ne can inform me. The only person certainly
known to write in that vile collection (I mean these latter volumes) is
D^r Nicholls, who was expell'd here for stealing books.

Have you read the _New Bath-Guide_?[109] it is the only thing in
fashion, & is a new & original kind of humour. Miss Prue's Conversion I
doubt you will paste down, as S^r W: S^t Quintyn did, before he carried
it to his daughter. Yet I remember you all read _Crazy Tales_[110]
without pasting. Buffon's first collection of Monkeys are come out (it
makes the 14^th volume) something, but not much, to my edification: for
he is pretty well acquainted with their persons, but not with their
manners.

I shall be glad to hear, how far M^rs Ettrick has succeeded, & when you
see an end to her troubles. my best respects to Mrs. Wharton, &
compliments to all your family: I will not name them, least I should
affront any body. Adieu, dear S^r,

I am most sincerely yours,

TG:

August 26, 1766, Pembroke College.

Mr. Brown is gone to see his Brother near Margate. When is L^d Str:[111]
to be married? If M^r and M^rs Jonathan are with you, I desire my
compliments.

FOOTNOTES:

[108] "St." is Richard Stonhewer, a Fellow of Peterhouse, secretary to
the Duke of Grafton, and a man of considerable, though not public,
importance in politics.

[109] Anstey's--referred to in the Introduction.

[110] By Sterne's friend, John Hall Stevenson.

[111] Lord Strathmore.

HORACE WALPOLE (1717-1797)

[AND W. M. THACKERAY].

As much has been already said of Horace Walpole's letters,
but practically nothing of his other works except his novel
and his play, something more may be added here to show that
he was not _merely_ a "trifler." His private press at
"Strawberry" was mainly a means of amusement to him, like a
billiard-room or a tennis-court. But it provided some useful
books--such as editions of Anthony Hamilton's _Memoirs of
Grammont_, of Lord Herbert of Cherbury's _Life_ and of part
of Gray's _Poems_. He had neither historic knowledge nor
historic sense enough to deal satisfactorily with such a
subject as _Historic Doubts on Richard III._, though the
subject itself was quite worth dealing with. But his
_Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors_, his _Anecdotes of
Painting in England_, and his _Catalogue of Engravers_ are
not without value; and he could usefully handle the history