TO MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU. [November 12, 1757.] I RECEIVED yours of October 15 yesterday, November 11. I was quite frightened at the relation of your indisposition, and am very glad I did not know it till it was over. I hope you will no more suffer the physicians to try experiments with so good a constitution as yours. I am persuaded mineral waters, which are provided by nature, are the best, perhaps the only real remedies, particularly that of Tunbridge, of which I have a great opinion. I would not trouble you with a long letter, which may be uneasy to you to read. My most fervent wishes are for your health and happiWhatever I write to my daughter is for you. ness. TO THE COUNTESS OF BUte.' Jan. 20, 1758. I STAY here, though I am on many accounts better pleased with Padua. Our great minister, the resident, affects to treat me as one in the opposition. I am inclined to laugh rather than be displeased at his political airs; yet, as I am among strangers, they are disagreeable; and, could I have foreseen them, would have settled in some other part of the world: but I have taken leases of my houses, been at much pains and expense in furnishing them, and am no longer of an age to make long journeys. I saw, some months ago, a countryman of yours (Mr. Adam2), who desires to be introduced to you. He seemed to me, in one short visit, to be a man of genius, and I have heard his knowledge of architecture much applauded. He is now in England. This letter, or fragment of a letter, was published by Mr. Dallaway as a part of a letter dated "Jan. 20, 1758." I have not found the original.-T. 2 Mr. Robert Adam, who built Caenwood, Luton Park, &c., and the Adelphi, in conjunction with his brother. His designs are published.-D. [There were four brothers, William, John, Robert, and James, all architects.] Your account of the changes in ministerial affairs do not surprise me; but nothing could be more astonishing than their all coming together. It puts me in mind of a friend of mine who had a large family of favourite animals; and not knowing how to convey them to his country-house in separate equipages, he ordered a Dutch mastiff, a cat and her kittens, a monkey, and a parrot, all to be packed up together in one large hamper, and sent by a waggon. One may easily guess how this set of company made their journey; and I have never been able to think of the present compound ministry without the idea of barking, scratching, and screaming. Tis too ridiculous a one, I own, for the gravity of their characters, and still more for the situation the kingdom is in; for as much as one may encourage the love of laughter, 'tis impossible to be indifferent to the welfare of one's native country. Adieu ! Your affectionate mother. 1 Alluding to the coalition of parties, which took place in the summer of 1757.-T. 2 Lord Wharncliffe remarks that "this story has been versified by Lord Byron (Don Juan, canto iii. stanza 18), but without any reference to the source from whence he drew it." It is remarkable that Lady Mary herself appears to have appropriated the passage from a letter of her friend, Miss Tichborne, dated July 25, 1757, among the Wortley papers. The original passage is as follows: "The world was prepared for seeing victory declare on the side of any one of them; but nothing could be more astonishing than their all coming in together, as is now the case, and though their professions have been directly opposite while they were out, they now undertake to agree in everything. It put me in mind of a friend of mine who had a large family of favourite animals ; and not knowing how to convey them to his country-house in separate equipages, he ordered a Dutch mastiff, a cat and her kittens, a monkey, and parrot, all to be packed together in one large hamper, and sent by a waggon. One may easily guess how this set of company made their journey; and I have never been able to think of the present compound ministry without the idea of barking, scratching, and screaming. too ridiculous a one (I own) for the gravity of their characters, and still more for the situation this kingdom is in; for as much as one may encourage the love of laughter, 'tis impossible to be indifferent to the interest of the country one lives in."-T. [It is to be inferred that this letter is only partly genuine. See note, preceding page.] "Tis TO THE COUNTESS OF BUTE. Venice, Feb. 21 [1758 ?]. MY DEAR CHILD,-If half of the letters I have sent to you have reached you, I believe you think I have always a pen in my hand; but, I am really so uneasy by your long silence, I cannot forbear inquiring the reason of it, by all the methods I can imagine. My time of life is naturally inclined to fear; and though I resist (as well as I can) all the infirmities incident to age, I feel but too sensibly the impressions of melancholy, when I have any doubt of your welfare. You fancy, perhaps, that the public papers give me information enough; and that when I do not see in them any misfortune of yours, I ought to conclude you have none. I can assure you I never see any, excepting by accident. Our resident has not the good breeding to send them to me; and after having asked for them once or twice, and being told they were engaged, I am unwilling to demand a trifle at the expense of thanking a man who does not desire to oblige me; indeed, since the ministry of Mr. Pitt, he is so desirous to signalise his zeal for the contrary faction, he is perpetually saying ridiculous things, to manifest his attachment; and, as he looks upon me (nobody knows why) to be the friend of a man I never saw, he has not visited me once this winter. The misfortune is not great. I cannot help laughing at my being mistaken for a politician. I have often been so, though I ever thought politics so far removed from my sphere. I cannot accuse myself of dabbling in them, even when I heard them talked over in all companies; but, as the old song says, "Tho' through the wide world we should range, I forget myself and tattle on, without remembering you are too much employed to throw away time on reading insignificant letters; you should, however, forgive them, in consideration of the real affection of your very loving mother. My compliments to Lord Bute, and blessing to all yours. TO THE COUNTESS OF BUTE. [Venice, May 3, 1758.] DEAR CHILD, I received yours of the 20th of Feb. yesterday, May the 2nd, so irregular is the post. I could forgive the delay, but I cannot pardon the loss of so many that have never arrived at all. Mr. Hamilton has not yet come, and perhaps will not of some months. I hear he is at Leghorn. General Graham has been dangerously ill; but I am told he is now on his return. We have at present the most extravagant weather [that] has been known for some years; it is as cold and wet as an English November. Thursday next is the ceremony of the Ascension; the show will be entirely spoilt if the rain continues, to the serious affliction of the fine ladies, who all make new clothes on that occasion. We have had lately two magnificent weddings; Lord Mandeville had the pleasure of dancing at one of them. I appeared at neither, being formal balls, where no masks were admitted, and all people set out in high dress, which I have long renounced, as it is very fit I should; though there were several grandmothers there, who exhibited their jewels. In this country nobody grows old until they are bed-rid. I wish your daughters to resemble me in nothing but the love of reading, knowing by experience, how far it is capable of softening the cruelest accidents of life; even the happiest cannot be passed over without many uneasy hours; and there is no remedy so easy as books, which, if they do not give cheerfulness, at least restore quiet to the most troubled mind. Those that fly to cards or company for relief, generally find they only exchange one misfortune for another. You have so much business on your hands, I will not take you from more proper employment by a long letter. I am, my dear child, with the warmest affection, Ever your tender mother. My compliments to Lord Bute, and blessing to all yours. 1 George Viscount Mandeville, eldest son of Robert Duke of Manchester.-D. TO THE COUNTESS OF BUTE. May 13 [1758]. Ir was with great pleasure I received my dear child's letter of April 15 this day, May 13. Do not imagine that I have had hard thoughts of you when I lamented your silence: I think I know your good heart too well to suspect you of any unkindness to me; in your circumstances many unavoidable accidents may hinder your writing, but having not heard from you for many months, my fears for your health made me very uneasy. I am surprised I am not oftener low-spirited, considering the vexations I am exposed to by the folly of Murray; I suppose he attributes to me some of the marks of contempt he is treated with; without remembering that he was in no higher esteem before I came. I confess I have received great civilities from some friends that I made here so long ago as the year '40, but upon my honour have never named his name, or heard him mentioned by any noble Venetian whatever; nor have in any shape given him the least provocation to all the low malice he has shown me, which I have overlooked as below my notice, and would not trouble you with any part of it at present if he had not invented a new persecution, which may be productive of ill consequences. Here arrived, a few days ago, Sir James Steuart with his lady; that name was sufficient to make me fly to wait on her. I was charmed to find a man of uncommon sense and learning, and a lady that without beauty is more amiable than the fairest of her sex. I offered them all the little good offices in my power, and invited them to supper; upon which our wise minister has discovered that I am in the interest of popery and slavery. As he has often said the same thing of Mr. Pitt, it would give me no mortification, if I did not apprehend that his fertile imagination may support this wise idea by such circumstances as may influence those that do not know me. It is very remarkable that after having suffered all the rage of that party at Avignon for my attachment to the present reigning family, I should be 1 See next letter.-T. 1 |