opera at Brescia is much applauded, and intend to see it before the end of the carnival. The people of this province are much at their ease during the miseries which the war occasions their neighbours, and employ all their time in diversions.

TO THE COUNTESS OF BUTE.

Feb. 3, N.S. [1748].

MY DEAR CHILD,-I return you thanks for the news you send me. I am always amused with changes and chances that happen amongst my acquaintance. I pity the Duchess of Devonshire, and admire the greatness of mind that makes her refuse an addition to her own estate; but am surprised she can relinquish the care of her children, who are yet unsettled. Lady Thanet's behaviour has always been without any regard to public censure; but I am ever astonished (though I have frequently seen it) that women can so far renounce all decency, as to endeavour to expose a man whose name they bear. Lady Burlington' has made a lucky choice for her daughter. I am well acquainted with Lord Hartington, and I do not know any man so fitted to make a wife happy: with so great a vocation for matrimony, that I verily believe, if it had not been established before his time, he would have had the glory of the invention.

I hear the carnival is very bright at Brescia. I have not yet been to partake of it, but I intend to go to the opera, which I hear much commended. Some ladies in the neighbourhood favoured me last week with a visit in masquerade. They were all dressed in white like vestal virgins, with garlands in their hands. They came at night with violins and flambeaux, but did not stay more than one dance; pursuing their way to another castle some miles from hence. I suppose you are now in London; wherever you are you have the good wishes of

Your most affectionate mother.

1 Lady Burlington was a sister of Lady Thanet.-T.

2 William Lord Hartington, afterwards fourth Duke of Devonshire, was married to Charlotte, daughter and sole heiress of Richard Earl of Burlington, on the 28th of March, 1748.-T.

My compliments to Lord Bute, and blessing to my grandchildren.

To MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU.

Brescia,' April 24, N.S. [1748.]

I RETURN you many thanks for yours of March 21, in which were the copies of S Ch. H.'s [Sir Charles Hanbury Williams's] poetry, which extremely entertained me. I find tar-water succeeded to Ward's drop.' 'Tis possible, by this time, that some other quackery has taken place of that; the English are easier than any other nation infatuated by the prospect of universal medicines, nor is there any country in the world where the doctors raise such immense fortunes. I attribute it to the fund of credulity which is in all mankind. We have no longer faith in miracles and relics, and therefore with the same fury run after recipes and physicians. The same money which three hundred years ago was given for the health of the soul is now given for the health of the body, and by the same sort of peoplewomen and half-witted men. In the countries where they have shrines and images, quacks are despised, and monks and confessors find their account in managing the fear and hope which rule the actions of the multitude.

I should be extremely pleased if I could entirely depend on Lord Sandwich's account of our son. As I am wholly unacquainted with him, I cannot judge how far he may be either deceived or interested. I know my son (if not much altered) is capable of giving bonds for more than he will ever be worth in the view of any present advantage. Lord Bute and my daughter's conduct may be owing to the

This and the following letter were probably written from Lovere. Lady Mary explains in another letter that she was in the habit of dating from Brescia when not actually residing there-that being the post town.-T.

2 The history of the once fashionable panacea, tar-water, whose virtues were unfolded in Bishop Berkeley's "Siris," is well known. The remark in the text was no doubt suggested by Sir Charles Hanbury Williams's "Tar-water, a Ballad, inscribed to the Right Honourable Philip Earl of Chesterfield."-T.

3 Ward and his drop were patronised by Queen Caroline, and therefore did not, of course, lack believers less eminent. Ward amassed a large fortune, with which he retired to Italy.-T.

advice of the D. of Argyll. It was a maxim of Sir R. Walpole's that whoever expected advancement should appear much in public. He used to say, whoever neglected the world would be neglected by it, though I believe more families have been ruined than raised by that method.

If I was not afraid of tiring you with the length of my letter, I would give you the history of an Irish conquest at Avignon, more extraordinary, all circumstances considered, than Mr. Hussey's, the irresistible lover being some years past threescore. I own the vexation of that foolish adventure gave the finishing stroke to my dislike of that town, having a real kindness for the young lady that flung herself away. She was daughter to Mr. Carter, whom I think you knew, a relation of Lady Bellasis.

TO THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD.

[Came to London, May 21st, O.S., Saturday; received at Welbeck, 23rd, O.S., Monday.]

Brescia, April 27, N.S. [1748].

DEAREST MADAM,-It is so long since I have had the happiness of hearing from you, I cannot forbear writing, though perhaps this letter may have the same fate of those that have preceded it. I received one from my daughter but a few days ago, that was dated in September: Mr. Wortley writes me word that she has changed her retired way of life, and is much in public; I wish it may be to her advantage. I hope the Duchess of Portland and her family continue in perfect health; I do not fear your ladyship's receiving any trouble from her, if she gives you none by her sickness. The real part I take in everything that concerns you, gives me a share in every branch of your prosperity; I have a pleasure in all your improvements at Welbeck, when I hear them commended, though I shall never see them: 'tis almost the only attachment I have in this world, being every day (as it is fit I should) more and more weaned from it. I hope your silence is only occasioned by the irregularity of the post, which I cannot expect to see reformed while the war continues. Notwithstanding my indifference for other things, your friendship and health will ever be tenderly dear to, madam,

Your ladyship's most faithful obedient servant.

TO THE COUNTESS OF BUTE.

May 10, N.S. [1748].

2

I GIVE you thanks, dear child, for your entertaining account of your present diversions. I find the public calamities have no influence on the pleasures of the town. I remember very well the play of the Revenge,' having been once acquainted with a party that intended to represent it (not one of which is now alive). I wish you had told me who acted the principal parts. I suppose Lord Bute was Alonzo, by the magnificence of his dress. I think they have mended their choice in the Orphan: I saw it played at Westminster school, where Lord Erskine was Monimia, and then one of the most beautiful figures that could be seen. I have had here (in low life) some amusements of the same sort. I believe I wrote you word I intended to go to the opera at Brescia; but the weather being cold, and the roads bad, prevented my journey; and the people of this village (which is the largest I know: the curate tells me he has two thousand communicants) presented me a petition for leave to erect a theatre in my saloon. This house has stood empty many years before I took it, and they were accustomed to turn the stables into a playhouse every carnival: it is now occupied by my horses, and they had no other place proper for a stage. I easily complied with their request, and was surprised at the beauty of their scenes, which, though painted by a

1 Young's tragedy, performed for the first time in April, 1721.-T. 2 Lord Chesterfield, in his " Character" of Lord Bute, thus alludes to his passion for private dramatic performances: "He was the intendant of balls, the Coryphæus of plays, in which he acted himself, and so grew into a sort of favourite of that merry prince." [Frederick Prince of Wales.] So Horace Walpole remarks, in his usual contemptuous way: "The Earl of Bute, a Scotchman, who having no estates had passed his youth in studying mathematics and mechanics in his own little island, then simples in the hedges about Twickenham, and at five-and-thirty had fallen in love with his own figure, which he produced at masquerades in becoming dresses, and in plays which he acted in private with a set of his own relations."-Memoirs of the Reign of King George II. From the words "at five-and-thirty," this appears to refer to the very period at which this letter is presumed to have been written. Lord Bute was born about 1713.-T.

country painter, are better coloured, and the perspective better managed, than in any of the second-rate theatres in London. I liked it so well, it is not yet pulled down. The performance was yet more surprising, the actors being all peasants; but the Italians have so natural a genius for comedy, they acted as well as if they had been brought up to nothing else, particularly the Arlequin, who far surpassed any of our English, though only the tailor of the village, and I am assured never saw a play in any other place. It is a pity they have not better poets, the pieces being not at all superior to our drolls. The music, habits, and illumination were at the expense of the parish, and the whole entertainment, which lasted the three last days of the carnival, cost me only a barrel of wine, which I gave the actors, and is not so dear as small beer in London. At present, as the old song says,

"All my whole care

Is my farming affair,

To make my corn grow, and my apple-trees bear."

My improvements give me great pleasure, and so much profit, that if I could live a hundred years longer, I should certainly provide for all my grandchildren: but, alas! as the Italians say, h'o sonato vingt & quatro ora: and it is not long I must expect to write myself your most affectionate mother.

1

My compliments to Lord Bute, and blessing to your little ones.

TO THE COUNTESS OF BUTE.

[July 10, 1748.]

DEAR CHILD,-I received yours of May the 12th but yesterday, July the 9th. I am surprised you complain of my silence. I have never failed answering yours the post after I received them; but I fear, being directed to Twickenham (having no other direction from you), your servants there may have neglected them.

I have been these six weeks, and still am, at my dairy

1 So written in the original.-T.