*I am just arrived, as well as yourself, at my Dii Penates, but with
very different intention. You will ever remain a Bigot to those
Rustic Deities; I propose to abjure them soon, and to reconcile
myself to the Catholic Church of London.* The inhabitants of this
evil Country are frightened and have frightened me about advertising
for proposals. _It has never been done, ergo it will never do,
&c._ There is a Man near Chichester who has made offers, will only
take the whole, buy all the stock. It is even _said_, that he does
not seem astonished at 18 or even 20 Shillings for the Low Hill
Ground, and every one is convinced that his purse is adequate to
his proposals. Suppose I was to write him a polite Epistle--his
character--first offer--willing to listen to his proposals, for
taking Miss Nancy Beriton into private keeping, before I throw her
upon the town. Decide.
Mrs. G. is well, and salutes you; but is not a little mortified at
not seeing you. She is doubtfull of herself and of Luff, and wished
you to examine into the _Present_ State of Europe. I foresee I must
look you over some day or other. In the mean time, I embrace Madame
(_autant qu'il m'est permis_) Datch, the Capering Lady, and the rest
of your family, Bipede and Quadrupede. I expect Clarke to-morrow, and
shall be in town the middle of next week.
I am, yours sincerely,
E. G.
[171] This letter affords a curious, though extreme, instance of
Lord Sheffield's editorial methods. The letter numbered XXXII. in
Lord Sheffield's edition of "Letters to and from Edward Gibbon,
Esq." (1814), is dated October 13, 1772. It begins with the first
four lines of this letter, which was written on April 21, 1772.
The next nine lines are taken from the commencement of the letter
written on October 3, 1772. The five following lines consist of
the letter written on November 3, 1772. The next four lines are
taken from the letter dated October 30, 1772. The two following
lines are from the letter written on October 15, 1772. Thus what
purports to be a real letter in itself, proves to be a patchwork
composed from five letters extending over a period of six months.
135.
_To his Stepmother._
Pall Mall, April 29th, 1772.