I did not doubt but u would be struck with the death of poor Bland.(632) I, t’other night, at White’s, found a very remarkable entry in our very-very remarkable wager-book:  “Lord Mountford(633) bets Sir John Bland twenty guineas that Nash outlives Cibbor!” How odd that these two old creatures, selected for their antiquities, should live to see both their wagerers put an end to their own lives!  Cibber is within a few days of eighty-four, still hearty, and clear, and well.  I told him I was glad to see him look so well:  “Faith,” said he, “it is very well that I look at all!”—­I shall thank you for the Ormer shells and roots; and shall desire your permission to finish my letter already.  As the Parliament is to meet so soon, you are likely to be overpowered with my despatches.—­I have been thinning my wood of trees and planting them out more into the field:  I am fitting up the old kitchen for a china-room:  I am building a bedchamber for my self over the old blue-room, in which I intend to die, though not yet; and some trifles of this kind, which I do not specify to you, because I intend to reserve a little to be quite new to you.  Adieu!

(629) In the Following month created Sir William Johnson, Bart.  Parliament was so satisfied with his conduct on this occasion, that it voted him the sum of 5000 pounds.  He afterwards distinguished himself as a negotiator with the Indian tribes, and was ultimately chosen colonel of the Six Nations, and superintendent of Indian affairs for the northern parts of America.  He became well acquainted with the manners and language of the Indians, and in 1772, sent to the Royal Society some valuable communications relative to them.  He died in 1774.-E.

(630) Alluding to the Duke of Cumberland.

(631) No. 148, On Civility and Good-breeding.-E.

(632) Sir John Bland, member for Luggershall.  The event took place on the road between Calais and Paris.-E.

(633) Lord Mountford would have been the winner.  Colley Cibber died in 1757:  Beau Nash survived till 1761.  A very entertaining Memoir of the King of Bath will be found in Mr. Murray’s enlarged and elegant edition of Goldsmith’s Miscellaneous Works.  It is matter of surprise, that so many pieces, from the pen of the delightful author of the Vicar of Wakefield, should have so long remained uncollected.-E.

287 Letter 158 To George Montagu, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, Nov. 8, 1755.

My dear sir, You oblige me extremely by giving me this commission; and though I am exceedingly unlike Solomon in every thing else, I will at least resemble him in remembering you to the Hiram from whom I obtained my cedars of libanus.  He is by men called Christopher Gray, nurseryman at Fulham.  I mention cedars first, because they are the most beautiful of the evergreen race, and because they are the dearest; half a guinea apiece in baskets.  The arbutus are scarce a crown apiece, but they are very beautiful: