For the other princess you wot of, who is not entirely so tall as the former, nor so evidently descended from a line of monarchs—­I don’t hear her talk of retiring.  At present she is employed in buying up all the nose-gays in Covent Garden and laurel leaves at the pastry cooks, to where chaplets for the return of her hero.  Who that is I don’t pretend to know or guess.  All I know is, that in this age retirement is not one of the fashionable expressions of passion.

(1046) The battle of Fontenoy, where Mr. Conway greatly distinguished himself.

(1047) The Duke of Cumberland, to whom Mr. Conway was aide-de-camp.

(1048) George, afterwards Marquis Townshend.

(1049) Ethelreda Harrison, Viscountess Townshend, and her daughter, the Hon. Audrey Townshend, afterwards married to Robert Orme, Esq.

(1050) A celebrated apothecary in Pall-mall.

418 Letter 166 To Sir Horace Mann.

I have the pleasure of recommending you a new acquaintance, for which I am sure you will thank me.  Mr. Hobart(1051) proposes passing a little time at Florence, which I am sure you will endeavour to make as agreeable to him as possible.  I beg you will introduce him to all my friends, who, I don’t doubt, will show him the same civilities that I received.  Dear Sir, this will be a particular obligation to me, who am, etc.

1051) Eldest son of John, Earl of Buckinghamshire, (The Hon. John Hobart, afterwards second Earl of Buckinghamshire, and lord Lieutenant of Ireland.-D.)

419 Letter 167 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, June 24, 1745.

I have been a fortnight in the country, and had ordered all my to be kept till I came to town, or I should have written to you sooner about my sister-countess.  She is not arrived yet, but is certainly coming:  she has despatched several letters to notify her intentions:  a short one to her mother, saying, “Dear Madam, as you have often desired me to return to England, I am determined to set out, and hope you will give me reasons to subscribe myself your most affectionate daughter.”  This “often desired me to return” has never been repeated since the first year of her going away.  The poor signora-madre is in a terrible fright, and will not come to town till her daughter is gone again, which all advices agree will be soon.  Another letter is to my Lady Townshend, telling her, “that, as she knows her ladyship’s way of thinking, she does not fear the continuance of her friendship.”  Another, a long one, to my Lord Chesterfield; another to Lady Isabella Scot,(1052) an old friend of hers; and another to Lady Pomfret.  This last says, that she hears from guccioni, my Lady O. will stay here a very little time, having taken a house at Florence for three years.  She is to come to my Lady Denbigh.(1053) My brother is extremely obliged to you for all your notices about her, though he is very indifferent about her motions.  If she happens to choose law (though on what foot no mortal can guess), he is prepared; having from the first hint of her journey, fee’d every one of the considerable lawyers.  In short, this jaunt is as simple as all the rest of her actions have been hardy.  Nobody wonders at her bringing no English servants with her-they know, and consequently might tell too much.