CHAPTER I.

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The Walpoles of Houghton.--Horace Walpole born, 24 September, 1717.--Lady Louisa Stuart's Story.--Scattered Facts of his Boyhood.--Minor Anecdotes--'La belle Jennings.'--The Bugles.--Interview with George I. before his Death.--Portrait at this time.--Goes to Eton, 26 April, 1727.--His Studies and Schoolfellows.--The 'Triumvirate,' the 'Quadruple Alliance.'--Entered at Lincoln's Inn, 27 May, 1731.--Leaves Eton, September, 1734.--Goes to King's College, Cambridge, 11 March, 1735.--His University Studies.--Letters from Cambridge.--Verses in the _Gratulatio_.--Verses in Memory of Henry VI.--Death of Lady Walpole, 20 August, 1737 1