BATH, December 13, 1762.
MY DEAR FRIEND: Yesterday I received your letter, which gave me a very
clear account of the debate in your House. It is impossible for a human
creature to speak well for three hours and a half; I question even if
Belial, who, according to Milton, was the orator of the fallen angels,
ever spoke so long at a time.
There must have been, a trick in Charles Townshend’s speaking for the
Preliminaries; for he is infinitely above having an opinion. Lord
Egremont must be ill, or have thoughts of going into some other place;
perhaps into Lord Granville’s, who they say is dying: when he dies, the
ablest head in England dies too, take it for all in all.
I shall be in town, barring accidents, this day sevennight, by
dinnertime; when I have ordered a haricot, to which you will be very
welcome, about four o’clock. ‘En attendant Dieu vous aye dans sa sainte
garde’!