2 To CHARLES LYTTELTON 28 AUGUST 1734 OS he would indulge me a few more minutes, without forcing me so hastily to repeat how much I am My dearest Charles Your most sincere friend HOR. WALPOLE Tell me immediately that you have sealed my pardon. To CHARLES LYTTELTON, Thursday 7 August 1735 OS Printed from a photostat of the MS in the possession of Viscount Cobham, Hagley Hall, Stourbridge, Worcs. First printed in N&Q 1869, 4th ser., iii. 2 (misdated 'August 7, 1732'). Reprinted, Toynbee i. 1-2 (likewise misdated). The MS descended in the Lyttelton family to the present owner. Chelsea, August 7, 1735. My dearest Charles, THE pleasure that the interview, though so very short, that I had with you the night before you left town,1 gave me, has I think made your absence seem still more insupportable. That little snatch of conversation was so agreeable, that I am continually thinking how happy we should be in a much longer. I can reflect with great joy on the moments we passed together at Eton, and long to talk 'em over, as I think we could recollect a thousand passages, which were something above the common rate of schoolboy's diversions. I can remember with no small satisfaction that we did not pass our time in gloriously beating great clowns, who would patiently bear children's thumps for the collections, which I think some of our cotemporaries were so wise as to make for them afterwards. We had other amusements which I long to call to mind with you: when shall I be so happy? Let me know, my dear Charles, how far you are from Ragley2; I have some thoughts of going down thither this summer, and if it is not too far, I will spend a day with you in Worcestershire.3 You may assure yourself I am mightily put to it for news, when for want of 1. The date and place of this 'interview' 3. That is, at Hagley Hall, the seat of are not known. the Lytteltons (see heading). It is about 2. Ragley Hall, the seat of HW's cousin twenty miles from Ragley. Lord Conway (after 1750, Earl of Hert­ 4. Missing. ford), near Alcester, Warwickshire. .