(1045) Now first printed.

(1046) J. Damer, Esq., of carne in Dorsetshire, brother to the first Lord Milton.-E.

)1047) Afterwards Countess of Sefton.-E.

(1048) Who afterwards succeeded to the Dukedom of Dorset.-E.

Letter 352 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, Aug. 30, 1768. (page 532)

You are always heaping so many kindnesses on me, dear Sir, I think I must break off all acquaintance with you, unless I can find some way of returning them.  The print of the Countess of Exeter Is the greatest present to me in the world.  I have been trying for years to no purpose to get one.  Reynolds the painter promised to beg one for me of a person he knows, but I have never had it.  I wanted it for four different purposes. 1.  As a grandmother (in law, by the Cranes and Allingtons):  2. for my collection of heads:  3. for the volumes of prints after pieces in my collection:  and, above all, for my collection of Faithornes, which though so fine, wanted such a capital print:  and to this last I have preferred it.  I give you unbounded thanks for it:  and yet I feel exceedingly ashamed to rob you.  The print of Jane Shore I had:  but as I have such various uses for prints I easily bestowed it.  It is inserted in my Anecdotes, where her picture is mentioned.

Thank you, too, for all your notices.  I intend next summer to set about the last volume of my Anecdotes, and to make still further additions to my former volumes, in which these notes find their place.  I am going to reprint all my pieces together, and, to my shame be it spoken, find they will at least make two large quartos.  You, I know, will be partial enough to give them a place on a shelf, but as I doubt many persons will not be so favourable, I Only think of leaving the edition behind me.

Methinks I should like for your amusement and my own, that you settled to Ely:  yet I value your health so much beyond either, that I must advise Milton, Ely being, I believe, a very damp, and, consequently, a very unwholesome situation.  Pray let me know on which you fix; and if you do fix this summer, remember the hopes you have given me of a visit.  My summer, that is, my fixed residence here, lasts till November.  My gallery is not only finished, but I am going on with the round chamber at the end of it; and am besides playing with the little garden on the other side of the road, which was old Franklin’s, and by his death came into my hands.  When the round tower is finished, I propose to draw up a description and catalogue of the whole house and collection, and I think you will not dislike lending me your assistance.