d,
afterwards second Marquis of Hertford.

(21) Lady Diana Bolingbroke (1734-1808); eldest daughter of second
Duke of Marlborough; sister to Lady Pembroke. She was celebrated for
her high character, beauty, and accomplishments. Two days after her
unhappy marriage with Lord Bolingbroke was dissolved she married
Topham Beauclerk.

1768, Jan. 5, Tuesday morning, Chesterfield Street.--Many and many
happy new years to you, some of which I hope to have the pleasure of
being a witness of. When I came to town yesterday from
Gloucestershire, I received, to my surprise and great satisfaction,
your letter of the 16th of last month, for this is now the second
which I have had within a week beyond my expectation.

My answer to the first is now on the road to you, and will, I hope,
reach you some time next week. I don't recollect in any which I have
wrote that there was any expression of formality, which you seem to
have observed, and which I certainly did not intend, because I know
it would not be acceptable to you; and therefore don't interpret
that to be formality, which can be nothing but that respect, which
no degree of familiarity can ever make me lose in my commerce with
you.

I was surprised to find that Sir Ch[arle]s and Lady Sarah [Bunbury]
were in town, and had not been out of it. The weather has been and
is so cold there is no stirring from one's fireside, and so they
changed their mind. I dine with them to-day, when I hope I shall see
Harry; I have not seen him yet. I have been absent, it is now above
a fortnight. I shall not seal up my letter till I have been in Privy
Garden. I was asked to dine at Lord George's(22) to-day, but am glad
that, it being postday, I can dine where I may be able to pick up
something that will be interesting to you. I don't wish to add fuel,
but it is natural to wish that one's letters are made as acceptable
as possible.

I have had a message to-day from Sir W. Musgrave, who desires to see
me to-morrow; I will endeavour to see him to-day, as the post goes
out; I don't know particularly what he has to say. I have sent to
Hemmins this morning, but he is not yet come to me.

Lord W. Gordon(23) says he thinks his brother will ask for the other
Ribband. I long to see the Duke of Buccleugh(24) in his. I can tell
you no more at present of Brereton's(25) affair than that he is to
be prosecuted. I send you his advertisement, which came out a
fortnight ago. I think some answer should have bee