(548) A quack oculist. [Generally called the Chevalier Taylor.  He published his travels in 1762; in which he styled himself “Ophthalmiator Pontifical, Imperial, Royal,” etc.]

238 Letter 123 To Richard Bentley, Esq.  Arlington Street, Feb. 8, 1755.

My dear sir, By the wagon on Thursday there set out for Southampton a lady whom you must call Phillis, but whom George Montagu and the Gods would name Speckle-belly.  Peter begged her for me; that is, for you; that is, for Captain Dumaresque, after he had been asked three guineas for another.  I hope she will not be poisoned with salt-water, like the poor Poyangers.(549) If she should, you will at least observe, that your commissions are not stillborn with me, as mine are with you.  I draw(550) a spotted dog, the moment you desire it.

George Montagu has intercepted the description I promised you of the Russian masquerade:  he wrote to beg it, and I cannot transcribe from myself.  In a few words, there were all the beauties, and all the diamonds, and not a few of the uglies of London.  The Duke,(551) like Osman the Third, seemed in the centre of his new seraglio, and I believe my lady and I thought that my Lord Anson was the chief eunuch.  My Lady Coventry was dressed in a great style, and looked better than ever.  Lady Betty Spencer, like Rubens’s wife (not the common one with the hat), had all the bloom and bashfulness and wildness of youth, with all the countenance of all the former Marlboroughs.  Lord Delawar was an excellent mask, from a picture at Kensington of Queen Elizabeth’s porter.  Lady Caroline Petersham, powdered with diamonds and crescents for a Turkish slave, was still extremely handsome.  The hazard was excessively deep, to the astonishment of some Frenchmen of quality who are here, and who I believe, from what they saw that night, will not write to their court to dissuade their armaments, on its not being worth their while to attack so beggarly a nation.  Our fleet is as little despicable; but though the preparations on both sides are so great, I believe the storm will blow over.  They insist on our immediately sending an ambassador to Paris; and to my great satisfaction, my cousin and friend Lord Hertford is to be the man.  This is still an entire secret here, but will be known before you receive this.  The weather is very bitter, and keeps me from Strawberry.  Adieu!

(549) Mr. Walpole having called his gold-fish pond Poyang, calls the gold-fish Poyangers.

(550) Alluding to Mr. Bentley’s dilatoriness in exercising his pencil at the request of Mr. Walpole.

(551) William Duke of Cumberland.

239 Letter 124
To Richard Bentley, Esq. 
Arlington Street, Feb. 23, 1755.