One word more of the Gunnings.  Captain Bowen informed the authoress, by the channel of the papers, that he shall prosecute her for the libel.  She answered, by the same conveyance, that she is extremely glad of it.  But there is a difficulty-unless the prosecution is criminal, it is thought that Madam being femme couverte, the charge must be brought against her husband; and, to be sure, it would be droll that the General should be attached for not hindering his wife from writing a libel, that is more virulent against him himself than any body!  Another little circumstance has come out:  till the other day he did not know that he had claimed descent from Charlemagne in the newspapers; which, therefore, is referred to the same manufacture as the other forgeries.  The General said, “It is true I am well born; but I know no such family in Ireland as the Charlemagnes.”

Lord Ossory has just been here, and told me that Gunnilda has written to Lord Blandford, in her own name and hand, begging his pardon (for promising herself marriage in his name), but imputing the first thought to his grandmother, whom she probably inspired to think of it.  This letter the Duchess of Marlborough carried to the Duchess of Bedford, to open her eyes on her proteg`ee, but with not much success; for what signify eyes, when the rest of the head is gone?  She only said, “You may be easy, for both mother and daughter, are gone to France”—­no doubt, on finding her grace’s money not so forthcoming as her countenance, and terrified by Captain Bowen’s prosecution and there, I hope, will terminate that strange story; for in France there is not a marquis left to marry her.  One has heard Of nothing else these seven months; and it requires some ingenuity to keep up the attention of such a capital as London for above half a year together.  I supped on Thursday at Mrs. Buller’s with the conways and Mount-Edgcumbes; and the next night at Lady Ailesbury’s with the same company, and Lady Augusta Clavering.(761) You know, on the famous night at your house when Gunnilda pretended that her father had received Lord Blandford’s appointment of the wedding-day, we suspected, when they were gone, that we had seen doubts in Lady Augusta’s face, and I desired her uncle, Lord Frederick, to ask her if we had guessed right; but she protests she had then no suspicion.

I have determined to send this away on Tuesday, whether I know the details of the temple of Janus to-morrow in time or not, that you may give yourself airs of importance, if the Turin ministers pretend to tell you news of your own country that you do not know.  You may say, your charg`e des affaires sent you word of the King’s message; and you may be mysterious about the rest; for mystery in the diplomatic dictionary is construed as knowledge, though, like a Hebrew word, it means the reverse too.

Sunday night.

I have been at White Pussy’s(762) this evening.  She asked much after you.  I did not think her lord looked as if he would drive Prince Potemkin out of Bulgaria; but we trust that a new Frederick of Prussia and a new William Pitt will.  Could they lay Catherine in the Black Sea, as ghosts used to be laid in the Red, the world would be obliged to them.