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<h2> LETTER CCLXXXIX </h2>
<h3> BLACKHEATH, August 14, 1766. </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: I received yesterday your letter of the 30th past, and I
find by it that it crossed mine upon the road, where they had no time to
take notice of one another.</p>
<p>The newspapers have informed you, before now, of the changes actually
made; more will probably follow, but what, I am sure, I cannot tell you;
and I believe nobody can, not even those who are to make them: they will,
I suppose, be occasional, as people behave themselves. The causes and
consequences of Mr. Pitt's quarrel now appear in print, in a pamphlet
published by Lord T———; and in a refutation of it, not
by Mr. Pitt himself, I believe, but by some friend of his, and under his
sanction. The former is very scurrilous and scandalous, and betrays
private conversation. My Lord says, that in his last conference, he
thought he had as good a right to nominate the new Ministry as Mr. Pitt,
and consequently named Lord G——-, Lord L———,
etc., for Cabinet Council employments; which Mr. Pitt not consenting to,
Lord T——-broke up the conference, and in his wrath went to
Stowe; where I presume he may remain undisturbed a great while, since Mr.
Pitt will neither be willing nor able to send for him again. The pamphlet,
on the part of Mr. Pitt, gives an account of his whole political life;
and, in that respect, is tedious to those who were acquainted with it
before; but, at the latter end, there is an article that expresses such
supreme contempt of Lord T——-, and in so pretty a manner, that
I suspect it to be Mr. Pitt's own: you shall judge yourself, for I here
transcribe the article: "But this I will be bold to say, that had he (Lord
T——-) not fastened himself into Mr. Pitt's train, and acquired
thereby such an interest in that great man, he might have crept out of
life with as little notice as he crept in; and gone off with no other
degree of credit, than that of adding a single unit to the bills of
mortality" I wish I could send you all the pamphlets and half-sheets that
swarm here upon this occasion; but that is impossible; for every week
would make a ship's cargo. It is certain, that Mr. Pitt has, by his
dignity of Earl, lost the greatest part of his popularity, especially in
the city; and I believe the Opposition will be very strong, and perhaps
prevail, next session, in the House of Commons; there being now nobody
there who can have the authority and ascendant over them that Pitt had.</p>
<p>People tell me here, as young Harvey told you at Dresden, that I look very
well; but those are words of course, which everyone says to everybody. So
far is true, that I am better than at my age, and with my broken
constitution, I could have expected to be. God bless you!</p>
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<h2> LETTER CCXC </h2>
<h3> BLACKHEATH, September 12, 1766. </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: I have this moment received your letter of the 27th past.
I was in hopes that your course of waters this year at Baden would have
given you a longer reprieve from your painful complaint. If I do not
mistake, you carried over with you some of Dr. Monsey's powders. Have you
taken any of them, and have they done you any good? I know they did me a
great deal. I, who pretend to some skill in physic, advise a cool regimen,
and cooling medicines.</p>
<p>I do not wonder, that you do wonder, at Lord C——-'s conduct.
If he was not outwitted into his peerage by Lord B——, his
accepting it is utterly inexplicable. The instruments he has chosen for
the great office, I believe, will never fit the same case. It was cruel to
put such a boy as Lord G—-over the head of old Ligonier; and if I
had been the former, I would have refused that commission, during the life
of that honest and brave old general. All this to quiet the Duke of R——to
a resignation, and to make Lord B——Lieutenant of Ireland,
where, I will venture to prophesy, that he will not do. Ligonier was much
pressed to give up his regiment of guards, but would by no means do it;
and declared that the King might break him if he pleased, but that he
would certainly not break himself.</p>
<p>I have no political events to inform you of; they will not be ripe till
the meeting of the parliament. Immediately upon the receipt of this
letter, write me one, to acquaint me how you are.</p>
<p>God bless you; and, particularly, may He send you health, for that is the
greatest blessing!</p>
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<h2> LETTER CCXCI </h2>
<h3> BLACKHEATH, September 30, 1766. </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: I received, yesterday, with great pleasure, your letter of
the 18th, by which I consider this last ugly bout as over; and, to prevent
its return, I greatly approve of your plan for the south of France, where
I recommend for your principal residence, Pezenas Toulouse, or Bordeaux;
but do not be persuaded to go to Aix en Provence, which, by experience, I
know to be at once the hottest and the coldest place in the world, from
the ardor of the Provencal sun, and the sharpness of the Alpine winds. I
also earnestly recommend to you, for your complaint upon your breast, to
take, twice a-day, asses' or (what is better mares' milk), and that for
these six months at least. Mingle turnips, as much as you can, with your
diet.</p>
<p>I have written, as you desired, to Mr. Secretary Conway; but I will answer
for it that there will be no difficulty to obtain the leave you ask.</p>
<p>There is no new event in the political world since my last; so God bless
you!</p>
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