Mrs. Damer certainly goes abroad this winter.  I am glad of it for every reason but her absence.  I am certain it will be essential to her health; and she has so eminently a classic genius, and is herself so superior an artist, that I enjoy the pleasure she will have in visiting Italy.

As your lordship has honoured all the productions of my press with your acceptance, I venture to enclose the last, which I printed to oblige the Lucans.  There are many beautiful and poetic expressions in it.  A wedding to be sure, is neither a new nor a promising subject, nor will outlast the favours:  still I think Mr. Jones’s Ode(445) is uncommonly good for the occasion; at least, if it does not much charm Lady Strafford and your lordship, I know you will receive it kindly as a tribute from Strawberry Hill, as every honour is due to you both from its master.  Your devoted servant.

(444) The fourth book of Mason’s “English Garden” had just made its appearance.-E.

(445) Mr. afterwards Sir William, Jones’s Ode on the marriage of Lord Althorpe, afterwards Earl Spencer, with Miss Bingham.-E.

Letter 226 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  Strawberry Hill, Sept. 16, 1781. (page 227)

I am not surprised that such a mind as yours cannot help expressing gratitude:  it would not be your mind, if it could command that sensation as triumphantly as it does your passions.  Only remember that the expression is unnecessary.  I do know that you feel the entire friendship I have for you; nor should I love you so well if I was not persuaded of it.  There never was a grain of any thing romantic in my friendship for you.  We loved one another from children, and as so near relations; but my friendship grew up with your virtues, which I admired though I did not imitate.  We had scarce one in common but disinterestedness.  Of the reverse we have both, I may say, been so absolutely clear, that there is nothing so natural and easy as the little moneyed transactions between us — and therefore, knowing how perfectly indifferent I am upon that head, and remembering the papers I showed you, and what I have said to you when I saw you last, I am sure you will have the complaisance never to mention thanks more.-Now, to answer your questions.

As to coming to you, as that feu gr`egeois Lord George Gordon has given up the election, to my great joy, I can come to you on Sunday next.  It is true, I had rather you visited your regiment first, for this reason:  I expect summons to Nuneham every day; and besides, having never loved two journeys instead of one, I grow more covetous of my time, as I have little left, and therefore had rather take Park-place, going and coming, on my way to Lord Harcourt.