“We have one thing, however, Mr. Pacchierotti,” he answered, “which I hope you allow makes some amends, and that is our verdure; in Italy you cannot boast that.”

“But it seem to me, sir, to be of no utility so much evergreen is rather too much for my humble opinion.”

“And then your insects, Mr. Pacchierotti! those alone are a most dreadful drawback upon the comfort of your fine climate."”

“I must own,” said Pacchierotti, “Italy is rather disagreeable for the insects; but is it not better, sir, than an atmosphere so bad as they cannot live in it?”

“Why, as i can’t defend our atmosphere, I must shift my ground, and talk to you of our fires, which draw together society.”

“O indeed, good sir, your societies are not very invigorating!  Twenty people of your gentlemen and ladies to sit about a fire, and not to pronounce one word, is very dull!”

We laughed heartily at this retort courteous.

Raptures of the “Old wits” Over “Cecilia.”

[Mary Delany was the daughter of Bernard Granville, younger brother of George Granville, Baron Lansdowne, the poet and friend of Wycherley and Pope.  She was born on the 14th Of May, 1700.  Her uncle, Lord Lansdowne, was a better friend to the Muses than to his young niece, for he forced poor Mary Granville, at the age of seventeen, to marry one Alexander Pendarves, a coarse, hard drinking Cornish squire, of more than three times her age.  Pendarves died some six years later, and his widow married, in 1743, Dr. Patrick Delany, the friend of Swift.  With Delany she lived happily for fifteen years, and after his death in 1768, Mrs. Delany devoted most of her time to her 265

bosom friend, the dowager Duchess of Portland (see note (161), ante, p. 251), at whose seat at Bulstrode she usually spent the summer, while during the winter she resided at her own house in St. James’s-place, where she was constantly visited by the Duchess.  On the death of the Duchess in July, 1785, King George bestowed upon Mrs. Delany, whose means were not such as to make an addition to them a matter of indifference, a furnished house at Windsor and a pension Of 300 pounds a year.  These she enjoyed for less than three years, dying on the 15th of April, 1788.

The strong attachment which grew up between her and Fanny renders Mrs. Delany a very interesting figure in the “Diary.”  Nor wasFanny’s enthusiasm for her aged friend misdirected.  Speakin of Mrs’ Delany, Edmund Burke said:  “She was a perfect pattern of a perfect fine lady:  a real fine lady of other days.  Her manners were faultless; her deportment was of marked elegance; her speech was all sweetness; and her air and address were all dignity.  I have always looked up to Mrs. Delany, as the model of an accomplished gentlewoman of former times."(174)-Ed.]

Sunday, January ig-And now for Mrs. Delany.  I spent one hour with Mrs. Thrale, and then called for Mrs. Chapone,(175) and we proceeded together to St. James’s-place.