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As the Parliament will rise on Tuesday, you will not expect my letters so frequently as of late, especially if hostilities do not commence. In fact, our newspapers tell you every thing faster than I can: still I write, because you have more faith in my intelligence; yet all its merit consists in my not telling you fables. I hear no more than every body does, but I send you only what is sterling; or, at least, give you reports for no more than they are worth. I believe Sir John Dick is much more punctual, and hears more; but, till you displace me, I shall execute my office of being your gazetteer.

LETTER CCLXXXVI.

Strawberry Hill, June 16, 1778.

As I have just received yours of May 30th, I will begin to answer it, though I wrote to you on the first of this month, and think I shall not have enough additional to fill a whole letter yet.

The public imagined there would have been some changes on the rising of the Parliament; but they began and ended in the Law, and with bestowing the three vacant Garters. The Toulon squadron is certainly gone to America; if to Boston, it is possible with the immediate view only of getting sailors and two ships that are building there for France. If they can resist the temptation of burning Halifax, attacking Lord Howe, or the West Indies, they are as great philosophers as Sir William Howe, who has twice gazed at General Washington. The last account from that quarter had a little spirit in it; they have burnt above forty American sloops and fry in the Delaware. For these last days there have been rumours of disposition in the Americans to treat; but they do not gain much credit. Admiral Byron is sailed to America, and Admiral Keppel is at sea. At home we are spread with camps. This is all that amounts to facts, or to the eggs of facts. Sir William Howe is expected in a week or ten days. As the Parliament is not sitting, that topic may be suspended. Next we are to await the news of the reception of the Commissioners ;† perhaps,

* The rumour of changes in the Administration is thus adverted to in a letter from James Hare, Esq., to George Selwyn, of the 27th of June: "A great part of the Opposition have certainly had offers of coming in, but not on terms that they like. Charles [Fox] eats and drinks and talks, and, though he never loses sight of the Treasury, confesses it is rather a distant prospect at present. I do think it does him, or ought to do him, great credit, that under all his distresses he never thinks of accepting place on terms that are in the least degree disreputable; and I assure you, upon my honour, that he has had very flattering offers made him more than once of late, and has never for a moment hesitated about rejecting them." Selwyn Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 292.-ED.

The following interesting account of the treatment of the Commissioners by Congress, on their arrival at Philadelphia, is contained in a letter from the Earl of Carlisle to George Selwyn, dated Wednesday, June 10th: "We arrived at this place after a voyage of six weeks, on Saturday last, and found every thing here in great confusion; the army upon the point of leaving the town, and about three thou

their return. It would be easy to dilate reflections on all this suspense; but I do not write to display my sagacity, but to inform you.

The meteor of the reading world is dead, Voltaire.* That throne is quite vacant. We shall see whether his old friend of Prussiat maintains that of war, or cedes it to a young Cæsar. He seems to me to be aiming at a more artful crown-that of policy; and, in all probability, will attain it; at least, I am not much prejudiced yet in favour of his competitor. It is from beyond the Atlantic that the world, perhaps, will see a genius revive. They seem to set out with a politeness with which few empires have commenced. We have not shown ourselves quite so civilized. We hectored and called names, talked fire and sword, but have made more use of the first than of the second. Our Generals beg to be tried, and our Ministers not to be tried. This does not sound well when translated into other languages. For my part, who hold that Chance has much more to do in the affairs of the world than Wisdom, I wait to see what the first will ordain. This belief is a sovereign preservative against despondency. There have been very gloomy moments in my life; but experience has shown me, either that events do not correspond to appearances, or that I have very little shrewdness; and, therefore, I can resign the honour of my penetration with satisfaction, when my foresight augurs ill. If Lord Chatham knew that he should conquer the world, or Dr. Franklin that he should reduce us lower than Lord Chatham found us, I should respect their penetration indeed! But, without detracting from their spirit or abilities, I do not believe the first expected half the success he met with, or the latter half the incapacity that has been exerted against, and, consequently for him.

sand of the miserable inhabitants embarked on board our ships to convey them from a place where they conceive they would receive no mercy from those who will take possession after us, to follow the army, and starve when we can no longer continue to feed them. Our letters are sent to Congress this morning. We have thought fit to bring forward at once all the powers delegated to us.-I am lodged in one of the best houses in the town; and, indeed, it is a very excellent one, perfectly well furnished. I am not, I own, quite at my ease; for coming into a gentleman's house without asking his leave, taking possession of all the best apartments, and placing a couple of sentries at the door, using his plate, &c. &c. are very repugnant to my disposition. I make him and his wife a visit every day; talk politics with them; and we are the best friends in the world. They are very agreeable, sensible people, and you never would be out of their company. I have this morning, at five o'clock, been taking a ride into the country, about ten miles; grieved am I to say, eight miles beyond our possessions. Our lines extend only two, and the provincial army is posted very strongly about six and twenty miles distant. We have had no answer from the Congress. They may send us one to New York; for which place we must instantly embark. Things go ill, and will not go better. We have done our duty; so we ought not to be involved with those who have lost this country." Selwyn Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 283.-Ed.

*In consequence of the refusal of the Archbishop of Paris to allow Voltaire Christian sepulture, his body, after being embalmed, was interred in the Benedictine Abbey of Scellières, in the diocess of Troyes; whence it was brought in 1791, by a decree of the National Assembly, and interred at St. Généviève.—ED.

† Frederick III.

The Emperor Joseph II.

LETTER CCLXXXVII.

Strawberry Hill, July 7, 1778. You tell me in yours of the 23rd of last month, which I received to-day, that my letters are necessary to your tranquillity. That is sufficient to make me write, though I have nothing very positive to tell you. I did not mention Admiral Keppel's skirmish with and capture of two frigates of the Brest squadron ;* not because I thought it trifling, but concluding it would produce immediate declaration of war; and, for the fact itself, I knew both our papers and the French would anticipate me. Indeed, Sir John Dick has talked to me so much of his frequency and punctuality with you, that I might have concluded he would not neglect so public an event; not that I trust to any body else for sending you intelligence.

No Declaration has followed on either side. I, who know nothing but what every body knows, am disposed to hope that both nations are grown rational; that is humane enough to dislike carnage. Both Kings are pacific by nature, and the voice of Europe now prefers legislators to heroes, which is but a name for destroyers of their species.

It is true, we are threatened with invasion. You ask me why I seem to apprehend less than formerly? For many reasons. In the first place, I am above thirty years older. Can one fear any thing in the dregs of life as at the beginning? Experience, too, has taught me that nothing happens in proportion to our conceptions. I have learnt, too, exceedingly to undervalue human policy. Chance and folly counteract most of its wisdom. From the Mémoires de Noailles I have learnt, that, between the years 1740 and 1750, when I,— ay, and my Lord Chesterfield too,-had such gloomy thoughts, France was trembling with dread of us. These are general reasons. My particular ones are, that, if France meditated a considerable blow, she has neglected her opportunity. Last year, we had neither army nor a manned fleet at home. Now, we have a larger and better army than ever we had in the island, and a strong fleet. Within these three days, our West-India and Mediterranean fleets, for which we have been in great pain, are arrived, and bring not only above two millions, but such a host of sailors as will supply the deficiencies in our unequipped men-of-war. The country is covered with camps; General Conway, who has been to one of them, speaks with astonishment of the fineness of the men, of the regiments, of their discipline and manoeuvring. In short, the French Court has taught all our young nobility to be soldiers. The Duke of Grafton, who was the most in

*La Licorne and La Belle Poule. From papers taken on board these frigates, Admiral Keppel found to his astonishment, that the French had thirty-two sail of the line, besides ten or twelve frigates, in Brest Roads. He also found written orders," not to molest that useful navigator, Captain Cook, on any account whatever."-ED.

dolent of ministers, is the most indefatigable of officers. For my part, I am almost afraid that there will be a larger military spirit amongst our men of quality than is wholesome for our constitution:* France will have done us hurt enough, if she has turned us into generals instead of senators.

I can conceive another reason why France should not choose to venture an invasion. It is certain that at least five American provinces wish for peace with us. Nor can I think that thirteen English provinces would be pleased at seeing England invaded. Any considerable blow received by us, would turn their new allies into hauty protectors. Should we accept a bad peace, America would find her treaty with them a very bad one: in short, I have treated you with speculations instead of facts. I know but one of the latter sort. The King's army has evacuted Philadelphia, from having eaten up the country, and has returned to 'New York. Thus it is more compact, and has less to defend.

General Howe is returned, richer in money than laurels. I do not know, indeed, that his wealth is great.

Fanaticism in a nation is no novelty; but you must know, that, though the effects were so solid, the late appearance of enthusiasm about Lord Chatham was nothing but a general affectation of enthusiasm. It was a contention of hypocrisy between the Opposition and the Court, which did not last even to his burial. Not three of the Court attended it, and not a dozen of the minority of any note. He himself said, between his fall in the House of Lords and his death, that, when he came to himself, not one of his old acquaintance of the Court but Lord Despencer so much as asked him how he did. Do you imagine people are struck with the death of a man, who were not struck with the sudden appearance of his death? We do not counterfeit so easily on a surprise, as coolly; and, when we are cool on surprise, we do not grow agitated on reflection.

The last account I heard from Germany was hostile. Four days ago both the Imperial and Prussian Ministers expected news of a battle. O, ye fathers of your people, do you thus dispose of your children? How many thousand lives does a King save, who signs peace! It was said in jest of our Charles II., that he was the real father of his people, so many of them did he beget himself. But tell me, ye divines, which is the most virtuous man, he who begets twenty bastards, or he who sacrifices a hundred thousand lives? What a contradiction is human nature! The Romans rewarded the man

* In reference to the prevalence of this military spirit amongst the higher orders, Gibbon wrote to Mr. Holroyd, "Their conversation at Almack's is about tents, drillsergeants, subdivisions, firings, &c., and I am revered as a veteran."-ED.

Philadelphia was evacuated by the British army on the 18th of June; which passed the Delaware on the same day, under dispositions made for the purpose by the Admiral, Lord Howe.-ED.

"Lord Chatham's funeral," says Gibbon, in a letter to Mr. Holroyd," was meanly attended, and Government ingeniously contrived to secure the double odium of suffering the thing to be done, and of doing it with an ill grace."-ED.

who got three children, and laid waste the world. When will the world know, that peace and propagation are the two most delightful things in it? As his majesty of France* has found out the latter, I hope he will not forget the former.

LETTER CCLXXXVIII.

Arlington Street, Aug. 4, 1778.

FOR these three weeks I have been constantly waiting for news from sea; for to tell you that nothing had happened, was telling you nothing. We are in the oddest situation that can be; at war, in fact, but managed like a controversy in divinity: we and France write against each other, and do each other all the hurt we can, but do not own we are enemies. The communication is open, the packet-boats pass as usual, and French and English are allowed to go to Paris and to come to London, as if to compare notes on all that happens. I am not sorry that this Christian plausibility is preserved; it may facilitate peace without the tediousness of a formal treaty. The two countries have nothing to do but to declare hostilities are at an end. On Saturday last we thought we had gained a double festival for the 1st of August. Admiral Keppel's captain arrived, and a rumour spread that he had taken or destroyed seventeen of the Brest fleet.† It was not for want of will or endeavours that if he has not. He had placed himself between that squadron and port, and tried to force them to battle; which they obstinately declined, till he came

On

*The unfortunate Marie-Antoinette was then enciente for the first time. the 19th of December, she was delivered of a Princess named Marie-Therese Charlotte. The Rev. Dr. Warner, then at Paris, thus wrote on the 20th to George Selwyn, "Yesterday the beauteous Majesty of France underwent the pangs of childbirth. The agony of her regret that it is not a dauphin has thrown her into such strong convulsions, that her life is thought to be in danger. She had a fine time, as the goodies say, and it is a fine child. I hope the fine woman will do well, and have a dauphin another time. There were bonfires and sky-rockets; but the whole thing was wretched and poor. The public offices, such as the Hotel des Fermes, the Post-office, and some of the Financiers, or as Boileau calls them, Commis engraissés des malheurs de la France,' gave some of their tallow : but scarce a candle, even of the diminutive size that is burnt to the lousiest saint in the calendar, was to be seen amongst the lean and little folks." Selwyn Correspondence, vol. p. 372.-ED.

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The Duc de Chartres, afterwards the infamous Egalité, who was on board of one of the French ships, took occasion to acquaint Sir George Rodney, that he was to have a command in the fleet which was to be opposed to that under the command of Admiral Keppel, and with an insulting ait asked him, what he thought would be the consequence of their meeting? That my countryman will carry your Royal Highness home with him to learn English," was the spirited reply. During the action of the 27th of July, the Duke retired into the hold of the ship, and refused to come on deck until the engagement was over. See Keppel's Life, vol. ii. p. 36. -ED.

VOL. II.-7.

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