that at the beginning of this contest I told you I thought it would be an affair of long duration. A French war would abridge it—but how? I will prophesy nothing on that head. I don't like to look into that book.

I have no events to send you. London, I suppose, is very empty at this season; but I have little dealings with it. The affairs of my family find me full employment, and it is the most suitable one at my time of life. Adieu!

LETTER CCLXXI.

Strawberry Hill, August 11, 1777.

I WRITE in a most anxious moment, and tremble lest you should know worse than we have heard yet. I had a letter from the Duchess on Tuesday, that raised our hopes. Yesterday brought one from Dr. Jebb to my brother, that dashed them down again. Sir Edward, who is truly very sagacious in physical cases, does not despond; and I, always disposed to expect what I wish, and who do not believe that it is so easy to die as is imagined, do not quite despair-yet that word quite would scarce turn a scale against a feather. I dare not look farther, nor figure the distress of the Duchess, if the dreadful misfortune should happen. Lord Cholmondeley* is gone to Trent, and will be of

*George-James, fourth Earl of Cholmondeley, great-nephew of Horace Walpole; and upon whose death he succeeded to the ancient Walpole estates at Houghton, &c. In 1782, he was appointed Envoy Extraordi

great use and comfort-but I will hope yet. Do not wonder, nor take it ill, that nobody thought of writing to you: think but of what the distress and confusion must be; and how little they could attend to anything but writing to England. I, here, only contemplating in melancholy tranquillity the misfortune hanging over my poor niece, should not write to many but you at such a moment. The Duke's family must be exhausted with fatigue and anxiety, and I fear barely able to go through their duty. You should pity them, not suspect them of neglect.

I can tell you nothing else that you will like much better. The conquest of America is put off to the millennium.* It is hoped, and thence supposed, that General Howe is gone to take some place, or beat some army, that is more practicable than dislodging Washington. Burgoyne has sent over a manifesto, that, if he was to overrun ten provinces, would appear too pompous; and yet, let him achieve ever so little, it

nary and Plenipotentiary to the Court of Berlin; and, in 1815, was advanced to the Earldom of Rocksavage and Marquisate of Cholmondeley. He died in April 1827.—ED.

* Gibbon, at that time in Paris, writing, on the 13th of August, to Mr. Holroyd, says, "What a wretched piece of work do we seem to be making of it in America! The greatest force which any European power ever ventured to transport into that country, is not strong enough even to attack the enemy; the naval strength of Great Britain is not sufficient to prevent the Americans (they have almost lost the appellation of rebels) from receiving every assistance that they wanted; and, in the mean time, you are obliged to call out the militia to defend your own coasts against their privateers. Upon the whole, I find it much easier to defend the justice than the policy of our measures; but there are certain cases, where whatever is repugnant to sound policy ceases to be just.-ED.

+ General Burgoyne had, in June, dispersed a manifesto calculated to

will be sure of not being depreciated; so great is the want of something to keep up the spirits of the people, who stare a little at being bullied on their own coasts, after being told that five thousand men would overrun all America. France sits by and laughs, receives our remonstrances, sends us an embassadress, and winks on Dr. Franklin that it is all the comfort she will give us.-I believe you will not wish me to expatiate on that chapter.

Lady Mary Churchill's eldest daughter is married to Lord Cadogan.+ She is very pretty, amiable, and eight-and-twenty; he, rich and fifty. It is a great match for her, and in my opinion preferable to one with most of our youths, who dissipate enormous fortunes in a couple of years. I have not time to say more now, nor any event to tell you.

LETTER CCLXXII.

Strawberry Hill, Sept. 1, 1777.

THE Duke is still struggling at Trent. Ten days ago the letters were suddenly and wonderfully mended,

spread terror among the contumacious, and particularly to revive in their minds every latent impression of fear, derived from knowledge or information of the cruel operations of the Indian savages. The pompous turgidity of style in which it was couched, excited the ridicule of the Americans, and procured for the General the sobriquet of Chrononhotonthologos.-ED.

* Mr. Walpole's sister.

Charles Sloane Cadogan, third Lord Cadogan. In 1800, his lordship

and we flattered ourselves the danger was quite over. The next post brought a little relapse, and great complaint of the heats. Two days ago we were a little comforted again. He had had two exceedingly good nights; and having gained so much time, and the physicians no longer speaking despondingly, though they will not from prudence give too great hopes, we trust we shall again see his Royal Highness in England. The Duchess's distress has equalled anything we could figure. For three weeks she did not write a syllable, nor even saw Mrs. Heywood.* She tells Lady Laura, her daughter, that she did nothing but pray and weep. She has still much to go through. It is well her constitution and courage are so firm. It will be the end of October at soonest before they can be at home. When the Duke is able to travel, I shall expect great things from motion and change of air. The King has sent him a kind message: it will do more than twenty physicians, and I believe produced the amendment, for his heart was broken.

General Burgoyne has taken Ticonderoga, and given a new complexion to the aspect of affairs, which was very wan indeed. General Howe is gone with a great force some whither, and the moment is very critical. I don't pretend to form any judgment. Eleven months ago I thought America subdued; and, a fortnight ago, it was as little likely to be subdued as ever. We, the

was advanced to the dignities of Viscount Chelsea and Earl Cadogan. Miss Churchill was his second wife.-ED.

* One of the Women of the Bedchamber who attended the Duchess of Gloucester abroad.

people, know little of the truth.* One would think the more informed were not more settled in their opinions for General Howe's retreat, after advancing towards Washington, produced despair; the taking of one post has given confidence. So much fluctuation begets a thousand reports. It is now said at once, that we are to hire fifteen thousand Russians for next campaign, and that we are treating for peace by the mediation of France. If you ask me what I believe— nothing but what is past-and perhaps have not heard a quarter of that. In one thing alone all that come from America agree, that the alienation from this country is incredible and universal;+ so that, instead of obtaining a revenue thence, the pretence of the war, the conquest would only entail boundless expense to preserve it. The New World will at last be revenged on the Old.

*The capture of Ticonderoga by General Burgoyne, in July, together with a hundred and twenty-eight pieces of cannon, occasioned great exultation with all who looked forward to the unconditional submission of the colonies, and an opinion generally prevailed that the war in effect was over.-ED.

The feelings, at this time, of the people of America towards this country, are thus set forth by Dr. Franklin, in a letter of the 14th of October, to David Hartley, the member for Kingston-upon-Hull :-" As to our submitting to the government of Great Britain, it is in vain to think of it. It is now impossible to persuade our people, as I long endeavoured, that the war was merely ministerial, and that the nation bore still a good-will to us. The infinite number of addresses printed in your gazettes, all encouraging our destruction by every means; the great majority in Parliament constantly manifesting the same sentiments; together with the recommendation of the same measures by even your celebrated moralists and divines in their writings and sermons-all join in convincing us, that you are unfit and unworthy to govern us, as not being able to govern your own passions."