letters to his son, 1766-71-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


an　hour　in　a　day；　to　take　the　air；　in　his　coach。　　The　King　has；　to　my
certain　knowledge；　sent　him　repeated　messages；　desiring　him　not　to　be
concerned　at　his　confinement；　for　that　he　is　resolved　to　support　him；
'pour　et　contre　tous'。　　God　bless　you！




LETTER　CCXCIX

LONDON；　June　1；　1767。

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　　I　received　yesterday　your　letter　of　the　20th　past；　from
Dresden；　where　I　am　glad　to　find　that　you　are　arrived　safe　and　sound。
This　has　been　everywhere　an　'annus　mirabilis'　for　bad　weather；　and　it
continues　here　still。　　Everybody　has　fires；　and　their　winter　clothes；
as　at　Christmas。　　The　town　is　extremely　sickly；　and　sudden　deaths　have
been　very　frequent。

I　do　not　know　what　to　say　to　you　upon　public　matters；　things　remain　in
'statu　quo'；　and　nothing　is　done。　　Great　changes　are　talked　of；　and；
I　believe；　will　happen　soon；　perhaps　next　week；　but　who　is　to　be　changed；
for　whom；　I　do　not　know；　though　everybody　else　does。　　I　am　apt　to　think
that　it　will　be　a　mosaic　Ministry；　made　up　'de　pieces　rapportees'　from
different　connections。

Last　Friday　I　sent　your　subsidy　to　Mr。　Larpent；　who；　I　suppose；　has　given
you　notice　of　it。　　I　believe　it　will　come　very　seasonably；　as　all　places；
both　foreign　and　domestic；　are　so　far　in　arrears。　　They　talk　of　paying
you　all　up　to　Christmas。　　The　King's　inferior　servants　are　almost
starving。

I　suppose　you　have　already　heard；　at　Dresden；　that　Count　Bruhl　is　either
actually　married；　or　very　soon　to　be　so；　to　Lady　Egremont。　　She　has；
together　with　her　salary　as　Lady　of　the　Bed…chamber；　L2；500　a　year；
besides　ten　thousand　pounds　in　money　left　her；　at　her　own　disposal；　by
Lord　Egremont。　　All　this　will　sound　great　'en　ecus　d'Allemagne'。　　I　am
glad　of　it；　for　he　is　a　very　pretty　man。　　God　bless　you！

I　easily　conceive　why　Orloff　influences　the　Empress　of　all　the　Russias；
but　I　cannot　see　why　the　King　of　Prussia　should　be　influenced　by　that
motive。




LETTER　CCC

BLACKHEATH；　JULY　2；　1767。

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　　Though　I　have　had　no　letter　from　you　since　my　last；　and
though　I　have　no　political　news　to　inform　you　of；　I　write　this　to
acquaint　you　with　a　piece　of　Greenwich　news；　which　I　believe　you　will　be
very　glad　of；　I　am　sure　I　am。　　Know　then　that　your　friend　Miss　…　was
happily　married；　three　days　ago；　to　Mr。　…；　an　Irish　gentleman；
and　a　member　of　that　parliament；　with　an　estate　of　above　L2；000　a…year。
He　settles　upon　her　L600　jointure；　and　in　case　they　have　no　children；
L1；500。　　He　happened　to　be　by　chance　in　her　company　one　day　here；　and　was
at　once　shot　dead　by　her　charms；　but　as　dead　men　sometimes　walk；　he
walked　to　her　the　next　morning；　and　tendered　her　his　person　and　his
fortune；　both　which；　taking　the　one　with　the　other；　she　very　prudently
accepted；　for　his　person　is　sixty　years　old。

Ministerial　affairs　are　still　in　the　same　ridiculous　and　doubtful
situation　as　when　I　wrote　to　you　last。　　Lord　Chatham　will　neither　hear
of；　nor　do　any　business；　but　lives　at　Hampstead；　and　rides　about　the
heath。　　His　gout　is　said　to　be　fallen　upon　his　nerves。　　Your　provincial
secretary；　Conway；　quits　this　week；　and　returns　to　the　army；　for　which　he
languished。　　Two　Lords　are　talked　of　to　succeed　him；　Lord　Egmont　and　Lord
Hillsborough：　I　rather　hope　the　latter。　　Lord　Northington　certainly　quits
this　week；　but　nobody　guesses　who　is　to　succeed　him　as　President。　　A
thousand　other　changes　are　talked　of；　which　I　neither　believe　nor　reject。

Poor　Harte　is　in　a　most　miserable　condition：　He　has　lost　one　side　of
himself；　and　in　a　great　measure　his　speech；　notwithstanding　which；　he　is
going　to　publish　his　DIVINE　POEMS；　as　he　calls　them。　　I　am　sorry　for　it；
as　he　had　not　time　to　correct　them　before　this　stroke；　nor　abilities　to
do　it　since。　　God　bless　you！




LETTER　CCCI

BLACKHEATH；　July　9；　1767。

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　I　have　received　yours　of　the　21st　past；　with　the　inclosed
proposal　from　the　French　'refugies；　for　a　subscription　toward　building
them　'un　temple'。　　I　have　shown　it　to　the　very　few　people　I　see；　but
without　the　least　success。　　They　told　me　（and　with　too　much　truth）　that
while　such　numbers　of　poor　were　literally　starving　here　from　the　dearness
of　all　provisions；　they　could　not　think　of　sending　their　money　into
another　country；　for　a　building　which　they　reckoned　useless。　　In　truth；
I　never　knew　such　misery　as　is　here　now；　and　it　affects　both　the　hearts
and　the　purses　of　those　who　have　either；　for　my　own　part；　I　never　gave　to
a　building　in　my　life；　which　I　reckon　is　only　giving　to　masons　and
carpenters；　and　the　treasurer　of　the　undertaking。

Contrary　to　the　expectations　of　all　mankind　here；　everything　still
continues　in　'statu　quo'。　　General　Conway　has　been　desired　by　the　King
to　keep　the　seals　till　he　has　found　a　successor　for　him；　and　the　Lord
President　the　same。　　Lord　Chatham　is　relapsed；　and　worse　than　ever：　he
sees　nobody；　and　nobody　sees　him：　it　is　said　that　a　bungling　physician
has　checked　his　gout；　and　thrown　it　upon　his　nerves；　which　is　the　worst
distemper　that　a　minister　or　a　lover　can　have；　as　it　debilitates　the　mind
of　the　former　and　the　body　of　the　latter。　　Here　is　at　present　an
interregnum。　　We　must　soon　see　what　order　will　be　produced　from　this
chaos。

The　Electorate；　I　believe；　will　find　the　want　of　Comte　Flemming；　for　he
certainly　had　abilities；　and　was　as　sturdy　and　inexorable　as　a　Minister
at　the　head　of　the　finances　ought　always　to　be。　　When　you　see　Comtesse
Flemming；　which　I　suppose　cannot　be　for　some　time；　pray　make　her　Lady
Chesterfield's　and　my　compliments　of　condolence。

You　say　that　Dresden　is　very　sickly；　I　am　sure　London　is　at　least　as
sickly　now；　for　there　reigns　an　epidemical　distemper；　called　by　the
genteel　name　of　'l'influenza'。　　It　is　a　little　fever；　of　which　scarcely
anybody　dies；　and　it　generally　goes　off　with　a　little　looseness。　　I　have
escaped　it；　I　believe；　by　being　here。　　God　keep　you　from　all　distempers；
and　bless　you！




LETTER　CCCII

LONDON；　October　30；　1767。

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　I　have　now　left　Blackheath；　till　the　next　summer；　if　I
live　till　then；　and　am　just　able　to　write；　which　is　all　I　can　say；　for　I
am　extremely　weak；　and　have　in　a　great　measure　lost　the　use　of　my　legs；
I　hope　they　will　recover　both　flesh　and　strength；　for　at　present　they
have　neither。　　I　go　to　the　Bath　next　week；　in　hopes　of　half　repairs　at
most；　for　those　waters；　I　am　sure；　will　not　prove　Medea's　kettle；　nor
'les　eaux　de　Jouvence'　to　me；　however；　I　shall　do　as　good　courtiers　do；
and　get　what　I　can；　if　I　cannot　get　what　I　will。　　I　send　you　no　politics；
for　here　are　neither　politics　nor　ministers；　Lord　Chatham　is　quiet　at
Pynsent；　in　Somersetshire；　and　his　former　subalterns　do　nothing；　so　that
nothing　is　done。　　Whatever　places　or　preferments　are　disposed　of；　come
evidently　from　Lord　…；　who　affects　to　be　invisible；　and　who；　like　a
woodcock；　thinks　that　if　his　head　is　but　hid；　he　is　not　seen　at　all。

General　Pulteney　is　at　last　dead；　last　week；　worth　above　thirteen　hundred
thousand　pounds。　　He　has　left　all　his　landed　estate；　which　is　eight　and
twenty　thousand　pounds　a…year；　including　the　Bradford　estate；　which　his
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；