142 HISTORY OF HARTING. 



But alas! June 30, 1717. . . . "That one of us 

 disappointed the other is evident, and which of us 

 it was the shades of Lady Holt can witness which 

 saw you there and not me." * 



In August, Pope, who was distinguished as a painter 

 as well as a poet, had caused some of his pictures 

 to be framed for Lady Holt. One of these was a 

 " Madonna and Child" for the altar of the private 

 chapel.f The squire paid for his share of it, 2 ios., 

 probably for the frame. In 1694, another set of 

 pictures had now been finished by Pope, and he 

 writes, Aug. 18, 1717 : " When my pictures are done 

 be pleased to order them down to Ladyholt by the 

 Stanstead carrier, who inns in Gerard -Street." At 

 the same time, perhaps, that the cases might not go 

 back empty, Pope hints " when a hogshead of good 

 French wine falls into Ladyholt Park, whether out 

 of the skies or whatever element that pays no customs, 

 you would favour me with about twelve dozen of it 

 at the price you give." It is sad to note that this 

 sort of reckless dealing with smugglers led thirty 

 years after to the Lady Holt murder, as we shall see. 

 No doubt such Jacobites as Pope and the Squire were 

 sorely tempted for three reasons to patronize the 

 smugglers ; first, in order to evade the unlawful taxation 

 as they thought it of the line of Hanover, secondly, to 

 stop its supplies, and, thirdly to take some set off 



c Elwin's Pope, Vol V., p. 246. 



f In return for Pope's Madonna, Caryll sent him some Ems- 

 worth oysters. 



" Now as your Lady is pleased to say of my present that 

 St. Luke himself never drew such a Madonna, so I may say 

 of yours that the Prince of y e Apostles himself, tho' he were 

 a fisherman all his life, never eat so good oysters." " You'll be 

 the cause that I shall obey a precept of the Church this Lent," 

 &c. Pope to Caryll, 1710-11. 



Pope's Aunt and Godmother, Christina, was wife of Samuel 

 Cooper the great miniature painter of European fame. 

 "Athenaeum," July 18, 1857. Hence Pope's early love of 

 painting. 



