CHAPTER XI.

The Bluestockings—Mrs. Chapone as Lady Racket in the _Rambler_—The _Rambler_ Attacks Card-Playing—Sunday Night Parties—Madame Du Bocage—Card-Parties at the Duke of Richmond’s—A Breakfast at Mrs. Montagu’s—Frederick, Prince of Wales—His Accomplishments—Breakfast Parties Yield to Evening Coteries—Origin of “Bluestocking”—Mr. Stillingfleet—Eminent Persons Who Met at the Assemblies of Mrs. Montagu, Mrs. Vesey, and Mrs. Ord—The Club—Sir Joshua Reynolds—Doctor Johnson—Hawkins—Beautiful Ceiling and Chimney-piece at Mrs. Montagu’s—Lord Chesterfield’s New House—Dangers Surrounding It in 1748—Doctor Johnson at Montagu House—Soame Jenyns’ Epitaph on Johnson—Mrs. Garrick—Manner of Her First Appearance on the Stage—Lady Clermont’s Al Fresco Gatherings—Syllabubs in Berkeley Square—Footpads on Hay Hill—Garrick Recites from “Macbeth” at Lady Montagu’s—Lady Spencer’s Eyes—Doctor Johnson at Mrs. Vesey’s—Contest of Gallantry with Mrs. Buller—Miss Monkton, Afterward Lady Cork—Conversation of Mrs. Montagu—Walpole on Bluestockings—Hannah More’s Description of the _Bas-Bleu_ Meetings—The People Who Attended the Bluestocking Assemblies—Johnson’s Quarrel with Mrs. Montagu—His Life of Lyttelton—Horace Walpole—His Criticism on Mrs. Montagu—“Château Portman”—The Parnassus at Batheaston—Introduction of _Bouts-rimés_—Walpole’s Satirical Account of the Parnassus Fair—Mrs. Montagu in Montagu House—Mrs. Montagu as Vanessa, in _The Observer_—Miss Siddons—Miss Mitford on the Batheaston Meetings 190