unspotted and immaculate (tautology, by the by). The gentlemen proprietors, on the other hand, are friends and patrons of the leopard beauties. Advertising challenges have passed between the two great factions, and a bloody battle is expected Wednesday night. Apropos, the Pantheon in point of ennui and magnificence, is the wonder of the eighteenth century and of the British empire. Adieu. MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD. Boodle's, Saturday night, Feb. 8th, 1772. THOUGH it is very late, and the bell tells me that I have not above ten minutes left, I employ them with pleasure in congratulating you on the late victory of our dear mamma, the Church of England. She had last Thursday seventy-one rebellious sons who pretended to set aside her will on account of insanity: but two hundred and seventeen worthy champions, headed by Lord North, Burke, Hans Stanley, Charles Fox, Godfrey Clarke, &c., though they allowed the thirtynine clauses of her testament were absurd and unreasonable, supported the validity of it with infinite humour. By the by, Charles Fox prepared himself for that holy war, by passing twenty-two hours in the pious exercise of hazard; his devotion cost him only about 500l. per hour -in all 11,000l. Galy lost 5000l. This is from the best authority. I hear too, but will not warrant it, that W. H. by way of paying his court to L. C. has lost this winter 12,000l. How I long to be ruined! There are two county contests, Sir Thomas Egerton and Colonel Townley, in Lancashire, after the county had for some time gone a begging. In Salop, Sir Watkin, supported by Lord Gower, happened by a punctilio to disoblige Lord Craven, who told us last night that he had not quite 9000l. a year in that county, and who has set up Pigot against him. You may suppose we all wish for Got Almighty* against the black devil. I am sorry your journey is deferred. Compliments to Datch. As he is now in durance, great minds forgive their enemies, and I hope he may be released by this time.-Coming, sir. Adieu. You see the princess of W. is gone. Hans Stanley says it is believed the empress queen has taken the same journey. MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD. Boodle's, ten o'clock, Thursday evening, Dec. 1772. DEAR HOLROYD, My schemes with regard to you have been entirely disappointed. The business that called me to town was not ready before the twentieth of last month, and the same business has kept me here till now. I have, however, a very strong inclination to eat a Christmas mince pie with you; and let me tell you that inclination is no small compliment. What are the trees and waters Alluding to the Welsh opinion that Sir Watkin was in Wales nearly as great a personage. of Sheffield Place, compared with the comfortable smoke, lazy dinners, and inflammatory Junius's, which we can every day enjoy in town? You have seen the last Junius. He calls on the distant legions to march to the capital, and free us from the tyranny of the Prætorian guards. I cannot answer for the ghost of the hic et ubique, but the Hampshire militia are determined to keep the peace, for fear of a broken head. After all, do I mean to make you a visit next week? Upon my soul, I cannot tell. I tell every body that I shall I know that I cannot pass the week with any man in the world with whom the pleasure of seeing each other will be more sincere or more reciprocal. Yet, entre nous, I do not believe I shall be able to get out of this town before you come into it. At all events, I look forwards, with great impatience, to Bruton Street* and the Romans t. Believe me most truly yours. MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD. Bentinck Street, Dec. 16th, 1773. To the vulgar eye of an idle man, London is empty; but I find many pleasant companions, both dead and alive. Two or three days ago I dined at Atwood's with a very select party. Lord G. Germaine was of it, and we communed a long time. You know Lord Holland is paying Charles's debts. They amount to 140,000l. At a meeting * Where Mr. Holroyd's family passed a winter. of his creditors, his agent declared, that after deducting 60001. a year settled on Ste*, and a decent provision for his old age, the residue of his wealth amounted to no more than 90,000l. The creditors stared, till Mr. Powell declared that he owed every thing to the noble lord; that he happened to have 50,000l. in long annuities, and begged that he might be permitted to supply the deficiency. How generous ! Yet there are people who say the money only stood in his name. My brother Ste's son is a second Messiah, said Charles the other day. How so? Because born for the destruction of the Jews. MR. GIBBON TO MRS. GIBBON. DEAR MADAM, London, August, 1775. WILL you accept my present literary business as an excuse for my not writing? I think you will be in the wrong if you do; since I was just as idle before. At all events, however, it is better to say three words, than to be totally a dumb dog. Apropos of dog, but not of dumb: your Pomeranian is the comfort of my life; pretty, impertinent, fantastical, all that a young lady of fashion ought to be. I flatter myself that our passion is reciprocal. I am just at present engaged in a great historical work; no less than a History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; with the first volume of which I may possibly oppress the public next winter. Lord H.'s eldest son. It would require some pages to give a more particular idea of it; but I shall only say in general, that the subject is curious, and never yet treated as it deserves; and that during some years it has been in my thoughts, and even under my pen. Should the attempt fail, it must be by the fault of the execution. Adieu, dear madam, believe me most truly yours. MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD. Bentinck Street, Jan. 18th, 1777. As I presume my lady does not make a practice of tumbling down stairs every day after dinner, by this time the colours must have faded, and the high places (I mean the temples) are reduced to a proper level. But what, in the name of the great prince, is the meaning of her declining the Urban expedition? Is it the spontaneous result of her own proud spirit? or does it proceed from the secret machinations of her domestic tyrant? At all events, I expect you will both remember your engagement of next Saturday in Bentinck Street, with Donna Catherina, the Mountaineer (Hon. General Simon Fraser), &c. Things go on very prosperously in America. Howe is himself in the Jerseys, and will push at least as far as the Delaware river. The continental (perhaps now the rebel) army is in a great measure dispersed, and Washington, who wishes to cover Philadelphia, has not more than six or seven thousand men with him. Clinton designs to con |