If I had written as I intended three or four posts ago, I should have
informed you that Turton and myself were very well satisfied with
the proceedings of the Gout, that he had behaved like a fair and
honourable enemy, and that after making me sensible of his power, he
was taking leave in a gentle and orderly manner. I cannot send you
at present quite so favourable an account; the Gout has seriously
returned into one of my feet; the pair kept me sleepless last night;
and I have been low and weak all day. I can easily understand this
alteration, and you will not be surprized when you hear that I was
forced to go out rather too soon, and to sit up two whole nights in
the House of Commons. You will see by the Papers, that a Vote has
passed against the Board of Trade,[453] but I can assure you that it
has not disturbed my tranquility. It will probably be rejected by
the House of Lords; and at all events I have reason to expect some
equivalent. I hope I am falling asleep.
I am, Dear Madam,
Most truly yours,
E. GIBBON.
[453] On March 13, 1780, the Board of Trade was declared to
be useless by 207 to 199. Burke alluded to the literary value
of the Board, which had its separate professor for every
department of literature, and paid a sneering compliment to the
"historian's labours, the wise and salutary results of deep,
religious researches." As an Academy of _Belles Lettres_ he held
the commissioners hallowed; as a Board of Trade he wished them
abolished.
389.
_To his Stepmother._
April 3rd, 1780.