(211) The Rev. Francis Blomefield, the author of an " Essay towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk,” which was left unfinished by him, and continued by the Rev. Charles Parkin.  It was first printed in five folio volumes:  1739-1773.  A second edition, in eleven volumes, octavo, appeared in 1805-1810.-E.

Letter 91 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  Strawberry Hill, July 9, 1775. (page 136)

The whole business of this letter would lie in half a line.  Shall you have room for me on Tuesday the 18th?  I am putting myself into motion that I may go farther.  I told Madame du Deffand how you had scolded me on her account, and she has charged me to thank you, and tell you how much she wishes to see you, too.  I would give any thing to go-But the going!—­However, I really think I shall, but I grow terribly affected with a maladie de famille, that of taking root at home.

I did but put my head into London on Thursday, and more bad news from America.(211) I wonder when it will be bad enough to make folks think it so, without going on!  The stocks, indeed, begin to grow a little nervous, and they are apt to affect other pulses.  I heard this evening here that the Spanish fleet is sailed, and that we are not in the secret whither-but I don’t answer for Twickenham gazettes, and I have no better.  I have a great mind to tell you a Twickenham story; and yet it will be good for nothing, as I cannot send you the accent in a letter.  Here it is, and you must try to set it to the right emphasis.  One of our maccaronis is dead, a Captain Mawhood, the teaman’s son.  He had quitted the army, because his comrades called him Captain Hyson, and applied himself to learn the classics and freethinking; and was always disputing with the parson of the parish about Dido and his own soul.  He married Miss Paulin’s warehouse, who had six hundred a-year; but, being very much out of conceit with his own canister, could not reconcile himself to her riding-hood—­so they parted beds in three nights.  Of late he has taken to writing comedies, which every body was welcome to hear him read, as he could get nobody to act them.  Mrs. Mawhood has a friend, one Mrs. V * * *, a mighty plausible good sort of body, who feels for every body, and a good deal for herself, is of a certain age, wears well, has some pretensions that she thinks very reasonable still, and a gouty husband.  Well! she was talking to Mr. Rafter about Captain Mawhood a little before he died.  “Pray, Sir, does the Captain ever communicate his writings to Mrs. Mawhood?” “Oh, dear no, Madam; he has a sovereign contempt for her understanding.”  “Poor woman!” “And pray, Sir,- - give me leave to ask you:  I think I have heard they very seldom sleep together!” “Oh, never, Madam!  Don’t you know all that?” “Poor woman!” I don’t know whether you will laugh; but Mr. Raftor,(213) who tells a story better than any body, made me laugh for two hours.  Good night!