LETTER XXXVII.

Brighthelmstone,

Wednesday, June 7, 1786.

I CAME here, my dearest Polly,

last Saturday to dinner, for I was too far exhausted to wait the end of the debate on the Rohilla war. It was not finished till eight on the Saturday morning, when Mr. Hastings gained a complete victory. I paired off at eleven on Friday night, and stepped into my postchaise before seven on the Saturday. The weather is so very fine, that as the Chamberlain's office does not open in the Whitsun week, I shall not return to Prince's Court till Saturday morning.

I have the pleasure of your letter of May 31st, and shall write to the Dutchess, as you desire, by Friday's post.

I heartily congratulate the Rohan family on the happy issue of the collier cause, and the public on seeing the end of so tiresome and teasing a business.

I hope you have before this received the 6th number of Middiman's Views. I have not mentioned it in my letter, but I shall send the Dutchess a wonderful beauty, called an egg grotto. It is to be seen through the magnifying glass at the end, and held up against the sun. I only wait for a safe conveyance, and it will be matter of no small pleasure and surprise, I believe.

Mr. Elmsly has sent me a curious new book, entitled "La Vie de Voltaire." The title-page has "à Geneve, 1786." There are many interesting. anecdotes, some not favourable to Ma-dame de Genlis. I suppose you have seen it, or I would have transcribed these particulars.

Susan's letter to her brother shall certainly go in a frank by Saturday night's post.

Lord Mansfield and Mr. Forth are drolly coupled as giving letters to Madame de Genlis. The peer is really most dangerously ill-The Duke of Northumberland still lives.

The Steine here is quite spoiled by the number of red-brick houses, which almost entirely exclude the view of the corn-fields and the downs.

I wish you could have some of our mackerel, soles, brills, shrimps, &c. &c. which are in high perfection.

Adieu !

LETTER XXXVIII.

Prince's Court,

Tuesday, June 13, 1786.

YOUR box, my dearest Polly,

which brought me the obliging present of an elegant cup and saucer, will take back the egg grotto for your friend the excellent Dutchess, and I believe it will charm wonderfully, provided there should be sunshine, and the magnifying glass is kept to the eye.

Many thanks for all the pieces on a late affair. I will imitate your prudence, and make no remarks; but I am infinitely curious about the minutiae of an affair which interests all Europe, and in which the seeds of all jurisprudence are included.

I returned here on Saturday morning.

The weather was so fine at Brighthelmstone, that as the Chamberlain's office was shut for the whole week, I did not return to the capital till the end of it, by which I avoided, like an old soldier, all the teasing business of the new excise on wine, and objections might have otherwise been had against me on the very near Midsummer-day.

I sent Mrs. Swinburne a noble present of fish and mutton from Brighthelmstone, and wrote to her by the post. This morning, on my return to town from Kensington Gore, I called in Blenheim Street, but she was from home, and he in Yorkshire. Her son has been here, and brought three letters, which I shall send by the first opportunity, and some curious prints, of which I beg your acceptance.

I have not yet received the Marquis 'de Chastellux's Voyages, nor De la