,(Copy.)

"Kew Palace, Déc. 5, 1788. Eleven in the Morning.

"His Majesty has had a restless night, and is much indisposed this morning.

"R. WARREN.

"J. GISBORNE."

99

LETTER LXX.

Sandham Cottage,

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1788.

MY DEAREST POLLY,

My little journal is, that I left

Prince's Court on Saturday morning, lay that night at the Anchor in Liphook, and on Sunday morning crossed over from Portsmouth to Ride. The passage was

short, only three quarters of an hour, but very rough, and above a mile in a boat. There has been a storm for four days on this coast, but I do not hear of any shipwreck. It is warmer here in this south aspect than in London or Kensington, and this day the frost has left us, and a mild rain succeeds.

I hope the variety of the enclosures I sent amused you, and did not cost much.

Yesterday I received your most entertaining and patriotic letter of Nov. 29, and the Journaux, Nos. 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, but no Mercure, and the second part of Monsieur Target's excellent pamphlet.

Mrs. Gordon promised me to write you all the London news. Mine would be a country post of peacocks, bantams, &c. &c. and the amazing growth of your walking companion, Trusty. I am impatient to hear that you received the two

prints, and elegant almanack. In another parcel I sent the letters, Calendar, Royal Recollections, &c. &c.

I am, thank God, well, and freer than usual from my old complaint. I walk for about two hours after breakfast, then read some useful book till dinner at three, go to roost at nine. I rise at seven, but do not brave the morning air till after breakfast.

and

I found the plantations thriving here, particularly the strawberries, and a cheerfulness in the scene, which surprised me at this very late season of the year. Monday must have been a most interesting day at Westminster. The event I know not.

Adieu, my dearest Polly.

LETTER LXXI.

Sandham Cottage,

Friday, Dec. 18, 1788.

MY DEAREST POLLY,

YESTERDAY'S post brought me

together your two charming letters of Nov. 30 and Dec. 3. They well rewarded my waiting and impatience.

I

I rejoice that your excellent Dutchess is so much better; and from what I observed last week of Miss Smith, I hope the present weather will be found peculiarly propitious to advanced life. scarcely know a life more to be prized and wished, for it seems entirely exempt from all the unsocial frowardness and discontent of age, and steadily pursues a plan of diffusive benevolence, seldom attended to in the heyday of the blood.

I am much vexed with myself that I forgot to copy for you the Dutchess of

Chastillon's letter. It well merited the transcript. I have carefully preserved it, and as soon as I return to Prince's Court you shall certainly have it. If you will be so good to send me a letter for the Dutchess de la Valliere for the Jour de l'An, I will send it from hence, and I think it would arrive in time, and be well received.

I have been so much hurried, that I have not yet read Target. Sir Richard Worsley dined here on Friday, and desired his best respects to you. The weather is not so severe here as in the capital, and no snow lies in the fields. I sprung a covey of partridges yesterday behind the cottage.

The news about Mr. Smith gives me great satisfaction. Alderman Le Mesurier tells me that no ships will go to