(562) A carpenter at Twickenham, employed by Mr. Walpole.

250 Letter 131 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, May 4, as they call it, but the weather andthe almanack of my feelings affirm it is December.

I will answer your questions as well as I can, though I must do it shortly, for I write in a sort of hurry.  Osborn could not find Lord Cutts,(563) but I have discovered another, in an auction, for which I shall bid for you.  Mr. Muntz has been at Strawberry these three weeks, tight at work, so your picture is little advanced, but as soon as he returns it shall be finished.  I have chosen the marbles for your tomb; but you told me you had agreed on the price, which your steward now says I was to settle.  Mr. Bentley still waits the conclusion of the session, before he can come amongst us again.  Every thing has passed with great secrecy:  one would think the devil was afraid of being tried for his life, for he has not even directed Madame Bentley to the Old Bailey.  Mr. Mann does not mend, but how should he in such weather?

We wait with impatience for news from Minorca. there is a Prince of Nassau Welbourg, who wants to marry Princess Caroline of Orange; he is well-looking enough, but a little too tame to cope with such blood.  He is established at the Duke of Richmond’s, with a large train, for two months.  He was last night at a great ball at my Lady Townshend’s, whose Audrey will certainly get Lord George Lenox.(564) George Selwyn, t’other night, seeing Lady Euston with Lady Petersham, said, “There’s my Lady Euston, and my Lady us’d to’t.”  Adieu!

(563) Sir John, created Lord Cutts of Gowran in 1690, distinguished himself at the siege of Buda:  he accompanied King William to England, was made a lieutenant-general, and died without issue in 1707.  Sir Richard Steele dedicated to him his “Christian Hero.”  Lord Cutts married Mr. Montagu’s grandmother; he was her third husband.-E.

(564) Lord George Lenox married Lady Louisa Ker, daughter of the Marquis of Lothian.  Audrey married Captain Orme.-E.

250 Letter 132 To Richard Bentley, Esq.  Arlington Street, May 6, 1755.

My dear sir, Do you get my letters’! or do I write only for the entertainment of the clerks of the post-office?  I have not heard from you this month!  It will be very unlucky if my last to you has miscarried, as it required an answer, of importance to you, and very necessary to my satisfaction.

I told you of Lord Poulet’s intended motion.  He then repented, and wrote to my Lady Yarmouth and Mr. Fox to mediate his pardon.  Not contented with his reception, he determined to renew his intention.  Sir Cordell Firebrace(565) took it up, and intended to move the same address in the Commons, but was prevented by a sudden adjournment.  However, the last day but one of the session, Lord Poulet read his motion, which was a speech.  My Lord Chesterfield (who of all men living seemed to have no business to defend