“I opened my eyes this morning on Leonora, from which I defy the greatest chemist in morals to extract any instruction; the style most affectedly florid, and naturally insipid, with such a confused heap of admirable characters, that never were, or can be, in human nature.  I flung it aside after fifty pages, and laid hold of Mrs. Philips, where I expected to find at least probable, if not true facts, and was not disappointed.  There is a great similitude in the genius and adventures (the one being productive of the other) between Madame Constantia and Lady Vane:  the first mentioned has the advantage in birth and, if I am not mistaken, in understanding:  they have both had scandalous lawsuits with their husbands, and are endowed with the same intrepid assurance.  Con. seems to value herself also on her generosity, and has given the same proofs of it.  The parallel might be drawn out to be as long as any of Plutarch’s; but I dare swear you are already heartily weary of my remarks, and wish I had not read so much in so short a time, that you might not be troubled with my comments; but you must suffer me to say something of the polite Mr. Ste, whose name I should never have guessed by the rapturous description his mistress makes of his person, having always looked upon him as one of the most disagreeable fellows about town, as odious in his outside as stupid in his conversation, and I should as soon have expected to hear of his conquests at the head of an army as among women; yet he has been, it seems, the darling favourite of the most experienced of the sex, which shows me I am a very bad judge of merit.  But I agree with Mrs. Philips, that, however profligate she may have been, she is infinitely his superior in virtue; and if her penitence is as sincere as she says, she may expect their future fate to be like that of Dives and Lazarus.”

Lady Mary received from her daughter a copy of Lord Orrery’s Remarks on the Life and Writings of Jonathan Swift, published in 1751, six years after the death of Swift.  This book so aroused the ire of Lady Mary that, writing of it, she attacked everyone concerned.

“Lord Orrery’s work has extremely entertained, and not at all surprised me, having the honour of being acquainted with him, and knowing him for one of those danglers after wit, who, like those after beauty, spend their time in humbly admiring, and are happy in being permitted to attend, though they are laughed at, and only encouraged to gratify the insatiate vanity of those professed wits and beauties who aim at being publicly distinguished in those characters.  Dean Swift, by his lordship’s own account, was so intoxicated with the love of flattery, he sought it amongst the lowest of the people, and the silliest of women; and was never so well pleased with any companions as those that worshipped him while he insulted them.  It is a wonderful condescension in a man of quality to offer his incense in such a crowd, and think it