Months ago the Princess of Carignan happened to observe that some of the China that stood in one of the Anti-Chambers was missing, and that it continued to decrease by degrees; she took notice of it, and enquiry was made about it among the servants: they could give no acct. of it; but one of them to clear himself and his Comrades of Suspicion was resolv'd to watch it, and hid himself in the room for that purpose. He was much surpris'd to see Count Richa, the first time he came to visit the Children as usual, as he return'd thro' the Room, go to the place where the China stood, choose out a piece or two of it, put it in his pocket, and carry it off. The Fellow did not care to risk his Credit against the Count's, by declaring immediately what he saw : he only said, he knew who had the China, and if they would send him in all the Messages to the houses about the town, he should soon be able to get very satisfactory intelligence of it. It was not long before he had an errand to Count Richa's, where he saw all the China that was missing openly displayed upon one of his Tables. When the story was known, ev'ry body look'd upon it as a plain Indication that the Count's head was disorder'd: however the Prince of Carignan immediately forbid him his house. The Count hardly appear'd abroad afterward: his illness soon took a different turn; his health decay'd apace, and at last he died of a Dropsy. -As to the rest things stand here pretty much I believe as you left them: our Governors are Count Salmure and the Chev'. St. Sebastian. I long to find out some of your walks, which look very pretty from my back window: I have not been able to go out to the other side the Po above once or twice there is no walking here at this time of the year: the heat now begins to be insufferable. Oh that somebody would set me this moment under one of your Trees at Byfleet!-Present my Respects to your Good Family. Let me hear from you.

Your's

R. LOWTH.

I

DEAR JO

No. XXVI.

FROM DR. ROBERT LOWTH.

Naples March 1. 1750.

WAS afraid that something had happen'd to you, as it

was so long before I heard from you. This is one of the very great inconveniences of being so punctual as you are: your friends are all alarm'd, whenever your Letters are a post or two later than ordinary; the uneasiness it gives them is well-founded, but had better be spared. Those that are so good as to be concern'd for me, I use more kindly; I teach them not to be in care about me, tho' they don't hear from me in a twelvemonth. I am very glad you are got well again, and I hope your exercise in the Country and your journeys between your Villa and Town, will perfectly establish your health. I read the description of your Garden to Sig". Domville; he found it to be the same in the main that you had talk'd over with him, 8 or 10 years ago: I left him well at Turin about a Month since. He gave me some information

with regard to those friends you enquir'd after: Mr. Lanskarouwski is now in the Saxon Service; I think he made a Campaign or two in the beginning of the war in that of the King of Sardinia: Mr. D'Erlach died somewhere in Lombardy, 6 or 7 years ago, of the smallpox. I must not forget your old flame, the Princess of Carignan: She has lost I believe a good deal of her beauty, being now pale and very thin; but will always retain her agreeableness. She lay in, while we were at Turin; and has now about 6 Children.

A good part of this day and yesterday I spent in the company of your Friend Sig". Camillo Paderni: he is settled at Portici in the King's service, and is employed in making Drawings of the Antiquities found in Herculaneum, of which they are preparing to give the world a large account. He has been there upon this business above a year and half. He has receiv'd your Book from Mr. Nash, who was here lately. Sig'. Camillo is very well with the King; has access

Ꮓ

to him at all times, and frequent conversations with him: he has presented your Book to His Majesty, as an example proper to be follow'd for the beauty of the Paper, Impression &c. in the work which they are now going to put to the press. I hear no great account of the abilities of the person that is compiling this work; besides that, he is old and infirm, and there is a great variety of matter, too much for any one person to undertake. Your Friend's part will, I doubt not, be very well perform'd: he shew'd us some of his drawings, particularly that of the Equestrian Statue; which is I believe by much the finest thing they have found; it was perfect, except one hand, and the two feet, which have been supplied. The Horse is much beyond that of M. Aurelius in the Capitol. This is of marble, and as big as the life only. The Inscription is: M. NONIO. M. F. BALBO. PR. PRO. COS. HERCVLANENSES. Among his drawings I could not help observing, as I had done in the original Paintings, two Female Centaurs, which are animals I was not before acquainted with. These are among the copies which he is taking in colours of the best of the paintings: they seem to me to flatter the originals. To tell you the truth, I don't vastly admire the Pictures in general: most of them are certainly very bad; some single figures are prettily enough design'd; the Chiron and Achilles has some Life and Expression, but is not well design'd in the whole; and is I think far from deserving the great commendation I have often heard of it. They have lately been digging in another part of the Herculaneum; but I don't find they have had any great success. Sig'. Camillo has been very obliging in accompanying us thro' the several lights of the place; and to day has been with us to the top of Vesuvius, which he had not seen before. He desires his Compliments to you. I should have told you before, as you desir'd particularly to be informed, that he has long ago drop'd his design of publishing a Collection of Basso Relievos. We have been here a week, and shall stay as much longer, to see the place and the neighbourhood. We then return to Rome for two months: we staid only one day there in coming, and took one great gape at some of the prin

cipal Buildings and Ruins. In our way we staid a week at Bologna, and work'd very hard all the while. We are forced to leave Venice quite out of our plan; we stay but a fortnight at Florence. Pray sit down immediately, and write me a Letter for Dr. Cocchi. We are to be in England the end of June. In the mean time, and ever believe me, Dear Jo, Your's most affectionately

R. LOWTH.

Direct, recommandée à Mons'. Le Marquis Belloni à Rome.

I had almost forgot to tell that I asked Sig". Paderni what he thought of the engravings in your Book: he commended them much in general, spoke in high terms of many of the small pieces, but did not seem to think so well of the large figures; I asked him particularly of the Basso Relievos; he thought one much better perform'd than the other; you will know which; I have forgot.

DEAR S

No. XXVII.

FROM STEPHEN DUCK.

Kew. Decem. 5. 1750.

I HAVE had thoughts many times of coming to see you,

but the exceeding bad weather and some business have hinder'd me. However, if nothing extraordinary happens, I intend to convince you that I am not merely a Summer Bird, by waiting on you in the very depth of winter, probably at the latter end of next week—The King (God eternally bless him) has kindly given me occasion to buy a new Horse, by making me Chaplain to a Regiment of Dragoon Guards, which has fully made me amends for being broke. And the favour, I think, is doubled, because it was granted without any knowledge or solicitation of mine. But though the Government saves 60£ per Ann. by this, and though I think

upon the whole, it is but a piece of justice (as I bought the former Chaplainship) yet it has moved the Envy of some persons, and made 'em strive to be witty upon my change of life, as perhaps you have seen in the Magazines—I don't think these Writers deserve any Answer, or if they do, I would give them only the following.

You think it (Censor) mighty strange
That born a Country Clown,

I should my first profession change,
And wear a Chaplain's Gown!

If Virtue honours the low Race
From which I was descended,
If Vices your high birth disgrace,
Who should be most commended.

Pray make my kind Complimts: to your good Mother and Cousin, and believe me to be, with great Truth,

HIS waits on you with my best wishes for a happy

and vegetable families thrive and be healthy. I think this warm wet winter very favourable for your new plantations, your Trees will doubtless take root and flourish; tho' I fancy