I think it so very uncertain whether this letter will find you, that I write merely to tell you I received yours to-day.  I recollect nothing particularly worth seeing in Sussex that you have not seen (for I think you have seen Coudray and Stansted, and I know you have Petworth), but Hurst Monceaux, near Battle; and I don’t know whether it is not pulled down.  The site of Arundel Castle is fine, and there are some good tombs of the Fitzalans at the church, but little remains of the castle; in the room of which is a modern brick house; and in the late Duke’s time the ghost of a giant walked there, his grace said—­but I suppose the present Duke has laid it in the Red Sea of claret.

Besides Knowle and Penshurst, I should think there were several seats of old families in Kent worth seeing; but I do not know them.  I poked out Summer-hill(318) for the sake of the Babylonienne in Grammont; but it is now a mere farmhouse.  Don’t let them Persuade you to visit Leeds Castle, which is not worth seeing.

You have been near losing me and half a dozen fair cousins today.  The Goldsmiths, Company dined in Mr. Shirley’s field, next to Pope’s.  I went to Ham with my three Waldegrave nieces and Miss Keppel, and saw them land, and dine in tents erected for them, from the opposite shore.  You may imagine how beautiful the sight was in such a spot and in such a day!  I stayed and dined at Ham, and after dinner Lady Dysart, with Lady Bridget Tollemache took our four nieces on the water to see the return of the barges but were to set me down at Lady Browne’s.  We were, with a footman and the two watermen, ten in a little boat.  As we were in the middle of the river, a larger boat full of people drove directly upon us on purpose.  I believe they were drunk.  We called to them, to no purpose; they beat directly against the middle of our little skiff—­but, thank you, did not do us the least harm—­no thanks to them.  Lady Malpas was in Lord Strafford’s garden, and gave us for gone.  In short, Neptune never would have had so beautiful a prize as the four girls.

I hear an express has been sent to * * * * to offer him the mastership of the horse.  I had a mind to make you guess, but you never can—­to Lord Exeter!  Pray let me know the moment you return to Park-place.

(318) Formerly a country-seat of Queen Elizabeth, and the residence of Charles the Second when the court was at Tunbridge.- E.

Letter 145 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, August 22, 1778. (page 196)

I beg you Will feel no uneasiness, dear Sir, at having shown my name to Dr. Glynn.  I Can never suspect you, who are giving me fresh proofs of your friendship, and solicitude for my reputation, of doing any thing unkind.  It is true I do not think I shall publish any thing about Chatterton.  Is not it an affront to innocence, not to be perfectly satisfied in her?  My pamphlet, for