(379) Robert Nugent, a poet, a patriot, an author, a lord of the treasury, (and finally an Irish peer by the titles of Lord Clare and Earl Nugent.  He seems to have passed his long life in seeking lucrative places and courting rich widows, in both of which pursuits be was eminently successful.-D.) [He married the sister and heiress of Secretary Craggs, and his only daughter married the first Marquis of Buckingham.  A volume of his ,Odes and Epistles” were published anonymously in 1733.  He died in 1788.)

(380) Lord Gage was one of those persons to whom the privileges of parliament were of extreme consequence, as their own liberties were inseparable from them.

(381) Mary, fourth daughter of King George ii.

(382) Ulrica, Queen of Sweden, sister of Charles XII.

(383) This relates to the revolution by which the young Czar John was deposed, and the Princess Elizabeth raised to the throne.

(384) This was not true.  The Princess Anne of Mecklenburgh died in prison at Riga, a few years afterwards.  Her son, the young Czar, and her husband, Prince Antony of Brunswick Wolfenbuttle, were confined for many years.

206 Letter 49 To Sir Horace Mann.  London, Dec. 29, 1741.

I write to you two days before the post goes out, because to-morrow I am to go out of town; but I would answer your letter by way of Holland, to tell you how much you have obliged both Sir Robert and me about the Dominichini;(385) and to beg you to thank Mr. Chute and Mr. Whithed-but I cannot leave it to you.

“My dear Mr. Chute, was ever any thing so kind!  I crossed the Giogo (386) with Mr. Coke,(387) but it was in August, and I thought it then the greatest compliment that ever was paid to mortal; and I went with him too! but you to go only for a picture, and in the month of December:  What can I say to you?  You do more to oblige your friend, than I can find terms to thank you for.  If I was to tell-it here, it would be believed as little as the rape of poor Tory (388) by a wolf.  I can only say that I know the Giogo, its snows and its inns, and consequently know the extent of the obligation that I have to you and Mr. Whithed.”

Now I return to you, my dear child:  I am really so much obliged to you and to them, that I know not what to say.  I read Pennee’s letter to Sir.  R., who was much pleased with his discretion; he will be quite a favourite of mine.  And now we are longing for the picture; you know, of old, my impatience.

Your young secretary-servant is looking out for a ship, and will set out in the first that goes:  I envy him.

The Court has been trying but can get nobody to stand for Westminster.  You know Mr. Doddington has lost himself extremely by his new turn, after so often changing sides:  he is grown very fat and lethargic; my brother Ned says, “he is grown of less consequence, but more weight."(389)

One hears of nothing but follies said by the Opposition, who grow mad on having the least prospect.  Lady Carteret,(390) who, you know, did not want any new fuel to her absurdity, says, “they talk every day of making her lord first minister, but he is not so easily persuaded as they think for.”  Good night.  Yours, ever.