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<h2> LETTER CCLXVIII </h2>
<h3> BLACKHEATH, July 27,1764 </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: I received, two days ago, your letter of the 11th from
Dresden, where I am very glad that, you are safely arrived at last. The
prices of the necessaries of life are monstrous there; and I do not
conceive how the poor natives subsist at all, after having been so long
and so often plundered by their own as well as by other sovereigns.</p>
<p>As for procuring you either the title or the appointments of
Plenipotentiary, I could as soon procure them from the Turkish as from the
English Ministry; and, in truth, I believe they have it not to give.</p>
<p>Now to come to your civil list, if one may compare small things with
great: I think I have found out a better refreshment for it than you
propose; for to-morrow I shall send to your cashier, Mr. Larpent, five
hundred pounds at once, for your use, which, I presume, is better than by
quarterly payments; and I am very apt to think that next midsummer day, he
will have the same sum, and for the same use, consigned to him.</p>
<p>It is reported here, and I believe not without some foundation, that the
queen of Hungary has acceded to the Family Compact between France and
Spain: if so, I am sure it behooves us to form in time a counter alliance,
of at least equal strength; which I could easily point out, but which, I
fear, is not thought of here.</p>
<p>The rage of marrying is very prevalent; so that there will be probably a
great crop of cuckolds next winter, who are at present only 'cocus en
herbs'. It will contribute to population, and so far must be allowed to be
a public benefit. Lord G———, Mr. B———-,
and Mr. D———-, are, in this respect, very meritorious;
for they have all married handsome women, without one shilling fortune.
Lord must indeed take some pains to arrive at that dignity: but I dare say
he will bring it about, by the help of some young Scotch or Irish officer.
Good-night, and God bless you!</p>
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<h2> LETTER CCLXIX </h2>
<h3> BLACKHEATH, September 3, 1764. </h3>
<p>DEAR FRIEND: I have received your letter of the 13th past. I see that your
complete arrangement approaches, and you need not be in a hurry to give
entertainments, since so few others do.</p>
<p>Comte Flemming is the man in the world the best calculated to retrieve the
Saxon finances, which have been all this century squandered and lavished
with the most absurd profusion: he has certainly abilities, and I believe
integrity; I dare answer for him, that the gentleness and flexibility of
his temper will not prevail with him to yield to the importunities of
craving and petulant applications. I see in him another Sully; and
therefore I wish he were at the head of our finances.</p>
<p>France and Spain both insult us, and we take it too tamely; for this is,
in my opinion, the time for us to talk high to them. France, I am
persuaded, will not quarrel with us till it has got a navy at least equal
to ours, which cannot be these three or four years at soonest; and then,
indeed, I believe we shall hear of something or other; therefore, this is
the moment for us to speak loud; and we shall be feared, if we do not show
that we fear.</p>
<p>Here is no domestic news of changes and chances in the political world;
which, like oysters, are only in season in the R months, when the
parliament sits. I think there will be some then, but of what kind, God
knows.</p>
<p>I have received a book for you, and one for myself, from Harte. It is upon
agriculture, and will surprise you, as I confess it did me. This work is
not only in English, but good and elegant English; he has even scattered
graces upon his subject; and in prose, has come very near Virgil's
"Georgics" in verse. I have written to him, to congratulate his happy
transformation. As soon as I can find an opportunity, I will send you your
copy. You (though no Agricola) will read it with pleasure.</p>
<p>I know Mackenzie, whom you mention. 'C'est une delie; sed cave'.</p>
<p>Make mine and Lady Chesterfield's compliments to Comte et Comtesse
Flemming; and so, 'Dieu vous aye en sa sainte garde'!</p>
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<h2> LETTER CCLXX </h2>
<h3> BLACKHEATH, September 14, 1764 </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: Yesterday I received your letter of the 30th past, by
which I find that you had not then got mine, which I sent you the day
after I had received your former; you have had no great loss of it; for,
as I told you in my last, this inactive season of the year supplies no
materials for a letter; the winter may, and probably will, produce an
abundant crop, but of what grain I neither know, guess, nor care. I take
it for granted, that Lord B———'surnagera encore', but by
the assistance of what bladders or cork-waistcoats God only knows. The
death of poor Mr. Legge, the epileptic fits of the Duke of Devonshire, for
which he is gone to Aix-la-Chapelle, and the advanced age of the Duke of
Newcastle, seem to facilitate an accommodation, if Mr. Pitt and Lord Bute
are inclined to it.</p>
<p>You ask me what I think of the death of poor Iwan, and of the person who
ordered it. You may remember that I often said, she would murder or marry
him, or probably both; she has chosen the safest alternative; and has now
completed her character of femme forte, above scruples and hesitation. If
Machiavel were alive, she would probably be his heroine, as Caesar Borgia
was his hero. Women are all so far Machiavelians, that they are never
either good or bad by halves; their passions are too strong, and their
reason too weak, to do anything with moderation. She will, perhaps, meet,
before it is long, with some Scythian as free from prejudices as herself.
If there is one Oliver Cromwell in the three regiments of guards, he will
probably, for the sake of his dear country, depose and murder her; for
that is one and the same thing in Russia.</p>
<p>You seem now to have settled, and 'bien nippe' at Dresden. Four sedentary
footmen, and one running one, 'font equipage leste'. The German ones will
give you, 'seine Excellentz'; and the French ones, if you have any,
Monseigneur.</p>
<p>My own health varies, as usual, but never deviates into good. God bless
you, and send you better!</p>
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