I have a good story to tell you of Lord Bath, whose name you have not heard very lately; have you?  He owed a tradesman eight hundred pounds, and would never pay him:  the man determined to persecute him till he did; and one morning followed him to Lord Winchilsea’s, and sent up word that he wanted to speak with him.  Lord Bath came down, and said, “Fellow, what do you want with me’!"-"My money,” said the man, as loud as ever he could bawl, before all the servants.  He bade him come the next morning, and then would not see him.  The next Sunday the man followed him to church, and got into the next pew:  he leaned over, and said, , “My money; give me my money!” My lord went to the end of the pew; the man too:  “Give me my money!” The sermon was on avarice, and the text, “Cursed are they that heap up riches.”  The man groaned out, “O lord!” and pointed to my Lord Bath.  In short, he persisted so much, and drew the eyes of all the congregation, that my Lord Bath went out and paid him directly.  I assure you this is a fact.  Adieu.

(1042) " Have you Lord Chesterfield’s speech on taking leave?  It is quite calculated for the language it is wrote in, and makes but an indifferent figure in English.  The thoughts are common, and yet he strains hard to give them an air of novelty; and the quaintness of the expression is quite a la Fran`caise.”  The Hon. P. Yorke to Horatio Walpole.-E.

(1043) Lady Walpole, now become Countess of Orford.-D.

416 Letter 164 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, May 25, 1745.

Dear George, I don’t write to you now so much to answer your letter as to promote your diversion, which I am as much obliged to you for consulting me about, at least as much as about an affair of honour, or your marriage, or any other important transaction; any one of which you might possibly dislike more than diverting yourself.  For my part, I shall give you my advice on this point with as much reflection as I should, if it were necessary for me, like a true friend, to counsel you to displease yourself.

You propose making a visit at Englefield Green, and ask me, if I think it right?  Extremely so.  I have heard it is a very pretty place.  You love a jaunt—­have a pretty chaise, I believe, and, I dare swear, very easy; in all probability, you have a fine evening too ; and, added to all this, the gentleman you would go to see is very agreeable and good humoured.(1044) He has some very Pretty children, and a sensible, learned man that lives with him, one Dr. Thirlby,(1045) whom, I believe you know.  The master of the house plays extremely well on the bass-viol, and has generally other musical people with him.  He knows a good deal of the private history of a late ministry; and, my dear George, you love memoires.  Indeed, as to personal acquaintance with any of the court beauties, I can’t say you will find your account in him ; but, to make amends, he is perfectly master of all the quarrels that have been fashionably on foot about Handel, and can give you a very perfect account of all the modern rival painters.  In short, you may pass a very agreeable day with him; and if he does but take to you, as I can’t doubt, who know you both, you will contract a great friendship with him, which he will preserve with the greatest warmth and partiality.