(135) Mademoiselle de l’Espinasse, the friend of D’Alembert, born at Lyons in 1732, was the natural child of Mademoiselle d’Albon, whose legitimate daughter was married to the Marquis de Vichy.  After the death of her mother, she resided with Monsieur and Madame de Vichy; but in consequence of some disagreements, left them, and in May 1754, went to reside with Madame du Deffand, with whom she remained until 1764.  The letters of Mademoiselle de l’Espinasse were published some few years since.-E.

Letter 75 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, Oct. 11, 1774. (page 105)

Dear Sir, I answer yours immediately; as one pays a shilling to clench a bargain, when one suspects the seller.  I accept your visit in the last week of this month, and will prosecute you if you do not execute.  I have nothing to say about elections, but that I congratulate myself ,every time I feel I have nothing to do with them.  By my nephew’s strange conduct about his boroughs, and by many other reasons, I doubt whether he is so well as he seemed to Dr. Barnardiston.  It is a subject I do not love to talk on; but I know I tremble every time the bell rings at my gate at an unusual hour.

Have you seen Mr. Granger’s Supplement?  Methinks it grows too diffuse.  I have hinted to him that fewer panegyrics from funeral orations would not hurt it.  Adieu!

Letter 76 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  Strawberry Hill, Sunday, Oct. 16, 1774. (page 106)

I received this morning your letter of the 6th from Strasburg; and before you get this you will have had three from me by Lady Ailesbury.  One of them should have reached you much sooner; but Lady Ailesbury kept it, not being sure where you was.  It was in answer to one in which you told me an anecdote, which in this last you ask if I had received.

Your letters are always so welcome to me, that you certainly have no occasion for excusing what you say or do not say.  Your details amuse me, and so would what you suppress; for, though I have no military genius or curiosity, whatever relates to yourself must interest me.  The honours you have received, though I have so little taste for such things myself, gave me great satisfaction; and I do not know whether there is not more pleasure in not being a prophet in one’s own country, when one is almost received like Mahomet in every other.  To be an idol at home, is no assured touchstone of merit.  Stocks and stones have been adored in fifty regions, but do not bear transplanting.  The Apollo Belvidere and the Hercules Farnese may lose their temples, but never lose their estimation, by travelling.