in this. I suppose my brother Robinson is by this time returning to the known world; I expect to hear that he has travelled to the extremity of Scotland, for he is a man of infinite curiosity, and would have "knowledge at no entrance.

quite shut out;" those things he cannot examine by question, he will examine by view.* Discontents among the ministers are still rumoured; what will happen from the long threatened storm among them I know not, but I believe the loss or benefit will be confined to a few individuals, and relate but little to the general good. If I were to measure, your stay at Newcastle, by my regret at your absence, I should think you had spent much time there; but considered by the business you have dispatched, my reason confesses the haste you have made. To your prayer that we may not again be so long separated, I can with much zealous fervour say amen. I shall rejoice to see little Sandleford again, and in your

* Her elder brother attended Lord Sandwich to Aix la Chapelle in 1748, at the negotiation of the peace.

company to enjoy the best blessing, golden leisure, which the busy ills of life have taught me to esteem. When one is very young and full of the hopes of inexperience, one looks forward from pleasure to pleasure; a few years more make us see tranquillity with as great eagerness. I can even bid the "mute silence hist "along," and love the negative pleasures of solitude. Wisdom, we are told, cries in the streets, but folly, ever great in noise, cries louder. Young Wortley is gone to France with Miss Ash. He is certainly a gentleman of infinite vivacity, but methinks he might as well have deferred this exploit till the death of his father. M's friend, Miss G-—, made me a visit yesterday; would you believe it? If Paris had been here to give a crab to the ugliest, worst shaped woman at Tunbridge, she would have borne away the acid apple it is absolutely true. I compared her to hundreds, she was the foulest I measured her with hundreds, she was the most crooked. If the god of riches does not favour M- for this

enthusiasm, he is an ungrateful deity. Το pass through fire to Moloch, is a sacrifice of less horror, than to pass through deformity to wedlock. May health and pleasure attend you; I shall be glad when they travel with you towards London; the first you will find has been my companion, the other you will bring with you to me.

I am, my dearest,

Your most faithful and affectionate wife,

ELIZ. MONTAGU.

To the Same.

Heys, September 30, 1751:

I CAME hither this morning to enjoy the quiet, leisure, exercise, and air, one cannot have in London. I am so well in health, that I do not know myself, and I think I am a little like the humourous

Lieutenant, that would run no hazards while he was well, though he was prodigal of life, when he had a pain in his side. I am very desirous to preserve this comfortable state of health, and also my plump and jolly condition. My face is no longer a memento mori. I look like one of the goddess Hebe's elder sisters, not ever fair and young, but not so wan and decayed as of late. I met Mr. Marriot this morning, on his way from Tunbridge: he travelled with less parade than last year; no empty bottles to signify there had been wine; no hoop petticoat to shew his society complete; no boy that appeared by the shortness of his habit, to be of his clothing. He was travelling in a common post chaise, at the expence of fourpence halfpenny a mile, the other half being paid by his companion. Marriot's muse, though she has long been hoarse, is not yet dumb. He rhymed on every subject, from the tall Lady Lincoln, to misses no taller than mushrooms. As Solomon valued himself that he could reason on all plants,

from the cedar to the hyssop, so does Marriot, that he can sing of all nymphs, from the Brobdignaggian to the Lilliputian fair. I thank you for taking constant exercise on horseback. I will do all in my power to keep with me the lovely stranger, health.

I am, my dearest,

most faithfully and affectionately yours, E. MONTAGU.

To Gilbert West, Esq.

London, Oct. 31st, 1751.

DEAR COUSIN,

THE great offenders of our days, of botli sexes, have been very fond of writing their apologies; for my part, I had rather employ my pen on any subject, than one so delicate and tender as my own transgressions or omissions; so I am glad that I can now tell you the principal commissions I was charged with, are duly executed. Mr. Linnell told me yesterday,