Dear Sir, Your obedient humble servant, ⸺. Means were contrived to appease the apprehensions and satisfy the scruples of the venerable Peer. The work was published under the sanction of his name, and is now out of print. That he did like the Dedication in its ultimate form, appears from the following. Dear Sir, I beg a thousand pardons for not returning your Preface, which I like much, and to which I could find but one very slight correction to make, which I have marked with pencil. But I confess I waited anxiously for an assurance from you, that you would suppress the intended Dedication, which I should have been extremely sorry to have seen appear. I have this moment received that promise, and am infinitely obliged by your compliance. I shall be in town on Saturday, and happy to see you in Berkeley-square, when you shall have a moment to bestow on Your obedient servant, ⸺. Animus quod perdidit optat, Atque in præterita se totus imagine versat. CHAPTER XLIII. Our Sexagenarian knew and saw Lord ⸺ much and often, both before and after he came to the title, the accession to which (whatever and however just may have been the imputation on his vanity) most assuredly was a vexation to him rather than a pleasure. The first introduction of the parties in question to each other, was at one of those evening parties, contemptuously denominated Blue Stocking Club. There was really nothing in these assemblies to provoke or justify contempt, for they in fact consisted of a considerable number of very accomplished persons of both sexes, and except that the entertainment was confined to conversation, with the occasional introduction of music, they were cheerful, interesting, and the vehicle of circulating much curious information on subjects of literature and science. The principal persons were Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Montague, Horace Walpole, Sir Charles Blagden, the Miss Baillies, Lady Louisa Macdonald, the Miss Berries, Lady Herries, Mrs. John Hunter, the two Messrs. Lysons, Mr. (now Sir Everard) Home, Aleppo Russel, and a great many other very considerable persons both as to rank and talent. One of the principal houses of resort for these meetings, was John Hunter’s, and the old Philosopher himself occasionally mingled with the party, and enjoyed the social conversation.