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India before the middle or end of January, so that I shall be in time, as my holydays expire on Plough Monday, Jan. 12th.

I have ordered James to send you the Sunday paper, as you desired, whenever there is any parcel. Mr. Kirkup ought before this to have sent your scissars and chains.

I desire you not to go shopping on my account, till the weather is less severe, and then let it be only for an elegant bagatelle.

Since I wrote the above, I have the favour of yours of Dec. 7. The most pleasing thing I see in the Isle of Wight is the smile of la chère petite.

I am sorry that you paid the unwelcome tribute of a cold to the severity of the weather.

Your little anecdotes of the Dutchess de Chastillon are admirable.

The Morning Chronicle of Thursday, Dec. 11, is infinitely curious.

that paper come to Paris?

Does

The Duke of will by the arrêt get to Heaven at last, but I once thought he would have lain in the focus of

"How poor, how rich, how abject, how august,
How complicate, how wonderful is man!
How passing wonder He, who made him such !"

LETTER LXXII.

Isle of Wight,

Friday, Dec. 19, 1788.

of

MY DEAREST POLLY,

I HAD yesterday the pleasure

your two letters at the same time by the diligence and the post. They are dated Dec. 6th and 10th.

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I received likewise the Mercure, No.49, and the Journaux, Nos. 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, which were a source of great entertainment to me.

The weather here is very severe, but not as I understand so severe as at London or Paris. We had for three days together a violent storm from the east, but I have not heard of any shipwreck, or great damage by land. I continue, thank Heaven, well, and am made happy by the favourable accounts you send me from Paris, particularly of your own health, although I am anxious likewise about that of your noble friends.

I have ordered the tea, which is to be in a small parcel with Monsieur Kageneck's letter. I thought the Sallust was to be a present, after the various presents of books I made to his Excellency and Madame; but as I find it is meant to be a barter for a variety of prints, I wave

it, and the pretext may be from the difficulty of pleasing the taste of another,

you may mention as from me, with

which you may

a variety of compliments.

Sir Richard Worsley brought his son here yesterday, a very handsome and promising youth of thirteen. He is reading Virgil and Ovid. I gave him a beautiful Elzevir Ovid.

Your remark about the probable end of the troubles where you are is highly judicious. I wish you a good journey to Versailles, if you have the courage to undertake it.

I congratulate you on the decided superiority of Pitt in last Tuesday's debate. A majority of sixty-four is superior to all accidents, and I think Parliament will now probably die a natural death in May 1791.

The sea has been the three last days as smooth as a mirror, and there is now

clear sunshine, and a dead calm, but a smart frost.

It is now said, and truly, that the King is better, and great hopes are entertained of a perfect recovery in consequence of the new treatment. As I shall return to the capital by the 12th, I shall have full time to complete all your nicer commissions, and you to receive them at Paris before your return.

It is said that Dr. Willis rules his patient by fear, and in consequence has changed all the pages, footmen, &c. and put his own people in full authority about his patient.

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