225 Letter 115
To George Montagu, Esq. 
Arlington Street, Nov. 16, 1754.

You are over-good to me, my dear Sir, in giving yourself the trouble of telling me you was content with Strawberry Hill.  I will not, however, tell you, that I am Content with your being there, till you have seen it in all its greenth and blueth.  Alas!  I am sorry I cannot insist upon as much with the Colonel.

Mr. Chute, I believe, was so pleased with the tenebra in his own chapel, that he has fairly buried himself in it.  I have not even had so much as a burial card from him since.

The town is as full as I believe you thought the room was at your ball at Waldershare.  I hear of nothing but the parts and merit of Lord North.  Nothing has happened yet, but sure so many English people cannot be assembled long without committing something extraordinary.

I have seen and conversed with our old friend Cope; I find him grown very old; I fear he finds me so too; at least as old as I ever intend to be.  I find him very grave too, which I believe he does not find me.

Solomon and Hesther, as my Lady Townshend calls Mr. Pitt and Lady Hester Grenville, espouse one another to-day.(524) I know nothing more but a new fashion which my Lady Hervey has brought from Paris.  It is a tin funnel covered with green ribbon, and holds water, which the ladies wear to keep their bouquets fresh.  I fear Lady Caroline and some others will catch frequent colds and sore throats with overturning this reservoir.

Apropos, there is a match certainly in agitation, which has very little of either Solomon or Hesther in it.  You will be sorry when I tell you, that Lord Waldegrave certainly dis-Solomons himself with the Drax.  Adieu! my dear Sir; I congratulate Miss Montagu on her good health, and am ever yours.

(524) On the ]6th of November, Mr. Pitt married Lady Hester Grenville, only daughter of Richard Grenville, of Wotton, Esq., and of Hester, Countess Temple.-E.

226 Letter 116 To Richard Bentley, Esq.  Arlington Street, Nov. 20, 1754.

If this does not turn out a scolding letter I am much mistaken.  I shall give way to it with the less scruple, as I think it shall be the last of the kind; not that you will mend, but I cannot support a commerce of visions! and therefore, whenever you send me mighty cheap schemes for finding out longitudes and philosophers’ stones, you will excuse me if I only smile, and don’t order them to be examined by my council.  For Heaven’s sake, don’t be a projector!  Is not it provoking, that, with the best parts in the world, you should have so gentle a portion of common sense?(525) But I am clear, that you never will know the two things in the world that import you the most to know, yourself and me.  Thus much by way of preface:  now for the detail.