make fortunes.  The most diverting part is to hear people wondering when it will be found out—­as if there was any thing to find out—­as if the actors would make their noises when they can be discovered.  However, as this pantomime cannot last much longer, I hope Lady Fanny Shirley will set up a ghost of her own at Twickenham, and then you shall hear one.  The Methodists, as Lord Aylesford assured Mr. Chute two nights ago at Lord Dacre’s have attempted ghosts three times in Warwickshire.  There, how good I am!

(212) Lady Mary Wortley Montagu remained at Venice till the death of Mr. Wortley in this year when she yielded to the solicitations of her daughter, the Countess of Bute, and, after an absence of two-and-twenty years, began her journey to England, where she arrived in October.-E.

(213) john Macnaughton, Esq. executed in December, 1761, for the murder of Miss Knox, daughter of Andrew Knox, Esq. of Prehen, member of parliament for Donegal. macnaughton, who had ruined himself by gambling, sought to replenish his fortune by marriage with this young lady, who had considerable expectations; but as her friends would not consent to their union, and he failed both in inveigling her into a secret marriage, and in compelling her by the suits which he commenced in the ecclesiastical courts to ratify an alleged promise of marriage, he revenged himself by shooting her while riding in a carriage with her father.-E.

Letter 111 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, Feb. 6, 1762. (PAGE 169)

You must have thought me very negligent of your commissions; not only in buying your ruffles, but in never mentioning them; but my justification is most ample and verifiable.  Your letters of Jan. 2d arrived but yesterday with the papers of Dec. 29.  These are the mails that have so long been missing, and were shipwrecked or something on the Isle of Man.  Now you see it was impossible for me to buy you a pair of ruffles for the 18th of January, when I did not receive the orders till the 5th of February.

You don’t tell me a word (but that is not new to you) of Mr. Hamilton’s wonderful eloquence, which converted a whole House of Commons on the five regiments.  We have no such miracles here; five regiments might work such prodigies, but I never knew mere rhetoric gain above one or two proselytes at a time in all my practice.

We have a Prince Charles here, the Queen’s brother; he is like her, but more like the Hows; low, but well made, good eyes and teeth.  Princess Emily is very ill, has been blistered, and been blooded four times.

My books appear on Monday se’nnight:  if I can find any quick conveyance for them, you shall have them; if not, as you are returning soon, I may as well keep them for you.  Adieu!  I grudge every word I write to you.

Letter 112To The Rev. Mr. Cole.(214) Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1762. (PAGE 170)