The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21). Volume X. The Age of Johnson. VI. Gray. § 8. Reconciliation with Walpole. In 1745, Gray and Walpole were reconciled. Of this consummation, Gray wrote a satirical account to Wharton, in which his contempt for Ashton was clearly enough expressed. After this strange pronouncement, the irony of fate brought it about that Gray’s next poetic effort was his Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, which has been discussed with a solemnity worthy of an epic. Walpole had two favourite cats; and has not told Gray which of these was drowned. One of them was a tortoiseshell, the other a tabby.   13