Books: Letters of Horace Walpole, V4

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(15) Amelia, daughter of William Watts, Esq. formerly governor
of Fort William, in Bengal.-E.

Letter 13 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill, Oct. 3, 1770. (page 38)

I am going on in the sixth week of my fit, and having had a
return this morning in my knee, I cannot flatter myself with
any approaching prospect of recovery. The gate of painful age
seems open to me, and I must travel through it as I may! If
you have not written one word for another, I am at a loss to
understand you. You say you have taken a house in London for a
year, that you are gone to Waldeshare for six months, and then
shall come for the winter. Either you mean six weeks, or
differ with most people in reckoning April the beginning of
winter. I hope your pen was in a hurry, rather than your
calculation so uncommon; I certainly shall be glad of your
residing in London. I have long wished to live nearer to you,
but it was in happier days. I am now so dismayed by these
returns of gout, that I can promise myself few comforts in any
future scenes of my life.

I am much obliged to Lord Guildford and Lord North, and was
very sorry that the latter came to see Strawberry in so bad a
day, and when I was so extremely ill, and full of pain, that I
scarce knew he was here; and as my coachman was gone to London,
to fetch me bootikins, there was no carriage to offer him; but,
indeed, in the condition I then was, I was not capable of doing
any of the honours of my house, suffering at once in my hand,
knee, and both feet. I am still lifted out of bed by two
servants; and by their help travel from my bedchamber down to
the couch in my blue room; but I shall conclude, rather than
tire you with so unpleasant a history. Adieu! Yours ever.

Letter 14 To George Montagu, Esq.
Arlington Street, Oct. 16, 1770. (page 39)

At last I have been able to remove to London; but though long
weeks are gone and over since I was seized, I am only able to
creep about upon a flat floor, but cannot go up and down
stairs. However, I have patience, as I can at least fetch a
book for myself', instead of having a servant bring me a wrong
one. I am much obliged to Lord Guildford for his goodness to
me, and beg my thanks to him. When you go to Canterbury, pray
don't wake the Black Prince. I am very unwarlike, and desire
to live the rest of my time upon the stock of glory I saved to
my share Out Of the last war. I know not more news than I did
at Strawberry; there are not more people in town than I saw
there, and I intend to return thither on Friday or Saturday.
Adieu! Yours ever.

Letter 15 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Arlington Street, Oct. 16, 1770. (page 39)

Though I have so very little to say, it is but my duty, my dear
lord, to thank you for your extreme goodness to me and your
inquiring after me. I was very bad again last week, but have
mended so much since Friday night, that I really now believe
the fit is over. I came to town on Sunday, and can creep about
my room even without a stick, which is more felicity to me than
if I had got a white one. I do not aim yet at such preferment
as walking up stairs; but having moulted my stick, I flatter
myself I shall come forth again without being lame. The few I
have seen tell me there is nobody else in town. That is no
grievance to me, when I should be at the mercy of all that
should please to bestow their idle time upon me. I know
nothing of the war-egg, but that sometimes it is to be hatched
and sometimes to be addled.(16) Many folks get into the nest,
and sit as hard upon it as they can, concluding it will produce
a golden chick. As I shall not be a feather the better for it,
I hate that game-breed, and prefer the old hen Peace and her
dunghill brood. My compliments to my lady and all her poultry.

(16) The dispute with Spain relative to the possession of the
Falkland Islands, had led to a considerable augmentation both
of the army and navy; which gave an appearance of authenticity
to the rumours of war which were now in circulation.-E.

Letter 16 To The Earl Of Charlemont.(17)
Arlington Street, Oct. 17, 1770. (page 40)

My lord,
I am very glad your lordship resisted your disposition to make
me an apology for doing me a great honour; for, if you had not,
the Lord knows where I should have found words to have made a
proper return. Still you have left me greatly in your debt.
It is very kind to remember me, and kinder to honour me with
your commands: they shall be zealously obeyed to the utmost of
my little credit; for an artist that your lordship patronises
will, I imagine, want little recommendation, besides his own
talents. It does not look, indeed, like very prompt obedience,
when I am yet guessing only at Mr. Jervais's merit; but though
he has lodged himself within a few doors of me, I have not been
able to get to him, having been confined near two months with
the gout, and still keeping my house. My first visit shall be
to gratify my duty and curiosity. I am sorry to say, and beg
your lordship's pardon for the confession, that, however high
an opinion I have of your taste in the arts, I do not equally
respect your judgment in books. it is in truth a defect that
you have in common with the two great men who are the
respective models of our present parties--

"The hero William, and the martyr Charles."

You know what happened to them after patronising Kneller and
Bernini--

"One knighted Blackmore, and one pensioned Quarles."

After so saucy an attack, my lord, it is time to produce my
proof. It lies in your own postscript, where you express a
curiosity to see a certain tragedy, with a hint that the other
works of the same author have found favour in your sight, and
that the piece ought to have been sent to you. But, my lord,
even your approbation has not made that author vain; and for
the lay in question, it has so many perils to encounter, that
it never thinks of producing itself. It peeped out of its
lurking corner once or twice; and one of those times, by the
negligence of a friend, had like to have been, what is often
pretended in prefaces, stolen, and consigned to the press.
When your lordship comes to England, which, for every reason
but that, I hope will be Soon, you shall certainly see it; and
will then allow, I am sure. how improper it would be for the
author to risk its appearance in public. However, unworthy as
that author may be, from his talents, of your lordship's
favour, do not let its demerits be confounded with the esteem
and attachment with which he has the honour to be, my lord,
your lordship's most devoted servant.

(17) James Caulfield, Earl of Charlemont, an Irish nobleman,
distinguished for his literary taste and patriotism. Of him
Mr. Burke said, ,He is a man of such polished manners, of a
mind so truly adorned and disposed to the adoption of whatever
is excellent and praiseworthy, that to see and converse with
him would alone induce me, or might induce any one who relishes
such qualities, to pay a visit to Ireland." He died in 1799,
and in 1810, his Memoirs were published by Francis Hardy, Esq.
in a quarto volume.-E.

Letter 17 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Nov. 15, 1770. ((page 41)

Dear sir,
If you have not engaged your interest in Cambridgeshire, you
will oblige me much by bestowing it on young Mr. Brand, the son
of my particular acquaintance, and our old schoolfellow. I am
very unapt to trouble my head about elections, but wish success
to this.

If you see Bannerman, I should be glad you would tell him that
I am going to print the last volume of my Painters, and should
like to employ him again for some of the heads, if he cares to
undertake them: though there will be a little trouble as he
does not reside in London. I am in a hurry, and am forced to
be brief, but am always glad to hear of you, and from you.
Yours most sincerely.

letter 18 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Nov. 20, 1770. (page 41)

I believe our letters crossed one another without knowing it.
Mine, it seems, was quite unnecessary, for I find Mr. Brand has
given up the election. Yours was very kind and obliging, as
they always are. Pray be so good as to thank Mr. Tyson for me
a thousand times; I am vastly pleased with his work, and hope
he will give me another of the plates for my volume of heads
(for I shall bind up his present), and I by no means relinquish
his promise of a complete set of his etchings, and of a visit
to Strawberry Hill. Why should it not be with you and Mr.
Essex, whom I shall be very glad to see--but what do you talk
of a single day? Is that all you allow me in two years?

I rejoice to see Mr. Bentham's advertisement at last. I depend
on you, dear Sir, for procuring me his book(18) the instant it
is possible to have it. Pray make my compliments to all that
good family. I am enraged, and almost in despair, at Pearson
the glass-painter, he is so idle and dissolute. He has done
very little of the window, though what he has done is glorious,
and approaches very nearly to Price.

My last volume of Painters begins to be printed this week; but,
as the plates are not begun, I doubt it will be long before the
whole is ready. I mentioned to you in my last Thursday's
letter a hint about Bannerman, the engraver. Adieu!

(18) The "History and Antiquities of the Conventual and
Cathedral Church at Ely," which appeared in the following
year.-E.

Letter 19 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Dec. 20, 1770. (page 42)

Dear Sir
I am very zealous, as you know, for the work; but I agree with
you in expecting very little success from the plan.(19)
Activity is the best implement in such undertakings, and that
seems to be wanting; and, without that, it were vain to think
of who would be at the expense. I do not know whether it were
not best that Mr. Essex should publish his remarks as simply as
he can. For my own part, I can do no more than I have done,-
-sketch out the plan. I grow too old, and am grown too
indolent, to engage in any more works: nor have I time. I wish
to finish some things I have by me, and to have done. The last
volume of my Anecdotes, of which I was tired, is completed and
with them I shall take my leave of publications. The last
years of one's life are fit for nothing but idleness and quiet,
and I am as indifferent to fame as to politics.

I can be of as little use to Mr. Granger in recommending him to
the Antiquarian Society. I dropped my attendance there four or
five years ago, from being sick of their ignorance and
stupidity, and have not been three times amongst them since.
They have chosen to expose their dullness to the world, and
crowned it with Dean Milles's(20) nonsense. I have written a
little answer to the last, which you shall see, and then wash
my hands of them.

To say the truth, I have no very sanguine expectation about the
Ely window. The glass-painter, though admirable, proves a very
idle worthless fellow, and has yet scarce done any thing of
consequence. I gave Dr. Nichols notice of his character, but
found him apprised of it. The Doctor, however, does not
despair, but pursues him warmly. I wish it may succeed!

If you go over to Cambridge, be so good as to ask Mr. Grey when
he proposes being in town; he talked of last month. I must beg
you, too, to thank Mr. Tyson for his last letter. I can say
no more to the Plan than I have said. If he and Mr. Essex
should like to come to town, I shall be very willing to talk it
over with them, but I can by no means think of engaging in any
part of the composition.

These holidays I hope to have time to arrange my drawings, and
give bannerman some employment towards my book, but I am in no
hurry to have it appear, as it speaks of times so recent; for
though I have been very tender of not hurting any living
relations of the artists, the latter were in general so
indifferent, that I doubt their families will not be very well
content with the coldness of the praises I have been able to
bestow. This reason, with my unwillingness to finish the work,
and the long interval between the composition of this and the
other volumes, have, I doubt, made the greatest part a very
indifferent performance. An author, like other mechanics,
never does well when he is tired of his profession.

I have been told that, besides Mr. Tyson, there are two other
gentlemen engravers at Cambridge. I think their names are
Sharp or Show, and Cobbe, but I am not at all sure of either.
I should be glad, however, if I could procure any of their
portraits; and I do not forget that I am already in your debt.
Boydell is going to recommence a suite of illustrious heads,
and I am to give him a list of indubitable portraits of
remarkable persons that have never been engraved; but I have
protested against his receiving two sorts; the one, any old
head of a family, when the person was moderately considerable;
the other, spurious or doubtful heads; both sorts apt to be
sent in by families who wish to crowd -their own names into the
work; as was the case more than once in Houbraken's set, and of
which honest Vertue often complained to me. The Duke of
Buckingham, Carr, Earl of Somerset, and Thurloe, in that list,
are absolutely not genuine--the first is John Digby Earl of
Bristol. Yours ever.

(19) Mr. Essex's projected History of Gothic Architecture.
See vol. iii. Letter 366 to the Rev. Mr. Cole, Aug. 12,
1769.-E.

(20) Dr. Jeremiah Milles, dean of Exeter, many years president
of the Antiquarian Society. He engaged ardently in the
Chatterton controversy, and published the whole of the poems
purporting to be written by Rowley, with a glossary; thereby
proving himself a fit subject for that chef-d'oeuvre of wit and
poetry, the Archaeological Epistle, written by Mason.
Walpole's answer is entitled, "Reply to the Observations on the
Remarks of the Rev. Dr. Milles, Dean of Exeter and President
of the Society of Antiquaries, on the Wardrobe Account of 1483,
etc." It is inserted in the second volume of his collected
Works-E.

Letter 20 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Arlington Street, Christmas-day. (page 43)

If poplar-pines ever grow,(21) it must be in such a soaking
season as this. I wish you would send half-a-dozen by some
Henley barge to meet me next Saturday at Strawberry Hill, that
they may be as tall as the Monument by next summer. My
cascades give themselves the airs of cataracts, and Mrs. Clive
looks like the sun rising out of the ocean. Poor Mr.
Raftor(22) is tired to death of their solitude; and, as his
passion is walking, he talks with rapture of the brave rows of
lamps all along the street, just as I used formerly to think no
trees beautiful without lamps to them, like those at Vauxhall.

As I came to town but to dinner, and have not seen a soul, I do
not KNOW whether there is any news. I am just going to the
Princess,(23) where I shall hear all there is. I went to King
Arthur(24) on Saturday, and was tired to death, both of the
nonsense of the piece and the execrable performance, the
singers being still worse than the actors. The scenes are
little better (though Garrick boasts of rivalling the French
Opera,) except a pretty bridge, and a Gothic church with
windows of painted glass. This scene, which should be a
barbarous temple of Woden, is a perfect cathedral, and the
devil officiates at a kind of high-mass! I never saw greater
absurdities. Adieu!

(21) The first poplar-pine (or, as they have since been called,
Lombardy poplar) planted in England was at Park-place, on the
bank of the river near the great arch. It was a cutting
brought from Turin by Lord Rochford in his carriage, and
planted by General Conway's own hand.

(22) Brother of Mrs. Clive. He had been an actor himself, and,
when his sister retired from the stage, lived with her in the
house Mr. Walpole had given her at Twickenham.

(23( The Princess Amelia.

(24) Dryden's dramatic opera of King Arthur, or the British
Worthy, altered by Garrick, was this year brought out at Drury
Lane, and, by the aid of scenery, was very successful.-E.

Letter 21 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Arlington Street, Dec. 29, 1770. (page 44)

The trees came safe: I thank you for them: they are gone to
Strawberry, and I am going to plant them. This paragraph would
not call for a letter, but I have news for you of importance
enough to dignify a despatch. The Duc de Choiseul is fallen!
The express from Lord Harcourt arrived yesterday morning; the
event happened last Monday night, and the courier set out so
immediately, that not many particulars are yet known. The Duke
was allowed but three hours to prepare himself, and ordered to
retire to his seat at Chanteloup: but some letters say, "il ira
plus loin." The Duc de Praslin is banished, too, and Chatelet
is forbidden to visit Choiseul. Chatelet was to have had the
marine; and I am Sure is no loss to us. The Chevalier de Muy
is made secretary of state pour la guerre;(25) and it is
concluded that the Duc d'Aiguillon is prime-minister, but was
not named so in the first hurry. There! there is a revolution!
there is a new scene opened! Will it advance the war? Will it
make peace? These are the questions all mankind is asking.
This whale has swallowed up all gudgeon-questions. Lord
Harcourt writes, that the d'Aiguillonists had officiously taken
opportunities of assuring him, that if they prevailed it would
be peace; but in this country we know that opponents turned
ministers can change their language It is added, that the
morning of Choiseul's banishment'(26) the King said to him,
"Monsieur, je vous ai dit que je ne voulais point la guerre."
Yet how does this agree with Franc`es's(27) eager protestations
that Choiseul's fate depended on preserving the peace? How
does it agree with the Comptroller-general's offer of finding
funds for the war, and of Choiseul's proving he could not?--But
how reconcile half the politics one hears? De Guisnes and
Franc`es sent their excuses to the Duchess of Argyle last
night; and I suppose the Spaniards, too; for none of them were
there.--Well! I shall let all this bustle cool for two days;
for what Englishman does not sacrifice any thing to go his
Saturday out of town? And yet I am very much interested in
this event; I feel much for Madame de Choiseul, though nothing
for her Corsican husband; but I am in the utmost anxiety for my
dear old friend,(28) who passed every evening with the Duchess,
and was thence in great credit; and what is worse, though
nobody, I think, can be savage enough to take away her pension,
she may find great difficulty to get it paid--and then her poor
heart is so good and warm, that this blow on her friends, at
her great age, may kill her.(29) I have had no letter, nor had
last post--whether it was stopped, or whether she apprehended
the event, as I imagine--for every one observed, on Tuesday
night, at your brother's, that Franc`es could not open his
mouth. In short, I am most seriously alarmed about her.

You have seen in the papers the designed arrangements in the
law.(30) They now say there is some hitch; but I suppose it
turns on some demands, and so will be got over by their being
granted. Mr. Mason, the bard, gave me yesterday, the enclosed
memorial, and begged I would recommend it to you. It is in
favour of a very ingenious painter. Adieu! the sun shines
brightly; but it is one o'clock, and it will be set before I
get to Twickenham. Yours ever.

(25) The Chevalier, afterwards Mar`echal de Muy, was offered
that place, but declined it. He eventually filled it in the
early part of the reign of Louis XVI.-E.

(26) The Duc de Choiseul was dismissed from the ministry
through the intrigues of Madame du Barry, who accused him of an
improper correspondence with Spain.-- E.

(27) Then charg`e des affaires from the French court in London.

(28) It appears by Madame du Deffand's Letters to Walpole, that
she had addressed to him, on the 27th of December, one of
considerable length, filled with details relative to the
dismissal of the Duc de Choiseul, which took place on the 24th,
and the appointment of his successor; but this letter is
unfortunately lost.-E.

(29) By the reduction which the Abb`e de Terrai, when he first
entered upon the controle g`en`eral, made upon all pensions,
Madame du Deffand had lost three thousand livres of income. To
her letter of the 2d of February 1771, announcing this
diminution, Walpole made the following generous reply:--"Je ne
saurois souffrir une telle diminution de votre bien. O`u
voulez-vous faire des retranchemens? O`u est-il possible que
vous en fassiez? Ne daignez pas fire un pas, s'il n'est pas
fait, pour remplacer vos trois Mille livres. Ayez assez
d'amiti`e pour moi pour les accepter de ma part. Accordez-moi,
je vous conjure, la gr`ace, que je vous demande aux genoux, et
jouissez de la satisfaction de vous dire, j'ai un ami qui ne
permettra jamais que je me jette aux pieds des grands. Ma
Petite, j'insiste."-E.

(30) Mr. Bathurst was created Lord Apsley, and appointed Lord
Chancellor; Sir William de Grey was made Chief Justice of the
Common Pleas; Mr. Thurlow, attorney-general and Mr. Wedderburn,
solicitor-general.-E.

Letter 22 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Jan. 10, 1771. (page 45)

As I am acquainted with Mr. Paul Sandby, the brother of the
architect,(31) I asked him if there was a design, as I had
heard, of making a print or prints of King's College Chapel, by
the King's order'! He answered directly, by no means. His
brother made a general sketch of the chapel for the use of the
lectures he reads on architecture at the Royal Academy. Thus,
dear Sir, Mr. Essex may be perfectly easy that there is no
intention of interfering with his work. I then mentioned to
Mr. Sandby Mr. Essex's plan, which he much approved, but said
the plates would cost a great sum. The King, he thought, would
be inclined to patronise the work; but I own I do not know how
to get it laid before him. His own artists would probably
discourage any scheme that might entrench on their own
advantages. Mr. Thomas Sandby, the architect, is the only one
of them I am acquainted with; and Mr. Essex must think whether
he would like to let him into any participation of the work.
If I can get any other person to mention it to his Majesty, I
will; but you know me, and that I have always kept clear of
connexions with courts and ministers, and have no interest with
either, and perhaps my recommendation might do as much hurt as
good, especially as the artists in favour might be jealous Of
One who understands a little of their professions, and is apt
to say what he thinks. In truth, there is another danger,
which is that they might not assist Mr. Essex without views of
profiting of his labours. I am slightly acquainted with Mr.
Chambers,(32) the architect, and have a good opinion of him: if
Mr. Essex approves my communicating his plan to him or Mr.
Sandby, I should think it more likely to succeed by their
intervention, than by any lord of the court; for, at last, the
King would certainly take the opinion of his artists. When you
have talked this over with Mr. Essex, let me know the result.
Till he has determined, there can be no use in Mr. Essex's
coming to town.

Mr. Gray will bring down some of my drawings to Bannerman, and
when you go over to Cambridge, I will beg you now and then to
supervise him. For Mr. Bentham's book, I rather despair of it;
and should it ever appear, he will have had people expect it
too long, which will be of no service to it, though I do not
doubt of its merit. Mr. Gray will show you my answer to"Dr.
Milles.(33) Yours ever.

(31) Paul Sandby, the well-known artist in water-colours, was
brother to Thomas Sandby, who was professor of architecture in
the Royal Academy of London.-E.

(32) Afterwards Sir William Chambers, author of the well-known
"Treatise on Civil Architecture;" a "Dissertation on Oriental
Gardening," etc. In 1775, he was appointed to superintend the
building of Somerset-house, in the Strand.-E.

(33) In the early part of this year, Walpole's house in
Arlington-street was broke open, without his servants being
alarmed; all the locks forced off his drawers, cabinets, etc.
their contents scattered about the rooms, and yet nothing taken
away. In her letter of the 3d of April, Madame du Deffand
says, "Votre aventure fait tenir ici toute sorte de propos: les
uns disent que l'on vous soup`connait d'avoir une
correspondence secr`ete avec M. de Choiseul.-E.

Letter 23 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, May 29, 1771. (page 46)

Dear Sir,
I have but time to write you a line, that I may not detain Mr.
Essex, who is so good as to take charge of this note, and of a
box, which I am sure will give you pleasure, and I beg may give
you a little trouble. It contains the very valuable seven
letters of Edward the sixth to Barnaby Fitzpatrick. Lord
Ossory, to whom they belong, has lent them to me to print, but
to facilitate that, and to prevent their being rubbed or hurt
by the printer, I must entreat your exactness to copy them, and
return them with the copies. I need not desire your particular
care; for you value these things as much as I do, and will be
able to make them out better than I can do, from being so much
versed in old writing. Forgive my taking this liberty with
you, which, I flatter myself, will not be disagreeable. Mr.
Essex and Mr. Tyson dined with me at Strawberry Hill; but could
not stay so long as I wished. The party would have been still
more agreeable if you had made a fourth. Adieu! dear Sir,
yours ever.