Mr. Fox breakfasted here t’other day.  He confirmed -what you tell me of Lord Frederick Cavendish’s account:  it is universally said that the Duke failed merely by inferiority, the French soldiers behaving in general most scandalously.  They had fourscore pieces of cannon, but very ill served.  Marshal D’Estr`ees was recalled before the battle, but did not know it.  He is said to have made some great mistakes in the action.  I cannot speak to the truth of it, but the French are reported to have demanded two millions sterling of Hanover.  My whole letter will consist of hearsays:  for, even at so little distance from town, one gets no better news than hawkers and pedlars retail about the country.  From such I hear that George Haldane(816) is made governor of Jamaica, and that a Mr. Campbell, whose father lives in Sweden, is going thither to make an alliance with that country, and hire twelve thousand men.  If one of my acquaintance, as an antiquary, were alive, Sir Anthony Shirley,,(817) I suppose we should send him to Persia again for troops; I fear we shall get none nearer!

Adieu! my dearest Harry!  Next to wishing your expedition still-born, my most constant thought is, how to be of any service to poor Lady Ailesbury, whose reasonable concern makes even that of the strongest friendship seem trifling.  Yours most entirely.

(815) On the expedition to Rochfort.

(816) Brigadier-General Haldane.

(817) Sir Thomas, Sir Anthony, and Sir Robert Shirley, were three brothers, all great travellers, and all distinguished by extraordinary adventures in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and James I.

392 Letter 235
To George Montagu, Esq. 
Strawberry Hill, August 25, 1757.

I did not know that you expected the pleasure of seeing the Colonel so soon.  It is plain that I did not solicit leave of absence for him; make him my many compliments.  I should have been happy to have seen you and Mr. John, but must not regret it, as you were so agreeably prevented.  You are very particular, I can tell you, in liking Gray’s Odes—­but you must remember that the age likes Akenside, and did like Thomson! can the same people like both?  Milton was forced to wait till the world had done admiring Quarles.  Cambridge told me t’other night that my Lord Chesterfield heard Stanley read them as his own, but that must have been a mistake of my lord’s deafness.  Cambridge said, “Perhaps they are Stanley’s; and not caring to own them, he gave them to Gray.”  I think this would hurt Gray’s dignity ten times more than his poetry not succeeding.  My humble share as his printer has been more favourably received.  We proceed soberly.  I must give you account of less amusements, des eaux de Strawberry.  T’other day my Lady Rochfort, Lady Townshend, Miss Bland,(818) and the knight of the garter dined here, and were carried into the printing-office, and were to see the man print.  There were some lines ready placed, which he took off; I gave them to Lady Townshend; here they are-