Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford, to Sir Horace Mann

Dec. 19.-Lord North and Mr. Fox displaced as Secretaries of State. Mr.

Pitt expected to be First Lord of the Treasury, and Lord Thurlow to have

the Great Seal

PAGE

315

318

1784.

Jan. 8.-Meeting of the House of Commons. Cavalier Mozzi. Dying con-

dition of Sir Edward Walpole. Particulars of his illness. Gustavus III.

of Sweden with Sir Horace Mann. Errors of Lord Harwicke's "Wal-

poliana." George II.'s presents to Sir Robert Walpole. Character of

Lord Harwicke's works

Jan. 13.-Death of Sir Edward Walpole. Majority of the ex-Ministers in

the House of Commons. Expectation of the Parliament being dissolved.

Feb. 2.-Fluctuation and uncertainty of political affairs. Mozzi's affair.

Reflections thereon. Two prints of Cosimo's Duchess

March 12.-Suspension of arms. The Opposition. The younger Sir Ho-

race Mann's intended withdrawal from Parliament. Ladies turned poli-

ticians. The Prince of Wales's ball. Cavalier Mozzi and Lord Orford.

Walpole's reflections on his conduct in the affair

March 26.-Dissolution of Parliament. Robbery of the Great Seal. Ex.

pectation of riot and violence. Erroneous report of the Pretender's

death. Cardinal Henry. "The puppet of the League." Ladies and

little girls politicians. Inclemency of the weather. Inundations in Ger-

many and Holland. Short lives of politics and tempests. Walpole's

dislike of elections, and retrospection of his former life

March 30.-The late revolution in the Administration. Mr. Fox's system

to correct India. Mr. Pitt's bold measure. Addresses of thanks to the

Crown. Precipitate and ignorant conduct of the country. Wretched

condition of the nation. The Cabinet of Versailles. A powerful fleet

sent by the French to India. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox. Insufficiency of the

Ambassador at Paris. Anecdote of Lord Shelburne. England in a state

of ruin. Retrospection. Woful change for the Opposition. Unpopularity

of the Coalition and Mr. Fox. Lord Hertford's six sons. Mr. Fox a can

didate for Westminster. The King's endeavours to defeat him. Lord

Hood a candidate on the side of the Court. Riot between the sailors and

the Irish chairmen. The Duchess of Devonshire's support of Mr. Fox.

Horrible barbarity at Dover. (April 15.)—Sir H. Manu, jun., Mr. Mar-

sham, and Lord Mahon. The Court and the Opposition. Mr. Fox's elec»

tion for Westminster. Cloudy aspect of Ireland

April 29.-Cavalier Mozzi's affair. Elections. Lady politicians. English

politicians on the Continent. Satiric prints. Cav. Mozzi and Mr. Sharpe.

Illness of Lady Charlotte Herbert. Her father's profligacy and avarice.

Comparison between gout and rheumatism. Backwardness of spring.

Swarms of robbers

June 3.-Cavalier Mozzi's affair drawing to a close. Present of a snuff-box

to Cav. Mozzi. Portrait of Lady Orford. The new Parliament. The

Westminster election. Walpole's lack of interest in the affairs of the

world. Pleasures and grievances of old age. Doddington's "Memoirs."

Remarks on them

July 8.-Cavalier Mozzi. New taxes. National debt. "The Arno Mis-
cellany." Marriage of Lord Southampton to Mrs. Keppel's second daugh-
VOL. II,-47

ter. Genealogy of the bride and bridegroom.

Lady Harrington

July 10.-Cav. Mozzi's affair. Lucas's impertinence. Reflections on old

age. Messrs. Sharpe and Lucas. Walpole's vindication of his conduct

in the affair

Aug. 9.—The Pretender acknowledges his natural daughter,
"The Arno

Miscellany," and its authors. Coldness of the summer. The rage for

balloons. Campaign of the Duc de Chartres in one. Recommendation

of Lord Mount Edgcumbe's son to Sir H. Mann. Mr. Edgcumbe's tra-

velling companion

Aug. 25.-Generous and honourable conduct of Mr. Duane in the Mozzi af-

fair. Rising of Parliament. Serious aspect of Ireland. Count Albany

and his daughter. The Cardinal-Duke of York. Restoration of the estates

forfeited in 1745. Vast number of letters written by Walpole to Mann.

Sept. 30.-The rage for balloons. Exploit of Lunardi, the airgonaut.

Stormy aspect of Ireland. Absurdity of Roman Catholics voting at elec-

tions.
Quarrel of Joseph II. with the Dutch. Scandal from beldams,

and lies from newspapers. The Great Duke and the Medicean collection.

Sir H. Mann's munificence. Catalogue and prints of the curiosities at

Strawberry Hill. Description of Strawberry, its situation, and beautiful

prospects. Smallness of the whole. Transitoriness of our visions

Nov. 1.-Reflections on longevity. Arrival at Florence of the Duchess of

Albany. Project against Holland. The new Signora Mozzi. Mechani-

cal habit of writing letters. Falsehood of the maxim that "no one

knows himself."

Nov. 8.-Large force sent against Holland by the Emperor of Austria.

Consequence of the American war. Rejection of concessions to the Irish

Romanists. Fashions in religion. Parliamentary Reform. Walpole's

secluded life

Dec. 2.-Inertness of Walpole's correspondence. Creation of two marquises.

Air-balloons. The rival airgonauts, Lunardi and Blanchard. War be-

tween the “ Austrian Eagle and the Frogs." Another “Fitzroyal match

in Walpole's family. The war in Holland. Sordid motives of modern

conquests and reformations. Determination of France to defend the

PAGE

1785.

Jan. 4.-"A triangle of gouty correspondence." Foolish squabbles of the

Pretender and the Cardinal of York. Mann's attentions to Lord Mount

Edgcumbe's son at Florence

Feb. 2.-Walpole's illness. Long duration of his correspondence with

Mann. "Epistolary patriarchs." Meeting of Parliament. Opposition

quelled. Submission of the Dutch. Revival of the kingdom of Austrian

Lombardy. Scandal in the English newspapers on the French Queen.

Tameness of London. Walpole's retrospect of his long life

March 5.-Vicissitudes of bad weather. The Duke and Duchess of Mont-

rose. Lord Graham married to Lord Ashburnham's daughter. The

Dutch war.
Demolition of the scrutiny for Westminster. Illuminations

on the return of Lord Hood and Mr. Fox. Bacchanalian character of the

new generation. Fallacy of prophets. Renewed illuminations. The

Dowager-Duchess of Bedford. Madness of the Duchess of Albemarle

and Lady Mary Coke. Embarrassing situation with Ireland. Rashness

and inexperience of Mr. Pitt. Infirmity of the rapidly-chosen Parliament.

Injustice of the scrutiny at Westminster. Mr. Fox's triumph. The

Marquis of Buckingham, and two young rioters of rank. Mass of Parlia-

mentary matters. Pitt's amazing abilities. Maestricht invested by the

Emperor. His character

351

353

355

April 8.-Mann's illness. Walpole's broken constitution. General Ogle-

thorpe at ninety-five. Seven descents seen by Walpole in the Walde-

grave family. Another patriarchal characteristic. Lord Cowper and his

Knighthood of St. Hubert. Anecdote of a mad foreigner at Paris. The

Buckinghamshire petition. Other business before the House of Com-

mons

May 7.-Air-balloons. Voyage into the clouds by a French girl. New..

bridge over the Thames at Henley. Offer by Mrs. Damer to make two

gigantic masks of the Thame and Isis for the key-stones. Proctor, the

statuary. Miss Boyle and Miss Ogle, scholars of Mrs. Damer. Enor-

mous fire in Southwark. The great question of Ireland. Dangerous

ascent in a balloon by Mr. Windham. A" navy in the air."

May 29-Marriage of Lucy, eldest daughter of Sir Horace Mann, junior.

Visit to Florence of their Neapolitan Majesties. Italian Naumachias.

Ludicrous mistake. Death of Lord Godolphin. The House of Commons

thinly attended. Walpole's nephews and nieces. Newspaper scurrility.

Sanctified old harridans. Reflections on retirement and authorship

June 24.-Improved health of Mann and Walpole. Florentine entertain-

ments for the King and Queen of Naples. The Pope disappointed of

iniquitous plunder. Sitting of Parliament on the Irish propositions.

Grattan and Pitt. Fatal balloon-disasters. Prince William [afterwards

Duke of Clarence and King of England] in the Mediterranean. Grand-

Ducal manufactory of porcelain. "Balloonation" still in vogue. Ascent

from Oxford of Colonel Fitzpatrick

July 25.-Advantage and convenience of the gout. Plunder of convents by

the Austrian Emperor. The Irish propositions. The Balloonomania a

little chilled. Anecdote of Lord Orford and an airgonaut. Death of the

Duchess Dowager of Portland. The gout a remedy, not a disease

Aug. 26.-Benefits of coughs in old persons. Total defeat in Ireland of the

Administration. Sir Robert Walpole's maxim. Expected change in the

Ministry. The Cardinal de Rohan committed to the Bastile for forgery.

Misfortunes in the Montrose family. Philosophers and Collectors. Cen-

tenary of the birth of Sir Robert Walpole. Vindication of his memory.

Death of Lord George Sackville. Lord Cowper's principality.

Oct. 4.-Abandonment of the threatened campaign in Holland.

Sardinia. Change of style in directing letters. Anecdotes. Modern re-

trenchment. Sir Robert Brown the miser

Oct. 30.-Lady Craven. Mrs. Piozzi. Knot of poets. The Rolliad. Dearth

of news. Severity of the weather. Mrs. Damer. Her statuary. Lady

Spencer's drawings. The arts in England. Herschell the new Columbus

Dec. 4.-Sir Horace Mann, jun. Mr. Croft the banker. The English abroad.

Political rumours

Dec. 13-Absurd behaviour of an English lady. Walpole's health

1786.

Queen of

Jan. 8.-An "interlude of gout." Inclement weather. "Inundation" at Flo-

rence of English peerages. Royal Dukes and Duchesses in Italy. Mrs.

Damer and Miss Campbell. Numbers of English transported to the Con-

tinent by gaming. Depopulation of London. The mail robbed in Pall

Mall. Worse outrages in Dublin. Marriage of Mr. Pratt to Miss Moles-

worth. Walpole's patience under the gout

Feb. 13.-Mann's reception of Mrs. Damer and Miss Campbell. The Duke

and Duchess of Gloucester. Angry speeches in parliament. Mr. Eden.

Royalty an empty pageant. Mr. Dutens. Accounts of the Pretender's

family; and rumours about the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert

March 16.-A second winter. Accusations against Mr. Hastings. Mr.

PAGE

Fitzgerald's murderous exploits. Cagliostro. La Chevalière D'Eon.

Marriage of Captain Hugh Conway to Lady Horatia Waldegrave. Ar-

rival in England of Lord and Lady Spencer. Adventures of Lady Craven.

Mrs. Piozzi and Boswell. Volume of English poetry printed at Florence

March 28.-Arrival of vases and books. Superiority of the French in orna-

ments of taste. Mrs. Piozzi's Anecdotes of Dr. Johnson, Walpole's dis-

appointment in them. Remarks on the book and on Dr. Johnson. The

Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert. Walpole's legacy from his

father. A dishonest return for honesty. Boswell and Mrs. Piozzi ridi-

culed in the burlesque verses of Dr. Wolcot (Peter Pindar.) Dr. John-

son's defects

April 30.-Dearth of news. Severity of the spring. Trial of Mr. Hastings.

Voluminous charges against him. A trio of culprits. Boswell and Mrs.

Piozzi. Caricature prints ridiculing them. Lord Cowper. Female cos-

tume. Reflections on fashion. Mr. Hasting's defence. Speculations on

our aggressions in India

May 29.-Concert at Mrs. Cosway's, Rubinelli. Introduction to Earl

Cowper. Walpole, in his latter days, thrown among royalties. Rehearsal

of Handel's Jubilee in Westminster Abbey. Rubinelli and Mara. Mar-

riage of Mann's nephew and niece. Order and decency at the Abbey.

Satire on Governments

June 22.—Mrs. Damer. Walpole remonstrates with Mann for sending him

so many presents. The Episcopal Count and his nephew, Fitzgerald.

Execution of the latter for murder. Fate of Hastings not decided. Car-

dinal de Rohan and Cagliostro. Lady Craven. The cameo sent by Mann.

Walpole's self-accusations.

PAGE

To George Selwyn,* Dec. 2, 1765.-Madame du Deffand. Unhealthiness

of France. Good-nature of the French. The Queen and her son.

dame Geoffrin. The Duchess d'Aiguillon. Madame de Rochfort and the

set at the Luxembourg. M. de Maurepas. The Duc de Brissac. The

affair of the Parliament at Brétagne, and the intended trial of M. de Cha-

rolais (?). House of Madame de Sévigné in Paris. Livry. Questions

as to home-matters. Swarms of English in Paris. Lord Ossory. Scarcity

of bons-mots, Baron d'Olbach. Nonsense of the philosophers. Dr. Gem

and Brand. Anticipated meeting of Walpole, Selwyn, and Gilly Williams

at Strawberry Hill. Hume's popularity in France. The Bishop of Lon-

don suppressing the mass-houses

To the same, Oct. 16, 1767.-Walpole's passage from France. Emptiness

of London. County elections. Illness of Lord Clive. Lady Bolingbroke's

bravado. Lord and Lady Holland. Commissions for Selwyn .

To the same, Sept. 9, 1771.-Comic Opera on Raton and Rosette (two dogs

belonging to Selwyn and Walpole.) The "Fiancée du Roi de Garbe."

Alfieri

To the same, Aug. 12, 1772.-Castle Howard. Its beauties and sublimities.

Walpole's reception there. Splendid weather. Lord Carlisle

To the same, Aug. 10, 1774.-Announcement of a visit to Selwyn. Wal-

pole's reluctance to travel

To the Duchess of Gloucester, Jan. 27, 1774.-Advice as to an application

to Parliament by the Duke of Gloucester for an increase of income

To George Selwyn, Sept. 16, 1775.-Mr. Broderick. Madame du Deffand.
Richelieu and Madame de Sévigné's great-grand-daughter. Parisian

* Reprinted from George Selwyn and his Contemporaries.

fashions. M. Turgot. Bon-mot of Madame du Deffand. English nobi-

lity in Paris. Madame de Marchais. Madame du Deffand's favourite dog

To the Duke of Gloucester, Jan. 17, 1775.-Advice as to applying to Parlia-

ment for a provision for his family

To the Duchess of Gloucester, May 10, 1778.-Her mistake about Lord

Ch. Her brother's picture. Family portraits. Walpole's indepen-

dence. His respect for the Duke of Gloucester. Family pride and family

affection. Walpole independent of his family

To Lord Orford, Oct. 5, 1778.-On the subject of his Lordship's affairs

To George Selwyn, July 5, 1779.-Receipt of four beautiful drawings of

Grignan (Madame de Sévigné's house.) The Duchess of Leinster. Lord

Bolingbroke

To Lord Harcourt, 1780.-Reasons for not signing a petition to Parliament

"for necessary and effectual reform of the expenditure of public noney”.

To the Rev. W. Mason, 1780.-Walpoles vindication of himself in his quar-

rel with Mr. Mason

To the Duchess of Gloucester, March 13, 1783.-Fall of Lord Shelburne.

Vacancy in the Administration. The Duke of Portland appointed First

Lord of the Treasury. Satiric prints on the coalition of Lord North and Mr.

Fox. George Selwyn's bons-mots. New peerages and pensions. Death

of Lady Walpole. Suicide of Mr. Skrine. Old Lady Jurningham. Ge-

neral Conway. Scandulous Rumour

To Sir Horace Mann, March 13, 1783

"MEMOIRS RELATING TO MY INCOME," by Horace Walpole

"SHORT NOTES OF MY LIFE," by Horace Walpole

DESCRIPTION OF THE VILLA AT STRAWBERRY HILL, by Horace Walpole

PAGE

THE END.

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Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford, to Sir Horace Mann: His ..., Volume 2