PAGE
Preface [vii]
List of Illustrations [xv]
CHAPTER I.
The Robinson, Sterne, and Morris families — Birth and childhoodof Elizabeth Montagu — Correspondence with Duchess of Portland(passim) — Dr. Middleton’s second wife — “Fidget” — Asummons — Tunbridge Wells — Mrs. Pendarves — Lady Thanet — Miss Anstey — Bevis Mount — The Wallingfords — A suit of“cloathes” — Anne Donnellan [1–25]
CHAPTER II.
Correspondence with Duchess of Portland (passim) — Sir RobertAustin — The goat story — The Freinds — Country beaux — ThomasRobinson, barrister — Lady Wallingford — Duke ofPortland’s letter — A coach adventure — Influenza — Smallpox — Cottagelife — Bath — Lord Noel Somerset — Dowager Duchessof Norfolk — Frost Fair on the Thames — The plunge bath — “Long”Sir Thomas Robinson — Lord Wallingford’s death — Themenagerie at Bullstrode — Lady Mary Wortley Montagu — PrincessMary of Hesse — Monkey Island — Lydia Botham — Mrs.Pendarves — Lord Oxford — Admiral Vernon — Anne Donnellan — Charlemagne — Dr.Young’s Night Thoughts — Duchess ofKent — Mr. Achard [26–62]
CHAPTER III.
Hairdressing — Correspondence with Duchess of Portland (passim) — Sarah Robinson attacked by smallpox — Hayton Farm — Acountry squire — Handel — Dr. Middleton — Laurence Sterne — Dukeof Portland’s letter — A brother’s tribute — Carthagena — TheWestminster election — A South Sea lawsuit — Lord Oxford’sdeath — Panacea of bleeding — A one-horse chaise — A Windsorhatter — Lord Sandwich’s marriage — Ducal baths — Domesticservice — Cibber’s Life — Peg Woffington — Dowager Duchessof Marlborough — Revolution in Russia — New Year’s Day — LordGeorge Bentinck — Northfleet Fair — Sir R. Walpole — Duchessof Norfolk’s masquerade — Sir Hans Sloane — A Houseof Lords debate — The Opera — Garrick [63–107]
CHAPTER IV.
Love triumphs — Sir George Lyttelton — Edward Montagu — AnneDonnellan’s advice — Elizabeth’s engagement and marriage — Correspondencewith Duchess of Portland — “Delia” Dashwood — Oddhoneymoon etiquette — Mr. Robinson’s letter — Dr.Middleton’s letter — Cally Scott — Mrs. Freind — Père Courayer — Worksof Manor — The Dales — Whig principles — Correspondencewith Edward Montagu — Hanoverian troops — Handel’sOratorios — Young’s Night Thoughts — A country beauand roué — A bolus — The Lord Chancellor — Dr. Sandys — Acook [108–140]
CHAPTER V.
Journey to London — The floods — A faithful steward — The Rogers’pedigree — A curious letter — Mr. Montagu’s visit to Newcastle — Birthof “Punch” — Inoculation — Baby clothes — SandlefordPriory — A parson and his wife — Countess of Granville — Correspondencewith Duchess of Portland — Courayer — Woman’seducation — Lord Orford’s letter to General Churchill — Preparationfor inoculation — Elizabeth’s letter to her husband — Armydiscipline — Physicians’ fees — Pope’s grotto — A highwayman — Dangersof a post-chaise — “Punch’s” chariot — A Bath ball — “Mathematicalinseration” — Midgham — A footpad — TheMinistry — Pope’s Dunciad — Mrs. Pococke — Sugar tax — ThePretender — Sir Septimus Robinson — “Hide” Park — Gownsand fans — The wearing of “Punch” — A wet-nurse — Aprons — Orangetrees — Lord Anson — Clothes and table-linen — Stowe — Thoresby — Deathof “Punch” — Loss of an only child — Submissionto God’s will — Duchess of Marlborough’s death — ARaree Show — Cattle disease — Mrs. Robinson’s illness [141–197]
CHAPTER VI.
Correspondence with the Duchess of Portland — Donnington Castle — Tunbridge Wells — Dr. Young and Colley Cibber — Buxton — TonbridgeCastle — The 1745 rising in Scotland — George LewisScott — National terrors — Wade’s army — County meeting atYork — The Northern gentry — General Cope’s defeat at PrestonPans — Sussex privateers — Tunbridge ware — Walnut medicine — D.Stanley’s letter to Duke of Montagu — Cattle murrain — Fearsof invasion — The Law regiment — Romney Marsh — A footman — Abrave gamekeeper [198–226]
CHAPTER VII.
Correspondence with Duchess of Portland — Death of Mrs. Robinson — LydiaBotham — The Hill Street house — “Such a Johnny” — Courayer — Mr.Carter’s death — Denton estate — Elixir ofvitriol and tar-water — Dr. Shaw — Young Edward WortleyMontagu — General election — Huntingdon Election — Dr. Pococke — Mrs.Theophilus Cibber — Courayer’s figure — A highand dry residence — Lady Fane’s grottoes — In search of an axletree — Winchester Cathedral — Mount Bevis — The New Forest — WiltonHouse — Savernake — Courayer’s letter — Matthew Robinson,M.P. for Canterbury — Lyttelton’s Monody — ThomasRobinson’s death — Coffee House, Bath — Cambridge — Richardson’sClarissa — Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle — Spa — The Hague — JamesMontagu’s death — Price of tea [227–263]
CHAPTER VIII.
Ranelagh masquerade — Tunbridge Wells — Duke of Montagu’sdeath — Coombe Bank — The feather screen — Hinchinbrook — TheMiss Gunnings — Chinese room in Hill Street — A parson’schildren — Dowager Duchess of Chandos — Lord Pembroke’sdeath — The earthquake — Death of Dr. Middleton — Anniversaryof Elizabeth’s wedding day — Mrs. Boscawen — Gilbert West — Barryand Garrick — Embroidered flounces — “The cousinhood” — Westfamily — Berenger — Hildersham — Miss Maria Naylor — The“Pollard Ashe” — Mrs. Percival’s death — Dr. Shaw’s death — TheDauphin — Dr. Middleton’s works — Anne Donnellan — NathanielHooke [264–296]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOL. I.

Mrs. Montagu (née Elizabeth Robinson) [Frontispiece]
From a miniature by C. F. Zincke, in the possession of The Hon. ElizabethMontagu, Farnham Royal. (Photogravure.)
TO FACE PAGE
Mount Morris, near Hythe, Kent [8]
From an old print, 1809.
Miss Morris, Grandmother of Mrs. Montagu [16]
From a picture (artist unknown), in the possession of the Hon. ElizabethMontagu. (Photogravure.)
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Robinson (Mrs. Montagu’s Fatherand Mother) [32]
From a picture by W. Hamilton, in the possession of The Hon. ElizabethMontagu, Farnham Royal. (Photogravure.)
W. Freind, D.D., Dean of Canterbury [64]
From the picture by T. Worlidge.
William, Second Duke of Portland [76]
From the picture by Thomas Hudson, in the possession of the Duke ofPortland. (Photogravure.)
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu [80]
From a miniature (artist unknown), in the possession of Mrs. Climenson.(Photogravure.)
Sir Thomas Robinson (1st Baron Rokeby) [100]
From a picture (artist unknown), in the possession of The Hon. ElizabethMontagu, Farnham Royal. (Photogravure.)
Morris Robinson [144]
From the picture by the Rev. M. W. Peters, R.A., in the possession of TheHon. Elizabeth Montagu, Farnham Royal. (Photogravure.)
Sandleford Priory, near Newbury, Berkshire [152]
From a photograph.
Denton Hall, Northumberland [160]
Margaret Cavendish Harley, Duchess of Portland [192]
From the picture by Thomas Hudson, in the possession of the Duke ofPortland. (Photogravure.)
Lady Lechmere (née Howard), Afterwards Lady (Thomas)Robinson [208]
From a picture (artist unknown), in the possession of The Hon. ElizabethMontagu, Farnham Royal. (Photogravure.)
Gilbert West [296]
From an engraving by E. Smith, after W. Walker.
Robinson PedigreeIn pocket at [end of Vol.]

ELIZABETH MONTAGU

THE QUEEN OF THE BLUE-STOCKINGS

CHAPTER I.
GIRLHOOD UP TO 1738, AND BEGINNING OF THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE DUCHESS OF PORTLAND.