they ran as far as St. James's Street, where they met with a chair, and prudently crammed themselves both into it, observing the rule of dividing the good and bad fortune of this life, resolved to run all hazards together, and ordered the chairmen to carry them both away, perfectly representing, both in love and nakedness, and want of eyes to see that they were naked, our first happy parents. Sunday last I had the pleasure of hearing the whole history from the lady's own mouth.

The next most extraordinary adventure, is the famous quarrel between her Grace of Hamilton with Captain Hero; but I suppose you cannot be ignorant of so surprising an

event.

Deaths nor marriages I know of none, but Sir Stephen Evans,' that hanged himself, and my sister Evelyn, who will be married next week. The post-bell rings; my next shall be longer, with some account of your fair family.

TO MRS. HEWET.

4

I WOULD willingly return dear Mrs. Hewet something more, for diverting me so well, than dry thanks impertinently expressed. 'Tis reported that Lady Charlotte Finch is to marry old Conoway, and Lady Margaret Tufton, Lord Brooke. Beside the dismal changes of state, this is all I know. I fear I write nonsense; but it happens miraculously to be in a room full of company, and if I omit this opportunity, I know not when I may have another of sending. Mr. Sterne, the titular bishop, was last week married to a very pretty woman, Mrs. Bateman, whom he fell in love with for falling backward from her horse leaping a ditch, where she displayed all her charms, which he found irresistible. Mrs. White, Mrs. Sutton, and Mrs. More, are all with me; and I am so embarrassed with

1 The banker. He had failed a short time previously.-T.

2 She was married to John Lord Gower, on the 13th of March, 1712. -T.

3 Conway?-T.

These intended marriages did not take place.-D.

Probably all Nottinghamshire ladies-Mrs. White, of Walling Wells, is afterwards referred to. Mrs. Sutton was no doubt one of the daughters of Lord Lexington.-T,

civilities tour à tour, that I have hardly calmness of spirit to tell you, in a composed way, that I am your thankful humble servant.

To MRS. HEWET.

York, November, 1714.1

'Tis not owing either to insensibility or ingratitude that I have not yet returned my thanks to dear Mrs. Hewet for her obliging letter; but the weakness of my sight will not permit me to express the dictates of my heart, and I am forced to sit by the fireside and think you a thousand thanks, when I would be putting them upon paper. I rejoice that Lady Harriet has shown some sensibility, as unworthy an object as she has chosen ; yet I think 'tis better than (as I feared she had) dutifully making over all her senses along with her fortune, for the use of her Grace; I thought her other faculties as imperfect as that of hearing. I am glad she is not such a stock as I took her to be. I beg your pardon that I must write a letter without news, but I do not know one bit, if it were to stand one instead of my neck-verse. I am here waiting the meeting of the Parliament, and am persuaded you will be in London before me; if not, I will endeavour to see you. You talk of the Duke of Leeds—I hear that he has placed his heroic love upon the bright charms of a pewterer's wife; and, after a long amour, and many perilous adventures, has stolen the fair lady, which, in spite of his wrinkles and grandchild, persuade people of his youth and gallantry. You see what stuff I am forced to write; but to such I am compelled, excepting I should entertain you with York loves and piques, which would be as dull to you as what passed at the last wake. 'Tis impossible to laugh at what they do, without having first laughed at what they are.

I am, madam, yours.

This is abrupt; but the post will wait for no man.

1 [Dated 1713 in Lord Wharncliffe's 1st and 2nd editions.]

3

2 Peregrine, second Duke of Leeds. He was distinguished for his gallant behaviour in several maritime expeditions. He died in 1729, in the seventy-first year of his age.-T.

3 See another letter to Mrs. Hewet, dated Adrianople, April 1, 1717, among letters during Mr. Wortley's embassy.-T.

CORRESPONDENCE

WITH

MISS ANNE WORTLEY

AND

MR. WORTLEY MONTAGU

BEFORE 1717.1

To MISS ANNE WORTLEY.2

[Thoresby] May 2.

I HOPE, my dear Mrs. Wortley, that you are so just to me, to believe could not leave the town without seeing you, but very much against my own inclination. I am now at Thoresby. Our journey has been very bad, but, in my opinion, the worst part of it was going from you. I hope you intend to be kinder to me this summer than you was the last. There needs nothing to keep up the remembrance of you in my heart, but I would not think of and think you forget me. Farewell, my dear. My letter should be longer, if it was possible to make it so without

you

All the letters in this section, except where stated to the contrary in the notes, are now printed from the originals among the Wortley Papers.-T.

2 The second daughter of the Honourable Sydney Wortley Montagu, the second son of the first Lord Sandwich. Miss Anne Wortley

was the favourite sister of Edward Wortley Montagu, Esq., Lady Mary's husband.-W. Mr. Wortley generally signed his name "Edward Wortley;" but was addressed by his friends both as "Mr. Wortley," and,, Mr. Wortley Montagu;" though it is under the latter name that both he and Lady Mary are best known to readers.-T.