(311) William, fifth Earl of Coventry.  He died in 1751.-D.

(312) Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, a man of moderate abilities, but who had filled many great offices.  He died in 1743, when his titles extinguished.-D.

191 Letter 43 To Sir Horace Mann.  Nov. 26, 1741.

I don’t write you a very long letter, because you will see the inclosed to Mr. Chute.  I forgot to thank you last post for the songs, and your design on the Maltese cats.

It is terrible to be in this uncertainty about you!  We have not the least news about the Spaniards, more than what you told us, of a few vessels being seen off Leghorn.  I send about the post, and ask Sir R. a thousand times a-day.

I beg to know if you have never heard any thing from Parker about my statue:  (313) it was to have been finished last june.  What is the meaning he does not mention it?  If it is done, I beg it may not stir from Rome till there is no more danger of Spaniards.

If you get out of your hurry, I will trouble you with a new commission:  I find I cannot live without Stosch’s (314) intaglio of the Gladiator, with the vase, upon a granite.  You know I offered him fifty pounds:  I think, rather than not have it, I would give a hundred.  What will he do if the Spaniards should come to Florence?  Should he be driven to straits, perhaps he would part with his Meleager too.  You see I am as eager about baubles as if I were going to Louis at the Palazzo Vecchio!  You can’t think what a closet I have fitted up; such a mixture of French gaiety and Roman virtu! you would be in love with it:  I have not rested till it was finished:  I long to have you see it.  Now I am angry that I did not buy the Hermaphrodite; the man would have sold it for twenty-five sequins:  do buy it for me; it was a friend of Bianchi.  Can you forgive me’!  I write all this upon the hope and presumption that the Spaniards go to Lombardy.  Good night.  Yours, ever.

(313) A copy of the Livia Mattei, which Mr. W. designed for a tomb of his mother:  it was erected in Henry vii.’s Chapel, in Westminster Abbey, in 1754.

(314) He gave it afterwards to Lord Duncannon, for procuring him the arrears of his pension.

192 Letter 44 To Sir Horace Mann.  Downing Street, Dec. 3, 1741, O. S.

Here I have two letters from you to answer.  You cannot conceive my joy on the prospect of the Spaniards going to Lombardy:  all advices seem to confirm it.  There is no telling you what I have felt, and shall feel, till I am certain you are secure.  You ask me about Admiral Haddock; you must not wonder that I have told you nothing of him:  they know nothing of him here.  He had discretionary powers to act as he should judge proper from his notices.  He has been keeping in the Spanish fleet at Cales. (315) Sir R. says, if he had let that go out, to prevent the embarkation, the Tories would have complained, and said he had