The night before I left London, I called at the Duchess of Richmond’s, who has stayed at home with the apprehension of a miscarriage.  The porter told me there was no drawing-room till Thursday.  In short, he did tell me what amounted to as much, that her grace did not see company till Thursday, then she should see every body:  no excuse, that she was gone out or not well.  I did not stay till Thursday to kiss hands, but went away to Vauxhall:  as I was coming out, I was overtaken by a great light, and retired under the trees of Marble Hall to see what it should be.  There came a long procession of Prince Lobkowitz’s footmen in very rich new liveries, the two last bearing torches; and after them the Prince himself’, in a new sky-blue watered tabby Coat, with gold buttonholes and a magnificent gold waistcoat fringed, leading Madame ambassadrice de Venise in a green sack with a straw hat, attended by my Lady Tyrawley, Wall, the private Spanish agent, the two Miss Molyneux’s, and some other men.  They went into one of the Prince of Wales’s barges, had another barge filled with violins and hautboys, and an open boat with drums and trumpets.  This was one of the f`etes des adieux.  The nymph weeps all the morning and says she is sure she shall be poisoned by her husband’s relations when she returns for her behaviour with this Prince.

I have no other news, but that Mr. Fitzpatrick has married his Sukey Young, and is very impatient to have the Duchess of Bedford come to town to visit her new relation.

Is not my Lady Ailesbury(1442) weary of her travels?  Pray make her my compliments,-unless she has made you any such declaration as Lady Mary Coke’s.  I am delighted with your description of the bedchamber of the House of Orange, as I did not see it; but the sight itself must have been very odious, as the hero and heroine are so extremely ugly.  I shall give it my Lady Townshend as a new topic of matrimonial satire.

Mr. Churchill and Lady Mary have been with me two or three days, and are now gone to Sunning.  I only tell you this, to hint that my house will hold a married pair; indeed, it is not quite large enough for people who lie, like the patriarchs, with their whole genealogy, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and oxes, and asses, in the same chamber with them.  Adieu! do let this be the last letter, and come home.

(1440) Now first printed.

(1441) See ant`e, p. 498 (Letter 215).-E.

(1442) On the 19th of the preceding December, Mr. Conway had married Caroline, widow of Charles Bruce, Earl of Ailesbury, and only daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell, afterwards fourth Duke of Argyle.-E.

554 Letter 255
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Mistley, July 14, 1748.