Lady Compton's Letter

Mr. C.H. Cooper inquires whether this letter appeared before 1839? Gifford gives an extract from it in Massinger's *City Madam*, Act II., where the daughters of Sir John Frugal make somewhat similar stipulations from their suitors. When speaking of this letter as "a modest and consolatory one," Gifford adds, "it is *yet extant*." The editor of a work entitled *Relics of Literature* (1823) gives it at length, with this reference, "Harleian MSS. 7003." The property of Lady Compton's father, Sir John Spencer, is stated variously from 300,000*l.* to 800,000*l.* In this case, riches brought with th…