They were more talked about than the change in the Ministry.
In George Selwyn's Memoirs, he says—"Someone proposes a stroll to Betty's fruit shop (in St. James's Street). Suddenly the cry is raised ' The Gunnings are coming!' and we all tumble out to gaze and criticise."
They were quite aware of their own charms. Horace Walpole tells a story that one day when they were going over Hampton Court Palace, the housekeeper, wishing to show the room containing Kneller's pictures of the Hampton Court beauties, cried, "This way for the Beauties!" On this, the sisters flew into a passion, and said they were come to see the palace, and not to be shown off as a sight. Malicious tricks were often played off on them, with a view of injuring them in fashionable society. The Duchess of Bedford was about to give a masquerade, to which the Gunnings were pining to be invited. A sham card of invitation arrived, but their mother soon detected the hoax, for by using a strong chemical to the writing, another name was found underneath. Mrs. Gunning was equal to the occasion. Accompanied by one of her lovely daughters, and with the sham card of invitation in her hand, she called on the Duchess, and to her great joy, she received a genuine invitation to the masquerade. Many admirers had buzzed round
