Horace Twiss letter to Mary Monckton, Countess of Cork

              Revered Lady Cork 


This epistle to you I write by commission from Mrs Pigou At the Opera yesterday Evening.  I sought her And found her at last with her beautiful daughter-Receiving the smiles of the wits and grandees In the little Round Room where one goes for a squeeze That little Round Room where the people of Style Collect their acquaintance to crowd the Argyll 
That little Round Room which our grandmothers say Was meant to facilitate getting away But which Fashion has boldly converted of late To the far wiser purpose of making one wait. And thus we are told that the world Which we live in Was merely designed as a passage to heaven -A sort of Round Room where one goes to prepare For parties more lasting & pleasure more fair. But from which people never seem willing to go So delightful a Heaven they find it below -And no wonder this Room should. so dazzle my view That I fancied it heaven with Mrs Pigou -
She said that for Tuesday the 5th of July her engagements were such as she could not put by But ventured to hope you perhaps might be led To let us attend you on Thursday instead And desired that to day I would use my endeavour To wheedle you into according this favour