me a good fire and some excellent coffee and bread and butter, and I am as comfortable as possible, except in having missed you.  She insists on acquainting you, which makes me write this to prevent your coming; for as I must depart at twelve o’clock to-morrow, it would be dragging you home before your time for only half an hour, and I have too much regard for Lord Guildford to deprive him of your company.  Don’t therefore think of making this unnecessary compliment.  I have treated your house like an inn, and it will not be friendly, if you do not make as free with me.  I had much rather that you would take it for a visit that you ought to repay.  Make my best compliments to your brother and Lord Guildford, and pity me for the six dreadful days that I am going to pass.  Rosette is fast asleep in your chair, or I am sure she would write a postscript.  I cannot say she is either commanded or invited to be of this royal party; but have me, have my dog.

I must not forget to thank you for mentioning Mrs. Wetenhall, on whom I should certainly wait with great pleasure, but have no manner of intention of going into Cheshire.  There is not a chair or stool in Cholmondeley, and my nephew, I believe, will pull it down.  He has not a fortune to furnish or inhabit it; and, if his uncle should leave him one, he would choose a pleasanter country.  Adieu!  Don’t be formal with me, and don’t trouble your hand about yours ever.

Letter 8 To George Montagu, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, Saturday night, July 7, 1770. (page 33)

After making an inn of your house, it is but decent to thank you for my entertainment, and to acquaint you with the result of my journey.  The party passed off much better than I expected.  A Princess at the Heart of a very small set for five days together did not promise well.  However, she was very good-humoured and easy, and dispensed with a large quantity of etiquette.  Lady Temple is good-nature itself, my lord was very civil, Lord Besborough is made to suit all sorts of people, Lady Mary Coke respects royalty too much not to be very condescending, Lady Anne Howard(12) and Mrs. Middleton filled up the drawing-room, or rather made it out, and I was so determined to carry it off as well as I could, and happened to be in such good spirits, and took such care to avoid politics, that we laughed a great deal, and had not one cloud the whole time.

We breakfasted at half an hour after nine; but the Princess did not appear till it was finished; then we walked in the garden, or drove about in cabriolets, till it was time to dress; dined at three, which, though properly proportioned to the smallness of company to avoid ostentation, lasted a vast While, as the Princess eats and talks a great deal; then again into the garden till past seven, when we came in, drank tea and coffee, and played at pharaoh till ten, when the Princess retired, and we went to supper, and before