too impatient to employ his Austrian talons. What a farce to visit hospitals, when one thinks of nothing but stocking them with maimed carcases! What buckets of blood it costs, before a Prince takes his place at the table of Fame, that might be earned so much better by benevolence! The enemies of mankind arrogate what is due only to the friends.

I was going on perhaps in a string of moralities, but was interrupted by Dr. Monro; who came to tell me that Lord Orford is come to himself. This is such a deliverance to me, that I cannot think of any consequences: indeed, I do not care about them. Pray notify this lucid interval to the excellent Signora Madre. Adieu !

LETTER CCLXXXIII.

Thursday, April 9th, 1778.

I AM not going to announce more war than by my last it seems to sleep, like a paroli at Faro, and be reserved for another deal. Though I write oftener than usual, I have not a full cargo every time; but I have two novel events to send you. The newspapers indeed anticipate many of my articles; but, as I suppose you pay me the compliment of opening my letters before the Gazettes, I shall be the first to inform you, though but by five minutes. Lord Chatham has again appeared in the House of Lords, and probably for the last time. He was there on Tuesday, against the ear

nest remonstrance of his physician; and, I think, only to make confusion worse confounded. He had intended to be very hostile to the Ministers, and yet to force himself into all their places by maintaining the sovereignty of America, to which none of the Opposition but his own few followers adhere; and they cannot, like a strolling company in a barn, fill all the parts of a drama with four or five individuals. It appeared early in his speech that he had lost himself; he did not utter half he intended, and sat down: but, rising to reply to the Duke of Richmond, he fell down in an apoplectic fit, and was thought dead. They transported him into the Jerusalem Chamber, and laid him on a table. In twenty minutes he recovered his senses, and was carried to a messenger's house adjoining, where he still remains. The scene was very affecting; his two sons, and son-in-law Lord Mahon, were round him. The House paid a proper mark of respect by adjourning instantly.*

The same incertitude remains on our general situation. I pretend to tell you facts only, not reasonings ; and therefore will say no more now on the public. One event, indeed, of Parliamentary complexion touches my

* On the 6th of April, Lord Chatham had addressed a note to the Duke of Richmond, expressive of his concern at finding himself under so very wide a difference with his Grace, as between the sovereignty and allegiance of America, that he despaired of bringing about successfully any honourable issue. He added, that “ he was inclined to try it, before this bad grew worse, and hoped to be in town on the morrow." Accordingly, on the morrow, Lord Chatham appeared in the House of Lords for the last time; when the affecting scene above described took place. See Chatham Correspondence, vol. iv. p. 548.-ED.

private feelings very particularly. The King has demanded a provision for his younger children, and has been so good as to add the Duke's to the list-nobly too, both from the proportion of the allowance, and the circumstances of the times. The King's sons are to have ten thousand a-year each, his daughters six, Prince William eight, and Princess Sophia four.* Thus both income and rank are ascertained. This is a great thorn extracted from all our sides, and I trust will have good influence on his Royal Highness's health.

I was débarrassé'd (not in so comfortable a way) of my nephew. He has resumed the entire dominion of himself, and is gone into the country and intends to command the militia. I have done all I could, when scarce anything was in my power, to prevent it; but in vain. He has even asked to be a major-general, which officers of militia cannot be. What a humiliation to know he is thus exposing himself, and not dare to interpose! Yet he is not ignorant of his situation. He said the other day to his Dalilah, speaking of Dr. Monro, "Patty, I like this doctor! don't you? We will have him next time." What an amazing compost of sense, insensibility, and phrenzy! Adieu!

* A message from the King to this effect had been brought down to the House of Commons by Lord North on the 8th of April.—ED.

LETTER CCLXXXIV.

Strawberry Hill, May 9, 1778.

As I have engaged myself to stock your impatience with frequent intelligence, you may think a month's interval a breach of promise; but though I write to display my diligence, it is not to convey any event. You yourself have told us all the fact we know; at least, the newspapers have done you the honour of sending the information of the sailing of the Toulon squadron-not in terms; but they say an express arrived from Sir H. Mann without eating, drinking, or sleeping; and we know nothing else I mean we, the people, that corresponds with the date of such importance. Pray can you tell whether our fleet is. gone after it? For the newspapers would persuade us that Lord Sandwich has detained it at Portsmouth, to divert their Majesties, as if they loved shows better than dominions.*

We shall be in no want of sights this summer : every county will have a camp of its own; the coasts will be amused with sieges. An American privateer has attempted Whitehaven, and plundered Lord Selkirk's house. This is a little ungrateful, for the Ame

To stimulate the seamen and artificers at their different occupations, the King and Queen visited the dock-yards and shipping at Chatham, Sheerness, and Portsmouth. At the latter place, they remained a week ; during which time the King held a levee on board Admiral Keppel's ship, the Prince George.-ED.

+ This privateer was commanded by the celebrated Paul Jones, a native of Selkirk, who, going to America when very young, became a

ricans certainly owe their independence to the Scots; though, to be sure, in strictness it was not what the Scots intended for them. They have done, or will do us some good too, though perhaps with as little design; for I think we shall be forced to come to our senses. Great countries ought always to be physicked and dieted after long peace or a course of victories; for prosperity either breeds humours in the body, or flies to the head: the first produce tumours, and the latter absolute madness.

Lord Chatham has been at the point of death, but is said to be better. It is not very likely, however, that he should recover enough to come forth again. You tell me his sister is at Florence. Her friends, the Butes, have a new calamity in their family, for which I pity them: Lady Percy is enceinte, and the suit for a divorce is commenced.* Lady Bute has been very un

denizen of that country. On the 23rd of April, he made a descent at Whitehaven; where he destroyed the shipping in the harbour. He afterwards landed on the western coast of Scotland, and pillaged the house of Lord Selkirk, near Kirkcudbright, of plate, jewels, and other moveables of value. The Earl was in London, but his lady and family were in the house. It is said that Jones's design was against the liberty, and not the property of his lordship, and that he purchased the booty from his crew and returned it to the Countess. There is reason to believe that such was the fact; as Dr. Franklin, in a letter addressed to him from Passy, on the 27th of May, says, "I received yours of the 18th, enclosing one for the Countess of Selkirk, which I forward this day by way of Holland, as you desire. It is a gallant letter, and must give her ladyship a high and just opinion of your generosity and nobleness of mind.”—ED. * Earl Percy first married, in July 1764, Lady Anne Stuart, third daughter of the Earl of Bute; by whom he had no issue, and from whom he was divorced in 1779. In the same year, he married FrancesJulia, third daughter of the late Peter Burrell, Esq., and sister to Lord Gwydir.-ED.