Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/478

 460 THE WENTWORTH TAPERS.

Kensington, August 21, 1729.

.... Yesterday the Queen and all the royal family dinned at Claremont, and I dinned with the Duke and Sir Robert, &c. His R.H. came to us as soon as his and our dinner was over and drank a bumper of rack punch to the Queen's health, which you may be sure I devotely pledged ; and he was going on with another but her majesty sent us word she was agoing to walk in the garden, so that broak up the com- pany. We walked till candle light, being entertained with very fine french horns, then return into his great hall, and everybody agreed never was any thing finer lighted. Her

majesty and P C, Lady Chariot Rousey, Mr. Shutz

play'd there at quadril ; in the next room the Prince had the fiddles and danced, and did me the honour to ask me if I could dance country dances. I told him yes, and if there had been a partner for me I shou'd have made one in that glorious company — the Prince with the Dutchess of New- castle, the Duke of Newcastle with Princess Ann, the Duke

of Grafton with P Amelia, Sir Robert W with Lady

Cathern Pelham .... Lord Lifford danced with Lady Fanny Manners, Mr. Henry Pelham with Lady Albermarle, Lord James Cavendish with Lady Middleton, Mr. Lumley with Betty Spence ....

The Queen and Prince have invited themselves to the Duke of Grafton's hunting seat, that he has near Richmond, Saturday ; he fended off a great while by saying his house was not fit to receive them, and 'twas so old he was affraid it wou'd fall upon there heads, but his R.H., who is very quick at good inventions told him he wou'd bring tents and pitch them in his gardens, so his Grace no {sic) come off, the thing must be Saturday.

[Lord Wentworth.]

London, May 25, 1730. Dear Papa,

We walked in the Park last night, their was a great deal of company, Lady Bab Mansel, Lady Grace Vane, Lady

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