and will arrange all matters with Mr. Fector. I will write in time to Mrs. Belcher at the City of London to secure the best apartments in her house. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are going abroad for some time. He is very intimate with that unaccountable animal H-t-n who shewed me a letter from

W

him, that as he was determined to go on with his law, and it was not likely to produce him any thing for a good while, he chose to go to St. Omer's to avoid a prison here. I have neither seen, nor heard of, him or my niece till now since your tour. Mrs. Hayley is arrived well at Boston, but nothing more is known.

Mr. Saumarez has sent me a noble present of 102 Guernsey lilies, which are only just beginning to shoot, and therefore can save from the accidents of those the foregoing years.

We have had very fine weather for ten

days, and the hay-harvest has been very good.

care.

Yesterday I had the favour of the parcel with Mercier's two volumes of the Bonnet de Nuit, and the letters to Lady Effingham, &c. of which I have taken I do not recollect receiving any caisse. I wish to know what it might contain. I received the Almanach Royal, but nothing else at that time. I have sent you six flat parcels of tea, besides the first pound and a quarter, and the Sorrows of Werter.

The French post charms me by its exactness. Your letters are generally received the fourth day after the date, and the packets come tolerably regu

lar.

I should be glad of twelve bottles of ratafia à la fleur d'orange à la crême at five livres per bottle, to be sent to Monsieur Leguillon before you leave Paris.

I shall send you six parcels more of the same tea in the same manner.

Sir Thomas Rumbold and his family are going abroad, really from distress, and the impossibility of raising money at present. The new Thomas is to come to-day. I agree with you about his character, and I shall ride him with a tight rein, nor will I suffer James, or any one here under my protection, to be ill-used. Within this week James is much improved, and from being on the point of discharging him, I have raised his wages to sixteen guineas from the next half-year, but with a declaration of sending him away directly, if he relapsed. The maids have behaved very well, and always send their duty. Your apartment is in great order, and your bed looks better than ever. It will only be a celestial bed when it receives its celestial inhabitant.

4

I gave Thomas a guinea for himself, when I settled his wages.

Many compliments to the Marquis de Travaunet, and Abbé Morellet, and above all to Madame Helvetius-Poor Sir W-I hope is innocent, and I will believe it; but he is so foolish, and so tiresome, since Sutton's trial, that every creature avoids him-I hear much of Lille in about ten days-I have seen the family not very often, but I have had several long, too long audiences from Sir William-Many thanks for your letter of July 6th and 8th.

My dearest Polly, adieu.

LETTER XVIII.

Friday, July 16, 1784.

I UNDERSTAND from Mr. Spragg,

my dearest Polly, that Mr. and Mrs. B-k-r are arrived at St. Omer's, but this intelligence you need not know, unless you choose it, when you pass through that town, should your course steer you that way. Lady B- is hourly teasing Sir William to go abroad, and I suppose will succeed. Every person condemns her; and I know not how it is, but our little cousin ceases to be a favourite with Mrs. Gordon, &c. &c. and Sir William falls into perfect insignifi cance. He is now the greatest bore I know. He says that he will return by the next term, when the new trial comes on, unless Lady B B- — should be on