(582) The two captains were the Honourable Captain Richard Howe of the Dunkirk, and Captain Andrews of the Defiance, who, on the 10th of June, off Cape Race, the southernmost part of Newfoundland, fell in with three men-of war, part of the French fleet, Commanded by M. Bois de la Motte; and, after a very severe engagement of five Hours, succeeded in capturing the Alcide of sixty-four guns, and the Lys of sixty-four.- E.

(583) Dr. Stone.

(584) Eldest daughter and coheiress of the great Duke of Argyle, and widow of the Earl of Dalkeith.-E.

(585) Franklin, who occupied the cottage in the enclosure which Mr. Walpole afterwards called the Flower-garden at Strawberry Hill.  When he bought the ground on which this tenement stood, he allowed Franklin to continue to occupy it during his life.

(586) Arthur Young, in his “Six Weeks’ Tour,” gives the following description of Wanstead:  “It is one of the noblest houses in England.  The magnificence of having four state bed-chambers, with complete apartments to them, and the ball-room, are superior to any thing of the kind in Houghton, Holkham, Blenheim and Wilton:  but each of these houses is superior to this in other particulars; and, to form a complete, palace, something must be taken from all."-E.

(587) Evelyn, who visited Wanstead, March 16, 1682-3, says, “I went to see Sir Josiah Child’s prodigious cost in planting walnut-trees about his seat, and making fish-ponds many miles in circuit, in Epping Forest, in a barren spot, as oftentimes these suddenly moneyed men for the most part. seat themselves.  He, from a merchant’s apprentice, and management of the East India Company’s stock, being arrived to an estate (’tis said) 200,000 pounds, and lately married his daughter to the eldest son of the Duke of Beaufort, late Marquis of Worcester, with 50,000 pounds portional present, and various expectations.”

(588) Walpole’s favourite cat Selima, on the death of which, by falling into a china tub, with gold fishes in it, Gray wrote an Ode.  After the death of the poet, Walpole placed the china vase on a pedestal at Strawberry Hill, with a few lines of’ the Ode written for its inscription.-E.

263 Letter 140 To George Montagu, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, July 17, 1755.

Having done with building and planting, I have taken to farming; the first fruits of my proficience in that science I offer to you, and have taken the liberty to send you a couple of cheeses.  If you will give yourself the trouble to inquire at Brackley for the coach, which set out this morning you will receive a box and a roll of paper.  The latter does not contain a cheese, only a receipt for making them.  We have taken so little of the French fleet, that I fear none of it will come to my share, or I would have sent you part of the spoils.  I have nothing more to send you, but a new ballad, which my Lord Bath has made on this place; you remember the old burden of it, and the last lines allude to Billy Bristow’s having fallen in love with it.