“Of twelve of her letters, however, addressed to Lady Mar at Paris, there are copies in the hands of Colonel Erskine, Lady Mar’s grandson, which will probably some time or other get into print. He has also a copy of a very curious letter of Lady M. W. Montague’s, giving an account of a private society that used to meet about the year 1730 at Lord Hillsborough’s in Hanover Square, where each gentleman came masked, and brought with him one lady—either his mistress, or any other man’s wife, or perhaps a woman of the town—who was also masked. They were on oath not to divulge names, and continued masked the whole time. There were tables set out for supper, artificial arbours, couches, &c, to which parties retired when they pleased and called for what refreshment they chose. This letter is not one of the twelve above-mentioned. This institution probably lasted but a short time. The late Captain O’Brien told me that his father, Sir Edward, was one of the members.
“Aviennus and his wife, in Pope’s verses, were Wortley Montague and Lady Mary. Wordly was also Mr. Wortley.
“Lady W. Montague had two children by the Frenchman alluded to, and this amour was the cause of being separated from her husband.
“(From the information of Colonel Erskine.)”[1]
- ↑ Whether these statements, even from a relative, be true, will now be difficult to decide. Walpole, however familiar with her history, was certainly very hostile to her in feeling; yet he could scarcely descend to invent and string together such a tissue of offences, however he may have given a ready ear to rumour or exaggeration. Much in her history is no doubt difficult to explain. She often lived in equivocal society, and
