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and I should not think it paid by all the services of my life.

TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR.

DEAR SISTER,-Having this occasion, I would not omit writing, though I have received no answer to my two last. The bearer is well acquainted with my affair, though not from me, till he mentioned it to me first, having heard it from those to whom R. [Rémond] had told it with all the false colours he pleased to lay on. I shewed him the formal commission I had to employ the money, and all the broker's testimonies taken before Delpeeke, with his certificate. Your remonstrances have hitherto had so little effect, that R. [Rémond] will neither send a letter of attorney to examine my accounts, or let me be in peace. I received a letter from him but two posts since, in which he renews his threats except I send him the whole sum, which is as much in my power as it is to send a million. I can easily comprehend that he may be ashamed to send a procuration, which must convince the world of all the lies he has told. For my part, I am so willing to be rid of the plague of hearing from him, I desire no better than to restore him with all expedition the money I have in my hands; but I will not do it without a general acquittance in due form, not to have fresh demands every time he wants money. If he thinks that he has a larger sum to receive than I offer, why does he not name a procurator to examine me? If he is content with that sum, I only insist on the acquittance for my own safety. I am ready to send it him, with full license to tell as many lies as he pleases afterwards. I am weary with troubling you with repetitions which cannot be more disagreeable to you than they are to me. I have had, and still have, so much vexation with this execrable affair, 'tis impossible to describe it. I had rather talk to you of any thing else, but it fills my

whole head.

I am still at Twicknam, where I pass my time in great indolence and sweetness. Mr. W. [Wortley] is at this present in Yorkshire. My fair companion puts me oft in

mind of our Thoresby conversations; we read and walk together, and I am more happy in her than any thing else could make me except your conversation.

TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR.

[July, 1721.]

I WISH to see you, dear sister, more than ever I did in my life; a thousand things pass before my eyes that would afford me infinite pleasure in your conversation, and that are lost for want of such a friend to talk them over. Lechmere is to be Lord Hungerford; 1 but the most considerable incident that has happened a good while, was the ardent affection that Mrs. Hervey 2 and her dear spouse took to me. They visited me twice or thrice a day, and were perpetually cooing in my rooms. I was complaisant a great while; but (as you know) my talent has never lain much that way, I grew at last so weary of those birds of paradise, I fled to Twicknam, as much to avoid their persecutions as for my own health, which is still in a declining way. I fancy the Bath would be a good remedy, but my affairs lie so oddly I cannot easily resolve upon it. If you please, dear sister, to buy twenty yards of the lutestring I have bespoke (black), and send it by the first opportunity; I suppose you know we are in mourning for Lady Pierrepont. Lady Loudoun and Lady Stair are in my neighbourhood. The first of those ladies is on the brink of Scotland for life. She does not care; to say truth, I see no very lively reasons why she should. I am affectionately yours.

3

1 Lechmere was not created Lord Hungerford, though, that being a family name, such a title might have been contemplated. He was created Lord Lechmere (or Lechemere) on the 25th August, 1721.-T. 2 Mary Lepell, who married Mr. Hervey in 1720. She is called "Mrs. Hervey " until the death of her husband's eldest brother, Carr Lord Hervey, in November, 1723.-T.

3 Lady Mary's aunt, relict of Gervase Lord Pierrepont. She died at Kensington, July 8, 1721.-T.

TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR.

I SEND you, dear sister, by Lady Lansdowne1 this letter, accompanied with the only present that ever was sent me by that monster. I beg you to return it immediately. I am told he is preparing to come to London. Let him know that 'tis not at all necessary for receiving his money or examining my accounts; he has nothing to do but to send a letter of attorney to whom he pleases (without exception), and I will readily deliver up what I have in my hands, and his presence will not obtain one farthing more: his design then can only be to expose my letters here. I desire you would assure him that my first step shall be to acquaint my Lord Stair2 with all his obligations to him, as soon as I hear he is in London; and if he dares to give me further trouble, I shall take care to have him rewarded in a stronger manner than he expects; there is nothing more true than this; and I solemnly swear, that if all the credit or money that I have in the world can do it, either for friendship or hire, I shall not fail to have him used as he deserves; and since I know his journey can only be designed to expose me, I shall not value what noise is made. Perhaps you may prevent it; I leave you to judge of the most proper method; 'tis certain no time should be lost; fear is his predominant passion, and I believe you may fright him from coming hither, where he will certainly find a reception very disagreeable to him.

Lady Lansdowne does not go till Tuesday; I have left the cup with her, and three guineas to be laid out in plain lutestring.

The wife of Lord Lansdowne, the poet and early patron of Pope, who was now an exile, residing, like Mar, in Paris. Lady Lansdowne passed frequently between France and England, her journeys being viewed with much distrust by the Jacobite party, who suspected her husband, as they suspected Mar, of treachery.—T.

2 Rémond is described by St. Simon as having been the tool of Stair during his embassy in Paris. Lady Mary may have known or suspected that Rémond betrayed Stair's secrets.-T.

TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR.

2

[August, 1721.]

DEAR SISTER, I give you ten thousand thanks for the trouble you have given yourself. I hope you will continue to take some care of my affairs, because I do not hear they are finished, and cannot yet get rid of my fears. You have not told me that you have received what I sent you by Lady Lansdowne, as also three guineas that she took for you; one of which I beg you would lay out in the same narrow minunet1 that you sent Mrs. Murray; and send it me by the first opportunity, for the use of my daughter, who is very much your humble servant, and grows a little woman. I suppose you know our sister Gower has lain-in in the country of a son. The Duchess of Kingston3 is preparing for the Bath. I live in a sort of solitude, that wants very little of being such as I would have it. Lady J. [Jane] Wharton is to be married to Mr. Holt, which I am sorry for;-to see a young woman that I really think one of the agreeablest girls upon earth so vilely misplaced—but where are people matched ?—I suppose we shall all come right in Heaven; as in a country dance, the hands are strangely given and taken, while they are in motion, at last all meet their partners when the jig is done.

TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR.

Twicknam, Sept. 6 [1721].

I HAVE just received your letter, dear sister; I am extreme sensible of your goodness, which I beg you to continue. I am very glad to hear of the good health of your family, and should be only more so, to be a witness of it, which I am not without some hopes of. My time is melted away here in almost perpetual concerts. I do not presume to judge, but I'll assure you I am a very hearty as well as

1 [Mignonnette, a sort of small lace.]

2 Lady Gower was delivered of a son 26 July, 1721.—T.

3 Lady Mary's stepmother.-T.

4 Sister of the profligate duke. The marriage did not take place till two years later.-T.

humble admirer. I have taken my little thread satin beauty into the house with me; she is allowed by Bononcini1 to have the finest voice he ever heard in England. He and Mrs. Robinson2 and Senesino lodge in this village, and sup often with me: and this easy indolent life would make me the happiest thing in the world, if I had not this execrable affair still hanging over my head. I have consulted my lawyer, and he says I cannot, with safety to myself, deposit the money I have received into other hands, without the express order of R. [Rémond]; and he is so unreasonable, that he will neither send a procuration to examine my accounts, or any order for me to transfer his stock into another name. I am heartily weary of the trust, which has given me so much trouble, and can never think myself safe till I am quite got rid of it: rather than be plagued any longer with the odious keeping, I am willing to abandon my letters to his discretion. I desire nothing more of him than an order to place his money in other hands, which methinks should not be so hard to obtain, since he is so dissatisfied with my management; but he seems to be bent to torment me, and will not even touch his money, because I beg it of him. I wish you would represent these things to him; for my own part, I live in so much uneasiness about it, that I am sometimes weary of life itself.

Mrs. Stoner will be a good person to send things by. I would have no black silk, having bought here.

TO THE COUNTESS OF MAR.

I CANNOT forbear (dear sister) accusing you of unkindness that you take so little care of a business of the last consequence to me. R. [Rémond] writ to me some time ago, to say if I would immediately send him £2,000 ster

1 The Italian composer. He came to England in 1720, where he resided for some years, and produced several operas at the theatre in the Haymarket.-T.

2 Anastasia Robinson, the singer, previously mentioned. See allusions to her affair with Senesino, post.-T.

Probably the Mrs. Stoner who appears from Ironside's "History of Twickenham " to have resided at Twickenham about this time.-T.

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