*Do you remember that there exists in the World one Edward Gibbon,
a Housekeeper in Bentinck Street? If the standard of writing and of
affection was the same, I am sure he would ill deserve it. I do not
wish to discover how many days (I am afraid I ought to use another
word) have elapsed since the date of my last, or even of your last
letter; and yet such is the sluggish nature of the beast, that I am
afraid nothing but the arrival of Mrs. Bonfoy, and the expectation
of Mr. Eliot, could have rouzed me from my Lethargy. The Lady gave
me great satisfaction, by her general account of your health and
spirits, but communicated some uneasiness, by the mention of a little
encounter, in the style of one of Don Quixote's, but which proved,
I hope, as trifling as you at first imagined it. For my own part,
I am well in mind and body, busy with my Books, (which may perhaps
produce something next year, either to tire or amuse the World,)
and every day more satisfied with my present mode of life, which I
always believed was calculated to make me happy. My only remaining
uneasiness is Lenborough, which is not terminated. By Holroyd's
advice, I rather try what may be obtained by a little more patience,
than rush at once into the horrors of Chancery.
[Sidenote: SIR STANIER PORTEN.]
But let us talk of something else.* You remember surely Mrs. Hobson
(Miss Comarque). She is just returned to England under a different
name. She is now Madame la Baronne de Bavois. Her second husband
is an old Swiss Officer about seventy, a man of family, but with
as little money as character, who most probably married her for a
fortune which he now begins to discover was spent to his hands.
They talk of leaving England very soon, and fixing themselves in
some cheap Provincial town in the South of France. The Baronne is
more ridiculous, and will I fear be more miserable than ever. Mrs.
Porten, out of regard to the laws of Hospitality, gave them a dinner
last Sunday, & insists on my doing the same to-day, and her brother
Sunday next. She grows younger every day, but Sir Stanier much older.
*You remember, I think in Newman Street, a good agreeable Woman,
Miss Wybolt. The under Secretary[242] is seriously in love with her,
and seriously uneasy that his precarious situation precludes him
from happiness. We shall soon see which will get the better, Love or
reason. I bet three to two on love.*
I cannot find your last letter (a sad memento); did not you ask me
with whom Deyverdun was gone abroad? with young Lord Middleton. Lady
Fetherston (as they are to return next spring) is mad to get him,
but I should fancy Sir Harry must be consulted--I hear confusedly of
strange Revolutions in the Gould family.
Next week I go to Sheffield place. Holroyd, who passes a few days
with me, was sincerely concerned to hear that you had no thoughts of
the Journey this summer. His Father, I find, has had a violent attack.
I am, Dear Madam,
Most truly yours,
E. G.
The Goslings will obey your commands, whenever you please to signify
them.
[242] In the list of marriages for 1774 appears the
following:--"Dec. 8, 1774. Sir Stanier Porten, Knt., to Miss Mary
Wibault of Titchfield St." (_Ann. Register_). Sir Stanier Porten,
Gibbon's uncle, was in 1760 made Consul-General at Madrid. In
1772 he was knighted in order to qualify him to act as proxy to
Sir George (afterwards Lord) Macartney, K.B. In May, 1774, he
was an Under Secretary of State, and was appointed Keeper and
Registrar of His Majesty's papers and records for the business of
State at Whitehall. He became a Commissioner of the Customs, and
died at Kensington Palace, June 7, 1789.
205.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Bentinck Street, August 6th, 1774.
With regard to your influencing the Jury, I am convinced that B. is
in the right. Out of twelve Jurymen, I suppose six to be incapable
of understanding the question, three afraid of giving offence, and
two more who will not take the trouble of thinking. Remains one
who has sense, courage and application. Ergo B. is in the right.
But as he has _no right_ on this occasion to be in the right, and
as you were _not Foreman_, I am totally against _your committing_
yourself with such a fellow, giving him anything under your hand or
_permitting him to publish your letters_. If _it be really true_ that
you were mistaken as to the date of the Defamation, you have gone
further than perhaps you might have done in the article of damages,
but as I still think you committed no injustice, I cannot see that
the Jury, much less any individual of it, owe him any reparation.
Considering the profession of the two men, very high damages were
surely required for the accusation of so scandalous a crime, which
was certainly groundless since it was _afterwards_ disproved in a
Court of Justice. What you supposed to be the case (and by the bye I
would in a polite letter ask the question of the Judge) was no more
than an aggravation, and an aggravation too of a public rather than
a private nature, consequently relating rather to punishment than to
damages.--Upon the whole I disapprove of your corresponding with B.,
who seems capable of any rascally trick. Nothing that he can publish
will affect your character, especially in an affair where it is well
known that you had neither interest nor passion to mislead you.
However if you think differently, or find yourself too far engaged
with him, your letter is proper and guarded.
You make me very uneasy by a part of your last; pray send me a
speedy, and if you can a favorable account of Dr. H[eberden]'s
visit.--She has been so well a great while.--Clarke is now in the
Country,--Aldershot. I heard from him yesterday. His health there
has been various, and is not I fear quite settled. I break off to
get into my chaise for Twickenham. People may talk of the town's
being empty in September, my only complaint is the thickness of
my engagements. I have not by many degrees been so diligent as I
intended. I have conversed with Cadell,[243] and find him ready and
even willing. He proposes next March (if I am prepared) and 750
Copies. _Deliberabimus._ The snails of the Law are copying the Tythe
deed, and we shall soon see the effect of it. Hugonin's letter I have
not yet read, it is only a week since it was received, no hurry. I
believe I must goad Gilbert in his enquiries, in case you cannot do
it without giving room to surmises.