that his disorder, his departure, and his despair, were all occasioned-not by Lord Bathurst or Queen Caroline-but by the commencement of the fatal illness of poor Stella. And what may conclude the argument on this point, is Swift's letter to Mrs. Howard, of the 9th of July, 1727; in which, rallying her on the solicitations to which the followers of the new king would be exposed, he says, for my own part, you may be secure that I will never venture to recommend even a mouse to Mrs. Cole's cat, or a shoe-cleaner to your meanest domestic!" (Vol. i. p. 248).

Mrs. Howard may have solicited, and Queen Caroline may have thwarted her; but, at least, not on the points and in the manner stated by Walpole.

Lady Suffolk closed, in July, 1767, a long life, which had been chequered with the vicissitudes of court favour, and afflicted by constitutional infirmities; but sweetened by the equanimity and moderation of her own mind, and the affection and friendship

of the most eminent and distinguished persons of the long period in which she lived.

THE papers, of which the following is a selection, were bequeathed by Lady Suffolk to her nephew, the second Earl of Buckinghamshire; and by him to his daughter, Emily, Marchioness of Londonderry.

The peculiar situation of Lady Suffolk at court, and the eminence in literature, politics, and society, of her friends and correspondents, naturally excited a good deal of curiosity about these papers, and the publisher was encouraged to apply to Lady Londonderry for permission to give a selection of them to the world. To this request her ladyship obligingly acceded, on the condition that the value of the copyright should be presented to a useful public charity; and the Editor was happy to give his humble assistance towards an object thus become doubly interesting.

The names, indeed, of Lady Suffolk's

correspondents could not fail to excite a lively curiosity-Pope, Swift, Arbuthnot, Gay, and Young;-the Duchesses of Buckingham, Marlborough, and Queensberry ;— Ladies Orkney, Mohun, Hervey, Vere, and Temple;-Misses Bellenden, Blount, Howe, and Pitt;-Lords Peterborough, Bolingbroke, Chesterfield, Lansdowne, Mansfield, and Bathurst; - Messrs. Fortescue, Pulteney, Pelham, Pitt, Grenville, and Horace Walpole !

Such is the illustrious catalogue of Lady Suffolk's correspondents; but it is the editor's duty to admit, that the letters themselves can hardly be said to fulfil the expectations which the reputation of the writers must create.

It is, in the first place, observable, that although Lady Suffolk's situation placed her in the very focus of court intrigue and political faction, the correspondence contains but little of that sort of topic. Whether Lady Suffolk's prudence and moderation deterred her from receiving such

communications, or induced her afterwards to destroy what she might have received, cannot now be determined, perhaps both causes may have operated ;-but, be that as it may, the correspondence contains little historical information, and not a great deal of political anecdote.

In the style and topics of many of the letters, and particularly those addressed to Lady Suffolk in the days of her favour, there will, it is apprehended, be observed a certain degree of formality and reserve; and some of her correspondents-(Lord Peterborough for example) from whom the liveliest effusions might have been expected, surprise and worry us with the drawl of the "Polite letter-writer."

But, after all these deductions, it is hoped that a great deal of interest and amusement will still remain.

The very length of the correspondence -from 1712 to 1767, fifty-five years-is in itself valuable: it is curious to observe the effect which half a century had on indivi

duals, and on the tone and manners of society in general.

Although some of the letters are, as has been stated, dry and formal, a great proportion are lively and agreeable; and the whole are interspersed with numerous characteristic traits and familiar anecdotes.

The correspondence with Swift, now completed and published from the originals, will be read with renewed interest; that, with Gay and the Duchess of Queensberry will amuse by its ease, familiarity, and good humour. We shall see that great political leader, Mr. Pulteney, in (as was said of his rival)

"the happier hour,

Of social converse, ill exchanged for power." The easy wit of Lady Hervey, the wild good humour of the beautiful Mary Bellenden, the giddy gaiety of Miss Howe, and the pleasantry, carried to the very edge of decorum, of Lady Vere and Miss Bradshaw, give, at least, animation to the correspondence.