of him, Selwyn, and Gilly Williams ? It is by far one of the best things he has executed. He has just finished a pretty whole-length of Lady Elizabeth Keppel, in the bridemaid's habit, sacrificing to Hymen.' If the Spaniards land in Ireland, shall you make the campaign? No, no, come back to England; you and I will not be patriots, till the Gauls are in the city, and we must take our great chairs and our fasces, and be knocked on the head with decorum in St. James's market. Good night! P.S. I am told that they bind in vellum better at Dublin than anywhere: pray bring me one book of their binding as well as it can be done, and I will not mind the price. If Mr. Bourk's history appears before your return, let it be that. 770. TO SIR HORACE MANN. Arlington Street, Jan 4, 1762. I WROTE to you but last week, just before I heard from you, so you must look on this only as a postscript. The Spanish war that I announced to you is a full and melancholy answer to your idea, if Sir James Grey' had gone to Spain-our sailors must go thither first, either as invaders or prisoners! The War was proclaimed this morning the proclamation itself shows how little foundation for it. This war was conceived rashly, adopted timidly, carried into practice foolishly, and, I fear, will be executed weakly. But why prophesy, when one hopes to be mistaken? Besides your letter, I have received one cargo, the Burlettas and the residue of Medicean heads; I am much obliged to you for both. The latter are ill-executed, but curious: by the Bianca Capella, one sees that the Electress is dead. The Uccellatorii,' it was, I think, Engraved for the edition of Walpole's Letters, edited by Mr. Wright. The original picture, a little larger than Cabinet size, was bought by the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, at the Strawberry Hill sale, for 157/. 10s.-CUNNINGHAM. 2 Now at Woburn, and one of Reynolds' finest pictures. She married the Marquis of Tavistock, and survived his sudden death a very short time.-CUNNINGHAM. 3 He had been minister at Naples, when Charles, King of Spain, was King there, with whom he had been a favourite.-WALPOLE. The Electress Palatine Dowager, Anne Louisa, was the last of the House of Medici, and from the death of her husband had resided at Florence, where she died very aged. From family pride, she would suffer no print of Bianca Capello, who having been mistress of Duke Francis I., became his wife.-WALPOLE. A comic opera. -- WALPOLE. |