“Apropos, don’t your Lordship think that another set of legislators, the Maccaronis and Maccaronesses, are very wise? People abuse them for turning days, nights, hours and seasons topsy-turvy; but surely it was upon mature reflection. We had a set of customs and ideas borrowed from the continent that by no means suited our climate. Reformers bring back things to their natural course. Notwithstanding what I said in spite in the paragraph above, we are in truth but Greenlanders, and ought to conform to our climate. We should lay in store of provisions and candles and masquerades and coloured lamps for ten months in the year, and shut out our twilight and enjoy ourselves. In September and October, we may venture out of our ark, and make our hay, and gather in our corn, and go to horse-races, and kill pheasants and partridges for stock for our winter’s supper. I sailed in a skiff and pair this morning to Lady Cecilia Johnston, and found her, like a good housewife, sitting over her fire, with her cats and dogs and birds and children. She brought out a dram to warm me and my servants, and we were very merry and comfortable. As Lady Nuneham has neither so many two-footed or four-footed cares upon her hands, I hope her hands have been better employed. “I wish I could peep over her shoulder one of these wet mornings!” CHAPTER VII. The American War.--Irish Discontent.--Want of Money.--The Houghton Pictures Sold.--Removal to Berkeley Square.--Ill-health.--A Painting by Zoffani.--The Rage for News.--The Duke of Gloucester.--Wilkes.--Fashions, Old and New.--Mackerel News.--Pretty Stories.--Madame de Sévigné’s Cabinet.--Picture of his Waldegrave Nieces.--The Gordon Riots.--Death of Madame du Deffand.--The Blue Stockings.