In the midst of the justest affliction nothing could afford me a
greater consolation than your kind letter: as it convinced me that
the nearest relation of my poor father shared my grief, and still
interested herself in my future Welfare. Some immediate business
which called me to town prevented my answering it directly, nor
indeed did I find myself able to enter so soon into the melancholy
detail which you are desirous of hearing.
The first affliction with which my father was visited, was a
gradual decay of sight, which at last terminated in an almost total
blindness. With his sight he lost almost every pleasure of life, as
he could no longer enjoy the country nor attend to the business of
the farm, in which for many years his chief amusement and occupation
had consisted. Tho' he bore this severe stroke with surprizing
fortitude and resignation, yet the effect it had on his health and
spirits began to alarm us very much, when last spring we were still
more terrified by the symptoms of an approaching dropsy; a shortness
of breath, swelling of the legs and body and the loss of rest,
strength and appetite. The Physician who attended him encreased
our apprehensions by confessing his own difficulties, as he was
well assured that Mr. G.'s constitution could not support the usual
methods external or internal, which might otherwise be proper for
his disorder. In the month of August however a favourable Revolution
seemed to happen. Dr. Addington,[134] whom a friend in London
consulted, advised the use of broom ashes. They immediately produced
a very great evacuation of Water, reduced my father's legs and body
to their natural size, and for a while gave us very great room to
hope, tho' our hopes were at the same time mixed with so many fears
as prevented us from writing to any of our friends at a distance.
My father himself kept us from taking such a step, by insisting
that Mrs. Eliott should not be acquainted with his situation, for
fear her tenderness should bring her to Beriton and expose him to
an interview to which his strength and spirits were not equal. At
length, Dear Madam, after several turns in his disorder, which all
gave him a temporary relief, without in the least restoring his
strength, my poor father was on Tuesday the 6th of last month taken
with a fainting fit. They returned several times during the week with
more or less violence, but during the intervals between them he was
perfectly easy and composed. The fatal one of Monday the 12th began
about Noon and lasted near six hours, tho' we have every reason to
think that he suffered very little in the last struggle. Nature was
entirely exhausted and his disorder, whatever appearances it might
assume, was a total decay of the constitution.
Long before the melancholy event my father was sensible of his
approaching end, and prepared himself for it with the truest
resignation; besides his private prayers he was attended by the
Clergyman of the Parish, from whom he received the Communion, who
testified the highest satisfaction in his edifying behaviour. But my
father's best preparation was the comfort of a well-spent life. He
was followed to the grave by the tears of a whole country which for
many years had experienced his goodness and charity.
[Sidenote: THE STATE OF HIS AFFAIRS]
There is one circumstance indeed which I would conceal even from
you, were it possible to conceal it from the World. Economy was not
amongst my father's Virtues. The expences of the more early part of
his life, the miscarriage of several promising schemes, and a general
want of order and exactness involved him in such difficulties as
constrained him to dispose of Putney, and to contract a mortgage so
very considerable that it cannot be paid unless by the sale of our
Buckinghamshire Estate. The only share I have ever taken in these
transactions has been by my sensibility to my father's wants and my
compliance with his inclinations, a conduct which has cost me very
dear, but which I cannot repent. It is a satisfaction to reflect that
I have fulfilled, perhaps exceeded my filial duties, and it is still
in my power with the remains of our fortunes to lead an agreable
and rational life. I am sensible that as no Estate will answer the
demands of vice and folly, so a very moderate Income will supply the
real wants of Nature and Reason.
I have now, Dear Madam, gone thro' the heads of what I apprehended
to be most interesting to you. Should there be any other points,
about which you wish for farther information, I shall esteem myself
happy in giving you all the satisfaction in my power, as well as in
embracing every opportunity of convincing you, with how much truth
and regard
I am, Dear Madam,
Your affectionate Nephew and faithfull humble Servant,
E. GIBBON.
[134] Anthony Addington (1713-1790), father of the Prime
Minister, was originally a physician at Reading. In London he
became Chatham's doctor, and was in 1788, after his retirement
from practice, consulted on the condition of George III., whose
early recovery he alone predicted.
93.
_To his Stepmother._
Pall Mall, January the 15th, 1771.