To MANN 19 JANUARY 1774 547 news, unless a cloud in Russia increases to a storm. An impostor? there, who calls himself Peter III claims the Crown for his pre­ tended son, and has beaten the troops sent against him. I shall not wonder if this attempt costs him, and the Great Duke himself their lives: nor shall I be surprised if France or Prussia has conjured up this phantom. Methinks I wish Lady Mary had left you. Her disposition will always raise storms, and you may be involved in them as innocently as you have been. I expect to hear of her in some strange fracas at Rome; and as there is another Archduchess8 at Naples, whatever vision she is disappointed in, will be laid to the implacability of Juno.9 For yourself, however, you may be easy, for nobody here sees Lady Mary's disasters in a serious light. Your nephew Horace was a long time with me the other morning, and pleased me extremely by his sense, propriety and good nature. I am mistaken if his youthful vapours are not dispersed. What can I tell you else?—The opera is a kind of Italian news: Miss Davis10 has great success. I cannot say she charms me. Her knowledge of music seems greater than her taste; or perhaps it is that I do not like the new taste. Millico is jealous of her, and they make something like parties; but operas are not upon the foot now of creating much discord. They are ill attended; and the burlettas are so bad and the dancers so execrable, that the managers are afraid of not being able to go on. What shall I tell you has succeeded to politics and pleasures? Nothing. Nothing has beaten out everything. The Maccaronis, amongst whom exists the only symptom of vivacity, ingham 2 Jan., cited in Burke, op. cit. ii. 'L'Inglesina' (Public Adv. 20 Nov. 1773) 510). In answering "part of Mr [George] and TInghilesina' (Gazzetta toscana 19 Wombwell's speech,' Richmond 'appealed Sept. 1772, vii. i4g). She made her London ... to the general sense of the court operatic debut 20 Nov. 1773 at the Hay­ (which they immediately testified by an market as Berenice in Sacchini's Lucio almost unanimous approbation) whether Vero with text by Apostolo Zeno (Public he did not always, in the character of a Adv. 20 Nov. 1773 et passim). She sang proprietor behave with decency and re­ on the continent 1768-73, and Mann pre­ spect to private characters' (Daily Adv. sumably heard her either at the Tuscan 19 Jan.). Court, or at the Teatro di Via Santa 7. His name was Pugatscheff (HW). Maria in Sacchini's Armida 18 Sept. 1772, Emel'ian Ivanovich Pugachev (1726 or a performance financed by 'diversi cava­ 1741-75), Cossack rebel leader; see HW to lieri inglesi' (Gazzetta toscana, loc. cit.; see Lady Ossory 19 Jan. 1774, OSSORY i. 184, also 'Dramatis Personal in Lucio Vero, a n. 12. Serious Opera. As performed at the King's 8. Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples. Theatre in the Hay-Market, 1773; Sir 9. The Empress Queen (HW). George Grove, Dictionary of Music, 5th 10. Cecilia Davies (ca 1750-1836), called edn, ed. Blom, 1954).