I am a little pleased to send you this, to show you, that in summer we are a little pretty, though you will never look at us but in our ugliness.  My best compliments to Miss Montagu, and my service to whatever baronet breakfasts with you, on negus.  Have you heard that poor Lady Browne is so unfortunate as to have lost her last daughter; and that Mrs. Barnett is so lucky as to have lost her mother-in-law, and is Baroness Dacre of the South?  I met the great C`u t’other day, and he asked me if I ever heard from you; that he never did:  I told him that I did not neither; did not I say true?

263 Letter 141 To George Montagu, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, July 26, 1755.

who would not turn farmer, when their very first essay turns to so good account?  Seriously, I am quite pleased with the success of mystery, and infinitely obliged to you for the kind things you say about my picture.  You must thank Mrs. Whetenhall, too, for her prepossession about my cheeses:  I fear a real manufacturer of milk at Strawberry Hill would not have answered quite so well as our old commodities of paint and copper-plates.

I am happy for the recovery of Miss Montagu, and the tranquillity you must feel after so terrible a season of apprehension.  Make my compliments to her, and if you can be honest on so tender a topic, tell her, that she will always be in danger, while you shut her up in Northamptonshire, and that with her delicate constitution she ought to live nearer friends and help; and I know of no spot so healthy or convenient for both, as the county of Twicks.

Charles Townshend is to be married next month:  as the lady had a very bad husband before, she has chosen prudently, and has settled herself in a family of the best sort of people in the world, who will think of nothing but making her happy.  I don’t know whether the bridegroom won’t be afraid of getting her any more children, lest it should prejudice those she has already! they are a wonderful set of people for good-natured considerations!

You know, to be sure, that Mr. Humberston(589) is dead, and your neighbouring Brackley likely to return under the dominion of its old masters.  Lady Dysart(590) is dead too.

Mr. Chute is at the Vine.  Your poor Cliquetis is still a banished man.  I have a scheme for bringing him back, but can get Mrs. Tisiphone into no kind of terms, and without tying her up from running him into new debts, it is in vain to recover him.

I believe the declaration of war has been stopped at the Custom-house, for one hears nothing of it.  You see I am very paragraphical, and in reality have nothing to say; so good night!  Yours ever.

(589)Member for Brackley.-E.

(590) Daughter of the Earl of Granville.

264 Letter 142
To Richard Bentley, Esq. 
Strawberry Hill, August 4, 1755, between 11 and 12 at night.