So, imagine my surprise when both the Lady Mary and the Lord Hervey biography mentioned that not content with the two of them flinging themselves at Algarotti, Algarotti was also taking up with... Well, here are the quotes:
It was not long, then , before (Algarotti) reached London — in March 1739. At first he visited Andrew Mitchell, a young man who had left Scotland to make his fortune in England , a member of the Royal Society , who had recently been called to the Bar. Algarotti stayed only a short time with him in his chambers in the Middle Temple, then moved to Hervey's apartment in St. James's Palace
And then, later, when he's contemplating a third English sojourn:
From Hamburg he also advised Andrew Mitchell of his expected return to England . Instead of trying to relate every thing he has heard and seen on his recent travels, he prefers to wait until they can sup together in London, he writes, 'where you will certainly be the tastiest dish for me (le meilleur plat pour moi] ... If the wind continues as it is, I hope to embrace you in 4 or 5 days. Farewell, my dear friend ; love me and believe until death , F.A.'
Well! Now neither "Andrew" nor "Mitchell" are rare names. But the thing is, Andrew Mitchell the later envoy according to the brief biographical sketch of his younger years in Bisset's edition of his papers did have the following career: studies law in Scotland, marries young, wife Barbara dies young, Andrew makes the Grand Tour to Italy, returns but to London to take the bar there (necessary since otherwise he'd been just qualified for Scotland, I remember this from Boswell who had to do it twice, too). We next hear from him in Bisset's summary when he's being considered to run as MP for Aberdeen years later. That leaves just enough time for getting it on with Algarotti in the late 30s and early 40s.
Maybe there were two Andrew Mitchells from Scotland studying law in London during that time. But if not: one wonders whether Algarotti as a subject was ever mentioned with Fritz, and if so, whether Bisset edited this out, because I don't recall the man ever being mentioned in what I've read...
Andrew Mitchell: Secret Algarotti Boyfriend?!
It was not long, then , before (Algarotti) reached London — in March 1739.
At first he visited Andrew Mitchell, a young man who had left Scotland to make his fortune in England , a member of the Royal Society , who had recently been called to the Bar. Algarotti stayed only a short time with him in his chambers in the Middle Temple, then moved to Hervey's apartment in St. James's Palace
And then, later, when he's contemplating a third English sojourn:
From Hamburg he also advised Andrew Mitchell of his expected return to England . Instead of trying to relate every thing he has heard and seen on his recent travels, he prefers to wait until they can sup together in London, he writes, 'where you will certainly be the tastiest dish for me (le meilleur plat pour moi] ... If the wind continues as it is, I hope to embrace you in 4 or 5 days. Farewell, my dear friend ; love me and believe until
death , F.A.'
Well! Now neither "Andrew" nor "Mitchell" are rare names. But the thing is, Andrew Mitchell the later envoy according to the brief biographical sketch of his younger years in Bisset's edition of his papers did have the following career: studies law in Scotland, marries young, wife Barbara dies young, Andrew makes the Grand Tour to Italy, returns but to London to take the bar there (necessary since otherwise he'd been just qualified for Scotland, I remember this from Boswell who had to do it twice, too). We next hear from him in Bisset's summary when he's being considered to run as MP for Aberdeen years later. That leaves just enough time for getting it on with Algarotti in the late 30s and early 40s.
Maybe there were two Andrew Mitchells from Scotland studying law in London during that time. But if not: one wonders whether Algarotti as a subject was ever mentioned with Fritz, and if so, whether Bisset edited this out, because I don't recall the man ever being mentioned in what I've read...