(1056) A great riot took place on the 22d of March 1769, when a cavalcade of the merchants and tradesmen of the city of London, who were proceeding to St. James’s with a loyal address, was so maltreated by the populace, that Mr. Boehm, the gentleman to whom the address was entrusted, was obliged to take refuge in Nando’s coffeehouse.  His coach was rifled; but the address escaped the search of the rioters, and was, after considerable delay, during which a second had been voted and prepared, eventually presented at St. James’s.-E.

(1057) Lord Talbot behaved with great intrepidity upon this occasion:  though he had his staff of office broken in his hand, and was deserted by his servants, he secured two of the most active of the rioters.  His example recalled the military to their duty, who, without employing either guns or bayonets, captured fifteen more.-E.

(1058) The Duke of Kingston had married Miss Chudleigh on the 8th of this instant; the Consistory Court of London having declared, on the 11th of February previous, that the lady was free from any matrimonial contract with the Hon. Augustus John Hervey.  On the 19th, she was presented, upon her marriage, to their Majesties; who honoured her by wearing her favours, as did all the great officers of state.-E.

(1059) See vol. iii. p. 58, letter 24.  This unfortunate lady was burnt to death at Lord Frederick’s seat at Combe Bank, in July 1807.-E.

(1060) Lady Anne Liddel, only daughter of Henry Liddel, Lord Ravensworth, married, in 1756, to Augustus Henry, third Duke of Grafton; from whom being divorced by act of parliament, she was married secondly, on the 26th of March, to the Earl of Ossory.-E.

Letter 358 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, April 15, 1769. (page 539)

I should be very sorry to believe half your distempers.  I am heartily grieved for the vacancy that has happened in your mouth, though you describe it so comically.  As the only physic I believe in is prevention, you shall let me prescribe to you.  Use a little bit of alum twice or thrice in a week, no bigger than half your nail, till it has all dissolved in your mouth, and then spit out.  This has fortified my teeth, that they are as strong as the pen of Junius.(1061) I learned it of Mrs. Grosvenor, who had not a speck in her teeth to her death.  For your other complaints, I revert to my old sermon, temperance.  If you will live in a hermitage, methinks it is no great addition to live like a hermit.  Look in Sadeler’s prints, they had beards down to their girdles; and with all their impatience to be in heaven, their roots and water kept them for a century from their wishes.  I have lived all my life like an anchoret in London, and within ten miles, shed my skin after the gout, and am as lively as an eel in a week after.  Mr. Chute, who has drunk no more wine than a fish, grows better every year.  He has escaped this winter with only a little pain in one hand.  Consider that the physicians recommended wine, and then can you doubt of its being poison?  Medicines may cure a few acute distempers, but how should they mend a broken constitution? they would as soon mend a broken leg.  Abstinence and time may repair it, nothing else can; for when time has been employed to spoil the blood, it cannot be purified in a moment.