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^ POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS 
 
 LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 
 
 ' I72I-I77I 
 
 Edited by . 
 
 Emily F.<^>^Df Osborn 
 1 ' 
 
 WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 DODD MEAD & COMPANY 
 
 I 89 I 
 

 I 
 
 Of CONGR^^I 
 WAtHINQTOKM 
 
 The Rights of Translation and of Reproduction are Reserved. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 FAGS 
 
 Introduction— Family History, 7 
 
 Letters I. to XX.— 1721-1734, i7 
 
 Society at Bristol— Bath— London -Family Affairs— 
 Inoculation— Court at St. James's— Visit to Kimbolton— 
 Description of Houghton, Drayton — Country Life at 
 Southill. 
 
 Letters XXI. TO XLVII.—1736-1751, 55 
 
 London— County Elections— Chicksands— Sir Danvers 
 Osborn's Marriage with Lady Mary Montagu— Wedding 
 Preparations— Reports of the Pretender's Invasion— Par- 
 liamentary News— Dining at Court— RebeUion of 1745— 
 Panic in London— Account of a Duel. 
 
 Admiral Byng— 1757, ^^- 
 
 Condemnation — Letter to him from Voltaire — From 
 Marshal Richlieu — Letters from Mrs. Osborn to the 
 Duke of Bedford— Letter to the Lords of the Admiralty 
 —Admiral Byng's last Letter to his Sister, Mrs. Osborn 
 —His Justification— Monument to his Memory at Southill. 
 
 Letters XLVIII. TO XCIII.—1766-1773, .... 126 
 
 Mr. Pitt— Lord Halifax— Parliamentary Details— Crea- 
 tion of Lord Chatham— Lord Tavistock's Death— Elections 
 —General Depression— "Spendthrift Election" at North- 
 ampton—Duke of York's Death— Conclusion. 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 -0- 
 
 PAGE 
 
 'zece 
 
 (i) "HoNBLE Mrs. Osborn," Frontispit 
 
 (2) Chicksands Priory, 1730, 7 
 
 (3) Admiral Byng, ... .... 112 
 
 (4) Chicksands Priory, 1890, 185 
 
o 
 
 00 
 
 ^ ^.\. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 So many records of the eighteenth century have been 
 handed down to us, and are still issuing from the press, 
 in one form or another, that I feel great diffidence in 
 bringing the present collection of letters before the 
 public. But perhaps, as the production of a lady of 
 conspicuous ability and "vigour of mind," as she has 
 been described by one of her descendants, and embrac- 
 ing an important period of history and politics, they 
 may be found worthy of perusal, and may throw some 
 additional light upon the manners and customs of 
 that day. 
 
 Also, Mrs. Osborn's relationship to the unfortunate 
 Admiral Byng necessarily involves the introduction of 
 that sad event in her life ; and though his story is a 
 familiar one to all readers of history, it never grows 
 stale by repetition, and an additional interest will be 
 given to the subject by the insertion of some letters 
 connected with it, which have never before been 
 published. 
 
 Mrs. Osborn, who was by marriage a great -niece 
 of the now well-known Dorothy Osborne, was a woman 
 of unusual capacity and energy, and the exceptional 
 circumstances of her life were calculated to develop 
 her powers to the uttermost. 
 
 She was left a widow at the eariy age of twenty-four. 
 
o INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and had to undertake the management of affairs in the 
 first instance for her son, then for her grandson, and 
 this she did so effectually that another descendant of 
 hers alludes to her as "one of whom every Byng is 
 proud." 
 
 It is necessary, first of all, to give some account of 
 Mrs. Osborn's family history. 
 
 Sarah Byng was the only surviving daughter of 
 Admiral Sir George Byng, who in 172 1 was created 
 Viscount Torrington in recognition of his valuable 
 services as a naval officer of great distinction. Her 
 mother was Margaret, daughter of Mr. Master, of East 
 Langdon, in Kent, She must have been an extremely 
 pretty woman, to judge by the picture of her which is 
 at Chicksands Priory. Sarah always mentions her with 
 great affection, and after Lord Torrington's death in 
 1733 they lived much together till she died in 1756 
 at the age of eighty-seven. 
 
 Lord and Lady Torrington had a family of fifteen 
 children, but of this number only six lived beyond 
 infancy, of whom Sarah was the eldest. 
 
 She was born in October 1693, at Southill, Beds, 
 just after her father had bought that property, which 
 remained in his family for about a hundred years. 
 Before this the Byngs had lived at Wrotham, in Kent, 
 for many generations. 
 
 Lord Torrington's five sons were — 
 
 Pattee, born 1699, served in the navy under his 
 father, and married, 1724, Lady Charlotte Montagu, 
 daughter of Charles, Duke of Manchester. Pattee suc- 
 ceeded as second Viscount, and died in 1746, leaving 
 no children. 
 
 George, third Viscount, was in the army, married 
 Miss Daniell, and died in 1750, leaving two sons. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 Robert, the third brother, was the one to whom all 
 Sarah's earlier letters were addressed, and was evidently 
 the adviser of his sister during her son's minority. He 
 married Miss Forward, was appointed Governor of 
 Barbadoes, and died there in 1740. The present Earls 
 of Strafford are descended from one of his three sons. 
 
 John, the Admiral, alluded to as "Jack" in the 
 following letters, was the fourth son. He was unmarried 
 at the time of his death. 
 
 Edward ("Ned") was also in the army, married, 1730, 
 Miss Bramston, of Chigwell, Essex, and died in 1756. 
 
 To return to Sarah. 
 
 She was not quite seventeen years old when she 
 married, in August 17 10, Mr. John Osborn, eldest son 
 of Sir John Osborn, second Baronet of Chicksands 
 Priory. A distance of only three miles or so separated 
 the two houses. 
 
 Mr. Osborn's mother, Miss Elizabeth Strode, had died 
 at his birth, and Sir John had married secondly Miss 
 Martha Kelynge, and numerous younger children were 
 growing up and filling the old Priory to overflowing. 
 
 Perhaps this may account for a very stormy corre- 
 spondence which passed between Sir John Osborn and 
 Sir George Byng about this period, as to which of the 
 two fathers ought to offer a home to the young married 
 couple. 
 
 I must confess that Sir John Osborn was decidedly the 
 aggressor, and, in his eagerness to throw the responsi- 
 bility on his neighbour, took little pains to moderate his 
 indignation, and reproached Sir George with meanness 
 in making a demand for ;^ioo yearly, in payment of 
 board and lodging for his daughter and her husband. 
 Sir George, whose replies were of a much more temperate 
 description, concluded by saying that if any more letters 
 
lO INTRODUCTION. 
 
 were to pass between them, he hoped they should treat 
 each other Hke gentlemen. 
 
 They evidently settled their differences amicably 
 before long, for they were writing to each other most 
 affectionately a few months later, and Sir George was 
 exerting all his influence to give a start in life to 
 Sir John's younger sons. Unfortunately this dispute 
 between the heads of the two families is the only docu- 
 ment remaining connected with Sarah's short married 
 life, although we gather that she and her husband lived 
 chiefly with her parents. 
 
 In the month of January 17 19, Mr. John Osborn died 
 of consumption at Hawnes Grange, near Chicksands, in 
 the thirty-sixth year of his age, leaving her, at twenty- 
 four years old, with two boys — Danvers, born in 
 November 17 15, and John, born in 1718. There had 
 been three other children, who had all died in infancy, 
 and were buried in Campton Church, Beds. 
 
 The youngest boy, John, died six months after his 
 father, of measles. 
 
 Mr. John Osborn's affairs were in a very unsatisfactory 
 state at the time of his death, and his widow bound 
 herself down to pay off the greater part of his debts, for 
 her father-in-law was then an old man, and incapable of 
 transacting business. 
 
 Sir John Osborn died early in the year 1720, and Mrs. 
 Osborn then became guardian to her little boy, Sir 
 Danvers, the estates being put into Chancery. 
 
 During the sixteen years before her son attained his 
 majority, she took the entire management of the 
 property into her own hands, mastered every necessary 
 business detail, and, with the assistance and advice of 
 her father and of her brother Robert, so successfully 
 wielded the reins of government that she was able to 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 1 
 
 surrender her trust to her son in a greatly improved 
 condition. 
 
 Mrs. Osborn's home throughout this period was 
 principally in London, in her house in Conduit Street ; 
 but she often paid visits to various friends, and she and 
 Sir Danvers were always welcome guests at Southill. 
 Now and then they stayed at Chicksands for a time ; 
 but after Lord Torrington's death, she herself lived more 
 in London. 
 
 The next event in Mrs. Osborn's life was the marriage 
 of her son, in September 1740, with Lady Mary Mon- 
 tagu, fourth daughter of George Dunk, second Earl of 
 Halifax. 
 
 To his mother Sir Danvers entrusted the task of 
 drawing up an estimate of the future probable expenses 
 of his household, and this she carried out conscientiously, 
 according to her own words, " on a basis of great 
 economy and excellent management." The wages 
 allowed for servants in those days contrast strangely 
 with those of the present day : the butler had ;^25, 
 footman, ^14, and lady's maid, ^10; but one must 
 take into consideration the far greater relative value of 
 money 150 years ago. 
 
 After barely three years of married life. Lady Mary 
 Osborn died at the age of thirty, at the birth of her 
 second son, John. The eldest son, George, was born in 
 1742. 
 
 Sir Danvers never seems to have recovered his spirits 
 after his wife's death. For some years he led a restless 
 and wandering life, spent some of his time at Horton, in 
 Northamptonshire, with his brother-in-law (the third and 
 last Lord Halifax), and was elected member for the 
 county of Bedford in 1742. In 1745, during the re- 
 bellion of the Young Pretender, he raised a troop of 
 
1 2 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 men, and led them in person to support King George. 
 In 1750 he went to Nova Scotia for six months on a 
 visit to the Governor, Lord Cornwallis, and three years 
 later was appointed Governor of New York, in succession 
 to Lancy, and sailed from Portsmouth on the 22nd 
 of August to assume his new office. His little boys, 
 meanwhile, were left under the care of their grand- 
 mother. 
 
 Sir Danvers arrived at New York on October 6th, and 
 died there six days later, but the cause of his untimely 
 death I have never been able to discover. 
 
 Once more did Sarah find herself in a responsible 
 position, and once more did she courageously rouse 
 herself to undertake the fresh and unexpected duty 
 which fell to her lot. She was now sixty years of age, 
 and might reasonably have looked forward to repose and 
 peace for the remainder of her days. But her labours 
 were not yet ended. 
 
 For the space of another ten years she had to devote 
 herself to the care and education of her young grand- 
 sons, and to the management of business during Sir 
 George's minority ; and this time she had an efficient 
 coadjutor in the boys' uncle and guardian, Lord Halifax, 
 who, later on, exerted all his influence to start them in 
 their respective professions. 
 
 But long before her charges were of an age to be out 
 in the world, the culminating misfortune of Admiral 
 Byng's trial and execution took place, some account of 
 which is given elsewhere in this volume. At the time 
 that this calamitous event occurred, Sarah and her ill- 
 fated brother were the only two remaining members of 
 her family. Her brothers Pattee, George, and Robert 
 had all died some years ago. Lady Torrington died in 
 1756 ; and the youngest son, Edward, died towards the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 3 
 
 end of the same year, from grief at seeing his brother 
 John brought prisoner to Portsmouth. 
 
 Consequently, Mrs. Osborn, as his only near relation, 
 took a prominent part in pleading for a commutation 
 of his sentence, and, though her efforts were vain, she 
 must have derived some comfort from his dying testi- 
 mony that she had done all that was possible on his 
 behalf 
 
 There are none of Mrs. Osborn's letters in existence 
 between the years 175 1 and 1766. After this date they 
 were, with few exceptions, addressed to her youngest 
 grandson. 
 
 After leaving Westminster School, both boys went to 
 Oxford, but at the age of seventeen George received a 
 commission in the army, and was soon after appointed 
 aide-de-camp to his uncle, Lord Halifax, then Lord 
 Lieutenant of Ireland. 
 
 John entered the diplomatic service, held a post under 
 Lord Halifax when Secretary of State, was afterwards 
 sent to various foreign Embassies, and finally became 
 Minister at Dresden in 177 1. He died at Rudolstadt, 
 in Saxony, in 18 14, "on the eve of returning to England 
 after eight years' detention in the territorys of Bona- 
 parte " — as is recorded on his monument. 
 
 Mrs. Osborn's letters were addressed to him to differ- 
 ent places on the Continent, though he frequently paid 
 visits to England ; and while his brother was with his 
 regiment in America during the War of Independence, 
 John lived at Chicksands, and superintended his 
 brother's estate. 
 
 Mrs. Osborn lived to the age of eighty-two, and, before 
 she died, had the satisfaction of welcoming the birth of 
 a great-grandson, afterwards Sir John Osborn. 
 
 In conclusion, I beg to offer grateful thanks to the 
 
14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Duke of Bedford and to Lord Strafford, for the help 
 they have afforded me, and for the loan of documents 
 and letters. The original of twenty-one of the latter are 
 at Wrotham. The remainder are in the possession of 
 my father, Sir George Osborn. 
 
 I have every now and then omitted portions relating 
 only to family affairs, and paragraphs that repeat them- 
 selves, and have endeavoured as much as possible to 
 retain that which I hope may be of interest to the 
 general public. 
 
 The original spelling has been adhered to throughout, 
 and I do not anticipate any difficulty in deciphering it. 
 
 Emily F. D. Osborn. 
 
 Chicksands Vkioky, June 1890. 
 
I 7 I 9- 
 
 [The first document, according to date, in Mrs. Os- 
 born's handwriting, is the following statement of her 
 affairs at the time of her husband's death, including also 
 a copy of his will. The Mr. Peter Osborn referred to is 
 the half-brother of her late husband.] 
 
 By an order drawn up by Mr. Townsend . . 
 is to pay to Mr. Peter Osborn ^400 a year for 
 keeping Sir John Osborn in Cloaths, house, ser- 
 vants, horses, and in short, everything (his sick- 
 ness excepted) that shall be wanted at Chick- 
 sands, and he gives him direction to pay me four- 
 score pound a year for keeping my children, their 
 being no provision for them till theire grandfather 
 dies . . . the Gardens we have lett to a man for 
 ^30 a year, and he is to find everything without 
 more expence to us. 
 
 Mr. Osborn has debts of all kinds out against 
 him, executions and all sorts of bonds and ingage- 
 ments, but Mr. Townsend is off opinion that 
 as he was not possessed of anything when he 
 dyed, that neither his Father nor Heires can be 
 oblidged to pay anything, but his Creditors seem 
 to have other hopes . . . 
 
1 6 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 I have took an Inventory of all his goods, and 
 lockt them up at Chicksands for nobody as yet 
 has attempted to seize them. His horses I could 
 not keep, so by Mr. Townsend's advice, I gave 
 notice to the Under Shreive (who had three 
 executions lodgd against him) that Sir John had 
 let all his grounds round here, and the Horses 
 would go stray, so upon that he sent for them, 
 the Landlord of his Chambers in the Temple has 
 seized there, but I first had an inventory of all 
 there, for that will be required of me to do, for if 
 they ever do give us trouble, as to be sure they 
 will (for everybody will not lose contentedly) I 
 shall be brought to a strict oath for everything 
 that did belong to him. I have myself engaged 
 at several times for about ;^500. Law cannot 
 oblidge me to pay it, but as most of it is to 
 Relations and ffriends, I think myself oblidged 
 to pay it as soon as posible, I have engaged my 
 honour and that was all they could tye me by, 
 therefore I shall save every penny I can to pay it 
 as soon as posible, but fear I shall not compass it 
 under two year, for all of it is at present upon 
 Intrest, which I have hithertoo exactly paid . . . 
 
 When I found Mr. Osborn ill, by Mr. Town- 
 shend's advice I had a Will drawn by him, which 
 I hoped to prevail with him to signe, but could 
 not, however he gave Noris the same will which 
 I had given him, write out in his own hand, but 
 neither signed nor dated, nor the names writ 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 7 
 
 plain, and bid him give it me after he was dead, 
 and tell me it was his Will . . . it is as ffollows — 
 " This is the last Will and Testament of me, John 
 Osborn of Chicksands in the County of Bedford. 
 I give unto my loving Wife Mrs. Sarah Osborn 
 all my Jewels, plate, and Watches, and all other 
 ornaments she has usaly worn and the sum of 
 one hundred pounds for mourning, all the rest 
 and residue of my personal Estate of what nature 
 or kind soever I give and devise to my said Wife 
 and unto her father the Honble. G. Byng, Kt. 
 and Baronet upon trust, out of the same to raise 
 and pay all such sums of money as I shall jastly 
 owe unto any person or persons whatsoever . . . 
 And pay the sum of five thousand pounds unto 
 my youngest son John ... I give and devise 
 the residue and remainder of my said goods and 
 chatties and personal Estate unto my eldest son 
 Danvers, his Executors and Administrators, in 
 witness whereof I the said John Osborn have to 
 this my last Will and Testament set my hand 
 and seal this day of September, Anno Domini 
 one thousand seven hundred and eighteen." 
 
 Letter i. 
 
 [The originals of the first seventeen letters, also Nos. 
 19, 20, 22, and 23, are in Lord Strafford's collection at 
 Wrotham, and were kindly lent by him to me to copy. 
 Letters 18 and 21 are among those at Chicksands 
 Priory. 
 
1 8 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 The Strafford letters are all addressed to the Hon. 
 Robert Byng, Sarah's third brother, then Paymaster of 
 the Navy. The first is dated little more than two years 
 after her husband's death, and about eighteen months 
 after that of Sir John Osborn. Sir Danvers was at this 
 time not six years old. Sarah is evidently passing a 
 few weeks at Bristol and Bath with her eldest brother, 
 Pattee Byng, and entering into the amusements going 
 on at both places.] 
 
 Bristol, /?/«^ 24, 1721. 
 
 I must beg the favour of my dear Brother 
 Robin to put these Letters into the post for me. 
 I am very troublesome to you but hope you 
 excuse it, your last Letter gave me great satis- 
 faction to hear about my affairs, for I am so far 
 from them that I am almost out of patience, not 
 to be better satisfyed. I have writ to Sly to pay 
 you some Rent. I believe it will be about 
 £t^6 . . . We have been to see Mr. Southwell's 
 house which is within 5 mile of this place. Van- 
 burg was the Architeck and a clumsy lump of 
 building it is, it cost fifteen or twenty thousand 
 pound without Gardens, and there is no good 
 room In It. Little doors, windows and starecase, 
 a prodigious large house, but all the room taken 
 up in thick walls, and clumsy pillars. The pro- 
 spect is to the Severn which is very pleasent with 
 the adition of the Ships that are ancord there, the 
 Gardens are nothing neither do I believe they 
 can make any, it is such a stony soile that nothing 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 9 
 
 can grow, and rocks all about. Ratclif Church 
 we have also seen, which I believe is the finest in 
 England, it is in this City and should be a patron 
 for all that are built, it was founded by a priest in 
 Edwd- the 3ds time but newly adorned in Queen 
 Anns, which I cannot but say is extream fine, but 
 I am not fond of Churches in that manner. The 
 Altar is adorned with painting Guilding and Carv- 
 ing that it comes so near a popish Church that 
 my Brother said he could not but fancy himself 
 abroad. Besides these Churches they have several 
 fine buildings as Marchants Hall, the Custome 
 House, which we have not seen yett. 
 
 Thursday we had a Ball, the gentlemen Bor- 
 rowd the Long Room at the Custome House, nine 
 cuple, and as the gentlemen Baloted for their 
 partners they did not all suit well, but as follows : 
 
 Mr. Byng. 
 
 Lady Tereasa frogmorton, Duke Powis daughter. 
 
 Mr. Paulet 
 
 Mrs. Bloomer a parson's wife, young, pretty and 
 silly. 
 
 Sir Rob' frogmorton 
 Mrs. Player 
 
 Major Dean 
 
 Ldy Jenkingson, a very agreable lady, y^ Bro : 
 says like Dutches Termoti 
 
 Captain Rowley 
 
 Mrs. ffleming, a very agreable lady. 
 
20 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Mr. Jennings 
 Mrs. Jenkingsson 
 
 Lieut, of Capt. Rowley's ship, the worst there, 
 w*=^ fell to my lott. 
 
 Capt. Wilson 
 
 Mrs. Craythorn, y" Brothers partner in the last 
 ball. 
 
 Mr. Parsons 
 Mrs. Snow 
 
 Thus I have given you a discription of our De- 
 vertions here but Munday sennight I find my 
 father comes, and then we shall grow grave, at 
 present we amuse our Selves much. This is all 
 the Account I can give you at present, and must 
 conclude, dear Robin, 
 
 your affect. Sister and 
 
 oblidged humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter it. 
 
 Bath, 30 Ajigtist 172 1. 
 I thank my dear Brother Robin for all the 
 trouble I have given you, and since my necklace 
 cannot be found, I must be contented and am 
 concerned I have given you so much trouble to 
 please my Vanity. . . . You will be surprised at 
 my father coming to town so soon, but an express 
 came down from Sir George Saunders for him, 
 upon Lech — (mere ?) being made a Lord w*"^ was 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 21 
 
 contrary to all promises made to him that any 
 should be so till his patent had passed. He will 
 be in town a fryday, he went in by Coach this 
 morning. Now I must tell you the devertion of 
 this place. Last Thursday we came here, that 
 night a play bespoke by Lady Harold, so we did 
 not see anybody, next day a ball where we was, 
 and saw all y^ great Ladys. My Brother Byng 
 dansed french danses with Mrs. Key, who has 
 seven thousand a year settled on her, and Country 
 Danses w'*" Lady Jemima Grey, Duke Kent's 
 daughter, we left them dansing and went with 
 some Ladys to Lindseys where I sate down to 
 Ginea Comerce with Dutches of Wharton, Lady 
 Harold, Mrs. Sims (L"^ Morton's daughter) Mr. 
 Cook (Vice Chamberlains Brother) Gen^ Stanwix 
 lady, Mrs. Bradshaw, Lady Lucy, myself, etc., 
 the pooll seven gineas and I very near wining 
 of it. 
 
 Saturday was a play bespoak by Lady Bristol. 
 She asked us to go, as we accordingly did, but 
 first went to make a visit with my father to Lady 
 ffranklin, in the meantime came to see me the 
 Dutches of Wharton, Lady Bristol, Lady Lucy 
 and more of our Ladys, which was a perticuler 
 favour, they not being of my acquaintance before, 
 and what is very seldom done in these places. 
 Sunday to Church and to return all my Visits, then 
 in to Harison's room, where was a varst number 
 of people, but I, being not well, came home by 
 
22 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 8 and went to bed. Next day forced myself out 
 not being willing to indulge, met all our great 
 Ladys at Lindseys and was visited by L*^^ 
 Harold, Mrs. Car and Mrs. Andrewes, but so ill 
 I was forced to come home early with a violent 
 cold, and was in a fever all night, and yesterday 
 much worse with sore throat and pain in my side 
 that I was forced to be Blooded, and am to-day 
 much better. Thus I have told you how we 
 have spent each day here like a real gosip, but 
 as I believe you are pretty well dull in town, 
 I am willing to devert you the best I can. My 
 Brothers cloaths are extream handsom and ffiit 
 him exact. He has been at two balls in his 
 padesway, so I think he cuts a fine figure here. 
 Here is Lady Inchqueen and 2 of L'^ Essex 
 sisters, but I am not acquainted with them. 
 Dutches of Queensborough comes to-night. My 
 head akes so much that I hope you will excuse 
 this my scroll, and I must end. 
 
 your affect. Sister 
 
 and humble Serv\ 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Gray y^ poet lodges in our house so he has 
 supt with us. 
 
 Letter in. 
 
 [Mrs. Osborn is evidently referring in this letter to 
 inoculation, which was introduced into England in 1718, 
 and was violently opposed by great numbers of people. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 
 
 -O 
 
 The three Princesses mentioned are the granddaughters 
 of George I. "Jack " is her brother, afterwards Admiral 
 Byng.] 
 
 Conduit Stry.k\:, June 2, 1722. 
 
 I was much oblidged to dear brother Robin for 
 your patience in writting down perscriptions for 
 my son, as well as to Dr. Askenhurst for his 
 advice, but he has been too ill for me to venture 
 anything but jist what they have orderd him. 
 Sir Hans Slone and Amions have had him under 
 their care, his swelling under his arm is still open, 
 that is the wound that was made there by it 
 being lanced, it is now held open by a pea. . . . 
 I would ten thousand times sooner send them 
 into a room to catch the smallpox, than poyson 
 their blood in this manner, since there is no 
 knowing when the accidents will end that comes 
 by this pernicious practice. 
 
 Munday last was a great Court at St. James's, 
 and most people very fine, but I believe the 
 gentlemen will ware petty-cotes very soon, for 
 many of their Coats were like our Mantuas. L*^ 
 Essex had a silver tissue Coat, and pink colour 
 lutestring wascote, and several had pink colour 
 and pale blue padeswoy Coats, which lookd pro- 
 digiously effeminate. The three young Princesses 
 dansed, which is a signe they got over their 
 inoculating very well, for I am sure my son 
 could as soon fly as danse. Brother George lives 
 altogether in the Camp, I hardly ever see him. 
 
24 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Bro : Byng Is better since he was at Southill, and 
 all are well there but my father. Jack, I think, 
 knows when he is well off, for he has taken up his 
 rest at Danbury. 
 
 I doubt not but you had some merry doings at 
 Bristol last Munday, and hope you had a share in 
 the devertion. I can send you no news from this 
 place but what is in the public prints, for I have 
 no men belong to me, so of course can have no 
 news that is authentick. 
 
 I believe the country will soon be pleasent, but 
 hitherto I fancy you have had much Rain, for 
 certainly it has been so here, and I remember 
 last year at Bristol it was the same. It spoyls 
 my walks sometimes, for most mornings, instead 
 of ordering my Coach and six, I order my shoes 
 and ten toes to trot away to Chealsey. Your 
 Aunts and all here are much your Servants, but 
 none more so than 
 
 your afifec. Sister 
 
 and humble Serv\ 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter iv. 
 
 Atigust 4, 1722. 
 Dear Brother Robin will think I am continualy 
 troubling you with letters, but having writ to Mr. 
 Theed before and had no answer, I am willing he 
 should have this carryd to him, so should be 
 oblidged to you to send one of your porters with 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 2$ 
 
 it. If he is not at his Chambers, they may 
 leave it with his Clerk, and I should be infinitly 
 oblidged to you if you have any time when you 
 go to the other end of the town, if you would call 
 on him yourself and help solicit for me. The 
 case is this that I have had answers to my 
 Chancery bills, but they proving rogueish ones, 
 and not to the purpose, I am oblidged to file a 
 bill of exceptions to them, and oblidge them to 
 answer more fully. Mr. Theed was to have 
 drawn up this bill before I left town, but it is not 
 yet done, and it should be very soon filld, or 
 else I shall not give them time to answer it in 
 Michaelmas term, and I am quite weary of so 
 many delays. . . . When they see a man appear 
 for one they will not delay so, but a poor woman 
 is made nothing off, she may live upon air seven 
 year if she can. 
 
 I hope you had my letter of joy to you, but I 
 supose you have so much bussiness now that I 
 must not expect to hear from you. 
 
 Brother Byng talks of going to town next 
 Tuesday or Wednesday to see the Duke of Marl- 
 borough's funeral, which they say will be extream 
 fine. 
 
 All here much your humble Serv'', but none 
 more than 
 
 your affect. Sister 
 
 and humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBGRN. 
 
26 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF a" 
 
 Letter v. 
 
 [The Mr. Layer alluded to in this letter was a 
 barrister, who was accused of conspiracy against the 
 king, found guilty, and hanged.] 
 
 Danbury, Nov. 30, 1722. 
 
 I was in hopes before this to have heard from 
 dear brother Robin, but will supose you have 
 been much taken up with more weighty affairs at 
 your Office, and also hearing Mr. Layers trial, 
 and such things of consequence, but should have 
 took it for a favour to have been in your thoughts 
 Wednesday. All here rememberd your health, 
 and joynd with me wishing your years may con- 
 tinue to prosper with as much success as they had 
 hitherto done. I wanted much to see you after I 
 had talked to the lawyers, before I came out of 
 town, but not being able to get them togeather 
 till the night before, it was imposible to see 
 you. ... I must beg you will be so good to 
 take my Affairs under your management. It is 
 a great deal of trouble, and I know not how to 
 ask it, but if you are so oblldging to do it, it will 
 be esteemed a very great friendship and obligation 
 in you. 
 
 Harls is slow and delatory in his way, and 
 Theed is so in his. They both blame each other, 
 and I could never judg between them, but by 
 carrying Haris somtimes to Theed with me, and 
 hear them talk it over before me. The way to 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 27 
 
 make yourself master of the affair is I believe 
 necessary you should read over my bills and 
 answers in Chancery, which Haris holds and will 
 o-ive you to read. The answers I had last sumer 
 from Messrs. Leigh were not thought sufficient, 
 and therefore I filed exceptions to them, which it 
 seems now they designe to argue before a Master 
 in Chancery. I should be oblidged to you to go 
 to Theed, and know when they are to be argued, 
 and if it would not be too much trouble, I should 
 be glad you would be in Court when they are 
 aro-ued. . . . The Rent is all paid into Chancery, 
 but we might get an order to permit it to be 
 put out on India Bonds, etc., that I might have 
 Intrest, and not let it lye dead— for their is 
 above £600 paid in there w^'^ lyes dead without 
 interest. There has lately been a supena served 
 upon S' Danvers and another for myself to fore- 
 close the equity of redemption of the mortgage. 
 . . . You must have a full account of their pro- 
 ceedings, and not shuffle you off as they do me, 
 by saying they will take care and do all that is 
 proper. They are all Rogues, but I cannot but 
 say Theed has dealt as honestly by me as any 
 one of them, and shuffled less, but he is very 
 faulty in delaying geting the perticulers drawn of 
 Newgate Market Estate, w^'' you must press him 
 for, for until they are drawn no one can see the 
 value of it in order to buy it, and it is a great 
 determint to S"" Danvers not to have that Estate 
 
28 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 sold because he is oblidged to pay Intrest for j 
 money which should be paid off by the sale of 
 that Estate. ... To ffollow this will tyer you to 
 death. ... I shall be satisfyed in general to 
 know you undertake to be my Solicitor. ... I 
 hope it may lye one day or other in my son's 
 power to be able to serve you or yours and 
 acknowledge the favour you do his mother, for 
 our good Book says there is great merit in assist- 
 ing the fatherless and Widow, and to see them 
 that are in need and necessity have right, and I 
 am sure I must claim y"" friendship under all 
 these titles. 
 
 I will trouble you with no more now, but con- 
 clude with the adition of subscribing myself 
 your most affect. Sister 
 
 and humble Servt. 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter vi. 
 
 Danbury Place, Deer. 19, 1722. 
 
 I am much oblidged to dear Brother Robin for 
 the account I received from you by Sunday post 
 of my affaires. I am perfectly easy and satisfyed 
 they will be well managed now you have under- 
 took the trouble . . . next time I must desire 
 you to ask Haris for all the papers concerning the 
 poor at Chicksands, for I very much want them. 
 
 Last week I was at Purleigh and Screens, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 29 
 
 played at cards there till 2 in the morning. But 
 London hours very ill suite the country. 
 
 We have read your new play, which I doubt 
 not but you have seen more than once, but we 
 cannot relish it here, and therefore conclude tis 
 our want of tast, since the Beau Mond are of 
 a diferent opinion, Mr. Bob ffytch comes home 
 a Saterday. He has been very ill of a feavour, 
 and has not yet quite recovered it. 
 your affect. Sister and 
 
 oblidged humble Serv', 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 My love to Nedy. 
 
 Letter vn. 
 
 Danbury, December 2%tk, 1722. 
 I received dear B' Robins by Sunday post, as 
 also one from Haris. ... He says I must come 
 to town to be admitted in Court as my son's 
 Guardian, to answer the Bill that is preferd 
 against him. If it must be so, I hope it will be 
 so contrived that I may stay but one day in town, 
 for I have not half a crown of my own in the 
 world, and therefore can bear no expence but that 
 which is unavoidable. You are very good to call 
 on my tedious people. Once being spoken too 
 by a man has the weight of ten times a woman's 
 speaking. Mr. Theed must be hurryd out of his 
 life to get Newgate Market sold. That would 
 
30 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 greatly ad to the peace of all, for tis a torment to 
 have that so long about. 
 
 I am y' aff'^ Sister 
 
 and humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 A happy Xmas and many happy New Year to 
 you. 
 
 Letter viil 
 
 Munday, March ii, 1723. 
 Dear Brother Robin is very oblidging to assist 
 me in so often seeing my Lawyers, which doubtless 
 hastens them, notwithstanding it seems to move 
 slowly on, nobody that has not experience of the 
 delays of that proffession can imagine the plague 
 of them. I know there is people think it more 
 my fault that this afaire is not sooner concluded, 
 but I have bought my experience dear. I know 
 tis their Ignorance makes them say so, therefore I 
 mind them not. ... I beg the favour you will 
 settle about the security. If the Chancery would 
 allow it, and the other side agree, I should think 
 India Bonds or Navy Bills, for the Land and 
 Malt Tax carry but 3 per cent. . . . and the 
 Intrest will hardly answer the charge of puting 
 the money out. I am very easy Brace should 
 administer. I have no Will nor anything of Mr. 
 Osborns, and have signed a renunciation to 
 Brace. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 3 1 
 
 When the perticulers of Newgate Market is 
 done . . . then there is to be two Citty surveyors 
 to value the houses, and since you are so good to 
 take the trouble upon you, I hope you will go 
 through with it all, and press this affair to be 
 wholy compleated . . . and then I hope among 
 some of your rich Citizens that there will be a 
 purchaser soon found, for the Estates being sold 
 will go a great way in setleing our affaires, at least 
 in what relates to Sir Danvers. He is so young 
 that I hope I shall get all his affaires perfect before 
 he comes of age that he may enjoy it all without 
 the Torment I have known with it. Ask Mr. 
 Theed when he thinks we shall be able to get 
 any witness to set aside the Mortgage, wether 
 he remembers Sparahawk the atorney in the 
 Country that promised to let him into many 
 of Weedon's villinanys in this affair. ... I 
 would have for my Councill, Mr. Talbot, Sir 
 Phill York, and Serjeant Chesyere, so pray take 
 care that these are not retained on the other 
 side. 
 
 I am uneasy to find my Leter so long and only 
 filled with my own troublesome affaires, and 
 nothing to entertain you. I find the town and 
 parliament is in full employment, and hope all 
 things will be brought to light, and those suffer 
 that ought to do so. The Country begins to be 
 very pleasent, and this place is always so, good 
 company, a pleasent park and delightfull prospects, 
 
32 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 and everything that contribute to make a Country- 
 life agreable. 
 
 I will trouble you with no more now but that I am 
 y affect. Sister and 
 
 oblidged humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter ix. 
 
 Danbury Place, Sept. 27, 1723. 
 
 Dear Brother, — When ever I set pen to 
 paper it is always to give you trouble, and 
 encrease the obligations I have to you. Aunt 
 Lucy being out of town oblidges me now to do 
 it by beging the favour of you to pay some bills. 
 I have enclosed them to my father for you, 
 hearing there must not be any double Letters 
 directed to you. I have also writ to my father 
 to pay you ^45. . . . 
 
 I can entertain you with nothing from hence, 
 not being at the Assembly yesterday, but there 
 was much company. Mrs. ffytch hopes you 
 will come down to the last, which is Thursday 
 senight. I am glad to hear Bro : Byng is going 
 to devert himself at the Bath while the Hurry of 
 removing is over in Albermarle Street. I am in 
 great hopes of bringing my Cause to a hearing 
 this Term, and Mr. Bramston who is my Clerk 
 in Chancery thinks there is great reason to 
 believe the Mortgage will not be proved to be 
 a good one. My money is at last put out on 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 33 
 
 Bank Anuitys, so by degrees I get but slowly 
 forward. I may hope a little time more will 
 make me easy. All here are much your Ser- 
 vants, but none with more Truth than 
 y"" affect. Sis"" and 
 
 oblidged humble Serv', 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 I heartily rejoyce to hear Jacky is a Lieut. 
 I hope it does not want confirmation. Let me 
 know if it Is certainly so, or only supposition. 
 
 Letter x. 
 
 SouTHiLL, May 17, 1726. 
 
 I must trouble dear Brother Robin with thanks 
 for your last Letter, and glad the Yorkshire 
 money is in your hands ; for by a letter from 
 Mr. Theed, I hear the Dean of York is come to 
 town, and the Life Is now to be renewd imedi- 
 atly, and I am to pay six hundered and twenty- 
 three pounds for the new one he grants me. In 
 the first place we have a dificulty who he Is to 
 grant It too. Sir Danvers being a minor it cannot 
 be to him. I may marry again and therefore tis 
 not thought proper to grant it to me, and there- 
 fore Mr. Theed has desired me to consider of 
 two people I can trust to have it granted to them. 
 I have chose your self and Thomy Osborn, and 
 hope you will give me leave to do so, because It is 
 
34 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 not safe to have it granted to any but those that 
 are just and honest, so hope you will have no 
 objection ... it being not to give you any 
 trouble more than to make use of your name, 
 and upon any occasion of surrendering it up to 
 have another Life renewd, it must be done by 
 you. 
 
 The next dificulty I am under is to raise the 
 sum of £^22), for by my paper enclosed you have 
 but £^\\ in your hands. I did not imagine this 
 money would be wanted till I had received New- 
 gate Market rents, so that what to do for y' ^i8i 
 I know not. I have writ to Aunt Lucy to try 
 to borow it upon a pressing ocasion. All the 
 favour I ask of you is to answer the whole sum 
 when it is demanded of Theed. I will take care 
 you shall be repaid in less than a week ... do 
 not let me loose my credit in not having the 
 payment answerd, for I have orderd Theed to 
 draw upon you for ^623 whenever the Dean is 
 ready to sign. Pray let me have two words from 
 you by next post. I am always in that unhappy 
 state to be wanting favours, and never in a 
 Capacity to return them. I hope I shall soon 
 overcome all my dificulty that I may not be 
 such a continual trouble to my friends. If you 
 excuse this you will infinitly oblidge 
 your most affect. Sister and 
 
 oblidged humble Serv\ 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
lady of the eighteenth century. 35 
 
 Letter xi. 
 
 [Pattee Byng had married, in 1724, Lady Charlotte 
 Montagu, which explains why she speaks of Kimbolton 
 as her brother's home.] 
 
 South ILL, /«/?/ 12, 1726. 
 
 I have not had the pleasure a great while of a 
 line from dear brother Robin, and hope that by 
 this time that part of the money is repaid to you, 
 but I have spent a fortnight at Kimbolton, my 
 brothers home, which hindered me writing or 
 hearing of Bussiness. . . . 
 
 My brother Byng and myself spent our time 
 very agreably at Kimbolton, which is the finest 
 house and Park I have ever seen, tho not con- 
 tented with enjoying that alone, we went to see 
 several other places, Boughton, which is the 
 Duke of Mountagues, and Drayton, Lady Betty 
 Jermains, both in Northamptonshire. The first 
 was a prodigious building and great designes 
 were formed by the late Duke, who only finishd 
 one ffront. The gardens and Wood is certainly 
 fine, but I think wants variety, being all an entire 
 deep shade with fine Lime trees and grass walks. 
 We saw it to much disadvantage, the Bridge 
 beinof broak that we could not see the Water- 
 works which they say are fine ; and indeed the 
 Gardens and House are both ill kept, the Duke 
 not being there above a fortnight in 2 or 3 year, 
 
36 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 and all the furniture except fine family pictures is 
 taken down for other houses. 
 
 Drayton is an old house that pleases me very 
 well, built with Towers, not regular within, but fine 
 Galereys, and a very agreable place if it were not 
 so dull looking. 
 
 My Brother and the Duke spent two days 
 abroad without us; went with Sir W"" and Sir 
 Gilbert Pickering to Whitlesey mere a fyshing 
 in a Yatch. The weather proved fine and they 
 came home well pleased with their expedition 
 which seldome happens when it is proposed. 
 It is a Lake in Huntingtonshire, 22 miles round, 
 and the narrowest place over it is 4 mile broad, 
 so that tis a perfect Sea. There is Cuts that run 
 from it down to Lyn, and so into the sea. 
 
 Since we came home, which was last Wednes- 
 day, have been in a continual hurry. Thursday 
 by invitation dined at the Duke of Kents. 
 Fryday we were dressd and in the Coach to 
 go to L'^ ffitzwilliams, but rain prevented us. 
 Saturday we was to wait on our new neighbour, 
 Mrs. Beacher. She was a good fortune tho a 
 Brewer's daughter at Hackney, so you may 
 imagine she is nothing extraordinary, but Mr. 
 Beacher will have money to build a new house, 
 and those are, they say, the chiefe ingredients 
 towards a happy life. 
 
 Sunday we was again dressd, but the rain 
 prevented our going to Ampthill. Yesterday 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 2)7 
 
 we had the Duke and Dutches of Kent and Mr. 
 Cole with them, also the Herveys, and this day 
 are for the third time to dress for Ampthill, and 
 now I have given you a short account of our 
 time. I must only ad the humble Service of all 
 here to you and ashure you I am, 
 Dear Brother Robin, 
 most affect, sister and humble Serv\ 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 I should think it impossible for Uncle Byng to 
 hold a month longer, it is not to be expressed 
 what he endures, a most melancholy end, poor 
 man, he makes, and every day one wishes might 
 be his last. Saturday nobody expected he could 
 have outlivd, fell into great passions of tears, 
 and took leave of his family with recommending 
 the care of them to my father. Indeed she has a 
 miserable time of it, and night and day is nursing 
 him, nobody in the world can take more care of 
 a man then she does of him, and one should have 
 thought nothing but the most sincere affection 
 could have supported any one to go through 
 what she does, but hers sure must be compassion. 
 
 Letter xh. 
 
 SOUTHILL, Oct. 25, 1726. 
 
 Dear Brother, — The post I had the favour of 
 a Letter from you brought us the agreeable news 
 of your good fortune in the Lottery (which, tho 
 
3-8 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 ci Trifle) yet fear it is not true since you did not 
 confirm it by your letter. Mrs. Byng who heard 
 the number read told us it was my Brother 
 George who had that good fortune. I wish 
 George very well, but when I consider it is but 
 one main and tis gone, I rather hope tis your 
 own, and hope soon to have the satisfaction 
 of hearing from you that it is so. 
 
 To-day my Brother Byng is going to Bedford 
 when there is to be a very great meeting of all 
 the gentlemen in this County, the Secret History 
 of which is that last week there came the Servant 
 of the Bell Inn at Bedford who went round to all 
 the gentlemen, Dukes and Lords without dis- 
 tinction, with the Duke of Bedford's service and 
 to desire their Company to meet him at y^ Bell at 
 Bedford tomorow. This mesage coming by such 
 a messenger, startled every one, and last week 
 Sir Rowland Alston, Mr. Brown, &c., came to 
 consult my father what was to be done, and what 
 was y^ meaning of this mesage, for beside it was 
 also to a Tory Inn, and they heard by the by 
 there was a dessign on ffoot for some Propositions 
 against y^ next Elections. In short every one 
 was under dificultys, so my father, Bro :, and 
 several more of the Whig gentlemen went last 
 Thursday to y^ Duke of Kent's to consult on 
 this Grand affair, the Odnes of the Mesenger 
 will not permit the Duke of Kent nor my father 
 to go, but they agreed by all means to have all 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 39 
 
 the Others go and muster up all the Whigs 
 togeather in the County, as it is the first meeting 
 he has desired with the gentlemen, . and sent 
 without distinction of Party, so it was judgd 
 they should not make any, and it was nessesary 
 they should be prepared if he proposed anybody 
 to set up, that then they should oppose any Tory 
 and name another. Duke of Kent would have 
 had my Brother Byng stand but for several 
 reasons it is declynd. Beacher will not be at 
 the expense, therefore at last it was agreed that 
 Ongley has hardly any principles at least not 
 violent if he is a Tory, and that tis nessesary 
 to court him and bring him over if they can to 
 the Whig Intrest. 
 
 My Brother Byng carrys him and Brownsel 
 and Hervey with him in his Coach to Bedford, 
 and then Is to carry him to y^ Whig Inn, where 
 they will meet Alston, Orlebar, and all the Whigs, 
 who are to propose it to him to be beforehand 
 with anything that can be started by the Duke 
 of Bedford who we hear intends to have Leigh 
 and Monox, who are both good Tories, but what 
 will be the end of all this I know not, but think 
 tis a shame to begin already such treatys for 
 people to spend such a large share of money and 
 health as they must do in three year. Tis a sign 
 Duke Bedford Is a gidey hot-headed Creature or 
 he would not delight to study an expensive Elec- 
 tion to his neighbours, all this is at present under 
 
40 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 y* Rose, but tomorow it will be known at Bedford, 
 and I thought you would not dislike to know this 
 affair which is but the begining of greater. 
 
 My house is done and it will cost me £jS 
 furnishing and all, and ^30 was the first sum, 
 with large allowances might come to ^50, and 
 now I have spent pounds must save shillings, and 
 I intend to stay here as long as the family does, 
 tho I believe Lady Charlotte has set fryday 
 fortnight. . . . 
 
 I have been thinking if I could not have a little 
 assistance from you. I remember once you did 
 scrape up a little chest of candles for Jacky from 
 the office. I say no more, for if it neither suits 
 conscience nor convenience I do not ask It. 
 
 You will wonder how I contrive to fill such a 
 large sheet of paper where I have only left room 
 to ashure you I am, dear Brother, 
 
 your most affect. Sister and 
 oblidged humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter xiii. 
 [This letter is addressed to Mr. Byng at Compiegne.] 
 
 SouTHiLL, Oct 25, 1726. 
 
 Dear Brother, — It is very oblidging in you to 
 give me the pleasure of seeing your hand, and 
 hearing you were well, which favour I received 
 last post. Pleasure and Business no doubt make 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 4 1 
 
 great alteration in spending ones time, and makes 
 one seem to breath a different air at the same 
 place. This reflection comes from thinking last 
 year twas all the former, and perhaps this year all 
 the latter, or rather a mixture of the two that 
 makes both agreable. Too much of one would 
 perhaps do one harm, and too much of business 
 clouds the understanding. I have had more of it 
 than many women of my age. I own I now and 
 then wish myself in your pocket, wishing to know 
 a little truth. We are so humdrum here that we 
 know nothing but from newspapers. I dont love 
 to live quite so ffree from the hurry of the World, 
 without any gentlemen with us, all have deserted 
 us this summer. My father has not had time 
 to be hear yet, tho hopes to slip down next week. 
 My brother is well pleased at Scarborough. 
 George has taken pet, and says he wont see 
 us again this summer, and at present dont know 
 where he is . . . next week I hear he is 
 to be for 20 days upon Guard at Windsor. 
 No news of Jack yet, and for Ned he is devert- 
 ing himself at Danbury, till the Race time in 
 Kent. Thus you see how forlorn we are, for my 
 own part know nothing more than conversing 
 with ffarmers, improving my knowledge in Turnips 
 and Wheat land . . . and riding out most evenings. 
 My mother has an extream pretty pad upon 
 which she and Mrs. Vincent take turns, for we 
 cannot very well be equipt with more than two. 
 
42 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 The Kents went to the Installation, and have 
 not been down since, they being our best neigh- 
 bours, we miss them much. 
 
 After this account what can you expect from I 
 this place, especialy when I consider I am write- 
 ing to Paris, and to one who knows more than we 
 do here, and therefore must not venture at any 
 sort of news, and for Ilnature, Love, and Envy, 
 they are subjects the town will be ever full of, tho 
 ever so empty of people, but as I never give in 
 to such idle nonsence, nor believe it would enter- 
 tain you, I shall only tell you I fancy all is made 
 easy again between Tom and his Lady, and they 
 will not part as people was so malicious to say. 
 Tis very hard every little indiscretion in ffamilies 
 must give so much entertainment to other 
 people. 
 
 Lucy has got a knack of writeing fine descrip- 
 tions since she is become a Traveller, which 
 makes me doubt of all y^ was related last year 
 from Paris, since I find she can give as fine an 
 account of the North, and therefore I shall 
 imagine all that is new and charming to her. 
 
 I know not how to direct to you, therefore have 
 took the liberty to enclose it to Mr. Walpole. 
 Pray make my complyments of excuse to him for 
 doing so, and believe me, dear Brother, 
 your most affectionate Sister, 
 
 and very humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
lady of the eighteenth century. 43 
 Letter xiv. 
 
 SOUTHILL, Aug. 21, 1729. 
 
 I take this opertunlty to welcome you again 
 into England and am extreamly glad you have 
 had a pleasent tour, as the Ladys say it has been. 
 They are in great delight with it, and have great 
 obligations to you for your care of them. I hope 
 we shall soon see you down here. Pray dont 
 neglect us tho it is not so fine at Versaills, we are 
 now reduced to a small family and hope you will 
 not find any excuse to forget your promise of 
 spending a little time with us. . . . Service to 
 George. . . . 
 
 your affect. Sister, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter xv. 
 
 [This letter is written just after the marriage of Mr. 
 Edward Byng with Miss Bramston.] 
 
 SOUTHUX, Nov. 28, 1730. 
 
 I am indebted many thanks to dear Brother 
 Robin for the oblidging letters since I came here. 
 Your joy and kind expressions to Brother Ned 
 and me on this occasion have been varstly pleas- 
 ing to me and to my sister Byng, who expresses 
 great esteem for you — she told me you had 
 pleaded hard for your brother. . . . Tho the 
 newspapers have near doubled my sister Byngs 
 
44 
 
 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 fortune in point of wealth, yet what is wanting to 
 make that up, is fourfold made up in her own 
 value, for she seems of a sweet disposition, and 
 formd to make a man happy, indeed I have no 
 doubt but they will make each other so, for I 
 think he has many virtues and is very good- 
 naturd. 
 
 How long we stay here is uncertain. They are 
 endeavouring to find a house fit to buy for them 
 in town, which would be best if it can be found at 
 first, because of furniture filing to it, and Rent 
 runs away with what would purchase on. Their 
 fortunes will be but moderate, for tho she has 
 ^looo a year, yet there is ten thousand pounds 
 debt which must be paid. I imagine she will soon 
 sell her Estate in Essex to pay off that debt, and 
 all she brings beside she must spend, indeed her 
 house will be his, her coach his, &c., but other- 
 ways he cannot spend more than he did before, if 
 so much, and as it is agreed what remains after 
 the debts are paid is to be settled on her self and 
 childeren, and in failure of them to him for ever, 
 but except that hapens, he never will have power 
 to touch one peny more than the income, therefore 
 this was no great catch without the agreable 
 temper she has brought with it, which, as George 
 wrote Ned word, is a jewel whose lustre will 
 brighten by wearing. 
 
 I doubt your Aunt Molly, as you call her, lookd 
 very sowr at the news, as to be sure all the Bram- 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 45 
 
 stons must do. Her uncle is intolerably vexd, 
 but answerd my fathers letter with civility, tho 
 has wrote a very unpleasant one to her. 
 
 I will not run on with more, but to tell you we 
 all drank your health yesterday being the 27th, 
 and if the winds would have blowd our thoughts 
 to you, it would have been to ashure you of our 
 good wishes and none more of them at heart than, 
 dear Robert, 
 
 your very affect. Sister 
 
 and faithfull humble Serv', 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 So many letters every post to bring joys to us, 
 that our whole time has been spent in reading and 
 answering of them. This is near the thirtyeth or 
 more I have made this week. 
 
 Letter xvi. 
 
 Chilbolton, Oct. 21, 1731. 
 
 Dear Brother Robin is very good to give me 
 the pleasure of a Letter, which I return my thanks 
 for, and wish I could say anything from this place 
 which might make this worth your trouble to read. 
 I must welcome you to your winter quarters, 
 where I find you are all gathered togeather, there- 
 fore pray disperss my complyments among them 
 and double them to yourself. 
 
 Where is George ? I hear nothing of him, nor 
 where he is. If he is in good spirits, I am easy. 
 
46 rOLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 You that are in the midst of the Beau Mond 
 and think of nothing but fforeign Dukes &c., will 
 not be entertaind with what I can relate from 
 hence, which only consists of the pleasures of the 
 ffeild, when last Munday we were perticulerly 
 well pleased, for by invitation we had Dr. Burton, 
 the Master of Winchester School and his ten 
 young noblemens sons that live with him, for 
 which he has ;^200 a year for each, and is as a 
 private Governour to them, and they also have the 
 advantage of a publick school at the same time, 
 which surely must be a fine way of educating 
 them. These with 4 other young gentlemen of 
 the school met us in the ffeild a Hunting, they and 
 their attendance and ours made in all 40 people, 
 and after very good sport all came home to dine 
 here. Indeed I have not seen a finer sight than 
 these boys and their master together. 
 
 L'^ Deerhurst and his 2 Brother Coventrys, L"* 
 Ossulston, Lord Brook, Master Duncomb and Sir 
 Robert Burdet, Master Greville, Master Wallop 
 (L'^ Lymingtons son), Master Tryon, also Lord 
 Drumlannich the Duke of Oueensberrys son, who 
 is under his peculiar care tho not in the house 
 because he would not exceed his fixd number. 
 Last week we spent 3 or 4 days at Lord Lym- 
 ingtons which is a fine place, and they very 
 agreable people. My Lord was so good to 
 engage some of my perplexd affaires which are in 
 so unhappy a situation that no way can be con- 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 47 
 
 trived to settle them well, but I hope another 
 fortnight will release me from thinking more of 
 them for this year. I beg the favour you will 
 give the enclosed to Aunt Lucy, and that you will 
 believe me with great truth, dear Brother, 
 your very affec'^ Sister 
 
 and humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter xvh. 
 
 [There is a gap of nearly two years between this 
 letter and the foregoing one. During the year 1732, 
 Sarah made a tour of three months in France and 
 Belgium with her friend, Lady Gage, and the journal 
 she kept during that time still exists among her papers 
 at Chicksands Priory.] 
 
 London, 26 July, 1733. 
 
 Dear Brother Robert is very oblidging to let 
 me partake of your devertions and douleurs in 
 Kent. I ffeel your situation, but I think there 
 is not the less life in it for the dull prospect at 
 present. Time and patience cures all evils. I 
 have been puzzeling over business to - day I 
 wanted to do before I leave the town, but find 
 myself less capable of anything of that sort than 
 in ye midst of a feavour. It was }<= stewards 
 account nessesary to be passd, but I am forcd 
 to lay them by, find it imposible to proceed. 
 What creatures we are to have a little lllnesr. 
 alter the whole fframe ! I shall be quite malon- 
 
4S POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 choly to find myself so useless if I do not mend 
 very much in the country. 
 
 I go to Lord Shannon's a Munday, I believe 
 for the month of August, but that depends on 
 company they expect there, but would not let 
 me stay longer in town, for which they are very 
 kind, for I rather loose than get strength here, 
 and yet grow ffat. My acquaintance in town 
 have been very good to me, I have not been 
 one day alone, so that I really cannot say I 
 dislike being here. I went with Lady Gage to 
 Ashly this week, and returnd in a chaise. I 
 thought I might venture calling half way at 
 Dutches of Cleveland's, where we refreshd, 
 otherways have not been out of my doors since 
 mother went out of town. There is no sort of 
 chat or news, you are in the gay life, and I hope 
 Kent will answer all your expectations, which 
 will be a very great pleasure, dear Brother, 
 to your affect. Sister 
 
 and humble Serv^ 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Bro : George tyerd of Southill, is going to 
 Hampton Court tomorow, not in waiting, so to 
 his lodging there. He intends for Southill 
 again in 3 weeks. 
 
 Letter xviii. 
 
 [This letter is written just after the death of Sarah's 
 father, Lord Torrington, to whom succeeded her eldest 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 49 
 
 brother, Pattee. Sarah takes up her abode chiefly in 
 London after this event, and apparently writes from town 
 to her son, who is evidently at Chicksands, and though 
 only eighteen years of age, is now busying himself with 
 the affairs of the estate.] 
 
 Dec^ 1733. 
 
 My dear Danvers, — Mr. Ware will be with 
 you by 12 a Clock on Thursday, and by farther 
 enquiry of Him I find he is in much esteem, and 
 therefore hope he will prove a propper person to 
 serve you ... as to my advertized friend I 
 cannot yet be able to come at his character, only 
 that he was heir to the great sportsman fframpton, 
 who left him ^800 ... as you say, Mr. 
 fframpton will have his choice of ffarms, for ten 
 people where I was the other day was enquiring 
 after him, and vext he advertized, but one day I 
 put them all in an uproar by telling them I had 
 sent after him and seen him. They all beggd if 
 he did not succed in you that I would let them 
 know. . . . You would have laughd to have 
 seen everyones distresses unfolded. One cryd " I 
 have a ffarm has lain on my hands this 2 year of 
 ;^i8o, and have not rec"^ a shilling," another one 
 of ^140, another 2 ffarms, and so on till ten had 
 declared to the same effect. This has convinced 
 me that you have no worse luck than others. 
 They were all so eager after this man, that they 
 could not agree who should have the prefference, 
 . . . and if he does not take y"" ffarm, ... I shall 
 
 D 
 
50 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 nevertheless be curious to know who is the lucky 
 or unlucky person who gets him. Mr. Nicolson 
 is a gentleman ffarmer that assists Mr. ffytch 
 with his advice and lives in the neighbourhood, 
 and one to whom we have given a little present 
 of Wine for asisting us sometimes, . . . and there- 
 fore a very propper person to give advice what 
 you should do. . . . 
 
 Brandy, lemons, knives, a copper pot and 
 Jack goes tomorow. Taylor says muggs, punch- 
 bowls, and glasses are to be had at Shefford. 
 There is no occasion to give 2 sorts of wine. 
 I hope the basket I sent a Satterday got safe. 
 Emertons people were like all other, very teazing, 
 and sent you down the wrong colours. . . . To 
 be sure you ought to have an Ace' of all wheat, 
 butter, pidgeons, and everything how sold, and 
 what proffits, and not he pay y^ rent and give 
 you no farther account. ... I believe before this 
 ffarm he was a very honest man, but this either 
 by temptation or stupidity has very much alterd 
 his conduct. I am quite in a Wood and very 
 ignorant in his ffarming Ace', however I shall 
 endeavour to state it all in a regular way, and 
 then you must consider the Accounts before they 
 are passd, and I believe you and I should be 
 shut up some hours together before they can be 
 so. I do assure you I am quite out of my depth, 
 and must have y assistance. 
 
 I am told if y walls are not thorough dry your 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 5 1 
 
 paper will be quite spoyld, and if they are dry the 
 best way is to put the paper to the walls without 
 any liming-, if the walls are only one ruff cote and 
 not whited, but if they are whited, it will not do 
 so. . . . This is a good scheme to save expence, 
 and I am ashured 'tis by much the best way 
 where there is wall. 
 
 I know not if Brother George jokes, therefore 
 say nothing that I may not be bitt, but he yester- 
 day assured me upon his honour that he had it 
 from good hands that Brother Robert is appointed 
 Gouvenor of Barbadoes, which is ;^i2oo a year 
 paid by y^ Govm* here and .;^30oo by the Island 
 I wish it may be true, tho sorry we must loose 
 him. If this is really so we must think if he can 
 provide some maintenance there for y^ Uncle 
 Robert (Osborn), if he can be prevaild upon to 
 go there. Posibly a new Clymate and a distance 
 from his odious acquaintance may make him 
 become a new man. He has sense if he would 
 make use of it, and I am never without hopes 
 where there is that ingredient, for at one time or 
 other in Life it predominates over y^ Passions. 
 
 I hope you burn or lock up my letters, for I 
 should be prodigious sorry anyone should know 
 I pretend to offer my oppinion to you, what is 
 between ourselves goes for nothing, and you 
 are so good to take it as purely from affec- 
 tion, but a mother is the last person that 
 other people will allow the previlidge, and there- 
 
52 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 fore whatever she says should dye in your own 
 breast. 
 
 Letter xix. 
 
 April 1734. 
 
 All the advice Danvers met with when he was 
 in London was not for his advantage, and fearing 
 he should not be a man soon enough, those ways 
 never fail to have their effect, and whenever he 
 returns, is some time before he can setle again. 
 I have heard ffrom Mr. Charles that he has kept 
 very ill hours ever since he went down, and con- 
 sequently cannot study next day, but makes him 
 very indolent. Two o'clock in the morning is 
 very improper hours, and therefore I should be 
 much oblidged to you to give half an hour of 
 your time to write a litle good advice to him. 
 You may tell him that you met with a person 
 who came from Cambridge of whome you en- 
 quired and that they told you of his bad hours, 
 and therefore that the ill consequences that must 
 produce has made you write to him on that 
 subject, and that you imagine I know nothing 
 of it, and say somthing to encourage him to 
 take Mr. Charles advice, for if he does not find 
 the men of the family have an opinion of him, 
 he will have less and less regard for him (Mr. 
 Charles) every day, which will be very unhappy. 
 I will not keep the news longer, and this hint is 
 enough, and I shall be much oblidged if you will 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 53 
 
 be SO good to write this post if you have time. 
 They think women and parsons dont know the 
 world, and that it is manly to keep such hours. 
 I can only ad that I am, 
 
 y very affect. Sister and humble Serv^ 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter xx. 
 
 [This letter is written to Mr. Robert Byng just after 
 his marriage with Miss Forward.] 
 
 Conduit Street, 27 April 1734. 
 Dear Brother, — After hoping you had a 
 pleasent journey to Plymouth, and that all things 
 there appear to your satisfaction, I give myself 
 the pleasure of conveying my good wishes to you, 
 and imagining you will be glad to hear how things 
 go here. I send you the Acc of our County 
 Election, which came on last Wednesday. Votes 
 for Spencer were 135 1, Alston 1287, Leigh 1020, 
 by which you will see Spencer had even a greater 
 majority than my Brother when he stood, and 
 that was recond a very great one. . . . The 
 populace of Bedford are most discontented at 
 having no opposition for the town, and by this 
 time it is determind if Sir Roger Burgoine and 
 Mr. Beacher opposed them, the Election was to 
 be yesterday, and there was schemes to make 
 that matter bear, tho' posibly without much hopes 
 of succeeding, the return being doubtfull. I am 
 
54 POLITICAL AND SOaAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 impatient to hear how it has gone. If they suc- 
 ceed, I shall think it a masterpeice. . . . Now I 
 must tell you the long expected match of Lady 
 Ffany Pierpoint and Phill Meadows was con- 
 cluded last Tuesday from the Opera. She pre- 
 tended to be ill and went out, neither servants nor 
 chair of her own could be found at that time, and 
 so in a hack chair she went dirictly to Lady 
 Meadows in Priory Garden, where was Parson, 
 Licence, Husband, and all ready. Next day he 
 and she went out of town to his sister Bulstrodes 
 at Hounslough. She was of age the day before, 
 and has given herself and ;^20,ooo entirely to 
 him. I hope she will be as honourably dealt 
 with in relation to the settlement of her fortune, 
 as some people you have been concernd for. 
 
 There is not any news yet come of the arrival 
 of the Prince and Princess ^ of Orange in Hollond. 
 The wind is against leting us know soon. There 
 is no doubt they got there safe, and glad he is, I 
 am sure, to set his foot on his own land again. 
 They talk of the Prince of Orange going to the 
 Rhine, a volunteer only, if that is so he has 
 promised the King and Queen that the Princess 
 Royal shall make them a visit. It is to be in two 
 months, and has been a sugar plumb that has had 
 the desired effect, for everyone concernd in their 
 voyage has had faith to believe it, tho I believe 
 none else can, at least it is very improbable. 
 ^ Eldest daughter of George H. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 55 
 
 It made them all go chearfull, when from thinking 
 not to see England in years, that they expected 
 now to return in two months. The king said he 
 would send his yatchs upon the first notice for 
 her, and take care she should be back again to 
 meet him at his return from y^ Rhine. There is 
 orders given to buy horses for her to hunt when 
 the season comes, they are then to be at Hampton 
 Court. So all this looks serious, and the Queen 
 talks of it with great pleasure. 
 
 The town is a desart, looks like July. How is 
 it posible to think it April, it has not been so in 
 this month in anyones memory. 
 
 I am with great truth, dear Brother Robert, 
 your very affec^ Sister 
 
 and humble Servant, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
 Letter xxi. 
 
 [Four years elapse before the next letter of Sarah's 
 is written. In the year 1736 Sir Danvers attained his 
 majority. The present letter is full of details of house- 
 keeping and the cost of living, which it is interesting to 
 compare with the present day.] 
 
 Savile Street, 1738. 
 
 My dear Danvers, — I have wrote so many 
 
 Epistles to you this week, that now I think there 
 
 is nothing left to say on your own affaires, and 
 
 therefore I have set down to consider what you 
 
56 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 desired me to do some time ago. 'Tis a subject 
 quite disagreeable, since I cannot endure to think 
 of your being at any expence with me, only when 
 I think again, it is if I do not come to some 
 calculation you will never esteem my House your 
 own, and I cannot be easy if that is not so, for I 
 must desire you to look upon it entirely in that 
 light, and to come and go and do in it exactly the 
 same as if I was out of it, and be without the 
 least constraint or formality in any one perticuler. 
 You must believe this sincere when you reflect 
 that all the satisfaction I can enjoy centers in 
 yourself, and consequently can never be so happy 
 as when it is in my power to contribute towards 
 your ease, — but to the point. 
 
 The first thing I lay down is that for 2 or 3 
 year to come you will enjoy a single life by being 
 here and there and everywhere, therefore I would 
 put this affair in a method that you should never 
 be at expence here but when you are actualy 
 here, and so always carry your expence with you. 
 
 The w^hole of the affair is this, that when I live 
 by myself I generaly spend in what I call house- 
 keeping, which is only eatables, 30 shillings a 
 week. If company or any unforseen thing happens 
 it encreases according to that, but never is under, 
 so that I recon myself and five Servants at that 
 rate, exclusive of Beer, Coals, Candles, Tea, Coffee, 
 Sugar, Wine, and several other articles which slip 
 in to Housekeeping. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 57 
 
 When I live alone I only have a slice of the 
 Servants joynt without any adition whatever, but 
 that cannot be if any one person is with me, and 
 whenever you have been at home it has seldome 
 been under ^4 a week, therefore I recon one 
 week with another it will generaly come there- 
 abouts, for I recon you will have two servants 
 here, but have more or less, you will only be at 
 the expence you bring with you. 
 
 Now consider in what light you would choose 
 to put it. I am uneasy for fear I may not do it 
 in that w^^ you approve, and that you will by 
 complysance assent. I beg it may be not so. 
 Be ffree and sincere in your Answer, as I am in 
 my proposal, which is, that the fewer articles and 
 trouble you have the better. And I was thinking 
 the expence of Coals, Candles, Beer, Washing, 
 &c., would be endless to devide, therefore supose 
 all these articles sunk, and insted of them you 
 make the table when you are in town, your own. 
 I fear you will think upon first sight of this, that 
 I am unreasonable, in proposing you should keep 
 me and my five servants when you are here, but 
 upon second thoughts . . . you will conclude I do 
 it in this method that you may never have any 
 reconings but the weekly account, and that only 
 when you are here for any time, and hope you 
 will give me leave to treat you with my own 
 short Commons, when only a few days call you to 
 town, then when the table is your own, you may 
 
58 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 live better or worse as you like, invite what Com- 
 pany you please, and nothing can make you more 
 Master of this house than the table being your 
 own, with a Housekeeper who will take all the 
 care posible to have it ffrugal to your mind. If 
 you rather choose I should put in y^ 30 shillings 
 a week in y^ house purse, it will be equal to me, 
 and I will then endeavour to devide the other 
 articles. Why I ad washing to them is that when 
 you are at home, I always wash table linnen and 
 sheets abroad. I hope I have explained it so 
 that you understand. I pay for everything but 
 the dirict housekeeping weekly book, which will 
 come to ^4 a week, w<=^ is however cheaper 
 than you could be at any scrub lodging, and 
 y^ Servants at Board Wages, and from this time 
 I desire it may no more be caled my House but 
 your own. 
 
 As soon as the great Shefford wagon drove 
 from this door a Wed. there came the great 
 Winchester wagon with a hogshed of 2 year old 
 Port wine between me and my mother. If it 
 should answer, and they generaly have good 
 wine at Southampton, I will have a larger stock, 
 for Port is all I pretend to, and therefore would if 
 posible have it in perfection. By all means write 
 again to the Duke of Beaufort, and take the 
 liberty to remind him that the years Interest 
 was due the 19th of last month, that you have 
 engaged to pay ^300 the 24th of this month, and 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 59 
 
 depend upon his being so good to order the pay- 
 ment of against that day, and should be oblidged 
 for answer at Lord Torringtons, Southill, Biggles- 
 wade, Beds. I hope Brother George got down 
 well this terrible day. I pitty poor Jack and 
 more y* Chester in y^ downs. The wind is quite 
 frightfull. 
 
 My duty and complyments to all, 
 
 your truly affect. Mother, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 They say Sir Orlando is taken by Mr. 
 Edwards, one of his creditors, and bringing up to 
 y^ Fleet prison. Twas madness he did not go 
 abroad after he was discovered. There is a 
 severe criticism on Popes Essay on Man. 
 
 Letter xxh. 
 
 December 26, 172)^. 
 
 Dear Brother, — My head is so full of what 
 Brother George told me yesterday, that I cannot 
 help sending you my joy, for tho there is many 
 disagreeable things in it, yet the main must be 
 considerd. He declard to me upon his honour 
 that he had it from very good authority and 
 out of Sir Charles Wade's house that you were 
 appointed Governor of Barbadoes. If this is so, 
 why should you deny your ffriends the pleasure 
 of hearing what must please them, if it does you ? 
 I dont let it go out of my lips to any one, but he 
 
6o POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 told it at Stuckley's, and was so serious that we 
 all bile at it. Sister Byng assured me it was no 
 jist, he told us all perticlers, that you have it in a 
 very handsome manner, without any clog upon 
 you. Stuckley in a moment was thinking who to 
 send with you, and I imediatly was thinking how 
 I could serve you here, and take care of your 
 eldest son in your absense. It has so engrossed 
 my thoughts that it spoylt my devotion yesterday. 
 Pray answer this letter next post, and with my 
 complyments to you all, I am, 
 
 y"" very affect. Sister 
 
 and humble Servant, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xxiii. 
 
 [This is the last letter addressed to Mr. Robert Byng. 
 He died the following year.] 
 
 CmCKSANDS, /a?iua;y 30, 1739. 
 
 Dear Brother, — Many thanks for a cargo 
 of paper come a Thursday. Unreasonable con- 
 sciences are still asking, if it is not too late for 
 your almanacks, I should be oblidged to you for 
 one, and a large ruler, with pencils, a little red 
 Ink, a little Pounce, a piece of tape, for I am 
 much employd at present in what I am distressd 
 for these things, and can get nothing here, not so 
 much as a penknife to scratch. . . . And if any 
 of your clerks are at leisure, could you employ 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 6 1 
 
 one to rule twenty sheets of the enclosed large 
 paper. ... I am ashamed of all these troubles 
 we give you. My son ... is frighted at borrow- 
 ing money and mortgaging, and therefore is most 
 inclynd to what is a certainty, tho in y^ end not 
 so proffitable. You are very oblidging to think 
 so much for him when you have so many material 
 affaires of your own to take up your mind, wh : 
 I hope will prove to your satisfaction and ad- 
 vantage. Be assured in anything Danvers or 
 I can serve you in your absense, that you may 
 depend upon our best care, therefore in all y"" 
 schemes take it for granted we are ready to obey 
 your orders, and shall do it with pleasure, beside 
 the natural affection and regard I must always 
 have for you and yours, you have a strong claim 
 to all our concern from the obligations we have 
 received from you, and which we both gratefully 
 acknowledg. My Brother Torrington came down 
 Sunday, dind here yesterday, goes to London 
 tomorow. He says Henry Osborn goes to 
 Guinea and Jack with you to Barbadoes, and 
 may be worth his while from a good understand- 
 ing between the Governor and his brother : if 
 that is so, tis very well, otherways methinks you 
 are all agoing from us, but I dare not reflect too 
 much on the disagreable part, therefore will stop 
 on that subject. Can you spare two days when 
 y^ coach comes for me? I desired Lucy to 
 propose it, and do as it suits you. I would 
 
62 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 have gone up with Brother Torn tomorow, but 
 Dan vers desired I would stay a Httle longer. He 
 finds a woman nessesary in a house, which I 
 hope will inclyne him in due time to think of a 
 companion for himself. 
 
 Lady Ann Lumley I hear is to be married this 
 week, and Lady Ann Montagu to succeed her as 
 Lady of the Bedchamber. Lord Halifax is 
 lucky to get rid of two daughters so soon. My 
 compliments attend Sister Byng and yourself, 
 dear Bro : 
 
 y" most affec. Sis. and faithfull Serv', 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Send us a litle parliam^ news if any worth 
 pening. 
 
 Letter xxiv. 
 
 [The next twenty-four letters are all addressed to Sir 
 Danvers Osborn. The French Bureau described in this 
 letter is still at Chicksands Priory. The Duke of 
 Manchester here mentioned was the second Duke of 
 that name, who had married the Duke of Montagu's 
 daughter. The Duchess of Marlborough Mrs. Osborn 
 speaks of, was the widow of John, the hero of Blenheim, 
 Ramilies, etc.] 
 
 Savile Street, October 27, 1739. 
 
 My dear Danvers, — I much long to hear from 
 
 you that your cold is gone, and as Lord Halifax 
 
 comes to-day, and the Ladys next week, I shall 
 
 hope to hear you have Dr. Crane with you. My 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 63 
 
 heart akes when I think how low spirited you are 
 there by yourself. 
 
 The Wind I doubt changd too soon for Brother 
 Robert, it is feard they are blowd into Plymouth. 
 I had a letter from him dated Munday morning 
 at 8 o'clock. They were then going through the 
 Needles, and if the Wind lasted two days, hoped 
 to loose sight of Land, but I fear it changd 
 Tuesday morning. 
 
 I have ruind you by buying the very handsome 
 ffrench Bureau. Lord Essex I believe bid 
 against us, and therefore brought it up to twenty 
 guineas, and we bid tother crown, and had it. It 
 is now in my parlour, and I cannot grudg the 
 money since it is an extream handsome one, and 
 you could have had no English Bureau under 
 ;^i6 or £\^, but if you do not care for it, I can 
 part with it for what I gave. Tis tortoiseshell 
 inlaid very fine with brass, and wants no sort of 
 repair, it is the same sort of what stands in the 
 two Piers at Lord Carterets. This is very fine 
 and large of the sort. . . . 
 
 I hope you had oysters last week ? Would 
 you have them once a week or fortnight ? 
 
 I send you " Common Sense " to shew the 
 spirit designd. One was sure the case would 
 turn out so, where party rage must guide. 
 
 Lord Robert Montagu and Dutches Man- 
 chester came to town together last Wednesday. 
 She went dirictly to Dutches Marlborough, who 
 
64 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 had prepard an Apartment to receive her when- 
 ever it happend. I saw a Lady yesterday, came 
 piping hot from thence, left the old Dutches at 
 cards, and exercising her Witt on y^ poor Duke's 
 will, commends the Dutches who is in high favour 
 at present, she has talkd so sensible and propper 
 on the occasion. She is charmd with her, but the 
 Will is her whole redicule, and since it is so, tis 
 pitty he named his Dutches in it. He has left 
 her ^300 for mourning, which is not 3 pence, her 
 watch and jewels for life, and after to his brother. 
 This is set out by saying y^ watch cost I forget 
 what, when she married in her youth. She has 
 broke it and changd it away for one that cost but 
 ^^14. The baubels of jewels are set in the same 
 light, but the great Joke of all is the Sedan chair, 
 which cost .^30 at her weding, and now not 
 worth £/[. The furniture of the two rooms 
 which the Dutches of Marlborough had given her 
 was not treated with so much contempt, but calld 
 a "few old o-oods." 
 
 This is the whole left the Dutches, he has 
 left everything in Lord Roberts favour, being 
 sole executor, not a farden to his sisters, not 
 even mourning, which is a litle hard on them. 
 ;^2 5,000 in money is ordered to be laid out in 
 Land in Huntingtonshire, and entaild on with the 
 Estate. Half a years wages to all his servants, 
 and nothing left to anybody beside. Dutches 
 Marlborough says he has left his Dutches and all 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 65 
 
 his Serv'^ a half years wages, for ^300 was half a 
 year's pin mony, so she puts it in that light. It is 
 no wonder anywhere else but at Marlborough 
 House that he should do all he could in favour 
 of his Brother, since there is so small Estate 
 to support so great a title, and /2000 a year 
 joynture to be paid out of it to a young woman 
 may live this fifty year, but at Marlborough 
 House all is calld mean spirited. I doubt nothing 
 would have made it noble but leaving his Dutches 
 the /2 5,000 cash. All else was trash, for she 
 says she must starve on her joynture. Some say 
 all the jewels she had was presents from her own 
 family, if it was so, tis pitty they were not entirely 
 given to her, but this will was made at Kimbolton 
 2 years ago by a country lawyer, who I supose 
 made all returnable, even the sedan chair, throuo;h 
 ignorance. However I well remember how they 
 treated the Duke of Bedfords character when his 
 Dutches died, and therefore am not astonished to 
 hear the same now. 
 
 The estate is recond ^4000 a year, and the 
 place in the Customs ^1500, out of which L^ 
 Robert had an anuity of ^600. I dont recon 
 he will have above /3000 a year adition with his 
 title. 
 
 Undertakers dont go down to Bath till Tuesday, 
 then they bring him to Slough, and so to Kim- 
 bolton, that it will be at least Sunday or Munday 
 next before he is hurried. . . , 
 
66 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 I dont see that you might have been his 
 Succeeder in Parliament, for Clerk has not a foot 
 of land in that County, 'tis Dr. Alured Clerk's 
 brother. . . . 
 
 I have wrote enough to make your head ake to 
 read. 
 
 Dont leave it upon your Harpsichord. 
 
 I am your very affect, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Princess Wales to see Dutches Bedford a 
 Wednesday. Child xtiand Thursday. That day 
 and yesterday saw company there. I met a 
 thousand people I did not think had been in 
 London. 
 
 Letter xxv. 
 
 From Savile STREET, November 8, 1739. 
 
 My DEAR Danvers, — My cold still keeps my 
 spirits so low, that I have not been out three times 
 since you went, and therefore have not that joy 
 you imagine by the town falling, which it does 
 low every day. 
 
 I have amused myself with clearing away draw^ 
 full of old letters and papers, to save you the 
 trouble of making a Bonfire of them. I should 
 have reserved them to have amused you, if I 
 could imagine they would ever have been read by 
 you, and only y^'self. Many of them have made 
 me vain, but more have extinguished that weak- 
 ness by bringing maloncholy past sceans into my 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 67 
 
 remembrance. Some from my father with such 
 tenderness and esteme for you that I must still 
 preserve them for your perusal, and tho it may 
 be ffashion to explode such tenderness and 
 humanity as I have lately been reading, yet I 
 thank God for having been born in the days when 
 such passions were praiseworthy, and having 
 received the Benefit of them from my ffriends, 
 for it surprises me to collect together the heap 
 of civilitys and kindness I have received, and the 
 great want I was in of them. I hope distresses 
 will lessen as inhumanity prevails, and wo be to 
 those who are, and are to be born. My latter 
 days have been so much happier that I had forgot 
 how I strugled in Life in my youth, till this leisure 
 time has refreshd my memory. 
 
 The Duke of Manchester was to lye at Baldock 
 last night in his way to Kimbolton. He has been 
 very oblidging to the Dutches, given her the 
 offer of the house in Grosvenor Square until she 
 can ffit herself, also the use of what plate she 
 pleases . . . has carried her ;^ioo for fear she 
 has no money. She is sensible of all his civility, 
 and has behaved exceeding well . . . his own 
 Dutches removes in his absense to Grosvenor 
 Square, at least till the lease is out, there being 
 little trouble to step into that house quite ffur- 
 nished, and even coals laid in for them. He has 
 given his sisters mourning, but that or anything 
 else will not content them, they are outragious 
 
68 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 that their Brother did not leave them it. Their 
 affairs will be the Conversation of y^ town till some 
 other person makes a new subject. 
 I am, my dear Danvers, 
 
 your very affec, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 I am sorry to hear Ashby is taking the mills 
 at Langford, for you will loose a good Tenant, . . . 
 but you know your own affaires best. A letter 
 from Jack to-day — still at Spithead waiting for 
 ships he is to convoy to Haddock, expects daily 
 to go. He thinks they (Bro. Rob') are got to the 
 Madras by this time, and we may hear from them 
 from there. I am old fashion, and cannot be easy 
 till I do. . . . 
 
 Letter xxvl 
 
 [This letter is full of the preparations for the marriage 
 of Sir Danvers Osborn with Lady Mary Montagu, fourth 
 daughter of the second Earl of Halifax. The wedding 
 took place in September.] 
 
 Chicksands, Aug. 26, 1740. 
 
 My heart goes pit a pat for fear you will come 
 before we are in order. If Tables and Glasses 
 dont come till Thursday sennight, I hope at least 
 you wont come before Saterday after, for as that 
 Thursday will bring so many things, what shall I 
 do with you to come the same day, and fryday 
 must not be a weding day, for it is unlucky, there- 
 
. LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 69 
 
 fore I shall scheme all for Saterday sennight, for 
 it is not possible you can come here sooner. I 
 wish Pattee or anybody could look at any of the- 
 auctions or places they sell at in Jermyn Street, 
 and find two old half settees for a trifle, to cover 
 with the red stuff damask to match the six chairs, 
 for I dont think the velvet armchairs do so well 
 there as by the Bedside. I feel like Martha, care- 
 full and troubled about many things. 
 
 Next week the wood holes must be filld, the 
 evenings grow cool. ... I have set Lady Mary's 
 dressing table in foylight (firelight ?) and find it 
 must be very inconvenient to her not to have a 
 large glass in the pier where one was before, for she 
 is too tall to dress her body by the glass upon the 
 table. I wish you could meet with any old fashion 
 pier glass to put there. . . . 
 
 I am in a hurry, only time to assure you I am, 
 
 y^ affect., 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Austin dont in the least care for this Job of 
 Work, first he don't understand it, and second 
 he is getting things for the fair, and he says no 
 men to be had to help him. ... It will not, I 
 daresay, be done this two months, y' Pew alone, 
 he says, will be a fortnight doing. Leek must set 
 up the Glasses when they come, for nobody here 
 can fasten them to the stoco, or put the whole 
 lengths in their frames. 
 
70 political and social letters of a 
 
 Letter xxvil 
 
 Chicksands, Sepr. 7, 1740. 
 
 I Imagine I shall hear from you tonight, and 
 now expect every Letter to fix the day of your 
 coming. Pray at least guess about the time, for 
 things must be had or bespoke beforehand. I 
 have sent to the ffyshman at Eaton. He was 
 there last Tuesday, says he has no good fysh 
 yet, but will call again Tuesday, and then I must 
 bespeak ffysh for fryday, or whenever I take it 
 into my head you will come. Then ffryday will 
 bring all relations, as those from Southill and 
 Clifton, and the next ffryday after being a good 
 moon, will bring the neighbourhood, therefore I 
 shall calculate for two ffrydays, and after that you 
 may rest. The chimdy man is not yet come, . . . 
 it is better but not yet cured. It will do with a coal 
 fire, but wont bear a biasing fagot. They are all 
 of oppinion that nothing will do but putting it 
 down, . . . but the next chimdy is stone, and If 
 this was brick, you might not like it, and tho 
 there Is stone enough to do it, the masons work 
 would come to £<^, and the Bricklayer's to ^2, 
 and this It must come to at last, and have a 
 funel to Itself, It is now so crooked and small 
 tis imposible to have a draught. Rogers knows 
 it Is the only remedy, which makes him so tyer- 
 some about It, . . . and I dare not venture to 
 order it without you. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 7 1 
 
 The room is finished, the Glasses prodigious 
 handsome. I shall kill Bailis if the Tables do not 
 come next Thursday. . . . Whatever marble you 
 are to have is already in England, there is no 
 ffresh blocks coming from Italy. I am quite 
 pevish with her dilatory proceedings. 
 
 If those tables and your presses were come, we 
 should be compleat, except a Hearth and Doggs 
 for the drawing-room. Shovel and tongs came 
 on Thursday. What did they send a poker for ? 
 Shovel and tongs for dining-room, antyroom, your 
 Library, and two rooms in y^ new pasage cannot 
 be done without there are dogs and hearths 
 sufficient. I am persuaded you will be pleased 
 with y^ furniture of that room, tho it is but paper. 
 . . . The tea kettle is come, and I hope you think 
 it varstly handsome, and I hope it will not exceed 
 what I shall be able to compass, desireing you to 
 accept it as my present to y'self. Brother Robert 
 has remited me more money, and desires I would 
 let Waples have ^S^^ if he wants it for a pur- 
 chase. For Godsake tell Waples he must make 
 no such purchase, for my Brother does not consider 
 what he has sent for, ... he thinks I put Guineas 
 together that will produce, he recons much too 
 
 fast. 
 
 I have drawn out your supper, send me word 
 if you approve, or alter it as you like. I have 
 o-iven Mrs. Porter dinners and suppers for a week, 
 for the first week must be all clatter and hurry, 
 
72 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 and the more so the better. I hope I shall keep 
 well till after that time is over, but I have had a 
 return of my old complaint, has put me much out 
 of spirits. All the poor chicks are fat, and from 
 this time will grow large and lean again, but they 
 must frigacy or do somthing, no Agheraust (?) 
 with Partridge, what shall I do ? Three of 
 them and two quails is all we have yet in. The 
 men, Norman and everybody I believe has made 
 Harvest Home. Pryer says he has not had such 
 fine wheat nor so much since he was in the 
 farm. . . . 
 
 Dr. Osborn was here in a hurry about the Hoo, 
 says if you dont have it, Mr. Edwards will, and 
 that he wont take less of him than 1800 guineas, 
 his wife dont care he should part with it under. 
 I told him I daresay you would not be his 
 hindrance from getting a good price. 
 
 Letter xxviii. 
 
 Savile Street, October 28, 1740. 
 I am glad the Chappie is done, and succeeds 
 to your mind. The pulpit furniture is done, and 
 goes down tomorrow ; it had been with you last 
 week but by a mistake. I brought up the old 
 pulpit cushion to be ffitted to the size and coverd, 
 and when I took off the old rotten cover there 
 was wrote upon the dimoty, " Dorothy Osborn, 
 
 the year 1605. B. D." 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 73 
 
 Therefore I preserved that end and cut the other, 
 since it had been 135 year in your chaple, and I 
 conclude the old green Cloath has been so too. 
 I shall be glad if you and Lady Mary like what 
 is sent ; it is done in the cheapest manner it could 
 to be decent. There was down enough in the 
 Cushion to make 2 Cushions for the Books upon 
 the Communion Table. I think you will want a 
 Common Prayer Book for that. I hope this 
 Crimson won't offend the Doctor Osborn, He 
 was a litle outragious at the Colour. I unfortun- 
 ately called it red, and that is not so right for a 
 Chaple. Is he reconciled to the Tapistry at the 
 Altar ? He is not sure if that does not favour a 
 popish one. There goes a Box with your Books 
 tomorow, and with the chappie furniture, a Box 
 of flowers for Lady Mary and her Mantelette, 
 also her two Boxes from Chavenix and a toast 
 fork for Breakfast ; but I beg she may not break 
 her back with stooping to make toast herself. 
 
 Your punch Ladle was broke it seems, and 
 came to be mended, and goes also tomorow. I 
 name these things that you may order them 
 y''self, for they had got a way of opening every- 
 thing that came, and twas ten to one if I knew 
 of it. I hope they did not serve you so with the 
 oysters. The only reason I wished to know if 
 you had them was if they were good, or if more 
 would be acceptable to you. 
 
 * Are these things so ?' is a very severe Poem ; 
 
74 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 tis said to be wrote by Dodington. I send you 
 that also tomorow. I have pack up one of the 
 old frames which I gave 6 pence for, it must be 
 gilt over and then will be as handsome as your 
 own. I am getting in all your bills. You have 
 not sent your Seal to be new cut, or said if you 
 had your watch. 
 
 My dear Danvers, I am, 
 most affectionately yours, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 I will if posible send 6 hasocks tomorow, 
 there are 2 dozen of y^ ordinary ones in y^ Long 
 Gallery. . . . 
 
 Letter xxix. 
 
 Argyle Street, June i6, 1741. 
 
 My dear Danvers, — You need make no excuse 
 for opening my letter, you very well know I 
 have no secrets from you, and as it came from 
 Barbados, I concluded you read them all. How- 
 ever as there is another ship come in today, I 
 will stay for other letters, before you need write 
 about that affair. The man of war which is to 
 bring them was arrived at Barbados, therefore I 
 conclude them now to be upon the Sea, and that 
 they will be home the latter end of July. 
 
 Nobody is yet in your house. It is lockd up 
 and y*' keys here. John goes there morning and 
 night, that nobody knows but what he is in the 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 75 
 
 house. What maid are you to have when you 
 come ? for the house must be dusted against you 
 come. Mary may be y' maid while you are in 
 town, for in a week or ten days I shall go to 
 Shannons to stay till October. 
 
 The secret is concerning the Election. They 
 are not properly chose, and there must be a new 
 Election, but for godsake dont let a word drop 
 about it. You are apt to leave your letters in 
 the Library, and I dare not explain more, and 
 even this burn imediatly. 
 
 Lady Mary and you are very oblidging to 
 accept of my good intentions, which must always 
 be sincere in serving you and her, for while she 
 loves you I must love her, and really do. Pray 
 give her my thanks for her kind letter which 
 I intended to answer this post, but have been 
 prevented. 
 
 Lord Oxford died this evening at six. Lord 
 Duplin gone to Ireland, and I think leaves his 
 Lady with his mother in Yorkshire. A mon- 
 strous fortune she is, but with them great fortunes 
 there generally is a But. The provoking boy 
 has neither brought St. James nor Gazeteer. I 
 have sent again, and he is gone out with all in the 
 
 shop. 
 
 yr. very affect., 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Prince and Princess are at Lord Carteret's 
 to-night. . . . 
 
76 political and social letters of a 
 
 Letter xxx. 
 
 Argyle Street, Oct. lo, 1741. 
 
 My DEAR Danvers, — I must welcome Lady- 
 Mary and yourself to old Chicksands, where I 
 dont doubt but you find charms you did not meet 
 with at finer places. The Old Proverb says 
 home is home, be it ever so homely. Indeed 
 I always find it so, and really my Bandbox, for 
 so I must call it, is very agreeable to me. Indeed 
 you have made it so by extra ornaments I should 
 never have thought off. Upon the whole, tho I 
 am vexd to have you do it, yet I must thank 
 you both, and own it is now a Genteel pretty 
 house, and I have no wish but that it was on the 
 other side Swallow Street, for I would not have 
 it larorer if I could. 
 
 Pray take care of Lady Mary . . . and let me 
 know when you come. 
 
 I have nothing to entertain you with here, but 
 that it is said Lord Euston is to be married 
 today. It has never come so near the time, but 
 I have nevertheless heard it doubted, as indeed it 
 will be till she is seen in her Bridial apparel. 
 Will you be so good as to tell Mrs. Porter that 
 the cake and carpet came safe a Wednesday, and 
 I took the Liberty of taking y^ table out of your 
 Kitchen, there are so many tables at Chick- 
 sands you may bring one of those out of the 
 Gallery. ... I must beg the favour you will give 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 77 
 
 the enclosed letter to my Aunt Master yourself, 
 for I would not have my mother see it, there- 
 fore pray be carefull, and give it soon, because it 
 wants an answer. 
 
 The poor Pilgrims are dismal objects still. ' 
 Brother Robert Byng (the poor man that is gone) 
 refused ;!^iooo that was offered him for the 
 Living he gave Corbets parson for nothing. 
 Those are offers that are made openly, their 
 being esteemed first fruits. The bond he took 
 was only a form, and which he told Corbets 
 parson he should never take of him, . . . what 
 could be kinder in regard to Corbet, for he knew 
 not the man but by his recomendation . . . but 
 everyone will rail and joyne in beliefe of ill 
 things. Thank God I abominate such easy faith, 
 and never can believe ill of anyone till I am con- 
 vinced they deserve it ! Oh, ungrateful Corbet ! 
 for the sake of a dirty parson to spread such 
 faulse reports ! . . . 
 
 [Before Mrs. Osborn again takes up her pen, her two 
 grandsons, George and John, are born, and the latter 
 event was followed, as related in the Preface, by the 
 death of Lady Mary Osborn in 1743. Lady Ann 
 Jekyll and Lady Betty Archer are her sisters.] 
 
 Letter xxxi. 
 
 K^^^HHGTOHy February 12, 1744. 
 Both your boys charming well, George quite in 
 spirits, was to see Lady Ann Jekyll and Lady 
 
yS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Betty Archer yesterday, behaved well at both 
 place. 
 
 For Godsake come and see what Is doing. 
 The Town is in a turmoil, never was the like, 
 whether truth or not in the reports that are given 
 given about, I know not. The king (George II.) 
 sent a message to the Parliament yesterday that 
 he had undoubted intelligence of the Pretender's 
 son coming to invade these Dominions. You can 
 imagine how this announcement encreases the 
 consternation that is felt, — men, women, not know- 
 ing what to believe, such an affright never was 
 before. Upon receiving the king's message, the 
 Duke of Marlborough got up and moved to ad- 
 dress the king that they would all stand by him 
 with lives and fortunes. Lord Chesterfield said 
 he was not against that, but desired an Enquiry 
 first from whose ill conduct we were brought to 
 this distress. Lord Lonsdale said " the Enemy 
 was at our Gates. We ought all to be unanimous 
 and not start such things at such a time as this. 
 If a man's house was afire, he must not stay to 
 enquire who did it, but use all means to stop the 
 progress of it," and spoke so strong none pre- 
 tended to answer him, even made Chesterfield 
 look confounded, and no divisions In that House, 
 but In the Commons was otherways. Pit made 
 the same speach there as Chesterfield did in the 
 other house, but so much more violent, that he 
 was three times caled to order. The Address 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 79 
 
 was carried 140 majority against 123, but how 
 Lamentable to think we can have 123 Tray tors in 
 our House. The Government is rather perplext 
 with intelHgence than satisfyd, for every hour 
 some or other comes. Tis certain there are two 
 ffleets, one at Torbay, the other that was seen 
 here. Noris saild a Tuesday to St. Helens, orders 
 went after him there, and now nobody knows 
 where he is saild. Tis said he is gone after 
 that ffleet off Dunkirk, and that he has been in 
 sight of ten sail, and fired a gun, but the truth is 
 not known. This came from some Pilote. 
 
 If Torbay ffleet is the Decoy (for one certainly 
 is) then they would pour in all men and arms 
 from Dunkirk, so that our coast would then be 
 open to them. Letters have been intercepted 
 that they are to try to land in Norfolk, Sussex, 
 Essex or Kent. The alarm now grows stronger 
 than it did at first. There are orders to all officers 
 to repair to Rendezvous at a moment's warn- 
 ing. St. James Square, Grosvenor Square, Lin- 
 colns Inn ffields &c., are appointed. General 
 Wentworth went from House of Commons last 
 night to Harwich to meet the 6000 Dutch troupes 
 we expect every day. Tis also said a ship yester- 
 day brought intelligence that several sail of ffrench 
 passd the Streights of Gibraltar to joyn the 
 Tholon squadron. If this is true, they are in 
 pain, for tis now said there is but a 20 gun frigate 
 at Dunkirk and some transports. It is amazing 
 
8o POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 the different reports that every hour spring up, 
 and tho it appears hke men in Buckeram, for 
 here, there and everywhere they see many saile, 
 yet it is quite a serious thing, and every creature 
 in the utmost consternation. I desired brother 
 Robert Osborn to write to you this night if they 
 had any certain intelHgence. They Hve at the 
 office (Admiralty) there are Boards held there 
 sometimes at 4 in the morning. I can tell you 
 no more, but there is a deall to hear. 
 
 I am, 
 
 your very affec. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xxxil 
 
 [The Mrs. Williamson in this letter was a connection 
 of the Osborns, and her husband was Deputy-Governor 
 of the Tower.] 
 
 Kensington, May 29, 1744. 
 
 Your boys are both well . . . 
 
 Brother Jack insted of being gone again, came 
 to town a Saterday, desires me to make his 
 complyments to you, sorry he just missd of you. 
 Never saw him look better, says the ' Salisbury ' 
 has taken good prize, will be two or three thou- 
 sand pounds, some say five, but it will damp his 
 joy to find Dudley (?) at home. Sure the boy 
 will fly before he comes. I am almost sure I met 
 him on horseback on Kensington Cawsey last 
 Sunday, powdered and spruce. I have seen Mrs, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 8 1 
 
 Williamson, she says every word the Red Ribion 
 
 told you is false, and only to shuffle you off from 
 
 himself. Poor Dudley still shews he only went 
 
 to a farden school. For Godsake let all boys 
 
 have a propper school till 12 year old at least. 
 
 Tis terible to think when they are Captains y^ it 
 
 will be a shame for them to write to the Admiralty. 
 
 Poor boys, tis sad when no one belonging to them 
 
 think Learning is necessary. I even am come to 
 
 think if they are to be Coblers they should first 
 
 go to Westminster. The officers that last week 
 
 went abroad, have had a great escape from being 
 
 cut to peices by an Ambuscade of 4000 ffrench, 
 
 which was prevented by a Huzar finding it out, 
 
 and swam across y^ river to discover it. I think 
 
 they are all safe arrived at y^ Army. Tis sad the 
 
 Dutch troops are to return. Letters yesterday 
 
 that Sister George (Byng) mends, tho slow, but 
 
 still in a very weak way. 
 
 I am, 
 
 y truly affect., 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xxxni. 
 
 Kensington, //(t/z^ 20, 1744. 
 Both boys well, but at present Jack the best, 
 for tho George is well, yet he has the print of 
 four fangs in his gums that make him ffretfull 
 and yallow, and sleep unquiet. I wish you had 
 come a week sooner, for he lookd charming. I 
 
82 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 cannot say he does so now, tho he was yesterday 
 at Lady Anns (Jekyll). She sent for him. 
 L^ HaHfax, Lady Bab and the Burgoynes were 
 there, and they all thought he lookd well, exer- 
 cisd, and playd with his gun. They were all 
 deverted much, and he behaved very well. The 
 King certainly goes, tho not yetpublickly declared, 
 but all things in the family are preparing for it. 
 There is much uneasyness, for we shall be left with- 
 out King, Army, or ffleet, and the Brest (?) in the 
 Chanel. Ypres is taken, and tis thought Ostend, 
 Nieuport and ffurness will be so by next mail. 
 
 You will loose the cream of L"^' Anson's History, 
 but if you are happy with y^ haymakers, tis as 
 well. He comes here to-day to kiss hands for his 
 flag. Poor Jack came to town last Tuesday, with 
 his leg on a cushion, and himself bolstered up 
 with pillows in the Coach. I went to him yester- 
 day morning, surprized to see him hopping about 
 ye room. He said he was so at himself, but that 
 the Journey had been of great service, and was so 
 well he would go to Winchester, Anson, &c. I 
 find he was so ill at Portsmouth that no one 
 expected his Life, his going to fetch Anson 
 ashore had like quite to demolish him, oblidged to 
 go to bed that moment, without being able to sup 
 with him, or hear one of his storys. Poor Leg was 
 .there, but brim full, for a considerable time held out 
 well, at last the tears ran down. Everyone pittyd 
 him, and did not wonder he should be so moved, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 8;^ 
 
 for it was impossible to blot out the remembrance 
 of his own fate. Anson looks well, but much 
 thiner, Keppel as brown as a mahogany table. 
 
 The fhtzwilliam match is today. Murrays to 
 be at it, therefore Jack's cause cannot be heard 
 which was fixd for to-day. Ffitzwilliam Coach 
 is a curiosity, I think they say it is all Japan. 
 
 I dine much at Court, wine in Ice, Creams, &c. 
 Pheasant with Eggs, and Pheasant poults which 
 is shamefull. Dont think but that I can dine on 
 mutton when they are gone. Tomorow I dine 
 with Manchester. Their table is elegant, the 
 ladys I must say is the reverse, tho one may get 
 a dab of Ice there too. Hanover, Montagu, 
 dine with me today. I get a dish or two from 
 the King's kitchen for them. 
 
 Now they are come from Court I dont hear a 
 word more to ad, therefore wish you a good 
 Journey, and hope to see you Saterday. 
 
 I am, 
 
 yr very affect, mo. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xxxiv. 
 
 [The three next letters are full of the panic created by 
 the Young Pretender's Rebellion. Sir Danvers had 
 joined the King's army, under the Duke of Cumberland.] 
 
 Stratton Street, Dec. 9, 1745. 
 
 My dear Danvers, — This will meet you so far 
 south that I find my pen at Liberty to tell you all 
 
84 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 I know. First I have the pleasure to tell you both 
 your boys are in perfect health, never had better 
 spirits, . . . tho they have never been out since 
 you went, an odious north-east wind so long that 
 I give them your Apartment below, where they 
 have room for Exercise, and keep quite well. 
 
 Your pacquet today in your Bureau I received, 
 and disposd of it as you orderd. I have wrote 
 every post to you, and told you so in one of my 
 letters. 
 
 Wednesday last was the most dismal day I ever 
 knew, it being believed here it was the day of 
 Batle, not only myself but every mortal in terror 
 for their ffriends. No one doubted the Rebel 
 Army being beat, but no one knew who would be 
 the perticulers to fall. By ffryday these fears were 
 over, and others succeeded which seizd indeed the 
 whole Town, and was I must say, a most shame- 
 ful Panick, but the express that came had that 
 effect upon all sorts of people, as it seemd to 
 assure that the Rebels would be at Northampton 
 that night, and in all probability at Barnet a 
 Tuesday. The Councils sat all night, the Army 
 here was forming to march. Lord Stairs was sent 
 to ffinchly to mark out the Camp. The King to 
 head this Army, which people that could keep 
 their senses thought must cut them to peices. 
 One teror added to the rest was a Letter found on 
 Count St Germain, who was taken up, which came 
 from the Rebel Army, and said they hoped they 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 85 
 
 should contrive to slip the Dukes Army, and then 
 make for the Capital. They did not doubt another 
 Army would meet them, but when the King's 
 fforces marched out of London, hoped their friends 
 would have a general mass, and then the four 
 Quarters rise, as he knew all togeather the 
 Consternation of the whole Town is not to be 
 expressd. Thousands of the Pretenders Declara- 
 tions were threw about the Park and streets, every 
 woman thinking where to run for safty, and every 
 man getting Arms and Horses to go with the 
 King, Brother Torrington among the rest. Lord 
 Shannon was so good to take me and my children 
 to Ashly, thinking cross the water most safe. My 
 Mother to Columbines, Benet to Cooks, Brook 
 Street to Pinkwell. I found a place to hide what 
 was nessessary. Dr Osborn was in town, thought 
 it hiorh time to remove the things from Chick- 
 sands. He went down that mornino; before the 
 consternation was so great and sent Thomas 
 Green with your two Boxes a Sunday, which are 
 now here, and .^loo from Denbigh. I beggd the 
 plate to be hurried anywhere near him, for im- 
 posible to trust that road by the Wagon since 
 we imagind the Highlanders would be at their 
 heals. However Saterday the terors vanishd, and 
 then as sorry to hear the Rebels had gone back. 
 We are all angry with Duke Devonshire, looo 
 men that could do nothing, not even take straglers, 
 for we hear they lay down like dogs when they 
 
86 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 came to Derby, and what up was they to run to 
 Nottingham. In short we now laugh at one 
 another for fearing what was the only thing to 
 destroy them, which was to come on. Lord 
 Sandwich we hear extream ill at Birginham. 
 Lady Sandwich went down in the night a 
 Saterday to him. I pitty you to be a Wagoner at 
 last, however I cant but say I have much better 
 spirits, knowing this will meet you at Woodstock. 
 
 No express today of consequence, and yet we 
 flatter ourselves Wade must meet with them in 
 their return, tis shocking to have them go back 
 and reinforce with 3000 ffresh men, which are 
 ready in Scotland. 
 
 My Brother Jacks Squadron has taken a ship 
 with 210 men, most of them officers. 
 
 The Prisoners came to the Tower a fryday, tis 
 not yet clear if the Pretenders Brother is there. 
 They have strong suspition still, but the Ministry 
 dont choose to talk about it. Mrs Williamson 
 dind with them, and has given me the description. 
 None yet has been sent to see if it is him or not. 
 I fancy it is of no use yet to be sure of it, but we 
 are most dreadfully alarmd at this Embarkation, 
 14,000 lye at Dunkirk with transports, or rather 
 small ffyshing vessels, and we have a hundred 
 Cutters gone to line all our coasts. 500 seamen 
 came to the Admiralty a Saterday, and they 
 could employ as many more, watermen and all are 
 gone Some think they design to land in Nor- 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 87 
 
 folk, and that the Rebels intended their march 
 that way to meet them, but this is all conjecture. 
 I have only time to give your sons duty to you. 
 George dreams of you every night, wakes with 
 telling where you are, and when he heard them 
 talk of the Pretender coming to St James, he sighd 
 and said " Where must Aunt Ann go then ? " 
 
 Letter xxxv. 
 
 London, December lo, 1745. 
 My dear Danvers, — I wrote you a long scratch 
 last night at Woodstock which I hope you have 
 received. I begin this in the morning that I may 
 have a litle time to tell you of more things than 
 what concerns rebels. One is that the murrain 
 amongst the cattel has encreased prodigiously, 
 that nothing but Mutton can be bought here. I 
 took the liberty to send for the Hog you had 
 ffatting at Chicksands, and indeed of most things 
 we eate from thence, as Butter, bacon, fowls, 
 greens. Here Rabets are bad and many other 
 things, so that Mr. Denbigh keeps a seperate 
 account of all that comes for me, and I have 
 orderd him to buy more hoggs to ffat, for mutton 
 soon will be monstrous dear now no one ventures 
 any other meat in their house. Lambs is fed 
 with milk. I find it reaches into the Countrys. 
 Thomas Green says it is among the Cattel at 
 Baldock from some infected cows that passd there. 
 It is at Uxbridge and many other places, many of 
 
88 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 them that give milk in the morning are dead at 
 night. This would be a great Calamity if the 
 Rebels were not a greater. 
 
 Lady Ann has given George a blew and silver 
 coat, and Jack a pink and silver, much too fine for 
 them, at least it were now, when there is not a 
 soul to be seen but in nightgowns and tears. For 
 my part I have not stird out of my house since 
 you went, not even to my mother but of a 
 Sunday, tho indeed never alone. If I had any 
 opposite neighbours, they would think there was 
 Cabals here, since from eleven in the morning till 
 12 at night, there is no rest to my doors, some to 
 tell and some to hear news. My ffriends I must 
 say have all been very good to me, tho such a 
 month as this last have I never passd before. 
 
 By your steering to Oxford, I should imagine 
 you will return to your Bedford station. I should 
 realy be glad to know how you and your men do, 
 for such fatigues I fear, must try your Constitu- 
 tions. I pray God Wade may meet with these 
 Devils that have harazed you all at this rate. 
 
 Letter xxxvl 
 
 Stratton Street, May 17, 1746. 
 
 My boys and I am got here togeather again, 
 
 and hope it will not now be long before we see 
 
 you. Lady Anne told me yesterday she heard 
 
 the new Regiments would be broke next week, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 89 
 
 tho her news is not always certain. The Dukes ^ 
 Answers to both Lords and Commons are much 
 spoke off as being extremely well, with a very 
 modest and pretty turn in them. If they are 
 printed, you shall have them. I received your 
 Letter yesterday with that Perticuler enclosed 
 which you desire to be put in your Scrutore 
 (Escritoire ?). I have the key, and shall do it 
 tomorrow. I shall send down the writings to 
 Doctor Osborn next Wednesday. John being still 
 lame makes me behindhand in some of your 
 orders. . . . The musick shall go too if posible. 
 
 I have not missd one post writeing, therefore 
 tho you had none the day you wrote, yet I hope 
 it came to you by the next. Tho George is well 
 to me, yet if you see him soon you will be 
 frighted, for he is not the same Child, and most 
 monstrously disguised by a Wig he has got on 
 to-day. His hair is cut quite close, and as soon 
 as his head can be shaved, it must be so, and his 
 eyebrows too. He walks like a rickety child, in 
 short I dont wish you to see him this two months, 
 even his voice is quite alterd, and does not speak 
 so plain as when you left him, but all these things 
 are common from the weakness his Ilness reduced 
 him too. He has as good if not better spirits 
 than ever, but is very pevish. Jack looks like a 
 ghost, but yet he is bright and in good spirits, 
 and they say time will bring it all right again. . . . 
 
 ' Duke of Cumberland. 
 
90 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 The Burgoynes look as bad, and so indeed do 
 the ffieldings, they lodge next door to us here. 
 They lay great fault upon Sir Roger — they are 
 all gone down to Sutton. 
 
 I am, y' very affec, 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xxxvil 
 
 Kensington, /««^ 14, 1746. 
 
 The wind is still in the Duke of Bedfords 
 teeth, and he no farther than Yarmouth. It also 
 keeps the Prince of Hesse here, he does not go 
 till he hears his Troupes are Landed. He is 
 called the drop to Lady Rochfords earring. 
 
 Thursday last was expected to be a day of 
 Batle in the House of Lords on sending our 
 Troupes abroad, but there proved to be only two 
 speakers. Lord Lonsdale, who spoke an hour 
 against it, and was so well answered by the Duke 
 of Newcastle, that no one else attempted to say 
 more, and the expected long day proved to be a 
 very short one. 
 
 Tis thought twill be August before the Lords 
 can be tryd. After some forms are past, the 
 Peers must have 20 days notice. Lady Cromarty 
 is in town, has been at the Tower to enquire 
 after her Lord. She was at Williamsons, and 
 cryd most bitterly, but no one is sufferd so much 
 as to look up at the windows. They were all 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 9 1 
 
 brought into Williamsons, and from thence one 
 by one conducted to their appartment. No one 
 knows where the other is, and they are kept 
 prodigious strict. Sure the King of ffrance has 
 orderd a most insolent Letter, and takes himself 
 to be King of England, to forbid our punishing 
 the Rebels. 
 
 Is the Pretender got off or not ? I wish they 
 could have been beheaded at Edinburgh, and not 
 make such a long peice of work as the forms will 
 do here, tis thought the Parliament will set till 
 August. I was not used to a Lodging, and 
 therfore not aware how sharp they are, but 
 found my bills most immoderate, which my people 
 told me they could not turn their backs but meat, 
 bread, butter, &c., was stole away. I really 
 believe they have keys themselves to take what 
 is lockd when they have oppertunity. There 
 was only y^ woman and girl in the house, but her 
 husband and family live vere near, and I daresay 
 was all kept, but when mother was to come, I 
 askd if she would leave the house to us, which 
 she did, and now she is out, I shall keep her so 
 after mother goes, for it was intollerable. Indeed 
 I believe it would have been much cheaper to have 
 gone to Chicksands, eight guineas for lodging, and 
 living has been very dear ever since we came. 
 
 Your son George lost his heart yesterday, A 
 miss who came to visit next door, came in the 
 Garden to him. He lookd at her first with sur- 
 
92 
 
 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 prise, then slyly lead her to the Arbor where I 
 was setting, and desired me to set her up by him, 
 which I did. After he had looked at her some 
 time, he strokd her face, and kissd her, he then 
 shewd her his watch, gatherd a rose, and brought 
 it to her. You would have dyed with laughing 
 to see the courtship. There was another girl not 
 half so handsome, he never took the least notice 
 of her, but Jack kissd them both, and was happy 
 with either. As soon as George was up this 
 morning, he desired to go into the garden to see 
 if miss was there, a good fine girl indeed she Is. 
 
 By a letter from Bath, Aunt Ann Master is 
 better already, all the yallow gone from her eyes 
 and skin. ... I hope she will do well, her Loss 
 would be irreparable to my mother, who is chear- 
 full and easy here, tho a sad place for her to be in. 
 There was a farmhouse that with a coach would 
 have been very agreeable, but without one very 
 inconvenient. I now wish to have it, but it is let. 
 We go out airing every day, and your boys 
 with us. . . . 
 
 Letter xxxviii. 
 
 [This letter is written immediately after the death of 
 Sarah's brother George, third Viscount Torrington. The 
 "Brother Byng" referred to is her youngest brother 
 Edward. " Daniel " is probably a brother of George's 
 widow, whose family name it was. It appears that 
 Lord Torrington in his will has bequeathed the London 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 93 
 
 house to her, and Sarah is indignant that her mother 
 should, at her age, be forced to give it up. She writes 
 to Sir Danvers to beg him to use his influence on her 
 behalf.] 
 
 Stratton Street, April 8, 1750. 
 
 I cannot help sending to you. My Brother 
 Byng came to town this morning, seems much 
 out of sorts that he is not namd, Is glad you are, 
 that some one who has regard for the family Is, 
 outragious that the house is given to sister to 
 have It took from Mother for that purpose. 
 Daniel I fear has been too stiff with him. He 
 askd Daniel what was Mother to do. He said he 
 did not know. " Sure she Is not to be turnd out 
 when she can live so short a time." He said 
 house was to be let. 
 
 For God sake make my sister and Daniel 
 sensible they should not disoblidge him. He 
 seems varstly netled with Daniel. I think he 
 will act the lawyer and not the gentleman. Sure 
 they must live as they do for at least one twelve- 
 month, some credit to be thought off, some 
 decency in regard to my mother. She should not 
 be tossd about, cannot live long. Brother Byng 
 talks of going down soon again, and therefore I 
 do this that you may prepare Daniel, for If he 
 and sister do not think It worth while to oblidge 
 and give way In some measure, Bro. Byng will 
 forget he has that nephew. As he says, his 
 Brother forgot there was such an individual as 
 
94 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 himself. They may endeavour, but it will not be 
 posible to let the house, they should at least offer 
 him to be the person. He would like it I dare- 
 say, on his own terms, which would be perhaps, to 
 keep it up, and he would keep Mother in it, at least 
 till farther consideration. Let sister go to Yotes if 
 she likes it, but Mother must not be disgracefully 
 hurried about. Daniels surly temper will ruin 
 his nephew, if he dont take care. You must 
 soften it. 
 
 Are your boys to have grey, and who must 
 make it for them ? George puts on the man 
 I assure you, looks and is very well. He set 
 down imediatly to write this as soon as he came 
 home. He got a gramar in your room, and all 
 done before I saw it, ruled it himself as you see, 
 and being so awry, I ruled a paper for him, and 
 he wrote it again this morning. He will go to 
 Mrs. Hawkins tonight — says he got a place by 
 telling a boy a word he did not know. 
 
 For God sake take care Mother. Consider she 
 is 80. Aunt Martha very ill, St. Anthonys fire. 
 
 I am, y"" very affect., 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xxxix. 
 
 London, October 14, 1750. 
 
 Chicksands Affaires. 
 
 Halkins and Pears have finishd all you orderd. 
 The roof could not be done before Harvest, the 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 95 
 
 fear of weather spoiling the ceiHngs oblldged me 
 to let them be ten days In the Harvest to finish it. 
 
 The Bedchamber, drawlngroom, and antyroom 
 floors are laid, but not planed, as there will be 
 whitewashing and painting, &c., next year. 
 Everyone and even Pears himself said it was 
 better it should be the last thing done. The 
 staires are done, and Brome Closet put up on 
 them, also the Corner Dressingroom, and bords 
 put to the windows there. The antiroom and 
 drawingroom chimneys are finished, and all the 
 windows as you orderd. The antiroom chimney 
 does not smoke, the other I did not try. 
 
 The chimney wall in the little green room was 
 not dry enough to put up the green paper. 
 
 The Tapistry is packd up in the Gallery for you 
 to approve. I could not undertake to finish it 
 without your oppinion. There is enough for one 
 side and both ends, and if you would give up any 
 carpets, near half enough for the other side. 
 Bradshaw says he has some will match y' will 
 come as cheap as paper. The pictures are all 
 collected together and packd up in the antiroom, 
 except the one over your Harpsichord, which I 
 did not care to remove. Lady Temple is there, 
 also the Scripture piece removed from this parlour, 
 and from being a cut-throat room, will I daresay 
 when finished, be the most agreeable one in 
 the house. Many that were at Chicksands this 
 summer said that -J length philosopher, as we 
 
96 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 calld it, was a very good one. A person who 
 knew it said it was Dun Scotus, a very learned 
 man, who livd in the 14 Century, as is known by 
 manuscript of his own at Oxford. 
 
 There is no tapistry behind the Reformers in 
 the Bedchamber, therefore they remain as they 
 were. 
 
 The Library is very well cleand, some books 
 there was spoilt with mould. 
 
 Murthers od Jobs were double what you 
 expected, and the Carpender did not end till 
 Michaelmas day, and came to more also, the one 
 3 shillings and the other 4 shillings. Extra- 
 ordinary. No fresh order to either, only finishd 
 what you orderd. All is paid to the day I came 
 away, and no Workman left there. 
 
 I sent George up with George Byng, who 
 came down with him, and spent the Holydays at 
 Chicksands. Lord Torrington, Robert Byng and 
 Bullock, and K. Scott were at Southill, so they 
 all came and went together, and was exact to the 
 school time. I stayd a fortnight after to see all 
 clean. Everything left perpectly so when I came 
 away, but you must not expect it will keep from 
 vermin without a maid in it. Mary Meagar who 
 married from me last year has offerd her services, 
 and was when with me a very good servant, but I 
 could say to her no more than that ... I would 
 recommend her if you took any one. Indeed 
 your house will suffer more than six times her 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 97 
 
 wages, and even now that only four men are left, 
 they must hire to wash, etc. 
 
 19 July. Nat went to Southill at six in the 
 morning to have Toby shod. A shepherd and 
 dog came short from a hedg upon him, he started 
 and threw the boy, who lay some time not able to 
 stir. The horse ran away, got his foot in the 
 bridle which throwd him down just at Southill 
 gate. Cut his knees terribly, not able for Mr. 
 Denbigh to ride till the week I came away. 
 
 The same evening Thom Green rode Magot to 
 water, and led the blind one, who soon began to 
 plunge and turn round several times (has done so 
 before in the stable, and had been blooded). 
 Green at last oblidged to quit the halter. The 
 workmen and all ran to help, but could not save 
 him or get him out till he was dead. The same 
 day the grey horse was taken with a fever. Ben 
 Squire attended him 3 weeks and then he dyed. 
 Many people lost horses, such heat was hardly 
 ever rememberd, and they would Avork them in 
 the midle of the day as usal. I then said we 
 should kill all the horses if they would do so, but 
 women are fools. I am unlucky in foreseeing 
 events I cannot prevent. The workmen tyling, 
 were like poor Creatures on a Gridyron, so spent, 
 oblidged to change the hours, and work early and 
 late, Nutkins himself at 2 in the morning. But the 
 poor horses could not groan out their suffering. 
 Such extreme heat for so long were very unusal. 
 
 G 
 
98 political and social letters of a 
 
 Letter xl. 
 
 [This letter is in the form of a Journal, and relates all 
 events between May and October 1750.] 
 
 Jtme 23. — Captain Sheldon took a house 
 ready furnished at Ampthill for six guineas 
 a year. 
 
 Jtdy 6. — Mr. Pecks dyed of a mortification, 
 lifting a person over a gate. Her pocket 
 hitched upon it, which he prest upon to 
 prevent her falling, and a small key burst 
 through his body. 
 
 Jtdy 10, II, 13. — The most extream heat 
 ever known in England, and indeed for ten 
 days continued to a high degree. 
 
 Jidy 16. — The most terible thunder and 
 lightening I ever heard. Hailstones as large 
 as pigeons eggs, some at Shefford three 
 inches round. 
 
 Aug. I. — Lady Torrington a month at 
 Votes, her mother ill, but old women dont 
 dye. 
 
 Atig. 8. — Duke of Richmond dyed of violent 
 fever, twas said from the excessive heat at 
 Installation. He has left all his houses and 
 everything to the Dutches. Mr. ffox has 
 behaved like an angel to her, shared all her 
 afflictions and troubles. [Mr. Fox, afterwards 
 Lord Holland, had married the Duke's 
 second daughter.] Such maloncholy scenes 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 99 
 
 have been there, is not to be repeated. 
 How short is our Light ! The daughter 
 [Duchess of Leinster] married to ambitious 
 views is a thorn in her side, while that which 
 disobHdged her, and was never to expect 
 forgiveness, turns out her great and only- 
 comfort, both her and him showing the 
 greatest tenderness. 
 
 Atcg. 14. — Admiral Byng thrown down in 
 his park by a buck . . . now gone to Bath, 
 and surprizingly recovered. 
 
 Brother Peter Osborn is 2nd Captain of 
 Greenwich Hospital, j£200 a year, an apart- 
 ment there, coals, candle, brooms, etc. Prince 
 and Princess of Wales three days at Ports- 
 mouth Dock. They were highly honourd 
 by their civilitys, left 30 gineas to the servants. 
 
 Sep. — Mr. Alston to marry Miss Bovey. 
 She is 19, has ;^i5oo a year, and ^10,000 
 in money, which Sir Rowland takes and 
 setles Odell and ^1700 a year in present. 
 Land wont pay batchelor Debts, and od Jobs, 
 weding expenses, and fit up Odel, and then 
 must be crampt for life. An Upholster was 
 sent down to ffurnish her house at Slow, 
 where they are at present. 
 
 Harry Legg married to Lord S towels 
 daughter, at present Heiress Aparent to 
 ;^6ooo a year. 
 
 Burgoyn has the Measels at Eton, is now 
 
100 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 brought down to Sutton, very far from 
 well. 
 
 Earthquakes in Northamptonshire, Leices- 
 tershire, and the adjacent Counties. Lord 
 Halifax felt it at Horton, Lord Northampton 
 at his house, Mr. Wright at his. No damage 
 done, but it is very unpleasent to find the 
 earth as unquiet as ourselves. I am very 
 sure it was about the same time at Chick- 
 sands, none but my self awake in the 
 house, and therefore none sensible of it, 
 the Jog and Ratle of the Windows the 
 same of that in London. I own I was alarmd, 
 got up and found it 2 o'clock, but none 
 else has yet said it was felt in Bedford- 
 shire. 
 
 Ocf. — Lady Caroline Collier to have Sir 
 Nathanael Carsons son. Lathams mother 
 dead and Medcalf aunt. Eldest Miss 
 Hotham dead. 
 
 Lady Hervey and her son, the Captain, 
 gone to live at Paris, taken a house for 2 
 year. I wish I could buy her house in the 
 Park, they say it is to be sold. You will 
 think it a mad wish. 
 
 Lord and Lady Halifax in town, neither of 
 them well. 
 
 Lady Ann and her dear gone a progress 
 into the North. Lumley Castle designd 
 for Scotland, but I hear are returning. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. lOI 
 
 Lady Betty in Warwickshire very far from 
 well. 
 
 Lady Bab at Bath, her Miss Robinsons 
 Mr. Scot is made Preceptor to Prince 
 George, and tis said Lord North his Gover- 
 nor, but I am told he is not to be calld so, 
 and sure upon no other foot he can serve him. 
 
 The Doctor (Osborn) is going the high road 
 after his sister Betty if some care is not taken, he 
 ownd to me his Life was a burden he was not 
 able to bear, and many things when we meet will 
 confirm my fears. Love and preferment on the 
 foundations. God knows how it will end. Som- 
 thing should be done to take him from the present 
 scene. 
 
 One of the Wandesford's married, the other 
 going to live with Sister Margaret. Southill, 
 Bennet Street, and all else I think as you left 
 them, as is 
 
 yr. affect. 
 
 Tis thought the King will be here next month, 
 and no Parliament till after Xmas. The town 
 is a desart, therefore see no Creature that knows 
 truth. 
 
 Lord Plymouth married, poor girl, is it posible 
 she can be happy ? Your boys both very well, 
 long for your return, send Duty. 
 
 Mr. Beacher struck with dead palsie the day 
 before I left Bedfordshire, but dont hear yet he is 
 dead. 
 
I02 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 I forget If Brownsel dyed before you went, and 
 left all to Orlebar. 
 
 You dont like letters, therefore only send you 
 a sort of Journal. 
 
 Letter xli. 
 
 Stratton Street, April % 175 1. 
 
 George has been extremely ill since Sunday. 
 I could no longer than that day defer sending for 
 Cox. Both he and I, who indeed have no judg- 
 ment, thought him very bad ... he greatly 
 relievd him, ... at night he was blisterd and 
 is better today, and at present in no danger, tho 
 not yet able to Lift his head from the pillow. 
 
 This has been repeated neglected colds. Two 
 guineas a month ago had saved many now, for 
 this is attended with much expence. Cox has 
 had 3 guineas already, and been here twice a day 
 for it. Guy and Hicks with blisters, Bleeding, 
 etc. Latham's illness has been terrible too, and 
 most unlucky at this time, not yet out of her bed, 
 except an hour or two in the day. Master John 
 has a dreadfull bourse Cough, but hope to prevent 
 his being ill. Asses milk has already made him 
 better, and no one able to be about them but my 
 self, who should be in bed too, if old fashion 
 affection did not keep me in their service, for 
 there is much more to do than you imagine. 
 George is in your bed. Jack in mine. Sister 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. IO3 
 
 Margaret Osborn set up last night, and today I 
 have got Sympson, for I have not been in bed 
 two hours at a time these 5 nights. Tis un- 
 lucky to employ so many people, but no remedy 
 now. All this will incur your farther displeasure, 
 but I am unable to help it. When they are in 
 other hands, I hope many expenses will be saved, 
 tho I wish you may not find experiments of their 
 Constitutions fatal. 
 
 I am, y"" affect. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xlii. 
 
 Stratton Street, May 28, 175 1. 
 
 The duel which was in the papers last Satur- 
 day is a most malancholy affaire. Mr. Dalton 
 was very soon to marry one of the Miss Greens, 
 and a snuff box which he had given her was 
 taken from her by Mr. Paul, who told her she 
 took so much snuff that he would keep it. 
 Dalton said he insisted he should not, but give 
 it to him, so from Jest to Earnest wrested it out 
 of his hand, and Miss Green had her box re- 
 turnd. At night Paul went to Dalton's house in 
 Hill Street, not finding him at home, he sat down 
 in his Parlour, wrote a letter in which he said he 
 had used him rufBey, and that he expected he 
 should ask his pardon, or give him satisfaction 
 like a gentleman, and sent his Servant with it 
 where he suppd, and to say that he should wait 
 
I04 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 there till he came home, which he immediately 
 did. Both their chairs waited at the door, and 
 they sent the Servant to stay in the Kitchen till 
 they calld, and not to let anyone in that knockd. 
 Dalton said, if they must fight, the present time 
 was best, so drawd their swords. In the scufle 
 the Candles and Tables were thrown down, and 
 one of them said, *' Don't let us fight in the dark, 
 peace till we fetch the Candle out of the Hall," 
 but it was soon over, and Paul went out of the 
 door, gave his chairmen 2 shillings to discharge 
 them, and went for Hawkins the surgeon (the 
 only circumstance in his favour) to go for Dalton, 
 for he believd he had killd him, then run to Lord 
 Ravensworth to tell him his misfortune, who 
 advised him to get off directly. Tis only from 
 what he told Lord Ravensworth that the above 
 perticulers are known, for the poor man never 
 spoke. Upon the street door shutting, the 
 Servant ran up, found his master stone dead upon 
 the flour. He ran to Mr. Wright in Groves 
 Street, who was Daltons uncle, they sent for 
 Midleton, who came ten minits before Hawkins, 
 therefore suspected Paul did not go to Hawkins 
 till he was advised to do so. They found the 
 Challenge in Dalton's pocket, and the appearance 
 of a very unfair Wound, it being on the contrary 
 side of his heart and lungs. The swords both lay 
 by him. Dalton's was much hackd, and all 
 Tallow. He knew nothing of a sword, and the 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. IO5 
 
 Other fenced well, nevertheless most people think 
 he had the mortal wound after he was down, tho 
 the Surgeons endeavour to make it posible to be 
 otherways. The Coroners Inquest was not 
 finished till last night, and brought it in Wilful! 
 Murder. 
 
 Daltons father lost another son this week of 
 the small pox, and Miss Green has neither shut 
 her eyes, or spoke since. I pitty Paul's parents, but 
 he did this too premeditated to escape hanging. 
 
 Miss Bishopp is to have Sir William Maynhard. 
 He setles very handsom, desires no present 
 fortune, but to have her share with the others 
 when Sir Cecil dyes. I daresay she will make him 
 a good wife. Gratitude ought to make her do it. 
 
 This is Sir Cecils lucky year. His mother has 
 dyed, by whom he has got ^2000 a year, he has 
 also a place of ^500 a year in y^ Ordanance, his 
 son Page to the Prince of Wales, and his daughter 
 to be soon so well married. 
 
 Large familys in general are more lucky than 
 small ones. Too much anxiety is not pleasing to 
 Heaven, I hardly ever knew it succeed. Self, 
 self, self can never prosper, for Happy ness or 
 Content is not to be purchased by Money. 
 
 Letter xlih. 
 
 London, /z/«^ 19, 175 1. 
 George is as much better as posible. He set 
 in my Dressingroom yesterday, and today has 
 
I06 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 been in the Park, is weak but well, eates and 
 sleeps, and therefore I hope will be fit for school 
 Sunday evening. I went to Westminster last 
 night, found poor Jack in tears, had been taken 
 ill about half an hour. ... I am an unfortu- 
 nate mortal, always run into the mouth of some 
 ill luck or other, and therefore instink carryd me 
 down to see him — you three divide my heart, 
 therefore if you think I shall be too far from them, 
 I will not go to Brother Byng this summer. 
 
 I conclude I may send for Master John to 
 dinner on Sunday. I shall send again to know 
 
 how he is. 
 
 I am y"^ affect. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 I have seen the plan of Lord Berkeleys 
 Ground. It is 120 feet deep, and Stables is 
 to be where Philips says, but you see I pay the 
 ground rent of those stables. . . . 
 
 George is gone, sends his Duty, but says he 
 must not write to you till Saterday. 
 
 Letter xliv. 
 
 Stratton Street, /?<«^ 29, 175 1. 
 
 Both your sons are very well, I sent John this 
 evening. They dine at Sister Byngs tomorrow. 
 I conclude you gave them order if you would have 
 them write to you. 
 
 Mr. King, my landlord, has his new house just 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. IO7 
 
 finished, entirely burnt down, tis thought to be 
 maliciously done. I suppose the workmen were 
 disoblidged that he had not been generous to 
 them. Tis terible we are brought to be subject 
 to the mob. 
 
 Lord Tilney went from Wansted, as his family 
 thought to London for a few days, but he wrote 
 to his sister from thence that he was going to 
 Paris and perhaps to Italy for three years. The 
 town says he is gone with Lord Southwell and 
 Strickland to Spaa, and that they will fill their 
 pockets before they part with him. 
 
 The Princess of Wales returns to Leicester 
 House tomorrow. 
 
 I am, y*" affect. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xlv. 
 Stratton Street, /?^/^ 30, 1751. 
 
 My dear Danvers, — I have a persentiment of 
 coming evil ... to our family, why I know not, 
 but tis to be hoped I am mistaken. We have 
 had enough, God knows, but if it comes, we must 
 meet it with fortitude and resignation. At present 
 we are all well here. 
 
 Lord and Lady Torrington and Daniel came 
 to Kit's End by ten a Sunday, and he stayd there 
 last night, and dind with Sister Torrington at 
 Hendon. Tis to be much hoped that they went 
 an well together, and that she held her tongue 
 
loS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 in check. Women somtimes find it hard to do 
 SO, they say, tho I dont find it so. 
 
 Sister Torrinofton is aofain ill with some dis- 
 tressing indisposition, kept her bed Saterday and 
 Sunday, but is better. Sister Torrington returnd 
 to Southill today in Brothers Chariot to Stevenage, 
 but they would not let her go alone, so Ned, tho 
 very bad, was goodnatured and went with her. 
 They were to take postchaise from Stevenage, 
 and after he had baited himself and horses, he 
 returns the same way to Stevenage, and then in 
 Brothers Chariot home. 
 
 I cannot say Sister Margaret Osborn met with 
 so much complaisance, for the Doctor forgot to 
 send his Chariot, that when she came to Wellwyn 
 she was distressd, and oblidged to take a post- 
 chaise to Stevenage, and there was none to come 
 farther, but one that the poor horses were just 
 come in and tyerd. However she and the 
 postillions came along, and I suppose she had 
 not a joyful meeting with the Doctor, for both 
 would be out of humour. I must say it was a 
 very disagreeable thing to go alone in that manner, 
 but there is a ruffness in the blood of the Osborns 
 that one does not generally meet with. Duke of St. 
 Albans dyed a Saterday. Some give the Constable 
 of Windsor to the Duke, as it greatly interferes 
 with the fforest, and all his Teritorys there about. 
 
 There is not a silable of news, at least that I 
 hear. The Town is now empty, and I have not 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. IO9 
 
 seen a soul except Brother Byng. This morning 
 he brought nephew Torrington as he was carry- 
 ing him to school. He desired me to say that he 
 fears Joynes has forgot the model of your large 
 roler, he beggs you will refresh his memory. 
 
 He believes he shall go to Southill for few days 
 at Bartholomews, to carry the boy, and then he will 
 give him somthing, but he did not bid me say so. 
 
 You will be tyerd reading nonsense from 
 your very affec. Mother, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xlvi, 
 Chicksands, September I, 175 1. 
 
 The reason I trouble you with this is only being 
 Brother Byngs secretary. He intends spending 
 a week at Southill, and my sister Byng is to go 
 with him there. If it suit your schemes to have all 
 the boys come up as they went down, he will pay 
 half the Coach, and sister and he go down in it to 
 Southill. This is no proposition of mine, and I 
 wish they would write their own letters, and not 
 trouble me with what I have nothing to do. 
 
 He also desires to know what day you fix for 
 the boys to come, that they may be ready to 
 your time. They propose a postchaise back to 
 Stevenage, but that I have no commission to say, 
 and indeed needless to ad that a large coach and 
 cold weather Latham might squeeze in. To 
 oblidge you I shall not be of their partie. I 
 
no POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 wish you would let George ad in his letter to me 
 that you had received Hardings note from me. . . , 
 
 Sunday Brother Edward went to Kits End for 
 some time, and I with him for a few hours visite. 
 I never see the owner better, quite happy there, 
 talks of keeping it warm the whole winter, spends 
 his time chearfull, and comfortable with his Old 
 Dame as he calls her. Whats matter what it is ? 
 If people can be happy at pushpin, tis as enter- 
 taining to them as the most refind satisfaction to 
 those of a more exalted genius. Since happyness 
 is not confind to any situation, and it is a very 
 vain pursuit, I conclude it praiseworthy to let the 
 mind fall till it sinks into nothing, and forget what 
 God created us for. 
 
 Poor Edward I left there, I think worse than 
 ever I saw him. He says he went ill to Danbury, 
 and was so all the time he was there. I am sure 
 was very bad all the week he was in town, . . . 
 cannot eate, or has strength or spirit left. Wether 
 the Old Dame can nurse him up or not I cannot 
 say, but tis maloncholy to see him so. Insted of 
 growing hardend as I grow older, I every day 
 find myself less fit for this world. Such a crowd 
 of disagreeable reflections pressd upon me as I 
 returnd from my visite, that I cannot even yet 
 shake off the effect of it from my mind. 
 I am and must ever be, 
 
 your very affectionate Mother, 
 
 S. OSBORN. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. Ill 
 
 Lady Pembroke to marry Captain Barnet of 
 the Gards, a very agreeable man, some thousands 
 less than nothing, but her lord left her ;^I200 to 
 assist him. Thanks for the cowcumbers. 
 
 Letter xlvii. 
 
 Stratton Street, Oct. 3, 175 1. 
 I believe I shall not set out for Southill till near 
 Wednesday, unless worse letters should come from 
 there, so that if it is convenient to you to send a 
 horse for John to Hatfield on Tuesday, I should 
 be oblidged to you, but don't do it without it is so. 
 If we find one there, it is well ; if not, that will be 
 well too. What slow journeys we make in these 
 days ! It takes days to get to where our wishes 
 are to be. Will it always be so ? 
 
 Poor Edward still ill , . . tis shocking to see 
 all our family going before one. How few left ! 
 
 The Admiral here, and pretty well, desires 
 me to ad his respects, with the affection of 
 
 yours, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 I am now 58 yeares old, wishing time to be no 
 more, but that must be as Heaven decrees. 
 
 [This is the last letter of Mrs. Osborn to her son. 
 Indeed, it is the last letter of hers fornearly fifteen years. 
 Sir Danvers died in 1753, and the next time Sarah 
 resumes her pen, it is to address her grandson. But 
 before passing on to this period, it becomes necessary to 
 
112 POLITICAL and' SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 introduce the sad story of her unfortunate brother, 
 Admiral Byng.] 
 
 Although the trial and execution of Admiral 
 Byng are matters of history, and as such are 
 familiar to most of us, it will not be thought out 
 of place to give here a brief account of the 
 circumstances connected with them. In the year 
 1756, when repeated advice had been received at 
 London that the French meditated a descent upon 
 the island of Minorca, Admiral Byng was selected 
 to command a fleet for the defence of that place. 
 I quote the rest from Macaulay, who was a warm 
 partisan of the Admiral's, and defended his con- 
 duct throughout. *' The Admiral . . . did not 
 think fit to engage the French squadron, and 
 sailed back without having effected his purpose. 
 The people were inflamed to madness . . . the 
 city of London called for vengeance . . . the 
 people were not in a mood to be trifled with . . . 
 their cry was for blood." 
 
 Minorca fell into the hands of the French, and 
 Admiral Byng was brought back to England, tried 
 by court martial, acquitted of the charges of 
 cowardice and disaffection, but convicted of an 
 error in judgment. He was sentenced to be shot, 
 but with a strong recommendation to mercy. In 
 spite of the popular clamour against him, a large 
 number of people espoused his cause, and threw 
 the blame of the disaster on the Ministry, for 
 
^J^ t >^/t. ^{^nnS Oi/ 
 
 Sf^e^W? 
 
 Jbuftb So// o/tAf- RigA/' HoncuftM- '^^^^T^^W' J-onoYiscdujv-TToRTxGToxT 
 
 0,ef. ^^?^-iM^ ^ 
 
 .^ Frrr.f an Pn'gt'nut i 
 
 1 the Portrait. Friendftiip feeKs Reli* 
 : Semblance ferves but to perpetuate Gr 
 
 jij*^ The pncild Phantorr 
 Whofe Blood proclaii 
 
 ihy Foes ihall A^ve. 
 iiier Martyrdom of L.i 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. I 1 3 
 
 having provided him with a fleet quite inadequate 
 to the task imposed on him. Pitt pleaded his 
 cause in person with the King, and reported that 
 the House of Commons seemed inclined to mercy. 
 Macaulay gives the King's answer. " Sir," he 
 said, " you have taught me to look for the sense 
 of my people in other places than the House of 
 Commons." It was evident that there was to be 
 no reprieve for Byng, and his sentence was carried 
 out on March 14, 1757, on board the Monarque, 
 where he met his fate with great courage. The 
 accompanying testimonial to his reputation, written 
 to M. Voltaire by the Duke of Richlieu, who 
 commanded the French forces on that occasion, 
 in which he asserts that the English fleet would 
 have certainly been destroyed had it persisted in 
 an attack, is of great weight as coming from so 
 competent a judge. 
 
 M. Voltaire himself enclosed it to Admiral 
 Byng, and the letter is dated January 2nd, 1757, 
 written from his retreat at Les Delices, near 
 Geneva. The original is at Chicksands Priory. 
 
 Sir, — Tho' I am almost unknown to you, I 
 think tis my duty to send you the copy of the 
 letter which I have just received from the 
 Marshall Duke of Richlieu. Honour, humanity, 
 and equity order me to convey it into your hands. 
 This noble and unexpected testimony from one of 
 the most candid, as well as the most generous of 
 
 H 
 
114 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 my countrymen, makes me presume your Judges 
 will do you the same justice. 
 I am, with respect, 
 
 your most humble obedient Servant, 
 
 Voltaire. 
 
 Copy of the Due de Richlieu's letter, written at Paris, 
 December 26, 1756. 
 
 *' Le sort de I'Amlral Byng me fait grand pitie. 
 Je vous assure que tout ce que j'a vH et scti de 
 lui ne devoit tourner qu' a sa gloire : elle ne doit 
 point etre attaquee quand on a ^te batt6, apres 
 avoir fait tout ce qu'on pouvoit attendre. II faut 
 bien que quand deux honnetes gens se battent, 
 il y en ait un qui oie du Desavantage, sans que 
 cela lui faire tort. Toutes les manoeuvres de 
 I'Amlral Byng ont ete admirables, au dire naturel 
 de tous nos marines, les Forces etoient au moins 
 egalles, puis que les Anglois avoient treize Vais- 
 seaux, et que nous en avions douze avec des 
 Equipages plus nombreux et plus fraix. Le Hazard 
 qui preside a tous les combats, et surtout a ceux de 
 mer, nous fat plus favorable en envoyant plus de nos 
 Boulets dans les Manoeuvres des Anglois, et il 
 me semble qu'il est generallement reconnu qui si 
 les Anglois s etoient obstines, leur Flotte auroit 
 ete perdue, de sorte qu'il n'y a jamais en d'Injustice 
 plus criante que celle qu'on voudroit faire a 
 I'Amiral Byng, et tout nomme d'honneur et tout 
 militaire surtout doit s'y interresser." 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. I I $ 
 
 Marshal Richlieu and Monsieur Voltaire both 
 received an acknowledgment of their kindness 
 from Admiral Byng before his death. It was in 
 reference to Admiral Byng that Voltaire made his 
 well-known remark, that he was condemned to be 
 shot "pour encourager les autres." Another tribute 
 to his memory was that of the sailor, who, on 
 seeing his dead body, exclaimed, " There lies the 
 best and bravest officer of the navy." 
 
 The three following documents, consisting of two 
 letters written by Mrs. Osborn to the Duke of Bedford, 
 and also her appeal to the Lords of the Admiralty, I 
 have the permission of the present Duke of Bedford to 
 include in this volume, as well as the Duke's reply to 
 her first petition, which was very guarded in his promise 
 of assistance. 
 
 [Copy.] 
 
 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, 
 
 Fed. 5, 1757. 
 
 My Lord, — The present distress of our family 
 must plead with your Grace for my attempting to 
 intrude on your quiet hour^ at Wooburn, to 
 represent our own melancholy situation, tho my 
 unhappy Brother's fate will, I hope, sufficiently 
 justify an application to one of the Duke of Bed- 
 ford's character, even yet I should not have 
 dared to have troubled your Grace, were not 
 
I 1 6 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 my Brother's sufferings already such, as scarce 
 any crime could have imposed. Ignominiously 
 suspended, most ignominiously aspersed, and in- 
 humanely traduced, throughout the World, on 
 suppositions which his family must have shared 
 the disgrace of, and from which not even his 
 father's services to this nation could have afforded 
 a shadow of refuge, had they not been as amply 
 disproved, and he as justly acquitted of 
 
 Under these Circumstances, may I implore 
 your Grace to consider the Sentence he lyes 
 under, which is generally thought as Illegal as 
 Severe — my nephew Torrington has therefore 
 venturd to Petition the King in his favour, and 
 as we are informed this extraordinary case may 
 be referd to the Cabinet Council, we hope it will 
 be at a time when your Grace is present, if we 
 are so fortunate as to have that so, we entreat 
 your compassion, and known disposition to Justice 
 may Unite in Leaning towards that Mercy which 
 has been so earnestly recommended by the Court 
 Martial. Your Grace's family lost one of the 
 noblest blossoms from unjust Oppression, to whom 
 then can I better address myself than to one, who 
 in every Action of Life has show'd a detestation 
 of it in what-soever shape it has appeared. 
 
 Pitty, my Lord, a distressed Sister, surrounded 
 only by weeping females, and helpless Boys, who 
 will all owe gratefull acknowledgements of their 
 future happyness to the influence the Duke of 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. II7 
 
 Bedford must always have, when Justice and 
 Mercy are the objects of his care. 
 
 I am, my Lord Duke, 
 Your Grace's most obedient Servant, 
 
 (Signed) S. Osborn. 
 
 The above is extracted from Bedford Papers, vol. 
 xxxiii. fol. 6"]. To which the answer was as follows : — 
 
 Madam, — I am but just able, thro' extreme 
 weakness of my right Hand occasioned by the 
 Gout, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter. 
 All I can at present say in answer to it, is, that in 
 case His Majesty shall be pleased to refer the 
 sentence of the Court Martial to His Cabinet 
 Council, nothing but absolute incapacity on 
 account of health shall prevent my attending it, 
 and I shall be very happy if upon a strict exa- 
 mination into the proceedings of the Court 
 Martial, I shall find myself at liberty to adopt 
 those sentiments of mercy which that Court has 
 so strongly recommended to His Majesty, as no 
 one has a more real regard for yourself and Lord 
 Torrington and his family than myself. 
 
 I am, your sincere and humble Servant, 
 
 Bedford. 
 
 [Copy.] 
 Extracted from the Bedford Papers, vol. xxxiii. fol. Z6. 
 My Lord, — Your Grace's friendly reception of 
 me the other day, and the concern you was pleased 
 
I 1 5 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 to express for my unfortunate Brother, encourages 
 me to enclose to your Grace the Letter I sent 
 yesterday to the Lords of the Admiralty as the 
 last efforts with their Lordships that an unhappy 
 sister can make. The reasons I have troubled 
 them with in my Brother's behalf are briefly 
 stated, but I hope your Grace will think they 
 have their weight ; indeed, my Lord, it is terrible 
 to think of my poor Brother's execution being 
 orderd in consequence of a sentence in a great 
 degree appeald from by those who passd it, not 
 understood by the world, and passd under a Law 
 doubtfull and unexplained. The hardship of my 
 Brother's approaching fate is every hour more and 
 more felt, tho' I have never yet heard of the Case 
 having been laid before his Majesty with the 
 alleviating circumstances that attend it. A cruel 
 and false notion that his Majesty is disinclyned to 
 mercy on this occasion has probably prevented it. 
 I have no right, God knows, my Lord, to ask 
 any such favour of your Grace, but as you are a 
 Friend to Justice, to truth and to mercy, and if I 
 may venture to add, a friend to our afflicted family, 
 I flatter my self that any steps your Grace shall 
 think propper to take in the obtaining his Majesty's 
 mercy, or at least, clearing up this dark affair, may 
 at the same time, as it saves my innocent Brother's 
 Life, to which tho' he himself may be indifferent, 
 his unfortunate sister wishes to preserve, may do 
 eternal honour to your Grace's Name. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. IIQ 
 
 It may be propper to inform your Grace that 
 Admiral fforbes refused signing the order for 
 execution, and has given given Lord Temple his 
 reasons in writing for such refusal which he has 
 desired him to lay before the King. 
 I am, 
 
 my Lord Duke, 
 
 your Grace's most Oblidged and obedient 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 (Signed) S. Osborn. 
 
 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, 
 ffryday morning, Feb. i8. 
 
 Copy of a Letter inclosed in that of the Hon^'^ Mrs. 
 Osborn (dated Feb. i8, 1757), relating to Admiral 
 Byng's sentence : — 
 
 My Lords,— The Judges having reported to 
 his Majesty in Council, that the sentence passed 
 on my unfortunate Brother is a legal one, permit 
 me to implore your Lordships' Intercession with 
 his Majesty for his most gracious mercy, and to 
 hope your Lordships will not think an afflicted 
 sister's application ill founded in a case so hardly 
 circumstanced, and which the Judges (tho' by the 
 Severity of the Law they have thought them- 
 selves obliged to pronounce the fatal Sentence) 
 have recommended to your Lordships' Humanity, 
 to the Justice I will not presume to add ; tho' in 
 their Letter to your Lordships they say that in 
 
I20 POIJTICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Justice to the Prisoner as well as for their own 
 conscience's sake they recommend him to his 
 Majesty's mercy. 
 
 The Court Martial, my Lords, seem to have 
 acquitted my unhappy Brother of Cowardice and 
 disaffection, and therefore it is presumed he stands 
 sentenced under the Head of Negligence. It is 
 not fitting perhaps that a wretched woman as I 
 am should offer any Arguments in my Brother's 
 Behalf to y" Lordships, who are Masters of the 
 whole, but what Criminal Negligence, my Lords, 
 can there have been in which neither Cowardice 
 nor Disaffection have had a part ? What Criminal 
 Negligence can there have been since the Judges 
 have thouQ-ht it incumbent on them for their own 
 Conscience's sake and in Justice to the prisoner 
 to recommend him to his Majesty's Mercy ? I 
 must submit to your Lordships whether it be the 
 meaning of the Law that every kind of Negligence 
 wilfull, or not, should be punished with death, if 
 so, it is not for me to make an Observation on the 
 Laws, if not, and Negligence arising neither from 
 Cowardice, Disaffection, or Wilfulness, ought not 
 according to the Spirit and Intention of the Law 
 to be deem'd Capital, why, my Lords, should my 
 poor Brother suffer, when both the Sentence by 
 which he is condemned and the Letter to y' 
 Lordships by which he is so strongly recom- 
 mended to his Majesty's Mercy fully prove that 
 his Judges do not deem him deserving of the 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 121 
 
 punishment they thought themselves obHged to 
 sentence him to. 
 
 I hope your Lordships will not think he ought 
 to suffer either under a Law unexplain'd or doubt- 
 ful, or under a Sentence erroneously passed, if 
 the Law has been misunderstood, and my unfor- 
 tunate Brother hath been condemned under the 
 1 2'^ Article according to the Spirit and meaning 
 of which he should not have been condemned, I 
 submit to your Lordships whether his Life should 
 be the Forfeit. 
 
 If there is a Doubt on the principles and 
 motives that induced the Court Martial to intreat 
 the Intercession of y"" Lordships with his Majesty 
 for Mercy, I submit to your Lordships, whether 
 those motives should not be more fully explain'd 
 before it be too late. It would be needless to 
 mention the usual course of his Majesty's mercy 
 to the condemned upon the application of his 
 Judges ; if my unhappy Brother's case had cir- 
 cumstances particularly unfavourable in it, but as 
 on the contrary for the Reasons I have ventur'd 
 briefly to offer, and the many others that must 
 occur to your Lordships, his case appears to be 
 uncommonly hard and well deserving of that 
 mercy to which his Judges have so earnestly 
 recommended Him, I hope I shall stand excused 
 if I beseech your Lordships' immediate Inter- 
 cession with his Majesty in his behalf. — I am, &c. 
 
 Extracted from the Bedford Papers, vol. xxxiii. p. 88. 
 
122 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Admiral Byng's last letter to his sister, dated March 
 12, 1757, is endorsed in her handwriting, thus : — 
 
 My brother from on board the Monarque, the 
 last letter from him, the 14'^ being the fatal day 
 appointed for him to dye, to the Perpetual dis- 
 grace of Publick Justice. 
 
 My dear, dear Sister, — I can only with my 
 last breath thank you over and over again for all 
 your endeavours to serve me in my present Situa- 
 tion. All has proved fruitless, but nothing want- 
 ing in you that could be done. God for ever bless 
 you is the sincere prayers of your most affec' 
 
 Bro. 
 
 J. Byng. 
 
 Inclosed I send you a receipt for Bro. Edward's 
 legacy, which you will do me the favor to accept 
 of as a small Token of my affection to you. 
 
 The succeeding document is also endorsed by Mrs 
 Osborn with these words : " The original paper wrote 
 by my unfortunate and injur'd Brother, Admiral Byng, 
 given by him to Mr. Brough the Marshall a few minutes 
 before his death, March 14, 1757." 
 
 On Board His Majesty's Ship Monarque, 
 in Portsmouth Harbour. 
 
 A few moments will now deliver me from the 
 virulent Persecution, and frustrate the farther 
 malice of my Enemies — nor need I envy them 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 23 
 
 a Life subject to the Sensations, my Injuries, and 
 the Injustice done me must create. Persuaded I 
 am, Justice will be done to my reputation here- 
 after. The manner and cause of raising and 
 keeping up the Popular Clamour and Prejudice 
 aeainst me, will be seen thro' — I shall be con- 
 sidered (as I now perceive my self) a Victim 
 destined to divert the Indignation and resentment 
 of an Injured and deluded people from the proper 
 Objects — My Enemies themselves, must, even 
 now, think me Innocent — Happy for me at this 
 my last Moment, that I know my own Innocence, 
 and am conscious that no part of my Country's 
 misfortunes can be owing to me — I heartyly wish 
 the shedding my Blood may contribute to the 
 Happy ness and Service of my Country — but 
 cannot resign my just Claim to a faithfull dis- 
 charge of my Duty, according to the best of my 
 Judgement, and the utmost exertion of my ability 
 for His Majesty's Honour, and my Country's 
 Service— I am sorry that my Endeavours were 
 not attended with more Success, and that the 
 Armament under my Command proved too weak 
 to succeed in an Expedition of such Moment — 
 Truth has prevailed over Calumny and falsehood, 
 and Justice has wiped off the ignominious stain of 
 my supposed want of personal Courage, or 
 disaffection — My Heart acquits me of these 
 Crimes — but who can be presumptuously sure of 
 his own Judgement ? — If my Crime is an Error in 
 
124 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Judgement, or differing in oppinion from my 
 Judges, and if yet, the Error in Judgement 
 should be on their side — God forgive them, as I 
 do, and may the Distress of their minds, and 
 uneasiness of their Consciences, which in Justice 
 to me they have represented, be reHeved, and 
 subside, as my resentment has done — The 
 Supreme Judge sees all Hearts, and Motives, and 
 to Him I must submit the Justice of my Cause. 
 
 J. Byng. 
 
 Admiral Byng was fifty-three years old at the time of 
 his death. He was buried at Southill, Beds, with this 
 inscription on his monument : — 
 
 To the perpetual disgrace of Publick Justice 
 
 The Hon'''« John Byng, Esq-^^ 
 
 Admiral of the Fleet 
 
 Fell a Martyr to Political Persecution 
 
 March 14th in the year 1757, when 
 
 Bravery and Loyalty 
 
 Were insufficient securities for the 
 
 Life and Honour 
 
 of a Naval Officer. 
 
 There is a small print of Admiral Byng at Chicksands 
 Priory, at the back of which Mrs. Osborn has inscribed 
 these words : — 
 
 The Honourable John Byng, 
 
 Admiral of the Blue, 
 
 4"> Son of George, Lord Viscount Torrington, 
 
 Suffered Political Martyrdom, March 14, 1757, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 25 
 
 Whose Memory may this Picture perpetuate, 
 
 and at the same time, the depravity of an age 
 
 When Publick Justice was prostituted to Private Policy, 
 
 And Guilt found protection in the 
 
 Blood of the Innocent. 
 
 When approved Courage and unimpeached Loyalty 
 
 confirmed by a forty years faithful! Service, 
 
 Were ineffectual Securities for the 
 
 Life and Honour 
 
 of a British Commander against the 
 
 Mistaken resentment of a deluded Populace 
 
 and the 
 
 Interested Persecution of a State Junto. 
 
 With this expression of Mrs. Osborn's sentiments on 
 her brother's unhappy fate, I bring to a close this 
 terrible page of her life. 
 
17 6 6. 
 
 My readers are now asked to carry their minds forward 
 for a number of years, and to take up the threads of 
 Mrs, Osborn's history in the year 1766. She herself has 
 now arrived at the age of seventy-three, and her only 
 two near relations in the world are her grandsons, Sir 
 George Osborn and his brother John, to whom her letters 
 are now addressed. Sir George is occupied with politics 
 and his regimental duties, and "Jack" has just started 
 for Naples to be attached to the Embassy there, but not 
 very happy with his prospects, and complaining that his 
 uncle, Lord Halifax, had not sufficiently exerted himself 
 in his interest. 
 
 Letter xlviii. 
 
 [The " Hero of the day " is evidently Mr. Pitt. Con- 
 way was Secretary of State, Charles Townshend, 
 Paymaster of the Forces, Rigby, Secretary to the Duke 
 of Bedford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.] 
 
 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, 
 January ly, 1766. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Since I received your last letter 
 the day before you was to embarque at Marsielles, 
 I have not v^rote to you. . . . You said w^e must 
 not expect to hear from you till February. I am all 
 
 126 
 
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS. 12/ 
 
 impatience for that time, in hopes it may bring a 
 good account of your arrival at Naples, and that 
 you have fixd yourself to your satisfaction there. ' 
 
 I must say you have judgd well not to come 
 home. It is the most severe winter I have felt 
 ever before. Every mortal terible coughs with 
 oppression. 
 
 Your brother was all day last Teusday at the 
 House. The man so much adord and feared was 
 the Hero of the day. No one dare speak or reply 
 except his Brother, who he attackd severely — he 
 defyd all Law, set it at nought, blamd the Past and 
 Present, had never conected with any set that had 
 not deceived him, he saw no Ministers there, only 
 men who had got on the Horse of Liberty to ride 
 into places, and then put their Horse in the stable. 
 In short he decryd all sorts and declared his 
 opinion to repeal the Stamp Act, and never to 
 conect with anyone while there remaind so strong 
 an influence from one man. He did not mean to 
 be mistook, did not mean anyone born in England, 
 but on the other side the Tweed. Conway only 
 replyd that he had got on the Horse of Liberty 
 for his Country's service, had been unwillingly 
 drove into place, was ready to turn his horse's 
 head back to the state he was before, yet 
 acknowledgd he would serve with pleasure under 
 him. Sure that was mean ! Charles Townshend 
 had not a word to say, or indeed anyone else. 
 Rigbv called for all the Intelligence from America 
 
128 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 to be printed, which was granted. They did not 
 know the consequence (young in office indeed !). 
 When they found Bedford lost the same in the 
 other House, they saw their error, and are this 
 day making a strong effort to get that resolution 
 repealed. This is a specimen of the very dis- 
 agreable and unstedy situation. You may 
 communicate to Lord Hillsborough, and then burn 
 it directly. ... If the Act is repeald, God alone 
 knows the consequence — I tremble. 
 
 The match quite fixd with Lady Betty (Mon- 
 tagu) and Lord Hinchingbroke. Each father 
 gives ;^iooo a year, your Uncle seems happy to 
 dispose of her to rank and fortune. 
 
 The Town is very full, the streets in such a 
 condition coaches are overturned every day ; the 
 frost so hard pickaxes cannot mend them. 
 
 Lord George Sackville you will see is brought 
 forth again, great murmering about it, none of the 
 Ministers own it their Act, and Mr. Pitt excessively 
 disgusted at that Measure as well as others. . . . 
 
 My dear Jack, Adieu. . . . Beauford Ossory 
 
 and all the young men come home, Wilks too, 
 
 some say, and some not. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xlix. 
 Charles Street, London, February lo, 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — Matters have been in such 
 confusion and uncertainties, indeed little better 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 29 
 
 now, but next Thursday is hoped will end som- 
 
 thing to purpose, the present Ministry, by George 
 
 Byng's intelHgence, seem certain to carrie the 
 
 point of repeal, the others think different, tis 
 
 thought a fortnight more must pass before the 
 
 present Agitations can produce change. King 
 
 cannot speak, which is a great misfortune in his 
 
 situation . . . honest men cannot be in hieh 
 
 stations without the knowledge necessary to 
 
 support themselves, . . . but of whom or what the 
 
 next can be composed staggers the wisest among 
 
 us . . . and what can spring forth from a time 
 
 almost unknown is hard to guess, not a happy face 
 
 to be seen. . . . 
 
 Lord Halifax has received your letter, and I 
 
 hope to have the satisfaction of hearing you are 
 
 better, which will bring comfort to your truly 
 
 affect. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter l. 
 
 February 14, iy66. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I grieve to find you have been 
 so much worse than you communicated to me. 
 We have had the most severe winter with foggs 
 and all the variety of Bad weather that the 
 Heavens could pour down upon us. 
 
 Tis imposible to paint to you the Horror of 
 
 our situation, had you been happy in your wishes, 
 
 all must now have vanishd. Tis inconceivable the 
 
 I 
 
130 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Cloud on every brow, in the present aspect no one 
 in their senses would wish for power. 
 
 My dear Jack, I am concernd you sett alone 
 and encourage disagreeable thoughts. I, who 
 am not apt to flatter myself with vain hopes, and 
 false valuations, yet think you have neither lost 
 your time, or have taken any step to reproach 
 yourself . . . every day more and more perplexes, 
 and it must be a bold man who will undertake to 
 set us right. While it rests as it is, you or any 
 friend you have cannot wish you a part in such a 
 dismal whole. 
 
 Nothing doing, or can be done in both Houses, 
 but the American affair, in whatever way it is 
 settled will be a millstone about the neck of the 
 present or any future Ministry. Great violence 
 on all sides — very terryfying consequences. 
 
 Next Sunday we putt off Black Gloves for 
 Prince Frederick, King of Denmark and Dauphin 
 still to be mourned for. 
 
 Letter ll 
 
 Charles Street, Feb. 25, 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — Your Brother has run away, 
 and left me to ad that the House sitts every day, 
 till \ hour after ten, but last night till 2 this 
 morning. I think there must be a fresh sett soon, 
 for these will all be demolished. A sad, very sad 
 situation indeed we are in. We have gone on 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 131 
 
 week after week, and lately have thought every 
 new day would produce new events, but I see no 
 end to our distresses. When this Bill is finished, 
 there must be settled plan to affaires, but God 
 knows how the scail will turn, those in and those 
 out equally unhappy, nor do I see any one 
 prospect to be better. . . . 
 
 Mr. Fox was certainly refused (whatever was 
 thought abroad) when he made his last proposal 
 here to Miss Greville. She could not brinof her- 
 self to consent, and therefore he told his friend 
 Crew she was the woman to make him happy. 
 He followed his advice and proposed immediatly, 
 was accepted, and the conclusion to be directly, 
 to the amazement of the town that one so much 
 in love as Fox was, should not only resign, but 
 give her to another. She, however, is a lucky 
 girl, and the Envy of all the young Women in 
 town. 
 
 Lord and Lady Torrington come to Whitehall 
 for the winter. She is a very agreeable, sensible 
 woman, and I think will make him happy. 
 
 I can only ad your Brother's affections to those 
 of, my dear Jack, your truly affect. 
 
 Gra. and faithfull Servant. 
 
 In conversation at Bushey, I find my Lord has 
 set his seal upon Ireland. His, I doubt, has been 
 an unfortunate step that he will repent, he is, 
 I find, much blamd. 
 
132 political and social letters of a 
 
 Letter lii. 
 
 14 March 1766. 
 
 My dear Jack,— Your brother . . . has ac- 
 quainted you with our poHtical wrangles. The 
 Repeal has gone in the Commons, and in the 
 Lords by a majority of 12. However, the 3rd 
 Reading of the Bill is to be next Monday, when 
 fresh arguments are to be brought, and very many 
 Lords intend to protest. Your Uncle will be of 
 that number. When that is over, 'tis said there will 
 be some Changes. Pitt to take the lead to quiet the 
 Nation, and bring good out of evil if posible. . . . 
 
 Last Saturday Lady Betty Montagu was married 
 at her father's house by Dr. Crane. The com- 
 pany were the two fathers, Lady Caroline and 
 Mr. Seymour, half-brother to Lord Sandwich, 
 which with Mr. Melvil and myself were the 
 whole. After the ceremony we had a fine Break- 
 fast, and in half an hour. Lord Hinchingbrook lead 
 his lady into an extreme neat genteel Post Chaise, 
 with four exceedingly pretty bright bay horses, 
 which gallopd all the way to Bushy. Then Lord 
 Sandwich lead me into Lord Halifax's post coach, 
 and followd himself, with poor Melvil hopping 
 after, and Lord Halifax completed the sett. We 
 followd almost in Gallop too, and were at Bushy 
 in an hour and half, where young Montagu came 
 from Eton to meet us. We all stayd there till 
 Monday morning, when the two Lords hastend 
 to their Debates, and I to rest in my own house, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 33 
 
 after two long days heartily tyerd. We left Bride 
 and Bridegroom there with Melvil, they were to 
 come up tomorrow to their house in Audley 
 Street, but your uncle Lumley dying this morning 
 prevents that, as it will not be propper they should 
 be presented till he is hurried. 
 
 Lord Scarborough and Lord Halifax met this 
 evening to open the will . . . the town says 
 Lumley to Lord Scarborough, with the house in 
 town, and great mortgages on both. Stansted to 
 Lord Halifax, coal mines, etc., to the value of 
 ^100,000, great mortgages also on them. 
 
 Mr. Crew and Miss Grevil, Duke of Beauford 
 and Miss Boscawen, Lord Strathmore and Miss 
 Bows, were the dancing lovers last night at 
 Almacks. These three Wedinofs are to be cele- 
 brated as soon as the Lawyers can finish. 
 
 It seems Beauford was in love with Boscawen 
 before he left England. Dutches Beauford crys 
 night and day. She wanted a woman of fortune 
 and Quality, and had Lady Betty Montagu in her 
 eye, which would have been more discreet, but fate, 
 I hope, designs them all happy with their mates. 
 
 y"" truly affec. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter lhi. 
 
 Charles Street, 15 April 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — The good account you give of 
 yourself both in body and spirits has had the 
 
134 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 same good effect on me as the fine Climate you 
 are in has had on you. Your Brother would have 
 wrote himself today, but that he is on Guard, 
 and also nothing materiel is on the anvil at 
 present. The recess of Parlia"*' during the Easter 
 hollydays has kept the Town empty and quiet, 
 and not a word of Politics has transpired, only 
 the grave thinking men look upon them to have 
 been fatally conducted. 
 
 No one is happy as they foresee that without 
 some miracle we are undone. This week the 
 Parliament has mett again. Yesterday was enter- 
 taining to those not concernd. Strange manage- 
 ment that a materiel point was to be the business 
 of the day, but no Chancellor of the Exchequer 
 there, or anyone of the Ministry to support it. 
 Pitt went down to be quite against the Question. 
 Thomas Townshend and Onslow proposed it. 
 I think it was an alteration in the Malt Tax. Pit 
 said he was entirely against these measures, it 
 struck at the Prorogative of the Crown, and totally 
 disliked the whole, so much that they knockd 
 under and said it was not a Measure of Govern- 
 ment but a Measure entirely of their own, which 
 brought a laugh on them and on the Ministry too 
 to find no head there, and the business to be 
 carried on at the caprice of anyone who chose to 
 start up and propose their own schemes. George 
 Grenville was there, but said not a word, left it 
 to battle it among themselves, and all the sensible 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 35 
 
 people laughing in their sieves at such a materiel 
 affair under such management. 
 
 Wednesday next a Bugett is to be open, after 
 that more may be said. 
 
 The young part of the town thinks of nothing 
 but Wedings. Duke Beaufort to Miss Boscawen, 
 the Admiral's daughter. His mother so angry at 
 the match, she would not see them till after the 
 ceremony was over, and then just for them to 
 receive her Blessing, and stepd into their Post 
 Chaise at Badmington. 
 
 Mr. Crew was also few days after married to 
 Miss Grevill, they say she refused Fox, — most 
 monstrous are the settlements he has made upon 
 her, and Lady Mary Fitzpatrick has reconciled 
 herself to take her leavings, and next week is to 
 marry Fox. His father gives them ;i^4000 a year 
 in present, and lo at his death. A fine match 
 for her, 'tis a lucky year for the Ladies without 
 fortune. 
 
 The suitable match which pleases everybody 
 is Lady Dorothy Cavendish, Duke Devonshire's 
 sister, to the Duke of Portland, but does not take 
 place till August, 
 
 Lord Halifax came here next day after he 
 received your letter, ... he looks well, and is 
 now strong on his own footing. 
 
 We have had severall weding dinners, the first 
 at Lord Guilford's, where were the 3 Earls and 
 there 3 Eldest sons. L'^ Guilford, L*^ North, 
 
J 
 
 6 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 L'^ Sandwich (L*^ Hinchlngbrook not well, could 
 not be there), therefore L'^ Sandwich youngest 
 son, George Montagu, your Brother, and myself, 
 tomorow the same company at Lady Betty 
 Archers. 
 
 I have hardly left room to ad your brother's 
 affections with those, my dear Jack, 
 
 of your most truly affec. 
 
 Gra'"''. 
 
 Letter liv. 
 
 April 2% \y66. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I begin this large sheet In 
 hopes your Brother will fill it with more materiel 
 subjects than my pen can afford, since even 
 common Chatt deserts my House, now the charms 
 of Ranelagh engages her votarys, and hurrys all 
 other amusements to give that a place in their 
 time. The ladies at least will have reason to 
 approve the way of life they are in, since all the 
 matches are in their favor. Beauty overbalances 
 cash, and all future considerations. Miss Bis- 
 shopp is the next, to a Mr. Dummer, a great 
 Estate and fine seat in Hampshire. . . . 
 
 An ugly report creeps about that Mr. Hervey 
 and another English gentleman are lost by their 
 curiosity leading them to Mont Vesuvius just as 
 the Eruption broke out, if so, you know it, there- 
 fore no more on that subject. 
 
 Tis said the House will be up at Whitsuntide. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 37 
 
 Pitt is quite a Harlequin, one day appears in one 
 shape, the next quite contrary, roasts all sides, 
 says there is not an honest man to councel with, 
 therefore will stand alone. The mongrel curs of 
 the present times, shrink and creep, and fall down 
 at his footstool, watch his nod, and would shew 
 implicit obedience to his will, but he does as all 
 great minds should do, — dispise sycophants. 
 
 The Division grown stronger, but what will 
 come of it none can tell. Your cousin George 
 Byng is so angry they will not go through thick 
 and thin with one another that he almost resolves 
 never <^q- come in Parliament again. ... I see 
 nothing yet but doubt and dispair, when the sun 
 will shine again I know not, the Learned say there 
 is a spot on the sun biger than this world, which 
 perhaps is the reason of so many clouded under- 
 standings. This and the large Comet employ the 
 curious at Flamsteds, Greenwich Park. Your 
 friend Lord Forbes when he left you at Brussels, 
 went to one of the French provinces to learn the 
 language, which he did to such perfection that he 
 spent ^8000 when he came to Paris, and there 
 fell in love with Lady Georgina Berkeley. He 
 is now in England in your Brothers Regiment, 
 and she came over lately, and they renewd their 
 former conversations, . . . and she is now Lady 
 Forbes. His father so angry at this destructive 
 match and his Paris extravagance, he vows to set 
 him aside and give his Estate to his grandson. 
 
138 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Your brother Is now busie with field days, but 
 has charged me with his best affections to you, 
 you are always sure those of yours sincerely, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 I believe few post days for 50 years past have 
 escaped from my hand in the Post Office, so that 
 I imagine it so well known there I can never 
 disguise. 
 
 Letter lv. 
 
 13 May 1766. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I am extremely disappointed 
 that no letter from you is come . . . the very 
 great distance between us Is an unpleasant circum- 
 stance, but I will not inlarge on that subject, only 
 hope it will establish your Health. TIs as endless 
 as uncertain to send you accounts of the situation 
 of the present times, which varies every day. 
 The Parliament setts till ten or twelve most 
 nights. The mountain only produces a mouse, 
 for all seems at a stand, nothing done, nothing 
 pleasing to anyone. 
 
 Duke Grafton has certainly given warning, but 
 is desired to remain till they can provide them- 
 selves with one to supply his place. I am weary 
 and so Is everybody at these uncertainties. 
 Every creature is going out of town, more parti- 
 cularly all the men of business. It seems as if 
 everything was left to be governd by Chance and 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 39 
 
 haphazard, and yet Parliam' will not be up till 
 June. 
 
 Torrlngton gone to find an agreeable hunting 
 seat in Lincolnshire. Halifax settling his own 
 affaires, has full employment in doing that. I 
 hope he will retrieve his losses, and satisfy all 
 concernd in them, and be a free man before he 
 retakes those of a higher nature, for certainly 
 sooner or later he will have office again. 
 
 I dont intend stiring out of town, but wait and 
 watch for the pleasure of hearing from you, 
 
 being most affectionately yours — 
 
 Letter lvi. 
 
 [The Lally here alluded to was a French officer, 
 Governor of Pondicherry, which he surrendered to the 
 English, and was beheaded in France 1766. The 
 circumstances of the case had some similarity with those 
 of Admiral Byng's conviction.] 
 
 Charles Street, May 30, 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — This being my turn, I take it 
 to say that however your mind is discomposed 
 with your present situation, your Brother and 
 I bear an equal share with you, but we all three 
 must make use of the senses and reason God has 
 given us, and not sink under the unavoidable 
 state of our present circumstances. While I live, 
 which in all human probability cannot be long, 
 you shall be supported, so make yourself easy. 
 
140 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Duke Grafton is gone out without being able 
 to serve his father-in-law, though greatly desirous 
 to do it. Duke of Richmond is come in, more 
 unfit than any, so that things grow worse and 
 worse. Lord North has refused one of the Vice 
 Treasureships of Ireland, and none that have a 
 grain of Understanding will take any concerns 
 upon them, no, not the Ministers abroad. The 
 other day Torrington asked a principal, Who was 
 to go to such a Court ? He answered. You, if 
 you please, for we dont find those we wish for 
 will accept. In short, I must give you this com- 
 fort that tis a much greater disgrace to be in than 
 out. The Parliament not yet up. They get 
 together forty members, and pass what Bills they 
 please, no one knows or cares, even the members 
 who are in town dont care to attend, such a time 
 I never remember. 
 
 No account has yet come of Lord Charles 
 Montagu and his fine wife being landed at his 
 Government of North Carolina. While they livd 
 in St. James' Palace before they went, they livd 
 well, had their dinner and wine from Thatched 
 House, the bill for four months was ;i^i200. 
 
 You give us no account of Mont Vesuvius, 
 tho' this Erruption is often seen at Naples, . . . 
 pray give us news of this extraordinary matter. 
 
 Dont laugh when I tell you there has been one 
 of our men of war sent from a part in the East 
 Indies in search of an Island which they had the 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. I4I 
 
 fortune to find, and landed some of the crew to 
 discover the sort of people upon it. They found 
 them a strong robust people 8 f and half high. 
 A girl of thirteen was 7 feet, and others in 
 proportion. They w^ere cloathed with skins of 
 Beasts, invited our people to go farther up the 
 Country, but they were satisfied with the dis- 
 covery, and returned. Part of this was in our 
 newspapers. I concluded it a Guliver Island, 
 and that it was a Joke, but at Admiral Osborns 
 last night they confirmed the truth, and therefore 
 I conclude it is so. 
 
 Lallys fate is compared to my poor brother's, 
 two innocent men sacrificed to Ministers purposes. 
 In an article from France, I see the comparison, 
 and before that from private conversation. 
 
 Your Brothers sincere affections are ever joynd 
 with mine to you. 
 
 Letter lvh. 
 
 July 1st, 1 2 66. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I set down to write to you 
 with a mind as gloomy as the weather, which has 
 been continualy weeping for ten weeks past. The 
 thundering and lightening we have lately had has 
 made me hope it would clear the clouds, and let 
 us once more see the sun, however these hopes are 
 vain, and weeping still continues, to the sorrow of 
 those who have large crops of Hay all spoiling. 
 
 I must begin with the maloncholy tale of your 
 
142 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Aunt Jekyll's death. ... I cannot think what 
 can become of her daughter, poor girl, to whom 
 she is an irreparable loss, to poor Miss Roberts, 
 her companion also, though she livd like a toad 
 under a Harrow. Lord Halifax was then at 
 Horton, . . . but he went and stayd with her till 
 she dyed . . . you must mourn 3 week, black 
 sword and buckels, 3 weeks coloured ones with 
 your mourning coat . . . her violent temper was 
 a misfortune, but who is without fault ? Your 
 brother is with Lord Halifax at Horton, returns 
 next week to Chicksands. . . . 
 
 My dear Jack, what is it posible for us to do 
 for you, when you consider the impropriety of a 
 man in opposition asking a favor ... if you 
 were here opertunitys might offer and you would 
 be known to people who could serve you, they 
 will not take a man in the clouds they know 
 nothing off. Everyone knows, and the King too, 
 why you quitted Brussels . . . when you can be 
 served you certainly will, but while you are absent 
 believe me, nothing can be done for you. 
 
 Lord Halifax can do nothing. Lord North 
 refuses all offers made him, none of the Outs 
 think they can with honour accept, much less ask 
 for any favors. So many things are vacant, and 
 no acceptors : Treasury, Navy vacant, Vice- 
 treasureship of Ireland, with several other things 
 that is amazing goes begging. 
 
 I am your truly affect. 
 
lady of the eighteenth century. 1 43 
 
 Letter lvhi. 
 
 July 4, 1766. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Though I wrote a long letter 
 last Tuesday, I set down to a fresh sheet of paper 
 today. There is no one appointed to VIena yet — 
 no scheme subsists twenty-four hours. ... I don't 
 wonder you have no notion of these things, because 
 it is entirely new. I have before told you of great 
 offers to those who I hope will serve you, but he will 
 not accept, sees it is with a halter round his neck. 
 
 His nephew North they would buy at any rate, 
 but he will not be an apostate. How long this 
 confused state of affairs may last no one can tell. 
 Providence has often brought us from the brink of 
 ruin, I therefore trust we shall still be saved. 
 
 Let me intreat you to turn your thoughts home 
 . . . you can live in credit like a gentleman on 
 £Z'^o or ^340 a year. ... By the time this 
 reaches you, you will be 23, not an age to be very 
 miserable, though Fortune has been a Gilt. 
 
 y'' truly affect. 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter lix. 
 
 [The person mentioned by Sarah whose picture is at 
 Chicksands, is certainly Oliver Cromwell. There is a 
 portrait of him by Lely there.] 
 
 Fry day, i2, July 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — The very next post after I 
 wrote, I could have told you the bustle was 
 
144 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 beginning, and things come in earnest to a crisis. 
 The wheels so clogd, Government was at a stop 
 and pulled up dead short. The King sent for 
 Pit, and Pit is come, and most certain has a carte 
 blanche, on no other terms would he undertake, 
 so he gets himself master of the position. Was 
 heated with his journey, but saw the King next 
 day, which was this day was senight. All is con- 
 jecture, the only certain thing is that Pitt comes 
 in, but in what place is not yet settled, only that 
 he will carve for himself, and make up a Ministry 
 of those who will be guided by him. . . . 
 
 Mr. Pit and Lord Temple have mett, but so 
 far from agreeing, they were very warm, and Mr. 
 Pitt so ruffled by it that he has forbid anyone to 
 come to him on business for two days, for his 
 fever is much encreasd. How will he bear the 
 ruffles of the whole kingdom on his shoulders .-* 
 . . . But I own I am glad he is to be Prime 
 Minister, twill quiet the nation and cool the 
 minds of all dissatisfied, as well as strike terror 
 abroad, where I doubt in our present situation we 
 must be dispised. Tis said the Citty intend to 
 go in a body to thank the King the day after Pitt 
 is appointed. Are you not stagard to find Prince 
 F'erdinand has resignd all his employments to 
 King of Prussia, and tis affirmd has accepted of 
 all Marshall Saxe's appointments in France ? I 
 dare not trust on paper what is said on that 
 event here. In short, we talk much of the times 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 45 
 
 when the person governd whose picture is 
 over one of the doors of the blue room at 
 Chicksands. 
 
 Your uncle (L"^ Hal.) just stepd in here, said 
 ... he will asist you all in his power, in any 
 thing but a direct request to the Ministry. . . . 
 
 I must now tell you a little chat. . . . Lady 
 Montrath is dead, has left Lord John Cavendish 
 ^40,000, never saw him but once in her life, only 
 because he was a Patriot, and some more Patriot 
 legacies to people she did not know. She was a 
 Bradford, and maddish, and so she has lived and 
 dyed, her son is the same, therefore all her riches 
 of no value. 
 
 Pit has the reversion of Lady Grandisons 
 ^9000 a year, if young Villiers her son dyes 
 under age. He is inclynd to be wild, and has 
 not had the small pox, and Pit is lucky. There- 
 fore everyone concludes the Boy is to dye. Lord 
 W" Campbell was appointed to the Government 
 of Nova Scotia in the room of your cousin, 
 Colonel Wilmot. 
 
 Adieu, my dear Jack, 
 
 believe me affectionately yours. 
 
 Letter lx. 
 
 August 1st, lyGG. 
 My dear Jack, — I must acquaint you last 
 
 Wednesday kissd hands : 
 
 K 
 
146 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Pitt now Earl of Chatham — Lord Privy Seal. 
 
 Lord Northington — Lord President. 
 
 Lord Campden — Lord Chancellor. 
 
 Lord Shelburn — S. of State. 
 
 Conway remains the other. 
 
 Duke of Grafton — ist L*^ of the 
 Treasury. 
 
 Charles Townshend — Chancell'' of the 
 Excheq'. 
 
 Mr. Stanly — Ambassador to Russia. 
 
 Mr. Campbell — A Lord of Treasury. 
 The above are certain — Dowdeswell is to be 
 provided for, some say Speaker, some say Joint 
 Paymaster with James Grenville. . . . L*^ Dart- 
 mouth has resignd, is Lord of Trade, Duke of 
 Newcastle has refused a pention of ^4000 a year. 
 People are not pleased. Pit will loose popularity 
 by loosing his name. Sir James Porter went to 
 Lord Chatham, Duke of Grafton, to make his 
 ceremonial visits to them, none at home . . . 
 
 believe me ever affectionately yours. 
 
 Letter lxl 
 
 12 August 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — I am much distressd what to 
 say in this letter, since tho a change is accom- 
 plished, we are no better, no longer Pitt but Earl 
 of Chatham, this was the fall of the popular 
 Poultney when Earl of Bath. All the joy and 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 47 
 
 expectations of our great Patriots and indeed the 
 whole nation, seems quite damp, for he has not 
 taken the leading place, is only Privy Seal, and 
 now out of the House of Commons, where all 
 the Business must lye. However he has made 
 Charles Townshend Chancellor Excheq', who is 
 to lead, and who has undoubted abillities, but 
 there you must stop. It is understood that 
 Chatham is to guide the whole, and be abso- 
 lutely supream. The manner as well as the fact of 
 discarding those turnd out of the late Ministry 
 has disoblidged them, Rockingham extremely so. 
 Our old friends go by the title of Bedford faction. 
 Pitt and Temple quite at variance, pamphlets, 
 epigrams, odes, and more witt flying about than 
 for some years past. . . , Letters are wrote that 
 the King wants men of abillities, and those who 
 are possessed of them are expected to serve him in 
 the capacities they are most able for. L*^ Granby 
 Commander in Chief of the Army. Stanly goes 
 to Russia, P211is to Spain, he was very far from a 
 friend to your Uncle. 
 
 Your brother came to London to mount guard 
 on Sunday. I am sure his fortune cannot support 
 opposition to Ongley, but he acts by Lord 
 Halifax's advice. . . . Many talk of resigning, 
 many they want to do so, but won't it is recond, I 
 know not if true. Quite a Bureau affair. Can it 
 be possible such oyl and vinegar could incor- 
 porate .'* Tis said and by Pamphlets provd, Bute 
 
148 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 and Pitt are so. Some think this cannot hold. 
 Poor England, what will become of her ? 
 
 Letter lxii. 
 
 15 August iy66. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Except you was on the spot, 
 you can form no idea of our fluctuating situation, 
 the like I believe, is without example since the 
 time of Charles I. Mr. Pitt, who was the idol, 
 and by whose influence so many favoured schemes 
 were applauded last winter, by only his name to 
 give them sanction, is now tore to pieces by all 
 sides, that name is sunk, and they are violent 
 against L*^ Chatham, his friends aghast, his foes 
 triumphant. You never answer, if our news- 
 papers and Pamphlets are ever seen at Naples. 
 
 Things are far from settled yet. Duke Grafton 
 I St L*^ Treasurer. Shelburn and Conway Secre- 
 taries of State— since these are fixd there are 
 resignations and dismissions every day. John 
 York and Charles Saunders resignd Admiralty 
 last week, and this week L'^ Egmont, so there 
 hardly a Board for bussiness. . . . All this 
 instability is very unfortunate for Government. 
 I can only add that if Mr. Pitt can surmount the 
 prejudices taken against Lord Chatham, and be 
 steady in his guidance, which is absolutely fixd in 
 himself alone, and be more than human by blunt- 
 ing all his feelings to this Clamor against him, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 49 
 
 things may by his perseverance stand on former 
 ground, — but if not, things will grow too power- 
 full for any guidance, and throw us into I know 
 not what, nor dare I think of a name for it. I am 
 in hopes he will lay aside prejudice of party feuds, 
 by taking in those of the best abillitys on all 
 sides. . . . All people displeasd, don't trust the 
 Cabinet. . . . August 19. — We are a strange 
 disconcerted people — no one cares to accept 
 Admiralty. 
 
 Letter lxhi. 
 
 Charles Street, Fry day, September 5, 1766. 
 
 I here inclose the Ode you desired me, by Mrs. 
 Greville, but I hope you won't implore Oberon, 
 for Pope says the Passions are the Elements of 
 Life, without them the blood would stagnate. 
 Sherbet is the beverage of mortals, and to omit 
 anyone of the ingredients would render it insipid 
 and tasteless. Sir George Pocock is varstly 
 unhinged at his wife's illness, he sees and knows 
 her danger, but must keep up spirits with her. 
 What avails all the treasures of the East and 
 West Indies pourd into their laps, it will bring no 
 happyness. . . . 
 
 Everything in this country without stabillity, 
 no one at present so happy in it as Lord Bristol 
 and Hervey. If I have any judgment, next 
 winter will be a crisis. I saw Lord Stormont 
 
150 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 yesterday, he goes to Viena next month. The 
 clamours are as much against Pitt as they were in 
 regard to Predecessors, and yet I hope he will 
 hold it. Fifteen Admirals was disoblidged. at 
 Saunders being put at the head of the Admiralty, 
 tis thought can only mean a step for Keppel to 
 rise into that seat, in short disobligations are 
 numerous, and consequently clamours. L'^ Bristol 
 is appointed to Ireland, and is to reside there 
 constantly. The King desired to appoint the 
 Secretary, whom he told him was his brother 
 Augustus — ^3000 a year. 
 
 Lord Hertford is Master of the Horse. Duke 
 of Rutland satisfyed with Lord Granby being 
 Commander in Chief,— tis in vain to send you a 
 red book, unless one was printed every month. 
 
 I am in hopes you will come back with Sir 
 George Pocock, but this is man's appointment, 
 God may disappoint the whole. 
 
 Letter lxiv. 
 
 London, 17 September 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — Everything continues amaz- 
 ingly uncertain, I dont think Townshend or North 
 will continue. God knows when our cards will be 
 trumps again, . . . they talk of the Bedford partie 
 coming in. Lord Weymouth Cofferer insted of 
 Lord Scarborough. Parliament certainly is to 
 meet beginning of November, the Proclamation 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. I5I 
 
 is already out for its doing so. Sir George 
 Pocock thinks himself ill-used, . . . before he set 
 out for Naples, he kissd hands on leave, and then 
 had an Audience, and expressd his Resentment 
 at having had no reward for 45 years services, 
 had been promised a Peerage, and even that 
 forgot. . . . 
 
 Sir Thomas Alston intends to declare for our 
 County, and as he is very flighty, imposible he 
 can make anything of it, yet I think it will put 
 your Brother in a cleft stick. Lord Barrymore 
 next month when he is of age to marry Lady 
 Amelia Stanhope, Lord Harrington's 3''^ daughter. 
 Lord Mont Steward not yet marryd to Miss 
 Windsor. 6 October Admiral Keppel is to con- 
 voy our Princess Caroline, the Queen of Denmark, 
 to the Haofue, from thence she is to have a 
 miserable journey through Westphalia and cross 
 the sea to Denmark. 
 
 Letter lxv. 
 
 Teusday, 23 Sept^ \y66. 
 My dear Jack, — Believe me you cannot judge 
 of affaires at the distance you are from us, . . . it 
 has really given me infinite disquiet to find you 
 fix your mind from Castles in the air, . . . was 
 you here, you would see things in a different 
 light, the Systym of Government, families and 
 connections are all moved by new springs . . 
 
152 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 if you knew the squables and dificultys they had 
 to strugle with in the times that you think so 
 hardly on, when they felt the ground they stood 
 on was a bog, you would not judge as you do. 
 
 I have enquired how to get the Protest. I find 
 a Peer may ask a copy, but as none are in town 
 that I know, it will not be posible yet a while. 
 There is a rumour as if some sort of Coalition 
 would take place before the Parliament meet in 
 November, they talk of Lord Gower, Rigby and 
 Lord Weymouth, who are all the Bedford friends. 
 This will be a curious winter, for though I am 
 JT,, I have never seen anything like it. 
 
 Lord and Lady Hinchingbrook dind with me 
 yesterday. All your relations are married, and 
 will have children and grandchildren before you 
 come home. I shall wish to live till May, that I 
 may once more see you, being, my dear Jack, 
 most affectionately yours. 
 
 Letter lxvi. 
 
 London, Oct. 7, 1766. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Being Charge D'Affaires is 
 the most desirable thing in your situation, and 
 will give you credit and reputation to have been 
 so at two Courts. 
 
 I fear I have seemd to write a little cross in 
 my two or three last letters ; if I did so it was 
 occasioned by your writing your intermediate 
 thoughts. . . . 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 53 
 
 Several are drawing off, profess they will link 
 to no party. The Borough of Oxford Is given to 
 Lord Hertford for his services In London. This 
 Is an unprecedented note above a pentlon, for It 
 is for ever. Lord Northumberland Is made a 
 Duke. No happy faces anywhere. It used to be, 
 those out pout, and those in grin, but out or In all 
 is pout, ... we must be the redlcule of all foreign 
 Courts. 
 
 Our Princess Matilda was married by Proxie 
 last Wednesday, and Thursday morning set out 
 for Harwich and so In the Yatch to Hollond, and 
 so to her King at Copenhagen. The Queen Is 
 happy with her Princess Royal. Prince Henry 
 is created Duke of Cumberland. 
 
 Lord Halifax to shoot, and enjoy the sweets 
 of the life of a country gentleman. Since I 
 wrote my other sheet, I must Inform you Sir 
 James Gray is appointed for Spain, and Lord 
 Cardross, Lord Buchan's eldest son, is appointed 
 Secretary to the Embassie, therefore all that 
 view is lost. 
 
 Your truly affectionate Gra. 
 
 Letter lxvii. 
 
 14 October iy66. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Had you been here poslbly 
 we might have got you to Paris a Volunteer with 
 Lord Rochford. . . . Lord Grantham has given 
 
154 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 up the Post Office, they talk of Rigby for It. 
 I suppose that is to sooth the Bedford party. 
 Marquis's in number to be made. Lord Chatham 
 Is now our whole Governor, I wish he may work 
 mericles, but all this placing and displacing shews, 
 I think, a timidity. There is no partle, every- 
 thing is blended together, no connections, for they 
 tye and untye every day as convenience and advan- 
 tage offer. Honor and faith and friendship may 
 be scratchd out of the Dictionary, for they are all 
 words without meanings, In short, my dear Jack, 
 I will not think, for tis In vain. Everything here 
 Is persueing a shadow, all is delusion. I hope, 
 however, that I shall keep an old fashion heart, 
 and remain most truly your affectionate. 
 
 Letter lxviii. 
 
 28 October 1766. 
 My dear Jack, — I sent your last letter to your 
 brother at Chicksands, but he Is rambling about 
 to Newnham and Greatworth, and Lord Halifax 
 is rambling too. There can be no expectation of 
 anything this winter by his interest. Petitions, 
 peerages, places are lavishly given, all to prevent 
 the Rockingham and Bedford joyning, they will 
 be powerfull Indeed if it cannot be prevented, and 
 the present conductors must be overturned. Be 
 carefull and cautious of the Hollonds and Foxes, 
 and dont let a word transpire to them of what 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 55 
 
 your letters say. Caution Hamilton also. Duke 
 of Buccleughs brother Is dead of a fever at Paris, 
 greatly lamented, they say much superior to his 
 brother. You knew him. 
 
 This day fortnight Parliament is to meet. 
 
 No mortal yet come to town. 
 
 Nov'' 4'\ , . . Your Sir James Porter has had 
 all his family inoculated, and all is well and over. 
 Mr. Villiers, L^. Grandlson's son, was inoculated 
 from the subject taken from them, but not yet 
 come out. . . . 
 
 The month of May will I hope, turn all things 
 to suit the pleasures that spring should produce. 
 One year goeth and another cometh, with every 
 change to hurt, not only individuals, but the 
 whole. 
 
 We have a very uncomfortable prospect, the 
 poor murmuring and rising in all parts, provisions 
 at so exorbitant a rate, they must starve except 
 the Parliament can find means to prevent Fore- 
 stallers who monopolize all things that ought to 
 have been in common to the people. Your 
 Brother has only had power to make his tenants 
 cry, but not to make them sell their grain at a 
 reasonable price. They keep their barns full, in 
 hopes by the scarcity to sell it at an immoderate 
 rate, and indeed they deserve it. The Mob, or 
 by what other name they will be calld, will level 
 all to the ground, and there will be neither Barns 
 or grain left — they have been very desperate 
 
156 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 in many countrys, and have reason, tho these 
 riotous proceedings must be suppressd if posible. 
 Liberty is gone to too great a length. Adieu. 
 
 Letter lxix. 
 
 5 December 1766. 
 
 My dear Jack, — We have moved every spring 
 we could for you. ... I got a proper friend to 
 recommend you to our great Commander in the 
 shape of Admiral Byng's nephew. . . . Lord 
 Ossory is chiefly where hunting and horses can 
 be his devertion, does not seem to care to be a 
 Senator yet. I fancy his turn is not very agree- 
 able to his uncle. . . . Our two new brides, 
 Dutches Portland and Lady Montstewart, have 
 exceeding brilliant equipages, the whole conversa- 
 tion is at present on that subject. They were 
 both presented at Court last week. White 
 Coaches, or rather a petit Oris colour, silk reines 
 and topings cut a most glaring and spreaded 
 appearance. The ladies may look happy, but I 
 see no man that looks so. 
 
 Tis feard General Stenwix and his family are 
 lost coming from Ireland a month since, and have 
 not been heard of. 
 
 Wether Prerogative, Liberty, or Aristocracy is 
 to be the thing this winter who can tell. Some 
 shape surely must be found. If I had no children, 
 I should not care a fig, but as it is otherways I 
 am not so easy. 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 57 
 
 No time or reign has ever produced events like 
 the present. Surely some malignant star influences 
 our conduct. All is Helter Schelter, sense and 
 reason is fled to other climes. Keppel not only 
 resignd Admiralty, but Bedchamber, ... on this 
 break the Bedfords were sought. The Duke said 
 he would come up and negotiate himself, would 
 not transact through seconds, but before he 
 arrived. Sir Edward Hawk, Sir Percy Bret and 
 Jenkinson were appointed to the Admiralty. He 
 thought this so great a slight, he broke all off, 
 and returnd to Woburn, and will I conclude be 
 bitterer than ever. Delawar Master Horse — 
 everyone gapeing for this extraordinary place. 
 Tell Sir George Pocock of all these outs and ins, 
 but be cautious, no one knows Who is Who. 
 This day to be a great one (5 Dec"^) in the 
 House of Commons. Your Brother will write 
 next post. Tis in regard to the dispensing power, 
 an exact pararel to the General Warrants, only 
 they change sides. . . . 
 
 Believe me, dear Jack, in all your situations, I 
 shall be most faithfully yours. 
 
 Letter lxx. 
 
 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, 
 January 2nd, 176J. 
 
 My dear Jack, — My best wishes have, I 
 hope, reached you in time for the New Year, 
 
158 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 and I repeat them again. Severall mournings 
 also present themselves to you, not only your 
 Aunt Margaret Osborn, but poor Lady Guilford ; 
 you must mourn for six weeks. Commissioner 
 Osborn also is in grief for his only son George, 
 he was a puny boy, and not like to have spirit 
 for this world, but a Parent feells the affliction, 
 and cannot alleviate by such reflections. When- 
 ever you return you will find Death has made a 
 sweep among your family and friends. The 
 Commissioner and Admiral are very tottering, 
 and seem almost ready to obey his call. I say 
 nothing of one more near. 
 
 Lady Guilford has disappointed many expecta- 
 tions by making her will entirely in Lord Guil- 
 ford's favour. Lord Bolingbroke choosing to 
 spend all at Arthur's and Newmarket was no 
 essential loss to him, since all would have gone 
 there, and being parted from his wife, no prospect 
 of his children proving better than their parents. 
 . . . The Estate was recond ^^4000 a year, 
 this is lucky for Lord North. ... Lord 
 Cornwallis is made Justice in Eyre, ^2000 a year. 
 He is with his Reg', at Minorca, the last letter 
 from him said he intended to spend Carnival in 
 Italie, and not come home till spring, but this 
 employ is given to him unsolicited. . . . Every 
 step of these times are astonishing, seems as if 
 caprice had a share ... at present hope is all we 
 live on. Adieu. 
 
lady of the eighteenth century. 1 59 
 
 Letter lxxi. 
 
 Charles Street, ij^ January 1676. 
 
 My dear Jack, — It is an uncommon expres- 
 sion of affection to say I rejoyce at your being at 
 Naples, for England this winter is Moscovy, so 
 severe a climate has not been here since the year 
 1740. Intense cold and snow so deep no com- 
 munication of roads, that even the post is day 
 beyond the usal time, and the streets in London 
 almost impassable. What must poor wretches 
 suffer who can have neither Victuals, Cloaths, or 
 Work to procure them any, when even those who 
 enjoy the blessing of comforts, so hardly endure 
 it. 
 
 The turn of times here is too unaccountable to 
 be credited ... at present both England and 
 Ireland are under Chatham's thumb, a secret 
 spring may guide the motions, but the ways are 
 unsearchable, and past finding out. 
 
 Lord Bristol says publickly he shall not move 
 in Ireland but under the direction of Lord 
 Chatham, 
 
 Lord Barrymore's day was fixd for Lady 
 Amelia Stanhope, the dinner prepard at Lord 
 Harrington's, the Bride dressd, when behold the 
 messenger with letter acquainted him Lord Barry- 
 more was taken ill, and his Physician advised him 
 to put off the Weding, he has been ill ever since, 
 some believe it, others don't, and think he repents. 
 
l60 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Your Uncle Lord Halifax is in grief, has lost 
 his only son George. 
 
 My dear Jack, may health and prosperity 
 
 attend you. 
 
 your truly affect. 
 
 Letter lxxii. 
 
 Teusday, February lo, 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — It is just a month since I 
 wrote to you, when I was taken ill in the midle 
 of writing that letter, however I finished it in my 
 bed before the post went out. From that time I 
 had Sir Clifton Wintringham seventeen days twice 
 a day. I have still relapses, but while Bleeding 
 relieves, here I shall be. At 73 how long, God 
 alone knows. Your brother was sent for and 
 came all night in that dreadful! snow. ... I am 
 perfectly resignd to the Will of Heaven, for I 
 consider myself of no use to either of you. . . . 
 
 Feb. 20. — I hear Miss Bows is married this day 
 to Lord Strathmore. The two brides who make 
 the principal conversation at present are Mr. 
 George Pitt's daughter, bred in convent at Sens, 
 from which Mr. Legonier fetchd her. At present 
 her dress is the wonder of the town, her head a 
 yard high, and filld or rather coverd with feathers 
 to an enormous size, fitter for a Masquerade than 
 a drawingroom. The other is Lady Guidon, who 
 was Miss Wilmot, her headdress is as high, but 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. l6l 
 
 is built Up like a rock with diamonds, and indeed 
 she is so much coverd with jewels, that they 
 compare her to a lark wrapped up in crumbs. 
 Lord Chatham is again detaind at Marlborow, 
 the whole machin of government therefore stands 
 still. Parliament meets on pretence of business, 
 but postpones it to a future day. 
 
 Your brother desires me to say he will write as 
 soon as our great Director comes to put the 
 wheels in motion. At present there is no spirit 
 but what newspapers spit forth, for things are 
 grown too serious to bear a joke. I may totter 
 on for some time, tho alterd in person yet never 
 can in my affection for you, while I crawl on this 
 earth and am able to tell you so. Adieu. 
 
 Letter lxxiii. 
 
 London, March 6, 1767. 
 My dear Jack, — I can now assure you I am 
 better, though I must not expect a return of 
 strength at my time of day that cannot be re- 
 cruited. Lord Halifax, his son and daughter 
 dined here last Saterday, but I was not able to go 
 down to dinner. The Ministry lost the question 
 by 1 8 last fryday, and they did not endeavour to 
 battle it or devide the House on the report next 
 day. Most people are pleasd that 3d Land Tax 
 is gained by the Opposition. Lord North from 
 being in office must use his brightest talents, 
 
162 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 but was left in the lurch by Lord Charles 
 Townshend, whom he was to support, and who 
 soon gave up the point himself. Shelburn was 
 dispatchd next morning to Marlborough, where 
 our principal and indeed sole guide has been laid 
 up with the gout at an inn, twas said so bad, he 
 could neither return or come forward, but Shel- 
 burne's intelligence of defeat electrified him, and 
 into his coach he got imediatly, away to London, 
 and to the King, and tis now said a defeat is of 
 no consequence, and that tis all right. New ways 
 of thinking transpire every day. 
 
 Duke of Buccleugh is very soon to marry Lady 
 Betty Montagu's daughter. Lady Dalkeith, his 
 mother, so happy with the match she could not 
 sleep for three nights after it was settled. Last 
 Saturday Hariot Bladen was married to Lord 
 Essex. Poor Lady Amelia Stanhope must see 
 many more matches concluded before her own, 
 for Lord Barrymore is oblidged to submit to a 
 salivation, which he is now in, before he can be 
 a bridegroom. Almacks, Soho, Concerts, Bur- 
 lettas and Operas engages all the idle people every 
 night, which makes such invalids as myself much 
 alone. Parties at cards and assemblies take all 
 their turn, so that the hours and days are much 
 too short for all that must be done, and we are 
 now in the hight of our diversions. 
 
 My dear Jack, I am yours with very tender 
 affection. Adieu. 
 
lady of the eighteenth century. 1 63 
 
 Letter lxxiv. 
 
 March 17, 1767, London. 
 
 My dear Jack, — By this time I conclude it 
 is time to find you at Rome. . . . There is 
 nothing here but confusion, every department a 
 rope of sand. I believe History does not afford 
 the like, every partie, every connection broke to 
 peices. Sir James Grey not gone yet. He 
 laboured much against any Secretary to the 
 Embassy being appointed, said they were of no 
 use and that it would be a great saving to 
 Government to strike off that expence, they have 
 not reguarded his Occonomy, and today I hear a 
 younger brother of Lord Walpole's is to be ap- 
 pointed . . . here is almost Lady Day and nothing 
 done, all the Chiefs have their several convenient 
 maladies, one or two the gout, that by one im- 
 pediment or other all bussiness is posponed, no 
 Budget yet opend, no plan of Supply. One day 
 Charles Townshend was on the point to resign, 
 he had slunk away into the Citty and could not 
 be found, but no one would accept his place, 
 therefore all met again, shook hands and friends, 
 all this must appear to you to be children's play. 
 
 Lord Tavistock's accident is a miserable affair. 
 This day senight at the Redborn Hunt of near 50 
 gentlemen, his horse in a leap came too short 
 over and fell, throwd Lord Tavistock off, who 
 catching at bridle, made the horse plunge, and 
 
164 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Struck both stomach and head, and fracturd his 
 scul. He was taken up speachless, and carried 
 to a farm House where he still is, his life or 
 death yet uncertain. Gataker was sent imme- 
 dlatly. The horse had trapand him, and there- 
 fore Gataker had only to take out the splinterd 
 bones and peices of scul. The chance is yet 
 against him, as you may guess from the situation 
 he is in, somtimes favourable accounts, at other 
 dispairing ones. There is a large afflicted family, 
 and indeed the whole town lamenting the unfortu- 
 nate case. There are two sons, but what a blow 
 to the tender passions of his parents and wife, as 
 well as the Pride and ambition of his father, and 
 indeed a loss to our county. 
 
 Your brother's love attends you, with that of 
 your truly affect. Gra. 
 
 Letter lxxv. 
 
 Teusday^ 22 March 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Tho' they began polling at 
 Northampton last Thursday, yet there is not a 
 probability of it being over under 4 or 5 days. 
 Therefore postpone all things relating to that 
 expensive and troublesome affair till the end of 
 this letter, In hopes there may be a final deter- 
 mination of It before I seal it. . . . We are now 
 In the midst of faction and riot. Wilkes has 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 65 
 
 daringly stepd forth with an audacious attempt to 
 stand for the Citty, and tho he is an Outlaw, bids 
 defiance to Government. ... I hope he has no 
 chance of being chose a Citty member, tho' 
 yesterday a coach with six horses was ready to 
 take him off the hustings to the place of dinner, 
 and when half way they took out the horses, and 
 carryd his Coach themselves, strange infatuation ! 
 but all this is Mob. . . . Tis said 2 millions will 
 be spent in Elections, ^20 and ^30,000 comes 
 out of every purse. Nabobs, Contractors, Silver- 
 smiths, bankrupts, are in high luck, there will 
 hardly be 200 real gentlemen in the House. The 
 landed Interest dyed with the last Parliament. 
 . . . Adieu, affect, yours. 
 
 Letter lxxvi. 
 
 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, 
 Teusday, 24 March 1767. 
 My dear Jack, — My last wrote to you this 
 day senight to Rome had the Particuler and 
 dismal account of poor Lord Tavistock's accident. 
 By that you could entertain no hope of a favour- 
 able one in my next, therefore not surprised when 
 I tell you he languished under many severe opera- 
 tions till yesterday morning, when at 4 oclock he 
 dyed. The faculty never had the least hope of 
 his recovery, the' gave flattering ones to the Duke 
 
1 66 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 of Bedford, and therefore the thunderbolt has 
 almost demolished him. You know his passions 
 are strong, and he is almost distracted. Poor 
 Lady Tavistock who never was permitted to see 
 him, tho' went to a house within a quarter of a 
 mile where he lay, but the agitation of seeing her 
 was not to be venturd, — she was brought to town 
 yesterday neither dead nor alive, has been in fitts 
 ever since, and greatly to be pittyd, for they were 
 very happy. She has two boys, and in time I 
 hope will take comfort in them as I have done in 
 mine. My loss was a Tavistock to me, and 
 therefore I feel greatly for the whole family. 
 
 Your brother by advice of his friends has wrote 
 circular letters, it was agreed by all that he stood 
 pledgd to the County by his applycatlon last 
 summer, and therefore his offer now could not 
 be avoided, . . . there must immediatly be a 
 meeting appointed, and he must then judge his 
 strength. Lord Tavistock is an irreparable loss 
 to our County, there will not be a proper head to 
 it left when Duke Bedford dyes, this must shorten 
 his days, and damp all ambitions, he is now ex- 
 tremly ill. You cannot conceive how all people 
 from the King to the labourers lament for Lord 
 Tavistock, there never was greater grief Ossory 
 is so shy in the country that no one there takes 
 to him, but how far the tenderness of people's 
 Hearts may move them to Indulge the Duke of 
 Bedford in the person of his nephew, a little time 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 67 
 
 will shew otherways. Alston who has great 
 interest intends going down to the Meeting 
 and supports y'' Brother with all his power. 
 T'will appear a bold stroke for a private gentle- 
 man, to bring an opposition against so powerfull a 
 person, and two such powerfull purses, it sounds 
 running his head against a brick wall. Pray God 
 send him well out of this scrape. 
 
 Letter lxxvh. 
 
 London, 31 March 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I fret a little to find after next 
 quarter y"" income will decrease, since I conclude 
 you will think it right to resign your studentship 
 by that time. . . . This has been a trying winter 
 for old and young. Death has made great havock 
 and caused much grief in many families, that of 
 the Bedfords exceeds all the rest. 
 
 Lady Cork has such continual histerick fitts 
 that it has shewd the shocking effects on the poor 
 Dungarvan who is quite an idiot. Duke of Man- 
 chester must seek another country, the house in 
 this square to be sold, the castle in the country to 
 be let, but who is there can take it .'* He has not 
 paid a tradesman since his father dyed. 
 
 At present I am wore down, lye upon the first 
 flour, not able to go up or down. We have a long 
 severe winter which continues still, tho tomorrow 
 is April. The chance is against me, 70 od weighs 
 
1 68 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 very heavy in the scail, but whenever It happens 
 I shall dye in the assurance that you two Brothers 
 will preserve an inviolable friendship for each other 
 as long as you live. 
 
 The Hinchinbrookes say they cannot live on 
 ^2000 a year rent charge, which is as good as 
 ^2500 Estate, they talk of retireing into the 
 Country. There surely is some Influence over 
 this Island, no one is happy or settled, . . . your 
 brother is gone into Beds, to try his strength at 
 the election. I think he has no chance, for all 
 the great and principal personages are so softened 
 by the Duke's affliction that they are tender of 
 adding to the disturbance of his mind, and there- 
 fore most like your friend Ossory will find an 
 easy seat. 
 
 I am most truly y"" affectionate. 
 
 Letter lxxviii. 
 
 April 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I have opened your brother's 
 letter to tell you . . . that when the writ was 
 read by the Sheriff at the meeting your Brother 
 made his speech to say he looked upon himself 
 pledgd to the County, . . . but as the gentlemen 
 were inclynd to pay a tribute of regard to their 
 late worthy member (Lord Tavistock) by choos- 
 ing his relation, he very readily joynd with them 
 in It. . . . Everybody is undone in England, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 69 
 
 every day produces new distresses, the immense 
 expence of the Hunting gentlemen makes horses 
 and hounds a drug that must be sold, an infatua- 
 tion runs through the whole plan of living, and 
 insted of being happy, everyone has made them- 
 selves miserable and must all transport themselves 
 to America. Lord Chatham is they say, too ill 
 for bussiness, sees no mortal except Lord Bristol, 
 sends back unopened all letters from the Ministers, 
 but yet holds the Helm, which is a most distress- 
 ing situation for us. Charles Townshend opend 
 his Budget yesterday and by a most able speach 
 adjourned the House for ten days, and sent all 
 parties home in good humour. There Is, how- 
 ever, all materiel business left undone. India 
 Company Affaires is the great object to settle, 
 and in that Townshend does not draw with Lord 
 Chatham, therefore he will not see him, nor either 
 of the Secretarys of State, and nothing conclusive 
 can pass without his sanction. For my own part 
 I conclude he will fling up, and say he cannot 
 guide. Bedford has surprized all the House Lords, 
 for being as composed and seemingly as well as 
 ever, spoke well and warm. A charming monody 
 on poor Tavistock, tis said by Emely who was 
 his tutor. 
 
 Your acquaintance Lord Anglesea is the pre- 
 sent town talk. He was at Lord Lyttletons last 
 year, and there who made love to his daughter, 
 who is of a romantick turn, therefore took all his 
 
I "JO POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Oditys for wit, and liked him much. The father 
 did not disapprove, however a month ago he 
 dansed at Almacks with Lady Frances Howard, 
 and made love and proposed to her, after a thou- 
 sand rediculous things imposible to relate, he went 
 again to Miss Littleton, and then to Lord Carlisle 
 to say he was engaged to Lytleton, but his heart 
 and love was to Lady Frances, this all came 
 to be too serious to persue. Lord Carlisle her 
 brother challengd him, he only answered he had 
 done his family too much injury to add to it and 
 askd pardon. He went to Sir Richard Lyttleton 
 for advice, who told him he ought to go home 
 and be blooded, and never show his face more. 
 Tis said he is gone abroad. 
 
 Lord Barrymore who was the whole conversa- 
 tion of last January, is married to Lady Emilia 
 Stanhope, these have been two the most remark- 
 able adventures of this ao^e. Duke Manchester's 
 house is sold to Child the banker for ^10,000 
 guineas. 
 
 My dear Jack, Adieu, most affectionately yours. 
 
 Letter lxxix. 
 
 London, May 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I hope it will be agreeable to 
 you to hurry home as fast as you can, not that 
 there is a certainty of an immediate prospect here, 
 but as the confusion thickens, a convulsion of 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. I7I 
 
 some sort must be the consequence, . . . therefore 
 hast away and try to find solidity, judgment and 
 sincerity in England, where you will also be sure 
 to find true affection and regard. I conclude the 
 intention of your tour through Italie is to survey 
 the Southern Courts, that you may judge of them 
 in future time, for meerly travelling must be 
 attended with too much expence where there is 
 no foundation for it. 
 
 I am afraid you will find everybody sower, 
 there is not a happy face, various causes for it, 
 debt and politicks are chief ones. 
 
 Lord Anglesey is married to Miss Lyttleton — 
 a happy pair no doubt. 
 
 Our Parliament both Lords and Commons sett 
 late, and many long days there have been lately. 
 Neither India or American Affaires more settled 
 than a month past. The two Irish peers, Barry- 
 mare and Anglesea, walk with their Countesses 
 arm in arm at Ranelagh every night. I believe 
 people are rather cautious of being forward in 
 their acquaintance. 
 
 We have still fires, and still must call it winter. 
 I hope you will bring summer with you. 
 
 Your truly affect. 
 
 Letter lxxx. 
 
 Charles Street, 24 July 1767. 
 My dear Jack, — Your last letter from Pisa 
 left me hopes that a longer time there would 
 
172 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 establish your health, . . . should any remains of 
 your complaint be still left, our Baths at Bath 
 will be as salutary as those you have left. This 
 day great Thunder and Lightening, I hope it will 
 clear the air, which has been very close and un- 
 healthy some time past. Agues and fevers 
 never known so much in London, everybody in 
 some degree or other from the King, Lord 
 Chatham, to the servants of every house. Lon- 
 don is greatly improved since you left it that you 
 will not believe it the same citty. The Pavement 
 is amazing, and the lights in the Squares and 
 Streets so too. If you meet with English papers, 
 you must not depend on anything you read in 
 them, nothing is done, but a great deal doing. 
 Your truly affect. 
 
 Letter lxxxl 
 
 Charles Street, 8 September 1767. 
 My dear Jack, — I thank you for your letter 
 from Lucca. I am glad you have received benefit 
 from the Baths of Pisa. . . . We have had 
 an irreparable loss in the death of Mr. Charles 
 Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who 
 dyed last Fryday evening greatly lamented by all 
 people, without dispute the most able, the most 
 knowing, the most eloquent man in the Kingdom, 
 was an acquisition to any Partie that had him, his 
 wit got the preference of his prudence, therefore 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 73 
 
 rather unstedy, but upon the whole he was a most 
 aimable man in all the relations of life, the Pub- 
 lick have a loss, but his Mother and Brother have 
 a much greater never to be repaird, must be 
 sensibly felt by them to their last moments. A 
 putrid fever has leveled him now with other 
 mortals. Lord Bute's second son Worteley, who 
 is to enjoy all the Worteley riches, has married 
 himself from the University at Edinburgh to a 
 Miss Cunningham, the Duke of Gordon to a Miss 
 Maxwell, both lucky Scotch ladies. 
 
 Poor Doctor Gregory is going, a fever and 
 dropsy, on the declyne, as is your truly affect. 
 
 Letter lxxxh. 
 
 [The Northampton election spoken of in this letter 
 came off in 1768, and is known by the name of the 
 " Spendthrift Election," Lord Spencer is said to have 
 spent ;£^i 50,000 on the contest, and Lords Northampton 
 and Halifax ;^ioo,ooo.] 
 
 September 29, 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Venice is a terible place, very 
 unlucky your fate led you there. That damp 
 air much more prejudicial than English. . . . 
 Great contests att all elections, and England must 
 be for a twelvemonth to come a most disagreeable 
 place. Your Uncle, Lord Halifax, was well 
 attended by all his family at Northampton Races. 
 L*^ Northampton and L'' Halifax mett there 
 
174 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 on extreme good terms, and were to settle the 
 members for the General Elections. They were 
 to nominate them at this meeting. L'^ North- 
 ampton named his brother-in-law, Sir George 
 Rodney, and Lord Halifax his nephew, Sir 
 George Osborn, therefore your brother is now in 
 full employ, feasting and canvassing. . . . For 
 several years these two families have brought in 
 by compromise each one member, so there is no 
 Contest, and the expence a trifle in comparison of 
 what others are, perhaps four or five thousand 
 pounds. Sir Robert Barnard says he has ;!^45,ooo 
 in his Bankers hands, and will spend it all in 
 opposition to Hinchingbrook and Carisfort for 
 Co. Huntington. Duke of Portland engages 
 against Sir James Lowther. Carlisle, Cumber- 
 land, and all the North are in flames by these 
 potent interests clashing. Lord Edward Bentinck 
 is sure to come in somewhere, golden showers 
 water his cause. 
 
 Lord Palmerston met Miss Pool at Spa. Those 
 waters produce many amours, and though ten 
 years older than himself, is agreeable, sensible, 
 and so clever, that notwithstanding his intentions 
 of marrying a fortune, and she has none, yet 
 Love prevaild, and he was married to her last 
 week. 
 
 Lord and Lady North dind with me the day 
 before they went out of town, as he would be a 
 great man soon, I began my solicitations before 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 75 
 
 he was so, and put in my Claim with regard to 
 you. 
 
 Sunday last Wrotesley came express with the 
 death of the Duke of York, there was before that 
 accounts come of his dangerous illness. Perhaps 
 we don't know truth, but they call it a putrid 
 fever, occasioned by his dancing in violent 
 hurrys. ... I have a terible opinion of all the 
 Physitians abroad, they are absolute Quacks. 
 They are a pert society, and all those abroad are 
 full of the condition of the English, that it is 
 miserable to fall into their hands. Moliere well 
 has described them, sets them forth in their true 
 colours, and shews what a state of Body and mind 
 they reduce their friends to. 
 
 your affectionate. 
 
 Letter lxxxiii. 
 
 Charles Street, i6 October 1767. 
 My dear Jack, — It was your Brother's turn to 
 have wrote now, but the Opposition of Sir James 
 Langham finds him full employment, and he 
 oblidged to scamper away to Northampton this 
 morning. This foolish affair will occasion the 
 two Earls to draw their purses. ^800 to each 
 already, a very vexatious circumstance, but your 
 Uncle is determind to go through it at all events, 
 and as they remain 600 a head of Sir James, 
 there seems no doubt it must and will end well. 
 
176 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 All this week has been full of surprizes, the 
 Sun has shone most gloriously into this room. 
 . . , George Montagu is appointed Secretary to 
 the Chancellor of Exchequer. Lord North has 
 kissed hands for that . . . 
 
 In reading Lord Lyttleton's Harry 2nd, a 
 passage struck me of a letter from good Thobald, 
 old Archbishop of Canterbury, to him, who was 
 the imediate predecessor of Becket. " My flesh 
 is consumd, and my soul is on the point of 
 departing from my body, but it still lingers 
 in hope and desire of your coming, it will not 
 suffer mine eyes to close till they have had the 
 satisfaction of beholding your face," but he dyed 
 before King Harry returned to England, who was 
 then in France. 
 
 My dear Jack, most affectionately yours. 
 
 Letter lxxxiv. 
 
 London, 27 October 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — The delightfull weather we 
 now have makes me wish you here. . . . The 
 Montreal is not yet arrived with Duke of York's 
 remains, but expected every day. . . . Nov^ 
 2,rd. . . . The Contest at Northampton runs 
 high, and the Spenser Interest broke faith severall 
 times. Sir James Langham has, however, given 
 up, used Lord Spenser very ill. . . . 
 
 Yesterday morning the Queen gave birth to a 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 7/ 
 
 fourth son. The day was strangely devided by 
 joy in the morning and grief in the evening, 
 when the Duke of York's remains were brought 
 from Greenwich, to the Jerusalem Chamber, and 
 are to be interred in Westminster Abbey this 
 evening. I conclude grief has took its seat at 
 your Court, at the unexpected death of the Arch- 
 Duchess Josepha. . . . Never were such 
 stormy contests as now. 
 
 yours affectionately. 
 
 Letter lxxxv. 
 
 London, 20 November 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I am but the shadow of the 
 Grandmother you left in England, and cannot go 
 out of my house, and I find such delay and 
 indolence in everybody that tis very hard and 
 difficult to obtain any Answer. ... I find 
 the Archduchess is likely to recover the small 
 pox, and conclude she will be your Queen, there- 
 fore likely to be with you in the summer, for all 
 preparations for the other will serve for this, the 
 name only changed. 
 
 God knows how politicks are to end, at present 
 is quiet, but the Oppositions and money spent by 
 Candidates for the new Parliament has been un- 
 known before. Your brother and Sir George 
 Rodney are oblidged to live at Northampton. . . 
 
 Sir George Pocock looks pretty well, he was 
 
 M 
 
178 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 summoned to Cockpit, Lord Torrington to Duke 
 Grafton's, to hear King's speach, but neither 
 could attend. Lord Bohngbroke's cause is begun, 
 tis thought her Lord will not be able to procure a 
 divorce. The town will be very empty this 
 winter, every soul canvassing in the Country. I 
 shall rejoyce when Parliament is disolvd, and 
 Writs issued for the new one. Adieu. 
 
 Letter lxxxvi. 
 
 Nov. 25, 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Your Brother has told you 
 all about Northampton, which principally fills our 
 thoughts . . . there is not the least doubt but he 
 will have success ... tis infinite the trouble he 
 has, and must for some months have the same. 
 Tis rather stubborn and obstinate in Lord Spencer 
 to set up Lord Howe. . . . Parliament met on 
 Teusday last, all pretty quiet. Some attempts to 
 amendment of the address, but it soon subsided, 
 one or two flamd away about present mismanage- 
 ment, but as usual ended in nothing. The landed 
 Interest is beat out, and Merchants, Nabobs, and 
 those who have gathered riches from the East 
 and West Indies stand the best chance of govern- 
 ing this Country. 
 
 Sums unheard off are now given for Cornish 
 Burroughs. George Byng gives ^3000 for one 
 he is oblidged to bring in, and ^4000 has since 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 79 
 
 "been offerd for it by another, tho' in honour the 
 Person must keep to his first purchaser. 
 
 Letter lxxxvh. 
 
 Charles Street, Xmas Day, 1767. 
 
 My dear Jack, — The season, the day, and my 
 inclinations all press my best wishes to be sent 
 by my pen. Lord Halifax has received Mr. 
 Hamilton's letter. ... I wish you had taken 
 the resolution in last summer of coming amongst 
 your friends. North in power, Hillsborough 
 now Secretary of State to America — two from 
 whom some good might be produced. . . . 
 
 It is found necessary to take in some part gf 
 the Opposition, they have judgd it best to be the 
 Bedford party, the consequence is — Lord Wey- 
 mouth, Sec. of State, in room of Conway. 
 
 L*^ Hilsborough, 3^^ Sec. of State for America, 
 ^4000 a year. 
 
 L*^ Gower, President of the Council. 
 
 L*^ Sandwich, joynt Post Master, in room of 
 Hilsborough. 
 
 Rigby, joynt Treasurer of Ireland. 
 
 Lord Charles Spencer may be one of the 
 Admiralty if he pleases. 
 
 These are the principal changes, only Lord 
 Gower has kissd hands last Wednesday, the 
 rest not to do so till after the Holydays. 
 
 Duke of Bedford has undergone the operation 
 
l8o POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 of Baron Wesinfield of extracting the Chrlstiline 
 humour from his eyes — they have been bound up 
 the proper time after it, and now the bandage is 
 off he, that was quite bhnd, sees perfectly well. 
 
 Lord Spencer is determind to harass the two 
 Earls at Northampton, and money without end 
 will be spent. L*^ How's brother has no chance. 
 . . . Lady Northampton dying has occasiond so 
 great grief to her Lord that he cannot prevail 
 himself to go to Castle Ashby. Lord Halifax is 
 at Horton, your Brother there also, but on Lord 
 Rothes death, Duke Gloucester has his regiment, 
 and all were to be presented to him last Monday. 
 You never mention Mont Vesuvius no more than 
 if you were not there. 
 
 My dear Jack, wishes of all health and happy- 
 ness attend you from your truly affect. 
 
 Letter lxxxviil 
 
 Charles Street, 9 Feb. 1768. 
 
 My dear Jack, — I freted to be oblidged to 
 disappoint your expectations of a letter by last 
 Fryday post. . . . Your brother hurried away to 
 Northampton. I hope some time next month 
 we shall be taken out of our boiling water, we 
 have as yet no fear of loosing the Victory. . . , 
 March i. . . . The Parliament now fixd to be 
 disolvd the 10^^ of this month, . . . Lord Boling- 
 brok's divorce is pass, and my Lady is to marry 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. l8l 
 
 Beauclerk at once. . . . April 1 2. — Your brother's 
 letter to you Postrestant at Turin will acquaint 
 you of his success at Northampton, tis thought 
 the loosing game to Lord Spencer is at least 
 ^50,000, but he will dip farther, and try a vexa- 
 tious petition to the House. You will hardly 
 credit it when I tell you Wilks is chose for 
 Middlesex, and such a madness reigns, all the 
 town is lighted up on the occasion. ... So 
 changd is everything since you left us that you 
 have no more notion of our Government, Partie, 
 Conections, than if you were a native of Italy 
 who had hardly ever read of this Country, . . . 
 even the very ladies are changd in dress and 
 behaviour, much, very much for the worse. . . , 
 by my continual attacks you will find me as much 
 changd as all other things. Thank God I am 
 very well resignd to my approaching end, and 
 have no attachment to this world, except your 
 Brother and yourself. 
 
 You must forget you come from Palaces at 
 Naples, we will do our best to accomodate you 
 when you return, my dear Jack. 
 
 y"" truly affect. 
 
 Letter lxxxix. 
 
 Charles Street, May y^ 1768. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Your Brother desires me to 
 writes this post to say he hopes you will not suffer 
 
1 82 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 your Servant to bring over anything to sell here, 
 he shall be oblidged to give his word for that. . . . 
 The Parliament is to meet next Teusday, Lord 
 Spencer enters his petition against your Brother 
 then, the trouble and solicitation is not to be 
 conceivd, ten times more than the Election, the 
 merits of the Cause is certainly with us, but in 
 the House of Commons there is no guarding 
 against Power that transforms numbers and 
 merits into what shape they please. We have 
 most of the leading Interest with us. Ladies 
 enter into this affair, and Lady Spencer obtains 
 all the Belle Esprits to fight their cause as she 
 thinks the men cannot resist them. . . . 
 
 Letter xc. 
 
 London, September 8, 1768. 
 
 My dear Jack, — By the dreadfull accounts of 
 desolation in and about London, which you will 
 read in the newspapers, which are very exactly 
 related, you may wish to have the truth off, I 
 scrible this to acquaint you that you may depend 
 on what you read in them, and therefore I need 
 not repeat, only add that my kitchen and offices 
 below were 3 or 4 feet deep in water. People who 
 keep exact accounts of the weather say more rain 
 fell that day than in the usal course falls in a 
 month, all the land springs have rise to a degree 
 not rememberd by anyone. I received a letter 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 83 
 
 from your Brother today, who says y^ Wapineers 
 and seamen are so riotous on the river that a 
 guard has been oblidged to be kept there for the 
 last ten days. Sure it is a pretty state of things 
 when the lower orders contend against authority ! 
 My best respects wait on Lord Halifax, with 
 the affectionate good wishes of yours, 
 
 S. O. 
 
 Letter xci. 
 
 [Bushey was the residence of Lord Halifax. He died 
 on June 8, 177 1, when the peerage became extinct] 
 
 April 30, 1 77 1. 
 
 My dear Jack, — Your brother has been at 
 Bushey ever since Sunday with your Uncle. He 
 will not let him out of his sight. Inflammation on 
 the Liver. D"" Thomas carryd down Sir Clifford 
 Wintring Sunday evening, who stay'd all night. 
 
 May 3''''. — Your brother's letter will inform you 
 of the dangerous situation your Uncle has been 
 in, indeed, I fear consequences from it. ... I 
 do not like Jaundice, you know my fear, and calld 
 me a Croaker. I am very unlucky, however, in 
 my foresights. Your Uncle let your brother come 
 to town for a few hours yesterday, and says he 
 hopes he may be able to be removed to George 
 Street next Monday if no relapse. Old age comes 
 on apace with us all, and then what pain and grief 
 is our life. 
 
184 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 Your sister has set with me all this last week, 
 as not proper to be out while your Uncle so ill. 
 She sent her excuse to Marlborough House, 
 which she bore very well, but I painted his being 
 a father, and not a common Uncle, and his publick 
 character also demanded a particular decency. . . . 
 
 Letter xcn. 
 
 December 18, 1771. 
 My dear Jack,— I conclude you have met in 
 the newspapers with the extraordinary movement 
 of a bog or morass at Solway beyond Durham of 
 1 2 acres which lifted itself up 3 feet and fell again 
 and did so several times, and several days, after 
 which it floted itself off, and coverd all the field, 
 even passed over a river, and covered Land on 
 the other side. Sir Gilbert Eliot and others who 
 are come from Scotland have seen it. None can 
 account for it, only say it is the greatest Pheno- 
 menon that has been known. 
 
 April 21, 1772. 
 
 This Town drest for the Holy days, but dismal 
 in this weather. Good Fryday snowd all day, no 
 comfortable sun yet. . . . 
 
 July 25, 1772. 
 
 Here is a strange flurry to save the National 
 Bank of Scotland, by a Bank set up at Ayr, Duke 
 

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LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 85 
 
 of Buccleugh, Duke Oueensberry, and a list of 
 200 subscribers, . . . and they grant annuitys 
 ^800 for 2 lives, ... all the single ladies are 
 distracted about it, and the topic of all conversa- 
 tion turns on this, but prudent people fear the 
 security, for the Lords and others Estates are 
 most of them entaild, when they dye they cannot 
 bind their heirs, and then what security ? The 
 lawyers opinions are all against it, and think it a 
 very great risque, therefore one knows not what 
 to advise any friend to do, so great an advantage 
 bespeaks a snake in the grass somewhere or 
 other, and will turn out a Bank in Air. The 
 Weather has been most exceedingly hot, but 
 Heaven is kind in sending refreshing cooling 
 Showers, and tis thought by coming in this 
 moderate manner that there will be plenty of 
 grain in the field, and fruits in the garden. . . . 
 Only sister Byng and numbers of card-playing 
 widows are in town, that often days pass with 
 me without seeing any mortal. If I could read, 
 write and work as I could till very lately, my 
 time would not hang heavy. 
 
 July 6, 1773. 
 
 Lord North is now in full fatigue at Oxford, 
 where he is, or will be, chose Chancellor. I think 
 he has passed a disagreeable winter, the papers 
 treat him with great abuse, but I fancy he stands 
 very firm. There is such a want of abilities and 
 
1 86 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LETTERS OF A 
 
 such dissipation in living that there is no one to 
 step forth that can succeed to any employment. 
 Lord Chesterfield is come, but I have not yet 
 heard anything with regard to his own affaires, 
 for this town is now too empty to be informed of 
 any thing worth noted. I pass days without 
 seeing any one worth conversing with, so that 
 time passes but heavily, but what can one expect 
 otherways at 80. Swift's Brobdinangs setts that 
 time of life in a miserable light, and can make 
 no one wish to have it prolongd. I am so far 
 happy, that when the release comes, I leave none 
 behind that can want me, and my stay here can 
 only be a clog on those I love. 
 
 [This last letter is written after the birth of Sarah's 
 great grandson, afterwards Sir John Osborn.] 
 
 \7 July 1773- 
 My dear George, — Next to your brother and 
 yourself this little sensible boy takes a deep hold 
 in my heart, and my prayers are constant that he 
 may be a blessing and comfort to you equal to 
 that you have been to me. I am ever full of a 
 thankful remembrance of God's goodness to me 
 in the most essential point of life, to have been 
 made happy, and very uncommon to be so two 
 generations together. I trust it will extend to 
 the third, in which you may be the partaker 
 of the choicest blessings Heaven can bestow, 
 
LADY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1 8/ 
 
 and that your son will be a worthy member of 
 his family. 
 
 Such are the last words penned by Mrs. 
 O shorn. 
 
 In Campton Church, Beds., the following 
 inscription is to be seen on her monument : — 
 
 The Honb'« Mrs. Osborn, 
 
 Wife to John Osborn, Esq., 
 
 And only daughter to the Admiral 
 
 Lord Viscount Torrington. 
 
 Born in Oct. 1693 and died in NoV 1775. 
 
 She was a woman 
 
 of uncommon abilities and Understanding 
 
 Who managed the whole Bussiness 
 
 of this Estate 
 
 in the two Minorities 
 
 of her Son and Grandson, 
 
 Sir Danvers and Sir George Osborn. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Almacks, 133, 162, 170. 
 
 Anglesea, Lord, Marriage of, 169, 
 
 170. 
 Anson, Lord, 82, 83. 
 Ayr^ Bank at, 184, 185. 
 
 Barrymore, Lord, Marriage of, 159. 
 
 Bath, Letters from, 20, 21, 22. 
 
 Bedford, Duke of, convenes meet- 
 ing at Bedford, 38, 39 ; letter 
 to Mrs. Osborn about Admiral 
 Byng, 117; loses his Motion in 
 the House of Lords, 128 ; comes 
 to town to negotiate, 157 ; grief 
 at his son's death, 166 ; speech 
 in the House of Lords, 169 ; 
 undergoes operation for his eyes, 
 179, 180. 
 
 Bedfordshire Election, 53. 
 
 Bristol, Society at, 18, 19, 20. 
 
 Byng, Sir George, created Viscount 
 Torrington, 8 ; correspondence 
 with Sir John Osborn, 9, 20, 21, 
 
 38, 41- 
 
 Byng, Hon. Robert, Governor of 
 Barbadoes, 9, 51, 59. 
 
 Byng, Admiral, 9, 12, 13, 33, 41, 
 68, 82, 83 ; account of the loss of 
 Minorca ; the Admiral sentenced 
 to be shot ; popular clamour 
 against him ; Pitt pleads his 
 cause with the king ; the king's 
 reply ; letter from Voltaire to the 
 Admiral dated from Les Delices, 
 enclosing one from Marshal 
 Richlieu, who justifies his con- 
 duct ; application from Mrs. 
 Osborn to the Duke of Bedford 
 on her brother's behalf; his 
 reply ; second appeal to him 
 from Mrs. Osborn, enclosing 
 letter to the Lords of the 
 Admiralty ; Admiral Byng's last 
 
 letter to his sister, March 12, 
 1757; document written by the 
 Admiral a few minutes before his 
 death ; copy of inscription on his 
 monument in Southill Church, 
 Beds, 1 12-125. 
 
 Chicksands Priory, 9, 13, 15, 17 ; 
 letters from, 60, 61, 62, 68, 69, 
 70-72. 
 
 Chilbolton, Letters from, 45, 46. 
 
 Court, St. James's, description of 
 dresses worn, 23. 
 
 Court, dining at, 83. 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, Picture at Chick- 
 sands, 43, 45. 
 
 Danbury Place, Letters from, 26-33. 
 Duel, Account of, fought in Hill 
 Street, 103-105. 
 
 Earthquakes, in Northamptonshire, 
 
 Leicestershire, etc., 100. 
 Elections, 174. 
 
 Fox, Mr., 98, 131, 135. 
 
 George II., King, 54, 55, 78, 84, loi. 
 George III., King, 144, 150, 172. 
 Gray, the poet, 22. 
 
 Halifax (Earl oO, Lord Lieutenant 
 of Ireland, 13 ; Secretary of State, 
 13, 62, 100, 128, 129, 131 ; 
 marriage of his daughter with 
 Lord Hinchinbroke, 132, 133- 
 13s. 139. .142, 145. 153. 160, 
 161 ; nominates his nephew as 
 member for Northampton Elec- 
 tion, 174; illness of, 183. 
 
 Housekeeping, Account of, 55-58- 
 
 Inoculation, Introduction of, 23. 
 
190 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Kent, Duke of, 36, 37, 42. 
 Kimbolton, Visit to, 35-37. 
 
 Lahy, Fate of, 141. 
 Layer, Mr. , his trial, 26. 
 Lumley, Lord, his death and will, 
 133- 
 
 Manchester, Duke of, his death and 
 
 will, 63-65, 67. 
 Marlborough, Duke of, his funeral, 
 
 25. 
 Minorca, Fall of, 112. 
 Montagu, Marriage of Lady Betty, 
 
 132, 133. 
 
 North, Lord, 174, 176, 185. 
 Northatttpton Races, 173. 
 Northampton, Election at, 178, 180, 
 182, 
 
 Orange, Prince and Princess of, 54. 
 
 Osbom, Mrs., 7, 10, II, 12, 13, 
 187. 
 
 Osbom, Sir Danvers, member for 
 Co. Bedford, 11 ; raises troop in 
 support of the king, 12; Gover- 
 nor of New York, dies there, 12. 
 
 Ossory, Lord, 156, 168. 
 
 Palmerston, Lord, 174. 
 
 Pitt, Mr., the hero of the day, 
 126 ; means to repeal the Stamp 
 Act, 127 ; a harlequin, 137 ; 
 sent for by the king, 144 ; is 
 made Lord Chatham, 146 ; Privy 
 Seal, 146, 148, 154, 161, 169. 
 
 Pope, his Essay on Man, 59. 
 
 Pretender, Rebellion of, report of, 
 
 *]% ; king's message to the House, 
 78 ; Duke of Marlborough's reply ; 
 speeches of Lord Chesterfield, 
 Lord Lonsdale, Mr. Pitt ; general 
 alarm in London ; preparations 
 for war ; 6000 Dutch troops ex- 
 pected ; panic in London ; let- 
 ter found on Count St. Germain ; 
 hiding the plate ; prisoners 
 brought to the Tower ; Duke of 
 Cumberland, 78-91. 
 Pri>Kess QzxoXvsxt, 151. 
 
 Ranelagh, 136, 171. 
 Ratclif Chnxc\\, description of, 19. 
 iV^/^a/ of Stamp Act, 127, 132. 
 Richlieu, Marshal, 113-115. 
 
 Sackville, Lord George, 128. 
 Southill, Letters from, 33-45. 
 
 Tavistock, Lord, his fall out hunt- 
 ing, 163 ; his death, 166. 
 
 Townshend, Mr. Charles, 127; 
 Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 146, 147 ; on the point of resign- 
 ing, 163 ; opens the Budget, 
 169 ; death of, 172, 173. 
 
 Vanbrugh, Sir John, 18. 
 Venice, 173. 
 
 Vesuvius, Eruption of, 136, 140. 
 Voltaire, Letter from, 113, 
 
 Wilkes, 128, 164, 165, 181. 
 
 York, Duke of, death of, 175 ; 
 funeral in Westminster Abbey, 
 177. 
 
 MOKRIbON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. 
 
 iXo 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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