letters to his son, 1766-71-第4章
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crowd of trifling and unknown people； whom I seldom frequent； in the
public rooms； so that I may pass my time 'tres uniment'； in taking the
air in my post…chaise every morning； and in reading of evenings。
And 'a propos' of the latter； I shall point out a book； which I believe
will give you some pleasure； at least it gave me a great deal。 I never
read it before。 It is 'Reflexions sur la Poesie et la Peinture； par
l'Abbee de Bos'； in two octavo volumes； and is； I suppose； to be had at
every great town in France。 The criticisms and the reflections are just
and lively。
It may be you expect some political news from me： but I can tell you that
you will have none； for no mortal can comprehend the present state of
affairs。 Eight or nine people of some consequence have resigned their
employments； upon which Lord C… made overtures to the Duke of B…
and his people； but they could by no means agree； and his Grace went；
the next day； full of wrath； to Woburn； so that negotiation is entirely
at an end。 People wait to see who Lord C… will take in； for some he
must have； even HE cannot be alone； 'contra mundum'。 Such a state of
affairs； to be sure； was never seen before； in this or in any other
country。 When this Ministry shall be settled； it will be the sixth
Ministry in six years' time。
Poor Harte is here； and in a most miserable condition； those who wish him
the best； as I do； must wish him dead。 God bless you！
LETTER CCXCV
LONDON； February 13； 1767。
MY DEAR FRIEND： It is so long since I have had a letter from you； that I
am alarmed about your health； and fear that the southern parts of France
have not done so well by you as they did by me in the year 1741； when
they snatched me from the jaws of death。 Let me know； upon the receipt
of this letter； how you are； and where you are。
I have no news to send you from hence； for everything seems suspended；
both in the court and in the parliament； till Lord Chatham's return from
the Bath； where he has been laid up this month； by a severe fit of the
gout； and； at present； he has the sole apparent power。 In what little
business has hitherto been done in the House of Commons； Charles
Townshend has given himself more ministerial airs than Lord Chatham will；
I believe； approve of。 However； since Lord Chatham has thought fit to
withdraw himself from that House； he cannot well do without Charles'
abilities to manage it as his deputy。
I do not send you an account of weddings； births； and burials； as I take
it for granted that you know them all from the English printed papers；
some of which； I presume； are sent after you。 Your old acquaintance；
Lord Essex； is to be married this week to Harriet Bladen； who has L20；000
down； besides the reasonable expectation of as much at the death of her
father。 My kinsman； Lord Strathmore； is to be married in a fortnight；
to Miss Bowes； the greatest heiress perhaps in Europe。 In short； the
matrimonial frenzy seems to rage at present； and is epidemical。 The men
marry for money； and I believe you guess what the women marry for。 God
bless you； and send you health！
LETTER CCXCVI
LONDON； March 3； 1767
MY DEAR FRIEND： Yesterday I received two letters at once from you； both
dated Montpellier； one of the 29th of last December； and the other the
12th of February： but I cannot conceive what became of my letters to you；
for； I assure you； that I answered all yours the next post after I
received them； and； about ten days ago； I wrote you a volunteer； because
you had been so long silent； and I was afraid that you were not well；
but your letter of the 12th of February has removed all my fears upon
that score。 The same climate that has restored your health so far will
probably； in a little more time； restore your strength too； though you
must not expect it to be quite what it was before your late painful
complaints。 At least I find that； since my late great rheumatism；
I cannot walk above half an hour at a time； which I do not place singly
to the account of my years； but chiefly to the great shock given then to
my limbs。 'D'ailleurs' I am pretty well for my age and shattered
constitution。
As I told you in my last； I must tell you again in this； that I have no
news to send。 Lord Chatham； at last； came to town yesterday； full of
gout； and is not able to stir hand or foot。 During his absence； Charles
Townshend has talked of him； and at him； in such a manner； that
henceforward they must be either much worse or much better together than
ever they were in their lives。 On Friday last； Mr。 Dowdeswell and Mr。
Grenville moved to have one shilling in the pound of the land tax taken
off； which was opposed by the Court； but the Court lost it by eighteen。
The Opposition triumph much upon this victory； though； I think； without
reason； for it is plain that all the landed gentlemen bribed themselves
with this shilling in the pound。
The Duke of Buccleugh is very soon to be married to Lady Betty Montague。
Lord Essex was married yesterday； to Harriet Bladen ； and Lord
Strathmore； last week； to Miss Bowes； both couples went directly from the
church to consummation in the country； from an unnecessary fear that they
should not be tired of each other if they stayed in town。 And now
'dixi'； God bless you！
You are in the right to go to see the assembly of the states of；
Languedoc； though they are but the shadow of the original Etats； while
there was some liberty subsisting in France。
LETTER CCXCVII
LONDON； April 6； 1767。
MY DEAR FRIEND： Yesterday I received your letter from Nimes； by which I
find that several of our letters have reciprocally miscarried。 This may
probably have the same fate； however； if it reaches Monsieur Sarrazin； I
presume he will know where to take his aim at you； for I find you are in
motion； and with a polarity to Dresden。 I am very glad to find by it；
that your meridional journey has perfectly recovered you； as to your
general state of health； for as to your legs and thighs； you must never
expect that they will be restored to their original strength and
activity； after so many rheumatic attacks as you have had。 I know that
my limbs； besides the natural debility of old age； have never recovered
the severe attack of rheumatism that plagued me five or six years ago。
I cannot now walk above half an hour at a time and even that in a
hobbling kind of way。
I can give you no account of our political world； which is in a situation
that I never saw in my whole life。 Lord Chatham has been so ill； these
last two months； that he has not been able （some say not willing） to do
or hear of any business； and for his 'sous Ministres'； they either
cannot； or dare not； do any； without his directions； so everything is now
at a stand。 This situation； I think； cannot last much longer； and if
Lord Chatham should either quit his post； or the world； neither of which
is very improbable； I conjecture； that which is called the Rockingham
Connection stands the fairest for the Ministry。 But this is merely my
conjecture； for I have neither 'data' nor 'postulata' enough to reason
upon。
When you get to Dresden； which I hope you will not do till next month；
our correspondence will be more regular。 God bless you！
LETTER CCXCVIII
LONDON； May 5； 1767；
MY DEAR FRIEND： By your letter of the 25th past； from Basle； I presume
this will find you at Dresden； and accordingly I direct to you there。
When you write me word that you are at Dresden； I will return you an
answer； with something better than the answer itself。
If you complain of the weather； north of Besancon； what would you say to
the weather that we have had here for these last two months；
uninterruptedly？ Snow often； northeast wind constantly； and extreme
cold。 I write this by the side of a good fire； and at this moment it
snows very hard。 All my promised fruit at Blackheath is quite destroyed；
and； what is worse； many of my trees。
I cannot help thinking that the King of Poland； the Empress of Russia；
and the King of Prussia； 's'entendent comme larrons en foire'； though the
former must not appear in it upon account of the stupidity； ignorance；
and bigotry of
