limited to killing their neighbour’s cow, or crucifying dolls of wax.  For my own part, I am so far from being out of charity with him, that I would give him a nag or new broom whenever he has a mind to ride to the Antiquarian sabbat, and preach against me.  Though you have more cause to be angry, laugh -,it him as I do.  One has not life enough to throw away on all the fools and knaves that come across one.  I have often been attacked, and never replied but to Mr. Hume and Dr. Milles—­to the first, because he had a name; to the second, because he had a mind to have one:—­and yet I was in the wrong, for it was the only way he could attain one.  In truth, it is being too self-interested, to expose only one’s private antagonists, when one lets worse men pass unmolested.  Does a booby hurt me by an attack on me, more than by any other foolish thing he does?  Does not he tease me more by any thing he says to me, without attacking me, than by any thing he says against me behind my back?  I shall, therefore, most certainly never inquire after or read Mr. C. C. C. C.’s criticism, but leave him to oblivion with her Grace of Norfolk, and our wise society.  As I doubt my own writings will soon be forgotten, I need not fear that those of my answerers will be remembered.

(34) There is a note on this letter in Cole’s handwriting.  Mr. Mason had informed him, that Mr. Masters had lately read a paper at the Antiquarian Society against some mistake of Mr. Walpole’s respective a Duchess of Norfolk; and he adds, “This I informed Mr. Walpole of in my letter, and said something to him of Masters’ extortion in making me pay forty pounds towards the repairing his vicarage-house at Waterbeche, which he pretended he had fitted up for my reception.”

Letter 25 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.(35) Strawberry Hill, June 17, 1771. (page 48)

I was very sure you would grant my request, if you could, and I am perfectly satisfied with your reasons; but I do not believe the parties concerned will be so too, especially the heads of the family, who are not so ready to serve their relations at their own expense as gratis.  When I see you I will tell you more, and what I thought I had told you.

You tax me with four days in Bedfordshire; I was but three at most, and of those the evening I went, and the morning I came away, made the third day.  I will try to see you before I go.  The Edgcumbes I should like and Lady Lyttelton, but Garrick does not tempt me at all.  I have no taste for his perpetual buffoonery, and am sick of his endless expectation of flattery; but you who charge me with making a long visit to Lord and Lady Ossory,—­you do not see the mote in your own eye; at least I am sure Lady Ailesbury does not see that in hers.  I could not obtain a single day from her all last year, and with difficulty got her to give me a few hours this.  There is always an indispensable pheasantry that must be visited, or some thing from which she cannot spare four-and-twenty hours.  Strawberry sets this down in its pocket-book. and resents the neglect.