I am much obliged to you for the care you take in sending my eagle by my commodore-cousin, but I hope it will not be till after his expedition.  I know the extent of his genius; he would hoist it overboard on the prospect of an engagement, and think he could buy me another at Hyde Park Corner with the prize-money; like the Roman tar that told his crew, that if they broke the antique Corinthian statues, they should find new ones.

We have been making peace lately, but I think it is off again; there is come an unpleasant sort of a letter, transmitted from Van Hoey(1215) at Paris; it talks something of rebels not to be treated as rebels, and of a Prince Charles that is somebody’s cousin and friend-but as nobody knows any thing of this—­why, I know nothing of it neither.  There are battalions ordered for Flanders, and countermanded, and a few less ordered again — if I knew exactly what day this would reach you, I could tell you more certainly, because the determination for or against is only of every other day.  The Duke is coming:  I don’t find it certain, however, that the Pretender is got off.

We are in the height of festivities for the Serenity of Hesse, our son-in-law, who passes a few days here on his return to Germany.  If you recollect Lord Elcho, you have a perfect idea of his person and parts.  The great officers banquet him at dinner; in the evenings; there are plays, operas, ridottos, and masquerades.

You ask me to pity you for losing the Chutes — indeed I do; and I pity them for losing you.  They will often miss Florence, and its tranquillity and happy air.  Adieu!  Comfort yourself with what you do not lose.

(1214) The Hon. John Hobart, afterwards second Earl of Buckinghamshire.  Walpole had given him a letter of introduction to Sir Horace Mann.-E.

(1215) The Dutch minister at Paris.

483 Letter 205
To George Montagu, Esq. 
Arlington Street, June 12th, 1746.

My dear George, Don’t commend me -. you don’t know what hurt it will do me; you will make me a pains-taking man, and I had rather be dull Without any trouble.  From partiality to me you won’t allow my letters to be letters.  If you have a mind I should write you news, don’t make me think about it; I shall be so long turning my periods, that what I tell you will cease to be news.

The Prince of Hesse had a most ridiculous tumble t’other night at the Opera; they had not pegged up his box tight after the ridotto, and down he came on all four; George Selwyn says he carried it off with an unembarrassed countenance.  He was to go this morning; I don’t know whether he did or not.  The Duke is expected to-night by all the tallow candles and fagots in town.