him." At play it was the fashion to wear a great coat, sometimes
turned inside out for luck; the lace ruffles were covered by a
leathern bib. Broadbrimmed high hats, trimmed with ribbon and
flowers, completed a proper gaming costume.

(44) Robert Shafto of Whitworth, M.P. for Durham--fond of racing and
betting.

(45) Henry St. John, called "the Baptist," was a brother of "Bully,"
second Viscount Bolingbroke. Horace Walpole writes of them as Lord
Corydon and Captain Corydon. He was a Groom of the Bedchamber, a
Member of Parliament, and a colonel in the army. He was a man of
wit, universally popular.


[1768,] Jan. 15, Friday morning.--We are at this moment in some
alarm about you, which I hope to find has been given without any
foundation; however, en tous cas, I hope this will find you at Nice,
and not at Turin, where Lady Carlisle has been told there is a
contagious disorder. You are near enough that place to have better
intelligence than we.

I dine(d) with the Duke of Grafton the day before yesterday at Lord
Barrington's, who assured me the death of Mr. Shirley would not
occasion any delay in regard to you. Sir W[illiam] M[usgrave] and I
have been contriving how to save you the price of the courier,
which, for going and coming, is above 150 pounds. I shall apply to
Lord Clive(46) through his former secretary, my neighbour Mr. Walsh.
Lord Clive is going to Nice, although I suppose by a slow progress,
and can supply this courier's place, a pas de tortue, that will not