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LETTER CCCII.

Arlington Street, March 22, 1779.

If your representative dignity is impaired westward, you may add to your eastern titles those of "Rose of India" and "Pearl of Pondicherry." The latter gem is now set in one of the vacant sockets of the British diadem.

I have nothing to subjoin to this high-flown paragraph, that will at all keep pace with the majesty of it. I should have left to the gazette to wish you joy, nor have begun a new letter without more materials, if I did not fear you would be still uneasy about your nephew. I hear he has, since his parenthesis, voted again with the Court;† therefore he has probably not taken a new part, but only made a Pindaric transition on a particular question. I have seen him but twice since his arrival, and from both those visits I had no reason to expect he would act differently from what you wished. Perhaps it may never happen again. I go so little into the world, that I don't at all know what company he frequents. He talked so reasonably and tenderly with regard to you, that I shall be much deceived if he often gives you any inquietude.

The place of Secretary of State is not replenished yet. Several different successors have been talked of. At least, at present, there is little chance of its being supplied by the Opposition. Their numbers have fallen off again, though they are more alert than they used to be. I do not love to foretell, because no Elijah left me his mantle, in which it seems the gift of prophecy resides; and, if I see clouds gathering, I less care to announce their contents to foreign post-offices. On the other hand, it is no secret, nor one to disguise if it were, that the French trade must suffer immensely by our captures. Private news I know none. The Bishops are trying to put a stop to one staple commodity of that kind, Adultery. I do not suppose

After a most gallant defence by M. de Bellecombe, Pondicherry capitulated to the conjunct British forces under the command of Major-General Monroe and Sir Edward Vernon, on the 17th of October, 1778.-ED.

†This was on Mr. Dunning's motion, on the 15th, condemnatory of the Board of Admiralty, in so immediately directing a court-martial upon Admiral Keppel. In the course of this debate Mr. Fox declared, "that the man, the Earl of Sandwich (he named him,) who deprived the country of two of her bravest Admirals, Keppel and Howe, was a greater traitor to the nation than the man who, last year, set fire to the dock-yards."-ED.

The object of this bill was to discourage the crime of adultery, by fixing a brand of infamy on the adulteress, that might operate as a terror upon the mind. It was introduced by Dr. Shute Barrington, Bishop of Llandaff; who stated, that as many divorces had occurred in the seventeen years of his Majesty's reign, as had taken place during the whole recorded history of the country. The bill passed the Lords, but was strongly opposed in the Commons by Mr. Fox, and thrown out by a majority of 51 against 40. In announcing the result to George Selwyn, Mr. Hare thus writes, "Charles Fox made a very fine speech, abounding in excellent morality. We are all beggars at Brookes's, and he threatens to leave the house, as it yields him no profit."-ED.

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that they expect to lessen it; but, to be sure, it was grown to a sauciness that did call for a decenter veil. I do not think they have found out a good cure; and I am of opinion, too, that flagrancy proceeds from national depravity, which tinkering one branch will not remedy. Perhaps polished manners are a better proof of virtue in an age than of vice, though system-makers do not hold so: at least, decency has seldom been the symptom of a sinking nation.

When one talks on general themes, it is a sign of having little to say. It is not that there is a dearth of topics; but I only profess sending you information on events that really have happened, to guide you towards forming a judgment. At home, we are fed with magnificent hopes and promises that are never realized. For instance, to prove discord in America, Monsieur de la Fayette was said to rail at the Congress, and their whole system and transactions. There is just published an intercourse between them that exhibits enthusiasm in him towards their cause, and the highest esteem for him on their side. For my part, I see as little chance of recovering America as of re-conquering the Holy Land. Still I do not amuse you with visions on either side, but tell you nakedly what advantage has been gained or lost. This caution abbreviates my letters; but, in general, you can depend on what I tell you. Adieu!

Tuesday 24th.

I hear this moment that an account is come this morning of D'Estaing with sixteen ships being blocked up by Byron at Martinico, and that Rowley with eight more was expected by the latter in a day or two. D'Estaing, it is supposed, will be starved tó surrender, and the island too. I do not answer for this intelligence or consequences; but, if the first is believed, you may be sure the rest

is.

*The Marquis de la Fayette arrived in Paris, from America, in February. Speaking of the return of the Marquis, Mr. Cooper, in a letter to Dr. Franklin, says, "He will do me the honour to be the bearer of this letter. This young nobleman has done honour to his nation, as well as himself, by the manner in which he has served these States. His intrepidity and alertness in the field are highly distinguished. His prudence and good temper are equally remarkable. He is highly esteemed and beloved in Congress, in the army, and through the States; and though we are not without parties, and his situation has been sometimes very delicate, I have never heard that he has made a single enemy. He has gone through great fatigues, he has faced uncommon dangers, he has bled for our country, and leaves it, as far as I am able to find, with universal applause."-ED.

In answer to a proposition for quitting the alliance with France, Dr. Franklin had, on the 3rd of February, thus written to David Hartley, "There does not appear any more necessity for dissolving an alliance with France, before you can treat with us, than there would of dissolving your alliance with Holland, or your union with Scotland, before we could treat with you! Thanks to God, we have long since settled all the account in your own minds: we know the worst you can do to us, if you have your wish, is, to confiscate our estates and take our lives, to rob and murder us; and this we have shown we are ready to hazard, rather than come again under your detested government."-ED.

LETTER CCCIII.

Strawberry Hill, April 17, 1779.

I AM grieved to hear of your having the rheumatism so acutely in your head. Though it is not dangerous, like the gout, its duration is more fluctuating, and not consistent in a fit. I trust it will be gone long before I hear again; but the suspense will be very uneasy to me, and one of the evils of such great distance.

I was glad to hear your nephew had himself given you an account of his parenthesis of opposition, as you can speak more freely to him than if you had learnt it only from me. Very uncertain it is when I shall see him again, which I have done but thrice; nor could I expect more from so much younger a man. We live in very dif ferent worlds, or rather I live almost out of it, and he quite in it, and yet not where I do. At this time of year, too, I am here half the week. I hope he will give you no more uneasiness; but you must have patience if he does. Nephews and nieces are not very tractable. My own uncle did not find me so; and I do not wonder at others. One must wrap one's self up in one's self. People have difficulty enough of conducting their own children-mercy on us, were we to answer for collaterals!

There have been no Parliamentary clouds, because during the holidays there has been no Parliament: but the political horizon does not clear up. I bade you a little expect the conquest of Martinico; but that prospect seems pretty much vanished. If the letters yesterday from France speak truth, our trust in Spain is dispelled likewise: it is said she has declared for the Americans too, and it has been whispered here for these two days:-there is no occasion to comment on that addition to our load!-nor shall I tell you other ugly symptoms. A Spanish war is as much as you can digest at once. If I alarm you on bad grounds, it will make amends for my having vainly promised you Martinico-though I never warrant but what is actually passed.

It

Though Sir Hugh Palliser's trial has been begun this week,* the public does not honour it with the same attention as Keppel's. does not brighten for the Vice-Admiral.

For the last week all conversation has been engrossed by a shocking murder, committed on the person of a poor woman connected with a most material personage now on the great stage. You will have seen some mention of it in the papers; I mean the assassination of Miss Ray, Lord Sandwich's mistress, by a clergyman, who had been an officer, and was desperately in love with her, though she is between thirty and forty, and has had nine children. She was allowed

* Sir Hugh Palliser's trial commenced at Portsmouth, on board the Sandwich, on the 12th of April.—ED.

For several interesting letters in reference to the tragical fate of this unfortunate lady, see the Selwyn Correspondence, vol. iv, p. 59.-En.

to be most engaging; and so was the wretched lover, who had fixed his hopes of happiness on marrying her, and had been refused, after some encouragement; I know not how much. On his trial yesterday he behaved very unlike a madman, and wishes not to live. He is to suffer on Monday, and I shall rejoice when it is over; for it is shocking to reflect that there is a human being at this moment in so deplorable a situation. It would be foolish to repeat, that we are a nation of lunatics; yet, with so many outward and visible signs can one avoid thinking so? Alas! we are likely to undergo sharp purgations, that may bring us to our senses again! The loss of blood has not yet cured us. For the loss of money, it has had but the same effect on the nation as on our youthful gamesters-it has made us more extravagant.

I shall reserve the rest of my paper till Tuesday-perhaps I may be able to contradict the Spanish article.

Tuesday.

No; I do not affirm nor deny: however, nothing is yet public, and I imagine there is still some negotiation going on, as the Spanish Ambassador receives frequent couriers, and writes much.

The poor assassin was executed yesterday.* The same day Charles Fox moved for the removal of Lord Sandwich, but was beaten by a large majority ;† for in Parliament the Ministers can still gain victories. Adieu!

LETTER CCCIV.

Strawberry Hill, April 24, 1779.

I BEGIN my letter here, because I am alone and have leisure, of which I cannot be sure in town; and, should I have any sudden news to send, I might not have time to add the trifles I may wish to add.

I met your nephew the other night at the Duchess of Montrose's,†

* In a letter to George Selwyn, who had an unaccountable passion for witnessing criminal executions, but who happened to be absent at Paris when the poor wretch suffered, the Countess of Ossory wrote thus on the following day: "Mr. Hackman's behaviour was glorious yesterday. Jack Ketch deserves to be hanged, for when the poor man dropped the handkerchief, it fell under the cart, and he ran to pick it up, so by that means kept the poor wretch some moments in that horrid state." Selwyn had also the pleasure of receiving another letter, on the same subject and day, from Dr. Warner: "Mr. Hackman," writes the reverend gentleman, has been tried, condemned, and executed, and is now a fine corpse at Surgeons' Hall, where I saw him yesterday, a genteel, well-made young fellow of four and twenty." Correspondence, vol. iv. p. 95.-ED.

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The numbers on the division were 221 against 118.-ED.

Lady Lucy Manners, daughter of the Duke of Rutland. Lady Lucy Mann, Sir Horace's wife, was related to her.

and was happy to hear he had received a more recent and better account of you than what you gave me of the rheumatism in your head. I will send you by him bootikins for both hands and feet. I sometimes have rheumatic pains in the shoulder in the evening, and a bootikin on my hand immediately removes it. I should hope it would be as efficacious for the head, should it return thither, contrary to my earnest wishes.

The decision of Spain is not publicly known yet. In France they expect it in their favour.* Some here still think if will be a neutrality. Did one judge any longer by the Stocks, the augury would be good. They cannot reasonably have risen, as they have done, on the diminutive success in Georgia, which has not even encouraged the victors to hope to advance, without what they are far from receiving, a reinforcement. Nor are we more prosperous against D'Estaing; nor is the capture of eight or nine Domingomen very beneficial to stockholders: but so much industry is used of late in bolstering up the Stocks, that they are no longer the weather-glass of fortune, but part of the mask employed to disguise the nation's own face to itself.

There has been a motion in each House this week for the removal of Lord Sandwich; but both Houses think him as white as snow.† Palliser, probably, will be equally blanched. The Howes, on the other hand, will come immaculate out of the furnace: I believe, if the Duchess of Kingston was to return, she might be voted into her old post of Maid of Honour. Lord Lyttelton, who thinks he has talents for Secretary of State, and that want of principles is no impediment (it was not to his being Justice in Eyre,) has again turned against the Court on obtaining the Seals. The grass would grow in our Temple of Virtue, if it was the sole vestibule to our Temple of Honours. Governor Johnstone, having had such clumsy success as Ambassador of peace to America, has made his bargain, and is turned into a commodore of a cruising squadron.§ It is judicious *The looked-for accommodation did not take place.

The motion in the House of Lords, which was made by the Earl of Bristol, was rejected by 78 against 39.-ED.

Thomas, second Lord Lyttelton, who was married, in June 1772, the daughter of Broome Watts, of Chipping Norton, Esq., and relic of Joseph Peach, governor of Calcutta. His remarkable death, which took place in the following November, will be hereafter noticed. The following striking character is drawn of him, by the Rev. Montagu Pennington, in his Life of Mrs. Carter: "With great abilities, generally very ill applied; with a strong sense of religion, which he never suffered to influence his conduct, his days were mostly passed in splendid misery, and in the painful change of the most extravagant gaiety and the deepest despair. The delight, when he pleased, of the first and most select societies, he chose to pass his time, for the most part, with the most profligate and abandoned of both sexes. Solitude was to him the most insupportable torment; and, to banish reflection, he flew to company whom he despised and ridiculed."-ED.

The Governor was sent out as commander-in-chief to the Lisbon station, with the rank of established Commodore. On his passage thither, two of his squadron, the Tartar and the Rattlesnake, captured the Santa Margaretta, a Spanish frigate. His own ship, the Romney, had no share in the action.-ED.

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