LETTER XXI.

Tuesday, July 27, 1784.

I ONLY take up the pen, my dearest Polly, to renew my warmest wishes for your good journey, and happy passage to Dover, where you will find a tender and affectionate parent.

To-morrow I shall celebrate your excellent Dutchess's fête with real regard and gratitude.

I forgot to mention that I wish you to purchase a good map of the environs of Paris for about forty miles, which will include Fontainbleau and Compeigne as well as Bonnelles, and will be a high amusement to you. It will prove a good supplement to the large map of Paris, which I purchased a few months ago. Lord Rodney is in great affliction, that

his eldest daughter run to the blacksmith at Gretna Green last Thursday with Sir William Chambers's son. One

of Lord Rodney's sons played the same game with I know not whom the week before, and is said to have contrived it for his sister.

The Major dined here yesterday, more mad and slovenly than ever. It is the only time I have seen him since your absence. He says, that he totally disapproves me, since I have declared for Mr. Pitt, because I am now a party-man; but I do not answer a madman.

Susan is much alarmed about the sea; but Jenny laughs at her very heartily, and wishes you would order her such a jaunt. I am uneasy about Susan, for she says she is afraid that she shall never muster up courage enough to venture on the sea. In this dilemma Mrs. Gor don and I have concluded to send her

next Monday, August 2, to Dover to Mrs. Belcher; and if she continues the fool we suspect she will, I shall direct Mrs. Belcher to send you to Calais some female to escort you over, and Susan will attend you the rest of the tour. As I cannot be so soon at Dover, I cannot use any arguments to her on the spot, nor do I believe any would avail against the single strong idea of being drowned.

Your draft for 50 guineas came yesterday, and I duly honoured it. I have likewise the pleasure of your letter of the 22d instant. As you are so well pleased with your new servant, suppose you were to keep her. Prince's Court could con tain her even now, and you know we look forward. Mrs. Gordon tells me

this is Mrs. Smyth's birthday, so I am setting out with a superb bouquet for the worthy old lady.

I trust that no accident has happened

to my offering to the Dutchess. If it is unlucky, Mr. Harris tells me, that any fractures may be repaired by a person who lived with him, a Monsieur Maugé, chez Monsieur Chenu, Sculpteur-figuriste, rue neuve St. Laurent, proche les Peres Nazareth.

Your offering to the Dutchess is beautifully imagined, and the execution I hope will answer the excellence of the thought, with which she cannot but be struck. You will find that your last draft will not do, and you may draw again for what you will, but you cannot leave Paris with less than 30 or 40 Louis. I wish you to settle it with the master of the Sève manufactory how he is to be paid, and how the things are to be sent. Perhaps the Dutchess's homme d'affaires will take the trouble of all our little commissions.

I wish for a catalogue of the books printed in 12mo. by Didot l'ainé, rue

pavée S. A. I have the Boileau, and La Fontaine, Fables, and the Collection des Moralistes Anciens, but no others. If you send a servant, he would readily furnish you with his catalogue.

I shall write in time to Mrs. Belcher, and secure the best apartments at the City of London for Friday, the 6th of August, where I hope we shall have a happy meeting; and so, dear girl, once more bon voyage.