Wednesday night.

Well, now for the plot:  thus much is true.  A laundry-maid of the Duchess of Marlborough, passing by the Cocoa-tree, saw two gentlemen go in there, one of whom dropped a letter; it was directed to you.  She opened it.  It was very obscure, talked of designs at Kew miscarried, of new methods to be taken; and as this way of correspondence had been repeated too often, another must be followed:  and it told you that the next letter to him should be in a band-box at such a house in the Haymarket.  The Duchess concluded it related to a gang of street-robbers, and sent it to Fielding.  He sent to the house named, and did find a box and a letter, which, though obscure had treason enough in it.  It talked of a design at Kew miscarried; that the Opera was now the only place, and consequently the scheme must be deferred till next season, especially as a Certain person is abroad.  For the other great person (the Duke), they are sure of him at any time.  There was some indirect mention, too, of gunpowder.  Vanneschi and others have been apprehended; but a conclusion was made, that it was a malicious design against the lord high treasurer of the Opera and his administration, and so they have been dismissed.  Macnamara,(575) I suppose you Jerseyans know, is returned with his fleet to Brest, leaving the transports sailing to America.  Lord Thanet and Mr. Stanley are just gone to Paris, I believe to inquire after the war.

The weather has been very bad for showing Strawberry to the Kildares; we have not been able to stir out of doors; but, to make me amends, I have discovered that Lady Kildare is a true S`evignist.  You know what pleasure I have in any increase of our sect; I thought she grew handsomer than ever as she talked with devotion of Notre Dame des Rochers.  Adieu! my dear Sir.

P. S. Tell me if you receive this; for in these gunpowder times, to be sure, the clerks of the post-office are peculiarly alert.

(571) Mr. Walpole had invited Mr. muntz from Jersey, and he lived for some time at Strawberry Hill.

(572) Youngest son of Thomas, elder brother of the Earl of St. Albans.  He was created Baron Dover in 1685, and died without issue in 1708.-E.

(573) One of Charles the Second’s confidential pages.-E.

(574) The Pretender’s birthday.

(576) The French admiral.

256 Letter 136
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Strawberry Hill, June 15, 1755.

My dear sir, I have received your two letters relating to the Countess,(577) and wish you joy, since she will establish herself at Florence, that you are so well with her; but I could not help smiling at the goodness of your heart and your zeal for us:  the moment she spared us, you gave t`ete baiss`ee into all her histories against Mr. Shirley:  his friends say, that there was a little slight-of-hand in her securing the absolute possession of her own fortune; it was very prudent, at least, if not quite