(1013) Lady Mary Churchill, only daughter of Sir Robert Walpole by his second wife.

481 Letter 308 To John Chute, Esq.(1014) Arlington Street, March 13, 1759.

I am puzzled to know how to deal with you:  I hate to be Officious, it has a horrid look; and to let you alone till you die at the Vine of mildew, goes against my conscience, Don’t it go against yours to keep all your family there till they are mouldy?  Instead of sending you a physician, I will send you a dozen brasiers; I am persuaded that you want to be dried and aired more than physicked.  For God’s sake don’t stay there any longer:—­

“Mater Cyrene, mater quae gurgitis hujus Ima tenes—­”

send him away!—­Nymphs and Jew doctors!  I don’t know what I shall pray to next against your obstinacy.

No more news yet from Guadaloupe!  A persecution seems to be raising against General Hobson—­I don’t wonder!  Wherever Commodore Moore is, one may expect treachery and blood.  Good night!

(1014) Now first printed.

482 Letter 309
To The Rev. Henry Zouch. 
Arlington Street, March 15, 1759.

Sir, You judge very rightly, Sir, that I do not intend to meddle with accounts of religious houses; I should not think of them at all unless I could learn the names of any of the architects, not of the founders.  It is the history of our architecture that I should search after, especially the beautiful Gothic.  I have by no means digested the plan of my intended work.  The materials I have ready in great quantities in Vertue’s MSS.; but he has collected little with regard to our architects, except Inigo Jones.  As our painters have been very indifferent, I must, to make the work interesting, make it historical; I would mix it with anecdotes of patrons of the arts, and with dresses and customs from old pictures. something in the manner of Moulfaucon’s Antiquities of France.  I think it capable of being made a very amusing work, but I don’t know whether I shall ever bestow the necessary time on it.  At present, even my press is at a stop, my printer, who was a foolish Irishman, and who took himself for a genius, and who grew angry when I thought him extremely the former, and not the least of the latter, has left me, and I have Not yet fixed upon another.

In what edition, Sir, of Beaumont and Fletcher, is the copy of verses you mention, signed “Grandison?"(1015) They are not in mine.  In my Catalogue I mention the Countess of Montgomery’s Eusebia; I shall be glad to know what her Urania is.  I fear you will find little satisfaction in a library of noble works.  I have got several, some duplicates, that shall be at your service if you continue Your collection; but in general they are mere curiosities.

Mr. Hume has published his History of the House of Tudor.  I have not advanced far in it, but it appears an inaccurate and careless, as it certainly has been a very hasty, performance.  Adieu!  Sir.