French publications, beside his own productions, which culminated in “The Castle of Otranto,” a departure in fiction beginning the modern romantic revival.  In 1765 he visited Paris, where he went much into society, and when his celebrated friendship with Mme. du Deffand began.  He helped to embitter Rousseau against Hume by the mock letter from Frederick the Great offering him an asylum in Germany.  In 1789, nine years after Mme. du Deffand’s death, he met the two sisters, Agnes and Mary Berry, who came to live near him at little Strawberry, which he left them at his death.  He succeeded his nephew as fourth Lord Orford in 1791, but he preferred the name which he had made more widely known, and signed himself “Horace Walpole, uncle of the late Earl of Orford.”  The celebrated letters begin as early as 1735 and extend to 1797.  Walpole never married.

(78) “Historic Doubts on Richard the Third.”

(79) The Duke of Grafton.

(80) Hugh, second Duke of Northumberland (1742-1817).

(81) Stephen Fox.

[1768,] Feb. 16, Tuesday morning, Newmarket.—­I have just finished a long letter, which, when I came to sand, I have, par distraction, covered all over with ink.  I came down here on Saturday with March to meet the Duke of Grafton, who by the by only stayed here that night, and then went to Bury, so that I have scarce seen him.

We are at Vernon’s house, that is, dinner and supper; which he has bought of Lord Godolphin(82) [for] 4000.  Here has been Sir J. More, Bully, and Polly Jones, Vernon’s Polly, Mr. Stoneheir,(83) who came with the D[uke] of G[rafton], Sir Charles Bunbury and little Harry, and Mr. Richmond has been here also to lay out Vernon’s gardens.  Sir Charles has held us a Pharo bank of a night which has cost him 200 pound, a sum, I imagine, not so easily spared at this juncture by him.

March promised that I should be in London again today, but you know his irresolution, and the little opposition which I can give to what he desires; but it is a great sacrifice for me, for you have been so good in writing to me since I left you, that there is not a week that I am absolutely without my hopes of hearing from you, although, when I left you, I should have been glad to have compounded for once a month; and I’m the more impatient to know what accounts are come by Monday night’s post, from what you told me of the gripe, and that you could not go to the French Amb[assado]r’s Ball.  Harry tells me that he wrote to you, as you ordered him.

Lady S[arah] is in town, and I suppose very happy with the thoughts of a Mascarade which we are to have at Almack’s next Monday sevennight, unless in the interim some violent opposition comes from the Bishops.  Harry has had here with him a son of Lord Carysfort’s(84) from Cambridge.  Bully’s affair ends with the Session; as soon as that is concluded, he will be in respect of matrimony absolutely evinculated.