A 'cute lady. 35 



withal only valuable as having been the gift of a 

 friend." 



As late as the year 1750 carriages were 

 stopped at noonday in Hyde Park, and even in 

 Piccadilly, and pistols presented at the breasts 

 of the most fashionable people. A celebrated 

 highwayman, by name M'Lean, was that year 

 taken and executed. So eager were persons of 

 all classes to see him that three thousand persons 

 visited him one day after his condemnation. The 

 usual reward offered by Government for the 

 apprehension of every highwayman was a 

 hundred pounds. It was not safe to venture out 

 after dark. Travellers were armed in broad 

 dayhght, as though they were going to 

 battle. 



In Lady Walpole's Letters I find the following 

 description of a very 'cute lady : — 



" Lady Browne and I were, as usual, going to 

 the Duchess of Montrose's at seven o'clock. The 

 evening was dark. In the close lane, under the 

 park pale, and within twenty yards of the gate, 

 a black figure pushed by between the chaise and 

 the hedge on my side. I suspected it was a 

 highwayman, and so, I found, did Browne, for 

 she was speaking, and stopped. To divert her 



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