misfortune, together with a sincere solicitude for your situation. Your share in the general loss I do not attempt to put into words: I will only say that, in Mr. Allen, mankind has lost such a benevolent and tender friend as, I fear, not all the example of his virtues will have power to raise up to the world his like again. Admiring his life, and deploring the shortness of it, I shall ever respectfully cherish his memory, and rank the continuation of the favourable opinion and friendship of a truly good man amongst the happiest advantages and the first honours, which fortune may have bestowed upon my life.

Accept, Madam, my constant wishes for your consolation and health; and believe me to be, with the most perfect regard, dear Madam,

Your most obedient, and

most humble servant,

W. PITT. (1)

I desire to present my compliments and condolences to all the family of Prior Park.

(1) Mr. Allen died at Prior Park on the 29th of June. By his last will, he bequeathed Mr. Pitt one thousand pounds. In a letter to Dr. Doddridge, written in February 1743, Warburton thus describes him:-"I verily believe Mr. Allen to be the greatest private character that ever appeared in any age of the world. You see his munificence to the Bath hospital; this is but a small part of his charities, and charity but a small part of his virtues. I have studied his character, even maliciously, to find where his weakness lies; but have studied it in vain. In a word, I firmly believe him to have been sent by Providence into the world, to teach men what blessings they might expect from Heaven, would they study to deserve them."

[In Lady Chatham's handwriting. ]

Lady Chatham desires to assure Mrs. Allen of her sincere concern for her great loss, and to express to Mrs. Warburton and Miss Allen her compliments of condolence.

MR. PITT TO WILLIAM TAYLOR HOW, ESQ. (1)

SIR,

Hayes, July 4, 1764.

THE honour of your obliging letter from Spa brought me the melancholy news of Count Algarotti's death, together with the information of the last very affecting testimony of esteem which that gentleman has left behind him, in favour of one who only knew him in his works and in his fame, and who must now for ever resign the pleasing

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(1) This letter is in reply to one from Mr. Taylor How, dated Spa, June the 12th, containing the following passage:"In a letter received last night, containing the afflicting news of Count Algarotti's death, together with an account of his having left me a testimony of his friendship by way of legacy, mention is likewise made of a Porta-foglio con varij bei desegni' bequeathed to you, Sir. Though it is highly probable, that either his heir or executors may have sent, or will very soon send, this intelligence to a person of your note and name; yet, relying upon the experience which I have ever had of your condescension and good nature, I presume to hope, that you will not think the information altogether impertinent from me. Should there be any difficulty about the mode of conveyance, I would offer myself a candidate for the honour of receiving your orders. The count died on the 24th of May,"

hope he had formed of a personal acquaintance and friendship with a person, who does equal honour to letters by the elegance of his compositions, and to human nature by the integrity, candour, and generosity of his character.

The fresh instance of your flattering regard and attention which this mournful occasion has brought me, is too truly felt to omit assuring you, how highly I value it; and, as we naturally venture to trouble soonest with our concerns those we most esteem, I am encouraged to recur, in case you return to Italy, to the good offices you so kindly offer me, with regard to an object I prize so dearly as Count Algarotti's legacy. I am, &c.

W. PITT.

THE HON. HORACE WALPOLE TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Arlington Street, August 29, 1764.

As you have always permitted me to offer you the trifles printed at my press, I am glad to have one to send you of a little more consequence, than some in which I have had myself too great a share. The singularity of the work (') I now trouble you

() The Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury, written by himself; of which Walpole, in a letter to Mr. Montagu, gives the following history: "I found it a year ago at Lady Hertford's, to whom Lady Powis had lent it. I took it up, and soon threw it down again, as the dullest thing I ever saw. She persuaded me to take it home. My Lady Waldegrave was here, in all her

with is greater merit than its rarity; though there are but two hundred copies printed, of which only half are mine. If it amuses an hour or two of your idle time, I am overpaid. My greatest ambition is to pay that respect, which every Englishman owes to your character and services; and therefore you must not wonder if an inconsiderable man seizes every opportunity, however awkwardly, of assuring you, that he is, Sir,

I TAKE the liberty to send you copies of two letters, which I received yesterday and the day

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grief. Gray and I read it to amuse her. We could not get on for laughing and screaming. I begged to have it to print: Lord Powis, sensible of the extravagance, refused I insisted resisted. I told my Lady Hertford it was no matter, I would print it, I was determined. I sat down and wrote a flattering dedication to Lord Powis, which I knew he would swallow: he did and gave up his ancestor. But this was not enough; I was resolved the world should not think I admired it seriously, though there are really fine passages in it, and good sense too : I drew up an equivocal preface, in which you will discover my opinion, and sent it with the dedication. The Earl gulped down the one, under the palliative of the other; and here you will have it."

before from Sir George Yonge. (1) The contents of them were entirely new to me, except what I had observed in the printed papers. I send you also my answer to the first. To the last, I have yet made none; and I do not think it requires my immediate answer. The subject of these two letters seems to me to be a delicate one, and to require many explanations, before any fixed opinion or judgment can be made upon it.

I am very unfit, in every respect, for a negociation of this kind to pass through my hands; but as it is an affair of importance, and possibly some advantage to the public might arise from it, I hope you will excuse my troubling you immediately with all I know of it, as I shall do some few of my particular friends, under the strictest caution of secrecy. If you should think proper to honour me with your thoughts, what farther steps, if any at present, should be taken, in consequence of these letters from Sir George Yonge, I should be very much obliged to you, and make no other use of them but such as you shall direct.

I know the regard you had for our great and valuable friend the Duke of Devonshire (2), and I

(1) Sir George Yonge was at this time member for Honiton, and had recently published a letter to his constituents, relative to his conduct in parliament on the questions of general warrants. The subject to which the above letter immediately refers has not been ascertained.

(2) The Duke of Devonshire died on the 2d of October, at the German Spa; whither he had gone for the benefit of his health. "There's a chapter for moralising!" writes Walpole to