It is in vain that you ask for news:  I was in town two days ago, but heard nothing; indeed there were not people enough to cause or make news.  Lady Caroline Petersham had scraped together a few foreigners, after her christening; but I cannot say that the party was much livelier than if it had met at Madame Montandre’s.(496) You must let me know a little beforehand when you have fixed your time for coming, because, as I am towards flying about on my summer expeditions, I should be unhappy not to be here just when you would like it.  Adieu!

P. S. I supped at White’s the other night with the great C`u, and he was by far more gracious, both on your topic and my own, than ever I knew him.

(496) Widow of Francis de la Rochefaucauld, Marquis de Montandre, who came to England with William the Third, and served in all the wars of that monarch, and of Queen Anne.  He was made a marshal in July 1739, and died in the following August.-E.

213 Letter 106 To Sir Horace Mann.  Strawberry Hill, July 5, 1754.

I believe you never receive a letter from me at this season of the year, without wishing for winter, that I might have something to tell you.  Warm weather in England disperses all the world, except a few old folks, whose day of events is past, and who contribute nothing to the society of news.  There is a court indeed as near as Kensington, but where the monarch is old, the courtiers are seldom young:  they sun themselves in a window like flies in autumn, past even buzzing, and to be swept away in the first hurricane of a new reign.  However, as little novelty as the season or the times produce, there is an adventuress in the world, who even in the dullest times will take care not to let conversation stagnate:  this public-spirited dame is no other than a Countess-dowager, my sister-in-law, who has just notified to the town her intention of parting from her second husband-a step which, being in general not likely to occasion much surprise,-she had, however, taken care to render extraordinary, by a course of inseparable fondness and wonderful jealousy, for the three years since these her second nuptials.  The testimonials which Mr. Shirley had received in print from that living academy of love-lore, my Lady Vane, added to this excessive tenderness of one, little less a novice, convinced every body that he was a perfect hero.  You will pity poor Hercules!  Omphale, by a most unsentimental precaution, has so secured to her own disposal her whole estate and jointure, that he cannot command so much as a distaff; and as she is not inclined to pay much for nothing, her offers on the article of separation are exceedingly moderate.  As yet he has not accepted them, but is gone to Scarborough, and she into the west, to settle her affairs, and from thence embarks for France and Italy.  I am sorry she will plague you again at Florence; but I shall like to hear of what materials she composes her second volume, and what reasons she