Court guessing their errand, 'I forgot to marry your sister; so lead
on, and let us finish that affair.'"

My object in this communication is to supply an omission in MR. STEINMAN'S
very interesting Notes, who does not show, as he might have done, how the
letters of M. de Comminges prove the truth of this story. For, from the
passage quoted by MR. STEINMAN from the letter to the king, dated Dec.
20-24, 1663, it is evident that the count was about on that day to leave
England "without bringing matters to a proper conclusion;" while that he
married the lady within a day or {550} two of that date may fairly be
inferred from the announcement on Aug. 29-Sept. 8, 1664, that "Madame la
Comtesse de Grammont accoucha hier au soir d'un fils." MR. STEINMAN'S
omission was probably intentional; I have supplied it in the hope that the
date and place of the marriage may now be ascertained, and for the purpose
of expressing my hope that we shall soon be favoured by MR. STEINMAN'S
return to this subject.

HORACE WALPOLE, Jun.

_Life_ (Vol. vii., p. 429.).--Let me give A. C. the testimony of two poets
and a philosopher in support of the "general feeling" about the renewal of
life, which will surely bear down the authority of three writers mentioned
by him.

Cowper's notion may be gathered from the couplet:

"So numerous are the follies that annoy
The mind and heart of every sprightly boy."

Kirke White must have had a similar idea:

"There are who think that childhood does not share
With age the cup, the bitter cup, of care;
Alas! they know not this unhappy truth,
That every age and rank is born to ruth."

The next four lines may also be attentively considered. I quote from his
"Childhood," one of his earliest productions by the way--but what
production of his was not early?

Still more decidedly, however, on the point speaks Cicero (_de Senectute_):

"Si quis Deus mihi largiatur ut ea hac aetate repuerescam, et in cunis
vagiam, _valde recusem_."

The following passage is also at A. C.'s service, provided you can find
space for it, and there are "no questions asked" as to its whereabouts:

"I have heard them say that our childhood's hours are the happiest time
of our earthly race; and they speak with regret of their summer bowers,
and the mirth they knew in the butterfly chase; and they sorrow to
think that those days are past, when their young hearts bounded with
lightsome gle