treme, and equally beneficial to his country, France.

I sent Mrs. Cosway a haunch of venison.

Adieu!

LETTER XLI.

Prince's Court,

Friday, June 23, 1786.

MY DEAREST POLLY,

I MUCH feared, from the hurry

of Parliament and city business, that I should not have been able to pay my compliments to you by this post, but a very early hour of this morning has given me a quarter of an hour's leisure.

Yesterday I was favoured with your letter of the 18th, and the day before

I received that by Captain Wilmot, the waistcoat, and all the books in good order. The embroidery of the waistcoat is in perfect taste, but the ground is grave enough for an Alderman. Accept many thanks for it, and the care of all the articles. Numa Pompilius is beautifully printed. The merit of the work I do not know, but I love Florian as an author.

I was much embarrassed by a note from Baron de Wessenberg, which goes in this day's packet by the diligence. On a full explanation with the Baron and James, the parcel which the Baron has for you, contains only the books from Elinsly. The Baron leaves us next Monday. The packet has a letter from Mrs. Motte, some handkerchiefs, &c.

Mr. Wright has declared, that he will nominate Sir Watkin to-morrow as Chamberlain. All my friends laugh at

the idea. Sir Watkin does not, openly at least, lend himself to it. I have taken pains to have a great appearance, and I believe the whole will pass as usual, after a few wise speeches from the Auditors, &c.

The business of Mr. Hastings will be postponed by a particular Bill till next sessions; an event which I have long expected, but could not persuade Major Scott to believe.

God has not given the Baron much understanding; but in lieu of it, he has an enormous sotte vanité of his own procuring, which disgusts the Dutchess, but only amuses me, and I pardon every thing in consideration of his excessive good-nature, the first and most amiable of companionable qualities.

I dined yesterday very agreeably with Mr. and Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Boswell, a Miss E-, good-humoured and greasy,

Andrews, &c. They all inquired much after you, and desired many compliments. Every thing moves there as usual, in an easy and elegant style.

The weather has been very gloomy for several days, with much rain, but the crops of hay have been well got in, and are very abundant. I understand that it is not so, neither in Flanders, nor Holland.

The servants are all very orderly, and send their duty; but I believe they wish your return, as does their master.

I glory in the vigour of our government for all the circumstances attending the prompt execution of Fitzgerald for that foul murder.

D'Eon is returned from the country in high spirits.

A change of ministry in a month is much talked of, generally supposed in favour of Lord Lansdowne, but a coali

tion between Fox and Pitt is likewise suspected, from their late mutual forbearance-Pitt is spoken of with great severity on account of the vote against Mr. Hastings, the most illogical conclusion from the most logical premisesAubery has alarming fits of giddiness. Mr. Swinburne is still in the North, and no day mentioned for his return.

I have bought here la première livraison de la Galerie du Palais Royal. Be so good to get me la deuxième livraison. It costs twelve livres. It should come by a private hand, to save the enormous duty on prints, or you may put it among your baggage.

My dearest Polly, adieu.