MY DEAR FRIEND: I received your letter of the 10th ‘sonica’; for I set
out for Bath to-morrow morning.
If the use of those waters does me no good, the shifting the scene for
some time will at least amuse me a little; and at my age, and with my
infirmities, ‘il faut faire de tout bois feche’. Some variety is as
necessary for the mind as some medicines are for the body.
Here is a total stagnation of politics, which, I suppose, will continue
till the parliament sits to do business, and that will not be till about
the middle of January; for the meeting on the 17th December is only for
the sake of some new writs. The late ministers threaten the present ones;
but the latter do not seem in the least afraid of the former, and for a
very good reason, which is, that they have the distribution of the loaves
and fishes. I believe it is very certain that Mr. Pitt will never come
into this, or any other administration: he is absolutely a cripple all
the year, and in violent pain at least half of it. Such physical ills are
great checks to two of the strongest passions to which human nature is
liable, love and ambition. Though I cannot persuade myself that the
present ministry can be long lived, I can as little imagine who or what
can succeed them, ‘telle est la-disette de sujets papables’. The Duke of
swears that he will have Lord personally attacked in both Houses; but I
do not see how, without endangering himself at the same time.
Miss C------is safely arrived here, and her Duke is fonder of her than
ever. It was a dangerous experiment that she tried, in leaving him so
long; but it seems she knew her man.
I pity you for the inundation of your good countrymen, which overwhelms
you; ‘je sais ce qu’en vaut l’aune. It is, besides, expensive, but, as I
look upon the expense to be the least evil of the two, I will see if a
New-Year’s gift will not make it up.
As I am now upon the wing, I will only add, God bless you!