[299] William Strahan (1715-1785), Printer to His Majesty, was
at this time M.P. for Malmesbury. At the election of 1780 he
was returned for Wootton Bassett; but did not seek re-election
after the dissolution in 1784. He purchased in 1770 from Mr.
Eyre a share in the King's Patent as a printer. His character
is sketched in Nichols' _Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth
Century_, vol. iii. pp. 390-397.
[300] General Fraser (1726-1782), the eldest son of the Simon,
Lord Lovat, who was executed in 1747, was himself included in
the Act of Attainder for his share in the '45. Pardoned in 1750,
he raised a regiment of Highlanders (afterwards the 78th), and
commanded it in Canada during the Seven Years' War. He became
a major-general in 1771. Three years later, the estates which
his father's treason had forfeited were restored to him, in
consideration of his services in the late war. He was M.P. for
Inverness from 1761 to 1782. He married Miss Catherine Bristow,
who survived him many years.
[301] Charles James Fox was Clerk of the Pells in Ireland. The
place was purchased from him by the Government, who conferred it
upon Charles Jenkinson in order that the latter might vacate his
office of Vice-Treasurer of Ireland in favour of Henry Flood.
259.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Bentinck Street, August 1st, 1775.
*Your apprehensions of a precipitate work, &c., are perfectly
groundless. I should be much more addicted to a contrary extreme.
The _head_ is now printing? true, but it was wrote last year and
the year before, the first Chapter has been composed _de nouveau
three times_; the second _twice_, and all the others have undergone
reviews, corrections, &c. As to the tail, it is perfectly formed and
digested (and were I so much given to self-content and haste), it is
almost all written. The ecclesiastical part, for instance, is written
out in fourteen sheets, which I mean to _refondre_ from beginning to
end. As to the friendly Critic, it is very difficult to find one who
has leisure, candour, freedom, and knowledge sufficient. However,
Batt and Deyverdun have read and observed. After all, the public
is the best Critic. I print no more than 500 copies of the first
Edition; and the second (as it happens frequently to my betters) may
receive many improvements. So much for Rome.* Now for Ireland. I am
desired to consult you about Lord Ely[302] who (between ourselves)
pays his court to a niece of Eliot's. His fortune is very large, he
is a widower, and as we hear behaved well in his first place; but we
wish to get an impartial account of his general character, manners,
inclinations, virtues and defects. Can you give or procure it?
[Sidenote: NOTHING NEW FROM AMERICA].
*We have nothing new from America. But I can venture to assure you,
that administration is now as unanimous and decided as the occasion
requires. Something will be done this year; but in the spring
the force of the country will be exerted to the utmost. Scotch
highlanders, Irish papists, Hanoverians, Canadians, Indians, &c. will
all in various shapes be employed. Parliament meets the first week
in November. I think his Catholic Majesty may be satisfied with his
summer's amusement. The Spaniards fought with great bravery, and made
a fine retreat; but our Algerine friends surpassed them as much in
conduct as in number.[303] Adieu.
The Dutchess[304] has stopped Foote's piece. She sent for him to
Kingston house and threatened, bribed, argued, and wept for about
two hours. He assured her that if the Chamberlain was obstinate, he
should publish it with a dedication to her Grace.*
[302] Lord Ely married, on September 18, 1775, the daughter of
the late Captain Hugh Bonfoy, R.N., and Mrs. Bonfoy (_née_ Anne
Eliot).
[303] A great expedition against the Barbary States was organized
by the Spaniards, and on July 2, 1775, a powerful fleet landed
their army at Algiers. After a fight of thirteen hours the
Spaniards were obliged to retreat.
[304] The famous Duchess of Kingston, formerly Miss Chudleigh,
married the Duke of Kingston, while her first husband, Augustus
Hervey, then a lieutenant in the navy, afterwards (1775) Earl
of Bristol, was living. She was tried for bigamy and convicted
in 1776. Foote proposed to tell her story in a play called _A
Trip to Calais_, and to introduce her under the name of "Kitty
Crocodile." Lord Hertford, as Chamberlain, interdicted the piece,
which Foote brought out in 1777 as _The Capuchin_.
260.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Bentinck Street, August 4th, 1775.
A _vue de pays_, I should have reached S. P. the first week in
September. If you visit Sir John [Russell] about that time, you and
My Lady will of course lodge in Bentinck Street, and in your return
I may condescend to accompany you. _Gage is recalled._[305] Good men
rejoice. Patriots murmur. Adieu.