dejected, without any other signs of animation but in praying. I know the same thing strikes different people in many ways, but thus he seemed to me, and I was very near. A vast number of people were collected, as you may imagine. I stayed till he was cut down and put into the hearse. I am afraid my account cannot be very satisfactory to you, but I really do not conceive an execution with so few incidents could possibly happen; at least my imagination had made it a thing more full of events than I found this to be. Adieu, my dear George. Yours, etc., A. STORER. The Earl of Carlisle to George Selwyn. Friday, July 4 [1777]. Storer has by this account of Doctor I intended going, MY DEAR GEORGE:-I hope time given you as circumstantial Dodd's exit as you could wish. but was too late; though I believe the doctor would, by what I hear, have been very glad to have waited for me. Bothby and I continued picking up something in our bank till I left town. I paid everything in town, and have a duck remaining, which I mean to keep very close-pinioned. What you read in the newspapers is true, that Dodd would not suffer his legs to be pulled, for every attempt was intended to be used to restore him to life; but alas! The weather is not unpleasant, but has been dreadfully wet. Everything is very backward, but as we are in Siberia, we must not repine. I assure you I do not flatter myself or you about going to Italy; it would give me great pain to abandon the idea, for I always think of it with pleasure. Mie Mie, I hope, continues well. I am, my dear George, Yours most sincerely. Anthony Morris Storer, Esq., to George Selwyn. PORTUGAL STREET, Saturday, 5 July, 1777. DEAR GEORGE: I am exceedingly obliged to -I you for your letter, but I can scarcely flatter myself, notwithstanding that I have your word for it, that mine could give you any sort of satisfaction. I should have been more particular, but I thought one sheet of paper would put your patience sufficiently to the trial, and would be at the same time a proof that I wished to gratify your curiosity, though I might not succeed entirely in the attempt. The old man you mention was, indeed, the most interesting person, and I think infinitely more to be pitied than even the criminals. as I wish to get this scene out of my mind, you will excuse me if I do not dwell upon it. I agree with you perfectly, that after one's curiosity is satisfied, an impression remains that I had rather be without; and therefore I shall follow your But, example, and, quitting this subject for one which I make no doubt is a more agreeable one to you, give me leave to inquire after the little unfortunate Mie Mie, who, if she leaves you, I dare say will undergo a much greater misfortune than ever a mistress did when obliged to quit her lover. It was as a lover, I imagine, that you were glad to be left in doubt how you were to execute my commission, and so, through your uncertainty, gave her two kisses instead of one. The history of play, you know, is so much like high water and low water at London Bridge, that it is hardly ever possible to say exactly what is the exact state of it. The old fish says he is not a winner. I asked him if you had paid him, but his answer was not accompanied by any observation, which I wished for, I confess, with some degree of méchanceté. I have not as yet heard what Mrs. St. John is about; people are not determined about her pregnancy. Lady Holland is at Brighthelmstone, and that is all I know of her. John St. John came from thence a day or two ago, but he brings no news with him. Conway and Lord Robert were there; Sir Ralph and Lady Paine; Bouverie 3 and his wife; Fawkener; and, though "Fish Crawford." 2 Lord Robert Seymour, third son of the Earl of Hertford, and nephew to General Conway. ' Probably William Henry, second son of William, first Earl of Radnor, married in 1777, to Bridget, daughter of James Doug. las, fourteenth Earl of Morton. last not least, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.' Lady Elizabeth is undoubtedly to be married to Lord Monson; that is une affaire finie. Charles Fox is gone to Euston. He is not so mad I suppose as Don Quixote, to imagine that an innkeeper will supply him with horses and provisions merely because he is a knight errant, or because he is going to visit a minister out of place. There was a great turtle dinner yesterday at Almack's, but I could not dine there, being engaged to dine with a great fortune; but, not wanting her myself, I cannot do better than recommend her to. Lord B... If he will give me something for pimping,. he shall have her. As incredible as you may. think my journey to Matson may be, I think it much more probable than an expedition to Paris... I am not so likely to be your ambassador as your chamberlain; at least, if I do undertake the embassy to Madame Fagniani, I am very likely to come and receive your orders from the court at Matson before my departure. Adieu, my dear George; you see I do not forget my country acquaintance, and I hope you will sometimes think of me. 'George, fourth Duke of Marlborough, and his duchess, Caroline, daughter of John, fourth Duke of Bedford. 2 John, third Baron Monson, married in 1777, to Elizabeth, daughter of William, fourth Earl of Essex. 3 The Duke of Grafton. Probably Lord Bolingbroke, who is subsequently mentioned as being in pursuit of an heiress at Bath. CHARLES TOWNSHEND, ESQ. CHARLES TOWNSHEND was the second son of the Hon. Thomas Townshend (son of Charles, second Viscount Townshend), by Albinia, daughter of Col. John Selwyn, of Matson, and sister to George Selwyn. He was born in 1736. At the time of his death, which took place on the 9th of August, 1799, he represented the town of Cambridge in Parliament, and was also one of the tellers of the exchequer. He must not be confounded with his cousin, the witty Charles Townshend, or with another cousin (better known as "Spanish Charles," from his having been secretary to the embassy at Madrid), who was created Lord Bayning in 1797. Charles Townshend, Esq., to George Selwyn. DEAR SIR: I left Frognal yesterday; my grandmother and the rest of the family all well. We have no news, but such rubbish as you see in the papers about D'Eon, Parson Horne,' etc. I ordered Ridley to send you down the Ordinary of Newgate's account of Dodd. I fear that it is all over with the Duke of Gloucester; he is endeavouring to go as far as Strasburg. The post is going, and therefore I must conclude with de 'The celebrated Horne Tooke. He died at Wimbledon, March 19, 1812, in his seventy-seventh year. |