LETTER LIV. MR. GRAY TO DR. WHARTON. DEAR DOCTOR, Stoke, Oct. 15, 1756. I HAVE not been dead, but only gone to [ ]* was seized with a cruel fit of the gout, which held him five weeks, and as he had no other company in the house, it was impossible to leave him in that condition. Since my return I have made a visit of four days at Twickenham. I shall probably stay here till the middle of next month, and then transplant myself to London, if Mrs. Wharton and you de bon cœur have no objection to me. If any thing has happened, since I saw you, to make it inconvenient, I insist upon being told so. I have heard the story of the Lyon, and its consequences, though you say not a word about it. Pray inform me how Miss Peggy got over her operation. Leicester-house, is (as I suppose you know) settling upon its own terms. £40,000 a year for the Prince; 5000 for P. Ed.; no removing to St. James's; Earl of Bute, Groom of the Stole, (there is for you); Mr. Stone, Controller of the [ ] (a concession by way of thanks). Lords of the Bedchamber I have forgot. Miss Shepherd's Mr. Ingram, and Mr. Onslow, the Speaker's son, Grooms of the Bedchamber; are you upon the list? *The MS. is imperfect in this place. Shew me such another king as the K. of Prussia. Every body used to call him coxcomb; and to be sure he is one; but a coxcomb (it is plain) may make a figure far superior to the ordinary run of kings. I delight in his treatment of the K. of Poland. When he first informed him of the necessity he was under to make use of Saxony in his way to Bohemia, he added that if his Majesty chose to retire into his Polish dominions he had ordered relays on the road, and that all the respect in the world should be shewn him, and his last memorial to the Empress-Queen ended with point de rèponse, en stile d'Oracle. I recommend two little French books to you, one called Mémoires de M. de la Porte, it has all the air of simplicity and truth, and contains some few very extraordinary facts, relating to Anne of Austria, and Card. Mazarin. The other is two small volumes Memoires de Madame Stael, the facts are no great matter, but the manner and vivacity of it make it interesting. She was a sort of confidante to the late Dutchess of Maine, and imprisoned a long time in the Bastile on her account, during the Regency. The first you may buy, and the latter borrow. I desire my compliments to Mrs. Wharton, and am, Ever yours, T. G. LETTER LV. MR. GRAY TO DR. WHARTON. Nov. 12, 1756. DEAR DOCTOR, I GROW impatient to be in town, and hope for the pleasure of seeing you on Tuesday next. I must confess, the present revolution of affairs, which are settling so slowly, is some spur to my curiosity, though my own interests have no more concern in it than those of any cottager in the nation. I flatter myself that necessity will at last throw the management of affairs into more capable, if not more honest hands, than usual. My Gazette says, that Mr. Pitt will be Secretary of State, and has accepted it (though ill of the gout in the country); that the D. of Devonshire has consented (which was one of the conditions of acceptance) to be at the head of the Treasury; Lord Temple, of the Admiralty; G. Grenville, Paymaster; Mr. Legge, Chanc" of the Exchequer; Sir G. Lee, Sec. at War; Mr. T.* nothing. How far all this is fact, you know by this time. I do not forget your letter, when I say this, and to whom it was wrote; but I much doubt, whether you * Mr. T. is (I suppose) Mr. C. Townshend, who wished for the place of Secretary of War in this Administration; which was, however, possessed by Lord Barrington. Mr. Townshend unwillingly accepted the place of Treasurer to the Chambers. "See Memoirs of a celebrated Literary and Political Character." P. 74.-Ed. would have received more benefit from his good offices, while he continued in, than now he is in effect out. I am concerned too for another person, who surely can never continue where he is, (if he should, it is a wonderful proof of the force of insignificancy), and if he does not, a good friend of ours must feel it a little in a part very tender to most people—his hopes; but he very wisely has been arming it for some time, I believe, with a reasonable insensibility, and taking, by way of precaution, a dose of my sovereign anodyne fastidium. Don't fancy to yourself that I have been doing any thing here. I am as stupid as a post, and have not added a syllable, but in plain prose. Am still LETTER LVI. Ever yours, T. G. MR. GRAY TO DR. WHARTON. DEAR DOCTOR, I CANNOT help thanking you for your kind letter, though I have nothing essential to inform you of in return.' Lord S. and his brother are come back, and in some measure rid me of my apprehensions for the College. Stonehewer is gone to town, but (as he assures me) not to stay above a week. You advise me to be happy, and would to God it depended upon your wishes. A part of what I imagined has already happened here, though not in the way I expected; in a way indeed, that confutes itself, and therefore (as I am told) makes no impression on the hearers, but I will not answer for the truth of this: at least such as are strangers to me, may be influenced by it. However, though I know the quarter whence it comes, I cannot interpose at present, lest I make the matter worse; judge you of my happiness; may yours never meet with any cloud or interruption. Adieu! I beg you to write to me. Feb. 17, 1757. LETTER LVII. MR. GRAY TO DR. WHARTON. April 17, Sunday, 1757. DEAR DOCTOR, IF I did not immediately answer your kind enquiry, you will attribute it to the visit, which I was obliged to do the honours of, for two or three days, and which is now over. I find nothing new to add to my uneasiness here; on the contrary it is considerably abated; and quiet, and hope is gradually returning. I am extremely glad to hear your country residence promises so well, and has been so serviceable to Mrs. Wharton, already. You desire to know how I like my visit. Lord N. is a sensible, well bred young man, a little too fine even for me, who love a little finery: he never will be popular, and it is |