No no military sacrifice has been that Portsmouth is invested by an American fleet. new event has occasioned this revolution. The made on the altar of Peace. Stop again: peace is not made, it is only implored,—and, I fear, only on this side of the Atlantic. In short, yesterday, February 17th, a most memorable era, Lord North opened his Conciliatory Plan,-no partial, no collusive one. In as few words as I can use, it solicits peace with the States of America: it haggles on no terms; it acknowledges the Congress, or anybody that pleases to treat; it confesses errors, misinformation, ill-success, and impossibility of conquest; it disclaims taxation, desires commerce, hopes for assistance, allows the independence of America, not verbally, yet virtually, and suspends hostilities till June 1779. It does a little more: not verbally, but virtually, it confesses that the Opposition have been in the right from the beginning to the end. The warmest American cannot deny but these gracious condescensions are ample enough to content that whole continent; and yet, my friend, such accommodating facility had one defect,-it came too late. The treaty between the high and mighty States and France is signed; and instead of peace, we must expect war with the high allies. The French army is come to the coast, and their officers here are recalled. The House of Commons embraced the plan, and voted it, nemine and this letter to twit me for my brevity, for indeed I have nothing more to say; what with twice a day prayers, chapters, and settling of fines, and visits from the gentry of the place, who always make them at the most inconvenient times, I am really almost as fully and as usefully employed as if I was Sir Gray Cooper. Believe me ever yours, W. MASON. 1 The following tale is extracted from a book entitled 'Meditations of a divine Soul, or the Christian's Guide amidst the various opinions of a vain world,' printed in London for John Kersey, 1703, octavo. The tale is ascribed to Martin Luther, but without any reference to the portion of his writings from which it is taken. "I knew a young man in the city of Erfurdt who used his utmost efforts to debauch a damsel that waited upon his mother, insomuch that this gentlewoman being informed by the same damsel of her son's design, resolved to prevent him, &c. In process of time the mother took her daughter home, as if she were the child of a stranger, who was of so delicate a complexion and of so obliging a behaviour that the son fell in love with her, and married her with the mother's consent, neither of them knowing anything at all of the matter; so that she was his daughter, sister, and wife. But the judgment of God soon overtook the mother's horrid crime, and fell heavy upon the son for his former wickedness." 1 This extract is in the writing of Mr. Burgh.-MITFORD. contradicente. It is to pass both Houses with a rapidity that will do everything but overtake time past. All the world is in astonishment. As my letter will not set out till the day after to-morrow, I shall have time to tell you better what is thought of this amazing step. Feb. 20. In sooth I cannot tell you what is thought. Nobody knows what to think. To leap at once from an obstinacy of four years to a total concession of everything; to stoop so low, without hopes of being forgiven-who can understand such a transformation? I must leave you in all your wonderment; for the cloud is not dispersed. When it shall be, I doubt it will discover no serene prospect! All that remains certain is, that America is not only lost but given up. We must no longer give ourselves Continental airs! I fear even our trident will find it has lost a considerable prong. I have lived long, but never saw such a day as last Tuesday! From the first, I augured ill of this American war; yet do not suppose that I boast of my penetration. Far was I from expecting such a conclusion! Conclusion!-y sommes nous? Acts of Parliament have made a war, but cannot repeal one. They have provoked -not terrified; and Washington and Gates have respected the Speaker's mace no more than Oliver Cromwell did. You shall hear as events arise. I disclaim all sagacity, and pretend to no foresight. It is not an Englishman's talent. Even the second sight of the Scots has proved a little purblind. Have you heard that Voltaire is actually in Paris ? Perhaps soon you will learn French news earlier than I can. What scenes my letters to you have touched on for eight-andthirty years!. I arrived here at the eve of the termination of my father's happy reign. The Rebellion, as he foresaw, followed; and much disgrace. Another war ensued, with new disgraces. And then broke forth Lord Chatham's sun; and all was glory and extensive empire. Nor tranquillity nor triumph are our lot now! The womb of time is not with child of a mouse,-but adieu! I shall probably write again before you have digested half the meditations this letter will have conjured up. 1 Madame du Deffand had written to Walpole on the 10th-" Voltaire arrived here yesterday, at four in the afternoon, with his niece Madame Denis. I wrote him a short note, to which he has returned this answer:-'J'arrive mort, et je ne veux ressusciter que pour me jetter aux genoux de Madame la Marquise du Deffand.'' WRIGHT. 1708. TO THE REV. WILLIAM MASON. Arlington Street, March 4, 1778. It is not from having anything new to tell you that I write you a few lines, but to ask how I may send you half-a-dozen more gazettes littéraires, for I conclude your Varelsts are in town. There is no hurry about them; they will always be equally new to you, and not be much so neither. You will find in them the following pretty riddle, which I had seen before: Eloigné de l'objet que j'aime, Il est plus beau que l'amour même The word is a portrait, and is rather too enigmatic, for one must know the solution, to find any sense in elle. I have translated it, but as we have no genders it is impossible to render lui and elle; my imitation perhaps makes it too clear: From the dear object of my dreams I have I wish you would try it; you will have better success. made another Enigma on the same subject, but cannot tell whether it is good or bad, for how can one tell whether a riddle is difficult to guess, when one knows the subject beforehand? but do not I lay you under the same difficulty, le voici! I counterfeit all bodies, yet have none. Is my chief enemy whene'er we meet; Thinks me too old, though blest with endless youth, The two middle verses are very bad I know. I agree with you; there is no harm in Mrs. Elfrida Hartley's pregnancy. Your drama could not be well represented by the set at Covent Garden; not that the union of the two companies will make one good, yet will be a better than the worse half. However, I doubt whether the old saying will prove true in your case, that ce qui est differé n'est pas perdu. My reason I gave six weeks ago to Le Texier. He was consulting me whether I thought it would be advantageous for him to take the Opera House on the present plan (on which the other managers have outbidden him): I replied, “Oui, tant qu'il y ait de l'Angleterre." The two conciliatory bills are so very yielding, that nothing but the immediate dread of a French war, or the impossibility of raising money to maintain the armies and fleets in America, could have reconciled the Court to such vast concessions, if they are sincere in the desire of treating, which, notwithstanding wiser men than I believe them, I doubt. I can see obvious reasons for seeming to treat I hear none to persuade me that the Americans will treat. Lord Carlisle is named one of the Commissioners, and is very fit to make a treaty that will not be made. Voltaire came to Paris without leave, but they say has received an indulgent promise from Monsr. de Maurepas, that he shall not be molested. His chief object was to get a new play acted, which he calls Irene;' it was Alexis Comnene, but the latter word sounded too harsh. He has half despatched himself with reading this piece to the actors, and thinks of nothing else except of being received by the King and Queen, which Madame du Deffand, who has made him two visits, thinks he will not obtain. I should like to have been present at this interview of the two only surviving lilies of the siècle de Louis Quatorze; yet he is more occupied with the dandelions of the present age. I am very thankful for the extract Mr. Burgh gave himself the trouble to send me, and am satisfied. Mrs. Delany had heard of and insisted on seeing the Tragedy. I knew how it would shock her devout delicacy. She returned it with compliments, but was sorry the subject would condemn it to oblivion--perhaps so; and its more intrinsic demerits, but I do not think being acted will save many of its contemporaries! I am impatient to see your Sermon. Did you observe a passage in the Fast Service that has diverted people much, as it came out just after the nemine contradicente on the pacific bills. "Then all the people shall say after the minister, Turn us, O Lord, and so shall we be turned." I am tempted to sign my name in French, for the pleasure of quoting the following lines from Voltaire's Indiscret,' the ridiculous parts of which suit me exactly; TRASIMON. le vieux Seigneur Horace M'a prié, YOUR letter, my dear Sir, which I received two days ago, is dated the 7th of last month; and you there speak with great distrust of seeing Lady Lucy again. I fear your forebodings were too well founded; for it is said here that she is actually dead.' I had heard so ten days ago, but flattered myself that it was not true. Now I see it mentioned in the papers. As you only just knew her enough to love and lament her, I am sorry you ever did see her! Your nephew will feel the loss of so amiable a woman; and yet it is better for him that it is over; as he was only witness to her decay, and perpetually tortured with fears and doubts. His behaviour is exceedingly honourable to him, and discovers a true Mann's heart, -unluckily, to make that expression just, it is necessary to double the n. I have talked to you philosophically on the vanity of being attached to the continuation of families; yet it is so natural, and I am so susceptible of that vanity, that I look forward to your nephew's marrying again, and having an heir to Linton. You will have been impatient for the consequences of Lord North's Conciliatory Plan. The substantial consequences cannot, you are sensible, be known till the Commissioners arrive in America, and return the answer of the Congress; unless their departure is anticipated by some strong declaration of France in their favour, and which would render a treaty hopeless: many expect such a notification immediately. I am grown such a sceptic, that I believe nothing but facts past. The bills meet no obstruction in the House of Commons. They are to-day before the Lords; where I suppose they will experience comments rather than impediments. The intended pacification is not very popular, yet at most produces low murmurs. The nation has leaped from outrageous war to a most humiliating supplication for peace, with as little emotion as one 1 Lady Lucy Mann died in Italy, on the 7th of January.—WALPOLE, 1 |