The Letters of Horace Walpole - Volume I | Page 9

his own letters, and from more
than one passage in his works, as where he ranks Scott as second to
Shakespeare alone, that he deservedly admired him more than all their
contemporaries put together.]
And it seems not unnatural to entertain a hope that a selection from a
correspondence which extorted such an eulogy from men whose own
letters form no small part of the attraction of Lockhart's and Moore's
biographies, will be acceptable to many who, while lacking courage, or
perhaps leisure, to grapple with publications in many volumes, may
welcome the opportunity thus here afforded them of forming an
acquaintance, however partial, with works which, in their entire body,
are deservedly reckoned among the masterpieces of our literature.[1]
[Footnote 1: It may be proper to point out that, in some few instances, a
letter is not given in its entirety; but, as in familiar correspondence, it
must constantly happen that, while the incidents mentioned in one
portion of a letter are full of interest, of others--such as marriages,
deaths, &c.--the importance is of the most temporary and transitory
character. It may be hoped that the liberty taken of leaving out such
portions will be regarded as, if not commendable, at the least
excusable.]

A SELECTION
FROM THE
LETTERS OF HORACE WALPOLE.

MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES--VERY LIVELY.[1]
[Footnote 1: This letter, written before he was nineteen, is worth
noticing as a proof how innate was his liveliness of style, since in that
respect few of the productions of his maturer age surpasses it. It also
shows how strong already was his expectations that his letters would
hereafter be regarded as interesting and valuable.]
TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.[1]
[Footnote 1: George Montagu, Esq., of Roel, in the county of
Gloucester, son of Brigadier-General Edward Montagu, and long M.P.
for Northampton. He was the grandnephew of the first Earl of Halifax
of the Montagu family, the statesman and poet, and was the
contemporary at Eton of Walpole and Gray. When his cousin, the Earl
of Halifax, was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, he was his secretary; and
when Lord North was Chancellor of the Exchequer, he occupied the
same position with him. He died May 10, 1780, leaving the bulk of his
fortune to Lord North. Walpole's letters to him, 272 in number, and
dating between 1736 and 1770, were first published in 1818, "from the
Originals in the possession of the Editor." There was a coolness
between Walpole and Montagu several years before the latter's death,
the correspondence dropping very abruptly. The cause is explained by
Walpole in a letter to Cole, dated May 11, 1780. Mr. Montagu's brother,
Edward, was killed at Fontenoy. His sister, Arabella, was married to a
Mr. Wetenhall--a relation of the Wetenhall mentioned in De Grammont.
"Of Mr. Montagu, it is only remembered that he was a gentleman-like
body of the vieille cour, and that he was usually attended by his brother
John (the Little John of Walpole's correspondence), who was a
midshipman at the age of sixty, and found his chief occupation in
carrying about his brother's snuff-box" (Quarterly Rev. for April, 1818,
p. 131).]
KING'S COLLEGE, May 2, 1736.
Dear Sir,--Unless I were to be married myself, I should despair ever
being able to describe a wedding so well as you have done: had I
known your talent before, I would have desired an epithalamium. I

believe the Princess[1] will have more beauties bestowed on her by the
occasional poets, than even a painter would afford her. They will cook
up a new Pandora, and in the bottom of the box enclose Hope, that all
they have said is true. A great many, out of excess of good breeding,
having heard it was rude to talk Latin before women, propose
complimenting her in English; which she will be much the better for. I
doubt most of them, instead of fearing their compositions should not be
understood, should fear they should: they write they don't know what,
to be read by they don't know who. You have made me a very
unreasonable request, which I will answer with another as
extraordinary: you desire I would burn your letters: I desire you would
keep mine. I know but of one way of making what I send you useful,
which is, by sending you a blank sheet: sure you would not grudge
threepence for a halfpenny sheet, when you give as much for one not
worth a farthing. You drew this last paragraph on you by your
exordium, as you call it, and conclusion. I hope, for the future, our
correspondence will run a little more glibly, with dear George, and dear
Harry [Conway]; not as formally as if we were playing a game at chess
in Spain and Portugal; and Don Horatio was to have the