You are very good to take notice of my owing you a letter. I am
afraid I am too apt to depend upon my friends knowing me, and upon
their being convinced that there is not the least connection between
my regard for them and my putting pen to paper to assure them of it.
My laziness as to writing is but too natural to me; but no place is
so apt to encourage it as this, where my way of life is so agreable
but at the same time so uniform, that a month or two are elapsed
before I know any thing of the matter. Pleasant weather, (I am forced
to draw the curtain this moment to exclude the sun) study in the
morning, and company in the afternoon. Books you are not perhaps
acquainted with, and people that I am sure you do not know, make
up my occupations, and notwithstanding all the pleasure I hope for
in Italy, I own I shall quit this place with some unwillingness.
My health is very good, only about two months ago I found my blood
thickening, and was forced to be bled. I have since taken some gentle
physick once or twice, and am now well and in very good spirits.
The only book I have read lately that you can have any knowledge
of, is the letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montague.[63] They have
entertained me very much. What fire, what ease, what knowledge of
Europe and of Asia! Her account of the manners of the Turkish women
is indeed different from any thing we have yet seen. One should have
hardly suspected, that a Turkish husband with his four wives and
twenty concubines, is very far from being absolute.
Will you be so good, Dear Madam, as to excuse the shortness of this
letter. The post is _really_ just going out and I have barely time to
seal it. My love and duty to my father. I have just drawn a bill for
fifty pounds at fifteen days after date.
I am, Dear Madam,
Most truly & affectionately yours,
E. GIBBON.
[63] Lady Mary died in 1761. A surreptitious edition, said to be
edited by John Cleland, of her letters written during her travels
in Europe, Asia, and Africa, was published in three volumes at
London in 1763.
33.
_To his Father._
Lausanne, April the 14th, 1764.