You will excuse my silence when I tell you I have a friend with me,
who takes up the greatest part of my last Friday se'nnight. Mr.
d'Eyverdun most agreeably surprized me by walking into my library.
His young Lord Chesterfield has come over for a few weeks, and as
he went down almost immediately with Lovel Stanhope to the Duke of
Chandos, my friend has established himself in my house during the too
short period of his visit. You may easily suppose how much I think
he embellishes my little habitation. I carry him about, we converse,
read and write, and are together almost every hour in the day without
the least constraint on either side. The town is growing empty and
what is commonly called dull, but with such a companion and my books
you will believe me when I say that I do not regret the pleasures of
the winter. Even the latter would be sufficient, and were it not to
see you, the charms of Cornwall would scarcely induce me to leave
London in one of the hottest summers that we have felt for a great
while.
The Eliott family is moving away by different detachments. Mrs.
Eliott and William, Miss and Edward have already reached Cornwall,
but it is impossible to discover when the Lord of St. Germains
means to follow them. I have sounded him, and by his dark equivocal
hints can only learn that he is certainly not upon the point of his
departure. His slowness will I fear retard our intended visit and
derange my subsequent operations. He will surely not be in Cornwall
till the beginning of next month, and the decent time we must give
him to settle himself will soon carry us to the end of it. I will
send the earliest intelligence I can obtain of his motions, for
I know by experience that a state of suspense even in trifles is
painfull.
You will receive, dear Madam, by the Bath coach a representation
which is said to be very like a person whom I believe is not
indifferent to you. Whatever you may think of his face, be persuaded
that his heart is sincerely your own. Adieu. d'Eyverdun desires his
compliments and respects to you. If he should go to Bath, which is
not impossible, his first visit would be to Charles Street.
173.
_To his Stepmother._
Bentinck Street, July 31st, 1773.