Well!  I have seen Madame d’Albany who has not a ray of royalty about her.  She has good eyes and teeth; but I think can have had no more beauty than remains, except youth.  She is civil and easy, but German and ordinary.  Lady Ailesbury made a small assemblage for her on Monday, and my curiosity is satisfied.  Mr. Conway and Lady A., Lord and Lady Frederic Campbell, and Mrs. E. Hervey and Mrs. Hervey, breakfasted with me that morning at Strawberry, at the desire of the latter, who had never been there; and whose commendations were so promiscuous, that I saw she did not at all understand the style of the place.  The day was northeasterly and cold, and wanting rain; and I was not sorry to return into town.  I hope in five months to like staying there much better.  Mrs. Damer, who returned in such Spanish health, has already caught an English northeastern cold; with pain in all her limbs, and a little fever, and yesterday was not above two hours out of her bed.  Her father came to me from her before dinner, and left her better; and I shall go to her presently; and, this not departing till to-morrow, I hope to give you a still more favourable account.  These two days may boldly assume the name of June, without the courtesy of England.  Such weather makes me wish myself at Strawberry, whither I shall betake myself on Saturday.

505 Letter 382 To The Miss Berrys.  Berkeley Square, June 8, 1791.

Your No. 34, that was interrupted, and of which the last date was of May 24th, I received on the 6th, and if I could find fault, it would be in the length; for I do not approve of your writing so much in hot weather, for, be it known to you ladies, that from the first of the month, June is not more June at Florence, My hay is crumbling away; and I have ordered it to be cut, as a sure way of bringing rain.  I have a selfish reason, too, for remonstrating against long letters.  I feel the season advancing, when mine will be piteous short for what can I tell you from Twickenham in the next three or four months’!  Scandal from Richmond and Hampton Court, or robberies at my own door?  The latter, indeed, are blown already.  I went to Strawberry on Saturday, to avoid the birthday crowd and squibs and crackers.  At six I drove to Lord Strafford’s, where his goods are to be sold by auction; his sister, Lady Anne,(801) intending to pull down the house and rebuild it.  I returned a quarter before seven; and in the interim between my Gothic gate and Ashe’s nursery, a gentleman and gentlewoman, in a one-horse chair and in the broad face of the sun, had been robbed by a single highwayman, sans mask.  Ashe’s mother and sister stood and saw it; but having no notion of a robbery at such an hour in the high-road and before their men had left work, concluded it was an acquaintance of the robber’s.  I suppose Lady Cecilia Johnstone will not descend from her bedchamber to the drawing-room without life-guard men.  The Duke of Bedford(802) eclipsed the whole birthday