“The press speaks: 
>From me wits and poets their glory obtain;
Without me their wit and their verses were vain. 
Stop, Townshend, and let me but print what you say;
You, the fame I on others bestow, will repay.”

They then asked, as I foresaw, to see the man compose:  I gave him four lines out of the Fair Penitent, which he set; but while he went to place them in the press, I made them look at something else without their observing, and in an instant he whipped away what he had just set, and to their great surprise when they expected to see “Were ye, ye fair,” he presented to my Lady Rochford the following lines:-

“The press speaks: 
In vain from your properest name you have flown,
And exchanged lovely Cupid’s for Hymen’s dull throne;
By my art shall your beauties be constantly sung,
And in spite of yourself you shall ever be young.”

You may imagine, whatever the poetry was, that the gallantry of it succeeded.  Poor Mr. Bentley has been at the extremity with a fever, and inflammation in his bowels; but is so well recovered that Mr. Muntz is gone to fetch him hither to-day.  I don’t guess what sight I have to come in Hampshire, unless it is Abbotstone.  I am pretty sure I have none to come at the Vine, where I have done nothing, as I see Mr. Chute will never execute any thing.  The very altar-piece that I sent for to Italy is not placed yet.  But when he could refrain from making the Gothic columbarium for his family, which I propose, and Mr. Bentley had drawn so divinely, it is not probable he should do any thing else.  Adieu!

(818) Sister of the unfortunate Sir John Bland.  See ant&, p. 287, letter 157.-E.

393 Letter 236 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.(819) Strawberry Hill, Thursday, Sept. 2, 1757.

Not being in town, there may be several more new productions, as the Grubbaea frutex blossoms every day; but I send you all I had gathered for myself, while I was there.  I found the pamphlet much in vogue; and, indeed, it is written smartly.  My Lady Townshend sends all her messages on the backs of these political cards; the only good one of which the two heads facing one another, is her son George’s.  Charles met D’Abreu t’other day, and told him he intended to make a great many speeches next winter; the first, said he, shall be to address the King not to send for any more foreign troops, but to send for some foreign ministers.

My Lord Chesterfield is relapsed:  he sent Lord Bath word lately, that be was grown very lean and deaf:  the other replied, that he could lend him some fat, and should be very glad at any time to lend him an ear.

I shall go to town on Monday, and if I find any thing else new, I will pack it up with a flower picture for Lady Ailesbury, which I shall leave in Warwick-street, with orders to be sent to you.  Adieu!

(819) Now first printed.

393 Letter 237
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Strawberry Hill, Sept. 3, 1757.