Our next monarch [George IV.] was christened last night, George Augustus Frederick; the Princess, the Duke of Cumberland, and Duke of Mecklenburgh, sponsors; the ceremony performed by the Bishop of London.  The Queen’s bed, magnificent, and they say in taste, was placed in the great drawing-room:  though she is not to see company in form, yet it looks as if they had intended people should have been there, as all who presented themselves were admitted, which were very few, for it had not been notified; I suppose to prevent too great a crowd:  all I have heard named, besides those in waiting, were the Duchess of Queensberry, Lady Dalkeith, Mrs. Grenville, and about four more ladies.

TREASURES FROM THE HAVANNAH—­THE ROYAL VISIT TO ETON—­DEATH OF LADY MARY—­CONCEALMENT OF HER WORKS—­VOLTAIRE’S “UNIVERSAL HISTORY."

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

STRAWBERRY HILL, Oct. 3, 1762.

I am now only the peace in your debt, for here is the Havannah.  Here it is, following despair and accompanied by glory, riches, and twelve ships-of-the-line; not all in person, for four are destroyed.  The booty—­that is an undignified term—­I should say, the plunder, or the spoils, which is a more classic word for such heroes as we are, amounts to at least a million and a half.  Lord Albemarle’s share will be about L140,000.  I wish I knew how much that makes in talents or great sesterces.  What to me is better than all, we have lost but sixteen hundred men; but, alas!  Most of the sick recovered!  What an affecting object my Lady Albemarle would make in a triumph, surrounded by her three victorious sons; for she had three at stake!  My friend Lady Hervey,[1] too, is greatly happy; her son Augustus distinguished himself particularly, brought home the news, and on his way took a rich French ship going to Newfoundland with military stores.  I do not surely mean to detract from him, who set all this spirit on float, but you see we can conquer, though Mr. Pitt is at his plough.

[Footnote 1:  Lady Hervey, the widow of Pope’s Lord Fanny and Sporus, had been the beautiful “Molly Lepel,” celebrated by Lord Chesterfield.

    Had I Hanover, Bremen, and Verden
      And likewise the Duchy of Zell,
    I would part with them all for a farden,
      Compared with sweet Molly Lepel.

Three of her sons succeeded to the Earldom of Bristol.]

The express arrived while the Duke de Nivernois was at dinner with Lord Bute.  The world says, that the joy of the company showed itself with too little politeness—­I hope not; I would not exult to a single man, and a minister of peace; it should be in the face of Europe, if I assumed that dominion which the French used to arrogate; nor do I believe it happened; all the company are not so charmed with the event.  They are not quite convinced that it will facilitate the pacification, nor am I clear it will.  The City of London will not lower their