500 Letter 325 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, July 26, 1759.

I am dying in a hot street, with my eyes full of dust, and my table full of letters to be answered—­yet I must write you a line.  I am sorry your first of Augustness is disordered; I’ll tell you why.  I go to Ragley on the twelfth.  There is to be a great party at loo for the Duchess of Grafton, and thence they adjourn to the Warwick races.  I have been engaged so long to this, that I cannot put it off; besides, I am under appointments at George Selwyn’s, etc. afterwards.  If you cannot come before all this to let me have enough of your company, I should wish you to postpone it to the first of September, when I shall be at leisure for ten or twelve days, and could go with you from Strawberry to the Vine; but I could like to know certainly, for as I never make any of my visits while Strawberry is in bloom, I am a little crowded with them at the end of the season.

I came this morning in all this torrent of heat from Lord Waldegrave’s at Navestock.  It is a dull place, though it does not want prospect backwards.  The garden is small, consisting of two French all`ees of old limes, that are comfortable, two groves that are not so, and a green canal; there is besides a paddock.  The house was built by his father, and ill finished, but an air seigneurial in the furniture; French glasses in quantities, handsome commodes, tables, screens, etc. goodish pictures in rich frames, and a deal of noblesse `a la St. Germain—­James the Second, Charles the Second, the Duke of Berwick, her Grace of Buckingham, the Queen Dowager in the dress she visited Madame Maintenon, her daughter the Princess Louisa, a Lady Gerard that died at Joppa, returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and above all La Goqfrey, and not at all ugly, Though she does not show her thighs.  All this is leavened with the late King, the present King, and Queen Caroline.  I shall take care to sprinkle a little unholy water from our well.

I am very sorry you have been so ill; take care of yourself. there are wicked sore-throats in vogue; poor Lady Essex and Mrs. Charles Yorke died of them in an instant.

Do let me have a line, and do fix a day; for instead of keeping me at home one by fixing it, you will keep me there five or six days by not fixing it.  Adieu!

501 letter 326 To Sir Horace Mann.  Strawberry Hill, August 1, 1759.

I have received your two letters about the watch, the first came with surprising celerity.  I wish, when the watch is finished, I may be able to convey it to you with equal expedition.