(858) The seat of Sir George Cayley, Bart. near Scarborough.

Letter 406 To The Miss Berrys.  Strawberry Hill, Oct. 6, 1793. (page 544)

You are welcome to Scarborough both, and buon proviccia!  As you, Mrs. Mary, have been so mistaken about your sister, I shall allow nobody for the future to take a panic about either but myself.  I am rejoiced the journey seems hitherto to answer so well; but, do you know, “it is very inconvenient to my Lord Castlecomer.”  I am forced to eat all the game of your purparties, as well as my own thirds.

Pray did not you think that the object of the grand alliance was to reduce France?  No such thing! at least their views have changed ever since they heard of your setting out.  Without refining too much, it is clear to me that all they think on now, is to prevent my sending you news.  Does any army stir?  Is not the Duke of Brunswick gone to sleep again, like a paroli at faro, or like a paroil at Torbay, which cocks one corner, but never wins a septleva?  That Lord Admiral reminds me of a trait of poor Don Carlos, which helped on his death-warrant.  He one day made a little book, which he intituled “The Travels of Philip the Second, King of Spain.”  It contained his Majesty’s removals from his capital to his country palaces, and back again.  Well! if all those monarchs are so pitiful as to set their wits against you, I will balk them.  I will do as other folks do; I will make news myself-not to-night; for I have no invention by me at present:  besides, you are apt to sift news too shrewdly

.But, before I coin a report for you, I must contradict one.  If you should hear in Yorkshire, that I am appointed aide-de-camp to the Duke of York, you may safely contradict it.  It could only arise from the Duchess of York’s visit to me; just as, the year before you came to Cliveden, your predecessor, Sir Robert Goodere, literally told me, that he heard that Princess Elizabeth had been sent to me for two days for the air.  On questioning him roundly, I discovered that he had heard no such thing; but had conjectured so. on seeing two of the Duchess of Gloucester’s servants pass before his door from or to the Pavilions; which ought not to have puzzled the goose’s imagination a moment—­but thus reports originate!

Monday night, 7th.

I come from Mrs. Jeffries at Richmond, but return not a battle richer than I went; though I saw the secretary-at-war’ there, and even the panic-master-general, who had not a single alarm to bestow on a poor soul who is hungering and thirsting for news, good or bad, to send to you.  Sir George Yonge,(859) indeed, did tell us, that thirty Jacobins, who had disguised themselves as priests, to bring scandal on their countrymen of that profession, but who, the Bishop of Leon declares, are none of their clergy, have been detected and seized, and are to be sent away to-morrow.  Home news