(36) In reference to this publication, Lord Bolingbroke himself, in a letter to Lord Marchmont, written on the 7th of June, says, “The book you mention has brought no trouble upon me, though it has given occasion to many libels upon me.  They are of the lowest form, and seem to be held in the contempt they deserve.  There I shall leave them, nor suffer a nest of hornets to disturb the quiet of my retreat.  If these letters of mine come to your hands, your lordship will find that I have left out all that was said of our friend Lord Lyttelton in one of them.  He desired that it might be so; and I had at once the double mortification of concealing the good I had said of one friend, and of revealing the turpitude of another.  I hope you will never have the same treatment that I have met with; neither will you.  I am single in my circumstances—­a species apart in the political society; and they, who dare to attack no one else, may attack me.  Chesterfield says, I have made a coalition of Wig, Tory, Trimmer, and Jacobite against myself.  Be it so.  I have Truth, that is stronger than all of them, on my side; and, in her company, and avowed by her, I have more satisfaction than their applause and their favour could give me.”  Marchmont Papers.-E.

(37) This thought was borrowed by Mr. Spence, in a pamphlet published on this occasion in defence of Pope.

(38) Burnet relates that the Earl of Dorset, celebrated for patronage of Genius, found Prior by chance reading Horace, and was so well pleased with his proficiency, that he undertook the care and cost of academical education.

27 Letter 5 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, May 18, 1749,.

Dear George, Whatever you hear of the Richmond fireworks, that is short of the prettiest entertainment in the world, don’t believe it — I really never passed a more agreeable evening.  Every thing succeeded; all the wheels played in time; Frederick was fortunate, and all the world in good humour.  Then for royalty—­Mr. Anstis himself would have been glutted; there were all the Fitzes upon earth, the whole court of St. Germains, the Duke,(39) the Duke of Modena, and two Anamaboes.  The King, and Princess Emily bestowed themselves upon the mob on the river and as soon as they were gone, the Duke had the music into the garden, and himself, with my Lady Lincoln, Mrs. Pitt, Peggy Banks, and Lord Holderness, entertained the good subjects with singing God save the King to them over the rails of the terrace.  The Duke of Modena supped there, and the Duke was asked, but he answered, it was impossible; in short, he could not adjust his dignity to a mortal banquet.  There was an admirable scene:  Lady Burlington brought the Violette, and the Richmonds had asked Garrick who stood ogling and sighing the whole time, while my Lady kept a most fierce look-out.  Sabbatini, one of the Duke of Modena’s court, was asking me who all the people were? and who is that?  “C’est miladi Hartington, la belle fille du Duc de Devonshire.”  “Et qui est cette autre dame!” It was a distressing question; after a little hesitation, I replied, “Mais c’est Mademoiselle Violette?” “Et comment Mademoiselle Violette! j’ai connu une Mademoiselle Violette, par exemple."(40) I begged him to look at Miss Bishop.