36 'OLD q' 



It is possible that, these communications being 

 addressed to one credited with reason and wit, a 

 certain amount of 'sparkle' was imparted to their 

 composition ; but whether so or not, they are fine 

 specimens of an almost lost art — letter-writing, in 

 spite of school boards and — typewriters ! 



Walpole, who was given to emulating the great, 

 borrowed, like the jay of fable, some of Prior's heroics 

 on her grace, to indite some doggerel lines of his 

 own on her vernal beauty, which, it is said, he left 

 on her toilet : 



' To many a Kitty, fair and young, 



Love would his ear engage ; 

 But Prioi-'s Kitty, ever young, 

 Bespoke it for an age.' 



If the tritons of verse had sung her praises, wh}^ 

 should not the minnows ? — so thought Walpole, who, 

 with one of the lesser poets. Whitehead, celebrated 

 her octogenarian charms. In fact, few — very few — 

 ladies approached nearer a ' century of praise ' than 

 did Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry. 



The aforesaid will suffice to more fully introduce 

 this eccentric lady to the reader, though much 

 remains for future reference. 



Allusion has been made to the bet-book of ' White's ' 

 — of which club, with others, Lord March was a 



