I have sent Mr. Chute all the news; I shall only say to you that I have read your last letter about Lady W. to Sir R. He was not at all surprised at her thoughts of England, but told me that last week my Lord Carteret had sent him a letter which she had written to him, to demand his protection.  This you may tell publicly; it will show her ladyship’s credit.

Here is an epigram, which I believe will divert you:  it is on Lord Islay’s garden upon Hounslow Heath.

“Old Islay, to show his fine delicate taste,(606)
In improving his gardens purloined from the waste,
Bade his gard’ner one day to open his views,
By cutting a couple of grand avenues: 
No particular prospect his lordship intended,
But left it to chance how his walks should be ended.

With transport and joy he beheld his first view end
In a favourite prospects church that was ruin’d-
But alas! what a sight did the next cut exhibit! 
At the end of the walk hung a rogue on a gibbet! 
He beheld it and wept, for it caused him to muse on
Full many a Campbell that died with his shoes on. 
All amazed and aghast at the ominous scene,
He order’d it quick to be closed up again
With a clump of Scotch firs that served for a Screen.”

Sir Robert asked me yesterday about the Dominichini, but I did not know what to answer:  I said I would write to you about it.  Have you bought it? or did you quite put it off?  I had forgot to mention it again to you.  If you have not, I am still of opinion that you should buy it for him.  Adieu!

(606) These lines were written by Bramston, author of “The Art of Politics,” and “The Man of Taste.” [The Reverend James Bramston, vicar of Starling, Sussex.  Pope took the line in the Dunciad, “Shine in the dignity of F. R. S.” from his Man of Taste;-"A satire,” says Warton, “in which the author has been guilty of the absurdity of making his hero laugh at himself and his own follies.”  He died in 1744.]

261 Letter 71 To Sir Horace Mann.  June 10, the Pretender’s birthday, which, by the way, I believe he did not expect to keep at Rome this year, 1742.

Since I wrote you my last letter, I have received two from you of the 27th May and 3d of June, N. S. I hope you will get my two packets; that is, one of them was addressed to Mr. Chute, and in them was all my fagot of compliments.

Is not poor SCUlly (607) vastly disappointed that we are not arrived?  But really, will that mad woman never have done! does she still find credit for her extravagant histories.  I carried her son with me to Vauxhall last night:  he is a most charming boy,(608) but grows excessively like her in the face.  I don’t at all foresee how I shall make out this letter:  every body is gone out of town during the Whitsuntide, and many will not return, at least not these six weeks; for so long they say it will be before the Secret Committee make their Report, with which they intend to finish.  We are, however, entertained with pageants every day-reviews to gladden the heart of David,(609) (609) and triumphs to Absalom!  He,(610) and his wife went in great parade yesterday through the city and the dust to dine at Greenwich; they took water at the Tower, and trumpeting away to Grace Tosier’s,