(267) Umberslade, near Stratford-upon-Avon.

(268) Lancelot Brown, generally called “Capability Brown,” from his frequent use of that word.  He rose by his merit, from a low condition, to be head gardener at Stowe; and was afterwards appointed to the same situation at Hampton Court.  Lord Chatham, who had a great regard for him, thus speaks of him, in a letter to Lady Stanhope:—­“The chapter of my friend’s dignity must not be omitted.  He writes Lancelot Brown, Esquire, en titre d’affic:  please to consider, he shares the private hours of Majesty, dines familiarly with his neighbour of Sion, and sits down to the tables of all the House of Lords, etc.  To be serious, he is deserving of the regard shown to him; for I know him, upon very long acquaintance to be an honest man, and of sentiments much above his birth.” see Chatham Correspondence, vol. iv. p. 430.-E.

(269) Easton Neston.

112 letter 47
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Mistley, Aug. 31, 1751.

I am going to answer two of your letters, without having the fear of Genoa(270) before my eyes.  Your brother sent to me about this embassy the night before I came out of town, and I had not time nor opportunity to make any inquiry about it.  Indeed, I am persuaded it is all a fable, some political nonsense of Richcourt.  How should his brother know any thing of it? or, to speak plainly, what can we bring about by a sudden negotiation with the Genoese?  Do but put these two things together, that we can do nothing, and the Richcourts can know nothing, and you will laugh at this pretended communication of a secret that relates to yourself’ from one who is ignorant of what relates to you, and who would not tell you if he did know.  I have had a note from your brother since I came hither, which confirms my opinion; and I find Mr. Chute is of the same.  Be at peace, my dear child:  I should not be so if I thought you in the least danger.

I imagined you would have seen Mr. Conway before this time; I have already told you how different you will find him from the raw animals that you generally see.  As you talk of our Beauties, I shall tell you a new story of the Gunnings, who make more noise than any of their predecessors since the days of Helen, though neither of them, nor any thing about them, have yet been teterrima belli causa.  They went the other day to see Hampton Court; as they were going Into the Beauty-room, another company arrived; the housekeeper said, “This way, ladies; here are the Beauties.”  The Gunnings flew into a passion, and asked her what she meant; that they came to see the palace, not to be showed as a sight themselves.

I am charmed with your behaviour to the Count on the affair of the Leghorn allegiance; I don’t wonder he is willing to transport you to Genoa!  Your priest’s epigram is strong; I suppose he had a dispensation for making a false quantity in secunda.

Pray tell me if you know any thing of Lady Mary Wortley:  we have an obscure history here of her being in durance in the Brescian, or the Bergamasco:  that a young fellow whom she set out with keeping has taken it into his head to keep her close prisoner, not permitting her to write or receive any letters but what he sees:  he seems determined, if her husband should die, not to lose her, as the Count lost my Lady Orford.(271)