[124] In 1769 John Baker Holroyd purchased from Lord de la Warr
the estate of Sheffield Place in Sussex.
[125] Richard Cambridge (1717-1802) married in 1741 Miss
Trenchard, and in 1751 settled at Twickenham in a villa which
became the resort of many of the most distinguished men of the
day. In 1751 he published the _Scribleriad_, a poem in six books,
and from 1753 to 1756 wrote essays for the _World_. He was an
intimate friend and old schoolfellow of Dr. Cooke, the father of
Mrs. Way, sister-in-law to Mrs. Holroyd. Gibbon, accepting one of
Mr. Cambridge's invitations to Twickenham, speaks of the Thames
as an "amiable creature." On his way he was upset into the water,
and obliged to return home. The ducking was, said Cambridge to
Miss Burney, "God's revenge against conceit" (Madame d'Arblay,
_Diary and Letters_, ii. 278).
[126] On October 2, 1769, the _Annual Register_ notes that "part
of the Russian fleet cast anchor at the mouth of the Humber.
The whole fleet, consisting of twenty ships of the line, is to
rendezvous at Spithead, where one or two straggling ships are
already arrived. This fleet was separated in a storm, but has
received no considerable damage."
[Sidenote: LETTERS OF JUNIUS]
71.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Boodle's, Ten o'Clock, Thursday Evening.
[Dec. 1769.]
*DEAR HOLROYD,
My schemes with regard to you have been entirely disapointed. The
business that called me to town was not ready before the 20th of
last month, and the same business has kept me here till now. I have,
however, a very strong inclination to eat a Christmas Mince-pye with
you; and let me tell you that inclination is no small Compliment.
What are the trees and waters of Sheffield-place compared with the
comfortable smoke, lazy dinners, and inflammatory Junius's, which
we can every day enjoy in town? You have seen the last Junius?[127]
He calls on the distant Legions to march to the Capital, and free
us from the tyranny of the Prætorian Guards: I cannot answer for
the ghost of the '_Hic & ubiques_,' but the Hampshire Militia are
determined to keep the peace for fear of a broken head.*--After all,
do I mean to make a visit next week? Upon my soul I cannot tell. I
tell every body that I shall. I know that I cannot pass the week with
any man in the world, with whom the pleasure of seeing each other,
will be more sincere or more reciprocal. Yet between you and [me] I
do not believe that I shall be able to get out of this town before
you come into it. At all events I look forwards with Great impatience
to Bruton Street and the Romans.
Believe me,
Most truly yours,
E. GIBBON.
[127] The letters signed "Junius" began to appear in the _Public
Advertiser_ on January 21, 1769: the last was published on
January 21, 1772. The letter to which Gibbon alludes is that
dated December 19, 1769, addressed to the king. "The prætorian
bands, enervated and debauched as they were, had still strength
enough to awe the Roman populace; but when the distant legions
took the alarm, they marched to Rome and gave away the empire."
The point of the allusion is the case of Major-General Gansel
(September 21, 1769), who, after being arrested for debt, was
rescued by a sergeant and file of musqueteers, acting under
command of an officer of the Guards.
72.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Pall-Mall, December 25th, 1769.