(273 Lady Frances Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, and married to the Earl of Essex, from whom she was divorced.  She then married her lover, the Earl of Somerset.  She poisoned Sir Thomas Overbury, because he had endeavoured to dissuade his friend the Earl of Somerset from this alliance.  She was tried and condemned, but was pardoned by King James.

(274) Robert Carr, a favourite of King James the First, who created him Viscount Rochester and Earl of Somerset.  He was tried and condemned, but was pardoned by James the First.

(275) Margaret, Countess of Cumberland, daughter of Francis Russell, second Earl of Bedford, and married to George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland.

(276)) Ann Clifford, daughter of George, Earl of Cumberland, first married to Richard Sackville, Earl of Dorset, and afterwards to Philip, Earl of Pembroke.

(277) Philip, Earl of Pembroke, son of Henry, second Earl of Pembroke.  He was chamberlain to Charles the First.

115 Letter 49 To Sir Horace Mann.  Strawberry Hill, Oct. 14, 1751.

It is above six weeks since I wrote to you, and I was going on to be longer, as I stayed for something to tell you; but an express that arrived yesterday brought a great event, which, though you will hear long before my letter can arrive, serves for a topic to renew our correspondence.  The Prince of Orange is dead:  killed by the waters of Aix-la-Chapelle.  This is all I yet know.  I shall go to town to-morrow for a day or two, and if I pick up any particulars before the post goes away, you shall know them.  The Princess Royal(278) was established Regent some time ago; but as her husband’s authority seemed extremely tottering, it is not likely that she will be able to maintain hers.  Her health is extremely bad, and her temper neither ingratiating nor bending.  It is become the peculiarity of the House of Orange to have minorities.

Your last letter to me of Sept. 24th, and all I have seen since your first fright, make me easy about your Genoese journey.  I take no honour from the completion of my prophecy; it was sufficient to know circumstances and the trifling falsehood of Richcourt, to confirm me in my belief that that embassy was never intended.  We dispose of Corsica!  Alas!  I believe there is but one island that we shall ever have power to give away; and that is Great Britain—­and I don’t know but we may exert our power.

You are exceedingly kind about Mr. Conway-but when are not you so to me and my friends?  I have just received a miserable letter from him on his disappointment; he had waited for a man-of-war to embark for Leghorn; it came in the night, left its name upon a card, and was gone before he was awake in the morning, and had any notice of it.  He still talks of seeing you; as the Parliament is to meet so soon, I should think he will scarce have time, though I don’t hear that he is sent for, or that they will have occasion to send for any body, unless they want to make an Opposition.