(298) She was kept by Lord Middlesex.

187 Letter 41
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Downing Street, Nov. 12, 1741.

Nothing is equal to my uneasiness about you.  I hear or think of nothing but Spanish embarkations for Tuscany:  before you receive this, perhaps, they will be at Leghorn.  Then, your brother tells me you have received none of my letters.  He knows I have never failed writing once a week, if not twice.  We have had no letters from You this post.  I shall not have the least respite from anxiety, till I hear about you, and what you design to do. it is immpossible but the great duke must lose Tuscany; and I suppose it is as certain, (I speak on probabilities, for, upon honour, I know nothing of the matter,) that as soon as there is a peace, we shall acknowledge Don Philip, and then you may return to Florence again.  In the mean while I will ask Sir R. if it is possible to get your appointments continued, while you stay in readiness at Bologna, Rome, Lucca, or where you choose.  I talk at random; but as I think so much of you, I am trying to find out something that may be of service to you.  I write in infinite hurry, and am called away, so scarce know what I say.  Lord Conway and his family are this instant come to town, and have sent for me.

It is Admiral Vernon’s birthday, (299) and the city-shops are full of favours, the streets of marrowbones and cleavers, and the night will be full of mobbing, bonfires, and lights.

The opera does not succeed; Amorevoli has not sung yet; here is a letter to his wife; mind, while he is ill, he sends to the Chiaretta!  The dances are infamous and ordinary.  Lord Chesterfield was told that the Viscontina said she was but four-and-twenty:  he answered, “I suppose she means four-and-twenty stone!”

There is a mad parson goes about; he called to a sentinel the other day in the Park; “Did you ever see the Leviathan?” “No.”  “Well, he is as like Sir.  R. W. as ever two devils were like one another.”

Never was such unwholesome weather!  I have a great cold, and have not been well this fortnight:  even immortal majesty has had a looseness.

The Duke of Ancaster (300) and Lord James Cavendish (301) are dead.

This is all the news I know:  I would I had time to write more; but I know you will excuse me now.  If I wrote more, it would be still about the Italian expedition, I am so disturbed about it.  Yours, ever.

(299) Admiral Vernon was now in the height of his popularity, in consequence of his successful attack upon Porto-Bello, in November, 1739, and the great gallantry he had shown upon that occasion.  His determined and violen’t opposition, as a member of parliament, to the measures of the government, assisted in rendering him the idol of the mob, which he continued for many years.-D. [The admiral was actually elected for Rochester, Ipswich, and Penryn:  he’was also set up for the City of London, where