Letters of Horace Walpole — Volume II

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of Horace Walpole, by Horace Walpole This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Letters of Horace Walpole Volume II Author: Horace Walpole Release Date: April 18, 2004 [EBook #12074] Language: English *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF HORACE WALPOLE *** Produced by Ted Garvin, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. [Illustration]LETTERS OF HORACE WALPOLE SELECTED AND EDITED BY CHARLES DUKE YONGE, M.A. AUTHOR OF "THE HISTORY OF FRANCE UNDER THE BOURBONS," "A LIFE OF MARIE ANTOINETTE," ETC., ETC. WITH PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS VOLUME II London T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE NEW YORK: G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS MDCCCXCCONTENTS. 1764-1795. 81. TO MANN, Dec. 20, 1764.—Madame de Boufflers at Strawberry—The French Opinion of the English Character —Richardson's Novels—Madame de Beaumont 82. TO THE EARL OF HERTFORD, Feb. 12, 1765.—Debate on American Taxes—Petition of the Periwig-Makers —Female Head-dresses—Lord Byron's Duel—Opening of Almack's—No. 45 83. TO COLE, March 9, 1765.—His "Castle of Otranto"—Bishop Percy's Collection of Old Ballads 84. TO THE EARL OF HERTFORD, March 26, 1765.—Illness of the King—French and English Actors and Actresses: Clairon, Garrick, Quin, Mrs. Clive 85. TO MANN, May 25, 1765.—Riots of Weavers—Ministerial Changes—Factious Conduct of Mr. Pitt 86. TO MONTAGU, July 28, 1765.—Prospects of Old Age when joined to Gout 87. TO LADY HERVEY, Sept. 14, 1765.—Has reached Paris—The French Opera—Illness of the Dauphin— Popularity of Mr. Hume 88. TO MONTAGU, Sept. 22, 1765.—Is Making New Friends in Paris—Decay of the French Stage—Le Kain— Dumenil—New French inclination for Philosophy and Free-Thinking—General Admiration of Hume's History and Richardson's Novels 89. TO CHUTE, Oct. 3, 1765.—His Presentation at Court—Illness of the Dauphin—Description of his Three Sons 90. TO CONWAY, Jan. 12, 1766.—Supper Parties at Paris—Walpole Writes a Letter from Le Roi de Prusse à Monsieur Rousseau 91. TO GRAY, Jan. 25, 1766.—A Constant Round of Amusements—A Gallery of Female Portraits—Madame Geoffrin—Madame du Deffand—Madame de Mirepoix—Madame de Boufflers—Madame de Rochfort—The Maréchale de Luxemburg—The Duchesse de Choiseul—An old French Dandy—M. de Maurepas—Popularity of his Letter to Rousseau 92. TO MANN, Feb. 29, 1766.—Situation of Affairs in England—Cardinal York—Death of Stanilaus Leczinski, Ex- King of Poland 93. TO CONWAY, April 8, 1766.—Singular Riot in Madrid—Changes in the French Ministry—Insurrections in the Provinces 94. TO MONTAGU, June 20, 1766.—The Bath Guide—Swift's Correspondence 95. TO CHUTE, Oct. 10, 1766.—Bath—Wesley 96. TO MANN, July 20, 1767.—Ministerial Difficulties—Return of Lord Clive 97. TO THE SAME, Sept. 27, 1767.—Death of Charles Townshend and of the Duke of York—Whist the New Fashion in France 98. TO GRAY, Feb. 18, 1768.—Some New Poems of Gray—Walpole's "Historic Doubts"—Boswell's "Corsica" 99. TO MANN, March 31, 1768.—Wilkes is returned M.P. for Middlesex—Riots in London—Violence of the Mob 100. TO MONTAGU, April 15, 1768.—Fleeting Fame of Witticisms—"The Mysterious Mother" 101. TO MANN, June 9, 1768.—Case of Wilkes 102. TO MONTAGU, June 15, 1768.—The English Climate 103. TO VOLTAIRE, July 27, 1768.—Voltaire's Criticisms on Shakespeare—Parnell's "Hermit" 104. TO THE EARL OF STRAFFORD, Aug. 16, 1768.—Arrival of the King of Denmark—His Popularity with the Mob 105. TO MANN, Jan. 31, 1769.—Wilkes's Election—The Comtesse de Barri—The Duc de Choiseul's Indiscretion 106. TO MONTAGU, May 11, 1769.—A Garden Party at Strawberry—A Ridotto at Vauxhall 107. TO MANN, June 14, 1769.—Paoli—Ambassadorial Etiquette 108. TO CHUTE, Aug. 30, 1765.—His Return to Paris—Madame Deffand—A Translation of "Hamlet"—Madame Dumenil—Voltaire's "Mérope" and "Les Guèbres"109. TO MONTAGU, Sept. 17, 1769.—The French Court—The Young Princes—St. Cyr—Madame de Mailly 110. TO MANN, Feb. 27, 1770.—A Masquerade—State of Russia 111. TO THE SAME, May 6, 1770.—Wilkes—Burke's Pamphlet—Prediction of American Republics— Extravagance in England 112. TO MONTAGU, May 6, 1770.—Masquerades in Fashion—A Lady's Club 113. TO MANN, June 15, 1770,—The Princess of Wales is gone to Germany—Terrible Accident in Paris 114. TO THE SAME, Dec. 29, 1770.—Fall of the Duc de Choiseul's Ministry 115. TO THE SAME, Feb. 22, 1771.—Peace with Spain—Banishment of the French Parliament—Mrs. Cornelys's Establishment—The Queen of Denmark 116. TO THE SAME, April 26, 1771.—Quarrel of the House of Commons with the City—Dissensions in the French Court and Royal Family—Extravagance in England 117. TO CONWAY, July 30, 1771.—Great Distress at the French Court 118. TO CHUTE, August 5, 1771.—English Gardening in France—Anglomanie—He is weary of Paris—Death of Gray 119. TO COLE, Jan. 28, 1772.—Scantiness of the Relics of Gray—Garrick's Prologues, &c.—Wilkes's Squint 120. TO MANN, April 9, 1772.—Marriage of the Pretender—The Princess Louise, and her Protection of the Clergy —Fox's Eloquence 121. TO COLE, Jan. 8, 1773.—An Answer to his "Historic Doubts"—His Edition of Grammont 122. TO MANN, _July_10, 1774.—Popularity of Louis XVI.—Death of Lord Holland—Bruce's "Travels" 123. TO THE SAME, Oct. 6, 1774.—Discontent in America—Mr. Grenville's Act for the Trial of Election Petitions— Highway Robberies 124. TO THE SAME, Oct. 22, 1774.—The Pope's Death—Wilkes is returned for Middlesex—A Quaker at Versailles 125. TO THE COUNTESS OF AILESBURY, Nov. 7, 1774.—Burke's Election at Bristol—Resemblance of one House of Commons to Another—Comfort of Old Age 126. TO MANN, Nov. 24, 1774.—Death of Lord Clive—Restoration of the French Parliament—Prediction of Great Men to arise in America—The King's Speech 127. TO CONWAY AND LADY AYLESBURY, Jan. 15, 1775.—Riots at Boston—A Literary Coterie at Bath-Easton 128. TO GEM, April 4, 1776.—Opposition of the French Parliaments to Turgot's Measures 129. TO CONWAY, June 20, 1776.—His Decorations at "Strawberry"—His Estimate of himself, and his Admiration of Conway 130. TO MANN, Dec. 1, 1776.—Anglomanie in Paris—Horse-Racing 131. TO COLE, June 19, 1777.—Ossian—Chatterton 132. TO MANN, Oct. 26, 1777.—Affairs in America—The Czarina and the Emperor of China 133. TO THE SAME, May 31, 1778.—Death of Lord Chatham—Thurlow becomes Lord Chancellor 134. TO COLE, June 3, 1778.—Exultation of France at our Disasters in America—Franklin—Necker—Chatterton 135. TO MANN, July 7, 1778.—Admiral Keppel's Success—Threats of Invasion—Funeral of Lord Chatham 136. TO CONWAY, July 8, 1778.—Suggestion of Negotiations with France—Partition of Poland 137. TO MANN, Oct. 8, 1778.—Unsuccessful Cruise of Keppel—Character of Lord Chatham 138. TO THE SAME, March 22, 1779.—Capture of Pondicherry—Changes in the Ministry—La Fayette in America 139. TO THE SAME, July 7, 1779.—Divisions in the Ministry—Character of the Italians and of the French 140. TO THE SAME, Sept. 16, 1779.—Eruption of Vesuvius—Death of Lord Temple 141. TO THE SAME, Jan. 13, 1780.—Chances of War with Holland—His Father's Policy—Pope—Character of Bolingbroke 142. TO THE SAME, Feb. 6, 1780.—Political Excitement—Lord G. Gordon—Extraordinary Gambling Affairs in India143. TO THE SAME, March 3, 1780.—Rodney's Victory—Walpole inclines to Withdraw from Amusements 144. TO THE SAME, June 5, 1780.—The Gordon Riots 145. TO DALRYMPLE, Dec. 11, 1780.—Hogarth—Colonel Charteris—Archbishop Blackburne—Jervas— Richardson's Poetry 146. TO MANN, Dec. 31, 1780.—The Prince of Wales—Hurricane at Barbadoes—A "Voice from St. Helena" 147. TO THE SAME, Sept. 7, 1781.—Naval Movements—Siege of Gibraltar—Female Fashions 148. TO THE SAME, Nov. 29, 1781.—Capitulation of Lord Cornwallis—Pitt and Fox 149. TO COLE, April 13, 1782.—The Language proper for Inscriptions in England—Fall of Lord North's Ministry— Bryant 150. TO MANN, Sept. 8, 1782.—Highwaymen and Footpads 151. TO THE SAME, Dec. 2, 1783.—Fox's India Bill—Balloons 152. TO CONWAY, Oct. 15, 1784.—Balloons 153. TO PINKERTON, June 22, 1785.—His Letters on Literature—Disadvantage of Modern Writers—Comparison of Lady Mary Wortley with Madame de Sévigné 154. TO THE SAME, June 26, 1785.—Criticism on various Authors: Greek, Latin, French, and English—Humour of Addison, and of Fielding—Waller—Milton—Boileau's "Lutrin"—"The Rape of the Lock"—Madame de Sévigné 155. TO MANN, Aug. 26, 1785.—Ministerial Difficulties—The Affair of the Necklace in Paris—Fluctuating Unpopularity of Statesmen—Fallacies of History 156. TO THE SAME, Oct. 4, 1785.—Brevity of Modern Addresses—The old Duchess of Marlborough 157. TO THE SAME, Oct. 30, 1785.—Lady Craven—Madame Piozzi—"The Rolliad"—Herschel's Astronomical Discovery 158. TO MISS MORE, Oct. 14, 1787.—Mrs. Yearsley—Madame Piozzi—Gibbon—"Le Mariage de Figaro" 159. TO THE SAME, July 12, 1788.—Gentlemen Writers—His own Reasons for Writing when Young—Voltaire —"Evelina"—Miss Seward—Hayley 160. TO MANN, Feb. 12, 1789.—Divisions in the Royal Family—The Regency—The Irish Parliament 161. TO MISS BERRY, June 30, 1789.—"The Arabian Nights"—The Aeneid—Boccalini—Orpheus and Eurydice 162. TO CONWAY, July 15, 1789.—Dismissal of Necker—Baron de Breteuil—The Duc D'Orléans—Mirabeau 163. TO THE SAME, July 1, 1790.—Bruce's "Travels"—Violence of the French Jacobins—Necker 164. TO MISS BERRYS, June 8, 1791.—The Prince of Wales—Growth of London and other Towns 165. TO THE SAME, Aug. 23, 1791.—Sir W. and Lady Hamilton—A Boat-race—The Margravine of Anspach 166. TO THE SAME, Oct. 15, 1793.—Arrest of the Duchesse de Biron—The Queen of France—Pythagoras 167. TO CONWAY, July 2, 1795.—Expectations of a Visit to Strawberry by the Queen 168. TO THE SAME, July 7, 1795.—Report of the VisitLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. I. LADY MARY WORTLEY-MONTAGU II. THOMAS GRAY, THE POET Photographed from a drawing in the National Portrait G