(487) This alludes to the proceedings of a mad prior of the family of the Marchese Delmonti; who, with a party of ruffians, had seized upon a strong castle called Monta di Santa Maria, belonging to his brother the Marchese, and situated near Cortona.  From whence he and his band ravaged the neighbouring country; and it was only with great difficulty that the troops of the Grand Duke of Tuscany succeeded in dislodging them-D.

(488) Marquis del Monti.

(489) Consul to Lisbon.

211 Letter 103
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Arlington Street, June 5, 1754.

Though I wrote to you but a few days ago, when I told you of Mr. Chute’s good fortune, I must send you a few lines to-night upon a particular occasion.  Mr. Brand,(490) a very intimate friend of mine, whom I believe you have formerly seen in Italy, is just set out for Germany on his way to Rome.  I know by long and uninterrupted experience, that my barely saying he is my friend, will secure for him the kindest reception in the world from you:  it would not express my conviction, if I said a word more on that head.  His story is very melancholy:  about six or seven years ago he married Lady Caroline Pierpoint,(491) half-sister of Lady Mary Wortley;(492) a match quite of esteem, she was rather older than he; but never were two people more completely, more reasonably happy.  He is naturally all cheerfulness and laughter; she was very reserved, but quite sensible and faultless.  She died about this time twelvemonth of a fever, and left him, with two little children, the most unhappy man alive.  He travels again to dissipate his grief:  you will love him much, if he stays any time with you.  His connexions are entirely with the Duke of Bedford.

I have had another letter from you to-day, with a farther journal of the Delmonti war, which the rebels seem to be leaving to the Pope to finish for them.  It diverted me extremely. had I received this letter before Mr. Brand set out, I would have sent you the whole narrative of the affair of Lord Orford and Miss -Nicholl; it is a little volume.  The breach, though now by time silenced, was, I assure you, final.

We have had a spurt of Parliament for five days, but it was prorogued to-day.  The next will be a terrible session from elections and petitions.  The Oxfordshire(493) will be endless; the Appleby outrageous in expense.  The former is a revival of downright Whiggism and Jacobitism,, two liveries that have been lately worn indiscriminately by all factions.  The latter is a contest between two young Croesus’s, Lord Thanet(494) and Sir James Lowther:(495) that a convert; this an hereditary Whig.  A knowing lawyer said, to-day, that with purchasing tenures, votes, and carrying on the election and petition, five-and-fifty thousand pounds will not pay the whole expense—­ it makes one start!  Good night! you must excuse the nothingness of a supernumerary letter.

(490) Thomas Brand, of the Hoo, in Hertfordshire.