*

tention not to make it an exclusive treaty: so, we may trade with America, if America will condescend to trade with us. I doubt there were some words of France not being disposed to be molested in their commerce with their new friends. In consequence of that declaration, Lord Stormont's recall was sent off that night. To-day the Ministers are to acquaint both Houses with the insult; and, I suppose, intend to be addressed with vows of support. The Stocks, not being members of Parliament, do not vote for war, nor behave like heroes.-Alas! I am ashamed of irony. Neither do I love to send my auguries through every post-house. However, every one must know that a French war is not exactly a compensation for the loss of America. We, the herd, the Achivi, must take the beverage our rulers brew for us; and we that can, must console ourselves with not having contributed to the potion. I believe it will be a bitter one; but I should be still less tranquil, if I had furnished a drop.

I have received your melancholy letter on poor Lady Lucy's death, and had written to you on it before, nor will open the wound again. Our situation will remove that cloud and fill your mind with others.

Europe is going again to be a theatre of blood, as America has been. The Emperor and Prussia are going, I think have begun war! 'Tis endless to moralize; human life is forced to do so, but en pure perte. The system changes, not the consequences. Force was the first great arbitress of human affairs. The shrewd observed, that Art could counteract and control Strength-and for a long time Policy ruled. But, Policy having exhausted all its resources, and having been detected in them all, Impudence restored Force, which is now sole governess. She seized and shared Poland, and now sets up the same right to Bavaria. We tried the plan in America, but forgot we had not that essential to the new jus gentium, a hundred thousand men, and that our Bavariat was on t'other side of the Atlantic. I hope the ocean, that was against us there, will be our friend at home!

Adieu! This is a new chapter in our correspondence. I will write as events rise; you must excuse me if I have not always time, as I have not at present, to make my letters long in proportion to the

matter.

LETTER CCLXXXII.

March 27, 1778.

THE war is not yet arrived, though it is certainly at next door, for France laid an embargo on all our vessels in their ports; one may

*A message from the King, together with a copy of the Declaration delivered by the French Ambassador to Lord Weymouth, had this day been presented to both Houses, and an Address of Thanks agreed to. Orders were also sent to our Ambassador, Lord Stormont, to withdraw from the Court of France.-ED.

7 The Emperor and the King of Prussia were at war; the Emperor claiming part the domains of the late Elector of Bavaria.

call it, seized them. Lord Stormont himself, though got to Boulogne, is forced to stay there for want of conveyance, or must come round by Holland. This made us stare a little two days ago; but last night I heard that this hostility is conditional, and only a boisterous way of wrenching out of our hands the Kouli Khan, a French ship that we had taken, and that Monsieur de Noailles had reclaimed without success. I doubt we shall take and give so many of these slaps, that the declaration of war may, to save trouble, be reserved to the peace; and then, as Hamlet says,

the funeral baked meats

Will coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

There was a report, too, that Spain would send us a notification of having made a treaty with the Americans also; but this is contradicted, and their new Ambassador, Almadovar, is said to have received orders to come to us forthwith. In short, rumours of wars beget a thousand other reports. The town has expected a restoration of Lord Chatham; but that notion has subsided too. The best thing I do know is, that we are very seriously occupied in defending ourselves. No more troops are to go to America; we are collecting our whole force; the new-raised regiments will have been an advantageous addition, as they were not embarked; and the militia, which is complete in every county but two, is to take the field. As to America, it will certainly retain its seat among the sovereignties of this world; so, Columbus's invasion begins to be set aside; and one quarter of the globe will not be held in commendam by another! Imagination could expatiate widely on that chapter-but what have I to do with a new era in the annals of mankind!

Our own old continent, that has so long been ravaged by ambition, is not yet abandoned to the comfort of decay. Yet one now hears that hostilities between the Emperor and Prussia have not commenced, as was said. I doubt that imperial philosopher, who scattered so many humane apophthegms last year at Paris, is a little too impatient to employ his Austrian talons. What a farce to visit hospitals, when one thinks of nothing but stocking them with maimed carcases! What buckets of blood it costs, before a Prince takes his place at the table of Fame, that might be earned so much better by benevolence! The enemies of mankind arrogate what is due only to the friends.

I was going on perhaps in a string of moralities, but was interrupted by Dr. Monro; who came to tell me that Lord Orford is come to himself. This is such a deliverance to me, that I cannot think of any consequences: indeed, I do not care about them. Pray notify this lucid interval to the excellent Signora Madre. Adieu!

LETTER CCLXXXIII.

Thursday, April 9th, 1778.

I AM not going to announce more war than by my last: it seems to sleep, like a paroli at Faro, and be reserved for another deal. Though I write oftener than usual, I have not a full cargo every time; but I have two novel events to send you. The newspapers indeed anticipate many of my articles; but, as I suppose you pay me the compliment of opening my letters before the Gazettes, I shall be the first to inform you, though but by five minutes. Lord Chatham has again appeared in the House of Lords, and probably for the last time. He was there on Tuesday against the earnest remonstrance of his physician; and, I think, only to make confusion worse confounded. He had intended to be very hostile to the Ministers, and yet to force himself into all their places by maintaining the sovereignty of America, to which none of the Opposition but his own few followers adhere; and they cannot, like a strolling company in a barn, fill all the parts of a drama with four or five individuals. It appeared early in his speech that he had lost himself; he did not utter half he intended, and sat down: but rising to reply to the Duke of Richmond, he fell down in an apoplectic fit, and was thought dead. They transported him into the Jerusalem Chamber, and laid him on a table. In twenty minutes he recovered his senses, and was carried to a messenger's house adjoining, where he still remains. The scene was very affecting; his two sons, and son-in-law, Lord Mahon, were round him. The House paid a proper mark of respect by adjourning instantly.*

The same incertitude remains on our general situation. I pretend to tell you facts only, not reasonings; and therefore will say no more now on the public. One event, indeed, of Parliamentary complexion touches my private feelings very particularly. The King has demanded a provision for his younger children, and has been so good as to add the Duke's to the list-nobly too, both from the proportion of the allowance, and the circumstances of the times. The King's sons are to have ten thousand a-year each, his daughters six, Prince William eight, and Princess Sophia four. Thus both income and rank are ascertained. This is a great thorn extracted from all our

*On the 6th of April, Lord Chatham had addressed a note to the Duke of Richmond, expressive of his concern at finding himself under so very wide a difference with his Grace, as between the sovereignty and allegiance of America, that he despaired of bringing about successfully any honourable issue. He added, that "he was inclined to try it, before this bad grew worse, and hoped to be in town on the morrow." Accordingly, on the morrow, Lord Chatham appeared in the House of Lords for the last time; when the affecting scene above described took place.-See Chatham Correspondence, vol. iv. p. 548-Ed.

A message from the King to this effect had been brought down to the House of Commons by Lord North on the 8th of April.--Ed,

sides, and I trust will have good influence on his Royal Highness's health.

I was débarrassé'd (not in so comfortable a way) of my nephew. He has resumed the entire dominion of himself, and is gone into the country and intends to command the militia. I have done all I could, when scarce any thing was in my power, to prevent it; but in vain. He has even asked to be a major-general, which officers of militia cannot be. What a humiliation to know he is thus exposing himself, and not dare to interpose! Yet he is not ignorant of his situation. He said the other day to his Dalilah, speaking of Dr. Monro," Patty, I like this doctor! don't you? We will have him next time." What an amazing compost of sense, insensibility, and phrenzy! Adieu!

As I have engaged myself to stock your impatience with frequent intelligence, you may think a month's interval a breach of promise; but though I write to display my diligence, it is not to convey any event. You yourself have told us all the fact we know; at least, the newspapers have done you the honour of sending the information of the sailing of the Toulon squadron-not in terms; but they say an express arrived from Sir H. Mann without eating, drinking, or sleeping; and we know nothing else I mean we, the people,—that corresponds with the date of such importance. Pray can you tell whether our fleet is gone after it? For the newspapers would persuade us that Lord Sandwich has detained it at Portsmouth, to divert their Majesties, as if they loved shows better than dominions.*

We shall be in no want of sights this summer; every county will have a camp of its own; the coasts will be amused with sieges. An American privateer has attempted Whitehaven, and plundered Lord Selkirk's house.t This is a little ungrateful, for the Americans cer

*To stimulate the seamen and artificers at their different occupations, the King and Queen visited the dock-yards and shipping at Chatham, Sheerness, and Portsmouth. At the latter place, they remained a week; during which time the King held a levee on board Admiral Keppel's ship, the Prince George.-Ed.

This privateer was commanded by the celebrated Paul Jones, a native of Selkirk, who, going to America when very young, became a denizen of that country. On the 23rd of April, he made a descent at Whitehaven; where he destroyed the shipping in the harbour. He afterwards landed on the western coast of Scotland, and pillaged the house of Lord Selkirk, near Kirkcudbright, of plate, jewels, and other moveables of value. The Earl was in London, but his lady and family were in the house. It is said that Jones's design was against the liberty, and not the property of his lordship, and that he purchased the booty from his crew and returned it to the Countess. There is reason to believe that such was the fact; as Dr. Franklin, in a letter addressed to him from Passy, on the 27th of May, says, "I received yours of the 18th, enclosing one for the Countess of Selkirk, which I forward this

tainly owe their independence to the Scots; though, to be sure, in strictness it was not what the Scots intended for them. They have done, or will do us some good too, though perhaps with as little design; for I think we shall be forced to come to our senses. Great countries ought always to be physicked and dieted after long peace or a course of victories; for prosperity either breeds humours in the body, or flies to the head: the first produce tumours, and the latter absolute madness.

Lord Chatham has been at the point of death, but is said to be better. It is not very likely, however, that he should recover enough to come forth again. You tell me his sister is at Florence. Her friends, the Butes, have a new calamity in their family, for which I pity them: Lady Percy is enceinte, and the suit for a divorce is commenced. Lady Bute has been very unfortunate in her children, though there never was a better or more discreet mother. Lady Percy is very weak; and some time ago, when Lady Bute received some intimation on her conduct, she said, "Upon my word, I have not room in my head for that misfortune!"

*

Though I write this on the Saturday, it cannot depart till Tuesday. Probably, I shall have little to add. Next month will be more prolific of intelligence. Yet make no account of my auguries. I have lived too long, and have been too often mistaken in my calculations, to trust my own reason or that of others. Half our conjectures are built on Ignorance, and her sister Chance governs the rest. My mind is a little one, and apt to fluctuate. I answer for nothing but my principles, and never committed them to the guidance of events; so, though my letters may have been affected by the weather glass, the sum total has been uniform. I have hoped or feared; but always in the same spiritthe liberty and happiness of England.

Arlington Street, 11th.

I must unsay a material passage in my letter: Lord Chatham died this morning! I am of opinion that Lord Temple died at the same moment, or had better think he did. We shall have opportunities of seeing whether the mantle of the former is descended upon any body! Lord Shelburne will probably pretend that it was a legacy to him; but, without Lord Chatham's fortune too, a cloak will be of little use. Well! with all his defects, Lord Chatham will be a capital historic figure.‡ France dreaded his crutch to this very moment; but I

day by way of Holland, as you desire. It is a gallant letter, and must give her ladyship a high and just opinion of your generosity and nobleness of mind."-ED. *Earl Percy first married, in July 1764, Lady Anne Stuart, third daughter of the Earl of Bute; by whom he had no issue, and from whom he was divorced in 1779. In the same year, he married Frances-Julia, third daughter of the late Peter Burrell, Esq., and sister to Lord Gwydir.-ED.

The Earl of Chatham died, at his seat at Hayes, on the 11th of April. He had not quite completed his seventieth year.-ED.

Mr. Burke, in his celebrated speech on American taxation, in alluding to Lord