son took place later. "Mr. Selwyn,
I do not doubt, is superlatively happy. I am curious to know what
relics he has gleaned from the royal visit that he can bottle up and
place in his sanctum sanctorum." Such was Walpole's news in August
to the same correspondent. Selwyn recovered from his illness, and
left Matson to join the Carlisles. "The Selwyns I do not expect soon
at Richmond for the Carlisles are going to Cheltenham; but so many
loadstones draw him, that I who have no attraction seldom see him."
But in the autumn Walpole could again enjoy his friend's society. For
--as the following letter to Lady Carlisle shows he had returned
to Richmond for a time.

(1788,) November 2, Richmond.--It must seem, dear Lady Carlisle,
very shabby that on this day I do not afford a sheet of gilt paper
for my letter to you, but it is to no purpose giving any other
reason when I have that to give of having none by me. But truth on
plain paper is better than a compliment without sincerity, with all
the vignettes which could be found to adorn it, and nothing can be
truer than that I rejoice at the return of this day, which gave
birth to what I have on so many accounts reason to value and esteem.
I wrote yesterday such a long epistle to Lady Caroline, as would
have worn out anybody's patience but hers. . . .

Miss Gunning(235) is I find at the Park with Mrs. Stewart and
to-morrow morning I shall go in my coach to see her. I wish it were
possible for her to accept a corner in my coach, and go with me to
C(astle) Howard, but I am afraid that it is not. I take for granted
that you have fixed upon the 20th for our setting out, and that you
intend that Lord Morpeth should come to my house the day before,
which will be on Monday fortnight. He wishes to have leave to come
from Eton on Saturday, and, as he has told me in a letter which I
have received from him to-day, he has hinted it to his father. I
promised to second his motion, and I hope it will be complied with.
. . .

I shall remove with my family to town from hence in about ten days.
As yet we have leaf and verdure and air, and the country is very
agreeable. We have a few to associate with, and not too many. Old
Mrs. Crewe is my passion, and her house free from that cohue with
which others are filled; and as we have no connection with those who
make a public place of this situation, I find it a much more private
one than I expected.

The Duke seems for this year to have deserted u