Confusion caused by Mr. Pitt's conduct — Lord Bute — ^Death of Lord Fane
— Lady Sandwich — ^Walpole's enjoyment of his holidays — The Bed Biband
— Treachery and cowardice of the &vouiite — George Grenville . . • 476

1042. To Montagu, Feb. 28.— French Parliaments 477

1043. To Cole, Feb. 2S.— Pretended letter to Bousseau— A French horse-raee • 478



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CONTEKTS. 11766b

PA6I

1044. To Hann, Feb. 29. — Qaastion of sendbg troops to Ameiica—Tlie Barl of
Bute — FimmeBB of the Ministen— Lord Bute's guardian angel^The
Cardinal-Duke of York — Death of Lady Hilsborough— Mr. Skreene— fiir
James Maodonald — Death of Stanislaus — His character — ^Anecdotes —
Funeral oration on the Dauphin — ^Reflections on princes recently deceased
— Eve of a war — Letters from England— Ministers still triumphant and
popular 479

1046. To Montagu, March 8.— Preparations for leaving Paris— Defeat of Geoigo
GrenTille— Repeal of the American Stamp act — Lit de Justice — Remon-
strances of the Parliaments 482

1046. To James Crawford, March 6. — ^Madame du DefiEand, Madame de Lambert,

Madame de Foroalquier, Duchess of Grafton, &c N 48S

1047. To Lady Hervey, March 10.— Watchings and rerellings— A supper at the

Mar^diale de Luxembourg's — ^Funeral sermon on the Dauphin — ^The Abb6
Coyer's pamphlet on preaching 487

1048. To Montagu, March 12^— Cdman and Qarrick— Mrs. Clire ... 488

1049. To the same, March 21. — ^Madame Roland — ^A French woman's first riait

to Paris contrasted with his own — The Princess of Talmond's pug-dogs —

A commission ........... 489

1050. To Mann, March 21.— Repeal of the Stamp-act— Protests of the Oppo-

sition — Lord Lyttelton — Grenville and Simdwich — Mr. Pitt dreaded by

the French— State of a£Eairs in England— The Materialisto ... 490

1051. To Montagu, April 3. — Visit to Livry— The Abb6 de Mallierbe— Madame

de S^yign^'s sacred pavilion — Old trees 491

1052. To Conway, April 6. — Insurreotion at Madrid on the attempt of the Court

to introduce the French dress in Spain 49S

1053. To the same, April 8. — Further particulars of the insurrection at Madrid —

Change in the French ministry — Lettres de cachet — ^Insurrections at
Bourdeaux and Toulouse 494

1054. To Mann, April 20.— Walpole at Calais on his return to England— Illness

•f Mr. Conway — ^Mr. Pitt's impatience — The Hereditary Prince in France
— The insurrection of the White Boys in Ireland instigated by France —
Age of revolts — Insurrection at Madrid — Declaration of Louis XY. —
Walpole's satis&ction with France — His two lives — Impatience to
arrive at Strawberry Hill — Arrival in London— Mr. Pitt — Lord Clive
and the Great Mogul 496

1055. To , May 6. — Nanteuil's engravings — Anecdotes des Reines de

France. N 498

1056. To Cole, May 10.— Return to England 499

1057. To the same, May 13. — Apology for accidentally opening one of his letters . 499

1058. To Mann, May 22.— Mr. Pitt pushes his haughtiness too iar— Promotion

of the Duke of Richmond — A time for playing the fool — Big
politics — Thundering revolutions — Captain Byron's discovery of a
race of giants — Terrible blow to the Irish— Discovery of a polished
countiy — Lall/s tragedy- Heroulaneum — Dearth of news — Backward
summer •« 500



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1766.] CONTENTS. «rl

mum pAOs

1059. To Montagu, May 25. — MmiBterial appdntments— Duke of Riohmond^
Lord North — I>eath of Lord Ghrandison— Lady TownBhend turned Roman
Gatholio— Mrs. Gliye*8 bon-mot 501

lOtfO. To Mann, June 9. — Termination of the Sesaion of Ftoliament— Short lease
of the Ministry — ^Proposed settlement on the Dnke of York and his
younger brothers, opposed by Mr. Oonway— ''The great commoner*'
out of hmnoor — ^his popularity — Anecdote — A Russian Garrick — ^The
King and Queen at Strawberry Hill 508

1061. To Montagu, June 20.— Anste^^s New Bath Guide— Swiff s Gorreepondenoe,
and Journal to Stella — Bon-mot of George Selwyn — Pun of the King of
France 504

1002. To Lady Heirey, Jone 28.— Madame dxL Deffiuid's prwent of a snufT-boz,
with a portrait oi Madame de Sevigne— Translation tis' a tale from the
' Diotionnaiie d* Anecdotes * 506

1068. To Montagu, July 10.— Expected change in the Ministry— The King's letter

to Mr. Pitt . . 509

1064. Tc Mann, July 11.— Resignation of the IGnisters— Lord Bute a xaaker of

Ministries- The Ejng sends for Mr. Pitt— I>ifficulties— The son of
Madame de Boufflers — W«lDde*s letter in the name of the King of
Prussia — Rousseau's resentment M>9

1065. To the same, July il.— Introducuig uic Coattt^ <ie BonfllerB v> Oir horaoe
512



VOL. IV.



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LIST OF ILLUSTKATIONS.



WkQM

L Gathebihb Clzyb. From the original by DaTison, formerly el Straw-
benyHill FratUiapieee

IL Anra Ldodbll (DucHsse of Gbaftoh ahd Couhtb88 of Osbort).
From A orajon drawing in the poesesdon of the Bight Hon. &
Vernon Smith, M^ 26

QL Gathbbdib Htdb (Dugbbbs of Qoeknsbubt). From the original,
in the Oolleotion of the £arl of Olarendon, at the Qrove in Hert-
fordshue 202

lY. Laot Sabah Buhbubt. From the original by Sir Joshua Beynolds . B98

V. Sib Hobaob Mann, Bbitibh Ebvot at thb Coubt op Tusoamf.
Walpolb's Bblatiob abd C0BBB8PONDEBT. From the original by
Asiley, formerly in the Oolleotion at Strawberry Hill . . 428

VL Thomas Obat (in a Vandyke oostnme). From a drawing by Eokhardt,

formerly at Strawberry Hill 466



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THE LETTEKS



or



HORACE WALPOLE



796. TO SIB HORACE MANN.

Strawberry HiU, June 20, 1762.

I SHALL certainly execute your commissioiis cheerfully, punctually,
and on the terms you desire : the Annual Roisters, I mean the
historic part, are incomparable. The Oratorios, as Mr. Morrice
rightly advises, I will choose by proxy ; for, as he and you know,
I have not only very little music in me, but the company I keep are
&r fixmi Handelians.

Have you not felt a pang in your royal capacity P Seriously, it
has been dreadfdl, but the danger is over, llie King had one of
the last of these strange and universally epidemic colds, which,
however, have seldom been fatal: he had a violent cough, and
oppression on his breast, which he concealed, just as I had ; but my
life was of no consequence, and having no physicians in ordinary, I
was cured in four nights by James's Powders, without blee^ng.
The Sing was blooded seven times, and had three blisters. Thank
God, he is safe, and we have escaped a confusion beyond what was
ever known, but on the accession of the Queen of Scots — ^nay, we
have not even the successor bom. Fazakerley,^ who has lived long
enough to remember nothing but the nonsense of the law, main-
tained, according to their wise tenets, that as the King never diesi
the Duke of York must have been proclaimed King, and then been
unprodaimed again on the Queen's delivery. We have not eveii

^Nkholas F«sakeriey, Esq., an eminent Tory Lawyer, see toL i. p. 180.-
CvnmioHAM.

â–¼OL. IV. D



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2 HORACE WALPOLB'S LETTERS. [1762.

any standing law for the regency ; but I need not paint to you all
the difficulties there would have been in our situation.

The new Administration begins tempestuously. My father was
not more abused after twenty years than Lord Bute is in twenty
days. Weekly papers swarm, and like other swarms of insects,
sting. The cry yoc zncy b^ sure is on his Scot-hood. Lord
Halifax * is made First Lord of the Admiralty, but will keep Ire-
land for some time, as it will not be necessary to appoint a new
Lord-Lieutenant this twelvemonth. He is popular with the mer-
chants, so that at least this promotion does not offend.

Our great expedition were all well at Martinico, and had lost but
sixteen men. Lord Albemarle carried thence nine thousand men.
We are very sanguine, and reckon the Havannah ours; but we
shall not know it at least before the end of next month.

I smiled at your idea of our war with Spain lying in Portugal, as
our war with France does in Germany. The latter is dormant, and
yet I do not think the peace advances. Our allies, the Portuguese,
beliave wofully. I don't know what spirit Count La Lippe,* who
is still here, will transport to them from Westphalia : he is to com-
mand the Portuguese, and Lord Tyrawley the English.

This is a diminutive letter, but you excuse duodecimos in summer.



797. TO SIR HORACE MANN.

Strawberry Hill, July 1, 1762.

I NEVER attempt to tell you the first news of a battle in Germany,
which must always reach you before it can arrive here and be sent
to Florence. I scarcely ought to call it a battle, though it is a
victory for us ; but the French (to speak in Gibber's' style) have
outrun their usual outrunnings. Their camp was ill-guarded, and
Prince Ferdinand surprised it. At first their cavalry made a decent
show of advancing, but soon turned and fled: Stainville flung three
thousand men into a wood to cover their retreat ; they were all

' George Montagu, third and last Earl of Halifax. — Walpolb.
3 Comte de la Lippe had been bom in England, his father and mother being here
in the reign of George I.— Walpolb.

> Gibber, in the Prefiace to his ' Provoked Hnsband,' sud, ''Mrs. Oldfield had out-
done her usual outdoings." — Walpoue. Gibber's expression is, she '' outdid her usual
ejrcellence.'* There is a line, however, attributed by Savage or Pope to Gibber, which
runs thus : —

Her own outdoings to outdo.
— A Collectum qf Pieces occcuioned hy the Dunciad, 8vo. 1782. — OmnmiABAic*



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1762.] TO SIB HORACE MANN. 3

taken, with above one hxmdred and forty officers ; he himself is
belieyed slain. Our loss was triiSing; two hnndred and fifty
men, a Captain Middleton killed ; and Colonel Henry Townshend,
a brave spirited young fellow of parts, youngest son of Mr. Thomas
Townshend.* The French grenadiers raved against their commanders,
who, it is to be hoped, will shift off the blame on each other,
quarrel, and pass the campaign in altercation. D'Etrees will not make
Broglio appear a worse general than Soubize. Lord Qranby is much
commended. My chief joy arises from knowing Mr. Conway is safe.

Poor Lady Ailesbury is just arrived, and this is the first taste of
the peace she promised herself. Unless the French now despair of
Germany, where their fairest prospect lay, I should think this action
likely to continue the war; and I don't doubt but Prince
Ferdinand hoped it would. He had much ground to regain here,
and has now revived the passions of the people, who wiQ not be
eager for peace on the morrow of a victory, nor be very reasonable
after repeated successes. Lord Bute's situation is unpleasant :
misfortunes would remind us of Mr. Pitt's glory ; advantages will
stiffen us against accepting even such a peace as he rejected ; and,
I think, two Havannahs lost will not weigh with the Spaniards
against their rapid progress in Portugal : the recovery of that
diadem will soothe their pride more than any province taken from
them will mollify it. The Portuguese behave shameftdly ; Lord
Tyrawley is coming home disgusted mth the nomination of Count
La Lippe ; and in truth I cannot see the wisdom or honour of that
measure. If we protect Portugal, is not it more creditable to give
them an English commander P And that general was almost a
Portuguese, almost naturalised amongst them, trusted, and beloved
there. What do they know of this German ? Or can the English
soldiery prefer him to their countryman P For though La Lippe
was bom here, he is a German prince.

I trust very soon to be able to send you a brick, like Harlequin,
as a sample of the Havannah we shall have taken. In return, you
must make Saunders beat the French and Spanish squadrons.

Poor Hamburgh has tasted of the royal injustice of this age ;
they have compounded with the King of Denmark for a million.
But his is trifling usurpation ; commend me to the Ejng of Spain,
for violating more ties than were ever burst by one stroke of a
sceptre. We have not had a masquerade here ihese eight or nint

' Second eon of Charles, Lord Yiscoant Townshend. — Walpole.



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4 HORACE WALPOUra LETTERS. [1762.

years, because there was an earthquake at lisbon; while that
earthquake which fell about the ears of his own sister and her
children, could not stop the King of Spain from marching to drive
her and them out of tiie ruins ! Montezuma's ghost cannot com-
plain now !

I have ordered all your books, and your brother James has
undertaken for the oratorios. There is a ship going, so I would
not wait for more consultation in the choice of them. Handel's
best pieces are settled among his sect, and your brother knows more
of his followers than I do. I was impatient to have your commis-
sion executed, and I know no better way than this.

I am in distress about my GttUery and Cabinet : the latter was on
the point of being completed, and is really striking beyond descrip-
tion. Last Saturday night my workmen took their leave, made
their bow, and left me up to the knees in shavings. In short, the
journeymen carpenters, like the cabinet-makers, have entered into
an association not to work unless their wages are raised ; and how
can one complain ? The poor fellows, whose all the labour is, see
their masters advance their prices every day, and think it reason-
able to touch their share. You would be frightened at the deamess
of everything ; I build out of economy, for unless I do now, in two
years I shall not be able to afford it. I expect that a pint of milk
will not be sold under a diamond, and then nobody can keep a cow
but my Lord Clive. Indeed your country's fever is almost at the
height every way. Adieu !



798. TO THE REV. WILLIAM COLE.
SiE : Strawberry Hill, Jvly 29, 1762.

I FEAR you will have thought me neglectful of the visit you was
so good as to offer me for a day or two at this place ; the truth is,
I have been in Somersetshire on a visit,* which was protracted much
longer than I intended. I am now returned, and shall be glad to
see you as soon as you please, Sunday or Monday next, if you like
either, or any other day you will name. I cannot defer the pleasure
of seeing you any longer, though to my mortification you will find
Strawberry Hill with its worst looks — ^not a blade of grass ! My
workmen too have disappointed me : they have been in the associa-

> To Lord Ilcheeter, at Redlynch. — CuiivnroBAM.



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1762.] TO THE COUNTBSS OF AILESBURY. 5

tion for forcing their masters to raise their wages, and but two are
yet returned — so you must excuse litter and shavings.



799. TO THE COUNTESS OP AILESBURY.
KkDAn : Strawberry HiU, July 81, 1762.

Magnanimous as the fair soul of your ladyship is, and plaited
with superabundance of Spartan fortitude, I felicitate my own good
fortune who can circle this epistle with branches of the gentle olive,
as well as crown it with victorious laurel. This pompous paragraph,
Madam, which in compliment to my Lady Lyttelton I have penned
in the style of her lord, means no more,' than that I wish you joy of
the castle of Waldeck,* and more joy on the peace, which I find
everybody thinks is concluded. In truth, I have still my doubts ; and
yesterday came news, which, if my Lord Bute does not make haste,
may throw a little rub in the way. Li short, the Czar is dethroned.
Some give the honour to his wife ; others, who add the little circum-
stance of his being murdered too, ascribe the revolution to the
Archbishop of Novogorod, who, like other priests, thinks assassina-
tion a less afiEront to Heaven than three Lutheran churches. I hope
the latter is the truth ; because, in the honey-moonhood of Lady
Cecilia's [Johnston's] tenderness, I don't know but she might mis-
carry at the thought of a wife preferring a crown, and scandal
says a regiment of grenadiers, to her husband.

I have a little meaning in naming Lady Lyttelton and Lady
CecUia, who I think are at Park-place. Was not there a
promise that you all three would meet Mr. Churchill and Lady
Mary here in the beginning of August ? Yes, indeed was there,
and I put in my claim. — ^Not confining your heroic and musical
ladyships to a day or a week ; my time is at your command : and I
wish the rain vfas at mine ; for, if you or it do not come soon, I
shall not have a leaf left. Strawberry is browner than Lady Bell
Finch.'

I was grieved, Madam, to miss seeing you in town on Monday,
particularly as I wished to settle this party. If you will let me
know when it will be your pleasure, I will write to my sister.

> At the taking of which Mr. Conway had assiBted. — BjmaT.
* See vol i. p. 188; and vol ii. p. 79. — CuMMinaHAx.



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HORACB WALPOLE'S LETTERS. [17«^



800. TO SIR HORACB MANN.

Strauberry HiU, July 81, 1762.

I BEGIN this letter to-night, though I don't know when it will set
out, for I have a mind it should be a little more complete than I can
make it at present. We are at the eve of big events, or in the
obscurity of them ; a Prince of Wales, a Peace, the Havannah, a
revolution in Eussia, all to come to light this week !

We know nothing certain, but that we have lost Newfoundland,
and that the new Opposition have got a real topic, for hitherto they
have only been skirmishing with names ; however, as all Oppositions
must improve on the foregoing, the present gives us names at length,
which at least is new. Parallels, you know, are the food of all party
writings : we have Queen Isabel and Mortimer, Queen Margaret and
the Duke of Suffolk, every week. You will allow that abuse does
not set out tamely, when it even begins with the King's mother.
Last week they were so brutal as to call the Queen a beggarly duke^%
daughter; it is shocking, for she has offended nobody, and is far from
being suspected of power ; but it was to load the Duke of Suffolk, for
making the match. But what say you to a real Qtieen Isabel ? We
hear from Holland, but the account is very imperfect, that the
Czarina has dethroned her husband. That he should be dethroned
does not surprise me. He struck extraordinary strokes so fast, that
I suppose his head had not much ballast. Her reign, probably, will
not be of much longer duration ; but I do not believe that, like her
husband, she will fall in love with the King of Prussia. The Czar,
in his aunt's time, was reckoned weak ; his wife, very sensible and
very handsome. Eussia puts one in mind of the SeleucidsB and the
Constantinopolitan History, the Gleopatras and Irenes ; if vast
crimes are not in fashion, you see it is only because despotism is
generally exploded. Give human nature scope, it can still be sub-
limely abominable. My prophetic spirit says, that the young
Emperor John will come upon the scene again ; in the mean time
my Lord Buckingham,* who is going ambassador to Petersburg,
may try the remainder of his charms upon the heart of an
Empress.

Of all the Important events we are expecting, the Peace is nearest

^ John Hobart, second Earl of Backinghamshire. — Walpolb.



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1762.] TO SIR HORACE MANK. 7

my heart. We had refused Eussians ; and this catastrophe, if it k
true, will silence the clamour there would have been on that chapter.
It delivers the King of Denmark, too, from a storm ; for the hero o
Prussia, you know, he never was in my litany. In short, we have
heard for this week that our peace with France was in a manner
made, and that the Dukes of Bedford and Nivemois were ready to
be exchanged at Dover. If France has dabbled in this revolution,
adieu the olive-branch ! Nay, we are told that your Italian King'
is rather disposed to put on his old cuirass again, and thinking the
Austrians have their hands full, has an eye upon a little more of the
Milanese. Nothing will be cleared up, till ^ere is another courier
from Muscovy. Their poor ambassador,* who is just arrived, has
had no letters. He is not only nephew to the Chancellor, but
brother to the Czar's mistress. What a r^on, where Siberia is
next door to the drawing-room !

Mr. Conway has had a little success, which shows, at least, what
he is fit for. He was ordered to besiege the Castle of Waldeck, for
which Prince Ferdinand was in a hurry ; it was impr^nable without
cannon ; he had none, and his powder was spent He made them
believe he was preparing to storm it, and they instantly surrendered.
You may be sure this makes me happy, and yet I am impatient to
have the Peace nip his laurels.

Tour friend Lord Melcombe is dead of a dropsy in his stomach,
just when the views of his life were nearest being realised. Lady
Mary Wortley, too, is departing. She brought over a cancer in her
breast, which she concealed till about six weeks ago. It burst, and
there are no hopes of her. She behaves with great fortitude, and
says she has lived long enough.

Two days ago I saw your nephew Horace ; it always gives me
pleasure, though a melancholy one ; it was increased now, as he is
grown much more like to his ibther. He thinks he shall go to you
in about a year ; I am eager for it, as I know the tender satisfaction
it will give you.

August ith

I must send away my letter to-night, or it will not be in town
time enough for the foreign post to-morrow. The Russian revolu-
tion is confirmed ; the papers have even produced a declaration of
the new Czarina, in which she deposes her husband with the utmost

^ Charles Emanuel, seoond King of Sardinia. — Walpolb.

' Goimt Woronxow, fiither of the present [184S] Countess of Pembroke.— Waiaav.



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8 HORACE WALPOLB^S LBTTSR8. [17«2.

sangfroid. I should easily believe it genuine ; it is in the style of
the age ; there is an honest impudence in modem majesty that is
delightful. Monarchs scorn phiusibility ; however, there is one
comfort — ^they level their crimes chiefly against one another. This
Muscovite history, as I hear firom very good authority, happened
thus : The Czar, who was originally supposed impotent, and who,
nolwithstanding his mistress, seems to have had the modesty of
tihinking himself so, intended to return his two children upon his
wife's hands, and had declared his rival John, his successor. The
late Czarina had had the curiosity to see young John, though
unknown to him : this had given Peter uneasiness ; yet one of his
first proceedings was to take the same step. The anecdotes of that
Court, however, say, that John has had so many drugs given to him
as to shatter his understanding extremely. Probably, as our
Charles II. said * of a foolish popular parson, " John's nonsense
suited Peter's nonsense." Peter, intoxicated with brandy and the
King of Prussia, had thoughts of divorcing his Empress. She was
at PeterhofiF, two miles from Petersburgh ; the Czar at another villa.
An officer, arrived post with a led horse, told the Czarina there was
a design against her life ; that she had no time to lose ; she must fly,
or present herself to the army in the city. Pray, Sir Horace, what
do ladies in a panic do ? To be sure, run into the danger, not from
it. Just so acted the Czarina. She trotted away to the capital,
threw herself upon the gallantry of the Preobazinsky (or PrcBtorian)
guards, who in Russia are the most polite and compassionate cavaliers
in the world, and begged they would — ^not protect her — but give her
the crown. One troop, who have been a little Prussianised, hesi-
tated ; the rest thought her request as reasonable as possible, and
immediately proclaimed her. The rest of the people, who abhor
innovations, and who, consequently, could not pardon the Czar for
giving them their liberty, concurred unanimoudy. Not a word was
said in favour of master Fitz-Catherine, who certainly has no right
to the diadem, till his mother's no-right devolves to him by her
death. The Czar, informed of the change of scene, fled to Cronstad,
and embarked. All the royal galleys were sent after him, and he
was overtaken. An act of abdication was presented to him. He
signed it, and then made three requests, — ^for his own life, and for
those of his mistress and of a Prussian adjutant who had accom-

> Walpole meditated pabliBhing a collection of the sayings of Charles II. What he
would have done so well has been attempted by a Tery inferior hand — ^the writer of
this note. See the Story of ' Nell Owyn/ 12mo. 1852. — CinnmfQBAic.