Had I not been engaged in hastening and finishing the Impression,
I would with great pleasure have made you a Christmas visit. I may
truly say to you and not to Bath, for I have never much relished
the style and amusements of that seat of idleness which so many
people are fond of; and I am much inclined to think that if you
fixed your residence in any other part of the Kingdom, I might pass
the remainder of my life without ever seeing Bath again. Since I
have mentioned my book, let me add that it will probably make its
appearance about the middle or end of February: and that one of the
very first copies of it shall be carefully transmitted to Charles
Street. The Public, I know not why, except from the happy choice
of the subject, have already conceived expectations, which it will
not be easy to satisfy: the more especially as lively ignorance is
apt to expect much more than the nature and extent of historical
materials can enable an author to produce. However, if the first
volume is decently received in the world, I shall be encouraged to
proceed; and shall find before me a stock of labour and of amusement
sufficient to engage my attention for many years. The prosecution of
some scheme is in my opinion the circumstance the most conducive to
the happiness of life, and, of all schemes, the best is surely that,
the success of which chiefly depends on ourselves. Parliamentary
business, and agreeable society fill the eye, the intervals of my
time, and my situation would in every respect be a comfortable one,
if I could only put an end to my Buckinghamshire sale, which is still
attended with many difficulties, and will hardly be decided without
the interposition of Chancery. You will not wonder that I lose time
and catch at every hope, rather than involve myself in that labyrinth
of Chicane and expense.
I say nothing of public affairs. Never did they wear a more
melancholy aspect. We much fear that Quebec[318] will not hold out
the Winter. The Provincials have everywhere displayed courage and
abilities worthy of a better cause; and those of my Ministerial
friends who are the best acquainted with the state of America, are
the least sanguine in their hopes of success for next year.
An odd discovery is just now made. At a sale in the country, an old
cabinet was going to be knocked down for twenty shillings, when
the curiosity of some people present urged them to examine it more
closely. Two private drawers were found; one of which contained
bank-notes to a very large amount, the other held an older and more
valuable curiosity; the individual ring of Queen Elizabeth, the Earl
of Essex, Lady Nottingham, &c.: you remember the story.[319] It was
in a very fine purse embroidered with pearls; and is authenticated by
a writing, found in the same purse, of an old Lady Cook who attended
the Queen in her visit to the Countess, and picked up the ring when
her Majesty threw it from her with horror and indignation. I have
seen the purse and ring (a yellow kind of diamond) at Barlow's,
a silk-mercer in King Street, Covent Garden, who affirms that he
has read the paper, but the mystery which is made about the place
of sale, and the name of the present proprietor, leaves room for
suspicion. Horace Walpole is determined, if possible, to get to the
bottom of the affair.
I hope, dear Madam, that not only your health, but your beauty
likewise, are perfectly restored, but I must desire an explicit and
_satisfactory_ answer about your promised visit to London. The air
will, I am sure, be of the greatest service to you, and as the Spring
will soon advance upon us, you may easily connect London with Essex,
Sussex or any other part of the Kingdom, where you have any visits to
make or promises to fulfill.
I am, Dear Madam,
Most truly yours,
E. GIBBON.
[318] On November 14, 1775, Benedict Arnold made an unsuccessful
attempt to capture Quebec by surprise. Reinforced by a
considerable body of troops under General Montgomery, he renewed
his attack on December 31. Montgomery was killed, Arnold wounded,
and the assault repulsed. The siege was, however, continued, and
it was not till May, 1776, that General Carleton was able to
assume the offensive and drive the Americans out of Canada.
[319] Gibbon alludes to the story, that the Countess of
Nottingham kept back a ring which Essex, before his execution,
sent by her hand to Elizabeth. The ring, which had formerly been
worn by the queen, is probably now in the possession of Mr.
Francis Thynne, to whom it descended through Lady Mary Devereux.
It is a cameo head of Elizabeth, cut in a sardonyx, and set in
a gold ring, enamelled at the back. It has been enlarged with
_soft_ solder, as though Essex had only trusted it to a jeweller
working in his presence. Walpole makes no allusion to the alleged
discovery.