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<h2> LETTER CCLXI </h2>
<h3> BLACKHEATH, October 17, 1763 </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: The last mail brought me your letter of the 2d instant, as
the former had brought me that of the 25th past. I did suppose that you
would be sent over, for the first day of the session; as I never knew a
stricter muster, and no furloughs allowed. I am very sorry for it, for the
reasons you hint at; but, however, you did very prudently, in doing, 'de
bonne grace', what you could not help doing; and let that be your rule in
every thing for the rest of your life. Avoid disagreeable things as much
as by dexterity you can; but when they are unavoidable, do them with
seeming willingness and alacrity. Though this journey is ill-timed for you
in many respects, yet, in point of FINANCES, you will be a gainer by it
upon the whole; for, depend upon it, they will keep you here till the very
last day of the session: and I suppose you have sold your horses, and
dismissed some of your servants. Though they seem to apprehend the first
day of the session so much, in my opinion their danger will be much
greater in the course of it.</p>
<p>When you are at Paris, you will of course wait upon Lord Hertford, and
desire him to present you to the King; at the same time make my
compliments to him, and thank him for the very obliging message he left at
my house in town; and tell him, that, had I received it in time from
thence, I would have come to town on purpose to have returned it in
person. If there are any new little books at Paris, pray bring them me. I
have already Voltaire's 'Zelis dans le Bain', his 'Droit du Seigneur', and
'Olympie'. Do not forget to call once at Madame Monconseil's, and as often
as you please at Madame du Pin's. Au revoir.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0263" id="link2H_4_0263"></SPAN></p>
<h2> LETTER CCLXII </h2>
<h3> BATH, November 24, 1763 </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: I arrived here, as you suppose in your letter, last
Sunday; but after the worst day's journey I ever had in my life: it snowed
and froze that whole morning, and in the evening it rained and thawed,
which made the roads so slippery, that I was six hours coming post from
the Devizes, which is but eighteen miles from hence; so that, but for the
name of coming post, I might as well have walked on foot. I have not yet
quite got over my last violent attack, and am weak and flimsy.</p>
<p>I have now drank the waters but three days; so that, without a miracle, I
cannot yet expect much alteration, and I do not in the least expect a
miracle. If they proved 'les eaux de Jouvence' to me, that would be a
miracle indeed; but, as the late Pope Lambertini said, 'Fra noi, gli
miracoli sono passati girt un pezzo'.</p>
<p>I have seen Harte, who inquired much after you: he is dejected and
dispirited, and thinks himself much worse than he is, though he has really
a tendency to the jaundice. I have yet seen nobody else, nor do I know who
here is to be seen; for I have not yet exhibited myself to public view,
except at the pump, which, at the time I go to it, is the most private
place in Bath.</p>
<p>After all the fears and hopes, occasioned severally by the meeting of the
parliament, in my opinion, it will prove a very easy session. Mr. Wilkes
is universally given up; and if the ministers themselves do not wantonly
raise difficulties, I think they will meet with none. A majority of two
hundred is a great anodyne. Adieu! God bless you!</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0264" id="link2H_4_0264"></SPAN></p>
<h2> LETTER CCLXIII </h2>
<h3> BATH, December 3, 1763. </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: Last post brought me your letter of the 29th past. I
suppose C——-T——-let off his speech upon the
Princess's portion, chiefly to show that he was of the opposition; for
otherwise, the point was not debatable, unless as to the quantum, against
which something might be said; for the late Princess of Orange (who was
the eldest daughter of a king) had no more, and her two sisters but half,
if I am not mistaken.</p>
<p>It is a great mercy that Mr. Wilkes, the intrepid defender of our rights
and liberties, is out of danger, and may live to fight and write again in
support of them; and it is no less a mercy, that God hath raised up the
Earl of S———to vindicate and promote true religion and
morality. These two blessings will justly make an epoch in the annals of
this country.</p>
<p>I have delivered your message to Harte, who waits with impatience for your
letter. He is very happy now in having free access to all Lord Craven's
papers, which, he says, give him great lights into the 'bellum tricenale';
the old Lord Craven having been the professed and valorous knight-errant,
and perhaps something more, to the Queen of Bohemia; at least, like Sir
Peter Pride, he had the honor of spending great part of his estate in her
royal cause:</p>
<p>I am by no means right yet; I am very weak and flimsy still; but the
doctor assures me that strength and spirits will return; if they do,
'lucro apponam', I will make the best of them; if they do not, I will not
make their want still worse by grieving and regretting them. I have lived
long enough, and observed enough, to estimate most things at their
intrinsic, and not their imaginary value; and, at seventy, I find nothing
much worth either desiring or fearing. But these reflections, which suit
with seventy, would be greatly premature at two-and-thirty. So make the
best of your time; enjoy the present hour, but 'memor ultimae'. God bless
you!</p>
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