Countess of Desmond

In reply to K., I have an impression that Horace Walpole has a kind of dissertation on the *Old Countess of Desmond*, to whom his attention was directed by her being said to have danced with Richard III. Having no books at hand, I cannot speak positively; but if K. turns to Walpole's *Works*, he will see whether my memory is correct. I myself once looked, many years ago, into the subject, and satisfied myself that the great age attributed to *any* Countess of Desmond must be a fable; and that the portrait of her (I think, at Windsor) was so gross an imposition as to be really that of an old ma…