(238A kind friend of Joan of Are, who headed the Corsican rebels against the Genoese.

(239) Archibald Campbell, Earl of Islay, and, on his brother’s death in 1743, Duke of Argyle.

(240) Baron Stosch, a Prussian virtuoso, and spy for the court of England on the Pretender.  He had been driven from Rome, though it was suspected that he was a spy on both sides:  he was a man of a most infamous character in every respect. according to the Biographic Universelle, the Baron “ne put s’acquitter de fonctions aussi d`elicates sans se voir expos`e `a des naines violentes, qui le forc`erent `a se retirer `a Florence;” where he died in 1757.  He was one of the most skilful and industrious antiquaries of his time.  A catalogue of his gems was drawn up by Winkelmann.]

175 Letter 34 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  London, 1741.

My Dearest Harry, Before I thank you for myself, I must thank you for that excessive good nature you showed in writing to poor Gray.  I am less impatient to see you, as I find you are not the least altered, but have the same tender friendly temper you always had.  I wanted much to see if you were still the same-but you are.

Don’t think of coming before your brother, he is too good to be left for any one living:  besides, if it is possible, I will see you in the country.  Don’t reproach me, and think nothing could draw me into the country:  impatience to see a few friends has drawn me out of Italy; and Italy, Harry, is pleasanter than London.  As I do not love living en famille so much as you (but then indeed my family is not like yours), I am hurried about getting myself a house; for I have so long lived single, that I do not much take to being confined with my own family.

You won’t find me much altered, I believe; at least, outwardly.  ’I am not grown a bit shorter, or a bit fatter, but am just the same long lean creature as usual.  Then I talk no French., but to my footman; nor Italian, but to myself.  What inward alterations may have happened to me, you will discover best; for you know ’tis said, one never knows that one’s self.  I will answer, that that part of it that belongs to you, has not suffered the least change-I took care of that.  For virt`u, I have a little to entertain you:  it is my sole pleasure.-I am neither young enough nor old enough to be in love.

My dear Harry, will you take care and make my compliments to that charming Lady Conway, (241) who I hear is so charming, and to Miss Jenny [Conway], who I know is so?  As for Miss Anne, (242) and her love as far as it is decent:  tell her, decency is out of the question between us, that I love her without any restriction.  I settled it yesterday with Miss Conway, that you three are brothers and sister to me, and that if you had been so, I could not love you better.  I have so many cousins, and uncles and aunts, and bloods that grow in Norfolk, that if I had portioned out my affections to them, as they say I should, what a modicum would have fallen to each!-So, to avoid fractions, I love my family in you three, their representatives. (243)