P.S.  Now you are at Stirling, if you should meet with Drummond’s history of the five King Jameses, pray look it over.(1304) I have read it, and like it much.  It is wrote in imitation of Livy; the style is masculine, and the whole very sensible; only he ascribes the misfortunes of one reign to the then king’s loving architecture and

“In trim gardens taking pleasure.”

(1302) Caroline Campbell, Countess of Ailesbury.-E.

(1303) Mr. Conway was now in Scotland.

(1304) Drummond of Hawthorne’s History of Scotland, from 1423 to 1542, did not appear until after his death.  This work, in which the doctrine of unlimited authority and passive obedience is advocated to an extravagant extent, is generally considered to have added little to his reputation.  He died in December 1649, in his sixty-fourth year.  Ben Jonson is said to have so much admired the genius of this “Scotian Petrarch,” as to travel on foot to Scotland, out of love and respect for him.-E.

510 Letter 523
To George Montagu, Esq. 
Arlington Street, Nov. 3, 1746.

Dear George, Do not imagine I have already broken through all my wholesome resolutions and country schemes, and that I am given up body and soul to London for the winter.  I shall be with you by the end of the week; but just now I am under the maiden palpitation of an author.  My epilogue will, I believe, be spoken to-morrow night;(1305) and I flatter myself I shall have no faults to answer for but what are in it, for I have kept secret whose it is.  It is now gone to be licensed; but as the Lord Chamberlain is mentioned,(1306)’ though rather to his honour, it is possible it may be refused.

Don’t expect news, for I know no more than a newspaper.  Asheton would have written it if there were any thing to tell you.  Is it news that my Lord Rochford is an oaf?  He has got a set of plate buttons for the birthday clothes, with the Duke’s head in every one.  Sure my good lady carries her art too far to make him so great a dupe.  How do all the comets?  Has Miss Harriet found out any more ways at solitaire?  Has Cloe left off evening prayer on account of the damp evenings?  How is Miss Rice’s cold and coachman?  Is Miss Granville better?  Has Mrs. Masham made a brave hand of this bad season, and lived upon carcases like any vampire?  Adieu!  I am just going to see Mrs. Muscovy,(1307) and will be sure not to laugh if my old lady should talk of Mr. Draper’s white skin, and tickle his bosom like Queen Bess.

(1305) Rowe’s tragedy of Tamerlane was written in compliment to William the Third, whose character the author intended to display under that of Tamerlane, as he meant to be understood to draw that of Louis the Fourteenth in Bajazet.  Tamerlane was always acted on the 4th and 5th of November, the anniversaries of King William’s birth and landing; and this year Mr. Walpole had written an epilogue for it, on the suppression of the rebellion.-E.