With regard to my silence, poor Clarke is too good and too melancholy
an excuse. I know not what to say about him; he is reduced to
nothing, and his disorder is attended with every bad symptom. Yet his
Physicians--Addington and Thomas--are on the whole less desponding
than they were some days ago.
Surely no affair was ever put into better hands than mine has been.
Your skill and friendship I am not surprized at, but Mrs. Porten is
a most excellent procuress, and The Lady Mother has given as proper
an answer as could be expected. There is only one part of it which
distresses me, _Religion_. It operates doubly, as a present obstacle
and a future inconvenience. Your evasion was very able, but will not
prudence as well as honour require us being more explicit in the
_suite_? Ought I to give them room to think that I should patiently
conform to family prayers and Bishop Hooper's Sermons? I would not
marry an Empress on those conditions. I abhor a Devotee, though a
friend both to decency and toleration. However, my interests are
under your care, and if you think that no more need be said on _the
awkward_ subject, I shall acquiesce.
After all, what occasion is there to enquire into my profession of
faith? It is surely much more to the purpose for them to ask how I
have already acted in life, whether as a good son, a good friend,
whether I game, drink, &c. You know I never practised the one, and
in spite of my old _Dorsetshire_ character, I have left off the
other. You once mentioned Miss F. I give you my honour, that I have
not either with her or any other woman, any connection that could
alarm a wife. With regard to fortune Mrs. P. speaks in a very liberal
manner; but above all things, I think it should not be _magnified_.
If it should be necessary to hint at incumbrances, your delicacy I am
sure could place them in such a light as might raise the character
of the living without injuring the memory of the dead. You see how
serious I am in this business. If the general idea should not startle
Miss, the next consultation would be how, and where the Lover may
throw himself at her feet, contemplate her charms, and _study her
character_. After that we may proceed to other more minute enquiries
and arrangements.
Mrs. Porten knows she was _blind_. Her brother is married.--How go on
your Civil Wars? Next week Foote and Coleman will be with you. Adieu.
Dear Madam,
Most truly yours,
BENEDICT GIBBON.
Excuse me to Holroyd for a post or two.
232.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Bentinck Street, December 20th, 1774.
Hear, but be silent especially to Mrs. G.--_The Gout_ has attacked
my left foot, and that Imperious Mistress, if I presumed without
her permission to dispose of myself---- However, she seems inclined
to pardon and to leave me. In that case poor Clarke is my next
difficulty; without a hope of recovery he may linger longer, than
some days ago I thought was possible. Should I find myself at
liberty, I have _engaged_ myself to visit the Widow the first week
in January; ten days from that date will lead me to the meeting of
Parliament, an awful meeting indeed! You will _receive with this the
resolutions of the American Congress_.[274] I shall certainly be in
town (if your impatience soon drives you from Bath) _to house you and
My Lady in your passage_. Deyverdun is not averse to go to S. P. when
I go to Up-park.