for this long relation; but 'tis impossible to be short on so copious a subject; and you must own this action very well worthy of record, and I think not to be paralleled in history, ancient or modern. I look so little in my own eyes (who was at that time ingloriously sitting over a tea-table), I hardly dare subscribe myself even,

Yours.

TO THE COUNTESS OF POMFRET.

May 2, O.S., 1739.

Ir is with great pleasure, dear madam, that I hear from you, after a silence that appeared very long to me. Nothing can be more agreeable or more obliging than your letter. I can give you no greater proof of the impression it made on me than letting you know that you have given me so great an inclination to see Italy once more, that I have serious thoughts of setting out the latter end of this summer. And what the remembrance of all the charms of music, sculpture, painting, architecture, and even the sun itself could not do, the knowledge that Lady Pomfret is there has effected;1 and I already figure to myself the charms of the brightest conversation in the brightest climate. We have nothing here but clouds and perpetual rains, nor no news but deaths and sickness. Lord Halifax 2 died this morning,

lowed. The Duke of Argyle spoke soon after we came in, but before that my Lord Cholmondeley moved that an address of thanks should be sent to the king for the convention. The minority opposed it gallantly. My Lord Chesterfield spoke most exquisitely well.. Everything after him was dull and heavy; much circumfloribus stuff was talked of on the court side. They might have spared their breath. Their convincing argument was in their pockets, not on their tongues. They had a majority of twenty-one, and though they seemingly conquered, they made a poor figure."-Autobiog. and Corres. of Mrs. Delany, ii. 44.-T.

Lady Pomfret had not left France at the date of this letter. She was at Marseilles, on her way to Italy, on the 28th May.-T.

2 Made Earl of Halifax by a fresh creation after the death of his uncle Charles, who had been a minister under King William and George I., and whose barony, given by the former, was already settled upon him. Both became extinct upon his son's dying without male issue. -W.

and I am really touched for the melancholy situation of his numerous family. A loss more peculiarly my own is that of poor Lady Stafford,' whose last remains of life I am daily watching with a fruitless sorrow. I believe a very few months, perhaps weeks, will part us for ever. You, who have a heart capable of friendship, may imagine to what a degree I am shocked at such a separation, which so much disorders my thoughts, as renders me unfit to entertain myself or any others. This reflection must shorten my letter. In you I hope to repair the loss of her, and when we meet, I am persuaded there will not be many regrets sent to England by, dear madam,

Your faithful and affectionate, &c.

TO MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU.2

Dartford [25th July, 1739].

I STAYED an hour with the Duchess of Montague, and am arrived here at twelve o'clock, less fatigued than I expected.| I should be very glad to hear you are well; if you write to me to be left at the post-house at Dover, I suppose I may have your letter before I leave that place.

TO MR. WORTLEY MONTagu.

July 26 [1739].

I AM safely arrived at Dover, without any accident, and have borne the journey very well. I have followed your direction in sending for Mr. Hall, who has been very civil.

3

Already 'referred to. She died at her house in Sackville-street. Piccadilly, on the 14th May, and was buried in St. James's church. -T.

2 The letters of Lady Mary to her husband during her long residence abroad, are, with scarcely one exception, indorsed by the latter with the day when received, and with the date of his answer, which generally follows within a few days. This letter is indorsed "Ad 26." Excep where stated to the contrary, the letters to Mr. Wortley Montagu and the Countess of Bute in this section are now printed from the originals among the Wortley papers.-T.

There are letters from this gentleman, who signs "Richard Halls," among the Wortley papers. He probably held some official appointment -perhaps in the custom-house at Dover.-T.

By his advice I have hired a boat for five guineas, otherwise I must have gone in the night, which he counselled me not to do. The wind is fair, and I hope to be in Calais toI cannot say I am well, but I think not worse

morrow.

for my journey.

To MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU.

[Calais] July 27 [1739].

I AM safely arrived at Calais, and found myself better on ship-board than I have been these six months; not in the least sick, though we had a very high sea, as you may imagine, since we came over in two hours and threequarters. My servants behaved very well; and Mary not in the least afraid, but said she would be drowned very willingly with my ladyship. They ask me here extravagant prices for chaises, of which there is a great choice, both French and Italian: I have at last bought one for fourteen guineas, of a man whom Mr. Hall recommended to me. My things have been examined and sealed at the customhouse they took from me a pound of snuff, but did not open my jewel-boxes, which they let pass on my word, being things belonging to my dress. I set out early tomorrow. I am very impatient to hear from you: I could not stay for the post at Dover for fear of losing the tide. I beg you would be so good to order Mr. Kent to pack up my side-saddle, and all the tackling belonging to it, in a box, to be sent with my other things: if (as I hope) I recover my health abroad so much as to ride, I can get none I shall like so well.

FROM MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU.2

3

Aug. 13, 1739.

I SUPPOSE you was advised at Boulogne to go through

Thomas Kent. He appears to have been a secretary of Mr. Wortley Montagu.-T.

2 The letters from Mr. Wortley Montagu in this section are mostly printed from draughts in his handwriting.-T.

3 Mr. Halls, in a letter from Dover, of 28th July, says:

"Her lady

ship intending to stay two or three days at Boulogne, she desires me to send those letters after her."-T.

Laon, but I should be glad to know whether you took that road as the best to Dijon, or only to avoid Paris; also whether you went by Cambray; and where you left the Paris road. If you mention a few of the great towns you have passed, I shall see the whole journey. As you had cold rains, I am at a loss to guess, whether the fires were occasioned by the fault of the weather or of your chaise. I wish (if it be easy) you would be exact and clear in your facts, because I shall lay by carefully what you write of your travels. I suppose the difficult part is over, and that from Dijon you might, if you pleased, go in an open boat to any of the places you seem to like, with as much safety as you could travel on the Thames; but I am persuaded you will find easy journeys by land more healthy and pleasant.-The other letter that comes to you this post, was kept back by T. K.'s [Kent's] mistake. I choose not to open it to write what is in this, as I have not yet added much paper to your baggage.

TO MR. WORTLEY MONTAgu.

Dijon, Aug., 18, N.S. [1739]1

I AM at length arrived here very safely, and without any bad accident; and so much mended in my health, that I am surprised at it. France is so much improved, it is not to be known to be the same country we passed through twenty years ago. Everything I see speaks in praise of Cardinal Fleury; the roads are all mended, and the greatest part of them paved as well as the streets of Paris, planted on both sides like the roads in Holland; and such good care taken against robbers, that you may cross the country with your purse in your hand: but as to travelling incognito, I may as well walk incognito in the Pall-Mall. There is not any town in France where there is not English, Scotch,

1 The Gregorian calendar was at this time adopted in most Catholic countries on the Continent, and Lady Mary accordingly generally dates these letters according to the new style, which was eleven days later than the old style in use in England. Several of her letters, however, still observe the old style, which leads to some apparent confusion. -T.

or Irish families established; and I have met with people that have seen me (though often such as I do not remember to have seen) in every town I have passed through; and I think the farther I go, the more acquaintance I meet. Here are in this town no less than sixteen English families of fashion. Lord Mansel lodges in the house with me, and a daughter of Lord Bathurst's, Mrs. Whichcote, [Mrs. Whitshed] is in the same street. The Duke of Rutland is gone from hence some time ago, which Lady Peterborough told me at St. Omer's; which was one reason determined me to come here, thinking to be quiet; but I find it is impossible, and that will make me leave the place, after the return of this post. The French are more changed than their roads; instead of pale, yellow faces, wrapped up in blankets, as we saw them, the villages are all filled with fresh-coloured lusty peasants, in good cloth and clean linen. It is incredible the air of plenty and content that is over the whole country. I hope to hear, as soon as possible, that you are in good health.

FROM MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU.

Aug. 16, 1739.

THOUGH you are surprised, I am not at all, that your health is so much mended. I have hitherto found travelling a never failing remedy for every disorder of the head or stomach. They are occasioned by a settlement of humours, which are removed by exercise, and carried off in * or perspiration. I have not yet had the benefit of a journey into the North, but I hope I shall in a fortnight or three weeks. All things here are just as you left them, except the weather, which has been warmest in August. The showers and clouds have been as frequent as they were in Cæsar's time, and will, I fear, continue so till the sun or the globe has undergone some great change. I answer yours of the 18th to-day, though it came but yesterday, because you write you will stay at Dijon till the return of the post.

1 The wife of James Whitshed, Esq., some time M.P. for Cirencester. -T.