to more civilized notions. You have (no doubt) informed yourself of the forces and revenues of the empress. I think (however unfashionably) we always esteemed her. Have you lost or improved that opinion? Princes, like pictures, to be admired, must be seen in their proper point of view, which is often a pretty distant one. I am afraid you will find it peculiarly so at Berlin.

I need not desire you to pay a most minute attention to the Austrian and Prussian discipline. You have been bit by a mad serjeant as well as myself; and when we meet, we shall run over évery particular which we can approve, blame, or imitate. Since my arrival, I have assumed the august character of major, received returns, issued orders, &c. &c. &c. I do not intend you shall have the honour of reviewing my troops next summer. Three fourths of the men will be recruits; and during my pilgrimage, discipline seems to have been relaxed. But I summon you to fulfil another engagement. Make me a visit next summer. You will find here a bad house, a pleasant country, in summer, some books, and very little strange company. Such a plan of life for two or three months must, I should imagine, suit a man who has been for as many years struck from one end of Europe to the other, like a tennis ball. At least I judge of you by myself. I always loved a quiet, studious, indolent life; but never enjoyed the charms of it so truly as since my return from an agreeable but fatiguing course of motion and hurry. However I shall hear of your arrival, which can scarcely be so soon as January, 1766, and shall probably have the misfortune of meeting you in town soon after.

We may then settle our plans for the ensuing campaign.

En attendant (admire me, this is the only scrap of foreign lingo I have imported into this epistle -if you had seen that of Guise to me!) let me tell you a piece of Lausanne news. Nannette Grand is married to Lieutenant Colonel Prevost. Grand wrote to me; and by the next post I congratulated both father and daughter. The Curchod (Madam Necker) I saw at Paris.

She was very fond of me, and the husband particularly civil. Could they insult me more cruelly? Ask me every evening to supper; go to bed, and leave me alone with his wife- what an impertinent security! it is making an old lover of mighty little consequence. She is as handsome as ever, and much genteeler; seems pleased with her fortune rather than proud of it. I was (perhaps indiscreetly enough) exalting Nannette d'Illens's good luck and the fortune. "What fortune? (said she, with an air of contempt)-not above twenty thousand livres a year." I smiled, and she caught herself immediately." What airs I give myself in despising twenty thousand livres a year, who a year ago looked upon eight hundred as the summit of my wishes!"

I must end this tedious scrawl. Let me hear from you. I think I deserve it. Believe me, my dear Holroyd, I share in all your pleasures, and feel all your misfortunes. Poor Bolton! I saw it in the newspaper. Is Ridley with you? I suspect not but if he is, assure him I do not forget him, though he does me. Adieu; and believe me, most affectionately yours,

E. GIBBON, JUNIOR.

MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD.

Boodle's, 10 o'clock, Monday night, Feb. 3d, 1772. I LOVE, honour, and respect, every member of Sheffield Place; even my great enemy Datch *, to whom you will please to convey my sincere wishes, that no simpleton may wait on him at dinner, that his wise papa may not show him any pictures, and that his much wiser mamma may chain him hand and foot, in direct contradiction to Magna Charta and the Bill of Rights.

It is difficult to write news, because there is none. Parliament is perfectly quiet; and I think that Barré, who is just now playing at whist in the room, will not have exercise of the lungs, except, perhaps, on a message much talked of, and soon expected, to recommend it to the wisdom of the house of commons to provide a proper future remedy against the improper marriages of the younger branches of the royal family. The noise of Lutterel is subsided, but there was some foundation for it. The colonel's expenses in his bold enterprise were yet unpaid by government. The hero threatened, assumed the patriot, received a sop, and again sunk into the courtier. As to Denmark, it seems now that the king, who was totally unfit for government, has only passed from the hands of his queen wife to those of his queen mother-in-law. The former is said to have indulged a very vague taste in her amours. She would not be admitted into the Pantheon, whence the gentlemen proprietors exclude all beauty, unless

* The name by which Mr. Holroyd's son called himself.

VOL. VI.

H

unspotted and immaculate (tautology, by the by). The gentlemen proprietors, on the other hand, are friends and patrons of the leopard beauties. Advertising challenges have passed between the two great factions, and a bloody battle is expected Wednesday night. Apropos, the Pantheon in point of ennui and magnificence, is the wonder of the eighteenth century and of the British em. pire. Adieu.

MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD.

Boodle's, Saturday night, Feb. 8th, 1772. THOUGH it is very late, and the bell tells me that I have not above ten minutes left, I employ them with pleasure in congratulating you on the late victory of our dear mamma, the Church of England. She had last Thursday seventy-one rebellious sons who pretended to set aside her will on account of insanity: but two hundred and seventeen worthy champions, headed by Lord North, Burke, Hans Stanley, Charles Fox, Godfrey Clarke, &c., though they allowed the thirtynine clauses of her testament were absurd and unreasonable, supported the validity of it with infinite humour. By the by, Charles Fox prepared himself for that holy war, by passing twenty-two hours in the pious exercise of hazard; his devotion cost him only about 500l. per hour -in all 11,000l. Galy lost 50001. This is from the best authority. I hear too, but will not warrant it, that W. H. by way of paying his court to L. C. has lost this winter 12,000l. How I long to be ruined!

There are two county contests, Sir Thomas Egerton and Colonel Townley, in Lancashire, after the county had for some time gone a begging. In Salop, Sir Watkin, supported by Lord Gower, happened by a punctilio to disoblige Lord Craven, who told us last night that he had not quite 9000l. a year in that county, and who has set up Pigot against him. You may suppose we all wish for Got Almighty* against the black devil.

I am sorry your journey is deferred. Compliments to Datch. As he is now in durance, great minds forgive their enemies, and I hope he may be released by this time.-Coming, sir. Adieu.

You see the princess of W. is gone. Hans Stanley says it is believed the empress queen has taken the same journey.

MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD.

Boodle's, ten o'clock, Thursday evening, Dec. 1772. DEAR HOLROYD,

My schemes with regard to you have been entirely disappointed. The business that called me to town was not ready before the twentieth of last month, and the same business has kept me here till now. I have, however, a very strong inclination to eat a Christmas mince pie with you; and let me tell you that inclination is no small compliment. What are the trees and waters

• Alluding to the Welsh opinion that Sir Watkin was in Wales nearly as great a personage.