entertainment to his labours; I suppose he is settled in town by this time, and then the Madonna* will be glad to find him when she returns to the regions of life. I have just received a collection of letters, wrote by Madame de Maintenon, though Voltaire has diminished my opinion of her in some degree: yet I have an impatience to open the book: I shall like to see what alteration there is in her from the wife and widow of poor Scarron, to becoming the consort of Louis le Grand. I see the first letters are written in her humble state; I have but this instant opened the pacquet, and I must write two letters, and walk two miles before I can give audience even to the great Maintenon: you will imagine that I am in extraordinary health, when I talk of walking two miles in a morning.

I am, dear Sir,

Your sincere and most affectionate friend and cousin,

ELIZ. MONTAGU.

Mr. Bower wrote frequently to Mrs. Montagu in Italian. The name of Madonna was applied to her also by Lord Lyttelton and Mr. West.

To the Hon. Mrs. Boscawen.

Dec. 24th, 1752.

I proposed answering my dear Mrs. Boscawen's letter yesterday, but the Chinese room was filled by a succession of people from eleven in the morning till eleven at night. I am glad Madame de Staal amused you, for I cannot help thinking it is possible to want amusement by the fire side in the country; Madame de la Ferté's character, I believe, must appear more natural to the French than to us; and yet even in our country, where there is so much less of vivacity and changeableness of disposition, one has seen what is not unlike it in people whose rank and fortune have allowed them to indulge every humour and caprice. I cannot say that I love Madame de Staal well enough to pity her so much as her misfortunes deserve; adversity mends her head, but not her heart; her reason is improved, but not her temper. For my part I own myself a severe critic in temper; talents of the

in a

understanding are the gifts of heaven, and of those only to whom much is given, much should be required; but it seems to me, that all people have it in their power great degree to mitigate the faults of temper; the wise should do it that they may be loved, the foolish that they may be endured. I know if M. de Staal was looking over my shoulder, she would say I could not pardon her pettishness because I looked upon her as a chambermaid; and that the same fault in the Dutchess of Maine would have offended me less: I will allow this in part, for the Dutchess never felt the misery of peevishness and of insolence from a superior; and was therefore less apprized of the ill she did in tyrannizing over her attendants, than M. de Staal in teizing her servants; but if it was a greater crime in the inferior, it would have been a greater indecorum in the great lady. Persons in a high rank ought to be well instructed in all their duties, and acquit themselves of them with grace as well as justice. I cannot say I was very much amused with

the Memoirs; as they were recommended, I read them; as you observe, they agree with my opinion of a court; and yet they have more of the miseries of servitude than of the evils of a court in them; personal jealousies, little tracasseries, and the business of faction are not there described, as royal power was not belonging to that court; nor is there set forth the wretchedness" of

of

That poor man that hangs on princes favours;
There is, betwixt that smile he would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes and his ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars and women have."

But this testimony, you will say, is given by Woolsey, descending from the ladder greatness; and it is true, those who are ascending have their heads too giddy to form any serious judgment. In ambition they judge worst who see the objects nearest. The papers will inform you of the filling the places, with at least as much certainty'as I can do; our friend, the amiable Miss Pitt was with me last night; she desired me to say she loves and honours.

you. If Mr. Botham has Homer's Odyssey I recommend it to your perusal; Penelope is not at all like Madame de le Ferté.

Adieu, dear Madam.

To Edward Montagu, Esq.

Heys.

MY DEAREST,

I HOPE this will find you safe and well at a place where I am sure the society will be pleased and happy to receive you. It adds much to the mortifications of infirm health that it incapacitates me for visiting my friends. I suppose you will see the place with great veneration, where your consort's virtues, charms, and accomplishments were ripened into their present state of perfection. I hope the sight of so many merry bachelors does not revive in you the love of a single state; their's is