Carlisle and I talk very often about you, and wish you here. here. We are much afraid of a Spanish war. The letters from America bring good news. They are very tired of the war, and the Congress much divided. My dear George, do let me hear that you are coming to us again. Always most affectionately yours, &c. THE EARL OF CARLISLE TO GEORGE SELWYN. June 18th [1779]. MY DEAR GEORGE, I AND so Spain has joined your friends? always thought she would: we are in for it for ten years at least. We have voted unanimous addresses of lives and fortunes. We are in earnest, and shall sell ourselves very dear, whatever may be thought at Convent St. Joseph. There are many applications for raising regiments, Lord Derby, Lord Egremont, &c. I never saw less despondency, and more spirit manifested in a difficult moment, than at the present. Our common practice is to be alarmed for two or three days, and then to go to all the balls and operas, as if the country was in the greatest safety. I shall give George a red coat, and teach him very early that his life, though he has enjoyed but little of it, is his country's, and that he has no property in it, till his country permits him to make use of it as he pleases. Parliament will hardly rise so early as was intended. A single vote doubles the militia, and gives Government credit and money to resist every attack that may be made from any quarter. The times grow too serious; you must not remain where you are. Spirit and decision must govern our measures: the people are awake, and seem willing to facilitate any measures that have spirit and decision. The Duke of Queensberry is well, and always mentions you with the greatest kindness and affection. Lady Carlisle writes to you, for, in this hurry, I was fearful I should not have time. The children are all well, and it is some consolation that, in such a moment, domestic afflictions are not added to public difficulties. Lord Sandwich had his mistress shot through the head, and yesterday Lord North lost a favourite child, which he loved with a fondness which you alone can conceive.* I am called away; God bless you, my dear George, &c. * The Hon. Dudley North, fourth son of Lord North, was born 31 May, 1777, and died 17 June, 1779. THE COUNTESS OF CARLISLE TO GEORGE SELWYN. MY DEAR MR. SELWYN, June 18th [1779]. So at last the Spaniards have declared against us, but I flatter myself we shall be able to withstand the united efforts of both France and Spain: when we are in earnest we are very formidable, and I think they will find us so. The Parliament is still sitting, and the Opposition say they will do anything to strengthen the hands of Government at this juncture. of I am very sorry you do not mention, in any your letters, that you have thoughts of returning soon to England. I wish you would, for I am sure Paris cannot be agreeable to you in many respects, and, on the child's account, I think it would be better for her (as her parents wish her to remain in the Convent), that you should leave her there under the care of the Abbesse. I am confident it would be better for Mie Mie, and that I know has great weight with you. I suppose there are very few, if any English, at Paris now. The children are all very well; Caroline desires to be remembered to you, and that you will give her love to Mie Mie. Adieu! mon très cher Monsieur Selwyn. Votre affectte, C. CARLISLE. THE COUNTESS OF UPPER OSSORY. 201 THE COUNTESS OF UPPER OSSORY TO GEORGE SELWYN. June 19, 1779. It is my sincere wish to obey your commands, my dear Mr. Selwyn, on all occasions, and also that I could by any means make up for the idleness of your other correspondents. Mais, hélas! they are in the midst of intelligence, and, as we have settled here these ten days, mine can only take a great round, and by that means be no longer news. Indeed, what we hear is of a very alarming and disagreeable nature. I agree with you, that our sovereign should be pitied and reverenced, but as to his counsellors, if he has any, worse he could not have found, though perhaps not so tractable. My dear Mr. Selwyn, how you scouted this Spanish war (now declared in form), and said it was all party stories! Grieved am I to find, that Opposition have the very melancholy triumph of having all their prophecies accomplished. General Smith and the Duke of Bolton * are chosen of Almack's, the latter by Lord Ossory's interest. His Duchess came to visit me the next day. I can find out no other possible reason but out of reconnoissance, because my Lord had probably, by choos Henry Paulet, sixth Duke of Bolton, died December 24, 1794, when the Dukedom became extinct. His Duchess was Katherine, daughter of Robert Lowther, Esq., and sister of James, first Earl of Lonsdale. She died in 1809. ing him of Almack's, delivered her from many hours of his company. * As to the fish and flesh market, I know little of either. I have long heard, but was enjoined secrecy, of his transactions with the Minister for Poland, and I understood a friend of yours and acquaintance of mine wished for the same thing, but that Fish prevailed over Hare in the application, though backed by your friend of all friends. Don't you hate the Minister for letting fish prevail not only over Hares but Howards? Fi donc, fi donc, fi donc ! We found Lord Holland in the most perfect health, vastly grown, a charming boy, and very interesting indeed on his own account, though, God knows, how much he is so for many other reasons! He desires to be remembered to you and your éléve, and so does Anne. As for Gertrude, her passion for being Duchess of Queensberry is so violent, that I think it will not hold out till a proper time. She says she should not like the Duke of Bedford near so well, even with a star. I expect Miss Vernon to-morrow for the summer. Lady Louisa [Fitzpatrick] is still in town with the Duchess of Bedford: how soon they come depends on events. I hope you do not starve with cold one day, and faint with heat the next, as we do. There Lord Carlisle. * Fish Crauford. |