Bentley, explains much that I had to say to you—yet I have a question or two more. Who and what sort of man is a Mr. Sharp of Benet? I have received a most obliging and genteel letter from him, with the very letter of Edward VI. which you was so good as to send me. I have answered his, but should like to know a little more about him. Pray, thank the dean of Lincoln, too, for me: I am much obliged to him for his offer, but had rather draw upon his Lincolnship than his Cambridgehood.1 In the library of the former are some original letters of Tiptoft, as you will find in my catalogue. When Dr. Greene is there, I shall be glad if he will let me have them copied. 6 George Keith, earl Marischal: his estates had been forfeited in the rebellion of 1715. During the reign of queen Anne he was in the English service, and had a troop of horse, but was removed on the accession of George I. He then joined the Pretender; and, after his failure, went into the service of Spain, then into that of Russia, and lastly with the king of Prussia, who made him governor of Berlin and field-marshal; after which he was distinguished by the name of marshal Keith. He was killed at the battle of Hockerken, 18th October, 1758. [Ed.] 7 The Prussian ambassador. [Ed.] 1 He was master of Benet-college, Cambridge. [Or.] |