I think it begins to be believed that the Pretender’s son is got to France — pray, if he passes through Florence, make it as agreeable to him as you can, ,ind introduce him to all my acquaintance.  I don’t indeed know him myself, but he is a particular friend of my cousin, Sir John Philipps,(1291) and of my sister-in-law Lady O., who will both take it extremely kindly—­besides, do for your own sake you may make your peace with her this way; and if ever Lord Bath comes into power, she will secure your remaining at florence.  Adieu!

(1282) Marquis Rinuncini, the elder, had been envoy in England, and prime minister to John Gaston, the last Great duke.

(1283) Grey, in a letter to Wharton of the 11th, says, “Mr. Walpole has taken a house in Windsor, and I see him usually once a week.  He is at present gone to town, to perform the disagreeable task of presenting and introducing about a young Florentine, the Marquis Rinuncini, who comes recommended to him.”  Works, vol. iii. @. 9.-E.

(1284) Sister of Madame Grifoni.

(1285) Signor Ottavio Manelli had been cicisbeo of Madame Grifoni.

(1286) Madame Grifoni.

(1287) Sewallis Shirley, uncle of Earl Ferrers. (He married Lady Orford, after her first husband’s death.-D)

(1288) The Duke of Bedford and his friends acted several plays at Woburn.

(1289) Sir William Courtenay, said to be the right heir of Louis le Gros.  There is a notion that at the coronation of a new King of France, the Courtenays assert their pretensions, and that the King of France says to them, “Apres Nous, Vous.” [See Gibbon’s beautiful account of this family, in a digression to his History of the Decline and Fall, Vol. xi.]

(1290) Two Jacobite Knights of Wales and Cambridgeshire.

(1291) Sir J. Philipps, of Picton Castle in Pembrokeshire; a noted Jacobite.  He was first cousin of Catherine Shorter, first wife of Sir Robert Walpole.

506 Letter 219 To sir Horace Mann.  Windsor, Oct. 2,1746.

By your own loss YOU may measure My joy at the receipt of the dear Chutes.(1292) I strolled to town one day last week, and there I found them!  Poor creatures! there they were! wondering at every thing they saw, but with the difference from Englishmen that go abroad, O keeping their amazement to themselves.  They will tell you of wild dukes in the playhouse, of streets dirtier than forests, and of women more uncouth than the streets.  I found them extremely surprised at not finding any ready-furnished palace built round two courts.  I do all I can to reconcile their country to them; though seriously they have no affectation, and have nothing particular in them, but that they have nothing particular:  a fault, of which the climate and their neighbours will soon correct.  You may imagine how we have talked you over, and how I have inquired after the state of your Wetbrownpaperhood.  Mr. Chute adores you:  do you know, that as well