of high play; one of the rules reads: "Every person
playing at the new quinze table shall keep fifty guineas before
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
be inconvenient if you don't leave Nice immediately; if you do, a
more expeditious method may be thought of. But I am very desirous of
adding no more expense to that which this Order will cost you.

Almack's was last night very full; Lady Anne and Lady Betty(47) were
there with Lady Carlisle. The Duke of Cumb[erlan]d(48) sat between
Lady Betty and Lady Sarah, who was his partner. Lady Sarah, your
sister, and His R[oyal] H[ighness] did nothing but dance cotillons
in the new blue damask room, which by the way was intended for
cards. The Duchess of Gordon(49) made her first appearance there,
who is very handsome; so the beauty of the former night, Lady
Almeria Carpenter,(50) was the less regarded. We will follow, if you
please, the veteris vestigia flamme.

There has (sic) been no events this week that I know of, except his
Grace of B