Your lace arrived safe, and now it is put on a fashionable frock
makes a very handsome figure. The Taylor tells me it would be
impossible to get such stuff from the shops.
Though the memorandum is quite superfluous, it will often put me in
mind of the creator. The Holroyds are just gone, not from me but
from General Fraser's, where they spent a fortnight. The town is now
full and pleasant, though my usual hurry is increased by a daily
attendance on Dr. Hunter's Anatomy lectures,[354] which amuse me
beyond any I ever studied. My compliments to Mrs. Gould, she shall
not wait long for her franks. I am sorry to hear of young Gould.
Adieu.
Sincerely yours,
E. G.
[354] John Hunter (1728-1793) began his Anatomy Lectures in 1773.
Originally delivered to his pupils, they were afterwards thrown
open to the public on payment of a fee of four guineas. They were
delivered annually from October to April, on alternate evenings
at 7 to 8 p.m.
305.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Feb. 15, 1777.
*You deserve, and we exult in, your weather and disappointments. Why
would you bury yourself? I dined in Downing-street Thursday last; and
I think Wedderburne was at least as agreeable a companion as your
timber-surveyor could be. Lee is certainly taken, but Lord North
does not apprehend he is coming home. We are not clear whether he
behaved with courage or pusillanimity when he surrendered himself;
but Colonel Keene told me to-day, that he had seen a letter from Lee
since his confinement. "He imputes his being taken, to the alertness
of Harcourt, and cowardice of his own guard; hopes he shall meet his
fate with fortitude; but laments that freedom is not likely to find
a resting-place in any part of the globe." It is said, he was to
succeed Washington. We know nothing certain of the Hessians;[355] but
there _has_ been a blow. Adieu.*
[355] Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day, 1776,
surprised two regiments of Hessians at Trenton, and in the
following January again reduced the Jerseys, while Howe remained
inactive at New York.
[Sidenote: UNIFORMITY OF HIS LIFE.]
306.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Almack's, Wednesday evening, March 5, 1777.
*In due obedience to thy dread commands I write. But what shall
I say? My life, though more lively than yours, is almost as
uniform; a very little reading and writing in the morning, bones
or guts from two to four, pleasant dinners from five to eight,
and afterwards Clubs, with an occasional assembly, or supper. As
to Lenborough the bait is in the water, but I have not heard of
any fish biting. America affords nothing very satisfactory; and
though we have many flying reports, you may be assured that we are
ignorant of the consequences of Trenton, &c. Charles Fox is now
at my elbow, declaiming on the impossibility of keeping America,
since a victorious Army has been unable to maintain any extent
of posts in the single province of Jersey. Lord North is out of
danger (the animal is so gross that we trembled for its important
existence). I now expect that _My Lady_ and you should fix the time
for the proposed visitation to Bentinck Street. March and April are
open--chuse. Adieu.*
307.
_To his Stepmother._
London, March the 29th, 1777.