As he succeeds to his charge of Master of the Horse, he thinks the widow is a necessary appendage. My calcographical pursuits are going on but piano at present; not owing to any wisdom I have acquired to make me despise a pleasant hobby, but because I have no money to proceed upon my journey. I agree with you that any thing is worth following which will chasser l'ennui, and enable one to pass one's time with any degree of pleasure. I am very much afraid that Hare will not succeed in his application. The Fish* has been losing his money, but I take it for granted that he magnifies his losses.

The Duke of Queensberry I see very little of. Carlisle I dine with and see very often. I wish he were Secretary of State. It is a joke to think it too high a step: I am of the old King's † opinion that a man in this country is fit for any place he can get, and I am sure Carlisle will be fit for any place he will take. Single-speech Hamilton has been giving suppers to all the fine

* "Fish Crawford."

Mr. Crawford obtained this sobriquet when at Eton, and his brother that of "Flesh Crawford."

+ George the Second.

William Gerard Hamilton, who was usually styled "Singlespeech" Hamilton, on account of the brilliancy of his first and almost only speech in Parliament, was the son of a barrister, and was born in 1729. He obtained a seat in the House of Commons in 1754, and subsequently held the appointments of a Lord of Trade and Plantations and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He died in 1796. The Letters of Junius have occasionally been attributed to him, but on very insufficient evidence.

ladies; and of course, as he feasted some, he has affronted others. Amongst the latter is Lady Jersey, who is in the dumps because F-* will most probably marry Lady Laura.t Lady Gower gives a small party, alias ball, as it is expected, to-night. I beg, my dear George, you will let me hear from you, as I assure you nobody wishes more to hear of your health and happiness than I do; nor is there any one who would be happier to see your child established at Matson. Give my love to her if she will accept it. I remain,

Yours, &c.

THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF CARLISLE

TO GEORGE SELWYN.

Aix.

SIR,

SOME little time since, I had the pleasure of receiving a very obliging letter from you, and should have returned my acknowledgments for it even sooner, but that being continually engaged in writing to one or other of my family, and having been absent on some short excursions, it has taken up my leisure hours which are not many.

* Mr. Falker. See post, May 18, 1779.

+ Lady Laura Waldegrave, the eldest of the beautiful daughters of the Duchess of Gloucester. She was born in 1760, and in 1782 married her cousin, George, fourth Earl of Waldegrave. She died in 1816.

Mr. St. John wrote an account of himself to Lord Carlisle, and I believe proposed doing the same to you as soon as he could. We have heard from him once from Marseilles, and conclude that he has sailed, by not hearing from him again. He was so well pleased with our little society, that he quitted it with regret. We questioned him to death for a day or two, and at last left many subjects uninquired into; not but that my friends are all so good as to furnish me with pretty constant intelligence, but it must necessarily be old. I thought of you all at the birth-day, and should have liked to have had a glimpse of that show, without mingling in it.

We have of late had violent rains, which have interrupted the couriers; but rain has been so much wanted here for these two years, that we ought not to repine at what is a universal benefit to a poor country. Lady Orford is here, and I see her sometimes. She is very well-bred, and has too much sense to be exigeante. She has a very uncommon understanding; and, as the ladies here do not pique themselves on improving or polishing themselves, it is very pleasant now and then to meet with somebody who can converse. Alienated from England by events which would never suffer her to live in it with comfort, and well received abroad, her enthusiasm for Italy is scarcely to be wondered at.

We have also here the Russian Princess, who

brought me letters from England. She is very gracious to me, but seems to have so strong a prejudice against the natives of this kingdom, that she lives very little in society. She speaks the best French I almost ever heard, and is prodigiously sensible. One often forms ideas which have no real resemblance; and yet I am never in her society but I imagine I see Christina. She is very learned, very determined, and seems to despise all the delicacies of her sex. After thus describing two particular persons of our society, you will be apt to form an idea from them of the whole. But I shall close the picture by telling you that I am acquainted with but few ladies of this town. Play is their object, and they do not love strangers who will not comply with that system, which agrees neither with my health nor inclination.

As soon as the weather allows, I shall set out on some excursions to Avignon, Nismes, and other places of renown, from which I promise myself much entertainment. In the mean time I pass my hours very agreeably with Mr. and Mrs. Howard, and with the few well-bred sensible men of this and other countries, whom accident has assembled at this place. We sup together every night, and of a morning pass our leisure hours in walking. We often wish you among us, and I am vain enough to think that you would like our manner of living. I am not so indifferent,

however, to what passes in England as not very much to wish to hear an account of it from you when you have time. I must beg you to pardon so unamusing an epistle; but the time of year excludes me as yet from furnishing you with a picture of the beautiful and romantic prospects which this country affords, and my mode of life from amusing you with any interesting topics. You will smile when I tell you that I had last night five tables at cards, which were broke up at nine o'clock; and this was considered rather a late hour. I have space only to say, that I am, sir, your obliged and sincere humble servant,

I. CARLISLE.

THE REV. DR. WARNER TO GEORGE SELWYN.

Barnard's Inn, 27 April, 1779.

Viva! viva! mon cher maître! I am very happy in having such good news to send you. The Duke of Queensberry spoke warmly sur votre sujet to Mr. Chamier, the Under Secretary of State for the Southern Department, to which France belongs. I have been with Mr. Chamier. He has searched the office, and there is no signalement, nor any thing relating to you. This ought to satisfy you: mais ce n'est rien. Mr. Chamier, Secretary of State, gives