(809) This alludes to the stories told at the time, of an ivory bed, inlaid with gold, having been presented to Queen Charlotte by Mrs. Hastings, the wife of the governor-general of India.

(810) " The Bishop of London’ " writes Hannah More, " carried me to hear the King make his speech in the House of Lords.  As it was quite new to me, I was very well entertained; but the thing that was most amusing was to see, among the ladies, the Princess of Stolberg, Countess of Albany, wife to the Pretender, sitting just at the foot of that throne, which she might once have expected to have mounted; and what diverted the party, when I put them in mind of it, was, that it happened to be the 10th of June, the Pretender’s birthday.  I have the honour to be very much like her; and this opinion was confirmed yesterday, when we met again."-Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 343.-E.

(811) Walpole rarely makes mention of Catherine without an allusion to the murder of the Czar Peter. in a letter written to Madame du Deffand, in 1769 he thus indignantly denounce Voltaire’s applauses of the Empress:—­“Voltaire me fait horreur Avec sa Caterine:  le beau sujet de badinage que l’assassinat d’un mari, et l’usurpateur de son tr`one!  Il n’est pas mal, dit-il, qu’on ait une faute r`eparer:  eh! comment reparer un meurtre?  Est-ce en retenant des po`etes `a ses gages? en payant des historiens mercenaires, et en soudoyant des philosophes ridicules `a mille lieues dc son pays?  Ce sent ces `ames viles qui chantent un Auguste, et se taisent sur ses proscriptions."-E.

Letter 385 To Miss Berry.  Strawberry Hill, Tuesday night, July 12, 1791. (page 512)

I had had no letter from you for ten days, I suppose from west winds; but did receive one this morning, which had been three weeks on the road:  and a charming one it was.  Mr. Batt,—­who dined with me Yesterday, and stayed till after breakfast to-day,—­being here, I read part of It to him; and he was as much delighted as I was with your happy quotation of incedit Regina.  If I could spare so much room, I might fill this paper with all he said of you both, and with all the friendly kind things he begged me to say to both from him.  Last night I read to him’ certain Reminiscences; and this morning he slipped from me, and walked to Cliveden, and hopes to see it again much more agreeably.  I hope so too, and that I shall be with him.

I wish there were not so many f`etes at Florence; they are worse for you both than an Italian sultriness:  but, if you do go to them, I am glad you have More northern weather.  News I have none, but that Calonne arrived in London on Sunday:  you may be sure I do not know for what.  In a word, I have no more opinion of his judgment than of his integrity.  Now I must say a syllable about myself; but don’t be alarmed!  It is not the gout; it is worse:  it is the rheumatism, which I have had in my shoulder