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.