hich we have alluded, entitled "Love and Madness,"
attracted attention in higher quarters, and even perplexed the
fastidiousness of Walpole himself. In one of his letters of March 1780, he
thus writes:--"Yesterday was published an octavo, pretending to contain
the correspondence of Hackman and Miss Ray. I doubt whether the letters
are genuine, and yet, if fictitious, they are executed well, and enter
into his character. This appears less natural, and yet the editors were
certainly more likely to be in possession of hers than his. It is not
probable that Lord Sandwich should have sent what he found in her
apartments to the press; no account is pretended to be given of how they
came to light."

After having thus puzzled the dilettanti, it transpired that it was
written by Sir Herbert Croft, Bart.

Another singular character, who, in connexion with one still more singular,
remarkably occupied the ear and tongue of the _beau monde_ of his day, is
introduced in these volumes. This was Augustus John, Earl of Bristol,
third son of John, Lord Hervey, by the beautiful Mary Lepel. He entered
the sea service at an early age, and prospered as the sons of men of rank
prospered in those days, being made a post-captain in 1747, when he was
but three and twenty years old. Promotion was heaped upon him, and he was
rapidly advanced to the rank of vice-admiral and colonel of marines. He
was, however, said to be a brave and skilful officer. More good fortune
was in store for him; he was placed in the king's household, was a member
of Parliament, was appointed one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and
finally rounded the circle of his honours by succeeding to the earldom of
Bristol. The history of his wife is a continued adventure. Miss Chudleigh,
maid of honour to the Princess of Wales, had, immediately on her
appearance at court, become the observed of all observers. She was
regarded as one of the most beautiful women of her time, was remarkably
quick and witty in her conversation, of a most capricious temper and a
most fantastic imagination--all qualities which naturally rendered her a
topic in every circle of the country. The circumstances of her marriage
rendered her if possible, still more a topic. On a visit at the house of a
relation, she met Lord Bristol, then but a lieutenant in the navy, and
plain Mr Hervey, and disregarding all the formalities of high life, they
were privately married at Lainston, in Northamptonshire. They were,
h