youth. This single room has been half as long in completing as
all the rest of the castle. My compliments to Mr. John, whom I
hope to see at the same time.



Letter 4 To George Montagu, Esq.
Strawberry Hill May 6, 1770. (page 28)

If you are like me, you are fretting at the weather. We have
not a leaf, yet, large enough to make an apron for a Miss Eve
at two years old. Flowers and fruits, if they come at all this
year, must meet together as they do in a Dutch picture; our
lords and ladies, however, couple as if it were the real
Giovent`u dell' anno. Lord Albemarle,(6) you know has
disappointed all his brothers and my niece; and Lord
Fitzwilliam is declared sposo to Lady Charlotte Ponsonby.(7)
It is a pretty match, and makes Lord Besborough as happy as
possible.

Masquerades proceed in spite of church and King. The Bishop of
London persuaded that good soul the Archbishop to remonstrate
against them; but happily the age prefers silly follies to
serious ones, and dominos, comme de raison, carry It against
lawn sleeves.(8)

There is a new Institution that begins to and if it proceeds,
will make a considerable noise. It is a club of both sexes to
be erected at Almack's, on the model of that of the men at
White's. Mrs. Fitzroy, Lady Pembroke, Mrs. Meynel, Lady