danger was quite over. The next post brought a little relapse, and great complaint of the heats. Two days ago we were a little comforted again. He had had two exceedingly good nights; and having gained so much time, and the physicians no longer speaking despondingly, though they will not from prudence give too great hopes, we trust we shall again see his Royal Highness in England. The Duchess's distress has equalled any thing we could figure. For three weeks she did not write a syllable, nor even saw Mrs. Heywood. She tells Lady Laura, her daughter, that she did nothing but pray and weep. She has still much to go through. It is well her constitution and courage are so firm. It will be the end of October at soonest before they can be at home. When the Duke is able to travel, I shall expect great things from motion and change of air. The King has sent him a kind message: it will do more than twenty physicians, and I believe produced the amendment, for his heart was broken. General Burgoyne has taken Ticonderoga, and given a new complexion to the aspect of affairs, which was very wan indeed. General Howe is gone with a great force some whither, and the moment is very critical. I don't pretend to form any judgment. Eleven months ago I thought America subdued; and, a fortnight ago, it was as little likely to be subdued as ever. We, the people, know little of the truth.f One would think the more informed were not more settled in their opinions for General Howe's retreat, after advancing towards Washington, produced despair; the taking of one post has given confidence. So much fluctuation begets a thousand reports. It is now said at once, that we are to hire fifteen thousand Russians for next campaign, and that we are treating for peace by the mediation of France. If you ask me what I believe-nothing but what is past-and perhaps have not heard a quarter of that. In one thing alone all that come from America agree, that the alienation from this country is incredible and universal; so that, instead of obtaining a revenue thence, the pretence of the war, the conquest would only entail boundless expense to preserve it. The New World will at last be revenged on the Old. * One of the Women of the Bed-chamber who attended the Duchess of Gloucester abroad. The capture of Ticonderoga by General Burgoyne, in July, together with a hundred and twenty-eight pieces of cannon, occasioned great exultation with all who looked forward to the unconditional submission of the colonies, and an opinion generally prevailed that the war in effect was over.-ED. The feelings, at this time, of the people of America towards this country, are thus set forth by Dr. Franklin, in a letter of the 14th of October, to David Hartley, the member for Kingston-upon-Hull :-"As to our submitting to the government of Great Britain, it is in vain to think of it. It is now impossible to persuade our people, as I long endeavoured, that the war was merely ministerial, and that the nation bore still a good-will to us. The infinite number of addresses printed in your gazettes, all encouraging our destruction by every means; the great majority in Parliament constantly manifesting the same sentiments; together with the recommendation of the same measures by even your celebrated moralists and divines in their writings and sermons-all join in convincing us that you are unfit and unworthy to govern us, as not being able to govern your own passions." My poor nephew remains in the same undecided state; sometimes furious, sometimes sullen. I prophesy no more about him than about America; but, one way or other, he will be a source of vexation to me. But one speaks, or ought to speak, with more indifference about future events, when the clock is going to strike sixty. Visions, and hopes, and prospects, are pretty playthings for boys. It is folly to vex one's self for what cannot last very long. Indeed, what can, even when one is young? Corydon firmly believes he shall be wretched for ever, if he does not marry Phillis. That misery can but last till she has lost her bloom. His eternal wo would vanish, if her nose grew red. How often do our griefs become our comforts! I know what I wish to-day; not at all what I shall wish to-morrow. Sixty says, You did not wish for me, yet you would like to keep me. Sixty is in the right; and I have not a word more to say. LETTER CCLXXIII. Strawberry Hill, Sept. 18, 1777. I AM a little calm at present, and can tell what I say; which would not have been the case last week. The changes in the Duke of Gloucester's condition have been so frequent and so unexpected, that I have been buffeted with every opposite agitation. On Saturday was sevennight we heard that his Royal Highness was in a very fair way. On the next Monday we were advertized that he was not likely to last four hours. The next day the post was said to be arrived, and to have brought no letters from Trent.Fatal as this seemed, the arrival of no messenger left a gleam of hope; and next evening a favourable letter proved the mistake of the post having arrived sooner. Two more posts have brought more rapid accounts of amendment than one can scarce credit, if two circumstances did not solve the vast improbability. The humour had fallen on the lower parts, but with such violence as to bring on all the ordinary prognostics of immediate death; and the Duke swelled from his groin to his foot. This vent cleared the bowels, and, as the stamina are still more vigorous than the royal humour, they seem to have conquered. For the swiftness of the recovery, it is owing to a very different cause; to the removal of a malady which had co-operated with the disorder in the blood to bring on so violent and lasting an attack. In short, the King has sent his Royal Highness a most kind and brotherly letter, and the physicians are not to blame for not having prescribed a medicine that was not in their dispensary. You may judge to what a skeleton such a conflict of body and mind, in bed for thirteen weeks, and in so sultry a climate, must have reduced the Duke. They could hear the bones, they say, rattle in his skin. They speak of the Duchess's distraction, and the change in her person and beauty, with as much energy. Well! may we but see them here again! I will add no more; I have curbed myself to say so little. But what a week, and what transitions! It would make a tragedy to paint, as I did to myself, the Duchess travelling with the body, which the Duke had exacted of her, and with two infants, one just old enough to lisp daggers, and arriving in a succession of inns to be stared at, when she would wish herself in her grave; and returning to her own country to encounter mortification, triumph in her fall, and total uncertainty of her own fate, and of that of her children! It had been Agrippina again at Brundusium. No King ever had an opportunity of dispelling more wo, and his Majesty must taste the satisfaction he has given. It is the reverse of the tinsel, glory. I know nothing else, and you cannot wonder that I have had room for nothing else. For above three weeks we have been totally in the dark about America. To tell you any thing else would be repeating conjectures, which, though they fill up every cranny of the interstices of events, are most unsubstantial mortar, and rarely harden into part of the building. You are too reasonable about your own lameness to want any exhortation to patience. I am very weak on my feet too; but always say, when asked, I am well enough. The absence of pain is the pleasure of age. I wish you a great-nephew, because one ought to cultivate visions: it is true disappointment is not quite so airy, nor vanishes like the fumes which conjured it up. Pray don't imagine I am a philosopher but when I am pretty much at ease. Last week would give me the lie soundly, if I affected airs of stoicism. I pretend to nothing but to having chalked out for myself and having pursued a plan of tranquillity; not because I had no passions, but because I knew the big ones, ambition and the chase of fortune, would produce more tempest in my passions than I could bear. The vexations my family have occasioned me were none of my seeking. I am neither so insensible as not to feel them, or not to try to remedy them. A little common sense is all the philosophy I possess; and when the business of others does not torment me, no body is more contented or can find more amusement than I. This place, my books and playthings, are empire enough for me; but, for amusing myself, I never was so totally debarred of that talent as this summer. I sigh to be my own master again; that is, idle. Adieu! P.S. 19th.-It is said that a victualling-ship has brought an account of the Howes having attempted to cross the Delaware, in order to attack Philadelphia, and of Washington having marched and prevented them; and that on this disappointment they were sailed to Boston. On the other hand, the provincials are said to have abandoned Fort Edward. Few days will ascertain or contradict these events, and the papers will let you know. A strange accident has happened. Lord Harcourt was missing the other day at dinner-time at his own seat, and at last was found suffocated in a well with his head downwards, and his dog upon him.* It * This very singular accident took place at Nuneham Park on the 16th of September, and was supposed to be occasioned by his lordship over-reaching, in order to save the life of a favourite dog, which was found in the well, standing on his lord is concluded that the dog had fallen in, and that the Earl, in trying to extricate him, had lost his poize and tumbled in too. It is an odd exit for the Governor of a King, Ambassador, and Viceroy. Another Ambassador has had a sad fall too: Count Virry* is arrested at Susa, and ordered to present himself twice a day to the Governor. Madame† has leave to go where she pleases. Whither can she go? or how not stay with her husband? The Prince Masserano is set out, so ill, that I question if he will reach Calais. LETTER CCLXXIV. Arlington Street, Oct. 26, 1777. It is past my usual period of writing to you; which would not have happened but for an uncommon, and indeed, considering the moment, an extraordinary dearth of matter. I could have done nothing but describe suspense, and every newspaper told you that. Still we know nothing certain of the state of affairs in America; the very existence where, of the Howes, is a mystery. The General is said to have beaten Washington, Clinton to have repulsed three attacks, and Burgoyne to ship's feet. Simon, first Earl Harcourt, was grandson of Lord Chancellor Harcourt, and son of the Hon. Simon Harcourt, who, in 1705, married Elizabeth, grand-daughter of John Evelyn. He died in 1720, and was buried at Stanton Harcourt; where a monument is erected to his memory, with the beautiful inscription by Pope, beginning "To this sad shrine, who'er thou art! draw near! -Lord Harcourt had been Governor of George III. when Prince of Wales. In 1761 he was nominated Ambassador Extraordinary to Mecklenburgh-Strelitz, to demand the Princess Charlotte in marriage; in September, was declared Master of the Horse to her Majesty; in 1768, Ambassador to the Court of France; and, in 1769, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; which high office he held till the January of this year.-ED. *Count Virry was son of one of the same title, who had been the Sardinian Minister in England, and was himself Ambassador in France. While in England, in 1760, he married Miss Speed, niece of Lady Cobham. [The poet Gray, in speaking of this marriage at the time, says, "The Count is about twenty-eight years old (ten years younger than herself,) but looks nearer forty. This is not the effect of debauchery; for he is a very sober man, good-natured and honest, but no conjuror.— ED.] The Countess Virry, who was supposed to be the cause of her husband's disgrace, as very intriguing, and to have invited him to keep up a secret correspondence at Turin for making himself Prime Minister, which was discovered. Lord Shelburne, who was her friend, prevailed on the King to obtain their pardon of the King of Sardinia in 1783; about which time she died suddenly. She was one of the heroines of Mr. Gray's "Long Story," and had a great deal of wit. The Spanish Ambassador had obtained leave to return home, on account of the ill state of his health. He died on his way thither, on the 1st of December. He was succeeded at the British Court by the Marquis de Almodovar.-Ed. be beaten. The second alone is credited. Impatience is very high, and uneasiness increases with every day. There is no sanguine face any where, but many alarmed ones. The pains taken, by circulating false reports, to keep up some confidence, only increase the dissatisfaction by disappointing. Some advantage gained may put off clamour for some months: but I think, the longer it is suspended, the more terrible it will be; and how the war should end but in ruin, I am not wise enough to conjecture. France suspends the blow, to make it more inevitable. She has suffered us to undo ourselves: will she allow us time to recover? We have begged her indulgence in the first will she grant the second prayer? The Duke of Gloucester is arrived. That is miraculous. He is almost well, and that is less surprising. Mr. James finds his face plumper than at Rome: he is certainly not leaner, nor yellow, though very pale; and his voice shows that his lungs are good. In short the remainder of his illness is in his right leg; which is still swelled, and very lame when he stands too much, as he is too apt to do. The Duchess has more symptoms of what she has suffered than his Royal Highness; and as she is much fallen away, and even shrunk, her face looks much older, which must necessarily happen till her skin fills up again. The Princess Sophia is a fine child, though less pretty than she was. The Prince a pretty boy. If there is any thing more to tell you, it is yet to come. You have heard of the inundation at Petersburgh.* That ill wind produced luck to somebody. As the Empress had not distressed objects enough amongst her own people to gratify her humanity, she turned the torrent of her bounty towards that unhappy relict the Duchess of Kingston, and ordered her Admiralty to take particular care of the marvellous yacht that bore Messalina and her fortune.† Pray mind that I bestow the latter Empress's name on the Duchess, only because she married a second husband in the life-time of the first. Amongst other benevolences, the Czarina lent her grace a courier to despatch to Eng * A violent hurricane, which began on the morning of September the 14th, raised the waters, in the space of four hours, to the height of fourteen feet above the ordinary level of the Neva. The city and adjoining flat country were rapidly overflowed; by which many hundreds of the inhabitants were drowned, and thousands ruined. The finest trees in the palace gardens were torn up by the roots; the bridges destroyed; ships thrown into gardens, fields, and woods; and country-houses swept away or destroyed.-ED. Elizabeth Chudleigh, Countess of Bristol, married, during the Earl's life-time, to the Duke of Kingston, had in the preceding year, been tried in Westminster Hall for bigamy, and found guilty. After the trial she left England, and went to reside at St. Petersburgh. The following is an extract from a letter written by her Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Forster, to a friend in England :-"At our arrival, the Vice-Admiral came on board to compliment the Duchess, and to offer to place her yacht in the basin where the men-of-war lie. As soon as the Empress was informed of the arrival of the Duchess, she sent her an invitation. She was presented by the Count de Czernechoff Her Majesty paid her the highest mark of distinction, by placing her on her right. The famous General Romanzoff was present, and also the Grand-Duke. Indeed, so many honours were never paid in this Court to any person whatsoever."ED. |