[Page heading: CANVASSING]

On account of the Jew Bill and other unpopular measures coming before

Parliament, a General Election was anticipated, and Lord Sandwich was

already arranging for it by canvassing his constituents, and those at

Huntingdon, and summoned Mr. Montagu to meet him at Hinchinbrooke the

second week in August. Previous to this he spent a few days with his

wife at Tunbridge hence proceeding to Yorkshire for his annual estate

business. Old Mr. Robinson accompanied his friend, Sir Edward Dering,

to canvass for him in Kent, and his daughter says, “My Father would

have made a good counterpart to Sir Edward Dering; if _bon mots_ could

carry a county, I know few that would care to contend with them.”

Previous to going to Tunbridge, Mrs. Montagu placed her two young

charges, Miss Carter and Miss Botham, in a boarding-school. She writes

to her sister Sarah--

“Mr. Montagu thought Miss Carter’s dancing would be better

improved if she went to School, and he is as desirous she should be

a fine dancer as if she was to be a Maid of Honour. I was the more

willing in regard to Miss Botham going, for my cousin is of such

a ‘diversian’ temper, as Cotes used to express it, that I feared

she would not be easily restrained in a place of this sort; she

is a fine girl, but so lively and so idle, she requires infinite

care. With great capacity of learning she has prodigious desire

to be idle, and thinks it quite hard not to take her share of all

the diversions she hears of. On being asked how she liked London

she said very well, but should do so much better if she was to go

to Ranelagh every night! I have left them at a very good school,

but an expensive one; however, they are only to stay there till

the 15th of August, for then the school breaks up, and if I do not

leave this place sooner, they must come. I believe no gouvernante

ever took half the pains I have done with these children,

explaining to them everything they read, and talking to them on all

points of behaviour.”

[Page heading: PENSHURST]

On July 4, in a letter to Mr. Montagu, who was at Theakstone, his wife

writes--

“All the family at the ‘Stone House’ and myself in their train went

yesterday to Penshurst; we spent a good deal of time in viewing the

pictures. I was most pleased with the portraits, as I know not any

family that for Arts and Arms, greatness of courage and nobility of

mind have excelled the Sydney Race. Beauty too, has been remarkable

in it.”

And on July 8--

“It has been much the turn of the Society I am in to go out

in parties to see places, and last post day we settled upon

an expedition of this sort with such precipitation, I had not

opportunity to write without keeping the company waiting. We went

to see an old seat of a Mr. Brown’s; it is well situated, was

built by Inigo Jones, has some fine portraits.... We went from this

venerable seat to a place called New Vauxhall, where Mr. Pitt had

provided us a good dinner; the view from it is romantic; we staid

there till the cool of the evening, and then returned home. We

drank tea yesterday in the most beautiful rural scene that can be

imagined, which Mr. Pitt had discovered in his morning’s ride about

half a mile from hence; he ordered a tent to be pitched, tea to

be prepared, and his French horn to breathe music like the unseen

genius of the wood: the company dined with me, and we set out,

number 8.... Sir George Lyttelton and Mr. Bower are come to spend a

few days with Mr. Pitt.”

To this her husband replies, “I very much approve of the excursions

you make, and think the more the better, as they both entertain the

mind and give exercise to the body.” He adds, the epidemic then raging

amongst cattle in England had not been so severe on his northern

property as in other parts of the country.

[Page heading: TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY]

Mr. Pitt went to Hastings for two days, and on his return, Mr. West

made a tour to Canterbury, Dover, etc., which lasted five days. Dr.

Smith,[45] Mr. Montagu’s old friend, was then at Tunbridge, and Mrs.

Montagu says--

“We fell into discourse upon some embellishments and ornaments to

be added to the fine Library at Trinity College. There are to be 26

Bustos put up, 13 in memory of the ancients, 13 of modern, these

are to be cast in plaister of Paris: but Mrs. Middleton talks of a

fine Marble Busto of Dr. Middleton to be done by Roubilliac,[46]

which I think very proper, as he was so eminent, there should be a

public memorial of him, and as he was long Librarian it is proper

it should be in that place: there are likewise to be 48 portraits

of considerable persons that have been of the College.”

[45] Dr. Robert Smith, then Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Founded “Smith’s Prizes.”

[46] Louis François Roubilliac, born 1695, died 1762. Eminent

sculptor.

To this Mr. Montagu replies--

“I am very well pleased with what Dr. Smith is doing at Trinity

College. I hope he has not lay’d aside the noble design he had

form’d of having a Statue[47] of the great Newton. Such men as he

and Dr. Middleton should be represented in something more durable

than plaister of Paris, and I honour Mrs. Middleton for her

intention.”

[47] In 1755 Dr. Smith gave the statue of Sir I. Newton, sculptured

by Roubilliac.

[Page heading: GIBSIDE]

After seeing to the business consequent on his trusteeship to his

cousin, Mr. Rogers, of Newcastle, Mr. Montagu had returned to

Theakstone on July 29. He describes Gibside, the seat of Mr. Bowes[48]--

“I dined this day sennight at Gibside; it was one of the finest

summer days I ever saw. It set off to great advantage the whole

vale through which the river Tyne runs, which consists of a great

deal of good rich land. The Moors, tho’ not so pleasing to the eye,

make abundant amends by the riches of the mines. All the gentlemen

are planting and adorning their Seats, but nothing comes up to

the grandeur and magnificence of what Mr. Bowes has done, and is

a (_sic_), doing, I mean without doors, for his house is but an

indifferent one. It stands in the midst of a great wood of about

400 acres, through which there are a great many noble walks and

rides interspers’d with fine lawns, with a rough river running

thro’ it, on each side of which are very high rocks, which gives

it a very romantick look. Mr. Bowes is at present upon a work of

great magnificence, which is the erecting a column of above 140

feet high. This, as far as I know, may be the largest that ever was

erected by a subject in this Island, and may yield to nothing but

the Monument at London. I ought not to omit telling you that he

has already erected upon a rising ground a gothick building which

he calls a Banquetting room, in which the night before there was a

concert of Musick (_sic_), at which Jordain and an Italian woman

performed, whom Mrs. Lane[49] brought with her from Bramham Moor,

from which she came in a day.... On Monday I dined with Sir Thomas

Clavering.[50] This gentleman’s house is very old and bad, but

the situation good and prospect pleasant. He has made a long road

leading to his house and improved his park, and made a serpentine

river.... He has also, as well as all the other gentlemen in that

county, made a kitchen garden with very high walls, planted with

the finest fruit trees. I question not peaches and nectarines may

succeed very well, but for grapes they must be beholden to fire.”

[48] George Bowes, of Streatlam Castle, and Gibside, Durham.

[49] Mrs. Lane, of Bramham Park, Yorkshire.

[50] 7th Baronet, related to the Roger family, Oxwell Park.

[Page heading: EXCURSION TO STONELANDS]

From this it would appear that walled kitchen gardens were new things

in the North then; probably “Kail yards” reigned supreme. Miss Carter

and Miss Botham now joined Mrs. Montagu at Tunbridge from their school.

Another excursion to Stonelands[51] with Mr. Pitt took place, and in a

letter to Mr. Montagu on August 3 we learn--

“This dry Summer has been so favourable to the Waters that they

have made several surprising cures. I think Mr. Pitt may be

numbered amongst them. The first time I saw the Duke of Bolton,[52]

I could hardly imagine he would last a month, but seeing him again

yesterday I was amazed at the amendment.”

[51] A seat of the Duke of Dorset’s, now called Buckhurst, in

Surrey.

[52] 3rd Duke; he died August 26, 1754. Married as second wife

Lavinia Fenton, _alias_ “Polly Peacham.”

[Page heading: “MINOUETS”]

In the afternoons Mrs. Montagu and Mr. Pitt were attending Mr. King’s

lectures on philosophy, etc., and “Mr. Pitt, who is desirous of

attaining some knowledge in this way, makes him explain things very

precisely.” In another letter she says--

“Miss Carter will excell in dancing. I did not think it right she

should dance Minouets at the ball till she was quite perfect in it,

but Mr. West, Mr. Pitt and all their family and some other company

were here the other day, and I made her dance a Minouet with Master

West by way of using her to do it in company; she acquitted herself

so well as to get great commendation.”

As usual, the husband and wife exchanged loving letters on the

anniversary of their wedding-day, August 5. Mrs. Montagu mentions--

“There is a report that Lord Coke is dying; his wife, Lady Mary,

is here; she is extremely pretty, her air and figure the most

pleasing I ever saw. She is not properly a beauty, but she has more

_agrémens_ than one shall often see. With so many advantages of

birth, person and fortune, I do not wonder at her resentment being

lively, and that she could ill brook the neglects and insults of

her husband.”

Lady Mary was the daughter of the 2nd Duke of Argyll and Duke of

Greenwich. She is often mentioned by Horace Walpole. Her husband

treated her with great brutality, and she gained a separation from him.

He died August 31, 1753; she survived him till 1811.

[Illustration:

_John Nixon, pxt._]

TEA AND COFFEE IN THE BATH-ROOM.]

[Page heading: “BEAU” NASH]

Mr. Herbert is mentioned as being very ill at Tunbridge; this was the

uncle of the 6th Earl of Carnarvon, of Highclere Castle, Hants.

Mr. Montagu says, “He has done a great deal to adorn and beautify

Highclere; he had designed to do much more, if he dies it will want his

finishing hand.” On August 13 Mrs. Montagu writes to her husband--

“Mr. Nash[53] had a fit yesterday, by which it is imagined this

Monarch will soon resign that Empire over Mankind, which in so

extraordinary a manner he gained and has preserved. The Young

Pretender is now known to be at Passi, near Paris, where he keeps

himself so concealed that he may on any project be able to leave it

without exciting the attention of the people. It is said in case

of a Minority he will make us a visit. Lord Rochford intercepted a

letter from a Cardinal in France to his brother in Italy, in which

he said he had supped with Prince Charles the night before. I hear

this young adventurer is much a favorite with the French officers

and soldiers, whose romantic visions of honour may excite them to

do more than even the policy of their Monarque requires.”

[53] Richard Nash, “Beau Nash,” Leader of Fashion at Bath and

Tunbridge, born 1674, died 1761.

On August 20 Mr. Montagu arrived at Hinchinbroke to stay with Lord

Sandwich, in order to beat up votes for the next election for

Huntingdon and the county. A Mr. Jones, an eminent merchant, was to be

his fellow-candidate.

“On Tuesday we are to go about the town and canvass, where an

entertainment will be prepared for the Burgesses, who will

to-morrow night be treated with their wives, with a ball for them

only, a thing intirely new and which must produce something new and

out of the common. On Friday we shall be at liberty to move off,

but on Monday night we are to meet and entertain the Londoners at

the King’s Head, Holbourn.”

Writing on August 21 to Mrs. Boscawen, Mrs. Montagu mentions--

“I am living in the very house my dear Mrs. Boscawen inhabited

three years ago. At the Stone Castle reside Mr. Pitt, Mr. and Mrs.

West and Miss West. Instead of making parties at Whist or Cribbage,

and living with and like the _beau monde_, we have been wandering

about like a company of gipsies, visiting all the fine parks and

seats in the neighbourhood.”

These excursions were much encouraged by Mr. Pitt, who considered them

“as good for the mind as the body,” and that an occasional day without

drinking the waters gave them a greater effect.

Mention of a ventriloquist now occurs as something new--

“I have been this morning to hear the man who has a surprising

manner of throwing his voice into the Drawer, a bottle, your

pocket, up the chimney, or where he pleases within a certain

distance.... I was last night at Mr. King’s, we had the Orrery and

an astronomical lecture.”

[Illustration:

_Thos. Malton, pxt._]

THE CIRCUS, AT BATH.]

[Page heading: MR. PITT VISITS HAYES]

Mr. Montagu joined his wife for a week at Tunbridge, when he had to

return to London. On September 16 she writes to him--

“I intend to be with you on Thursday.... I find Mr. Pitt has some

intentions, as _I told you when you was here, of going to Heys_,

in case he should not be well enough to take the long journey he

intends, and he seems much pleased that I will lend him that little

tenement; but as I apprehend a feather bed more will be wanted than

used to be, I propose to send one from Hill Street.... Mr. Pitt

leaves this place to-morrow, he is now going to Dr. Ascough’s, and

from thence to Stowe[54] and Hagley.[55] Mr. West goes to Stowe

with him.”

[54] Lady Cobham’s.

[55] Sir George Lyttelton’s seat.

Probably it was from this time that Pitt took such a fancy to Hayes,

which endured all his lifetime.

[Page heading: MR. HOOKE]

The next letter to Gilbert West I transcribe in portions--

“Sandleford, September 27, 1753.

“MY MOST HONOURED COUSIN,

“Your kind and agreeable letter restored me in some measure to the

temper I lost at going out of town the very day you came to it. I

know not what poets may find in the country, when they have filled

the woods with sylvan Deities, and the rivers with Naides; but to

me groves and streams and plains make poor amends for the loss of a

friend’s conversation. You have better supplied Mr. Pitt’s absence

by reading the Orations of his predecessor, Demosthenes, and I can

easily imagine you would rather have passed the evening with the

British than the Grecian Demosthenes, whom in talents perhaps he

equals, and in grace of manners and the sweet civilities of life,

I dare say he excels. But when you seem to say you would even have

preferred the simple small talk of your poor cousin to the Athenian

Orator, I cry out,--Oh wondrous power of friendship, which like the

sun gives glorious colours to a vapour, and brightens the pebble

to a gem, till what would have been neglected by the common herd

is accepted by the most distinguished.... On Tuesday morning about

eight o’clock I called upon Mr. Hooke at his hermitage. I found

him like a true Savant surrounded by all the elements of Science,

but though I roamed round the room, I could not perceive any signs

of the Author, no papers, pen, ink, or sheets just come from the

press. I fear the fine ladies and fine prospects of Cookham divert

his attention from the Roman History.... I desired him to carry

me to Mrs. Edwin’s, which I heard was a pretty place.[56] There

is an old ferry woman who crosses the Thames very often before

Mrs. Edwin’s terrace.... While we were in Mrs. Edwin’s garden he

betrayed my name to her ... she came down, showed me her house and

the pictures, which are very fine, but the views from her windows

gave one no leisure to consider the works of art.... Cliefden Hill

rises majestically in view, and the only flat shore you see from

this place lies straight before it, and is a large plain of the

finest verdure and full of cattle.”

[56] Could this be Hedsor?

[Page heading: THE WICKHAM URN]

To this letter Gilbert West replies--

“I am glad your journey to Sandleford was relieved by the agreeable

digression you made to Cookham, where I hope to find, at least in

the memory of Mr. Hooke, the vestiges of your having been there,

which will be an additional motive to me to make him a visit from

Stoke, for I am going once more from Wickham, notwithstanding the

neighbourhood of Sir Thomas Robinson,[57] the Archbishop,[58] and

Bower, and the arrival of my Urn, which is to come this very day,

and which Mr. Cheer hath taught me to consider as an emblem and

monument of the polished, elegant and accomplished Mrs. Montagu,

by assuring me ‘that it is indebted for all the extraordinary and

highly finished ornaments he hath bestowed upon it, to the great

regard and veneration he hath for her, and that he will not either

for love or money make such another.’ ... I was paying a visit

at Fulham, where I enjoyed the smiles of my beloved Bishop,[59]

the presence of Mrs. Sherlock, and the agreeable conversation of

Mrs. Chester, with the more substantial delicacies of an excellent

English Venison Pasty.”

Further on he says he is going to Lillingston Dayrell to see his

mother, Lady Langham.

[57] “Long” Sir Thomas, Mrs. Montagu’s cousin.

[58] Archbishop Secker.

[59] Thomas Sherlock, born 1678, died 1761. Bishop of London.

[Page heading: THE NEW POST-CHAISE]

In the next letter (Oct. 3) from Sandleford to Mr. West occurs

this sentence, “Mr. Montagu returned hither on Monday with the new

four-wheeled post-chaise; it is the pleasantest machine imaginable

in rough roads, but I think it too easy on even roads.” The coachmen

had nothing intermediate between the two-wheeled vehicles and the

ponderously long six-or four-horsed coach, which required elaborate

skill in turning.

Staying again at Fulham, Mr. West mentions that he has been urging

Bishop Sherlock to publish some of his sermons, which he promised

to do. West had a fresh attack of the gout, which made him return

home. Mr. Pitt had left Hayes suddenly for Bath, Tunbridge waters not

having been of sufficient use to him; and in a letter of October 13,

to West, in capital letters, her inquiries not being answered, Mrs.

Montagu asks, “I desire TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD CONCERNING MR.

PITT’S HEALTH?” Describing her daily life, she says she keeps up the

Tunbridge habit of driving an hour or so after dinner (which, it must

be remembered, was then early) over the adjacent common; after these

airings she drank tea, and retired to her dressing-room for two or

three hours of reading.

On October 14 West writes--

“The Duke and Duchess of Portland, with two of their daughters,

dined here last Thursday, and we are to make them a morning’s

visit to-morrow at Bullstrode. Her Grace was extremely courteous

and obliging to me, but never made any inquiry after you, which

piqued me so much, that I put her against her upon talking about

Mr. Botham, and from what she said about the distrest situation of

his family, took occasion to extol you as the most generous and

sincere friend, and indeed the only one the poor man could depend

on.”

[Page heading: LADY BUTE]

The reader will have doubtless missed the frequent mention of the

duchess and her letters. There is no doubt that the coolness between

the quondam intimate friends was on account of the Scott separation.

It will be remembered the duchess sided with Mrs. Scott’s engagement

against Mrs. Montagu’s opinion. After the Scott separation, probably

influenced by her intimate friend, Lady Bute, who with the Princess of

Wales seems to have defended him,[60] the duchess appears to have taken

his part; but his true character is shown by the fact that the Prince

of Wales (George III.), on being given a Household in 1756, begged that

Scott[61] should not be continued about him, and to make up for this

dismissal he was given a commissionership in the Excise. Later on the

duchess and Mrs. Montagu had a _rapprochement_, but the letters were

never as cordial as in previous times.

[60] _Vide_ Walpole’s “Memoirs of the Reign of George III.,”

vol. ii. p. 259.

[61] Scott is said to have been a Jacobite secretly. That he was

double-faced is evident from letters.

[Page heading: BULLSTRODE MENAGERIE]

Writing from Lillingston on October 27, West describes his visit to

Bullstrode--

“I was very kindly received both at Bullstrode and Cookham; at

the former we were shown a great many fine and great many curious

things, both in doors and without; the day proved too cold, and I

was not enough recovered to see all the rarities of the animal as

well as the vegetable kind, which were dispersed over the Park and

gardens. Those that might be seen from the windows, as some spotted

Sheep and a little Bull from Fort St. David’s, whose resemblance

I have often seen in China ware, I beheld with admiration and

applause, and ventured two steps into the garden to take a view

of the orange trees against the wall.... Her Grace promised to

make me a present of some trained up for that purpose. In her

closet we were shown some curious works in Shells, performed by

Mrs. Delany, whom her Grace expected at Bullstrode in a short

time, and expressed great pleasure and not a little impatience in

the prospect of seeing so dear and so ingenious a friend. Of you

she said nothing, till upon her naming Mrs. Donnellan, I said I

could give her some account of her, having been informed by you

that she was gone to town; she then asked when I heard from you,

and where you was, but carried her enquiry after you no further.

At Cookham I spent some hours with Mrs. Stanley, for Mr. Hooke

had gone out with Mrs. Edwin to make a visit to Dr. Freind....”

He further states that he found his mother well, and “very little

alter’d since I last saw her, excepting that she has grown a little

fatter, a circumstance to a woman of seventy is greatly preferable

to wrinkles. In my way thro’ Stowe Park I met Miss Banks riding

out with Lord Vere,[62] of her I enquired much about Mr. Pitt,

and received from her the same answer, which I must have made for

your enquiries after him, that they had heard nothing of him since

he left Stowe.... While he staid at Stowe he was in good health

and spirits, he went from thence to Hagley, and she believed he

intended to go from Hagley to Bath.”

[62] Baron Vere, of Hanworth.

On November 10 Mrs. Donnellan, to whom Mrs. Montagu had lent her house

in Hill Street, whilst she searched for lodgings in the suburbs, her

lungs not permitting her to live in the town during the winter, writes--

“I have taken a little house on tryal at Kensington Gravel Pits

... both Richardson’s house at Northend and Mrs. Granville’s at

Chelsey I think too low for me.... I want you to read ‘Sir Charles

Grandison,’ it is not formed on your plan of banishing delicacy.

I am afraid it carrys it too far on t’other side, and is too fine

spun, but there are fine things and fine characters in it, and I

don’t know how it is, but his tediousness gives one an eagerness to

go on; there is a love-sick madness that I think extremely fine and

touching, but if you have not read it I must not forestall. I think

I will own to you, the great fault of my friend’s writings, there

is too much of everything. I really laughed at your nursery of

‘Clarissas,’ but I hope you did not think of me as the old nurse,

there was nobody there while I stayed!”

[Page heading: “SIR CHARLES GRANDISON”]

Mr. Richardson had just completed his novel of Sir Charles Grandison.

The Clarissas is an allusion to Miss Botham and Miss Carter, then with

Mrs. Montagu.

This same month Mrs. Montagu was again very unwell. West urged her to

go to London, but Mr. Montagu, who loved the retirement at Sandleford,

was unwilling to leave it, and she says--

“Tho’ I am told I may go to town, I know it would not be agreeable

where I ought to please, and I can hardly think it right to be

in such haste to quit the place where I live most in the manner

I ought to do, where only I am useful. I relieve the distresses

and animate the industry of a few, and have given all my hours to

the two girls under my care, whose welfare, whose eternal welfare

perhaps, depends on what they shall now learn.”

Mr. Hooke and Mr. Botham were both at Sandleford. In Mr. Hooke’s

conversation Mrs. Montagu found much enjoyment; as West put it, “He

(Hooke) is a very worthy man, and has in him the greatest compass of

entertainments of any one I know, from nonsense (as Lord Bath calls

it), to sense, and beyond sense to Metaphysics.”

[Page heading: “THE TRIUMPHS OF THE GOUT”]

On December 20 Mrs. West writes to present her Christmas wishes,

and Mr. West’s, to the Montagus, as “Tubby” (Mr. West), as was his

uneuphonious family nickname, had the gout in both hands. Mrs. Montagu

writes to him--

“The 27th of December, 1753.

“And what, my dear Cousin, are both hands prisoners of the gout!

such innocent hands too! Hands that never open’d to receive or give

a bribe, that never dipped into the guilt of the South Sea fraud,

of Charitable Corporations, or pilfer’d lottery tickets, clean even

from perquisite in office, and the most modest means by which the

Miser’s palm wooes and sollicits gain. So far have your hands been

from grasping at other’s gold, they have not held fast your own

with a tenacious grip, but open’d liberally at the petitions of the

poor, for the productions of Art, or to feast your friends at the

genial board. Most of all do I resent the fate of the writing hand,

which was first dedicated to the Muses, then with maturer judgment

consecrated to the Nymphs of Solyma, and shall it be led captive

by the cruel gout? Why did you sing the triumphs[63] of the dire

goddess? Oh, why could you not describe them unfelt, as Poets often

do the softer pains and gentler woes of Venus and her Son?”

[63] West wrote a poem entitled “The Triumphs of the Gout.”

[Year: 1754]

[Page heading: SCHOOLGIRLS’ BILL]

The first amusing paper I have of 1754 is a school bill for the two

younger Miss Bothams, Molly and Kitty. I am sorry that several of the

items are torn away, but it is curious as to things then required, and

also for the extraordinarily bad spelling and wording of the preceptor

entrusted with their care. It is addressed to--

“The Revd. Docʳ Botham,

“These.”

“SIR,

“According to your desire by the honour of your Last, I send you

the Bill of the two Miss’s Botham, your daughters, to ye first of

this month, altho’ wee had spoak of it before the Holydays I had

quite forgot it, and was very easy on that account. I hope, Sir,

that you’r satisfied of us, if so I shall alwise thry, as well as

my wife, to do all wee can to improve your daughters in everything,

especially in their Morals and manners. I was very sorry of your

last indisposition, and hope you’r much better, it is the sincere

wish of

“Sir,

“Your most humble

and obedient Servant,

“E. SAGE ROBERTS.

“Kensington, the 20th January, 1754.

“P.S.--My wife with her compliments to you joyns with me in compts.

of the Saison, wishing you health, prosperity and all you can wish

yourself for many years.”

“_The two Miss’s Botham’s Bill._

£ _s._ _d._

“To Board from the 9th of August, 1753, to

the 1st January, 1754, at £25 per year,

maketh 19 16 0

To a Seat at Church 0 8 6

To copy Books, pens, pencils, Ink, paper, &c. 0 7 0

To the Dancing Master 4 10

To sundry things furnished, viz.--

To a chest of Draws 1 5 0

To silver spoons, knife and Fork. 1 1 0

To a tea chest 0 (torn off)

To a Spelling book, 1 Grammar 0 3 -

To two Hats and two Bonets 0 15 0

To three pair of Shoes 0 (torn)

To Gloves, 6 pairs 0 (torn)

To tea and suger 0 (torn)

To Thread, Tape and pins, needles, worsted,

laces, &c. 0 13 -

To Hair cutting, Pomatum Powder (torn)

To Pocket Money 0 10 9

To Pots and Mugs, &c. 0 1 6

To a percel recd. by the Coach 0 0 2

To Soap, Oatmeal for to wash, &c. 0 2 6

----------

Total 30 15 0”

[Page heading: MR. PELHAM’S DEATH]

In the beginning of March in this year Mr. Pelham, the Premier, died

suddenly, and there was a General Election. Mr. Pelham’s brother, the

Duke of Newcastle, was appointed first Lord of the Treasury; Mr. Legge,

Mr. Botham’s uncle, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Sir George Lyttelton,

Cofferer. Mr. Montagu proceeded to Hinchinbrooke early in April to

canvass, and his wife writes to him on the 11th--

“I hope you had a pleasant journey, and arrived without fatigue.

You are proceeding quietly and well at Huntingdon, while many are

hustling with infinite animosity in other Boroughs. The votes are

eleven hundred paid a piece at Bury as I am informed.... Morris is

very busy with the Canterbury Voters, he does not like them so well

as law Clients.”

Morris was canvassing for his elder brother Matthew, of Horton.

Mr. Montagu writes on April 16 to say, “Yesterday our Election came on,

and was, I believe, one of the most quiet and peaceable that ever was.”

[Page heading: AN ELECTION]

In her next letter to her husband she says--

“I have had a letter to-day from my brother Robinson, informing me

that he is chosen along with Creed; Mr. Best declined the Poll. My

brother has carried his Election without expence.... I cannot take

leave of you without expressing my pride and satisfaction in seeing

you again enter the House of Commons, where you have behaved with

such steadiness and integrity. I have a joy and pride whenever I

reflect on any part of your moral character. May your virtues meet

with the happiness they deserve!”

[Page heading: “TOM” LYTTELTON]

Bower writes to Mrs. Montagu on April 16 from Oakhampton, where he had

gone with Sir George Lyttelton for his election, in fervid Italian.

He was disgusted at the orgy of the election, and says that at the

election dinner given by the mayor and magistrates in their robes to

Sir George Lyttelton, they sat down at 3 o’clock p.m., and none rose

to leave till two in the morning! “e tutti, o quasi tutti partirono

cordialmente ubbriachi” (“and all, _nearly_ all, parted thoroughly

drunk”). He continues, “The cavaliers then went from house to house

to kiss the ladies, as was customary, and ask for the votes of their

husbands.” After fervid speeches made to the “celeste imagine della

Madonna del Monte e della Strada del Monte” (the celestial image of

the Madonna of the Mount and the Madonna of Hill Street), meaning Mrs.

Montagu, his pen is taken up by Lyttelton, who says, “The Italian

language affords such lofty expressions, as the poverty of ours will

not come up to, and therefore the Madonna must be content with my

telling her that the good Father with all his Devotion does not honour

her more than I do....” At the end of his letter he says, “I hear from

my wife that my Boy has been with you: a thousand thanks for your

goodness to him.” This is the first mention of Thomas, afterwards 2nd

Baron Lyttelton, then only ten years old. Lyttelton had early besought

the interest and influence of Mrs. Montagu for his son and daughter by

his first marriage. Both became truly attached to her, would that her

influence had prevailed on “Tom” later in life.

At this period Mrs. Donnellan was very ill, and Mrs. Montagu did

her best to nurse her. Lady Sandwich came to town to inoculate her

daughter, Lady Mary. Miss Mary Pitt had been to see Mrs. Montagu, and

“she assures me Mr. Pitt is in good health, but has had another attack

of gout in his hand, owing, ’tis imagined, to his being blooded for a

sore throat.”

Mr. Montagu at this period sustained the heavy loss of his faithful

agent, the second Mr. Carter, who died at Theakstone, and whose loss

necessitated his immediate journey to the north to attend to his own

and Mr. Rogers’ affairs, all of which had been confided to Mr. Carter’s

care. Taking Mr. Botham as his temporary secretary and companion, they

started off northward by post-chaises, a most expensive process, as Mr.

Montagu called it. On June 13 Mrs. Montagu writes--

“I am sorry Mrs. Carter (the grandmother), has set her heart so

much on having her granddaughter with her, she is of the proper age

to receive instruction and take impressions; a few years passed

innocently will not leave her as amiable a subject as she is now,

her mind will be less flexible.... Mr. Pitt drank tea with me this

afternoon; he has recovered his health entirely, if one may judge

by his looks. He tells me he has built a very good house at Bath

for £1200. He mention’d to me his intention of going on Saturday to

Wickham to propose the place at Chelsea to Mr. West, the offer will

certainly be an agreeable one.”

This place was that of the paymaster to Chelsea College. In the next

letter to Mrs. Boscawen, Mrs. Montagu says--

“The place is call’d a thousand pounds a year, it is in the gift

of Mr. Pitt, and was given with grace that few know how to put

into any action ... they have excellent lodgings annexed to the

place.... Mr. Pitt dined with them on Saturday; I imagine he was

very happy, but he so well deserved to be so. It is a fine thing to

act the part of Providence and bless the good. Miss Carter was sent

for by her old grandmother, last week she left me.”

Writing to her husband on June 15, Mrs. Montagu states she shall be

glad to hear as soon as Mr. Montagu thinks he will return, “that I may

disfurnish Hayes, which I shall quit as a man does a homely but a quiet

wife, with some little regret, but not much tender sorrow; it is not a

beautiful place, but it is quiet, and when one steps out of the bustle

of Town, appears on that account amiable.” She adds that her sister’s

health is greatly improved, and her temper less petulant, on account of

having taken to a milk and vegetable diet.

On July 9 Mrs. Montagu mentions--

“My brother Robinson came to town last night; he dined here to-day,

and we are all going to Vauxhall, where Mr. Tyers has had the ruins

of Palmyra painted in the manner of the scenes so as to deceive the

eye and appear buildings.”

Her sister Sarah and brother Charles were with her. She concludes with

an affectionate appeal to her husband not to apply himself too much to

business at Newcastle, but to take exercise for his health’s sake.

[Page heading: MR. WEST’S APPOINTMENT]

[Page heading: ELIZABETH CANNING]

In another letter undated, but about this period, as it mentions West’s

thanks to Mr. Montagu for his congratulations on his appointment to

Chelsea Hospital, allusion is made to Elizabeth Canning, whose curious

story of having been kidnapped[64] and ill-treated had convulsed

London opinion.

“The town is in great agitation about Elizabeth Canning; she is

condemn’d to Transportation, but her guilt is so far from appearing

certain, that the Sheriffs refuse to conduct her among the other

felons. All the Aldermen but Sir Crispe Gascoigne[65] petition in

her behalf, all the great officers of the State almost, interpose

for her, and the Archbishop of Canterbury also desires that she may

have a decent person of her own sex to attend her over, and then

to board in a private family. Some fear there will be a rising of

the Mob in her favour; in general all seem to agree that the matter

is entirely doubtful. As to Sir Crispe Gascoigne he dare not stir

without being guarded.... I wish the whole affair was brought to

light, there is great iniquity somewhere.”

[64] _Vide_ vol. ix., Smollett, “History of England,” p. 231.

[65] Then Lord Mayor of London.

On July 19, writing from Hayes, she says--

“Miss Mary Pitt, youngest sister of Mr. Pitt, is come to stay a few

days with me, she is a very sensible, modest, pretty sort of young

woman, and as Mr. Pitt seem’d to take every civility shown to her

as a favour, I thought this mark of respect to her one manner of

returning my obligations to him.”

Mr. Montagu and Mr. Botham proceeded to Newcastle to regulate Mr.

Rogers’ affairs, which, as before mentioned, required attention, owing

to the death of the head agent, Mr. Carter.

In consequence probably of worry, Mr. Montagu returned from the north

at the end of July with a fever, “which,” as his wife writes to Sarah,

“bleeding and wormwood draughts have taken off,” and as soon as he was

fit he was to go with her to Hayes to pack up her books. Miss Anstey

was staying with them, and was to accompany them to Sandleford. Mention

is made of a portrait of herself which Mrs. Montagu was going to send

Mrs. Scott: “Mr. Cambridge call’d on me the other day, he spoke much

in your praise. I told him I hoped he would call on you at Bath, he

promised he would.” This was Richard Owen Cambridge,[66] a friend of

Dr. Johnson, who wrote the “Scribbleriad.”

[66] Mr. Cambridge died in 1802.

Writing to West from Sandleford of her neighbours at Hayes, she regrets

the society of Mrs. Herring and the Archbishop,[67] and desires her

regards to them. He answers--

“I made your compliments to the Archbishop and Mrs. Herring, who

dined with us the very day I received your letter. He is very well

and as amiable and polite as ever. Dick[68] has been very dilligent

and very successful in partridge shooting, and t’other day sent the

prime fruits of his labours, a landrail, as a present to his Grace

of Canterbury.”

[67] Thomas Herring, born 1671, died 1757. Archbishop of Canterbury.

[68] Young West.

[Page heading: BRIGHTHELMSTONE]

At the beginning of September, through the influence of West, the

Bishop of London gave the living of Ealing to Mr. Botham. Botham was at

Brighthelmstone with his two boys for sea-bathing, as they were not in

health. The joy of Mrs. Montagu was great at this preferment, as the

bishop permitted Mr. Botham to continue to hold Albury as well, placing

a curate in the living he did not occupy.

[Page heading: “PRECIEUSES RIDICULES”]

Writing again to West, Mrs. Montagu says--

“Dr. Mangey kept a curate at Ealing as he did not reside there, but

undoubtedly Mr. Botham will discharge the duties of the living

he resides at without assistance; the Bishop of London required

Mr. Botham’s residence: as the girls and boys are growing up and

must soon live with him, they will be better placed at Ealing

in a good neighbourhood than at Albury. They will learn nothing

there but eating and drinking plentifully of Lord Aylesford, and

Mr. Godschall’s house is generally full of poetic Misses, who are

addressing each other by the names of Parthenia, Araminta, etc.,

with now and then a little epistle to Strephon or Damon. I was

uneasy whenever they were at home, for fear they should enter into

the _precieuse_ character of Mrs. Godschall.”

This style of conversation is taken off in Molière’s “Precieuses

Ridicules.”

West’s mother, Lady Langham was now paying her son a visit. Mrs.

Montagu writes--

“I think the vast territories of imagination could not afford any

view so pleasing as the meeting of such a son and such a mother;

the pictures not only pleased my mind, but warm’d my heart ... that

you may at Lady Langham’s age be as well able to take a journey,

and your son as well deserve, and as joyfully receive such a visit

is my sincerest and most earnest wish ... another pleasure attends

you all, and which your benevolence and not your pride will feel,

that of setting an example of those various charities, of parent,

child, husband and wife, which make the happiness of domestic life;

and there is surely more honour in filling well _the circle mark’d

of Heaven_ in these spheres of relation, than in running the wild

career of Ambition in its most shining track. Indeed there is no

part of a conduct that so certainly deserves our approbation as an

acquittance of family regards. Actions of a public nature often are

inspired by vanity, domestic behaviour has not popular applause

for its object, tho’ with the sober judgment, as Mr. Pope says of

silence, ‘_its very want of voice makes it a kind of fame_.’”

She then proceeds to thank West eloquently for Botham’s presentation to

_Kingston_ (this must be a mistake for Ealing), and ends with desiring

some paper hangings “she and Mrs. Isted had laboriously adorned” to be

taken down with care at her house at Hayes, but leaves the rest of the

hangings to the landlord. “I presume some retail grocer, haberdasher

of small wares, or perhaps a tallow chandler, will shortly be in

possession of my Castle at Hayes.”

[Page heading: MR. HATELEY]

At Sandleford were staying young Mr. Hateley, an artist, and Miss

Anstey. The latter being in treaty for a house in London, accepted Mr.

Montagu’s escort thither, and Mr. Hateley wishing to accompany them

a portion of the way, mounted a horse, which flung him at the first

start off and grievously cut and bruised him. The doctor was summoned

after the departure of Mr. Montagu and Miss Anstey, who “blooded him,

and he was ordered to take no food but balm tea lest he should have a

fever.... The Harvest Home Supper last night was very jolly, the guests

had as good appetite as those who meet to eat Turtle,” writes Mrs.

Montagu to her husband on September 23.

Miss Anstey, having lost her parents, and Trumpington having become

her brother’s property, had determined to live in London. She took

Mr. Montagu to help her in choosing a residence in Queen Street, a

new-built house for £800. Miss Anstey executed several commissions for

Mrs. Montagu, amongst which she mentions, “I have sent several prints

of Nun’s habits, some one of which I hope may become the beautiful

Eloise, and I shall very much rejoice to hear she has taken the Veil.”

Mention is made in a previous letter of Mrs. Montagu’s of Hateley

painting a picture of Eloise, but who sat for it I cannot say. Hateley

recovered from his accident. A new post-chaise had been ordered for

the Montagus, and Mr. Montagu found it “nothing showy or brilliant,”

but his wife assures him, “I shall find no fault with the plainness of

the post-chaise, neatness being all that is aimed at.”

[Page heading: LILLINGSTON DAYRELL]

West, writing on October 8 from Wickham, says--

“I have the honour to agree with my dearest and most excellent

cousin in looking upon writing letters as one of the evils of

Human Life, and for that reason I have always declined engaging

in a correspondence of that kind with anybody but her, tho’ I was

once invited to it by the great Mr. Pope.... I am now turning

my thoughts towards Chelsea, where I hope to be settled for the

whole winter by the beginning of next month. My Mother and Mrs.

Ives[69] go from hence to my brother’s[70] house in the country,

where they will remain a week or ten days, and from there return to

Lillingston.[71] Mr. and Mrs. Dayrell were prevented by the death

of two of his Aunts from making us a visit at Wickham, by which

accident and the absence of my sister Molly, my Mother lost the

opportunity of exhibiting the pleasing picture of a Hen gathering

with a careful and maternal tenderness all her chickens at once

under her wings, but she will have them by turns.”

[69] Mrs. Ives appears to be Lady Langham’s sister.

[70] Temple West.

[71] Lillingston Dayrell in Bucks.

From this it would appear that Mrs. Dayrell was a daughter of Lady

Langham’s. The Dayrells have owned Lillingston Dayrell for some eight

hundred years!

Mrs. Medows writes from Chute on October 16 to Mrs. Montagu--

“I am impatient to wait on you; all the horses and all the Maids

have been taken up with Wey Hill Fair,[72] now I hope to hire a

couple of cart-horses: I dare not venture with a common postboy and

horses, because the postboys are not used to a four-wheeled chaise,

nor the Road I must go.... I wish you joy of a pleasure for life at

least, the good you have done to Mr. Botham and his family.... I am

pleased you have hired the wood, now one may walk in the bowling

green without coveting what is your neighbour’s. I hope hiring is

a step to purchasing; laying field to field is a natural thought

and not a blameable one, when no injustice is meant. I have often

thought what a pretty place Sandleford would be if it was bounded

by the little river, Newbury Wash, and Greenham Heath.”

This wood was on the east side of Sandleford, and was eventually

purchased, and Sandleford at this moment is bounded exactly as Mrs.

Medows wished.

[72] On October 10 and five following days.

“A Buck, we are told, is come to Grateley, his name is Mitchell, he

has laid out a £1000 in furnishing it completely, altho’ he could

not be sure of having it more than a year. He intends to keep Stags

in the paddocks, and turn them out on the Downs, which will give

him fine chases. He says the Drawing room is a good drinking room.”

[Page heading: BATH EASTON]

Sarah Scott and Lady Bab Montagu had taken a house at Bath Easton for

use in the summer, and desiring plants for the garden there, Mrs.

Montagu sends on November 6 to them a vast number of pinks, roses and

honeysuckles, together with a home-cured ham. In the accompanying

letter she mentions Ealing being

“two hundred pounds a year, his house a very pretty one, a

good garden with a great deal of wall fruit, and there is a

neighbourhood of genteel people, who have all shown him great

civility.... Mr. Hateley is still with us, he has made a very

pretty Landskip (_sic_) with Eloisa, and her figure is pretty,

her face amiably triste. He has done my portrait so like, and got

a good likeness, and with a spirit in the countenance and attitude

that is very uncommon.”

[Page heading: “HISTORY OF BATH”]

To this Sarah writes on November 17, to thank her for the plants and

to say she and Lady Barbara had returned to Bath for the winter, Bath

Easton being too near the water for them. She says--

“Have I sent you word of a subscription making for Nash? I believe

it began since I wrote last. It is entitled a subscription for a

‘History of Bath and Tunbridge for these last 40 years,’ by Richard

Nashe, Esqre., with an Apology for the Author’s life. The whole

money, two guineas, is to be paid down at once, for he does not

pretend any book is to come out. Some have subscribed 10 guineas,

many five, and a great many hundred pounds are already subscribed.

It is to be kept open for life, and people give to him who will

not part with a guinea to relieve the greatest real and unmerited

distress imaginable. The pretence is that he has but little more

than £200 a year, which is not supposed true, but if it was, surely

it is full equal to his merits, whether one considers them as moral

or entertaining. To such ladies as have secret histories belonging

to them, he hints that he knows every one’s private life and shall

publish it. This place grows so full of subscriptions that no

person of moderate fortune will long be able to come to it. The

people of the rooms are endeavouring to obtain a subscription of

half a guinea each man, and a crown each woman for the season. As

yet it has not been complied with, but they require it with such

insolence, that I make no doubt it will be complied with. I shall

be glad to hear you are safely settled in Hill Street. I assure you

the picture[73] you were so good as to give me is a great ornament

to a pretty room, and people are so civil to me as to see the

likeness, which I take well of them; as it is placed near the fire

it may grow warmer, which is all that can improve it.”

[73] A portrait of Mr. Montagu.

“Beau” Nash had reigned a despotic Master of the Ceremonies over Bath

for fifty years, living in a most expensive style, mainly supported

by his success at the gaming tables. The Act of Parliament against

gambling put an end to his chief means of obtaining money. The

Corporation, however, settled a pension of 120 guineas on him for his

services. He was eighty-one years old at this period, having been born

in 1673. His rules for general behaviour and manners are most amusing,

but are too long to insert.

[Illustration:

_T. Rowlandson, pxt._]

THE KING’S BATH, AT BATH.]

[Page heading: MR. PITT’S ENGAGEMENT]

At this time Mr. Pitt became engaged to Lady Hester Grenville, daughter

of Mr. Richard Grenville and his wife, Lady Temple, and sister of

Viscount Cobham. She was a cousin of West’s and Sir George Lyttelton’s.

On November 5 Mrs. Montagu writes to West--

“MY DEAR COUSIN,

“Since the days that Cupid set Hercules to the distaff, he has

not had a nobler conquest than over the elevated soul of Mr.

Pitt. I congratulate you on the affinity, and I hope he will be

happy: his long acquaintance with the lady makes the hazard much

less than where people marry without knowing the disposition of

the person they choose. I believe Lady Hester Grenville is very

good-humoured, which is the principal article in the happiness of

the Marriage State. Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover, wit

may be pernicious, and many brilliant qualities troublesome; but a

companion of gentle disposition softens cares and lightens sorrows.

The sober matches made on reflection, are often happier than those

made by sudden and violent passion, and I hope this will prove of

this kind; and there is an authority in the character of Mr. Pitt,

that will secure him the deference and obedience of his wife;

proud of him abroad, she will be humble to him at home; and having

said so much, I consign them over to Hymen, who, I hope, will join

their hands in the most auspicious hour. I was prevented writing to

you by Sunday’s post, Dr. Pococke having stayed with us on Saturday

night, and the first Sunday of the month I always go to Newbury

Church;[74] the length of the service made me too late to write. I

am glad Mr. Cambridge has been with you at Wickham.... We were in

Wiltshire last week to visit Mrs. Medows.”

She ends with expressing a wish to exchange the country for London, but

is determined not to say a word to Mr. Montagu, whose health had been

recently restored by country air.

[74] St. Nicholas, Newbury. They generally attended Newtown church,

as it was nearer.

[Page heading: REV. W. WARBURTON]

[Page heading: THOMAS HEARNE]

In her next letter to West, of November 14, she says--

“As the Virtues and Graces as well as Cupid and Hymen will assist

at Mr. Pitt’s nuptials, I think he could not choose a better place

for their celebration than Wickham, their capital seat. I wish them

many happy years together, and God bless them with health and every

good.... I hope while you are at Croydon the good Archbishop will

animate you to defy that foul fiend my Lord Bolingbroke; I believe

I shall take some of Ward’s sneezing powder to clear my head of

the impieties and impurities of his book. I am not satisfied with

Mr. Warburton’s[75] answer, the levity shocks me, the indecency

displeases me, the _grossièreté_ disgusts me. I love to see the

doctrine of Christianity defended by the spirit of Christianity.

When absurdity is mix’d with impiety, it ceases to be a jest. I can

laugh at his Lordship’s cavils at Mr. Locke, his envy to Plato and

all the old Philosophers, but I could with great seriousness apply

to him the words of his friend and Poet to the Dunces--

“‘’Tis yours a Bacon and a Locke to blame,

A Newton’s genius or a Milton’s flame.

But oh! with one, immortal one dispense

The source of Newton’s light or Bacon’s sense.’

But I must do his Lordship the justice to say that what he wants in

faith he makes up in confidence, for after having assured you it

is absurd to affirm God is just or good, he declared he is willing

to trust the being whose attributes he cannot know, to dispose of

him in another world, not at all doubting that the Supreme Being

will be good to him, without goodness, and just to him without

justice! He laughs at the faith of Abraham, and I should do so

too, if Abraham had disputed God’s veracity, and then trusted to

His promises. I never read such a mass of inconsistencies and

contradictions, such a vain ostentation of learning, and if I

durst, I would say it, all that can show ‘the trifling head, or

the corrupted heart.’ I think I may venture to say trifling, for

whatever does not relate to the argument is so, and to teize the

gentle reader with all the miserable sophisms that perplex’d the

world 2000 years ago, is barbarous. I wanted to apply to him the

Epigram on Hearne[76] the antiquarian--

“‘Fye on thee! quoth Time to Thomas Hearne,

Whatever I forget, you learn....’

I thank his Lordship, though, for making me once more look into Mr.

Locke and Doctor Clarke,[77] in the veneration of whom I believe I

shall live and dye.”

[75] Rev. William Warburton, born 1698, died 1779. Chaplain to the

King; Bishop of Gloucester; author of various works.

[76] Thomas Hearne, born 1678, died 1735; antiquarian and author.

[77] Samuel Clarke, D.D., born 1675, died 1729; celebrated

theologian and natural philosopher.

[Page heading: MR. PITT’S MARRIAGE]

[Page heading: THE HONEYMOON]

The return letter from West is so interesting that I give it _in

extenso_--

“Croydon, November 18, 1754.

“MY DEAR COUSIN,

“Your admirable letter found me at the Archiepiscopal Palace at

Croydon, where Mrs. West, Dick and I had been ever since Wednesday;

and it was lucky that it found me there, as I had by that means

an opportunity of showing the Archbishop, whom you very properly

style good, your most ingenious and judicious Reflections of Lord

Bolingbroke’s pompous Rhetorical and inconsistent Declamations with

which his Grace (who, by the bye agrees entirely with you in the

censure you there pass’d upon Mr. W(arburton)’s way of answering

him,) was so pleas’d that he desired me to give him a copy of the

whole paragraph, promising that if he show’d it to anybody he

would, however, cautiously conceal the name of the author. After

this I need not tell you how much we both said in praise of you;

I shall only add that I, this morning, received his commands to

present his respects to you, and to tell you in his name that if

you allow’d yourself the liberty of saying fine things of him,

he would be even with you. These are his own words, grounded on

a piece of information I had given him of the great honour and

esteem you had for him. We quitted Wickham, as I told you, on

Wednesday last, that we might throw no obstacle in the way of that

amorous impatience which Mr. Pitt had in all his notes express’d

of bringing Lady Hester to our sweet and hospitable Habitation,

as he call’d it; but to our great surprise, and to the no small

mortification of Mrs. West in particular, who was afraid that all

the good things, with which she had fill’d her larder, would be

spoil’d by their delay--the happy Bridegroom and his Bride did not

arrive till Saturday, on which morning they were married[78] by Dr.

Ayscough[79] with the Archbishop’s License. They came down alone,

and have continued alone ever since, and, I imagine, will continue

during their stay at Wickham, in that Paradisaical Solitude, tho’

by the quantity of provisions which Mr. Campion[80] brought with

him, and more which he has since sent for from Croydon, we conclude

he expected some visitants from Town, as Lord Temple, etc.,[81]

but having heard of no such visitants being expected, I suppose

that all this profusion was owing to Mr. Campion’s solicitude to

testify in his own way his respects to his new Lady, and make his

compliments on this joyous occasion, in the polite, that is, in the

French Phraseology: this is all the intelligence I can at present

give you of this important affair, for we have had no communication

by messages, either to or from Mr. Pitt, whom we were unwilling to

disturb, or interrupt the free course of those pleasures, which

for a time at least, possess the whole mind, and are most relished

when most private; for this reason I cannot yet acquaint you when

we shall leave Wickham, but I believe it will be about the middle

of this week, and I suppose we shall not be able to go to Chelsea

before the latter end of the next, or the beginning of the week

after, and by that time I am still in hopes you will come to Hill

Street, and by giving me the pleasure of seeing you there in good

health, compleat the happy change which you observe is already

begun in the once gloomy month of November. I do often, my dear

Cousin, look back with pleasure and thankfulness on many incidents

of my past Life, and compare them with my present situation, so

much changed for the better in a thousand instances, such as

Health, fortune and Friendship, among which there is none that has

given me more happiness than yours, and which therefore I hope

will continue, till it is lost where only it can be lost, in the

brighter and warmer radiance of an unchangeable and everlasting

Society, where I hope to have it continued to me through all

eternity. I am going to take the air with the good and amiable

Archbishop, and therefore must conclude.

“Adieu, my dear, dear Cousin, and assure yourself that all that

period I shall continue

“Ever most affectionately Yours, etc.,

“GIL. WEST.

“Mrs. West and Mrs. Herring desire their compliments to Mrs.

Montagu and Miss Anstey.”

[78] Married November 16, 1754, by special license, in Argyll

Street.

[79] Rev. Francis Ayscough, D.D., married Anne Lyttelton, Sir

George’s sister.

[80] The chef.

[81] Richard, Earl Temple, brother of Lady Hester.

[Illustration:

_W. Hoare R A Pinx._ _Emery Walker Ph. Sc._

_Philip, 4th Earl of Chesterfield._]

[Page heading: “GOSSIP” JOAN]

I give a portion of the reply to the foregoing letter--

“Hill Street, November 23, 1754.

“MY DEAREST COUSIN,

“From country Joan I am, according to my ambitious views, turned

into ‘Gossip’ Joan, and by no supernatural metamorphosing power,

but merely by the help of so ordinary a vehicle as a post-chaise,

which wrought this happy change between the hours of 7 in the

morning and 5 in the afternoon; the subject, no doubt was well

prepared that would so easily receive the alteration. In my town

character I made 15 visits last night: I should not so suddenly

have assumed my great Hoop if I had not desired to pay the earliest

respect to Lady Hester Pitt. I came to town on Wednesday night,

and was too weary to write to you. I proposed doing it on Thursday

evening, but my brother Robinson hinder’d me by making a long

visit. Yesterday morning was divided amongst Milliners, Mantua

makers, Mercers and such as deal in the small wares of vanity.”

[Page heading: MR. HOOKE]

The year ends with a letter from Mr. Nathaniel Hooke--

“Cookham, December 22, 1754.

“MADAM,

“If it were not for a certain text of Scripture, I should be very

impatient for the time to come when I must be in London for some

days. The idea of Hill Street and what is to be seen and heard

there, is very lively and pressing. But alas! What says St. John

the Divine? _Little children keep yourselves from Idols._ If you

can satisfy my conscience in this point I shall be much obliged

to you, and I beg you will study it thoroughly, and let me have

your Resolution by a line, directed to be left at Mr. Watson’s in

Cavendish Street. ’Tis uncertain just now _when_ I shall move, but

I think it will be some time this week. Till then I am not your

religious worshipper, but Madam,

“Your most obliged and most obedient

and most humble Servant,

“N. HOOKE.

“Give me leave to add best compliments to Mr. Montagu.”

CHAPTER II.

1755–1757--IN LONDON, AT SANDLEFORD, AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS, AND WITH

THE BOSCAWENS AT HATCHLANDS--LETTERS ON EVENTS OF THE WAR.

[Year: 1755]

[Page heading: LORD MONTFORT’S SUICIDE]

In January, 1755, but with no date of day, is a letter of Mrs.

Montagu’s to Sarah Scott on Lord Montfort[82] committing suicide after

gambling heavily.

“I imagine that you will be glad to hear the history of the times,

which indeed bring forth daily wonders; nor is it the least that

the most profound arithmetician and the greatest calculator, one

who carried Demoivre’s[83] ‘Probabilités de la Vie Humaine’ in his

pocket, never foresaw that spending ten times his income would ruin

his fortune, and that he found no way to make the book of debtor

and creditor even, but paying that debt which dissolves all other

obligations. You will guess I mean Lord Montfort and his pistol. He

had not discovered any marks of insanity, on the contrary, all was

deliberate, calm and cool; having said so much of his indiscretion,

I think, with the rest of the world, I may acquit him of the

imputation of cunning and sharping, but what can one say in defence

of a conduct that had all the appearance of deep knavery and the

consequences of inconsiderate rashness and folly.... Many reasons

have been given for his Lordship’s violent act, but by what I

learn from those best acquainted with his person and fortune, he

was not under the pressure of any very heavy debt, but had a true

Epicurean character, loved a degree of voluptuousness that his

fortune could not afford, and a splendour of life it could not

supply, much of his relish for the world was lost, and like one

that has no appetite to ordinary fare, chose to rise from table

unless fortune would make him a feast.... When Lord Montfort’s

children were paid their demands on his estate, I hear he had only

£1200 a year clear, and in table, equipage and retinue he equalled,

and in the first article perhaps excell’d, the largest fortunes. To

retrench or die was the question, he reasoned like Hamlet, but left

out the great argument of a future state.”

[82] Lord Montfort shot himself on January 1, 1755, at White’s

Coffee House, after playing whisk all night. _Vide_ Horace Walpole’s

“Letters to George Montagu,” vol. i. p. 252.

[83] Abraham Demoivre, born 1677, died 1754. Great mathematician;

wrote “The Doctrine of Chances,” etc.

In the same letter is--

“I have lately been engaged in a melancholy employment, condolence

with poor Mr. and Mrs. West on the loss of their son, who died

of a bilious fever, occasioned by his want of attendance to the

jaundice, which attacked him in the season of plays and Operas, and

he preferred them to the care of his health; he died very suddenly,

the poor parents bear the blow with surprising patience. Mr.

Lyttelton[84] is going to S. Carolina as Governor, and his sister

dreading such a separation desires to accompany him.

“Pray have you read Mr. Hume’s History of James I. and Charles

I.? I am afraid it will rather promote Jacobitism, but it is

entertaining and lively and will amuse you.... I suppose you know

there are two volumes of Madame de Sevigné’s letters come out this

winter; they are amusing as the anecdotes of a person one has a

great regard for, but they were rejected in former editions as not

being so brilliant as those published before. My brother Robinson

is emulating the great Diogenes and other budge Drs. of the Stoic

fur; he flies the delights of London and leads a life of such

privacy and seriousness as looks to the beholder like wisdom, but

for my part, I think no life of inaction deserves that name.”

This is the first mention of Matthew’s increasing love of retirement

and the hermit-like habits which he adopted at Horton.

[84] This was William Henry, brother of Sir George Lyttelton.

[Page heading: MRS. POCOCKE]

In March occurs a long letter from Mrs. Pococke, of Newtown, the very

learned lady mentioned before. She dispensed money for charitable

purposes given by Mrs. Montagu. She mentions that her son, Dr. Pococke,

is coming for a few days to see her before going abroad, “probably for

the last time, unless I live to the age of the late Bishop of Man.”

She mentions having walked eight miles that day as an excuse for bad

writing, which was superfluous, as her handwriting is amazingly good

and clear, and she was between eighty and ninety! _Mens sana in corpore

sano!_

[Page heading: LORD BALTIMORE’S HOUSE]

On June 9, presumably in this year, Mrs. Montagu writes--

“I suppose you know that Lady Sandwich has at last left her kind

Lord. To complete the measure of his good usage, he keeps her

daughter to educate with the Miss Courtenays. I hope her Ladyship

will be happier than she has been for many years, she has nothing

to harass her but the apprehensions for Lady Mary, but God knows

that is a dreadful object. She has taken a house at Windsor for the

summer.” This daughter died June 25, 1761.

And in the same month to Sarah Scott, she says--

Mrs. Boscawen and Miss Pitt came from Hatchlands to London to spend

two days with me; we went to Vauxhall each night, and Mrs. Anstey

and I went with them as far as Epsom: we saw Lord Baltimore’s

house, [_sic_] which speaks bad french, so I will not rehearse what

I saw there. Why should I teize your imagination with strawberry

colour’d wainscotts, doors of looking-glass, fine landskips on

gilt leather, and painted pastorals with huge headed Chloes and

gouty legg’d Strephons, with french mottoes to explain those tender

glances. We were glad to quit this palace of bad taste for a little

arbor in the garden of the inn at Epsom. The Sunday following Mr.

Montagu and I went to dine with Mr. Bower at Sidcop, his little

habitation has the proper perfections of a cottage, neatness,

chearfulness, and an air of tranquillity, a pretty grove with

woodbines twining round every Elm, a neat kitchen garden, with an

Arbor from whence you look on a fine prospect. Here he may write

of heresies and schisms, of spiritual pride and papal usurpations,

while peaceful retirement and the amenity of the scene about him,

rob controversy of its acrimony, and allay the bitterness of

censure by a mixture of gentle pity.”

[Page heading: SANDLEFORD]

Writing to Mrs. Boscawen from Sandleford, June 19, Mrs. Montagu

begins--

“‘When the Mower whets his scythe,

And the Milk-maid singeth blythe,

And every Shepherd in the dale

Under the Hawthorn tells his tale,’

there am I, and no longer in the sinfull and smoaking City of

London; this happy change was brought about on Tuesday, by very

easy and speedy measures. We got into our post-chaise between 10

and 11, arrived at Maidenhead Bridge about one; were refreshed by a

good dinner, and amused by good company. Mr. Hooke[85] meeting us

at our inn, we staid with him till after 5, and about ten arrived

at Sandleford.... I have not for these ten years been so early in

the Season at Sandleford, and it appears therefore with greater

charms. It cannot afford to lose any of its natural beauties, as

it owns none to Art, it is merely a pretty shepherdess, who has

no graces but those of youth and simplicity; but my dear Mrs.

Boscawen may turn it into a paradise when she pleases. When may I

hope to see her here.... I spent two days at Wickham last week;

our good friends had left the Archbishop of Canterbury only a few

days before I went to them. Mr. West seemed a good deal affected by

this return to Wickham, as to Mrs. West I cannot so well judge, the

cheerfulness she puts on is _outré_.... Mr. West told me he would

alter the room where poor Dick dyed, for he did not like to go into

it, and then a soft tender shower fell down his cheeks, he added

he had lost much of his relish for Wickham; however on the whole I

found them better than I could have expected!”

[85] He was then living at Cookham.

Directly after this, West was ordered to Tunbridge Wells, where he was

accompanied by Lady Cobham, Miss Speed, and his wife. He writes to Mrs.

Montagu that he hopes she will like a long stay in the country, as its

tranquillity will not

“produce the same effect which an Admiral of my acquaintance found

from the tranquillity of his friend’s house in the country, to

which coming directly from his ship, where he had been so long

accustomed to noise and bustle as to be grown fond of it, said,

after having passed a restless night, ‘Pox on this house, ’tis so

quiet there is no sleeping in it.’”

To this letter she answers--

“Mr. Montagu has been studiously disposed ever since we came to

Sandleford, so that I pass seven or eight hours every day entirely

alone. Five months are to pass before I return to the Land of the

Living, but I can amuse myself in the regions of the dead: if it

rains so that I cannot walk in the garden, Virgil will carry me

into the Elysian fields, or Milton into Paradise.”

[Page heading: MR. TORRIANO’S MARRIAGE]

Mention is also made of Sam Torriano’s engagement to Miss Scudamore,

“who is said to have been handsome, and it was on both sides a marriage

of inclination. He has delicacy enough to make him very happy or very

miserable, and restlessness enough to be very uneasy in a state too

insipid to allow of neither.”

Mrs. Montagu might well make this remark on Torriano’s marriage, as

her friend Sir George Lyttelton’s[86] second matrimonial contract had

by mutual consent ended in a separation. In a former letter it will

be remembered that the haughty tone and unpleasant manners of the

lady were commented on. It was a case of incompatibility of temper

and thought, and a constant imagination of bad health on her part.

Lady Lyttelton was a great friend of the Wests, and from a letter of

Lyttelton’s to West of this year it is evident that a little coldness,

which did not endure long, had sprung up between West and his friend.

[86] With Miss Rich, daughter of Field-Marshal Sir Robert Rich.

[Page heading: MR. WEST ILL]

On July 8 and July 14 Sir George Lyttelton writes to Archibald Bower

a complete diary of his tour in North Wales, accompanied by “Parson

Durant and Mr. Payne.” These letters Bower gave to Mrs. Montagu. They

contain many messages to the “Madonna,” but are, though interesting,

too long to insert here. At this period West was at Tunbridge Wells,

seeking health, but depressed at the absence of Pitt, Lyttelton,

Torriano, and, above all, Mrs. Montagu; and from this letter it appears

that 1750 was the year in which they first made friends at Tunbridge.

“Where are the happy seasons of 1750, 1751, 1752, and 1753?” he cries.

“In the ‘Stone House’ are Mr. Walpole and Lady Rachel, persons with

whom I have no concern.” The only people he now consorts with are Mrs.

Vesey, to whom he talks of Mrs. Montagu, “we both love and honour you;”

and Bishop Gilbert and his daughter.[87] The Bishop of London was

expected. West laments “a difficulty of breathing, accompanied with

wheezing,” he thought asthma. “The Doctors said Hysterical as only

fit for _petticoats_!” They prescribed assafœtida, valerian, and gum

ammoniac. He laments that Torriano “has done the irrevocable deed, and

is married on £500 per annum.”

[87] Miss Gilbert became Countess of Mount Edgecumbe.

In Mrs. Montagu’s answer to West of July 13 she laments Torriano’s

marriage not only as

“the world will lose him, but as he is to lose the world, which

with all its faults is not to be entirely quitted; man and wife

should always have something to charge with their ennui, the

impertinence of society bears the blame very well, in solitude

they must accuse each other of all they suffer of it. I do not

understand why they should live in Herefordshire, unless they

are very fond of cyder, for, in my opinion, London is the best

place for people of moderate circumstances. In the country people

are respected merely according to the acres they possess, an

equipage is necessary, and company must be entertained at a great

expense.... I am afraid his friend Stillingfleet[88] has left

Herefordshire.... Last Tuesday Mr. Botham came hither, as did Dr.

Gregory,[89] an ingenious agreeable man. Miss Pitt[90] has arrived

here to my great joy, and we are to go to Hatchlands on Thursday.”

[88] Dr. Benjamin Stillingfleet, born 1702, died 1771. Author of

“Calendar of Flora,” etc., and a prominent member of the Bas Bleu

circle.

[89] Dr. John Gregory, physician and miscellaneous writer; Professor

of Philosophy at Edinburgh.

[90] Mary Pitt, sister of Mr. W. Pitt.

[Page heading: HATCHLANDS]

Hatchlands, near Guildford, belonged to Admiral Boscawen. Writing

thence to her husband Mrs. Montagu says--

“We were received by Mrs. Boscawen with the most joyful welcome, as

we found her in great spirits on account of the taking of the two

French men of war. Mr. Hoquart had been taken twice by Mr. Boscawen

in the last war, but did not surrender himself in this engagement

till 44 men were killed on board of his ship. Mr. Boscawen writes

that he lived at great expence, having 11 French officers at his

table, whom he entertains with magnificence, and there were 8

companies of soldiers on board the _Alcide_ and the _Lys_. I hope

as Admiral Holborn has joined Mr. Boscawen, we may soon hear of a

more considerable victory.... The Duke[91] declares himself well

pleased with Mr. Boscawen for his enterprise.... Mr. Boscawen was

very much concern’d that the _Dauphin_, which had stands of arms

and some silver on board, has escaped by means of a fog....”

[91] Duke of Cumberland.

On July 27, to West, is this--

“Monsieur Mirepoix[92] threatened us with _la guerre la plus

sanglante qui fut jamais_, but by his _dépit_ I imagine the French

would have been better pleased if we would have let them silently

and quietly possess themselves of the West Indies.

“I walked round the park this morning, it does not consist of many

acres, but the disposition of the ground, the fine verdure and

the plantations make it very pretty: it resembles the mistress of

it, having preserv’d its native simplicity, tho’ art and care has

improv’d and soften’d it, and made it elegant.”

She mentions a miserable inn on Bagshot Heath, which they drove over,

“situated in the middle of a dreary Heath, which has been famous for

robberies and murders. The inn has for its sign the effigies of a man

who practised this dreadful trade 40 years.”

[92] The French ambassador.

[Page heading: SHEEP LEAS]

Whilst at Hatchlands Mrs. Boscawen took her guest to Sheep Leas,

belonging to Mr. Weston, also to Sir John Evelyn’s and Mr. Hamilton’s

places. Of Sheep Leas, in a letter to Sarah, who was with Lady Barbara

at Badminton, is this description--

“The Sheep Lees consists of a most beautiful down, adorn’d with

noblest beeches, commanding a rich gay and extensive prospect,

a prodigious flock of sheep enliven the scene; it has a noble

simplicity, and one imagines it to be the abode of some Arcadian

Prince.... Our next visit was to Sir John Evelyn’s,[93] you pass

over a high hill, finely planted, at the bottom of which lies

the good old seat, which is venerable and respectable, and put

me in mind of the song of ‘the Queen’s old Courtier,’ and it

has a library of good old books, handsome apartments furnished

and fitted up just as left them by their ancestor, the Sylvan

Evelyn.[94] I cannot but own that tired of papier maché ceilings

and gilt cornices, I was glad to see an old hall such as ancient

hospitality and the plain virtues of our ancestors used to inhabit

before country gentlemen used to make fortunes in Parliament or

lose them at ‘White’s,’ hunted foxes, instead of Ministers, and

employ’d their finesse in setting partridges. The garden at Sir

John Evelyn’s is adorn’d with _jets d’eaux_ in the old style, then

you pass on to the woods, which are great and noble, and lye on

each side a fine valley.”

[93] Leigh Place.

[94] John Evelyn, born 1620, died 1706. Author of the “Sylva, or

Discourse on Forest Trees,” etc., etc.

[Page heading: PAINSHILL]

Mrs. Ann Evelyn is mentioned as deserving this habitation.

“Pray follow me to Mr. Hamilton’s:[95] I must tell you it beggars

all description, the art of hiding art is here in such sweet

perfection, that Mr. Hamilton cheats himself of praise, you thank

Nature for all you see, tho’ I am inform’d all has been reformed

by Art. In his 300 acres you have the finest lawns, a serpentine

river playing in the sweetest valley, hills finely planted, which

command charming prospects, winding walks made gay with flowers

and flowering Shrubs, part of a rude forest, sombre woods, a river

deep and still, gliding round the woods and shaded by trees that

hang over the bank, while the serpentine river open and exposed to

the sun, adorn’d with little Islands and enlivened by waterfowls,

gladdens the vallies.”

[95] Painshill.

At the end of this letter mention is made of Travile, a poor lady

originally recommended by Lady Sandwich as lady’s-maid to Mrs. Montagu.

She was dying of consumption. Three doctors had treated her, and now

Dr. Gregory put her on a diet of vegetable and asses’ milk.

Mr. Botham, writing from Albury, July 23, 1755, says--

“A Captain Cunningham past through Guildford last night express

from the Governor of Hallifax in Nova Scotia with advice that

Col. Warburton of the land forces had taken a fort at the back

of Louisbourg called Bouche, (by the bye the most material Fort

belonging to the French settlements), 500 men and 20 cannon; that

the Colonel had blocked up Louisbourg by land, and Admiral Boscawen

had done the same by sea; that the town was very bare of provisions

and must soon surrender, and the sooner as the Colonel has turned

in the 500 brethren to help to consume the faster; so that there

is great reason to suppose we shall soon be masters of Louisbourg,

and the Admiral of the 4 French men of war blocked in the Harbour.

We have taken papers of the utmost consequence, which let us into

the secret schemes of the French, which were nothing less than

a design of taking all our Plantations from us in America, and

Hallifax in the first place, was destined for destruction.”

West, writing on August 22 from Tunbridge Wells, mentions that Lady

Cobham and Harriet had left them for Stoke, Mrs. Vesey was returning

to Ireland, and the Bishop of London had just left, “but while he was

here put into my hands some sheets of a third Volume of Discourses

now printing, which, as I had the chief hand in prevailing upon him

to publish, I received as a mark of his regard for me.” The bishop

was then in very bad health. West was persuaded by the three doctors,

Duncan, Burgess, and Morley, to stay on at Tunbridge Wells.

[Page heading: READING]

In a letter to Miss Anstey, who was with her friends, Lord and Lady

Romney, at Brighthelmstone, Mrs. Montagu says that Miss Pitt had left

her to join her brother, Mr. Pitt, and Lady Hester, at Sunninghill.[96]

Mrs. Montagu accompanied her as far as Reading,

“where we dined in the garden of the inn, from whence there is a

fine gay prospect, and after dinner we walked to see the ruins of

the old Abbey, which was most delightfully situated. The river

winds about the richest meadows I ever saw; hills crowned with

woods and adorn’d by some gentlemen’s houses bound the prospect,

and make it the most soft and agreeable landscape imaginable.”

[96] Sunning Hill, at that time rising in repute for its mineral

wells.

She and Mr. Montagu were contemplating visiting Mrs. Scott and Lady Bab

Montagu at Bath Easton, “but I do not propose to leave poor Travile

as long as she continues in this life; her end draws very near.” The

invalid seems to have been most religious, and one learns that by her

request Mrs. Montagu nightly read her the Service for the Sick.

On September 26, West informs Mrs. Montagu that the Archbishop of

Canterbury[97] had written to tell him of the release of Governor

Lyttelton, who, with his sister, had been taken prisoners by the French

in the _Blandford_, which was conveying the Governor to his province,

South Carolina. This was William Henry, brother of Sir George, and

his sister Hester. The _Blandford_ was soon after this given up by

the French. Mary Pitt, writing to Mrs. Montagu, said that Governor

Lyttelton’s only loss was his wine and provisions on the _Blandford_,

he having sent most of his baggage by another ship.

[97] Rev. Dr. Thomas Herring.

Mr. Pitt was then at Bath, while Lady Hester awaited her confinement

at the Pay Office, of which Pitt was then master. Miss Pitt says, the

sudden arrival of Governor Lyttelton “has proved very fortunate for Sir

George at Bewdley,[98] where, by the Election of a Bayliff, the Borough

was gone, if his brother had not thus dropt out of the clouds to give

his vote and the turn to the scale.”

[98] Bewdley, Worcestershire.

[Page heading: MRS. SCOTT’S DAILY LIFE]

Travile becoming slightly better, Mrs. Montagu went to Bath Easton to

visit Mrs. Scott and Lady Bab Montagu. In a letter to Dr. Gilbert West,

October 16, after her return to Sandleford, the following account is

given of the life led by the two lady friends:--

“My sister rises early, and as soon as she has read prayers to

their small family, she sits down to cut out and prepare work

for 12 poor girls, whose schooling they pay for; to those whom

she finds more than ordinarily capable, she teaches writing and

arithmetic herself. The work these children are usually employed

in is making child-bed linen and clothes for poor people in the

neighbourhood, which Lady Bab Montagu and she, bestow as they

see occasion. Very early on Sunday morning these girls, with 12

little boys whom they also send to school, come to my sister and

repeat their catechism, read some chapters, have the principal

articles of their religion explained to them, and then are sent

to the parish church. These good works are often performed by the

Methodist ladies in the heat of enthusiasm, but thank God, my

sister’s is a calm and rational piety. Her conversation is lively

and easy, and she enters into all the reasonable pleasures of

Society; goes frequently to the plays, and sometimes to balls,

etc. They have a very pretty house at Bath for the winter, and one

at Bath Easton for the summer; their houses are adorned by the

ingenuity of the owners, but as their income is small, they deny

themselves unnecessary expenses. My sister[99] seems very happy; it

has pleased God to lead her to truth, by the road of affliction;

but what draws the sting of death and triumphs over the grave,

cannot fail to heal the wounds of disappointment. Lady Bab Montagu

concurs with her in all these things, and their convent, for by its

regularity it resembles one, is really a cheerful place.”

[99] Mrs. Scott described their life in her novel, “Millenium Hall,

by a _Gentleman_ on his Travels,” 1762,--as there was a popular

prejudice then against a female author. Doubtless many of the

histories are true in it.

[Page heading: MISS POCOCKE]

Writing to Sarah Scott of their safe return from Bath Easton, Mrs.

Montagu says--

“You would hardly imagine that the calm, meek Miss Pococke[100]

is as great a heroine as Thalestris, Boadicea, or any of the

termagant ladies in history. One Wednesday night, she was awaken’d

by a robber, who threw himself across her bed and demanded her

money; she started up, seized him with one hand and rang her bell

with the other, and held him till the maid came into the room,

but at last he broke from her, and by the ill-management of her

assistants made his escape. He is our late Gardener’s son, whom you

may remember a boy in the gardens, his name Moses. He attempted to

break open our house two nights before, opened the parlour sash,

but could not force the shutters, which I am glad he did not do,

for any alarm to the poor sick woman would have been a grievous

thing.”

[100] Daughter of Mrs. Pococke, of Newtown, and sister of the

bishop.

[Page heading: GARRETT WELLESLEY]

Mrs. Donnellan, in a letter from Fulham, August 28, reproached Mrs.

Montagu “for not having visited Mrs. Southwell and me, for actually

from Bagshot to her house is not quite 3 miles and a straight road....

My very near relation and friend, my Lord Mornington[101] and his

son[102] and _my godson_ young Wesley, are at London and come often to

me.”

“I shall hope to make you acquainted with them next winter; you

have known my regards to them, the son is the best creature I ever

knew of his age, his whole attention is to make his Father as happy

as he can, who is greatly hurt since the death of his daughter,

Mrs. Fortescue.[103] The young man’s behaviour to me is like a

tender child to a parent, so you may believe he must engage me; he

says he shall not think of marrying till he is of age, and assures

me I shall have a negative in his choice, you may believe he is not

likely to meet one from the ladies as his estate will be a good

ten thousand a year all within 25 miles of Dublin.... The Duke and

Duchess of Portland, and the Marquis, and young ladies have been at

D’Ewes[104] at Wellesbourne in a tour.”

Mrs. Donnellan was in very bad health at this time.

[101] Baron Mornington, cousin through the Ushers to Mrs. Donnellan.

[102] Garrett _Wesley_, or Wellesley, 1st Earl Mornington; famous

for his musical talent; father of the Duke of Wellington.

[103] Elizabeth Wesley, married in 1743, Chichester Fortescue, of

Dromisken.

[104] Mrs. D’Ewes, _née_ Granville, sister of Mrs. Delany’s.

[Page heading: HAGLEY]

Now occurs a joint letter from Mr. Bower and Sir George Lyttelton

on October 6; the first writing in Italian from Hagley. Bower calls

Hagley, “questo Paradiso ed O! Madonna che paradiso! Non v’é luogo

sulla terra più degno di tal nome.” Further on he assures her that the

first volume of the “Life of Henry II.” which Sir George was engaged

upon, should, as soon as printed, be sent to her. Sir George adds--

“Till Bower came we were very uneasy at your not writing a line to

Miss West, nor am I yet without great anxiety for fear that your

attendance on the Deathbed of your servant should hurt your health.

The goodness of your heart, most amiable Madonna, is too much for

its strength. I hope by this time your servant is releas’d from her

sufferings here, and you from the sight of them; otherwise I am

sure this melancholy office of Virtue and Friendship will cost you

dear. I do not blame your obeying the impulse of that most sweet

Nature which is all tenderness and Benevolence; but remember you

have other friends interested in your health, and for whose sake

you ought to take care of it. I have a 1000 more things to say to

you, but there is a country gentleman just come to visit me whom I

must attend, and Bower brought me his letter, so that the post is

just going out. I shall be in London at latest by 10th of November.

I need not tell you that Mr. Pitt has made Fox, Secretary of State.

After a hard struggle, I have secured my Borough of Bewdley. Adieu,

this vexatious man will have me come to him, and the post will not

wait.”

On October 15, Admiral Boscawen writes to inform Mrs. Montagu of the

birth of a daughter stillborn, but that Mrs. Boscawen was doing well.

On October 20 West writes to say that Miss Pitt

“is gone this morning to congratulate Lady Hester and her brother

on the birth of a daughter[105] of which Lady Hester after a hard

and long labour was delivered on Saturday.... Miss Pitt returns

to us after she has paid her compliments to the happy Father and

Mother, and taken an exact survey of this future fair and fine

lady.”

[105] This was Hester, who became Lady Mahon, afterwards Stanhope,

mother of the celebrated Lady Hester Stanhope.

In a letter to Mr. West of November 1, after congratulating him on the

birth of Miss Pitt, Mrs. Montagu says--

“I wish her nurse in the first place, and then her governess,

would keep a journal of all the instructions the young lady has,

and all her employments, and the world might get a better treatise

of education than any yet extant. Mr. Pope says of Voiture ‘that

trifles themselves were elegant in him,’ a moderate praise to a man

who dealt only in trifles, but Mr. Pitt mixes the elegant with the

sublime.”

[Page heading: EXPECTED INVASION]

Great fears were entertained at this time of an invasion by the French.

Mrs. Medows writes from Chute to say her brother-in-law, Sir Philip

Medows

“has with a grave face told me that in troublesome times such

places as Conhault Farm often escaped, by being unseen and out of

the way, as it possesses both these advantages, I hope we shall

have the benefit of them, and seriously offer you our retreat if

anything should happen to make you prefer it to being near a town.”

At last, Travile having breathed her last, and Parliament being

summoned, the Montagus started for London on November 10, dining that

night with Miss Anstey at her new house. Mrs. Montagu tells Mrs. Scott

that

“I find the town very busy; the men are full of Politicks, the

Ladies of the Birthday Cloaths. New Ministers and new fashions

are interesting subjects, but I hear Messrs. Legge, Pitt, and

Grenville, tho’ against the subsidy, are not to be turned out.

What gives me most concern is Mr. Boscawen’s delay; the Admiralty

do not know where he is or what he is doing, he may be gathering

laurels, but as they are a deadly plant, I could wish he was at

his inglorious fireside. I am very uneasy for the poor woman (Mrs.

Boscawen) who is still at Portsmouth, if any accident should happen

to him I should go post to her. It is thought that a certain

great, very great Dowager[106] has given some discontent to her

Father-in-law.[107] I shall call on the Marechalle D’Ancre the

first time I go out to hear what they say on the present situation

of affairs. I think between his mysteriousness and her openness one

may find out something. I don’t believe Signor Concini advised the

Dowager to offend the old gentleman. The bell is very clamorous.”

[106] Dowager Princess of Wales.

[107] George II.

This last sentence I place here, as I do not think I have mentioned

that at this period a postman was sent round with a bell to collect all

the latest letters.

[Page heading: MR. GARRICK’S PLAYHOUSE]

[Illustration:

_W. Hogarth Pinx._ _Emery Walker Ph. Sc._

_Garrick and his wife_ _from the picture in the possession of H.M. The

King._]

“There is a great bustle at Mr. Garrick’s playhouse[108] about

some dancers, though they are chiefly Germans and Swiss, the mob

considers them French, and I imagine they will be driven off the

stage, tho’ the dancers and scenery have cost Mr. Garrick an

immense sum; this evening is to decide their fate, and I imagine

that at this time there may be a very bloody engagement. I rejoice

with you on the gallant behaviour of Captain Stevens animated by

your brother, to whom L’Esperance struck to Admiral West,[109] but

I met Lord Cadogan last night at Mrs. Southwell’s, who said the

French did not strike till Mr. West came up to them.”

[108] Drury Lane rows every night. On November 15 the Galleries were

victorious over the young men of quality, who protected the dancers.

[109] Temple West.

In this letter it is stated that Admiral Boscawen had just returned.

[Page heading: THE SUBSIDIES]

On November 25, in a letter to Sarah Scott, Mrs. Montagu says--

“The House of Commons sat till after 5 o’clock in the morning on

the motion for the address, which was carried by 311 against 105,

there were many speeches made which were talk’d of in all the

drawing rooms in town; with the same cool spirit of criticism you

would hear the speeches in a new Play of Mr. Whitehead’s,[110] and

Garrick and Mrs. Cibber’s manner of speaking them examined.... I

expected to find the town full of the subsidies,[111] they are

entirely forgot and never did the publick stand by more quiet

and contented. Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt say a great many very lively

things to each other, which those who are not personally attach’d

to either hear with a great deal of pleasure. Messrs. Legge, Pitt,

and Grenville are dismiss’d, but no one positively named to succeed

them; Lord Egmont, Lord Dupplin, Mr. Doddington, and Charles

Townsend are talk’d of. Sir George Lyttelton is Chancellor of the

Exchequer, which place he was sollicited to accept. I wish the

fatigue of it may not impair his health, which is very delicate.”

[110] Paul Whitehead.

[111] Aid to be raised in supplying additional troops and seamen.

[Page heading: THE EARTHQUAKE AT LISBON]

Remarking on their friend, Miss Grinfield, being dismissed as Maid of

Honour to the Princess of Wales, Mr. Montagu writes--

“I suppose Lord B(ute)’s interest got Mrs. Ditched her place,

there is no man has such instinct for the Heir Apparent as his

Lordship. I would have him take the ‘Ich dien’ for his motto, he

serves and will serve, the hour of his ministry will never come.

I wish he would leave behind him a treatise on hope, or at least

answer Plautus who _grossièrement_ decides that hunger, thirst

and expectation are the greatest evils of human life.... The news

will tell you the sad tydings of an earthquake[112] at Lisbon,

some say a 100,000 persons were destroyed by it. The commotion

began in the Atlantick Ocean.... As to the fuss of an invasion, it

chiefly possesses those who have money in the public funds, the

state of things consider’d it appears probable. The Boom across

the Thames perhaps is to hinder such insults from the French as we

once receiv’d from the Dutch; I cannot describe it particularly to

you, not having seen it.... Lord Temple[113] very generously wrote

a letter to Mr. Pitt in polite and earnest terms to desire his

acceptance of a £1000 a year while he continues out of place.

“Voltaire, in compliance with the taste of the age, has written

a Chinese tragedy, it is called ‘L’orphelin de la Chine.’... I

have not seen Dr. Delany’s remarks on Lord Orrery’s[114] letters,

but they certainly deserved the animadversions of Dr. Swift’s

particular friend.”

[112] Took place November 1.

[113] Richard Grenville, Earl Temple, brother-in-law to Mr. Pitt.

[114] Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery, born 1703, died 1731.

Through Sir George Lyttelton’s influence, Gilbert West was reinstated

in his office at Chelsea, which from the change of parties would lapse

to the paymaster. The following letter from Sir George hints at the

trifling coolness between himself and West:--

“Hill Street, December 13, 1755.

“MY DEAR WEST,

“My endeavours to serve you, which from Lord Dupplin’s goodness

have proved successful, are indeed marks of affection, but not of

_returning_ affection. Mine for you has been constant and uniform.

What variations may have happened in yours for me I can’t tell.

Your behaviour has certainly indicated some, and I could not but

observe it. However, I can most truly assure you that one of my

greatest pleasures in my present situation has been it’s enabling

me to show you that my heart will ever be most eagerly warm in your

service. Indeed no Friend you have can more honour your vertue or

more affectionately desire your happiness than I,” etc.

The last letter of the year, December 31, to West from Mrs. Montagu,

contains this mention of Sir George Lyttelton’s son, Thomas[115]--

“Master Lyttelton paid me a visit yesterday morning, it gave me

great pleasure to find he had an air of health and strength beyond

what I had ever hoped for him; every sentence he utters shows

an understanding that is very astonishing. Mr. Torriano and Mr.

Stillingfleet came in while he was with me, the share he took in a

very grave conversation surprized them very much.”

[115] Afterwards 2nd Lord Lyttelton.

[Page heading: DEATH OF MR. WEST]

1756 begins with two letters of West’s. At the end of January he moved

to Chelsea; soon after this a stroke of the palsy brought him to the

grave on March 26.

[Page heading: MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU’S PAMPHLET]

On March 30 Mrs. Montagu writes to her sister--

“Ye 30th March.

“I imagine my dear sister would see a paragraph in the newspaper

that would excuse my not having written to her a farther account

of my poor friend, Mr. West. On the melancholy event I brought

his sister to Hill Street, where she is to stay a few days to

recover in some measure the consequences of her fatigue and the

shock her spirits have received. Mrs. West is with Lady Cobham.

She is sensible of her great loss, but says she will behave under

her affliction worthy the example of her excellent and worthy

husband, and his sentiments of resignation to the will of God, this

resolution join’d to natural good spirits and vivacity of mind,

supports her in a surprizing manner. I wish the good man could have

known she would have endured her misfortune so well, apprehensions

for her were all that disturbed the peace, I might almost say the

joy of his deathbed. Miss West went thro’ the sad duties of nursing

with great fortitude, but, she is much affected by her loss; the

Admiral[116] his brother is in deep affliction, Lady Langham[117]

finds great resources in a very extraordinary degree of piety. For

my part, tho’ I went thro’ the most melancholy scenes every day

between the sick and the afflicted, I have not suffered so much in

my health as might have been expected.... Lord Chesterfield[118]

has gone to Blackheath in a very bad state of health. The King

has had an ague but is well again.... Mr. Wortley Montagu[119]

has published a pious pamphlet titled, ‘Reflections physical and

moral upon the uncommon Phenomena in the air, water or earth which

have happened from the Earthquake at Lima, to the present time.’

I think you will send to Mr. Lake’s for it, it is written on the

Hutchinsonian[120] principles.”

[116] Temple West.

[117] West’s mother, then over seventy.

[118] The celebrated statesman, and author of the Chesterfield

“Letters” to his son.

[119] Old E. Wortley Montagu.

[120] Rev. John Hutchinson, born 1674, died 1734; author of “Moseis

Principia.”

Miss West being ordered to Bath, Mrs. Montagu gave her an introduction

to Mrs. Scott and Lady Bab Montagu, then residing in Beaufort Square.

In this letter mention is made of Miss Anstey’s death, and her not

having left a will. “Poor Mr. Anstey is not likely to survive his

sister, he has a violent fever.” We also hear of William Robinson,[121]

then recently ordained a curate at Kensington. William seems to have

been rather a _souffre douleur_ all his life, which annoyed his sister

perpetually: his harping on small worries and domestic trifles is

constantly alluded to. Mr. Botham bids him “fight a good fight, and by

diligence and spirit in his curacy to show himself worthy of a good

living.”

[121] William was the intimate friend of the poet Gray, who called

him the “Rev. Billy.”

[Page heading: DEATH OF CAPT. ROBERT ROBINSON]

A heavy affliction now fell on the sisters; early in June came the

tidings that their favourite brother Robert, the sea captain, had died

at sea. This was acutely felt by Sarah Scott, as he was her favourite

brother, probably from being nearest in age to her.

On June 24, in a letter to Mrs. Boscawen, this sad subject is touched

on--

“I know not how to reconcile myself to the loss of one of the

companions of my youth, the recollections of one’s earliest season,

the spring of life is usually pleasant and gay, but whenever it

offers itself to my mind, I cannot help asking where are those who

were my playfellows? Faith should answer, with their Maker, reason,

patience, resignation, should take place, but there is a weakness

and stubbornness too in the human habit.... My poor sister bears

her loss patiently, but it touches her heart very sorely.”

[Page heading: ADMIRAL BYNG]

Mrs. Montagu had been extremely unwell, and had spent some weeks at

Ealing Vicarage, lent to her by Mr. Botham. Dr. Shaw ordered her to

Tunbridge Wells. Mrs. Boscawen had asked for her letters to Mr. West to

be returned; Mrs. West promises to do this. At the end of the letter

one reads this--

“Mr. Montagu had just come in from the coffee-house. Mr.

Byng’s[122] expedition is unfortunate, not to say disgraceful,

instead of throwing succour into Minorca, it was agreed in the

Council of War that as there were 18,000 Frenchmen there, it would

be these men; then it was agitated whether they should engage

with the French, that was also carried in the negative; the third

question was whether they should go to take care of Gibraltar,

which was agreed on. Alas! Alas! the report to-day is that Admiral

West’s son is dead: one should lament this if we had not greater

reason to lament that the English spirit is dead. Arthur was going

to make illuminations and bonfires yesterday, and Lord Anson came

in and forbade it.”

[122] Admiral John Byng, born 1704, was shot in pursuance of the

sentence of a court-martial in 1757.

A letter to Sir George Lyttelton to Hagley in return for his

condolences runs thus--

“Your publick life will raise a high expectation of your son, it is

but just that you should give some of your private hours to qualify

him so as to answer it: his happy genius makes him worthy of such

a Preceptor.... You need but do justice to my affection for him to

give me some share of his love.”

Sir George had specially commended his son “Tom” to the “Madonna’s”

care, and they kept up a correspondence. Alas! that in future years,

despite his brilliantly intellectual qualities, and his careful

bringing up, he should almost break his father’s heart by his wild and

dissolute life. She continues--

“Most people think that Mr. Byng will have some good excuse, if not

justification, for what he has done; but however that may be, Sir

Edward Hawke[123] and Captain Saunders (now made an Admiral) are

gone to take command of the fleet.”

[123] Afterwards Lord Hawke, born 1705, died 1787.

In a letter of July 28, from Tunbridge to Mr. Montagu, one finds--

“The people at the Walks were all rejoicing poor Admiral Byng

was arrested at Portsmouth. I cannot think of him without some

compassion, a criminal is not always an object of mercy, but frail

man is ever an object of pity. People here seem to think that

a shameful death must end his shameful life. Birth and Station

bring a man into an elevated station, but do not give to him the

qualities necessary to become it.”

Lyttelton, in a letter of August 8, writes to the “Madonna,” “the

Admiral (Temple West) triumphs and pouts, and is gone to George

Grenville’s[124] with Jenny Grenville. He blames Byng, though

unwillingly, because he would rather condemn those that sent him.”

[124] George Grenville, born 1712, died 1770; became 1st Lord of the

Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, time of George III.

In another letter is--

“Dr. Shaw tells me that the mob at Portsmouth would not suffer Mr.

Byng to be brought away, lest he should escape punishment. It is

said that Mr. Boscawen has taken a great number of Martinico ships,

and that part of the Brest squadron have got out, and gone to join

M. Galissionière.[125] Mr. Bower’s affidavit has had a very good

effect. I hope Mr. Millar has got some of them to distribute among

his friends in the country. I am sure his good heart will rejoice

to see innocence re-instated in reputation.”

[125] The French Admiral.

[Page heading: MR. BOWER’S ENEMIES]

Bower’s enemies had set about many evil reports of him at that period,

and Mr. Hooke had specially warned Mrs. Montagu against Bower, but she

refused to give up her friendship with one who had been introduced

to her by the saintly Gilbert West, and was the intimate friend of

Lyttelton. Bower’s change in religion from Roman Catholicism to

Protestantism exposed him to all the virulence of the priests, who in

revenge formulated all sorts of charges against him.

Mrs. Montagu now took a house on Mount Ephraim at Tunbridge Wells,

leaving Mr. Montagu in London, from whence he went to Sandleford. She

requiring wine, he sends her, from a “new wine merchant,” Madeira,

port, and claret.

[Page heading: MR. DAVID HUME]

At Tunbridge mention is made of David Hume[126] and his wife, who were

there, the latter in bad health: “I remember her twenty years ago as a

fine woman, though swarthy, but she is now a most melancholy object.”

[126] David Hume, born 1711, died 1776; philosopher and historian.

Writing to her husband at Sandleford, she says--

“Dr. Smith inquired after you this morning, he is much pleased with

your present of Dr. Barrow’s[127] bust to the Library.[128]...

He is angry with Mrs. Middleton for being so tardy as to Dr.

Middleton’s bust, at which, I own, I am a little offended.... All

the people here are impatient for the tryal of Mr. Byng. They say

he was surprised at the reception, tho’ he had so much reason to

expect the treatment he has found. Sir William Milner and his Lady

are here, they are people of considerable fortune in Yorkshire,

they seem very good-natured and obliging.”

[127] The Rev. Dr. Isaac Barrow, born 1630, died 1677; eminent

scholar and mathematician; preceptor of Sir Isaac Newton; Master of

Trinity College, Cambridge. The bust is by Roubilliac.

[128] The library of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Mention is made of Miss Dashwood[129] being at Tunbridge, much gone

off in looks: “Miss Dashwood dined with me yesterday. This place must

appear as melancholy to a lady who has formerly been a reigning beauty,

and is on the decline, as the coronation of an usurper to a dethroned

Prince!”

[129] The “Delia” of Hammond.

[Page heading: MR. MORRIS ROBINSON’S MARRIAGE]

During this summer Morris Robinson, Mrs. Montagu’s third brother,

married Miss Jane Greenland, daughter of John Greenland, of Lovelace,

Co. Kent, who was the eldest son of Augustine Greenland, of Belle Vue,

Kent. Her mother was Jane Weller, of Kingsgate House, Rolveden, Kent,

of a good family. Mrs. Montagu did not like the marriage, though she

finally adopted their second son, her nephew,[130] Matthew Robinson,

and made him take the name of Montagu. There never was any cordiality

between the sisters-in-law. Mrs. Morris Robinson was a violent-tempered

woman, and, despite her good birth, very illiterate, which, to a person

like her sister-in-law, was extremely annoying, the more so as Morris

was one of her favourite brothers, and extremely clever. As mentioned

before, he belonged to the Six Clerks’ office, and managed both the

legal affairs of the Duke of Montagu and Mr. Montagu.

[130] Succeeded his elder brother Morris as 4th Baron Rokeby in

1829.

Writing from Hagley[131] on August 11, Miss West gives an account of

her brave young nephew, who had been wounded, not killed, as at first

reported--

“My nephew[132] is at Portsmouth, not being able to bear

travelling. He has been in danger from his wound, it beginning to

mortify, but he is now in a fair way of recovery. He has shown a

spirit suited to his profession, and to the grandson of Admiral

John Balchen,[133] for when his Father proposed to send him on

board a frigate, with Byng’s nephew, who was ordered to leave my

brother’s ship by his uncle, Admiral Byng, before the engagement

began, being, like my nephew, too young to be of use. My nephew

remonstrated very strongly, ‘that Mr. Byng was only a passenger,

but he belonged to the ship he was in, and therefore it would be

such a disgrace that he could never show his head again, should

he quit it at such a juncture:’ this joined to lamentation and

importunity prevailed; when he received his wound his Father

ran to pick him up and said, ‘I hope you are not much hurt?’ ‘I

believe I am killed, but pray don’t mind me, Papa,’ answered the

poor fellow.... Hagley is now blessed with its master, who came on

Monday last with good health, looks and spirits. I was glad to see

him accompanied by Stillingfleet, so worthy a man deserves such a

countenance, and he is so unexceptionable that no censure can arise

from any favours confer’d on him.”

[131] Sir George Lyttelton’s place in Worcestershire.

[132] Son of Temple West.

[133] Admiral Sir John Balchen, born 1669, died 1744.

[Page heading: MATTHEW ROBINSON’S ECCENTRICITIES]

Sarah Scott at this time had a dangerous fever at Clifton, where she

and Lady Bab had gone to drink the waters. Writing to her, Mrs. Montagu

remarks upon the growing eccentricities of their brother Matthew,[134]

who lived upon almost raw meat, and never touched bread at all,

considering corn as exotic, and therefore diminishing British trade, at

the same time avoiding sugar for the same reason, substituting honey

for it.

[134] Afterwards 2nd Baron Rokeby.

He lived in the plainest, simplest manner himself, but was mighty

hospitable to all who came to Horton. He gradually pulled down the many

walled gardens round the house, as well as hedges, and threw the whole

of his grounds into one large park, where his cattle roamed at will.

He dressed plainly, and allowed his beard (then an unusual hirsute

ornament) to grow; but as Sir Egerton Brydges,[135] who eventually

became his nephew by marriage, remarks, “he carried his hatred of

artificialities through everything.... He was the reverse of his

Father, who was never happy out of the high and polished society and

clubs of London, and thought a country life a perfect misery.” Matthew

was, however, greatly esteemed by his neighbours and constituents, was

a great reader, and wrote some clever political pamphlets.

[135] From Sir Egerton Brydges’ “Biography,” _vide_ vol. ii. p. 2.

Sir Egerton married for second wife, Mary Robinson, niece of

Matthew, daughter of Rev. William Robinson.

[Page heading: MR. PITT BUYS HAYES]

Mr. Pitt had taken such a fancy to Hayes since Mrs. Montagu had lent

him her house there, that he bought it soon after her tenancy expired,

as will be seen by this passage in a letter of Bower’s to Mrs. Montagu--

“Mr. Pitt is doing great things at Hayes, he has bought the house,

and the house hard by, and some fields. He has built a wall towards

the public road 13 feet high. He intends to pull down the old

house, and build another in the middle of the garden. His neighbour

Elly asks an exorbitant price for his house, £500.”

Mary Pitt, writing from Hayes on September 16, mentions she is leaving

to go to Howberry to the Nedhams,[136] in order to make room for

Lady Hester’s extra attendants, as Lady Hester was expecting her

confinement. Mrs. Montagu went for ten days to Bath Easton to see

Mrs. Scott. Lord Lyttelton, writing to Mrs. Montagu on October 23, to

enquire as to her health and Mrs. Scott’s, says--

“Mr. Fox[137] has determined to lay down the seals, because he says

he has not support or credit sufficient to carry on the King’s

business in the House of Commons, and Mr. Pitt will not take them

under the Duke of Newcastle. What will be the consequence of all

this I can’t tell, my fears are great for the publick, for myself

I have none in any event: the worst that can happen to me is to

remain in the office I am in under the Duke of Newcastle, but I

will remain for the same sense of honour and duty upon which I came

into it, if the King and his Grace shall determine to stand the

attacks made upon them. How happy are Mr. Stillingfleet and Mr.

Torriano to enjoy the Madonna’s conversation, instead of hearing

the nonsensical speculations of the town.... Little Tom is quite

well and desires his best compliments. I am charmed with his sister

upon my acquaintance with her during her week’s stay at Hagley.

To make her as perfect as I could wish she wants nothing but the

society of the Madonna.”

This was his little daughter Lucy,[138] afterwards Lady Valentia.

She appears to have been brought up at first by the Fortescues, her

mother’s family.

[136] Mrs. Nedham was her married sister.

[137] Henry Fox, 1st Lord Holland, born 1705, died 1774.

[138] About ten years old then.

[Page heading: VISCOUNT PITT’S BIRTH]

On November 4 Mary Pitt writes from Howberry, “I thank you for your

congratulations on the birth of my nephew, he seems to give prodigious

satisfaction at Hayes.” This was John Pitt, afterwards Viscount Pitt;

he was born on October 9.

On November 6 Admiral Boscawen wrote from the Admiralty Office to Mrs.

Montagu, then at Sandleford--

“Last week the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Fox resigned, and the

following are those that come in:--the Duke of Devonshire, Mr.

Legge, Mr. Nugent, Lord Duncannon and Mr. James Grenville for the

Treasury; Lord Temple, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. West, Mr. Thomas Pitt, Dr.

Hay, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Elliot of Scotland for the Admiralty; Lord

Bateman, Treasurer of the household, Mr. Edgecumbe, Comptroller of

the Household, Lord Berkeley, the band of pensioners, Mr. George

Grenville, Treasurer of the Navy, Sir Richard Lyttelton,[139] the

jewel office: these have all kissed hands. Mr. Pitt having the

gout at Wickham is not yet Secretary of State. Mr. Amyand is to be

a Commissioner of the Customs, Sir G. Lyttelton and Lord Hillsbury

have both kissed hands for peerages.”

[139] Brother of Sir George, married the Dowager Duchess of

Bridgewater.

[Page heading: LORD LYTTELTON]

On November 19 Charles Lyttelton, Dean of Exeter, afterwards Bishop

of Carlisle, wrote an almost similar account of the new Ministry, and

said--

“Mr. Pitt was in his bed at Hayes with a sharp attack of gout in

his feet; as soon as he is able to get abroad he will kiss hands

as Secretary of State.... Sir George’s patent for a peerage is

making out, which the King granted him in the most gracious manner,

which is a solid consolation to him for loss of so considerable

employment.”

On November 16 Mrs. Montagu writes to Lord Lyttelton from Sandleford--

“MY LORD,

“I think you should have written me a letter of congratulation on

Sir George Lyttelton’s being made a peer: who can feel more joy for

any honour, virtue, etc., he obtains? We congratulate our friends

on the most transient prosperity, but this peerage is a most solid

and lasting advantage, happily timed and accompanied with such

agreeable circumstances, on which I reflect with so much sincere

satisfaction.... I imagine when you take your seat in the House

of Peers, the ghost of Henry II.[140] will claim his seat in the

Temple of Fame near the Heroes, recorded by Livy and the great

Historians of Antiquity, assuring them that your Lordship is making

out his Patent for Eternal Fame.”

[140] Alluding to Lord Lyttelton’s “History of Henry II.”

[Illustration: GEORGE, LORD LYTTELTON.]

To this Lyttelton replies--

“Hill Street, November 18, 1756.

“MADAM,

“Whatever advantages there may be in a peerage, which you set

forth with an eloquence peculiar to yourself, mine has given me no

greater pleasure than your most obliging congratulations.” He then

alludes to his principal pleasure being the advantage to his son,

whose talents he praises, and continues, “An early acquaintance and

intimacy with the Madonna will be a further advantage to him, if

she will be so good as to favour him with it, which will form his

mind to all that is worthy and noble, and make him amends for the

loss of a Mother whose instructions she alone can ever supply.”

Sarah Scott’s husband, George Lewis Scott, was now made a Commissioner

of the Excise. Writing on Christmas Day to Mrs. Montagu, Sarah says

about this--

“Lady Car Fox[141] told Lady Bab that to her certain knowledge the

Prince of Wales[142] had desired he might not be placed about him,

but unless he has committed some very heinous offence against Lord

B(ute) I make no doubt of the Princess[143] providing for him, as

the contrary would be unparalleled, and not to her honour.”

[141] Daughter of Charles, 2nd Duke of Richmond.

[142] Afterwards George III.

[143] Widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales.

[Page heading: ADMIRAL BYNG]

The letters for the year wind up with one from Sam Torriano, of

November 13. It begins--

“MADAM,

“If the brave and victorious Admiral Byng should be so lucky as to

meet with so tender an advocate for him as you have been for me,

he stands a good chance of an easy death,[144] and so the mob will

be disappointed, who now wish that everybody may be hanged but

himself....”

[144] Admiral Byng was shot on his own ship, March 14, 1757.

[Page heading: DR. MESSENGER MONSEY]

Further he alludes to Pitt being laid up with gout at Hayes, “a legacy

you left him,” alluding to her formerly owning Pitt’s residence at

that place. Then he mentions Stillingfleet having been staying at

Sandleford, and says, “Monsey swears he will make out some story of you

and him before you are much older; you shall not keep blew stockings at

Sandleford for nothing.” This is the first allusion to blue stockings,

but that Stillingfleet’s wearing blue stockings gave the name to the

coterie entirely, must be false. He was, however, a very learned man,

especially upon botany. In later letters allusion is made to his having

left off wearing blue stockings! The coterie of friends probably was

named thus after the famous _bas bleu_ assemblies of Paris, held in

the _salons_ of Madame de Polignac in the Rue St. Honoré, where the

wearing of blue stockings was the rage: but Dr. Monsey is mentioned for

the first time here. Dr. Messenger Monsey was the son of a clergyman;

he was born in 1698, so was fifty-eight years old at this date. He

was a doctor and surgeon, and became private physician to the Earl of

Godolphin, and afterwards physician to Chelsea Hospital. He was most

eccentric, and, if his portrait at the Soane Museum was like him,

hideous in appearance; but he had a coarse rough-and-tumble wit, and

evidently was so droll in manner, that he became a sort of pet buffoon

of the Montagu and Lyttelton circle. His letters are interminably

long; written in such small though neat writing, a magnifying glass

is required for careful perusal. He was at this time a widower, with

one married daughter, Charlotte, whose husband, William Alexander,

was elder brother to the 1st Earl of Caledon. Mrs. Alexander had one

child, a daughter, Jemima, who married the Rev. Edmund Rolfe, and was

mother eventually of the 1st Baron Cranworth. Monsey’s letters are so

coarse one can hardly imagine the _bas bleus_ putting up with them.

Dr. Monsey begged Dr. Cruickshank, in case of his dying away from his

own doctor (Dr. Forster), to dissect his body before the students,

set up his skeleton for instruction, and put his flesh in a box and

throw it into the Thames. He must either have been very swarthy, or

disliked soap and water, as Torriano, in allusion to Monsey’s threat

of inventing a story about Stillingfleet and Mrs. Montagu, says, “Your

fame, which was as fair as Dian’s visage, will be soon black and

begrim’d like the Doctor’s own face!”

[Page heading: EMIN]

During this year Mrs. Montagu had also formed an acquaintance with an

Armenian named Joseph Ameen, or Emin. He was the son of a merchant, and

born at Hamadan, whither his father had been carried captive by the

Persians. His father at last escaped to Calcutta, after being slave to

Kouli Khan for many years. The Persians, ever since 1604, under Shah

Abbas, had frequently made inroads into Armenia, captured the majority

of the inhabitants, and carried them away as slaves into Persia. Emin

grew up with a passionate desire to free his country from oppression

and the yoke of unbelievers, for the Armenians were then, as now,

Christians. Emin says of his father in a letter to his patron, the Earl

of Northumberland[145]--

“My Father taught me like other Armenians only to write and read

in our own language, and to get Psalms by heart to sing in Church,

but he did not show me how to handle arms to fight for that Church,

as my Uncle did who was killed at his Church door, nor anything to

kindle up my heart to understand great affairs.”

[145] Hugh Smithson, the 15th Earl, made Duke of Northumberland in

1766; born 1714, died 1786.

[Page heading: EMIN’S TROUBLES]

[Page heading: EMIN’S FORTUNES]

Burning to learn “the art of war” as practised by the British soldiers

in India, and his father opposing him, Emin determined on flight to

England, and, taking what money he possessed, he “kissed the feet of

Capt. Fox of the ship _Walpole_ a hundred times to let me work[146]

my passage to Europe before he would heed to me, but he did at last

admit me, and I came to England with much labour.” Arrived in England,

he entered Mr. Middleton’s Academy, and was first a scholar, and

then, when his money was exhausted, worked there as a servant for his

learning. His master becoming bankrupt, Emin lost his all, and was

reduced to the streets. At last he obtained service with a Mr. Rogers,

a grocer, as porter. “In this time I carried burthens of near 200 lbs.

upon my back, and paid out of my wages to learn geometry, complete my

writing, and learn a little French.” Overstraining himself, he could no

longer carry such heavy burthens, and was reduced to living on 1½_d._

a day, but a friend recommended him to a Mr. Webster, an attorney in

Cheapside, with whom he got work for a time. His uncle sent £60 to

Governor Davis to take Emin home to India, but after a while, meeting

“by chance some gentlemen[147] who encouraged me and lent me books, and

advised me to kiss Colonel Dingley’s hands and show him my business, he

was a brave soldier, took me by the hand, spoke to his own Sergeant, an

honest man, to teach me Manuel Exercise, and gave me ‘Bland’s Military

Discipline’ and promised to help me learn gunnery and fortification.”

Unfortunately Colonel Dingley died, and Emin, in despair, and by the

advice of the gentlemen mentioned before, who appear from the letters

to have been a Calcutta lawyer and Edmund Burke, applied to the Earl

of Northumberland in a long letter, passages of which I have quoted.

Emin proposes that his lordship should apply to Governor Davis for some

of the money his uncle had sent to pay for his passage back to India to

enable him (Emin) to join the “black Armenians in the mountains, as I

heard they had never been conquered,” to teach him the art of war. The

Earl of Northumberland at last--after Emin waiting at his house often

from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.!--took notice of him, and sent his servant to

fetch him to see him, and on hearing his story, said, “Ameen, it is

very hard to live in this country without friends and without money,

almost four years, therefore the Lord is with you, be contented, I will

from this time provide and furnish you with all necessaries,” and,

said he, “I will mediate to the son of our King, and after you have

learned the art of war, I will send you to your Father and your Uncles:

the noble lady[148] comforted me also likewise.” Lord Northumberland

introduced Emin to Sir Charles Stanhope,[149] and he in turn to Lord

Cathcart,[150] who gave him great encouragement. Lord Northumberland

now introduced him to the Duke of Cumberland, who henceforth took an

interest in him. Emin applied for military service in a long letter to

Heraclius II., King of Georgia and Armenia, who was anxious to shake

off the yoke of the Persians, but evidently the reply was delayed, and

the next we hear of him is that he had been sent to Woolwich Academy,

“to Mr. Heaton’s on Church Hill,” to learn the “art of war.” Having

effected a reconciliation with his father, it is interesting to read

what presents he desired him to send this noble patron, the Earl of

Northumberland--

“Send to my protector Nobleman, spices of the finest Pulam of

Radnagar, 2 pieces of the finest Mul-mul, and 2 pieces of Madras

red handkerchiefs, 2 pieces of Cuzombzar Silk handkerchiefs to be

ornamented at both ends at Dacca.”

[146] The passage took from February 3 (from Hoogley) to December

14,--ten months!

[147] The gentlemen were a Calcutta lawyer, Emin, or Joseph Ameen,

and Edmund Burke, who at once protected Emin.

[148] Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of Algernon Seymour, Duke

of Somerset.

[149] Sir Charles Stanhope, died 1759.

[150] 9th Lord Cathcart, aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland,

etc., etc.

So ends 1756.

[Year: 1757]

[Page heading: “MY QUEEN OF SHEBA”]

On May 10, 1757, Emin writes from Woolwich to implore Mrs. Montagu

to use her influence with her brother-in-law, Mr. Medows, who was

intimate with the Duke of Marlborough, to get him a commission in the

Royal Artillery, in order to enable him to join the British army then

fighting to defend Hanover, and assist the King of Prussia against the

inroads of the French.

This letter, speaking of Mrs. Montagu, addresses her as “My Queen of

Sheba,” and alludes to all “the noble ladies of her circle,” and Dr.

Monsey as “my honest, dear Dr. Monsey.”

From a letter printed in my grandfather’s collection of his aunt’s

letters, dated March 8, 1757, but which I do not possess, Mrs.

Montagu writes to Dr. Monsey, then at Gog Magog, Lord Godolphin’s

Cambridgeshire seat--

“DEAR DOCTOR,

“That is because you have made me well! Dear Sir, because you make

me laugh!”

In this letter, too long to insert here, she says “there have been

great efforts to save Mr. Byng.” She says Stillingfleet had left off

his blue stockings, and was at gay operas and assemblies each night.

[Page heading: THE WINDSOR ELECTION]

From Windsor Castle, where Lady Sandwich had been granted apartments,

and was living with her sister, Miss Fane, this interesting letter from

Mrs. Montagu, who was on a visit there, is dated--

“Windsor Castle, Friday.

“MY DEAREST,

“I know you will be curious to hear how the famous election has

been carried at Windsor, and the greatest pleasure I can have

is to impart any to you. Mr. Fox[151] had a majority of 52, the

Mayor, who is Mr. Bowles’ friend, owns he had a legal majority of

nine. The boxers and the bruisers Mr. Fox had on his side beat the

Windsor mob out of the Field, but they had once the courage to

attack Mr. Fox’s person, and pulled off his wig, and threw it in

his face. In short the affair has been very tumultuous. The town

is quiet, none are actually dead, but four or five are dangerously

ill, and the Doctors and Apothecarys had a great harvest of bruises

and fractures.... The ladies wore party gowns, Fox’s is partly

yellow and green, and the others blue; our sex have a wise way of

expressing their political principles.”

[151] Henry Fox, born 1705, died 1774; afterwards Baron Holland.

On June 28, being returned to Sandleford, writing to Mr. Montagu, she

mentions--

“The poor are very riotous on Market days, and it was rumoured, as

I am told, that you had some corn in the granary,[152] and also

the same of Mr. Herbert,[153] at which they were very angry; but

I hope they will patiently wait its going to Market, for there is

still a great while to Harvest. Corn fell last week, and bears but

8_s._ 6_d._ a bushell, but gin and idleness give the poor a riotous

and licentious spirit.... Lady Sandwich has got a very pretty

habitation in the Castle, we went into the little park in the

evening, that and all I saw of the environs of Windsor delighted me

extreamly.”

[152] There was a great dearth of corn at this period, and a bill

had to be passed prohibiting exportation.

[153] Mr. Herbert, of Highclere.

Mr. Montagu thanked his wife on July 10 for telling him about the

election, and says, “I hear it cost him (Mr. Fox) £3000, that he gave

£50 apiece for many of his votes, and carried it by 31.”

[Page heading: DR. STILLINGFLEET]

The first letter of Dr. Stillingfleet’s[154] I possess is written on

July 23 to Mrs. Montagu. His handwriting is clear, but he always uses a

small “i” alone instead of a capital “I,” except at the beginning of a

sentence. Portions I copy--

“I have been at Malvern about twelve days, where with difficulty i

have got a lodging, the place is so very full, nor do i wonder at

it, there being some instances of very extraordinary cures in cases

looked on as desperate, even by Dr. Wall,[155] the Physician, who

first brought the waters into vogue. I do not doubt but that the

air and exercise, which at present is absolutely necessary here,

the Well being at over two miles[156] from the town, contribute

very much towards restoring the health of the patients. The road

is very fine, and made on purpose for the drinkers. It is on the

side of a hill, which i am told is found by exact mensuration in

some part to be half a mile perpendicularly high, above a wide

plain that lies at the bottom. Towards the well the road ascends

considerably, so that i imagine the end of it is not much less

than halfway up to the top. A gentleman in the neighbourhood has,

at his own expense, made a walk a little above the well; this walk

runs on a level for about 600 yards, winding with the breaks of the

hill, and makes the noblest terrace i ever saw, the plain over

which you look being bounded by some fine hills, and on it, lying

on one side, Worcester, on the other Gloucester. The hill is fed

with sheep, here and there some cattle graze, overhead I see my

favourite bird, the Kite, sailing, and all the while i tread on

porphyry, the consciousness of which, you may guess, adds not a

little to my satisfaction, when i consider that Princes are proud

to have a few pillars of this material.... The town lies high on

the side of the hill, and still on Porphyry. The church, which

stands a little lower, was a Priory.... Not far below the Church is

a spring of the same nature with that of Tunbridge.... I wish this

place was nearer to London, for it seems exactly adapted to do you

good.... There is a subscription going forward for building a large

lodging-house near the Well. At present there is only one old house

in the town, turned entirely to that purpose, which contains about

fifteen persons, and one large room in it, where once a week there

is a sort of public breakfast and dinner. We have had one public

tea-drinking and card-playing in the afternoon, by particular

invitation; to-day it will begin on another footing, and is to be

weekly.”

[154] Dr. Benjamin Stillingfleet, born 1702, died 1771. Wrote

“Calendar of Flora,” etc., etc.