letters to his son, 1766-71-第6章
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brother had from that ancient family； to a cousin…german。 He has left
two hundred thousand pounds； in the funds； to Lord Darlington； who was
his next nearest relation； and at least twenty thousand pounds in various
legacies。 If riches alone could make people happy； the last two
proprietors of this immense wealth ought to have been so； but they never
were。
God bless you； and send you good health； which is better than all the
riches of the world！
LETTER CCCIII
LONDON； November 3； 1767。
MY DEAR FRIEND： Your last letter brought me but a scurvy account of your
health。 For the headaches you complain of； I will venture to prescribe a
remedy； which； by experience； I found a specific； when I was extremely
plagued with them。 It is either to chew ten grains of rhubarb every
night going to bed： or； what I think rather better； to take； immediately
before dinner； a couple of rhubarb pills； of five grains each； by which
means it mixes with the aliments； and will； by degrees； keep your body
gently open。 I do it to this day； and find great good by it。 As you
seem to dread the approach of a German winter； I would advise you to
write to General Conway； for leave of absence for the three rigorous
winter months； which I dare say will not be refused。 If you choose a
worse climate； you may come to London； but if you choose a better and a
warmer； you may go to Nice en Provence； where Sir William Stanhope is
gone to pass his winter； who； I am sure； will be extremely glad of your
company there。
I go to the Bath next Saturday。 'Utinam de frustra'。 God bless you！
LETTER CCCIV
BATH； September 19； 1767。
MY DEAR FRIEND： Yesterday I received your letter of the 29th past； and am
very glad to find that you are well enough to think that you may perhaps
stand the winter at Dresden； but if you do； pray take care to keep both
your body and your limbs exceedingly warm。
As to my own health； it is； in general； as good as I could expect it； at
my age； I have a good stomach； a good digestion； and sleep well； but find
that I shall never recover the free use of my legs； which are now full as
weak as when I first came hither。
You ask me questions concerning Lord C； which neither I； nor；
I believe； anybody but himself can answer； however； I will tell you all
that I do know； and all that I guess； concerning him。 This time
twelvemonth he was here； and in good health and spirits； except now and
then some little twinges of the gout。 We saw one another four or five
times； at our respective houses； but for these last eight months； he has
been absolutely invisible to his most intimate friends； 'les sous
Ministres'： he would receive no letters； nor so much as open any packet
about business。
His physician； Dr。 … ； as I am told； had； very ignorantly； checked
a coming fit of the gout； and scattered it about his body； and it fell
particularly upon his nerves； so that he continues exceedingly vaporish；
and would neither see nor speak to anybody while he was here。 I sent him
my compliments； and asked leave to wait upon him； but he sent me word
that he was too ill to see anybody whatsoever。 I met him frequently
taking the air in his post…chaise； and he looked very well。 He set out
from hence for London last Tuesday； but what to do； whether to resume； or
finally to resign the Administration； God knows； conjectures are various。
In one of our conversations here； this time twelvemonth； I desired him to
secure you a seat in the new parliament； he assured me that he would；
and； I am convinced； very sincerely； he said even that he would make it
his own affair； and desired that I would give myself no more trouble
about it。 Since that； I have heard no more of it； which made me look out
for some venal borough and I spoke to a borough…jobber； and offered five…
and…twenty hundred pounds for a secure seat in parliament； but he laughed
at my offer； and said that there was no such thing as a borough to be had
now； for that the rich East and West Indians had secured them all； at the
rate of three thousand pounds at least； but many at four thousand； and
two or three that he knew； at five thousand。 This； I confess； has vexed
me a good deal； and made me the more impatient to know whether Lord C
had done anything in it； which I shall know when I go to town； as I
propose to do in about a fortnight； and as soon as I know it you shall。
To tell you truly what I thinkI doubt； from all this NERVOUS DISORDER
that Lord C… is hors de combat； as a Minister； but do not ever hint
this to anybody。 God bless you！
LETTER CC
BATH； December 27； 1767。 'En nova progenies'！
MY DEAR FRIEND： The outlines of a new Ministry are now declared； but they
are not yet quite filled up； it was formed by the Duke of Bedford。 Lord
Gower is made President of the Council； Lord Sandwich； Postmaster； Lord
Hillsborough； Secretary of State for America only； Mr。 Rigby； Vice…
treasurer of Ireland。 General Canway is to keep the seals a fortnight
longer； and then to surrender them to Lord Weymouth。 It is very
uncertain whether the Duke of Grafton is to continue at the head of the
Treasury or not； but； in my private opinion； George Grenville will very
soon be there。 Lord Chatham seems to be out of the question； and is at
his repurchased house at Hayes； where he will not see a mortal。 It is
yet uncertain whether Lord Shelburne is to keep his place； if not； Lord
Sandwich they say is to succeed him。 All the Rockingham people are
absolutely excluded。 Many more changes must necessarily be； but no more
are yet declared。 It seems to be a resolution taken by somebody that
Ministers are to be annual。
Sir George Macartney is next week to be married to Lady Jane Stuart； Lord
Bute's second daughter。
I never knew it so cold in my life as it is now； and with a very deep
snow； by which； if it continues； I may be snow…bound here for God knows
how long； though I proposed leaving this place the latter end of the
week。
Poor Harte is very ill here； he mentions you often； and with ；great
affection。 God bless you！
When I know more you shall。
LETTER CCCVI
LONDON； January 29； 1768。
MY DEAR FRIEND ： Two days ago I received your letter of the 8th。 I wish
you had gone a month or six weeks sooner to Basle； that you might have
escaped the excessive cold of the most severe winter that I believe was
ever known。 It congealed both my body and my mind； and scarcely left me
the power of thinking。 A great many here； both in town and country； have
perished by the frost； and been lost in the snow。
You have heard； no doubt； of the changes at Court； by which you have got
a new provincial； Lord Weymouth； who has certainly good parts； and； as I
am informed； speaks very well in the House of Lords； but I believe he has
no application。 Lord Chatham is at his house at Hayes； but sees no
mortal。 Some say that he has a fit of the gout； which would probably do
him good； but many think that his worst complaint is in his head； which I
am afraid is too true。 Were he well； I am sure he would realize the
promise he made me concerning you； but； however； in that uncertainty；
I am looking out for any chance borough； and if I can find one； I promise
you I will bid like a chapman for it； as I should be very sorry that you
were not in the next parliament。 I do not see any probability of any
vacancy in a foreign commission in a better climate； Mr。 Hamilton at
Naples； Sir Horace Mann at Florence； and George Pitt at Turin； do not
seem likely to make one。 And as for changing your foreign department for
a domestic one； it would not be in my power to procure you one； and you
would become 'd'eveque munier'； and gain nothing in point of climate； by
changing a bad one for another full as bad； if not worse； and a worse I
believe is not than ours。 I have always had better health abroad than at
home； and if the tattered remnant of my wretched life were worth my care；
I would have been in the south of France long ago。 I continue very lame
and weak； and despair of ever recovering any strength in my legs。 I care
very little about it。 At my age every man must have his share of
physical ills of one kind
