Mr. Montagu desired much to see some wheatears, birds that abound in the Downs still, and are delicious eating.
“I was sorry the Wheatears could not be got, but the Poulterer disappointed me; however I have now got a couple stuffed, by which you will see their shape and feathers.
“It is now absolutely said the Duchess of Manchester[365] is to marry Mr. Hussey.”[366]
[365] Isabella, daughter of the Duke of Montagu, and widow of 2nd Earl of Manchester.
[366] Mr. Edward Hussey, afterwards Earl of Beaulieu.
Mr. Montagu writes from his brother’s place, Newbold Verdon, where he stayed en route to the North—
“At Dunstable Hill j met Mr. Stanhope with your friend Dr. Courayer, and not far from Northampton my Lady Halifax[367] going to London to lye in, and afterwards my Lord,[368] with whom j had some discourse, and who was so civil as to say he hoped j intended calling on him at Horton. I said j would take some other opportunity of paying my respects. We had yesterday the company of Lord Wentworth[369] and a brother[370] of the great Mr. Lyttelton, who is a Clergyman, at dinner. The former of whom is a very pretty kind of man, and the other will be a Bishop.”
[367] Née Anne Dunk, a great heiress.
[368] George Montagu Dunk, 5th Earl of Halifax.
[369] Edward, 9th Baron Wentworth.