When about eighty years of age she was living at Rosedale, a place near the entrance to Richmond from Kew, which was formerly occupied by the poet Thomson, whose table, cane, and chair were long preserved in the house; and whilst residing here a little poetical correspondence took place which may be worth recording, not only as an illustration of the courtly politeness of the time, and of the respect in which the good old lady was evidently held by her contemporaries, but also because Mrs. Boscawen's letter, written in a firm, almost manly hand, notwithstanding her advanced age, is still preserved in the British Museum, where it will be found in the Additional MSS. Pye, the Poet Laureate, had written a sonnet on Rosedale, which he communicated to the Rev. W. Butler, who sent it on to Mrs. Boscawen. The lines, by no means remarkable for vigour or originality, conclude thus: 'Still Fancy's Train your verdant Paths shall Trace, Tho' clos'd her fav'rite Votary's dulcet lay; Each wonted Haunt their footsteps still shall grace, Still Genius thro' your green Retreats shall stray: For, from the Scene BOSCAWEN loves to grace, Th' Attendant Muse shall ne'er be long away.' The lady graciously acknowledged the compliment conveyed to her in the last two lines, and thus replied on the 26th June, 1797: 'SIR, 'I am sure I ought to return you my gratefull acknowledgm^{ts} for the obliging Present you have made me of some sweet Stanzas on this spot,--and my two Predecessors. Mr. Ross was certainly an Admirer of His, & paid that Respect to his Memory as to retain the little Parlour where Mr. Thomson liv'd, tho' he rebuilt every other Part of the House, extending it very much. 'The little Rustick Seat w^{ch} inspir'd your poetick Dialogue I found in such a State of decay that I was oblig'd to take it down, _but, reserving all the Materials_, I have replac'd it in a retir'd part of the Garden much enlarg'd and hung round with votive Tablets or Inscriptions in Honour of your admir'd Poet. His Bust is on the Pedament of the Seat, and in front is written '"Here Thomson sung The Seasons & their Change." In the Alcove is a little old Table, w^h I am assur'd belonged to Him, but Sir, if ever you sh^d have leisure to pay another Visit to your _matchless Favourite_, You will I hope find Him honour'd by 'Your most humble Serv^t, 'F. BOSCAWEN.'