LETTER LXXVIII. Prince's Court, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1789. MY DEAREST POLLY, My dinner yesterday was in terrupted by a much more agreeable repast, your letter of the 13th and 14th; and from the local situation of us both, I trust that our correspondence will in future be much more regular. This courier carries your excellent Dutchess a letter in my very best writing with a new pen. The whole arrangement of your return I leave to yourself, but I consent to no risk, nor travelling in the night, and I hope you will contrive to be on the sea near the full moon. The length of my tether till May will be Kensington Gore. It cannot escape me, how much time you have lost by the cruel severity of the weather. The weather has been tolerably mild since last Wednesday, and the snow has disappeared, to fructify, I hope, the earth. Last night we had a gentle frost. I desire to be very affectionately remembered in the Rue Royale. Suard's letter is neat and correct. The Dutchess's to me is highly polished and pathetic-I mean the Dutchess de la Valliere's. Lord Lansdowne has gained great applause by his speech on the Regencyand in the House of Commons Lord North; but Pitt's was that of the states man. I am glad that you have resumed the elegant amusement and exercise of dancing, My answer to the Dutchess leaves you at full liberty to act according to cir cumstances, and you need not determine any thing for a considerable time. Mr. M B is dangerously ill, and sees only Lady B―y. Politics are more embroiled than ever. Lord Rodney is gone over to the Prince. Sir John Aubrey has made a foolish speech against any limitations. Mr. Hutton is exceedingly angry with them both. He has dined here once since my return, and complained of our long absence. I thought Guyon would scarcely be able to send you the large folio of the Report on the King's Illness, and therefore I purchased the 4to. edition, which goes this morning with two letters. I have likewise sent you by the post part of two curious newspapers. I wish you to mention what this letter costs. Major L- has just left me, sunk into a deadly lassitude. The press is groaning under a new pamphlet of his. At two this morning Mr. Pitt carried all his motions. There were two divi This moment arrived the Mercure, No. 2, and the Journaux, Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, with the Chevalier de Boufflers' Discours, &c. (Copie.) Paris le 24 9bre, 1788. Je suis honteuse, Monsieur, de n'avoir pas plus-tot repondu à la lettre que Mademoiselle votre fille m'a apportée de votre part, je suis infiniment sensible à tout ce qu'elle contient d'obligeant. Je vous en rend mille graces. J'avoue que j'ai un droit à votre interêt, c'est mon amitié pour Mademoiselle votre fille. Vous me faites un grand plaisir en vous prétant au desir que j'avois de la revoir dans mon pays, elle ne doit pas me savoir mauvais gré si je ne lui rend pas sa visite, je voudrois bien pouvoir aller en Angleterre, mais je ne songe pas à ce projet. Je suis attachée à Paris par un lien bien doux, il est triste en ce moment par le mauvais etat de la santé de Elle vient d'avoir une grande joye, j'ai même craint que son emotion ne fut trop vive, ma fille a pris pó but de sa premiere sortie de venir presenter sa petite à sa grand mere, et d'etre relevée dans sa chapelle selon la pratique de notre eglise. L'on ne peut voir une meilleure nourrice. Je vous ferois des excuses de vous decrire tous ces details, si votre cœur paternel m'etoit moins connu par la confiance de mon amie. ma mere. |