Noel Somerset, they are altogether abominable; however, such as they are, I must dress for the ball, and I will add a supplement to-morrow. “P.S.--Madam, you know the _Spectator_ says a woman never speaks her mind but in the postscript! Last night produced nothing but some bad dancing, except Mr. Southwell,[73] who was overwhelmed with congratulatory compliments; in one day he was chose Member, made Father to a little daughter, and got a £500 prize in the lottery; he seemed in good spirits, and bowed popularly low to all his acquaintance.... I believe there is a great circulation of company, for the bells are always ringing for somebody to come, or tolling for somebody gone. There are many people I have known and seen before, but very few whom I care to see again. One person whom I like extremely, loves her husband so much better than me, that I cannot persuade her to come out. I believe your Grace has often heard me speak of Mrs. Freind,[74] who is not at all like Sir Tommy her brother. What makes me like her still better is her contempt of Matadors.[75] I do not think she ever dreamt of Spadille in her life, tho’ most people here prefer its company to their best friends.” [62] Paul Scarron, born 1610, died 1660; French satirist. Husband of Mademoiselle D’Aubigné, afterwards Madame de Maintenon; wrote “Le Roman Comique,” etc. [63] Her pet-name. [64] John Gay, born 1685, died 1732; poet, etc. [65] Catherine, daughter of J. Grahame, of Levens, Westmorland. [66] 4th Earl of Berkshire. [67] Afterwards 6th Earl of Berkshire, and 14th Earl of Suffolk. [68] Wife of 6th Viscount. [69] Daughter of 1st Earl Ferrers. [70] Daughter of 1st Earl Ferrers, by second marriage. [71] Daughter of 1st Earl Aylesford. [72] Widow of 15th Duke, _née_ Sherburne. [73] Son of Sir Thomas Southwell. [74] Her cousin, _née_ Grace Robinson. [75] Terms used in ombre and quadrille. [Year: 1740] In her next letter of January 4, 1740, she says-- “I should be glad to send you some news, but all the news of the place would be like the bills of Mortality, palsy four, gout six, fever one, and so on. We hear of nothing but ‘Mr. such-a-one is not abroad to-day.’ ‘Oh no,’ says another poor gentleman, ‘he dyed to-day.’ Then another cries, ‘My party was made for Quadrille[76] to-night, but one of the gentlemen has had a second stroke of the palsy and cannot come; there is no depending on people, nobody minds engagements.’ “I beg the favour of your Grace to tell Mrs. Pendarves that I often enquire after her from her friend Mrs. Donnellan. I hear there is hope of Mrs. Pendarves coming here in March, but I know you will be against the journey, so I dare not say how glad I should be to see her. I assure we have none like her here.” [76] Quadrille, a card-game for four people, played with 40 cards, 8’s, 9’s, and 10’s discarded. [Page heading: LORD NOEL SOMERSET]