tigue its memory, or penetration, or anxiety, with aught beyond what is exactly before its eyes. I, in defference to the mode, and weary of having seen so much pass before mine for above sixty years together, have still greater indifference, as becomes me; and, since the nation cares so little about its own affairs, I do not think that a veteran half-superannuated has any thing to do with them, and accordingly the echo suffices for me.

I smiled at my nephew the Earl's giving you so good an account of my health. It is a true one; but he must have shot his knowledge of it flying; for he only saw me as our chaises passed each other, as he was going to take leave of his mother at Hampton Court: but do not mention this. When people come to me, they are welcome; when they stay away, they are welcome too: I make myself very easy about most things. When I was young, I had some unpleasant uncles: now I am old, I have not much joy in my nephews. Very possibly I am not a pleasant uncle to them, but at least I do not interfere with their pleasing themselves; and so, when we do meet, we are upon very good terms. I aim at nothing but to perfect tranquillity; and am so fortunate, that, if nothing disturbs me, my own temper never does. I carefully avoid every thing that can create any disquiet to me. Old folks are easily forgotten, if they will but have the sense not to put the world in mind of them. This is a favourite maxim of mine; I practise it very carefully, and I assure you it answers to my sovereign contentment. I find it one of the comforts of old age, that, if one has hoarded experience, one may live upon it very agreeably in one's latter time. One can execute one's maxims and good resolutions. In youth, our passions interpose and conteract them; but what hinders an old man from acting rationally, if he pleases? In truth, I think myself very happy: I have gout enough to serve as an excuse for any thing I don't like to do, and I have health enough to allow me to do all I desire to do. I am not so infirm as to be a prisoner: I am grown indolent enough to think idleness palatable, and yet can, and like to amuse myself. I per ceive a gradual decay of my faculties; which perception, it is wellfounded, is a felicity, as ignorance of it might betray me into exposing myself; and I reflect with satisfaction, that, if my present ease should leave me, it cannot be for long.

I could have nothing else to say, when I have talked about myself for a whole page; but if to a friend of above forty years' standing a portrait of my wrinkles would be an acceptable present, why should not the picture of my mind be so? I think such a drawing one of the few things desirable: I cannot interest myself about the young world. The small number of my remaining old friends, and the memory of the past, are my most delicious enjoyments. However, as your life is not chequered with so many solitary hours as mine, you may not have a taste for such reflections; and therefore, when I have the least article of news to send you, I will not forget that I am your gazetteer, and not your philosopher.

LETTER CCCLXXXVII.

Strawberry Hill, Nov. 4, 1782. THE great news of the relief of Gibraltar by Lord Howe arrived this day se'nnight, and of the dispersion of the combined fleets by a storm, in which they lost two or three ships, and we none. This is a fine reproof to his Spanish Majesty's obstinacy. What pitiful beings are monarchs, when they knock their heads against winds and seas-yet even then, alas, they knock other heads too! There is something sublime in this little island, beset with foes, calmly despatching its own safeguard to maintain such a distant possession. I do not desire a codicil with a victory, which must be dearly bought: there would be dignity enough in returning, after having performed the intended service. For these two days, indeed, there has been the report of a battle much in our favour, though with the loss of six ships; but I hear it is not credited in London.

You are going to lose your neighbour, Lord Mountstewart:* he is no farther off than Turin. They talk of some fracas of gallantry; but whether that was the cause, or politics, I am totally ignorant. I know nothing but what the newspapers tell me, or stragglers from town. Lord Northington is the successor. I am little acquainted with him; but he is a decent, good sort of a man.†

The Parliament will meet in three weeks; which must have some novelty, when the Administration is a new one. I wish it may be

* John Stewart, eldest son of the Earl of Bute. In 1783 he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Court of Spain. In 1792 he succeeded his father in the Earldom of Bute, and in 1796 was created an English Marquis, by the title of Marquis of Bute.-ED.

Robert, second Earl of Northington. The appointment alluded to did not take place. His Lordship died unmarried in 1786, when the title expired.

The short space of time that intervened between the death of the Marquis of Rockingham and the prorogation of Parliament on the 11th of July, afforded no opportunity of discovering in what manner the House of Commons stood affected towards the changes that had taken place in the administration of public affairs in consequence of the former event. The weight of the new Minister in that assembly, either froin political connexion, from private friendship, or public favour, was known to be very inconsiderable. The recess of Parliament was therefore considered as a circumstance highly favourable to the Minister, by enabling him to take steps for forming such alliances amongst the parties out of power, as might insure some degree of strength and permanence to his administration. Of Mr. Pitt's conduct on entering upon the duties of his office, and of his attempt to induce Mr. Fox to become a member of the Government, the Bishop of Winchester gives the following account:-"Immediately after Mr. Pitt was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, he left Lincoln's Inn, and, having taking possession of his official house in Downing Street, from that moment devoted his whole time and thoughts to the service to his country. Besides a strict attention to the duties of his peculiar office, he omitted no opportunity of becoming acquainted with the business of every department of the State; and by his penetration and diligence he soon acquired a variety of information both as to foreign and domestic politics. The connexion which had subsisted between Lord Shelburne and Lord Chatham in the latter part VOL. II.-23

as new by being pacific, and not talk of one campaign more. I do not forget how often I have ended my letters with wishes for peacealmost as frequently as Lord Chesterfield talks of the Graces: however, peace must come sooner or later, which the Graces never did to his Cub.*

LETTER CCCLXXXVIII.

Strawberry Hill, Nov. 10, 1782.

I Do not know whether you are like those auctioneers who put up a lot at an extravagant rate, and then, if it sells but for what it is worth, cry," it is given away." I, if my footman goes on a message and executes it, am content; I don't desire he should have threshed another footman and spoiled his own livery. Lord Howe has relieved and victualled Gibraltar, and has been attacked by the combined fleets; who did not admire his reception of them, made him a bow

of Lord Chatham's life, naturally led to a considerable degree of confidence between Lord Shelburne and Mr. Pitt, different as their characters were in some im portant points; and there was, perhaps, at this time no person in the kingdom from whose knowledge and experience Mr. Pitt would have derived greater advantage. Towards the end of autumn, after an impartial estimate of the support which Government, in the present state of parties, might expect to receive in the House of Commons, it appeared to Ministers very desirable that some additional strength should, if possible, be obtained before the meeting of Parliament. Mr. Pitt, however, postively objected to any application being made to Lord North. He had resolved, from a sense of public duty, not to enter into any political connexion with a man, whose administration had brought so much disgrace and calamity upon the country, and whose principles he had so repeatedly and severely condemned. This deter mination proceeded from no dislike to Lord North, with whom he had never had any acquaintance or intercourse, but from a conviction that a change from that sys tem, which had been so long pursued, was indispensably necessary to rescue the kingdom from the dangers with which it was surrounded. But neither Mr. Pitt nor Lord Shelburne saw any reason why they should not act with Mr. Fox. It was therefore agreed, that an offer should be made to him to return to office; for which purpose Mr. Pitt waited upon him by appointment. As soon as Mr. Fox heard the object of Mr. Pitt's visit, he asked whether it was intended that Lord Shelburne should remain First Lord of the Treasury, to which Mr. Pitt answered in the affirmative: Mr. Fox immediately replied, that it was impossible for him to belong to any Administration of which Lord Shelburne was the head. Mr. Pitt observed, that, if that was his determination, it would be useless for him to enter into any farther discussion, as he did not come to betray Lord Shelburne;' and he took his leave. This was, I believe, the last time Mr. Pitt was in a private room with Mr. Fox; and from that period may be dated that political hostility which continued through the remainder of their lives." Life, vol. i. p. 87.-ED.

*Philip Stanhope, natural son of the Earl of Chesterfield; to whom the cele brated Letters were addressed. Of those Letters, which, on the death of the Earl in 1773, were published by his son's widow, Dr. Johnson observed to Boswell,-"It might be made a very pretty book: take out the immortality, and it should be put into the hands of every young gentleman."-ED.

and retired and he is coming home without the loss of a wherry.* I like this better than if he had sent home the main-mast of the Admiral's ship to be hung up in Westminster Hall with the standards of Blenheim, and had lost two or three first-rates. The Romans, who had some sense-sometimes-that is, when they thought as I do, loved to be obeyed au pied de la lettre. I don't say but Lord Howe had a plenary indulgence for demolishing both squadrons, if he could; but is not there more grave dignity in marching in face of a very superior navy, maintaining a fortress on their own coast, engaging that navy, obliging it to retire, and walking home himself very deliberately? Add, the vexation of that obstinate mule the King of Spain, and the ridiculous flippancies of the Bourbon Princes, and there appear to me ten times more majesty in such sedate triumph, than in a naval victory. Superior armies and fleets have been beaten by inconsiderable numbers; but, when a multitude are baffled by a handful after a mere skirmish, Glory has no true taste if she does not range herself on our side.

As I am of an age to have made a league with all the sober virtues, I would behave temperately on this occasion, and still condescend to offer peace.

Western Europe has, upon the whole, made but a foolish figure of late, either in policy or arms. We have flung away men, money, and thirteen provinces. France has been spiteful, to gain nothing but the honour of mischief. Spain has been bombastly unsuccessful, and Holland has betrayed imbecility in every light. Dr. Franklin may laugh at us; but surely he cannot reverence his allies.

Berkeley Square, 12th.

I am come to town on a very melancholy occasion. Lady Hertford died the night before last of an inflammation in her bowels, after an illness of only eight days.t. Her loss to my lord is irreparable, a

* On the night of the 10th of October, a violent gale of wind in the Straits threw the combined fleets at Algeziras into the greatest disorder, and during the course of the storm much damage was done. On the following morning, Lord Howe entered the Straits, and several of the storeships destined for Gibraltar came safe to anchor under the cannon of the fort, without any molestation from the enemy. On the 13th, the combined fleet put to sea, with a view to prevent the remaining storeships, that had overshot the bay to the east, from making good their entrance into it. Having the advantnge of the wind, they bore down upon the British fleet, which drew up in order of battle to receive them; but notwithstanding their superiority, they declined coming to an engagement. On the wind becoming more favourable next day, Lord Howe took the opportunity to bring in the store-ships that were in company; and, the day following, the remainder were conveyed to Gibraltar, and the troops for the reinforcement of the garrison were landed, with a large supply of powder and provisions. Thus, the all-important service of relieving Gibraltar was happily and gloriously performed, under such circumstances of inferiority in force, as not only fully to support, but highly to exalt, the honour of the British flag.-ED.

Lady Arabella Fitzroy, youngest daughter of Charles, second Duke of Grafton and wife of Francis Seymour Conway, first Earl of Hertford of that line; by whom she had seven sons and six daughters, who all lived to be men and women. She was Lady of the Bed-chamber to Queen Charlotte.

considerable one to society, and to me a very sensible one. She was not only an incomparable wife, but conducted all the affairs of so numerous a family herself; in short, she had every domestic virtue and a thousand good qualities. To me she had at all times been kind and obliging. I had lived a great deal with her, and it was one of the few houses on which I reckoned for my remaining time. It will make a great chasm, as I do not either seek or encourage new acquaintance-and almost all the old are gone! It is difficult to stop, when common-place reflections crowd on one's thoughts and mix with one's sensations; but it would not be just to moralize to you, because I feel. You knew not poor Lady Hertford; and therefore every one that drops would be as fit a subject to preach upon.

LETTER CCCLXXXIX.

Berkeley Square, Nov. 26, 1782.

You will be impatient to learn the event of this day, on which depended the horoscope of the present Administration. I shall not be sorry if you should hear from France, before you receive this, that an æra of much more importance to mankind than the fate of a Minister had intervened. But, to waive riddles ; on Saturday last it was declared that the Parliament, which was to meet to-day, was put off to the 5th of next month; by which time the Ministers hoped to be able to declare whether the peace would be made or was desperate.t Our ultimatum went some days ago to Paris: I don't know what it is; therefore I devoutly hope it will be accepted. I look to the scale in which lives are, and not to that of glory; and wish the reality may outweigh the smoke, as it ought to do.

You have seen, I suppose, in the newspapers, the articles preferred against General Murray by Sir William Draper; who has certainly

"The Pandemonium," wrote Gibbon on the 14th of October, "does not meet till the 26th of November. I am at a loss what to say or think about our Parlia mentary state. A certain late Secretary of Ireland reckons the House of Commons thus: Ministers, one hundred and forty; Lord North, one hundred and twenty; Fox, ninety; the rest unknown or uncertain.' The second, by self or agents, talks too much of absence, neutrality, moderation. I think Lord Loughborough will take a very decided part. If he could throw aside his gown, he would make a noble leader." Miscellaneous Works, vol. ii. p. 262.-Ep.

On the 23rd of November, letters were sent by Mr. Thomas Townshend, Secretary of State, to the Lord Mayor and the Governor of the Bank, acquainting them "for the information of the public, and to prevent the mischiefs arising from specu lations in the funds, that the negotiations carrying on at Paris were brought so far to a point, as to promise a decisive conclusion, either for peace or war, before the meeting of Parliament, which, on that account, was to be prorogued to the 5th of December." In consequence of this notification, the dealers in stocks were immediately in an uproar and tumult, which continued for several days. The stocks rose and fell one, two, and sometimes three per cent. every day; from 57, the price at which they were when this news arrived, they one day rose to 65.-ED.