caufe to fear no fair means will prevail

upon. 11.5

Thofe eyes that care not how much mifchief is done, or how great flaughter committed, fo they have but a fine Show; those very-female eyes will be infinitely delighted with the camp which is fpeedily to be form'd in Hyde-Park. The tents are carried thither this morning, new regiments, with new cloths and furniture (far exceeding the late cloth and linnen defign'd by his Grace for the foldiery) The fight of fo many gallant fellows, with all the pomp and glare of War yet undeform'd by Battle, thofe Scenes which England has for many years only beheld on Stages, may poffibly invite your curiofity to this place.

Mrs. expects the Pretender at her lodgings by Saturday fe'nnight. She has bought a picture of Madam Maintenon to fet her features by, against that time. Three Priefts of your acquaintance are very pofitive, by her intereft to be his Father Confeffor.

By our latest accounts from Dukeftreet Weftminster, the converfion of T. G. Efq; is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular: That upon the feizure of his Flanders-Mares, he seem'd more than ordinarily disturb'd for fome hours, fent for his ghoftly father, and refolv'd to bear his

lofs

lofs like a christian; till about the hours of feven or eight the coaches and horses of feveral of the Nobility paffing by his window towards Hyde-Park, he could no longer endure the difappointment, but inftant ly went out, took the Oath of Abjuration, and recover'd his dear Horfes, which carry'd him in triumph to the Ring. The poor diftreffed Roman Catholicks, now un-hors'd, and un-charioted, cry out with the Pfalmift, Some in Chariots and fome in Horfes, but we will invocate the name of the Lord.

Will not defcribe Bl

in particular, not to foreftall your expectations before you fee it Only take a fhort account, which I will hazard my little credit is no unjust one. I never faw fo great a thing with fo much littleness in it: I think the Architect built it entirely in compliance to the tafte of its Owners: for it is the moft inhofpitable thing imaginable, and the most felfifh it has, like their own hearts, no room for ftrangers, and no reception for any person of superior quality to themselves.

There

There are but juft two Apartments, for the Mafter and Miftrefs, below; and but two apartments above, (very much inferior to them) in the whole House. When you look upon the Outfide, you'd think it large enough for a Prince ; when you see the Infide, it is too little for a Subject; and has not conveniency to lodge a common family. It is a houfe of Entries and Paffages; among which there are three Vifta's through the whole, very uselessly handfome. There is what might have been a fine Gallery, but fpoil'd by two Arches towards the End of it, which take away the fight of feveral of the windows. There are two ordinary ftair-cafes inftead of one great one. The best things within the house, are the Hall, which is indeed noble and well-proportion'd; and the cellars and offices under-ground, which are the most commodious, and the beft contrived, of the whole. At the top of the building are feveral Cupola's and little Turrets that have but an ill effect, and make the building look at once finical and heavy. What feems of the best tafte, is that Front towards the gardens, which is not yet loaded with these turrets. The two Sides of the building are intirely spoil'd by two monftrows bow

windows

windows which stand juft in the middle, inftead of doors: And as if it were fatal that fome trifling littleness fhould every where deftroy, the grandeur, there are in the chief front two femi circles of a lower ftructure than the reft, that cut off the angles, and look as if they were purposely defign'd to hide a loftier and nobler piece of building, the top of which appears above them. In a word, the whole is a most expensive abfurdity; and the Duke of Shrewsbury gave a true character of it, when he said, it was a great Quarry of Stones above ground.

2

We paid a vifit to the fpring where Rofamond bathed herself, on a hill where remains only a piece of a wall of the old Palace of Henry the Second. We toasted her fhade in the cold water, not without a thought or two, fcarce fo cold as the liquor we drank it in. I dare not tell you what they were, and fo haften to conclude,

Your, &c.

LETTER

You

LETTER X.

OU can't be furprized to find him a dull correfpondent whom you have known fo long for a dull companion. And tho' I am pretty fenfible, that if I have any wit, I may as well write to show it, as not; (because any Lady that has once seen me, will naturally ask, what I can fhow that is better ?) yet I'll content my felf with giving you as plain a history of my pilgrimage, as Purchas himself, or as John Bunyan could do of his walking through the wilderness of this world,

&c.

*First then I went by water to HamptonCourt, unattended by all but my own virtues; which were not of fo modeft a

nature as to keep themselves, or me, conceal'd: For I met the Prince with all his Ladies on horfeback, coming from hunting. Mrs. B and Mrs. L and Mrs. L took me into protection (contrary to the laws against harbouring Papifts) and gave me a dinner, with fomething I lik'd better, an opportunity of converfation with Mrs. HWe all agreed that the life of a Maid of

O

Ho