Quinze goes on vigorously at Almack’s.(43) Lady S. says that you have fixed your coming of age as an epoque for leaving off that and all kind of play whatsoever.  My dear Lord, vive hodie; don’t nurse any passion that gathers strength by time, and may be easier broke of at first.  I am in hopes indeed that when you are maitre de vos biens, as the French say, you will not invite Scot, Parker, or Shafto(44) to partake it with you.  Your condition of life, and the necessary expenses of it, will not allow that coalition.  I never kept so long from play yet, but I frankly own I have not much virtue to boast of by that continency.  I know of no good opportunity which I have resisted.  St. John(45) told me at the play last night that you was to go and return from Turin alone.  I hope that is not so; I shall be very angry with Robert, if he does not take great care both of you and Rover.  I will finish the rest when I have seen Sir William.

Tuesday night.—­Sir W[illia]m sent me word he did not call upon me to-day because he could not settle with the courier till Thursday; and Hemmins did call, and assured me that on Thursday the Badge should be ready.  I scolded till I was in a fever; I believe he will not venture to put me off any longer.

(30) “Historic Doubts on Richard the Third.”

(31) The best English history that had been written up to that time, and the first that made any attempt to literary merit.  The first edition was published at intervals from 1754 to 1761.  A second edition had been issued in 1762.

(32) Henry, tenth Earl of Pembroke (1734-1794).  He married in 1756 Elizabeth, second daughter of the third Duke of Marlborough.

(33) Lord Baltimore had been acquitted of the charge of abduction which had been brought against him, but the prosecution brought forward facts sufficient to justify the public indignation that was raised.  He soon after went abroad, and died in Naples in 1771.

(34) Richard Fitzpatrick (1747-1813); second son of John, first Earl of Upper Ossory and Lady Evelyn Leveson Gower, daughter of second Earl Gower.  His sister, Lady Mary Fitzpatrick, married Charles James Fox’s elder brother, Stephen, afterward second Lord Holland.  Fitzpatrick is one of the best known names in the history of the social life of the last half of the eighteenth century—­the Duke of Queensberry left him a legacy in recognition of his fine manners.  He was the talented and accomplished friend of Fox, whose excesses in gaming and in all the fashionable follies of the day he rivalled.  He served with credit in the American war; in 1780 was returned to Parliament; in 1782 appointed secretary to the Duke of Portland, then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland; in 1783 made Secretary at War.  At his death he was a Privy Councillor, a general in the army, and colonel of the Forty-seventh Regiment of Foot.

(35) Lady Isabella Fitzroy, youngest daughter of Charles, second Duke of Grafton.  She married in 1741 Francis, first Marquis of Hertford.