I endeavoured to give our antiquaries a little wrench towards
taste--but it was in vain. Sandby and our engravers have lent
them a great deal--but there it stops. Captain Grose's
dissertations are as dull and silly as if they were written for
the Ostrogoth maps of the beginning of the new Topography: and
which are so square and incomprehensible, that they look as if
they were ichnographics of the New Jerusalem. I am delighted
with having done with the professions of author and printer, and
intend to be most comfortably lazy, I was going to say idle (but
that would not be new) for the rest of my days.
If there was a peace, I would build my offices--if there is not
soon, we shall be bankrupt--nay, I do not know what may happen as
it is. Well! Mr. Grose will have plenty of ruins to engrave!
The Royal Academy will make a fine mass, with what remains of old
Somerset-house.
Adieu! my good Sir. Let me know you are well. You want nothing
else, for you can always amuse Yourself, and do not let the
foolish world disturb you. Yours most sincerely.
(401) The Hon. Daines Barrington, fourth son of John first
Viscount Barrington, second Justice of Chester, and author of
"Observations on the Statutes," etc. He was eminent in natural
history, and in several branches of literature; and died in
1800.-E.
Letter 203 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Berkeley Square, Nov. 30, 1780. (page 260)
I am sorry, my dear Sir, that you should be so humble with me,
your ancient friend, and to whom you have ever been so liberal,
as to make an apology for desiring me to grant the request of
another person. I am not less sorry that I shall not, I fear, be
able to comply with it; and you must have the patience to hear my
reason,,-,. The first edition of the Anecdotes was of three
hundred, of the two first volumes; and of as many of the third
volume, and of the volume of Engravers. Then there was an
edition of three hundred of all four. Unluckily, I did not keep
any number back of the two first volumes, and literally have none
but those I reserved for myself. Of the other two I have two or
three: and, I believe, I have a first, but without the cuts. If
I can,.with some odd volumes that I kept for corrections, make
out a decent set, the library of the University shall have them;
but you must not promise them, lest I should not be able to
perform.
Of my new fourth volume I printed six hundred; but as they can be
had, I believe not a third part is sold. This is a very plain
lesson to me, that my editions sell for their curiosity, and not
for any merit in them: and so they would if I printed Mother
Goose's Tales, and but a few. As my Anecdotes of Painting have
been published at such distant periods, and in three divisions,
complete sets will be seldom seen; so, If I am humbled as an
author, I may be vain as a printer; and, when one has nothing
else to be vain of, it is certainly very little worth while to be
proud of that.
I will now trust you with a secret, but beg Mr. Gough may not
know it, for he will print it directly. Though I forgot Alma
Mater, I have not forgotten my Alma Nutrices, wet or dry, I mean
Eton and King's. I have laid aside for them, and left them in my
will, as complete a set as I could, of all I have printed. A few
I did give them at first; but I have for neither a perfect set of
the Anecdotes, I mean not the two first volumes. I should be
much obliged to you, if, without naming me, you could inform
yourself if I did send to King'S those two first volumes--I
believe not. '
I will now explain what I said above of Mr. Gough. He has
learnt, I suppose from my engravers, that I have had some views
of Strawberry-hill engraved. Slap-dash, down it went, and he has
even specified each view in his second volume. This curiosity is
a little impertinent; but he has made me some amends by a new
blunder, for he says they are engraved for a second edition of my
Catalogue. Now I have certainly printed but one edition, for
which the prints are designed. He says truly, that I printed but
a few for use; consequently, I by no means wished the whole world
should know it; but he is silly, and so I will say no more about
him. Dr. Lort called yesterday, and asked if I had any message
for you; but I had written too lately.
Mr. Pennant has been, as I think I told you, in town: by this
time I conclude he is, as Lady Townley says of fifty pounds, all
over the kingdom. When Dr. Lort returns, I shall be very glad to
read your transcript of Wolsey's Letters; for, in your hand, I
can read them. I will not have them but by some very safe
conveyance, and will return them with equal care.
I can have no objection to Robin Masters being wooden-head of the
Antiquarian Society; but, I suppose, he is not dignified enough
for them. I should prefer the Judge too, because a coif makes
him more like an old woman, and I reckon that Society the
midwives of superannuated miscarriages. I am grieved for the
return of your headaches--I doubt you write too much. Yours most
sincerely.
P. S. It will be civil to tell Dr. Farmer that I do not know
whether I can obey his commands , but that I will if I can. As
to a distinguished place, I beg not to be preferred to much
better authors; nay, the more conspicuous, the more likely to be
stolen for the reasons I have given you, of there being few
complete sets, and true collectors are mighty apt to steal.
Letter 204 To Sir David Dalrymple.(402)
Dec. 11, 1780. (page 261)
I should have been shamefully ungrateful, Sir, if I could ever
forget all the favours I have received from you, and had omitted
any mark of respect to you that it was in my power to show.
Indeed, what you are so good as to thank me for was a poor
trifle, but it was all I had or shall have of the kind. It was
imperfect too, as some painters Of name have died since it was
printed, which was nine years ago. They will be added with your
kind notices, should I live, which is not probable, to see a new
edition wanted. Sixty-three years, and a great deal of illness,
are too speaking mementos not to be attended to; and when the
public has been more indulgent than one had any right to expect,
it is not decent to load it with one's dotage.
I believe, Sir, that I may have been over-candid to Hogarth, and
fail his spirit and youth and talent may have hurried him into
more real caricatures than I specified . yet he certainly
restrained his bent that way pretty early. Charteris(403) I have
seen; but though Some years older than you, Sir, I cannot say I
have at all a perfect idea of him: nor did I ever hear the
curious anecdote you tell me of ' the banker and my father. I
was much better acquainted with bishop Blackbourne. He lived
within two doors of my father in Downing Street, and took much
notice of me when I was near man. It is not to be ungrateful and
asperse him, but to amuse you, if I give you some account of him
from what I remember.(404) He was perfectly a fine gentleman to
the last, to eighty-four; his favourite author was Waller, whom
he frequently quoted. In point of decorum, he was not quite so
exact as you have been told, Sir. I often dined with him, his
mistress, Mrs. Conwys, sat at the head of the table, and
Hayter,(405) his natural son by another woman, and very like him,
at the bottom, as chaplain: he was afterwards Bishop of London.
I have heard, but do not affirm it, that Mrs. Blackbourne, before
she died, complained of Mrs. Conwys being brought under the same
roof. To his clergy he was, I have heard, very imperious. One
story I recollect, which showed how much he was a man of this
world: and which the Queen herself repeated to my father. On the
King's last journey to Hanover, before Lady Yarmouth came over,
the Archbishop being With her Majesty, said to her, "Madam, I
have been with your minister Walpole, and he tells me that you
are a wise woman, and do not mind your husband's having a
mistress." He was a little hurt at not being raised to
Canterbury on Wake's death, and said to my father, "You did not
think on me: but it is true, I am too old, I am too old."
Perhaps, Sir, these are gossiping stories, but at least they hurt
nobody now.
I can say little, Sir, for my stupidity or forgetfulness about
Hogarth's poetry, which I still am not sure I ever heard, though
I knew him so well; but it is an additional argument for my
distrusting myself, if my memory fails, which is very possible.
A whole volume of Richardson's poetry has been published since my
volume was printed, not much to the honour of his muse, but
exceedingly so to that of his piety and amiable heart. You will
be pleased, too, Sir, with a story Lord Chesterfield told me (too
late too) of Jervas, who piqued himself on the reverse, on total
infidelity. One day that he had talked very indecently in that
strain, Dr. Arbuthnot, who was as devout as Richardson, said to
him, "Come, Jervas, this is all an air and affectation; nobody is
a sounder believer than you." "I!" said Jervase, "I believe
nothing." "Yes, but you do," replied the Doctor; "nay, you not
only believe, but practise: you are so scrupulous an observer of
the commandments, that you never make the likeness of any thing
that is in heaven, or on the earth beneath, or," etc.
I fear, Sir, this letter is too long for thanks, and that I have
been proving what I have said, of my growing superannuated; but,
having made my will in my last volume, you may look on this as a
codicil.
P. S. I had sealed my letter, Sir, but break it open, lest you
should think soon, that I do not know what I say, or break my
resolution lightly. I shall be able to send you in about two
months a very curious work that I am going to print, and is
actually in the press; but there is not a syllable of my writing
in it. It is a discovery just made of two very ancient
manuscripts, copies of which were found in two or three libraries
in Germany, and of which there are more complete manuscripts at
Cambridge. They are of the eleventh century at longest, and
prove that painting in oil was then known, above three hundred
years before the pretended invention of Van Dyck. The
manuscripts themselves will be printed, with a full introductory
Dissertation by the discoverer, Mr. Raspe, a very learned German.
formerly librarian to the Landgrave of Hesse, and who writes
English surprisingly well. The manuscripts are in the most
barbarous monkish Latin, and are much such works as our
booksellers publish of receipts for mixing colours, varnishes,
etc. One of the authors, who calls himself Theophilus, was a
monk; the other, Heraclitis, is totally unknown; but the proofs
are Unquestionable. As my press is out of order, and that
besides it would take up too much time to print them there, they
will be printed here at my expense, and if there is any surplus,
it will be for Raspe's benefit.
(402) Now first collected.
(403) The notorious Colonel Francis Charteris, to whom Hogarth
has accorded a conspicuous place in the first plate of his
Harlot's Progress. Pope describes him as "a man infamous for all
manner of vices," and thus introduces him into his third Moral
Essay:--
"Riches in effect,
No grace of Heaven, or token of th' Elect;
Given to the fool, the mad, the vain, the evil,
To Ward, to Waters, Chartres, and the devil!"
He died in Scotland, in 1731, at the age of sixty-two. The
populace, at his funeral, raised a great riot, almost tore the
body out of the coffin, and cast dead dogs, etc. into the grave
along with it.-E.
(404) See the note to vol. i. p. 314, letter 101.-E.
(405) For a refutation of Walpole's assertion, that Bishop Hayter
was a natural son of bishop Blackbourn's, see vol. ii. p. 100,
letter 39.-E.
Letter 205 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Berkeley Square, Dec. 19, 1780. (page 263)
I cannot leave you for a moment in error, my good Sir, when you
transfer a compliment to me, to which I have not the most slender
claim, and defraud another of it to whom it is due.
The friend of Mr. Gray, in whom authorship caused no jealousy or
variance, as Mr. Mainwaring says truly, is Mr. Mason. I
certainly never excelled in poetry, and never attempted the
species of poetry alluded to, odes. Dr. Lort, I suppose, is
removing to a living or a prebend, at least; I hope so. He may
run a risk if he carries his book to Lambeth. "Sono sonate venti
tre ore e mezza," as Alexander VIII. said to his nephew, when he
was chosen pope in extreme old age. My Lord of Canterbury's is
not extreme, but very tottering. I found in Mr. Gough's new
edition, that in the Pepysian library is a view of the theatre in
Dorset Gardens, and views of four or five other ancient great
mansions. Do the folk of Magdalen ever suffer copies of such
things to be taken? If they would, is there any body at
Cambridge that could execute them, and reasonably? Answer me
quite at your leisure; and, also, what and by whom is the altar-
piece that Lord Carlisle has given to King's. I did not know he
had been of our college. I have two or three plates of
Strawberry more than those you mention; but my collections are so
numerous, and from various causes my prints have been in such
confusion, that at present I neither know where the plates or
proofs are. I intend next summer to set about completing my plan
of the Catalogue and its prints; and when I have found any of the
plates or proofs, you shall certainly have those you want. There
are two large views of the house, one of the cottage, one of the
library, one of the front to the road, and the chimney-piece in
the Holbein room. I think these are all that are finished--oh!
yes, I believe the prior's garden; but I have not seen them these
two years. I was so ill the summer before last, that I attended
to nothing; the little I thought of in that way last summer, was
to get out my last volume of the Anecdotes; now I have nothing to
trouble myself about as an editor, and that not publicly, but to
finish my Catalogue--and that will be awkwardly enough; for so
many articles have been added to my collection since the
description was made, that I must add them in the appendix or
reprint it: and, what is more inconvenient, the positions of many
of the pictures have been changed; and so it will be a lame piece
of work. Adieu, my dear Sir! Yours most cordially.
Letter 206 To Sir David Dalrymple.(406)
Berkeley Square, Jan. 1, 1781. (page 264)
Your favourable opinion of my father, Sir, is too flattering(r to
me not to thank you for the satisfaction it gave me. Wit, I
think he had not naturally, though I am sure he had none from
affectation, as simplicity was a predominant feature in his
amiable composition. but he possessed that, perhaps, most true
species of wit, which flows from experience and deep knowledge of
mankind, and consequently had more in his later than in his
earlier years; which is not common to a talent that generally
flashes from spirits, though they alone cannot bestow it. When
you was once before so good, Sir, as to suggest to me an attempt
at writing my father's life, I probably made you one answer that
I must repeat now, which is, that a son's encomiums would be
attributed to partiality; and with my deep devotion to his
memory, I should ever suspect it in myself. But I will set my
repugnance in a stronger light, by relating an anecdote not
incurious. In the new edition of the Biographia Britannica, Dr.
Kippis, the tinker of it, reflecting on my having called the
former, Vindicatio Britannica, or Defence of Every body,
threatened that when he should come to my father's life he would
convince me that the new edition did not deserve that censure. I
confess I thought this but an odd sort of historian equity, to
reverse scripture and punish the sins of children upon their
fathers! However, I said nothing. Soon after Dr. Kippis himself
called on me, and in very gracious terms desired I would favour
him with anecdotes of my father's life. This was descending a
little from his censorial throne, but I took no notice; and only
told him, that I was so persuaded of the fairness of my father's
character, that I chose to trust it to the most unprejudiced
hands; and that all I could consent to was, that when he shall
have written it, if he would communicate it to me, I would point
out to him any material facts, if I should find any, that were
not truly noted. This was all I could contribute. Since that
time I have seen in the second volume a very gross accusation of
Sir Robert, at second or third hand, and to which the smallest
attention must give a negative. Sir Robert is accused of having,
out of spite, influenced the House of Commons to expel the late
Lord Barrington for the notorious job of the Hamburg
lottery.(407) Spite was not the ingredient most domineering in
my father's character; but whatever has been said of the
corruption or servility of Houses of Commons, when was there one
so prostitute, that it would have expelled one of their own
members for a fraud not proved, to gratify the vengeance of the
minister? and a minister must have been implacable indeed, and a
House of Commons profligate indeed, to inflict such a stigma on
an innocent man, because he had been attached to a rival
predecessor of the minister. It is not less strange that the
Hamburgher's son should not have vindicated his parent's memory
at the opportunity of the secret committee on Sir Robert, but
should wait for a manuscript memorandum of Serjeant Skinner after
the death of this last. I hope Sir Robert will have no such
apologist!
I do not agree less with you, Sir, in your high opinion of King
William. I think, and a far better judge, Sir Robert, thought
that Prince one of the wisest men that ever lived. Your bon-mot
of his was quite new to me. There are two or three passages in
the Diary of the second Earl of Clarendon that always struck me
as instances of wisdom and humour at once, particularly his
Majesty's reply to the lords who advised him (I think at
Salisbury,) to send away King James; and his few words, after
long patience, to that foolish lord himself, who harangued him on
the observance of his declaration. Such traits, and several of
Queen Anne (not equally deep) in the same journal, paint those
princes as characteristically as Lord Clarendon's able father
would have drawn them. There are two letters in the "Nugae
Antiquae," that exhibit as faithful pictures of Queen Elizabeth
and James the First, by delineating them in their private life
and unguarded hours.
You are much in the right, Sir, in laughing at those wise
personages, who not only dug up the corpse of Edward the First,
but restored Christian burial to his crown and robes. Methinks,
had they deposited those regalia in the treasury of the church,
they would have committed no sacrilege. I confess I have not
quite so heinous an idea of sacrilege as Dr. Johnson. Of all
kinds of robbery, that appears to me the lightest species which
injures nobody. Dr. Johnson is so pious, that in his journey to
your country, he flatters himself that all his readers will join
him in enjoying the destruction of two Dutch crews, who were
swallowed up by the ocean after they had robbed a church.(408) I
doubt that uncharitable anathema is more in the spirit of the Old
Testament than of the New.
(406) Now first published.
(407) See ant`e, p. 201, letter 147.-E.
(408) The following are Johnson's words:--"The two churches of
Elgin were stripped, and the lead was shipped to be sold in
Holland: I hope every reader will rejoice that this cargo of
sacrilege was lost at sea."-E.
Letter 207 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
January 3, 1781. (page 266)
After I had written my note to you last night, I called on * * *
* who gave me the dismal account of Jamaica,(409) that you will
see in the Gazette, and of the damage done to our shipping.
Admiral Rowley is safe; but they are in apprehensions for
Walsingham. He told me too what is not in the Gazette; that of
the expedition against the Spanish settlements, not a single man
survives! The papers to-day, I see, speak of great danger to
Gibraltar.
Your brother repeated to me his great desire that you should
publish your speech,(410) as he told you. I do not conceive why
he is so eager for it, for he professes total despair about
America. It looks to me as if there was a wish of throwing the
blame somewhere; but I profess I am too simple to dive into the
objects of shades of intrigues: nor do I care about them. We
shall be reduced to a miserable little island; and from a mighty
empire sink into as insignificant a country as Denmark or
Sardinia! When our trade and marine are gone, the latter of
which we keep up by unnatural efforts, to which our debt will put
a stop, we shall lose the East Indies as Portugal did; and then
France will dictate to us more imperiously than ever we did to
Ireland, which is in a manner already gone too! These are
mortifying reflections, to -which an English mind cannot easily
accommodate itself. But, alas! we have been pursuing the very
conduct that France would have prescribed, and more than with all
her presumption she could have dared to expect. Could she
flatter herself that we would take no advantage of the
dilatoriness and unwillingness of Spain to enter into the war?
that we would reject the disposition of Russia to support us? and
that our still more natural friend, Holland,(411) would be driven
into the league against us? All this has happened; and, like an
infant, we are delighted with having set our own frock in a
blaze! I sit and gaze with astonishment at our frenzy. Yet why?
Are not nations as liable to intoxication as individuals? Are
not predictions founded on calculation oftener rejected than the
prophecies of dreamers? Do we not act precisely like Charles
Fox, who thought he had discovered a new truth in figures, when
he preached that wise doctrine, that nobody could want money that
would pay enough for it? The consequence was, that in two years
he left himself without the possibility of borrowing a shilling.
I am not surprised at the spirits of' a boy of parts; I am not
surprised at the people; I do wonder at government, that games
away its consequence. For what are we now really at war with
America, France, Spain, and Holland!--Not with hopes of
reconquering America; not with the smallest prospect of
conquering a foot of land from France, Spain, or Holland. No; we
are at war on the defensive to protect what is left, or more
truly to stave off, for a year perhaps, a peace that must
proclaim our nakedness and impotence. I would not willingly
recur to that womanish vision of something may turn up in our
favour! That something must be a naval victory that will
annihilate at once all the squadrons of Europe--must wipe off
forty millions of new debt--reconcile the affections of America,
that for six years we have laboured to alienate; and that must
recall out of the grave the armies and sailors that are perished-
-and that must make thirteen provinces willing to receive the
law, without the necessity of keeping ten thousand men amongst
them. The gigantic imagination of Lord Chatham would not
entertain such a chimera. Lord * * * * perhaps would say he did,
rather than not undertake; or Mr. Burke could form a metaphoric
vision that would satisfy no imagination but his own: but I, who
am nullius addiclus itrare in verba, have no hopes either in our
resources or in our geniuses, and look on my country already as
undone! It is grievous--but I shall not have much time to lament
its fall!(412)
(409) On the 3d of October occurred one of the most dreadful
hurricanes ever experienced in the West Indies. In Jamaica,
Savannah la Mar, with three hundred inhabitants, was utterly
swept away by an irruption of the sea; and at Barbados, on the
10th, Bridgetown, the capital of the island, was almost levelled
to the ground, and several thousands of the inhabitants
perished.-E.
(410) "Introductory of a motion for leave to bring in a bill for
quieting the troubles that have for some time subsisted between
Great Britain and America, and enabling his Majesty to send out
commissioners with full power to treat with America for that
purpose." The motion was negatived by 123 against 81. For the
speech of General Conway, and a copy of his proposed bill, see
Parl. History, vol, Nxi. pp. 570, 588.-E.
(411) Mr. Henry Laurens, president of the American council,
having been taken by one of the King's frigates early in October
1780, on his passage to Holland, and it being discovered by the
papers in his possession that the American States had been long
carrying on a secret correspondence with Amsterdam, Sir Joseph
Yorke, the British minister at the Hague, demanded a satisfactory
explanation; but the same not being afforded, hostilities against
Holland were declared on the 28th of December 1780.-E.
(412) To this passage the editor of Walpole's Works subjoined, in
March 1798, the following note:--"It may be some comfort, in a
moment no less portentous and melancholy than the one here
described, to recollect the almost unhoped-for recovery of
national prosperity, which took place from the peace of 1782 to
the declaration of war against France in the year 1793. May our
exertions procure the speedy application of a similar remedy to
our present evils, and may that remedy be productive of equally
good effects!"-E.
Letter 208 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Berkeley Square, Feb. 7, 1781. (page 268)
Dear Sir,
I will not leave you a moment in suspense about the safety of
your very valuable volume, which you have so kindly sent me, and
which I have just received, with the enclosed letters, and your
other yesterday. I have not time to add a word more at present,
being full of business, having the night before last received an
account of Lady Orford's death at Pisa,(413) and a copy of her
will, which obliges me to write several letters, and to see my
relations. She has left every thing in her power to her friend
Cavalier Mozzi, at Florence; but her son comes into a large
estate, besides her great jointure. You may imagine, how I
lament that he had not patience to wait sixteen months, before he
sold his pictures!
I am very sorry you have been at all indisposed. I will take the
utmost care of your fifty-ninth volume (for which I give you this
receipt), and will restore it the instant I have had time to go
through it. Witness my hand.
(413) See vol. i. p. 243, letter 61.-E.
Letter 209 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
February 9, 1781. (page 268)
I had not time, dear Sir, when I wrote last, to answer your
letter, nor do more than cast an eye on your manuscripts. To say
the truth, my patience is not tough enough to go through Wolsey's
negotiations. I see that your perseverance was forced to make
the utmost efforts to transcribe them. They are immeasurably
verbose, not to mention the blunders of the first copyist. As I
road only for amusement, I cannot, so late in my life, purchase
information on what I do not much care about, at the price of a
great deal of ennui. The old wills at the end of your volume
diverted me much more than the obsolete politics. I shall say
nothing about what you call your old leaven. Every body must
judge for himself in those matters: nor are you or I of an age to
change long-formed opinions, as neither of us is governed by
self-interest. Pray tell me how I may most safely return your
volume. I value all your manuscripts so much, that I should
never forgive myself, if a single one came to any accident by
your so obligingly lending them to me. They are great treasures,
and contain something or other that must suit most tastes: not to
mention your amazing industry, neatness, legibility, with notes,
arms, etc. I know no such repositories. You will receive with
your manuscript Mr. Kerrick's and Mr. Gough's letters. The
former is very kind. The inauguration of the Antiquated Society
is burlesque and so is the dearth of materials for another
volume; can they ever want such rubbish as compose their
preceding annals?
I think it probable that story should be stone: however, I never
piqued myself on recording every mason. I have preserved but too
many that did not deserve to be mentioned. I dare to say, that
when I am gone, many more such will be added to my volumes. I
had not heard of poor Mr. Pennant's misfortune. I am very sorry
for it, for I believe him to be a very honest good-natured man.
He certainly was too lively for his proportion of understanding,
and too impetuous to make the best use of what he had. However,
it is a credit to us antiquaries to have one of our class
disordered by vivacity. I hope your goutiness is dissipated, and
that this last fine week has set you on your feet again.
Letter 210 To The Earl Of Buchan.(414)
Berkeley Square, Feb. 10, 1781. (page 269)
I was honoured yesterday with your lordship's card, with the
notification of the additional honour of my being elected an
honourary member of the Society of the Antiquaries of
Scotland;(415) a grace, my lord, that I receive with the respect
and gratitude due to so valuable a distinction; and for which I
must beg leave, through your lordship's favour, to offer my most
sincere and humble thanks to that learned and respectable
Society. My very particular thanks are still due to your
lordship, who, in remembrance of ancient partiality, have been
pleased, at the hazard of your own judgment, to favour an old
humble servant, who can only receive honour from, but can reflect
none on, the Society into which your lordship and your associates
have condescended to adopt him. In my best days, my lord, I
never could pretend to more than having flitted over some flowers
of knowledge. Now worn out and near the end of my course, I can
Only be a broken monument to prove that the Society of the
Antiquaries of Scotland are zealous to preserve even the least
valuable remains of a former age, and to recompense all who have
contributed their mite towards illustrating our common island. I
am, etc.
(414) Now first printed.
(415) The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Scotland had been
formed at Edinburgh in the preceding December, when the Earl of
Buchan was elected president.-E.
Letter 211 To Sir David Dalrymple.(416)
Strawberry Hill, Feb. 10, 1781. (page 270)
I was very intimate, Sir, with the last Lord Finlater when he was
Lord Deskford. We became acquainted at Rome on our travels, and
though during his illness and long residence in Scotland, we had
no intercourse, I had the honour of seeing him sometimes during
his last visit to England; but I am an entire stranger to the
anecdote relative to my father and Sir William Windham. I have
asked my brother, who was much more conversant in the scenes of
that time, for I was abroad when Sir William died, and returned
to England but about six months before my father's retirement, so
that having been at school and at Cambridge, or in my infancy,
during Sir Robert's administration, the little I retain from him
was picked up in the last three years of his life, which is an
answer, Sir, to your inquiries why, among other reasons, I have
always declined writing his life; for I could in reality say but
little on my own knowledge; and yet should have the air of being
good authority, at least better than I should truly be. My
brother, Sir Edward, who is eleven years older than I am, never
heard of your anecdote. I may add, that latterly I lived in
great intimacy with the Marchioness of Blandford, Sir William's
widow, who died but a year and a half ago at Sheepe, here in my
neighbourhood; and with Lady Suffolk, who could not but be well
acquainted with the history of those times from her long
residence at court, and with whom, for the last five or six years
of her life here at Twickenham, I have had many and many long
conversations on those subjects, and yet I never heard a word of
the supposed event you mention. I myself never heard Sir W.
William speak but once in the House of Commons, but have always
been told that his style and behaviour were most liberal and like
a gentleman and my brother says, there never passed any
bitterness or acrimony between him and our father.(417)
I will answer you as fairly and candidly, Sir, about Archibald
Duke of Argyll, of whom I saw at least a great deal. I do
believe Sir Robert had a full opinion of his abilities as a most
useful man. In fact, it is plain he had; for he depended on the
Duke, when Lord Islay, for the management of your part of the
island, and, as I have heard at the time, disobliged the most
firm of the Scottish Whigs by that preference. Sir Robert
supported Lord Islay against the Queen herself, who hated him for
his attachment to Lady Suffolk, and he was the only man of any
consequence whom her Majesty did not make feel how injudicious it
was (however novel) to prefer the interest of the mistress to
that of the wife. On my father's defeat his warm friends loudly
complained of Lord Islay as having betrayed the Scottish
boroughs, at the election of Sir Robert's last Parliament, to his
brother, Duke John. It is true too, that Sir Robert always
replied, "I do not accuse him." I Must own, knowing my father's
manner, and that when he said but little, it was not a favourable
symptom, I did think, that if he would not accuse, at least he
did not acquit. Duke Archibald was undoubtedly a dark shrewd
man. I recollect an instance for which I should not choose to be
quoted just at this moment, though it reflects on nobody living.
I forget the precise period, and even some of the persons
concerned; but it was in the minority of the present Duke of
Gordon, and you, Sir, can probably adjust the dates. A regiment
had been raised of Gordons. Duke Archibald desired the command
of it to a favourite of his own. The Duchess-dowager insisted on
it for her second husband. Duke A. said, "Oh! to be sure her
grace must be obeyed;" but instantly got the regiment ordered to
the East Indies, which had not been the reckoning of a widow
remarried to a young fellow.(418)
At the time of the rebellion, I remember that Duke Archibald was
exceedingly censured in London for coming thither, and pleading
that he was not empowered to take up arms. But I believe that I
have more than satisfied your curiosity, Sir, and that you will
not think it very prudent to set an old man on talking of the
days of his Youth.
I have just received the favour of a letter from Lord Buchan, in
which his lordship is so good as to acquaint me with the honour
your new Society of Antiquaries have done me in nominating me an
honourary member. I am certainly much flattered by the
distinction, but am afraid his lordship's partiality and
patronage will in this only instance do him no credit. My
knowledge even of British antiquity has ever been desultory and
most superficial; I have never studied any branch of science
deeply and solidly, nor ever but for temporary \amusement, and
without any system, suite, or method. Of late years I have
quitted every connexion with societies, not only Parliament, but
those of our Antiquaries and of Arts and Sciences, and have not
attended the meetings of the Royal Society. I have withdrawn
myself in a great measure from the world, and live in a very
narrow circle idly and obscurely. Still, Sir, I could not
decline the honour your Society has been pleased to offer me,
lest it should be thought a want of respect and gratitude,
instead of a mark of humility and conscious unworthiness. I am
so sensible of this last, that I cannot presume to offer my
services in this part of' our island to so respectable an
assembly; but if you, Sir, who know too well my limited
abilities, can at any time point out any information that it is
in my power to give to the Society, (as in the case of Royal
Scottish portraits, on which Lord Buchan was pleased to Consult
Me,) I shall be very proud to obey your and their commands, and
shall always be with great regard their and your most obedient
humble servant.
P. S. I do not know whether I ever mentioned to you or Lord
Buchan, Sir, a curious and excellent head in oil of the Lady
Margaret Douglas at Mr. Carteret's, at Hawnes in Bedfordshire,
the seat of his grandfather Lord Granville; I know few better
portraits. It is at once a countenance of goodness and cunning,
a mixture I think pleasing. It seems to imply that the person's
virtue was not founded on folly or ignorance of the world; it
implies perhaps more, that the person would combat treachery and
knavery, and knew how. I could fancy the head in question was
such a character as Margaret Queen of Navarre, sister of Francis
the First. who was very free in her conversation and writings,
yet strictly virtuous; debonnaire, void of ambition; yet a
politician when her brother's situation required it. If your
Society should give into engraving historic portraits, this head
would deserve an early place. There is at Lord Scarborough's in
Yorkshire, a double portrait, perhaps by Holbein or Lucas de
Heere, of Lady Margaret's mother, Queen Margaret, and her second
husband.
(416) Now first collected.
(417) Pope in his second Dialogue for the Year 1738, has
transmitted Sir William's character to posterity--
"How can I, Pultney, Chesterfield, forget,
While Roman spirit charms, and Attic wit?
Or Wyndham, just to freedom and the throne,
The master of our passions and his own?"
Speaker Onslow says, "there was a spirit and power in his
speaking that always animated himself and his hearers, and with
the decoration of his manner, which was, indeed, very ornamental,
produced, not only the most attentive, respectful, but even a
reverend regard, to whatever he spoke."-E.
(418) See Memoires of George the Second, vol. i. p. 240. "In his
private life," says Walpole, "he had more merit, except in the
case of his wife, whom, having been deluded into marrying without
a fortune, he punished by rigorous and unrelaxed confinement in
Scotland. He had a great thirst for books; a head admirably
turned to mechanics; was a patron of ingenious men, a promoter of
discoveries, and one of the first encouragers of planting in
England; most of the curious exotics which have been familiarized
to this climate being introduced by him. He died suddenly in his
chair after dinner, at his house in Argyle-buildings, London,
April 15, 1761."-E.
Letter 212 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Berkeley Square, March 2, 1781. (page 272)
Dear Sir,
My Lady Orford ordered herself to be buried at Leghorn, the only
place in Tuscany where Protestants have burial; therefore I
suppose she did not affect to change. On the contrary, I believe
she had no preference for any sect, but rather laughed at all. I
know nothing new, neither in novelty nor antiquity. I have had
no gout this winter, and therefore I call it my leap-year. I am
sorry it is not yours too. It is an age since I saw Dr. lort. I
hope illness is not the cause. You will be diverted with hearing
that I am chosen an honourary member of the new Antiquarian
Society at Edinburgh. I accepted for two reasons: first, it is a
feather that does not demand my flying thither; and secondly, to
show contempt for our own old fools.(419) To me it will be a
perfect sinecure; for I have moulted all my pen feathers, and
shall have no ambition of nestling into their printed
transactions. Adieu, my good Sir. Your much obliged.
(419) Cole, in a letter to Mr. Gough, acquainting him with
Walpole's election, adds--"The admission of a few things into our
Archaeologia, has, I fear, estranged for ever one of the most
lively, learned, and entertaining members on our list."-E.
Letter 213 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
March 5, 1781. (PAGE 273)
I do not in the least guess or imagine what you mean by Lord
Hardwicke's publication of a Walpoliana.(420) Naturally it
should mean a collection of sayings or anecdotes of my father,
according to the French Anas, which began, I think, with those of
Menage. Or, is it a collection of letters and state-papers,
during his administration? I own I am curious to know at least
what this piece contains. I had not heard a word of it; and,
were it not for the name, I should have very little
inquisitiveness about it: for nothing upon earth ever was duller
than the three heavy tomes his lordship printed of Sir Dudley
Carleton's Negotiations, and of what he called State-papers.
Pray send me an answer as soon as you can, at least of as much as
you have heard about this thing.
(420) "Walpoliana; or a few Anecdotes of Sir Robert Walpole"--an
agreeable little collection of anecdotes relative to Sir Robert
Walpole, made by Philip second Earl of Hardwicke; printed in
quarto, but never published.-E.
Letter 214 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Berkeley Square, March 29, 1781. (PAGE 273)
You are so good-natured that I am sure you will be glad to be
told that the report of Mr. Pennant being disordered is not true.
He is come to town--has been with me, and at least is as composed
as ever I saw him. He is going to publish another part of his
Welsh Tour, which he can well afford; though I believe he does
not lose by his works. An aunt is dead, exceedingly rich, who
had given some thousands to him and his daughter, but suddenly
changed her mind and left all to his sister, who has most nobly
given him all that had been destined in the cancelled will. Dr.
Nash has just published the first volume of his Worcestershire.
It is a folio of prodigious corpulence, and yet dry enough; but
then it is finely dressed, and has many heads and views.(421)
Dr. Lort was with me yesterday, and I never saw him better, nor
has he been much out of order. I hope your gout has left you;
but here are winds bitter enough to give one any thing. Yours
ever.
(421) Dr. Threadway Nash's "Collections for the History of
Worcestershire;" 1781-1799; in two volumes, folio.-E.
Letter 215 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
April 3, 1781.(PAGE 274)
I am very sorry, dear Sir, that, in my last letter but one, I
took notice of what you said of Lord Hardwicke; the truth was, I
am perfectly indifferent about what he prints or publishes.
There is generally a little indirect malice but so much more
dulness, that the latter soon suffocates the former. This is
telling you that I could not be offended at any thing you said of
him, nor am I likely to suspect a sincere friend of disobliging
me. You have proved the direct contrary these forty years. I
have not time to say more, but am ever most truly yours.
Letter 216 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Berkeley Square, May 4, 1781. (PAGE 274)
I shall not only be ready to show Strawberry Hill, at any time he
chooses, to Dr. Farmer, as your friend, but to be honoured with
his acquaintance, though I am very shy now of contracting new. I
have great respect for his character and abilities and Judicious
taste, and am very clear that he has elucidated Shakspeare(422)
in a more reasonable and satisfactory manner than any of his
affected commentators, who only complimented him with learning
that he had not, in order to display their own.
Pray give me timely notice whenever I am likely to see Dr.
Farmer, that I may not be out of the way when I can have an
opportunity of showing attention to a friend of yours, and pay a
small part of your gratitude to him. There shall be a bed at his
service; for you know Strawberry cannot be seen in a moment, nor
are Englishmen so liants as to get acquainted in the time they
are walking through a house.
But now, my good Sir, how could you suffer your prejudiced
partiality to me to run away with you so extravagantly, as to
call me one of the greatest characters of the age? You are too
honest to flatter, too much a hermit to be interested, and I am
too powerless and insignificant to be an object of court, were
you capable of paying it from mercenary views. I know then that
it could proceed from nothing but the warmth of your heart; but
if you are blind towards me, I am not so to myself. I know not
how others feel on such occasions, but if any one happens to
praise me, all my faults rush into my face, and make me turn my
eyes inward and outward with horror. What am I but a poor old
skeleton tottering towards the grave, and conscious of a thousand
weaknesses, follies, and worse! And for talents, what are mine
but trifling and superficial; and, compared with those of men
with real genius, most diminutive! Mine a great character! Mercy
on me! I am a composition of Anthony Wood and Madame Danois,(423)
and I know not what trumpery writers. This is the least I can
say to refute your panegyric, which I shall burn presently; for I
will not have such an encomiastic letter found in my possession,
lest I should seem to have been pleased with it. I enjoin you, as
a penance, not to contradict one tittle I have said here; for I
am not begging more compliments, and shall take it seriously ill
if you ever pay me another. We have been friends above forty
years; I am satisfied of your sincerity and affection; but does
it become us, at past threescore each, to be saying fine things
to one another? Consider how soon we shall both be nothing!
I assure you, with great truth, I am at this present very sick of
my little vapour of fame. My tragedy has wandered into the hands
of some banditti booksellers, and I am forced to publish it
myself to prevent piracy.(424) All I can do is to condemn it
myself, and that I shall. I am reading Mr. Pennant's new Welsh
Tour; he has pleased me by making very handsome mention of you;
but I will not do, what I have been blaming.
My poor dear Madame du Deffand's little dog is arrived. She made
me promise to take care of it the last time I saw her: that I
will most religiously, and make it as happy as is possible.(425)
I have not much curiosity to see your Cambridge Raphael, but
great desire to see you, and will certainly this summer, accept
your invitation,, which I take much kinder than your great
character, though both flowed from the same friendship. Mine for
you is exactly what it has been ever since you knew (and few men
can boast so uninterrupted a friendship as yours and that of--)
H. W.
(422) In his well-known "Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare."-E.
(423) Madame d'Aulnoy, the contemporary of Perrault, and, like
him, a writer of fairy tales. She was the authoress of "The
Lady's Travels in Spain," and many other works, which have been
translated into English.-E.
(424) Walpole had printed fifty copies of"The Mysterious Mother"
at Strawberry Hill as early as the year 1765; but a surreptitious
edition of it being announced in 1781, he consented to Dodsley's
publishing a genuine one.-E.
(425) In his reply to this letter, of the 7th of May, the worthy
antiquary says-"I congratulate the little Parisian dog, that he
has fallen into the hands of so humane a master. I have a little
diminutive dog, Busy, full as great a favourite, and never out of
my lap: I have already, in case of an accident, ensured it a
refuge from starvation and ill-usage. It is the least we can do
for poor harmless, shiftless, pampered animals that have amused
us, and we have spoilt." A brother antiquary, on reading this
passage, exclaimed, "How could Mr. Cole ever get through the
transcript of a Bishop's Registry, or a Chartulary, with Busy
never out of his lap!"-E.
Letter 217 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Strawberry Hill,, Sunday evening, May 6, 1781. (PAGE 275)
I supped With your Countess on Friday at Lord Frederick
Campbell's, where I heard of the relief of Gibraltar by Darby.
The Spanish fleet kept close in Cadiz: however, he lifted up his
leg, and just squirted contempt on them. As he is disembarrassed
of his transports, I suppose their ships will scramble on shore
rather than fight. Well, I shall be perfectly content with our
fleet coming back in a whole skin; it will be enough to have
outquixoted Don Quixote's own nation. As I knew, your Countess
would write the next day, I waited till she was gone out of town
and would not have much to tell you--not that I have either; and
it is giving myself an air to pretend to know more at Twickenham
than she can at Henley. Though it is a bitter northeast, I came
hither to-day to look at my lilacs, though `a la glace; and to
get from pharaoh, for which there is a rage. I doted on it above
thirty years ago; but it is not decent to sit up all night now
with boys and girls. My nephew, Lord Cholmondeley, the banker `a
la mode, has been demolished. He and his associate, Sir
Willoughby Aston, went early t'other night to Brookcs's, before
Charles Fox and Fitzpatrick, who keep a bank there, were come;
but they soon arrived, attacked their rivals, broke their bank,
and won above four thousand pounds. "There," said Fox, "so
should all usurpers be served!" He did still better; for he sent
for his tradesmen, and paid as far as the money would go. In the
mornings he continues his war on Lord North, but cannot break
that bank. The court has carried a secret committee for India
affairs, and it is supposed that Rumbold is to be the sacrifice;
but as he is near as rich as Lord Clive, I conclude he will
escape by the same golden key.
I told you in my last that Tonton was arrived. I brought him
this morning to take possession of his new villa, but his
installation has not been at all pacific. As he has already
found out that he may be as despotic as at Saint Joseph's, he
began with exiling my beautiful little cat; upon which, however,
we shall not quite agree. He then flew at one of my dogs,(426)
who returned it by biting his foot till it bled, but was severely
beaten for it. I immediately rung for Margaret,(427) to dress
his foot: but in the midst of my tribulation could not keep my
countenance; for she cried, "Poor little thing, he does not
understand my language!" I hope she will not recollect too that
he is a Papist!
Berkeley Square, Tuesday, May 8.
I came before dinner, and found your long letter of the 3d. You
have mistaken Tonton's sex, who is a cavalier, and a little of
the mousquetaire still; but if I do not correct his vivacities,
at least I shall not encourage them like my dear old friend.
You say nothing of your health; therefore, I trust it is quite
re-established: my own is most flourishing for me. They say the
Parliament will rise by the birthday; not that it seems to be any
grievance or confinement to any body. I hope you will soon come
and enjoy a quiet summer under the laurels of your own
conscience. They are at least as spreading as any body's else;
and the soil will preserve their verdure for ever. Methinks we
western powers might as well make peace. since we make war so
clumsily. Yet I doubt the awkwardness of our enemies will not
have brought down our stomach. Well, I wish for the sake of
mankind there was an end of their sufferings! Even spectators
are not amused--the whole war has passed like the riotous murmurs
of the upper gallery before the play begins--they have pelted the
candle-snuffers, the stage has been swept, the music has played,
people have taken their places--but the deuce a bit of any
performance!--And when folks go home, they will have seen nothing
but a farce, that has cost fifty times more than the best
tragedy!
(426) This does not quite accord with the favourable character
given of Tonton by Madame du Deffand's secretary, Wyrt, in a
letter to Walpole:--"Je garderai," he says, "Tonton jusqu'au
d`epart de M. Thomas Walpole; j'en ai le plus grand soin. Il est
tr`es doux; il ne mord personne; il n'`etait m`echant qu'aupr`es
de sa maitresse."-E.
(427) Mr. Walpole's housekeeper.
Letter 218 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Berkeley Square, May 28, 1781. (PAGE 277)
This letter, like an embarkation, will not set out till it has
gotten its complement; but I begin it, as I have just received
your second letter. I wrote to you two days ago, and did not
mean to complain; for you certainly cannot have variety of matter
in your sequestered isle: and since you do not disdain trifling
news, this good town, that furnishes nothing else, at least
produces weeds, which shoot up in spite of the Scotch thistles,
that have choked all good fruits. I do not know what Lady Craven
designs to do with her play; I hope, act it only in private; for
her other was murdered, and the audience did not exert the least
gallantry to so pretty an authoress, though she gave them so fair
an opportunity. For my own play, I was going to publish it in my
own defence, as a spurious edition was advertised here, besides
one in Ireland. My advertisement has overlaid the former for the
present, and that tempts me to suppress mine, as I have a
thorough aversion to its appearance. Still, I think I shall
produce it in the dead of summer, that it may be forgotten by
winter; for I could not bear having it the subject of
conversation in a full town. It is printed; so I can let it
steal out in the midst of the first event that engrosses the
public; and as it is not quite a novelty, I have no fear but it
will be stillborn, if it is twin with any babe that squalls and
makes much noise.
At the same time with yours I received a letter from another
cousin at Paris, who tells me Necker is on the verge, and in the
postscript says, he has actually resigned. I heard so a few days
ago; but this is a full confirmation. Do you remember a
conversation at your house, at supper, in which a friend of yours
spoke, very unfavourably of Necker, and seemed to wish his fall?
In my own opinion they are much in the wrong. It is true, Necker
laboured with all his shoulders to restore their finances; yet I
am persuaded that his attention to that great object made him
clog all their military operations. They will pay dearer for
money; but money they will have: nor is it so dear to them, for,
when they have gotten it, they have only not to pay. A Monsieur
Joly de Fleury is comptroller-general. I know nothing of him;
but as they change so often, some able man will prove minister at
last--and there they will have the advantage again.
Lord Cornwallis's courier, Mr. Broderick, is not yet arrived; so
you are a little precipitate in thinking America so much nearer
to be subdued, which you have often swallowed up as if you were a
minister; and yet, methinks, that era has been so frequently put
off, that I wonder you are not cured of being sanguine--or
rather, of believing the magnificent lies that every trifling
advantage gives birth to. If a quarter of the Americans had
joined the Royalists, that have been said to join, all the
colonies would not hold them. But, at least, they have been like
the trick of kings and queens at cards; where one Of two goes
back every turn to fetch another. However, this Is only for
conversation for the moment. With such aversion to disputation,
I have no zeal for making converts to my own opinions not even on
points that touch me nearer.
Thursday, May 31.
If you see the papers, you will find that there was a warm debate
yesterday on a fresh proposal from Hartley(428) for pacification
with America; in which the ministers were roundly reproached with
their boasts of the returning zeal of the colonies and which,
though it ought by their own accounts to be so much nearer
Complete, they could not maintain to be at all effectual; though
even yesterday a report was revived of a second victory of Lord
Cornwallis. This debate prevented another on the Marriage-bill,
which Charles Fox wants to get repealed, and which he told me he
was going to labour. I mention this from the circumstance of the
moment when he told ne so. I had been to see if Lady Ailesbury
was come to town; as I came up St. James's-street, I saw a cart
and porters at Charles's door; coppers and old chests of drawers
loading. In short, his success at faro has awakened his host of
creditors; but unless his bank had swelled to the size of the
bank of England, it could not have yielded a sop apiece for each.
Epsom, too, had been unpropitious; and One creditor has actually
seized and carried off his goods, which did not seem worth
removing. As I returned full of this scene, whom should I find
sauntering by my own door but Charles? He came up and talked to
me at the coach-window, on the Marriage-bill(429) With as much
sang-froid as if he knew nothing of what had happened. I have no
admiration for insensibility to one's own faults, especially when
committed out of vanity. Perhaps the whole philosophy consisted
in the commission. If you could have been as much to blame, the
last thing you would bear well would be your own reflections.
The more marvellous Fox's parts are, the more one is provoked at
his follies, which comfort so many rascals and blockheads, and
make all that is admirable and amiable in him only matter of
regret to those who like him as I do.
I did intend to settle at Strawberry on Sunday; but must return
on Thursday, for a party made at Marlborough-house for Princess
Amelia. I am continually tempted to retire entirely; and should,
if I did not see how very unfit English tempers are for living
quite out of the world. We grow abominably peevish and severe on
others, if we are not constantly rubbed against and polished by
them. I need not name friends and relations of yours and mine as
instances. My prophecy on the short reign of faro is verified
already. The bankers find that all the calculated advantages of
the game do not balance pinchbeck parolis and debts of honourable
women. The bankers, I think, might have had a previous and more
generous reason, the very bad air of holding a bank:--but this
country is as hardened against the petite morale, as against the
greater.--What should I think of the world if I quitted it
entirely?
(428) On the preceding day, Mr. Hartley had moved for leave to
bring in a bill to invest the Crown with sufficient power to
treat upon the means of restoring peace with the provinces of
north America. It was Negatived by 106 against 72.-E.
(429) On the 7th of June Mr. Fox moved for leave to bring in a
bill to amend the act of the 26th of George the Second, for
preventing clandestine marriages. The bill passed the Commons,
but was rejected by the Lords.-E.
Letter 219 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Strawberry Hill, June 3, 1781. (PAGE 279)
You know I have more philosophy about you than courage, yet for
once I have been very brave. There was an article in the papers
last week that said, a letter from Jersey mentioned apprehensions
of being attacked by four thousand French. Do you know that I
treated the paragraph with scorn? No, no; I am not afraid for
your island, when you are at home in it, and have had time to
fortify it, and have sufficient force. No, no; it will not be
surprised when you are there, and when our fleet is returned, and
Digby before Brest. However, with all my valour, I could not
help going to your brother to ask a few questions; but he had
heard of no such letter. The French would be foolish indeed if
they ran their heads a third time against your rocks, when
watched by the most vigilant of all governors. Your nephew
George(430) is arrived with the fleet: my door opened t'other
morning; I looked towards the common horizon of heads, but was a
foot and a half below any face. The handsomest giant in the
world made but one step across my room, and seizing my hand, gave
it such a robust gripe that I squalled; for he crushed my poor
chalk-stones to powder. When I had recovered from the pain of
his friendly salute, I said, "It must be George Conway! and yet,
is it possible? Why, it is not fifteen months ago since you was
but six feet high!" In a word, he is within an inch of Robert and
Edward, with larger limbs; almost as handsome as Hugh, with all
the bloom of youth; and, in short, another of those comely sons
of Anak, the breed of which your brother and Lady Hertford have
piously restored for the comfort of the daughters of Sion. He is
delighted with having tapped his warfare with the siege of
Gibraltar, and burns to stride to America. The town, he says, is
totally destroyed, and between two and three hundred persons were
killed.--Well, it is a pity Lady Hertford has done breeding: we
shall want such a race to repeople even the ruins we do not lose!
The rising generation does give one some hopes. I confine myself
to some of this year's birds. The young William Pitt(431) has
again displayed paternal oratory. The other day, on the
commission of accounts, he answered Lord North, and tore him limb
from limb. If Charles Fox could feel, one should Think such a
rival, with an unspotted character, would rouse him. What, if a
Pitt and Fox should again be rivals! A still newer orator has
appeared in the India business, a Mr. Bankes,(432) and against
Lord North too; and with a merit that the very last crop of
orators left out of their rubric--modesty. As young Pitt is
modest too, one would hope some genuine English may revive!(433)
Tuesday, June 5.
This is the season of opening my cake-house. I have chosen a bad
spot, if I meant to retire; and calculated ill, when I made it a
puppet-show. Last week we had two or three mastiff-days; for
they were fiercer than our common dog-days. It is cooled again;
but rain is as great a rarity as in Egypt; and father Thames is
so far from being a Nile, that he is dying for thirst himself.
But it would be prudent to reserve paragraphs of weather till
people are gone out of town; for then I can have little to send
you else from hence.
Berkeley Square, June 6.
As soon as I came to town to-day Le Texier called on me, and told
me he has miscarried of Pygmalion. The expense would have
mounted to 150 pounds and he could get but sixty subscribers at a
guinea apiece. I am glad his experience and success have taught
him thrift. I did not expect it. Sheridan had a heavier
miscarriage last night. The two Vestris had imagined a f`ete;
and, concluding that whatever they designed would captivate the
town and its purses, were at the expense of 1200 pounds and,
distributing tickets at two guineas apiece, disposed of not two
hundred. It ended in a bad opera, that began three hours later
than usual, and at quadruple the price. There were bushels of
dead flowers, lamps, country dances--and a cold supper. Yet they
are not abused as poor Le Texier was last year.
June 8.
I conclude my letter, and I hope our present correspondence, very
agreeably; for your brother told me last night, that you have
written to Lord Hillsborough for leave to return. If all our
governors could leave their dominions in as good plight, it were
lucky. Your brother owned, what the Gazette with all its
circumstances cannot conceal, that Lord Cornwallis's triumphs
have but increased our losses, without leaving any hopes. I am
told that his army, which when he parted from Clinton amounted to
seventeen thousand men, does not now contain above as many
hundred, except the detachments. The Gazette, to my sorrow and
your greater sorrow, speaks of Colonel O'Hara having received two
dangerous wounds. Princess Amelia was at Marlborough-house last
night, and played at faro till twelve o'clock. There ends the
winter campaign! I go to Strawberry-hill to-morrow; and I hope,
a l'Irlandaise, that the next letter I write to you will be not
to write to you any more.
(430) Lord George Seymour Conway, seventh son of Francis, first
Earl and Marquis of Hertford; born 1763.-E.
(431) The young William Pitt," afterwards, as Walpole
anticipated, the proud rival of Charles Fox, and for so long a
period the prime-minister of England, delivered his maiden speech
in the House of Commons, on the 26th of February, in favour of
Mr. Burke's bill for an economical reform in the civil list.
"Never," says his preceptor, Bishop Tomline, "were higher
expectations formed of any person upon his first coming into
Parliament, and never were expectations more completely answered.
They were, indeed, much more than answered; such were the fluency
and accuracy of language, such the perspicuity of arrangement,
and such the closeness of reasoning, and manly and dignified
elocution,--generally, even in a much less degree, the fruits of
long habit and experience,--that it could scarcely be believed to
be the first speech of a young man not yet two-and-twenty. On
the following day, knowing my anxiety upon every subject which
related to him, Mr. Pitt, with his accustomed kindness, wrote to
me at Cambridge, to inform me that 'he had heard his own voice in
the House of Commons,' and modestly expressed his satisfaction at
the manner in which his first attempt at parliamentary speaking
had been received."-E.
(432) Henry Bankes, Esq. of Kingston Hall. He represented
Corfe-Castle from 1780 to 1826, and the county of Dorset from
that time until 1831. In 1818, he published "The Civil and
Constitutional History of Rome, from the Foundation to the Age of
Augustus," in two volumes, 8vo; and died in 1834.-E.
(433) Mr. Wilberforce, in a letter to a friend, of the 9th of
June, says--"The papers will have informed you how Mr. William
Pitt, second son of the late Lord Chatham has distinguished
himself: he comes out as his father did, a ready-made orator, and
I doubt not but that I shall one day or other, see him the first
man in the country." Life, vol. 1. p. 22.-E.
Letter 220 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Strawberry Hill, June 13, 1781. (PAGE 281)
It was very kind, my dear lord, to recollect me so soon: I wish I
Could return it by amusing you; but here I know nothing, and
suppose it is owing to age that even in town I do not find the
transactions of the world very entertaining. One must sit up all
night to see or hear any thing; and if the town intends to do any
thing, they never begin to do it till next day. Mr. Conway will
certainly be here the end of this month, having thoroughly
secured his island from surprise, and it is not liable to be
taken any other way. I wish he was governor of this bigger one
too, which does not seem quite so well guaranteed.
Your lordship will wonder at a visit I had yesterday: it was from
Mr. Storer, who has passed a day and night here. It was not from
my being a fellow-scholar of Vestris, but from his being turned
antiquary; the last passion I should have thought a macaroni
would have taken. I am as proud of such a disciple as of having
converted Dicky Bateman from a Chinese to a Goth. Though he was
the founder of the Sharawadgi taste in England, I preached so
effectually that his every pagoda took the veil. The Methodists
say, one must have been very wicked before one can be of the
elect--yet is that extreme more distant from the ton, which avows
knowing and liking nothing but the fashion of the instant, to
studying what were the modes of five hundred years ago? I hope
this conversion will not ruin Mr. Storer's fortune under the Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland. How his Irish majesty will be shocked
when he asks how large Prince Boothby's shoe-buckles are grown,
to be answered, he does not know, but that Charles Brandon's
cod-piece at the last birthday had three yards of velvet in it!
and that the Duchess of Buckingham thrust out her chin two inches
farther than ever in admiration of it! and that the Marchioness
of Dorset had put out her jaw by endeavouring to imitate her!
We have at last had some rains, which I hope extended to
Yorkshire, and that your lordship has found Wentworth Castle in
the bloom of verdure. I always, as in duty bound, wish
prosperity to every body and every thing there, and am your
lordship's ever devoted and grateful humble servant.
Letter 221To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, June 16, 1781. (PAGE 282)
Your last account of yourself was so indifferent, that I am
impatient for a better: pray send me a much better.
I know little in your way but that Sir Richard Worseley has just
published a History of the Isle of Wight, with many views poorly
done enough.(434) Mr. Bull(435) is honouring me, at least my
Anecdotes of Painting, exceedingly. He has let every page into a
pompous sheet, and is adding every print of portrait, building,
etc. that I mention, and that he can get, and specimens of all
our engravers. It will make eight magnificent folios, and be a
most valuable body of our arts. Nichols the printer has
published a new Life of Hogarth,(436) of near two hundred pages-
-many more, in truth, than it required: chiefly it is the life of
his works, containing all the variations, and notices of any
persons whom he had in view. I cannot say there are discoveries
of many prints which I have not mentioned, though I hear Mr.
Gulston(437) says he has fifteen such; but I suppose he only
fancies so. Mr. Nichols says our printsellers are already adding
Hogarth's name to several spurious. Mr. Stevens, I hear, has
been allowed to ransack Mrs. Hogarth's house for obsolete and
unfinished plates, which are to be completed and published.
Though she was not pleased with my account of her husband, and
seems by these transactions to have encouraged the second, I
assure you I have much more reason to be satisfied than she has,
the editor or editors being much civiller to living me than to
dead Hogarth--yet I should not have complained. Every body has
the same right to speak their sentiments. Nay, in general, I
have gentler treatment than I expected, and I think the world and
I part good friends.
I am now setting about the completion of my AEdes Strawberrianae.
A painter is to come hither on Monday to make a drawing of the
Tribune, and finish T. Sandby's fine view of the gallery, to
which I could never get him to put the last hand. They will Then
be engraved with a few of the chimney-pieces, which will complete
the plates. I must add an appendix of curiosities, purchased or
acquired since the Catalogue was printed. This will be awkward,
but I cannot afford to throw away an hundred copies. I shall
take care if I can that Mr. Gough does not get fresh intelligence
from my engravers, or he will advertise my supplement, before the
book appears. I do not think it was very civil to publish such
private intelligence, to which he had no right without my leave;
but every body seems to think he may do what is good in his own
eyes. I saw the other day, in a collection of seats (exquisitely
engraved), a very rude insult on the Duke of Devonshire. The
designer went to draw a view of Chiswick, without asking leave,
and was not hindered, for he has given it; but he says he was
treated illiberally, the house not being shown without tickets,
which he not only censures, but calls a singularity, though a
frequent practice in other places, and practised there to my
knowledge for these thirty years: so every body is to come into
your house if he pleases, draw it whether you please or not, and
by the same rule, I suppose, put any thing into his pockets that
he likes. I do know, by experience, what a grievance it is to
have a house worth being seen, and though I submit in consequence
to great inconveniences, they do not save me from many
rudenesses. Mr. Southcote(438) was forced to shut up his
garden, for the savages who came as connoisseurs scribbled a
thousand brutalities, in the buildings, upon his religion. I
myself, at Canons, saw a beautiful table of oriental alabaster
that had been split in two by a buck in boots jumping up
backwards to sit upon it.
I have placed the oaken head Of Henry the Third over the middle
arch of the armoury. Pray tell me what the church of Barnwell,
near Oundle, was, which his Majesty endowed, and whence his head
came. Dear Sir, Yours most sincerely.
(434) Sir Richard Worsley is better known by his splendid work,
the "Museum Worsleianum; or, a Collection of antique
Basso-relievos, Bustos, Statues, and Gems; with views of places
in the Levant, taken on the spot, in the years 1785-6-7;" in two
volumes, folio. Sir Richard sat many years in Parliament for the
borough of Newport, and was governor of the Isle of Wight, where
he died in 1805.-E.
(435) Richard Bull, Esq. a famous collector of portraits.-E.
(436) " Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth; and a
Catalogue of his Works, chronologically arranged; with occasional
Remarks."-E.
(437) Joseph Gulston, Esq. also an eminent portrait collector.-E.
(438) Philip Southcote, Esq. of Wooburn Farm, Chertsey: one of
the first places improved according to the principles of modern
gardening.-E.
Letter 222 To The Earl Of Charlemont.(439)
Strawberry Hill, July 1, 1781. (PAGE 284)
I should have been exceedingly flattered, my lord, by receiving a
present from your lordship, which at once proves that I retain a
place in your lordship's memory, and you think me worthy of
reading what you like. I could not wait to give your lordship a
thousand thanks for so kind a mark of your esteem till I had done
through the volume, which I may venture to say I shall admire, as
I find it contains some pieces which I had seen, and did admire,
without knowing their author. That approbation was quite
impartial. Perhaps my future judgment of the rest will be not a
little prejudiced, and yet on good foundation; for if Mr.
Preston(440) has retained my suffrage in his favour by dedicating
his poems to your lordship, it must at least be allowed that I am
biassed by evidence of his taste. He would not possess the
honour of your friendship unless he deserved it; and, as he knows
you, he would not have ventured to prefix your name, my lord, to
poems that did not deserve your patronage. I dare to say they
will meet the approbation of better judges than I can pretend to
be. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, esteem,
and gratitude.
(439) Now first collected.
(440) William Preston, Esq. a young Irish gentleman, of whom Lord
Charlemont had become the friend and patron. He afterwards
published "Thoughts on Lyric Poetry, with an Ode to the Moon;" an
"essay on Ridicule, Wit, and Humour;" and a translation of the
Argonautics of Appollonius Rhodius. He died in 1807.-E.
Letter 223 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, July 7, 1781. (PAGE 284)
My good Sir, you forget that I have a cousin, eldest son of Lord
Walpole, and of a marriageable age, who has the same Christian
name as I. The Miss Churchill he has married is my niece, second
daughter of my sister, Lady Mary Churchill; so that if I were in
my dotage, I must have looked out for another bride--in short, I
hope you will have no occasion to wish me joy of any egregious
folly. I do congratulate you on your better health, and on the
Duke of Rutland's civilities to you. I am a little surprised at
his brother, who is a seaman, having a propensity to divinity,
and wonder you object to it; the church navigant would be an
extension of its power. As to orthodoxy, excuse me if I think it
means nothing at all but every man's own opinion. Were every man
to define his faith, I am persuaded that no two men are or ever
were exactly of the same opinion in all points and as men are
more angry at others for differing with them on a single point,
than satisfied with their Concurrence in all others, each would
deem every body else a heretic. Old or new Opinions are exactly
of the same authority, for every opinion must have been new when
first started; and no man has nor ever had more right than
another to dictate, unless inspired. St. Peter and St. Paul
disagreed from the earliest time, and who can be sure which was
in the right? and if one of the apostles was in the wrong, who
may not be mistaken? When you will tell me which was the
orthodox, and which the heterodox apostle, I will allow that you
know what orthodoxy is.(441) You and I are perhaps the two
persons who agree the best with very different ways of thinking;
and perhaps the reason is, that we have a mutual esteem for each
other's sincerity, and, from an experience of more than forty
years, are persuaded that neither of us has any interested
views.(442) For my own part, I confess honestly that I am far
from having the same charity for those whom I suspect of
mercenary views. If Dr. Butler, when a private clergyman, wrote
Whig pamphlets, and when Bishop of Oxford preaches Tory sermons,
I should not tell him that he does not know what orthodoxy is,
but I am convinced he does not care what it is. The Duke of
Rutland seems much more liberal than Butler or I, when he is so
civil to you, though you voted against his brother. I am not
acquainted with his grace, but I respect his behaviour; he is
above prejudices.
The story of poor Mr. Cotton(443) is shocking, whichever way it
happened, but most probably it was accident.
I am ashamed at the price of my book, though not my fault; but I
have so often been guilty myself of giving ridiculous prices for
rarities, though of no intrinsic value, that I must not condemn
the same folly in others. Every thing tells me how silly I am! I
pretend to reason, and yet am a virtuoso! Why should I presume
that, at sixty-four, I am too wise to marry? and was you, who
know so many of my weaknesses, in the wrong to suspect me of one
more? Oh! no, my good friend: nor do I see any thing in your
belief of it, but the kindness with which you wish me felicity on
the occasion. I heartily thank you for it, and am most cordially
yours.
(441) On Lord Sandwich's observing that he did not know the
difference between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, Bishop Warburton is
said to have replied, "Orthodoxy, my lord, is my doxy, and
heterodoxy is another man's doxy."-E.
(442) Cole, in a letter to 'Mr. Gough, of the 10th of August,
says--"Mr. Walpole and myself are as opposite in political
matters as possible; yet we continue friends. Your political and
religious opinions possibly may be as dissimilar; yet I hope we
shall all meet in a better world, and be happy."-E.
(443) A son of Sir John Cotton, who was accidentally killed
whilst shooting in his father's Woods.-E.
Letter 224 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Strawberry Hill, July 26, 1781. (PAGE 286)
I will not delay thanking you, dear Sir, for a second letter,
which you wrote out of kindness, though I have time but to say a
word, having my house full of company. I think I have somewhere
or other mentioned the "Robertus Comentarius," (probably on some
former information from you, which YOU never forget to give me,)
at least the name sounds familiar to me; but just now I cannot
consult my papers or books from the impediment of my guests. As
I am actually preparing a new edition of my Anecdotes, I shall
very soon have occasion to search. I am sorry to hear you
complain of the gout, but trust It will be a short parenthesis.
Yours most gratefully.
Letter 225 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Strawberry Hill, August 31, 1781. (page 286)
Your lordship's too friendly partiality sees talents in me which
I am sure I do not possess. With all my desire of amusing you,
and with all my sense of gratitude for your long and unalterable
goodness, it is quite impossible to send you an entertaining
letter from hence. The insipidity of my life, that is passed
with a few old people that are wearing out like myself, after
surviving so many of my acquaintance, can furnish no matter of
correspondence. What few novelties I hear, come stale, and not
till they have been hashed in the newspapers and though we are
engaged in such big and wide wars, they produce no striking
events, nor furnish any thing but regrets for the lives and
millions we fling away to no purpose! One cannot divert when one
can only compute, nor extract entertainment from prophecies that
there is no reason to colour favourably. We have, indeed,
foretold success for seven years together, but debts and taxes
have been the sole completion.
If one turns to private life, what is there to furnish pleasing
topics? Dissipation, without object, pleasure, or genius, is the
only colour of the times. One hears every day of somebody
undone. but can we or they tell how, except when it is by the
most expeditious of all means, gaming? And now, even the loss of
an hundred thousand pounds is not rare enough to be surprising.
One may stare or growl, but cannot relate any thing that is worth
hearing. I do not love to censure a younger age; but in good
truth, they neither amuse me nor enable me to amuse others.
The pleasantest event I know happened to myself last Sunday
morning when General Conway very unexpectedly walked in as I was
at breakfast, in his way to Park-place. He looks as well in
health and spirits as ever I saw him; and though he stayed but
half an hour, I was perfectly content, as he is at home.
I am glad your lordship likes the fourth book of The Garden,(444)
which is admirably coloured. The version of Fresnoy I think the
finest translation I ever saw. It is a most beautiful poem,
extracted from as dry and prosaic a parcel of verses as could be
put together: Mr. Mason has gilded lead, and burnished it
highly. Lord and Lady Harcourt I should think would make him a
visit, and I hope, for their sakes, will visit Wentworth Castle.
As they both have taste, I should be sorry they did not see the
perfectest specimen of architecture I know.
Mrs. Damer certainly goes abroad this winter. I am glad of it
for every reason but her absence. I am certain it will be
essential to her health; and she has so eminently a classic
genius, and is herself so superior an artist, that I enjoy the
pleasure she will have in visiting Italy.
As your lordship has honoured all the productions of my press
with your acceptance, I venture to enclose the last, which I
printed to oblige the Lucans. There are many beautiful and
poetic expressions in it. A wedding to be sure, is neither a new
nor a promising subject, nor will outlast the favours: still I
think Mr. Jones's Ode(445) is uncommonly good for the occasion;
at least, if it does not much charm Lady Strafford and your
lordship, I know you will receive it kindly as a tribute from
Strawberry Hill, as every honour is due to you both from its
master. Your devoted servant.
(444) The fourth book of Mason's "English Garden" had just made
its appearance.-E.
(445) Mr. afterwards Sir William, Jones's Ode on the marriage of
Lord Althorpe, afterwards Earl Spencer, with Miss Bingham.-E.
Letter 226 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Strawberry Hill, Sept. 16, 1781. (page 227)
I am not surprised that such a mind as yours cannot help
expressing gratitude: it would not be your mind, if it could
command that sensation as triumphantly as it does your passions.
Only remember that the expression is unnecessary. I do know that
you feel the entire friendship I have for you; nor should I love
you so well if I was not persuaded of it. There never was a
grain of any thing romantic in my friendship for you. We loved
one another from children, and as so near relations; but my
friendship grew up with your virtues, which I admired though I
did not imitate. We had scarce one in common but
disinterestedness. Of the reverse we have both, I may say, been
so absolutely clear, that there is nothing so natural and easy as
the little moneyed transactions between us - and therefore,
knowing how perfectly indifferent I am upon that head, and
remembering the papers I showed you, and what I have said to you
when I saw you last, I am sure you will have the complaisance
never to mention thanks more.-Now, to answer your questions.
As to coming to you, as that feu gr`egeois Lord George Gordon has
given up the election, to my great joy, I can come to you on
Sunday next. It is true, I had rather you visited your regiment
first, for this reason: I expect summons to Nuneham every day;
and besides, having never loved two journeys instead of one, I
grow more covetous of my time, as I have little left, and
therefore had rather take Park-place, going and coming, on my way
to Lord Harcourt.
I don't know a word of news, public or private. I am deep in my
dear old friend's papers.(446) There are some very delectable;
and though I believe, nay, know, I have not quite all, there are
many which I almost wonder, after the little delicacy they(447)
have shown, ever arrived to my hands. I dare to say they will
not be quite so just to the public; for though I consented that
the correspondence with Voltaire should be given to the editors
of his works, I am persuaded that there are many passages at
least which they will suppress, as very contemptuous to his chief
votaries: I mean, of the votaries to his sentiments; for, like
other heresiarchs, he despised his tools. If I live to see the
edition, it Will divert me to collate it with what I have in my
hands.
You are the person in the world the fittest to encounter the
meeting you mention for the choice of a bridge.(448) You have
temper and patience enough to bear with fools and false taste.
I, so unlike you, have learned some patience with both sorts too,
but by a more summary method than by waiting to instil reason
into them. Mine is only by leaving them to their own vagaries,
and by despairing that sense and taste should ever extend
themselves. Adieu!
P. S. In 'Voltaire's letters are some bitter traits on the King
of Prussia, which, as he is defender of their no-faith, I
conclude will be ray`es too.
(446) Madame du Deffand, who died in September 1780, and left all
her papers to Mr. Walpole. See ant`e, p. 256, letter 199.-E.
(447) The executors of Madame du Deffand; whom Walpole suspected
of having abstracted some of her papers.-E.
(448) The bridge over the Thames at Henley, to the singular
beauty of which the good taste of mr. Conway materially
contributed.
Letter 227 To John Nichols, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, Oct. 31, 1781. (page 288)
I am glad to hear, Sir, that your account of Hogarth calls for
another edition; and I am very sensible of your great civility in
offering to change any passages that criticise my own work.
Though I am much obliged by the offer, I should blush to myself
if I even wished for that complaisance. Good God! Sir, what am I
that I should be offended at or above criticism or correction? I
do not know who ought to be; I am sure, no author. I am a
private man, of no consequence, and at best an author of very
moderate abilities. In a work that comprehends so much biography
as my Anecdotes of Painting, it would have been impossible, even
with much more diligence than I employed, not to make numberless
mistakes. It is kind to me to point out those errors; to the
world it is justice. Nor have i a reason to be displeased even
with the manner. I do remember that in many passages you have
been very civil to me. I do not recollect any harsh phrases. As
my work is partly critical as well as biographic, there too I had
no reason or right to expect deference to my opinions.
Criticism, I doubt, has no very certain rule to go by; in matters
of taste it is a still more vague and arbitrary science.
As I am very sincere, Sir, in what I say, I will with the same
integrity own, that in one or two places of your book I think the
criticisms on me are not well founded. For instance; in p. 37 I
am told that Hogarth did not deserve the compliment I pay him of
not descending to the indelicacy of the Flemish and Dutch
painters. It is very true that you have produced some instances,
to which I had not adverted, where he has been guilty of the same
fault, though I think not in all you allege, nor to the degree
alleged: in some I think the humour compensates for the
indelicacy, which is never the case with the Dutch; and in one
particular I think it is a merit,--I mean in the burlesque Paul
before Felix,--for there, Sir, you should recollect that Hogarth
himself meant to satirize, not to imitate the painters of Holland
and Flanders.
You have also instanced, Sir, many more portraits in his satiric
prints than come within my defence of him as not being a personal
satirist; but in those too, with submission, I think you have
gone too far; as, though you have cited portraits, are they all
satiric? Sir John Gouson is the image of an active magistrate
identified; but it is not ridiculous, unless to be an active
magistrate is being ridiculous. Mr. Pine,(449) I think you
allow, desired to sit for the fat friar in the Gates of Calais--
certainly not with a view to being turned into derision.
With regard to the bloody fingers of Sigismunda, you Say, Sir,
that my memory must have failed me, as you affirm that they are
unstained with blood. Forgive me if I say that I am positive
they were so originally. I saw them so, and have often mentioned
that fact. Recollect, Sir, that you yourself allow, p. 46, in
the note, that the picture was continually "altered, upon the
criticism of one connoisseur or another." May not my memory be
more faithful about so striking a circumstance than the memory of
another who would engage to recollect all the changes that
remarkable picture underwent?
I should be very happy, Sir, if I could contribute any additional
lights to your new publication; indeed, what additional lights I
have gained are from your work, which has furnished me with many.
I am going to publish a new edition of all the five volumes of my
Anecdotes of Painting, in which I shall certainly insert what I
have gathered from you. This edition will be in five thin
octaves, without cuts, to make the purchase easy to artists and
such as cannot afford the quartos, which are grown so
extravagantly dear, that I am ashamed of it. Being published too
at different periods, and being many of them cut to pieces for
the heads, since the race for portraits has been carried so far,
it is very rare to meet with a complete set. My corrected copy
is now in the printer's hands, except the last volume, in which
are my additions to Hogarth from your list, and perhaps one or
two more but that volume also I have left in town, though not at
the printer's, as, to complete it, I must wait for his new works,
which Mrs. Hogarth is to publish. When I am settled in town,
Sir, I shall be very ready, if you please to call on me in
Berkeley Square, to communicate any additions I have made to my
account of Hogarth.
(449) John Pine the artist, who published "The Procession and
Ceremonies at the Installation of the Knights of the Bath, 17th
of June, 1725;" folio, 1730; and, in 1739, "The Tapestry Hangings
of the House of Lords," etc. sat for the Fat Friar in Hogarth's
Gates of Calais, and received from that circumstance the name of
"Friar Pine," which he retained till his death. E.
Letter 228 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(450)
Berkeley Square, Nov. 7. 1781. (page 290)
Yesterday, Sir, I received the favour of your letter with the
inclosed prologue,(451) and am extremely pleased with it; not
only as it omits mention of me, for which I give you my warmest
thanks, but as a composition. The thoughts are just and happily
expressed; and the conclusion is so lively and well conceived,
that Mr. Harris, to whom I carried it this morning, thinks it
will have great effect. We are very sorry you have not sent us
an epilogue too; but, before I touch on that, I will be more
regular in my details. Miss Younge has accepted the part very
gracefully; and by a letter I have received from her, in answer
to mine, will, I flatter myself, take care to do justice to it.
Nay, she is so zealous, that Mr. Harris tells me she has taken
great pains with the young person who is to play the daughter,
but whose name I cannot at this moment recollect.(452)
I must now confess that I have been again alarmed. I had a
message from Mr. Harris on Saturday last to tell me that the
performers had been so alert, and were so ready with their parts,
and the many disappointments that had happened this season had
been so prejudicial to him, that it would be easy and necessary
to bring out your play next Saturday the 10th, and desired to
have the prologue and epilogue. This precipitation made me
apprehend that justice would not be done to your tragedy. Still
I did not dare to remonstrate; nor would venture to damp an
ardour which I could not expect to excite again. Instead of
objecting to his haste, I only said I had not received your
prologue and epilogue, but had written for them and expected them
every Minute, though, as it depended on winds, one could never be
sure. I trusted to accidents for delay; at least I thought I
could contrive some, without seeming to combat what he thought
for his interest.
I have not been mistaken. On receiving your prologue yesterday,
I came to town to-day and carried it to him, to show him I lost
no time. He told me Mr. Henderson was not enough recovered, but
he hoped would be well enough to bring out the play on Saturday
se'nnight. That he had had a rough rehearsal yesterday morning,
with which he had been charmed; and was persuaded, and that the
performers think so too. that your play will have great effect.
All this made me very easy. There is to be a regular rehearsal
on Saturday, for which I shall stay in town on purpose; and, if I
find the performers perfect, I think there will be no objection
to its appearance on Saturday se'nnight. I shall rather prefer
that day to a later; as, the Parliament not being met, it will
have a week's run before politics interfere.
Now, Sir, for the epilogue. I have taken the liberty of desiring
Mr. Harris to have one prepared, in case yours should not arrive
in time. It is a compliment to him, (I do not mean that he will
write it himself,) will interest him still more in the cause;
and, though he may not procure a very good one, a manager may
know better than we do what will suit the taste of the times.
The success of a play being previous, cannot be hurt by an
epilogue, though some plays have been saved; and if it be not a
good one, it will not affect you. If you send us a good one,
though too late, it may be printed with the play.
I must act about the impression just the reverse of what I did
about the performance, and must beg you would commission some
friend to transact that affair; for I know nothing of the terms,
and should probably disserve you if I undertook the treaty with
the booksellers, nor should I have time to supervise the
correction of the press. In truth, it is so disagreeable a
business, that I doubt I have given proofs at my own press of
being too negligent; and as I am actually at present reprinting
my Anecdotes of Painting, I have but too much business of that
sort on my hands. You will forgive my saying this, especially
when you consider that my hands are very lame, ind that this
morning in Mr. Harris's room, the right one shook so, that I was
forced to desire him to write a memorandum for me.
I think I have omitted nothing material. Mr. Wroughton is to
play the Count. I do not know who will speak the prologue;
probably not Mr. Henderson, as he has been so very ill: nor
should I be very earnest for it; for the Friar's is so central
and so laborious a part, that I should not wish to abate his
powers by any previous exertion. Perhaps I refine too much, but
I own I think the non-appearance of a principal actor till his
part opens is an advantage.
I will only add that I must beg you will not talk of obligations
to me. You have at least overpaid me d'avance by the honour you
have done me in adopting the Castle of Otranto.
(450) Now first printed.
(451) To the tragedy of the Count of Narbonne. See ant`e, p.
238, letter 184.-E.
(452) Miss Satchell.
Letter 229 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(453)
Strawberry Hill, Nov. 10, 1781. (page 292)
As I have been at the rehearsal of your tragedy to-day, Sir, I
must give you a short a(-count of it; though I am little able to
write, having a good deal of gout in my right hand, which would
have kept me away from any thing else, and made me hurry back
hither the moment it was over, lest I should be confined to town.
Mr. Malone, perhaps, who was at the playhouse too, may have
anticipated me; for I could not save the post to-night, nor will
this go till to-morrow.
Mr. Henderson is still too ill to attend, but hopes to be abroad
by Tuesday: Mr. Hull read his part very well. Miss Younge is
perfectly mistress of her part, is pleased with it, and I think
will do it justice. I never saw her play so ably. Miss
Satchell, who is to play Adelaide, is exactly what she should be:
very young, pretty enough, natural and simple. She has already
acted Juliet with success. Her voice not only pleasing, but very
audible; and, which is much more rare, very articulate: she does
not gabble, as most young women do, even off the stage. Mr.
Wroughton much exceeded my expectation. He enters warmly into his
part, and with thorough zeal. Mr. Lewis was so very imperfect in
his part, that I cannot judge quite what he will do, for he could
not repeat two lines by heart; but he looked haughtily, and as he
pleased me in Percy, which is the same kind of character, I
promise myself he will succeed in this.
Very, very few lines will be omitted; and there will be one or
two verbal alterations to accommodate the disposition, but which
will not appear in the printed copies, of which Mr. Malone says
he will take the management. As Mr. Harris and the players all
seemed zealous and in good humour, I will not contest some
trifles; and, indeed, they were not at all unreasonable. I an)
to see the scenes on Friday, if I am able: and if Mr. Henderson
is well enough, the play will be performed on the 17th or
immediately after. Some slight delays, which one cannot foresee,
may always happen. In truth-, I little expected so much
readiness and compliance both in manager and actors; nor, from
all I have heard of the stage, could conceive such facilities.
>From the moment Mr. Harris consented to perform your play, there
has not been one instance of obstinacy or wrongheadedness
anywhere. If the audience is as reasonable and just, you may,
Sir, promise yourself complete success.
(453) Now first printed.
Letter 230 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(454)
Strawberry Hill, Nov. 13, 1781. )page 293)
I have, this minute, Sir, received the corrected copy of your
tragedy, which is almost all I am able to say, for I have so much
gout in this hand, and it shakes so much, that I am scarce able
to manage my pen. I will go to town if I can, and consult Mr.
Henderson on the alterations; though I confess I think it
dangerous to propose them so late before representation, which
the papers say again is to be on Saturday if Mr. Henderson is
well enough. Mr. Malone shall have the corrected copy for
impression.
I own I cannot suspect that Mr. Sheridan will employ any
ungenerous arts against your play. I have never heard any thing
to give me suspicions of his behaving unhandsomely; and as you
indulge my zeal and age a liberty of speaking like a friend, I
would beg you to suppress your sense of the too great
prerogatives of theatric monarchs. I hope you will again and
again have occasion to court the power of their crowns; and,
therefore if not for your own, for the sake of the public, do not
declare war with them. It has not been my practice to preach
slavery; but, while one deals with and depends on mimic
sovereigns, I would act policy, especially when by temporary
passive obedience one can really lay a lasting obligation on
one's country, which your plays really are.
I am glad you approve what I had previously undertaken, Mr.
Harris's procuring an epilogue; he told me on Saturday that he
should have one. You are very happy in friends, Sir; which is
another proof of your merit. Mr. Malone is not less zealous than
Mr. Tighe, to whom I beg my compliments.
(454) Now first printed.
Letter 231 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(455)
Berkeley Square, Nov. 18, 1781. (page 293)
As Mr. Malone undertook to give you an account, Sir, by last
night's post, of the great success of the tragedy, I did not
hasten home to write; but stayed at the theatre, to talk to Mr.
Harris and the actors, and learn what was said, besides the
general applause. Indeed I never saw a more unprejudiced
audience, nor more attention. There was not the slightest
symptom of disapprobation to any part, and the plaudit was loud
and long when given out again for Monday. I mention these
circumstances in justification of Mr. Sheridan, to whom I never
spoke in MY life, but who certainly had not sent a single person
to hurt you. The prologue was exceedingly liked; and, for
effect, no play ever produced more fears. In the green-room I
found that Hortensia's sudden death was the only incident
disapproved; as we heard by intelligence from the pit; and it is
to be deliberated tomorrow whether it may not be preferable to
carry her off as in a swoon. When there is Only SO slight an
objection, you cannot doubt of your full success. It is
impossible to say how much justice Miss Younge did to your
writing. She has shown herself' a great mistress of her
profession, mistress of dignity, passion, and of all the
sentiments you have put into her hands. The applause given to
her description of Raymond's death lasted some minutes, and
recommenced; and her scene in the fourth act, after the Count's
ill-usage, was played in the highest perfection. Mr. Henderson
was far better than I expected from his weakness, and from his
rehearsal yesterday, with which he was much discontented himself.
Mr. Wroughton was very animated, and played the part of the Count
much better than any man now on the stage would have done. I
wish I could say Mr. Lewis satisfied me; and that poor child Miss
Satchell was very inferior to what she appeared at the
rehearsals, where the total silence and our nearness deceived us.
Her voice has no strength, nor is she yet at all mistress of the
stage. I have begged Miss Younge to try what she can do with her
by Monday. However, there is no danger to your play: it is fully
established. I confess I am not only pleased on your account,
Sir, but on Mr. Harris's, as he has been very obliging to me. I
am not likely to have any more intercourse with the stage; but I
shall be happy if I leave my interlude there by settling an amity
between you and Mr. Harris, whence I hope he will draw profit and
you more renown.
(455) Now first printed.
Letter 232 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Berkeley Square, Sunday morning, Nov. 18, 1781. (page 294)
I have been here again for three days, tending and nursing and
waiting on Mr. Jephson's play. I have brought it into the world,
was well delivered of it, it can stand on its own legs--and I am
going back to My Own quiet hill, never likely to have any thing
more to do with theatres. Indeed it has seemed strange to me,
who for these three or four years have not been so many times in
a playhouse, nr knew six of the actors by sight, to be at two
rehearsals, behind the scenes, in the green-room, and acquainted
with half the company. The Count of Narbonne was played last
night with great applause, and without a single murmur of
disapprobation. Miss Younge has charmed me.(456) She played
with intelligence that was quite surprising. The applause to one
of her speeches lasted a minute, and recommenced twice before the
play could go on. I am sure you will be pleased with the conduct
and the easy beautiful language of the play, and struck with her
acting.
(456) In 1786, this celebrated actress was married to Mr. Pope,
the comedian. She died in 1797, and was buried in Westminster
Abbey.-E.
Letter 233 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(457)
Strawberry Hill, Nov. 21, 1781. (page 295)
I have just received your two letters, Sir, and the epilogue,
which I am sorry came so late, as there are very pretty things in
it: but I believe it would be very improper to produce it now, as
the two others have been spoken.
I am sorry you are discontent with there being no standing figure
of Alphonso, and that I acquiesced in its being cumbent. I did
certainly yield, and I think my reasons will justify me. In the
first place, you seemed to have made a distinction between the
statue and the tomb; and, had both been represented, they would
have made a confusion. But a more urgent reason for my
compliance was the shortness of the time, which did not allow the
preparation of an entire new scene, as I proposed last year and
this, nay, and mentioned it to Mr. Harris. When I came to the
house to see the scene prepared, it was utterly impossible to
adjust an erect figure to it; nor, indeed, do I conceive, were
the scene disposed as you recommend, how Adelaide could be
stabbed behind the scenes. As I never disguise the truth, I must
own,.-for I did think myself so much obliged to Mr. Harris,--that
I was unwilling to heap difficulties on him, when I did not think
they would hurt your piece. I fortunately was not mistaken: the
entrance of Adelaide wounded had the utmost effect, and I believe
much greater than would have resulted from her being stabbed on
the stage. In short, the success has been so complete, and both
your poetry and the conduct of the tragedy are so much and so
justly admired, that I flatter myself you will not blame me for
what has not produced the smallest inconvenience. Both the
manager and the actors were tractable, I believe, beyond example;
and it is my nature to bear some contradiction, when it will
carry material points. The very morning, the only morning, I had
to settle the disposition, I had another difficulty to
reconcile,-the competition of the two epilogues, which I was so
lucky as to compromise too. I will say nothing of my being three
hours each time, on two several days, in a cold theatre with the
gout on me; and perhaps it was too natural to give up a few
points in order to get home, for which I ask your pardon. Yet
the event shows that I have not injured you and if I was in one
instance impatient, I flatter myself that my solicitations to Mr.
Harris and Miss Younge, and the zeal I have shown to serve you,
will atone for my having in one moment thought of myself, and
then only when the reasons that weighed with me were so
plausible, that without a totally new scene, which the time would
not allow, I do not see how they could have been obviated. Your
tragedy, Sir, has taken such a rank upon the stage, that one may
reasonably hope it will hereafter be represented with all the
decorations to your mind; and I admire it so truly, that I shall
be glad to have it conducted by an abler mechanist than your
obedient humble servant.
(457) Now first collected.