As I know how much you are my friend and take part in my joy, I cannot help communicating to you an incident that has given much pleasure.  You know how much I love Mr. Mann-well, I don’t enter into that, nor into a detail of many hardships that he has suffered lately, which made me still more eager to serve him.  As some regiments have been just given away, I cast my eyes about to see if I could not help him to clothing.  Among the rest, there was one new colonel,(651) whom I could not assume enough to call my friend, but who is much connected with one that is so.  As the time passed, I did not stay to go round about, but addressed myself directly to the person himself—­but I was disappointed; the disaster was, that he had left his quarters and was come to town.  Though I immediately gave it up in my own mind, knew how incessantly he would be pressed from much more powerful quarters, concluded he would be engaged, I wrote again; that letter was as useless as the first, and from what reason do you think?  Why this person, in spite of all solicitations, nay previous to any, had already thought of Mr. Mann, and recollected it would oblige me and my friend in the country, and had actually given his clothing to Mr. Mann, before he received either of my letters.  Judge how agreeably I have been surprised, and how much the manner has added to my obligation!  You will be still more pleased when you hear the character of this officer, which I tell you willingly, because I know you country gentlemen are apt to contract prejudices, and to fancy that no virtues grow out of your own shire; yet by this one sample, you will find them connected with several circumstances that are apt to nip their growth.  He is of as good a family as any in England, yet in this whole transaction he has treated me with as much humility is if I was of as good a family and as if I had obliged him, not he me.  In the next place, I have no power to oblige him; then, though he is young and in the army, he is as good, as temperate, as meek, as if he was a curate on preferment; and yet with all these meek virtues, nobody has distinguished themselves by more personal bravery-and what is still more to his praise, though he has so greatly established his courage, he is as regular in his duty, and submits as patiently to all the tedious exiles and fatigues of it, as if he had no merit at all; but I will say no more, lest you imagine that the present warmth of my gratitude makes me exaggerate.  No, you will not, when you know that all I have said relates to your own brother, Colonel Charles Montagu.  I did not think he could have added still to my satisfaction; but he has, by giving me hopes Of seeing you in town next week-till then, adieu!  Yours as entirely as is consistent with my devotedness to your brother.

(651) Colonel Charles Montagu, this day appointed to the command of the 59th regiment of foot.-E.

300 Letter 168 To Richard Bentley, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, Jan. 6, 1756.