[53] Walpole to Mann, 26 May, 1742.
[54] According to Pinkerton, another anecdote connects Mrs. Bracegirdle with the Walpoles. 'Mr. Shorter, my mother's father [he makes Horace say], was walking down Norfolk Street in the Strand, to his house there, just before poor Mountfort the player was killed in that street, by assassins hired by Lord Mohun. This nobleman, lying in wait for his prey, came up and embraced Mr. Shorter by mistake, saying, 'Dear Mountfort!' It was fortunate that he was instantly undeceived, for Mr. Shorter had hardly reached his house before the murder took place' (Walpoliana, ii. 96). Mountfort, it will be remembered, owed his death to Mrs. Bracegirdle's liking for him.
[55] Walpole to Mann, 22 April, 1742.
[56] Walpole to Mann, 26 May, 1742.
[57] Walpole to Conway, 29 June, 1744.
[58] Walpole to Montagu, 17 Sept., 1745.
[59] Walpole later revised this verdict: 'General Cope was tried afterwards for his behaviour in this action, and it appeared very clearly that the Ministry, his inferior officers, and his troops, were greatly to blame; and that he did all he could, so ill-directed, so ill-supplied, and so ill-obeyed.'
[60] Walpole to Mann, 27 Sept., 1745.
[61] Walpole to Mann, 25 April, 1746.
[62] Walpole to Mann, 1 Aug., 1746.