for I have already found twenty things of great moment to me. One is particularly satisfactory to me; it is in Mr. Baker's MSS. at Cambridge; the title of Eglesham's book against the Duke of Bucks,' mentioned by me in the account of Gerbier, from Vertue, who fished out everything, and always proves in the right. This piece I must get transcribed by Mr. Gray's assistance. I fear I shall detain your manuscript prisoner a little, for the notices I have found, but I will take infinite care of it, as it deserves.

I have got among my new old prints a most curious one of one Toole. It seems to be a burlesque. He lived in temp. Jac. I., and appears to have been an adventurer, like Sir Ant. Sherley: can you tell me anything of him?

I must repeat how infinitely I think myself obliged to you both for the print and the use of your manuscript, which is of the greatest use and entertainment to me; but you frighten me about Mr. Baker's MSS. from the neglect of them. I should lose all patience if yours were to be treated so. Bind them in iron, and leave them in a chest They are, I am sure, most valuable, from what I have

of cedar.

found already.

MY DEAR LORD:

908. TO THE EARL OF HERTFORD.

Strawberry Hill, Sunday, March 11, 1764.

THE last was so busy a week with me, that I had not a minute's time to tell you of Lord Hardwicke's death. I had so many auctions, dinners, loo-parties, so many sick acquaintance, with the addition of a long day in the House of Commons (which, by the way, I quitted for a sale of books), and a ball, that I left the common newspapers to inform you of an event, which two months ago would have been of much consequence. The Yorkes are fixed, and the contest' at Cambridge will but make them strike deeper root in opposition.

I

1 This libellous book, written by a Scotch physician, and which is reprinted in the second volume of the Harleian Miscellany, and in the fifth volume of the Somers' Collection of Tracts, was considered by Sir Henry Wotton "as one of the alleged incentives which hurried Felton to become an assassin."-WRIGHT.

2 Sherley's various embassies will be found in the collections of Hakluyt and. Purchas. An article upon his travels, which were published in 1601, occurs likewise in the second volume of the Retrospective Review.' The travels of the three brothers, Sir Thomas, Sir Anthony, and Master Robert Sherley, were published from the original manuscripts in 1825.-WRIGHT.

3 Cole's MSS. are safe, and accessible, in the British Museum.-CUNNINGHAM.

4 Lord Hardwicke died 6th March, 1764.-CUNNINGHAM.

For high steward of the University, between Lord Sandwich and the new Lord

have not heard how their father has portioned out his immense treasures. The election at Cambridge is to be on Tuesday, 24th ; Charles Townshend is gone thither, and I suppose, by this time, has ranted, and romanced, and turned every one of their ideas topsyturvey.

Our long day was Friday, the opening of the budget. Mr Grenville spoke for two hours and forty minutes; much of it well, but too long, too many repetitions, and too evident marks of being galled by reports, which he answered with more art than sincerity. There were a few more speeches, till nine o'clock, but no division. Our armistice, you see, continues. Lord Bute is, I believe, negotiating with both sides; I know he is with the opposition, and has a prospect of making very good terms for himself, for patriots seldom have the gift of perseverance. It is wonderful how soon their virtue thaws!

Last Thursday, the Duchess of Queensberry' gave a ball, opened it herself with a minuet, and danced two country dances as she had enjoined everybody to be with her by six, to sup at twelve, and go away directly. Of the Campbell-sisters, all were left out but Lady Strafford. Lady Rockingham and Lady Sondes, who, having had colds, deferred sending answers, received notice that their places were filled up, and that they must not come; but were pardoned on submission. A card was sent to invite Lord and Lady Cardigan, and Lord Beaulieu instead of Lord Montagu.' This, her grace protested, was by accident. Lady Cardigan was very angry, and yet went. Except these flights, the only extraordinary thing the Duchess did, was to do nothing extraordinary, for I do not call it very mad that

Hardwicke.-CROKER. Gray, in a letter of the 21st of February, written from Cambridge, says, This silly dirty place has had all its thoughts taken up with choosing a new high steward; and had not Lord Hardwicke surprisingly, and to the shame of the faculty, recovered by a quack medicine, I believe in my conscience the noble Earl of Sandwich had been chosen, though (let me do them the justice to say) not without a considerable opposition."-Works, by Mitford, vol. iv. p. 29.—WRIGHT.

"The Duchess of Queensberry [Catherine Hyde] has been passing a night here, and endeavouring to recollect the ideas of past pleasure. She was exactly herself,-very clever, very whimsical, and just not mad."-MS. Letter, Middleton Park, July 11th, 1763. CUNNINGHAM.

2 The sisters omitted were Lady Dalkeith, Lady Elizabeth Mackenzie, and Lady Mary Coke.-CROKER.

3 John, Duke of Montagu, left two daughters; the eldest, Isabella, married first the Duke of Manchester, and, secondly, Mr. Hussey, an Irish gentleman, created, in consequence of this union, Lord Beaulieu. Mary, the younger sister, married Lord Cardigan, who was, in 1776, created Duke of Montagu: their eldest son having been, in 1762, created Lord Montagu. The marriage of the elder sister with Mr. Hussey was considered, by her family and the world, as a mésalliance; and, therefore, the mistake of Lord Beaulieu for Lord Montagu was likely to give offence.-CROKER.

FROM THE ORIGINAL.N THE COLLECTION OF THE EAR OF CLAN N.

AT THE GROVE IN HERTFORDSHIRE

some pique happening between her and the Duchess of Bedford, the latter had this distich sent to her,

Come with a whistle, and come with a call,
Come with a good will, or come not at all.

I do not know whether what I am going to tell you did not border a little upon Moorfields.' The gallery where they danced was very cold. Lord Lorn, George Selwyn, and I, retired into a little room, and sat comfortably by the fire. The Duchess looked in, said nothing, and sent a smith to take the hinges of the door off. We understood the hint, and left the room, and so did the smith the door. This was pretty legible.

My niece Waldegrave talks of accompanying me to Paris, but ten or twelve weeks may make great alteration in a handsome young widow's plan: I even think I see some' who will-not forbid banns, but propose them. Indeed, I am almost afraid of coming to you myself. The air of Paris works such miracles, that it is not safe to trust oneself there. I hear of nothing but my Lady Hertford's rakery, and Mr. Wilkes's religious deportment, and constant attendance at your chapel. Lady Anne,..I conclude, chatters as fast as my Lady Essex' and her four daughters.

6

Princess Amelia told me t'other night, and bade me tell you, that she had seen Lady Massarene at Bath, who is warm in praise of you, and said that you had spent two thousand pounds out of friendship, to support her son in an election. She told the Princess too, that she had found a rent-roll of your estate in a farm-house, and that it is fourteen thousand a-year. This I was ordered, I know not why, to tell you. The Duchess of Bedford has not been asked to the looparties at Cavendish-house' this winter, and only once to whisk there, and that was one Friday when she is at home herself. We have nothing at the Princess's but silver-loo, and her Bath and

1 It is now almost necessary to remind the reader, that old Bedlam stood in Moorfields.-CROKER.

2 Afterwards fifth Duke of Argyle.-CROKER.

3 He means, as subsequently appears, the Duke of Portland.-CROKER.

Lord Hertford's eldest daughter, afterwards wife of Mr. Stewart, subsequently created Earl and Marquis of Londonderry.-CROKER.

5 Elizabeth Russell, daughter of the second Duke of Bedford. She had four daughters; but the eldest died young.-CROKER.

6 Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Eyre, Esq., of Derbyshire, second wife of the first, and mother of the second Earl of Massarene; the latter being at this time a minor. The election was probably for the county of Antrim, in which both Lord Massarene and Lord Hertford had consilerable property.-CROKER.

7 Princess Amelia's, the corner of Harley-street; since the residence of Mr. Hope, and of Mr. Watson Taylor.-CROKER.