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ness was settled, I threw them into the fire." However, I hear that somebody, not quite so mercantile, has published one of the Lama's letters in the Philosophical Transactions. Well! when we break in Europe, we may pack up and remove to India, and be emperors again!

Do you believe me, my good sir, when I tell you all these, strange tales? Do you think me distracted, or that your country is so? Does not this letter seem an olio composed of ingredients picked out of the history of Charles I., of Clodius and Sesostris, and the Arabian Nights? Yet I could have coloured it higher without trespassing on truth; but when 1, inured to the climate of my own country, can scarcely believe what I hear and see, how should you, who converse only with the ordinary race of men and women, give credit to what I have ventured to relate, merely because in forty years I have constantly endeavoured to tell you nothing but truth? Moreover, I commonly reserve passages that are not of public notoriety, not having the smallest inclination to put the credulity of foreign postoffices to the test. I would have them think that we are only mad with valour, and that Lord Chatham's cloak has been divided into shreds no bigger than a silver penny amongst our soldiers and sailors. Adieu!

LETTER CCCXXIII.

Berkeley Square, Feb. 22, 1780.

I HAVE been waiting impatiently for a confirmation of Sir George Rodney's victory over the Spaniards, that I might send it to you as a dose for Monsieur de Barbantan; but either the Admiral's messenger-sloop has been taken, or he is still pursuing the flying enemy, or gone to the West Indies. However, as both Spain and France

*The letter here spoken of was addressed by the Grand Lama of Thibet to Mr. Hastings, then Governor of Bengal, and received by him on the 29th of March, 1774. A translation of it will be found in the Philosophical Transactions for 1778. It abounds in sentiments of justice, benevolence and piety, couched in a simple style, not devoid of dignity, and in general exempt from the high-flown compli ments and strained metaphors so common among the other people of the East. The following is the opening passage:-"The affairs of this quarter in every respect flourish. I am night and day employed for the increase of your happiness and prosperity. Having been informed, by travellers from your quarter, of your exalted fame and reputation, my heart, like the blossom of spring, abounds with satisfaction, gladness and joy. Praise God that the star of your fortune is in its ascension. Praise him, that happiness and ease are the surrounding attendants of myself and family, Neither to molest nor persecute is my aim it is even the characteristic of our sect to deprive ourselves of the necessary refreshment of sleep, should an injury be done to a single individual; but, in justice and humanity, I am informed you surpass us. May you ever adorn the seat of justice and power, that mankind may, in the shadow of your bosom, enjoy the blessings of peace and affluence !-ED.

allow that Sir George had the advantage, there is no dispute but on the more or fewer of his prizes. Well! but novel as triumphs have been of late, this naval one, and every thing else, is drowned in the present great domestic moment. I must prepare you for a new era so new, and of such late birth, that I cannot pretend to tell you of what it will be the æra.

I have mentioned our provincial committees, petitions, and associations. They have spread into nearly half the English counties, and have acquired additional weight by the approach of a general election; which, in times at all difficult, always puts members and candidates upon their good behaviour. Spirit begets spirit, as lethargy is catching from lethargy. Last week Lord North was beaten at the India House on his bargain with the Company, one of the promised resources. Yesterday was much more fatal to him. Sir George Savile, to humour the committee of Yorkshire, demanded last week a list of the King's pensions. The Speaker was suddenly taken ill, and the House adjourned till yesterday. The Court, in the interval, took the resolution of resisting the demand, and a pitched battle was fought with reciprocal animosity. At one in the morning Lord North carried a softening of the question, not a rejection, but by two voices; which in Parliamentary language or calculation (for in such times the calculators always desert a sinking vessel) is a defeat. The Tories, fearing their popularity in the country, had kept away. Some may return if the Crown is pressed; but it will lose as many among the lookers-out, who were with it yesterday, as it can recall. In short, I think the Ministers must fall, and would increase their own danger every hour if they stayed. The committees in the country will be animated by this specimen of their importance. The Opposition will be invigorated by hope, and other counties will be hurried by and into the torrent. In truth, it is to be hoped that the die is cast. A change of men and measures may prevent that most dreadful of evils, a civil war; and, the longer the Court attempts to stem the current, the more destructive will the deluge be. It is to be wished, too, that the tide, which has turned rapidly, may be as swift in its effects; or we shall be occupied by storms at home, and not attend to our wars without.

This is a brief picture, or sketch, which time must finish. I might expatiate, or form conjectures; but you see that I cannot tell you more than I have of what may be fact. I could make reflections backward, but those you do not want; and it is their part to make them who drew themselves into such a desperate situation from one of perfect happiness and security. If the Court is prudent, it will yield to the first necessity, rather than hazard the last; and will then have been fortunate that it arrived so speedily and at once. A change is

*Sir George Savile's motion was for an account of all places for life or lives, whether held by patent or otherwise; to which Lord North moved to add the words, "and payable at the exchequer." The amendment was carried by 188 against 186.-ED.

I abhor

preferable to impeachments or to outrages of the mob. bloodshed and violence, and heartily wish we may have a quiet revolution in the Administration. Should authority interpose to preserve them, it will risk its own annihilation and theirs; indeed, it ceases to be authority when it resorts to force. It delegates its power to force, becomes subject to force, refers the contest to the decision of opposite forces, which is choosing chance for arbiter, and never recovers till placid aquiescence gives authority its own true energy.

You shall hear again as events arise; which probably will be numerous. Things cannot remain in the present state, nor fall back into their usual channel without a change, or worse convulsions.

Lady Catharine Pelham* is dead, at four-score. We remnants of happier times should not be sorry to quit a scene so different from what we remember. We aged know how few swim through a turbulent sea to the haven where they would be. Waves press on waves; new actors thrust aside those who commenced the commotion:-but I am running into reflections. I return to pray for tranquillity for my country. If it is not my lot to see it, I shall but escape so much anguish more as I should feel if witness to its calamities.

LETTER CCCXXIV.

Berkeley Square, March 3, 1780. As my last letter probably alarmed you, I write again to tell you that nothing decisive has happened. The troops of the Palace even rallied a little yesterday on Mr. Burke's Bill of Reformation, or Reduction, yet, with evident symptoms of caution; for Lord North, who wished to defer the second reading, ventured to put it only to next Wednesday, instead of to-day; and would have carried a longer adjournment with still greater difficulty, for his majority was but of 35, and the minority remained 195, a very formidable number.t The Associations in the counties increase, though not rapidly: yet it will be difficult for the Court to stem such a torrent; and, I imagine, full as difficult for any man of temper to direct them wholsomely. Ireland is still more impetuous.

Fortunately, happily, the tide abroad seems turned. Sir George

*Sister of John Manners, third Duke of Rutland, and widow of Henry Pelham, First Lord of the Treasury.

Mr. Burke, on the 11th of February, had introduced his memorable bill for the Economical Reformation of the Civil and other Establishments. "Never can I for. get," says Gibbon, in reference to Mr. Burke's speech upon the occasion, "the delight, with which that diffusive and ingenious orator was heard by all sides of the House, and even by those whose existence he proscribed." The numbers for deferring the second reading were 230 against 195.-ED.

Rodney's victory proves more considerable than it appeared at first.* It secures Gibraltar, eases your Mediterranean a little, and must vex the Spaniards and their monarch, not satisfied before with his cousin of Bourbon. Admiral Parker has had great success too amongst the latter's transports. Oh! that all these elements of mischief may jumble into peace! Monsieur Necker alone shines in the quarter of France; but he is carrying the war into the domains of the Church, where one cannot help wishing him success. If he can root out monks, the Pope will have less occasion to allow gras, because we cannot supply them with maigre. It is droll that the Protestant Necker, and we Protestant fishmongers, should overset the system of fasting; but ancient Alcorans could not foresee modern contingencies !

I have told you that politics absorb all private news. I am going to a ball this evening, which the Duke and Duchess of Bolton give to their royal highnesses of Gloucester, who have now a very numerous Court. It seems very improper for me to be at a ball; but you see that, on the contrary, it is propriety that carries me thither. I am heartily weary both of diversions and politics, and am more than half inclined to retire to Strawberry. I have renounced dining abroad, and hide myself as much as I can; but can one pin on one's breast a label to signify, that, though one is sensible of being Methusalem in constitution, one must sometimes be seen in a crowd for such and such reasons? I do often exaggerate my pleas of bad health; and, could I live entirely alone, would proclaim myself incurable: but, should one repent, one becomes ridiculous by returning to the world; or one must have a companion, which I never will have; or one opens a door to legatees, if one advertises illhealth. Well! I must act with as much common sense as I can; and, when one takes no part, one must temper one's conduct; and, when the world is too young for one, not shock it, nor contradict it, nor affix a peculiar character, but trust to its indifference for not drawing notice, when one does not desire to be noticed. Rabelais's "Fais ce que

* On the 7th of January, Admiral Rodney fell in with a fleet of merchant-ships under the convoy of seven men-of-war; the whole of which he captured. He soon after encountered Don Juan De Langara's squadron, consisting of eleven ships of the line and two frigates, and after an action of ten hours' continuance succeeded in dispossessing the enemy of seven sail of the line.-ED.

In pursuance of the plan of economy proposed by M. Necker, and adopted in the King of France's household, no less than four hundred offices were this year abolished, at one stroke, in that department. In a letter written at this time by Madame du Deffand to Walpole, there is, in reference to these projected reforms of M. Necker, the following prophetic passage:-"Vous pouvez être sûr qu'il a un furieux nombre d'ennemis; d'abord tous ceux qui perdent par ses réformes, et puis ceux que produit la jalousie et l'envie. Je doute qu'on lui laisse exécuter tous ses projects. Si on les veut morceler, il ne l'endurera pas; il quittera, tout s'écroulera, le crédit sera perdu, on tombera dans le chaos, ses ennemis triompheront, ils pêcheront en eau trouble, et publieront que ses systèmes, ses opérations, n'étaient que visions chimériques. C'est le plus grand malheur qui puisse arriver à ce pays-ci."-ED.

The English supplied Leghorn with fish, till they lost the empire of the Mediterranean in the time of the American war.

tu voudras" is not very difficult when one wishes to do nothing. I have always been offended at those who will belong to a world with which they have nothing to do. I have perceived that every age has not only a new language and new modes, but a new way of articulating. At first I thought myself grown deaf when with young people; but perceived that I understood my contemporaries, though they whispered. Well! I must go amongst those I do not comprehend so well, but shall leave them when they go to supper.

LETTER CCCXXV.

Berkeley Square, March 14, 1780.

I AM not going to tell you that the Administration is changed, for as yet it is not; but it is beaten. Yesterday, on Mr. Burke's bill, the Opposition carried the clause for the annihilation of the Board of Trade by a majority of eight votes, though the Lords of Trade voted in their own cause.* There was a strange scene of Billingsgate between the Speaker and the Minister; the former stooping to turn informer, and accusing the latter of breach of promise on a lucrative job, in which Sir Fletcher was to have been advantaged. It is very

* On the clause for abolishing the Board of Trade, Mr. Eden having urged, rather unluckily, in its defence, the 2300 folio volumes of its labours, Mr. Burke said, "he was ready to accept his defence of the Board, but not his 2300 volumes; they would, however, serve as a monurnent, under which both he and his clause might be buried, and form a funeral pile for them as large as one of the pyramids of Egypt. Alas, poor clause!" he exclaimed “if it be thy fate to be put to death, thou shalt be gloriously entombed! thou shalt lie under a splendid mausoleum! the corners of thy cenotaph shall be supported by Locke, by Addison, by Prior, and by Molesworth!" Gibbon, himself a member of the Board, says that, upon this occasion, "the Lords of Trade blushed at their insignificance, and Mr. Eden's appeal to the 2300 volumes of our Reports served only to excite a general laugh: it must be allowed that our duty was not intolerably severe, and that I enjoyed many days and weeks of repose, without being called away from my library to the office." The numbers on the division were, for abolishing the Board of Trade 207, against it 199.-ED.

During this debate the fact first came out, that the Speaker and the Administration were not upon good terms. In the course of his speech Sir Fletcher observed, that Lord North had long withdrawn all friendship and confidence from him. Being called upon for further explanation, he stated, that upon the death of the late Speaker he bad been solicited by the Duke of Grafton to accept of his present situation, with an understanding that, whenever an opportunity offered, he should hold the ŝinecure office of Chief Justice in Eyre, as an equivalent for the advantages he had given up: notwithstanding this compact, he had discovered, that a negotiation was in train between the Minister and the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, by which the latter was to retire on a pension, for the purpose of appointing another person to supply his place, and to the utter subversion of his claim. He added, that money had been proposed to be given and received, to bring about the arrangement. Lord North declared, that he knew nothing of the transaction at the time, and that no such negotiation was on foot as the one which had been stated. This brought on much altercation, which ran into assertion and direct contradiction between the Speaker and the Minister, and which gave rise to a scene that had

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