I have the pleasure of acquainting you, that I am now appointed one
of the Lords of Trade in the room of Bamber Gascoyne;[435] Andrew
Stuart[436] has succeeded at the same time to the place of Jolliffe,
and our new Colleagues[437] do us the honour of saying that in both
instances they have gained by the exchange. As the salary of this
place will secure and improve my own situation, so I really set much
more value upon it, as it will enable me to discharge a small part
of my debt of duty and gratitude towards you. For the future you may
depend on receiving the interest of the Bond (at 5 per cent.) which
will make the two half yearly payments £150 instead of £100 each; and
will I hope be sufficient to support your establishment at Bath in a
manner more agreeable to you. I have only to beg a short respite, and
that you would be satisfied with the usual draught at present and the
double (£200) at next Christmas. At the moment my increase of fortune
encreases my actual poverty. Sir Francis Wronghead[438] was perfectly
in the right when he said, "Mayhap I may not receive the first
quarter of my salary this halfe yeare:" he might have added that
the heavy fees of offices eat up the greatest part of it, and that
a space of some months must elapse before the stream begins to flow
regularly and beneficially. I am not insensible that this addition of
income is of a very precarious nature, and that the event of an hour
or the caprice of a man may throw me back into my former anxiety, but
the alteration shall never affect your happiness or situation, and
the plan of retirement into Switzerland with my friend d'Eyverdun
which I had perfectly considered and digested will be a resource not
unworthy of a Philosopher, which I shall always have it in my power
to command.
[Sidenote: A LORD OF TRADE.]
I am now going to resume my literary employments, which have suffered
a short interruption, and I shall resume them, if not with more
tranquility at least with more cheerfulness of mind. I find myself
however under a difficulty of reconciling two plans for this year,
each of which is equally recommended by my interest, my duty and
my inclination. On the one hand I anxiously desire to publish the
continuation of my history about this time twelvemonth. Though much
is already done, much still remains to do, and I should almost
despair of being able to finish so large a task, unless I steadily
proceed without losing a day, or unless I compensate any intervals
of negligence by extraordinary and improper efforts of industry.
This important object seems to confine me to Bentinck Street and my
Library: but on the other hand I am desirous and even impatient to
visit you at Bath; to carry you down to Port Eliot, where I am sure
the air and society would be your best Physician, to see Mrs. Eliot,
and to convince _him_ of the grateful sense that I entertain of his
behaviour in consenting to my re-election,[439] which I know was
highly unpleasant to him. I shall endeavour to concert measures in
such a manner as to reconcile those opposite views: but I foresee
that the execution of such a scheme can only become practicable
towards the Autumn.
I ought to make some apology for leaving some days in anxious
suspence. I can only say, that I was myself in the same condition.
Every morning I expected the event of the evening, and every evening
the return of the morning. Till the business was absolutely finished,
a hundred accidents might have dashed the cup from my lips, and I
was afraid of raising your hopes only to embitter the melancholy news
which might have followed.
I am, Dear Madam,
Ever yours,
E. G.
[435] Bamber Gascoyne, M.P. for Truro, was made a Commissioner of
the Admiralty.
[436] M.P. for Lanarkshire.
[437] His colleagues were Soame Jenyns, Lord R. Spencer, Hon.
Charles Greville, William Eden, and Thomas de Grey.
[438] Sir Francis Wronghead, of Bumper Hall, M.P. for Guzzledown,
in _The Provoked Husband; or, A Journey to London_ (Vanbrugh and
Cibber).
[439] _I.e._ as a Commissioner of Trade.
378.
_To his Stepmother._
Bentinck Street, September 17th, 1779.