I sat the other morning with Miss Blake; Lady S[arah], and Sir Ch[arle]s were rode out, and I did not see them.  She told me a letter was come from Charles, and there is a rendezvous she said, somewhere, but she could not recollect where.  She thought you intended to meet Charles and their family at Spa the end of the summer; if so, I shall not despair of seeing you many months sooner than I can otherwise expect it.  I shall know to-day at dinner more particularly about it.  Lord March thanks you for your frequent and kind mention of him.

My new chaise comes home the week after next.  I shall defer making a chariot for some time.  I may, perhaps, ask your opinion about a friensh [French?] equipage.  March’s great room is gilding, and when finished he is to give a dinner to Lady Sarah, and a concert to a great many more.  I will finish this au sortir de table.

Tuesday night.—­I dined at Sir Charles’s.  Harry came to town this morning with his French friend and Academist.  He has promised me to write to you next post.  Lady Sarah says that if you are not satisfied about the St. Andrew, Hemmins is to blame, not her.  She could not get him to come near her; and the day it was finished, which was the day before it went away, she never saw it.

Charles, I find, is to meet you in April at Rome; and Lady Sarah the latter end of the summer to meet him at Spa.  You do not return to Nice.  I do not count much upon hearing from you, but by accident, when you proceed further into Italy.

Sir R. Rich died last night only, so I can know nothing of his preferments yet.  Dr. Smith, the Master of Trinity, is also dead, and Dr. Hinchliff asks for his Headship.  Lady Sarah was melancholy about Stee (81); she hears that his lethargy increases, and thinks it probable her sister may lose both her husband and son in a very short time; that is a disagreeable perspective.  They all desired to be remembered to you.  Adieu, my dear Lord, pour aujourd’hui.  I have no chance of hearing from you by this post, the letters having come yesterday; so God bless you.  I am ever most sincerely and affectionately yours.

(76) Richard Rigby (1722-1788).  A prominent politician, he was for many years Paymaster of the Forces; but was a coarse, hard-drinking place-man.

(77) Horace Walpole (1717-1797) was the fourth and youngest son of Sir Robert Walpole.  He was Selwyn’s lifelong friend.  His biographers place him at Eton with Selwyn, the two Conways, George and Charles Montagu, the poet Gray, Richard West, and Thomas Ashton.  On leaving Cambridge he made the continental tour with Gray, but after two years of travel together they disagreed and separated for the homeward journey.  In 1747 he bought Strawberry Hill, which he transformed into his Gothic Castle, ornamenting the interior with objects of beauty or curiosity.  In 1757 he set up his private printing press, where he brought out Gray’s poems and other interesting English and