46 Letter 16 To Sir Horace Mann.  Strawberry Hill, October 27, 1749.

You never was more conveniently in fault in your life:  I have been going to make you excuses these ten days for not writing; and while I was inventing them, your humble letter of Oct. 10th arrives.  I am so glad to find it is you that are to blame, not I. Well, well, I am all good nature, I forgive you; I can overlook such little negligences.

Mr. Chute is indefatigable in your service, but Anstis(81) has been very troublesome; he makes as many difficulties in signing a certificate about folks that are dead as if they were claiming an estate.  I am sorry you are so pressed, for poor Mr. Chute is taken off from this pursuit:  he was fetched from hence this day se’nnight to his infernal brother’s, where a Mrs. Mildmay, whom you must have heard him mention, is dead suddenly:  this may turn out a very great misfortune to our friend.

Your friend, Mr. Doddington, has not quite stuck to the letter of the declaration he sent you:  he is first minister at Carlton-house, and is to lead the Opposition; but the misfortune is, nobody will be led by him.  That whole court is in disorder by this event:  every body else laughs.

I am glad the Barrets please you, and that I have pleased Count Lorenzi.  I must tell a speech of the Chevalier, which you will reconnoitre for Florentine; one would think he had seen no more of the world than his brother.(82) He was visiting Lady Yarmouth with Mirepoix:  he drew a person into a window, and whispered him; Dites moi un peu en ami, je vous en prie; qu’est ce que c’est que Miledi Yarmouth.”—­“Eh! bien, vous ne savez pas?”—­“Non, ma foi:  nous savons ce que c’est que Miledi Middlesex.,”

Gibberne is arrived.  I don’t tell you this apropos to the foregoing paragraph:  he has wanted to come hither, but I have waived his visit till I am in town.

I announce to you the old absurd Countess—­not of Orford, but Pomfret.  Bistino will have enough to do:  there is Lady Juliana,(83) who is very like, but not so handsome as Lady Granville; ’and Lady Granville’s little child.  They are actually in France; I don’t doubt but you will have them.  I shall pity you under a second edition of her follies.  Adieu!  Pray ask my pardon for my writing you so short a letter.

(81) Garter King at Arms. (It was to him Lord Chesterfield said, “You foolish man, you do not know your own foolish business."-D.)

(82) Who had never been out of Tuscany.

(83) In 1751 married to Thomas Penn, Esq. of Stoke Pogies.  See ant`e, p. 13, letter 1.-E.

47 Letter 17 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, Nov. 17, 1749.