hands of his queen wife, to those of his queen mother-in-law. The former is said to have indulged a very vague taste in her amours. She would not be admitted into the Pantheon, whence the gentlemen proprietors exclude all beauty, unless unspotted and immaculate (tautology by the bye). The gentlemen proprietors, on the other hand, are friends and patrons of the leopard beauties. Advertising challenges have passed between the two great factions, and a bloody battle is expected Wednesday night. A propos, the Pantheon, in point of ennui and magnificence, is the wonder of the eighteenth century and of the British empire. Adieu. N° XXIII. The Same to the Same. Boodle's, Saturday night, Feb. 8th, 1772. THOUGH it is very late, and the bell tells me that I have not above ten minutes left, I employ them with pleasure in congratulating you on the late victory of our dear mamma the Church of England. She had last Thursday seventy-one rebellious sons, who pretended to set aside her will on account of insanity: but two hundred and seventeen worthy champions, headed by Lord North, Burke, Hans Stanley, Charles Fox, Godfrey Clarke, &c. though they allowed the thirty-nine clauses of her testament were absurd and unreasonable, supported the validity of it with infinite humour. By the bye, Charles Fox prepared himself for that holy war, by passing twenty-two hours in the pious exer cise of hazard; his devotion cost him only about 5001. per hour-in all 11,000l. Gaby lost 50001. This is from the best authority.. I hear too, but will not warrant it, that W. H. by way of paying his court to L. C. has lost this winter 12,000l. How I long to be ruined! There are two county contests, Sir Thomas Egerton and Colonel Townley in Lancashire, after the county had for some time gone a-begging. In Salop, Sir Watkin, supported by Lord Gower, happened by a punctilio to disoblige Lord Craven, who told us last night, that he had not quite 9,000l. a-year in that county, and who has set up Pigot against him. You may suppose we all wish for Got Amighty* against that black devil. I am sorry your journey is deferred. Compliments to Datch. As he is now in durance, great minds forgive their enemies, and I hope he may be released by this time. Coming, Sir. Adieu. You see the Princess of W. is gone.. Hans Stanley says, it is believed the Empress Queen, has taken the same journey. N° XXIV. EDWARD GIBBON, Esq. to J. B. HOLROYD, Esq. London, Feb. 13th, 1772. DEAR HOLROYD, THE papers and plans arrived safe in town last night, and will be in your hands in their intact * Alluding to the Welsh opinion that Sir Watkin was in Wales nearly as great a personage. virgin state in a day or two. Consider them at leisure, if that word is known in the rural life. Unite, divide, but (above all) raise. Bring them to London with you: I wait your orders; nor shall I, for fear of tumbling, take a single step till your arrival, which, on many accounts, I hope will not be long deferred. Clouds still hover over the horizon of Denmark. The public circumstances of the revolution are related, and, I understand, very exactly, in the foreign papers. The secret springs of it still remain unknown. The town indeed seems at present quite tired of the subject. The Princess's death, her character, and what she left, engross the conversation. She died without a will; and as her savings were generally disposed of in charity, the small remains of her personal fortune will make a trifling object when divided among her children. Her favourite, the P. of B. very properly insisted on the king's immediately sealing up all the papers, to secure her from the idle reports which would be so readily swallowed by the great English monster. The business of Lord and Lady * **** is finally compromised, by the arbitration of the Chancellor and Lord Camden.. He gives her 1,2001. a-year separate maintenance, and 1,500l. to set out with : but as her Ladyship is now a new face, her husband, who has already bestowed on the public seventy young beauties, has conceived a violent but hopeless passion for his chaste moiety. Her brother told me that he has now in his hands a counter affidavit of Countess Deschoff, in which she she declares that she received a sum of money to swear the former, the contents of which are totally false! Such infamous conduct may blast her, but can never acquit the other. Lord Chesterfield is dying. County oppositions subside. Adieu. Entirely yours. N° XXV. The Same to the Same. DEAR HOLROYD, Feb. 21st, 1772. * HOWEVER, notwithstanding my indignation, I will employ five minutes in telling you two or three recent pieces of news. 1. Charles Fox is commenced patriot, and is already attempting to pronounce the words country, liberty, corruption, &c.; with what success, time will discover. Yesterday he resigned the Admiralty. The story is, that he could not prevail on ministry to join with him in his intended repeal of the marriage act, (a favourite measure of his father, who opposed it from its origin,) and that Charles very judiciously thought Lord Holland's friendship imported him more than Lord North's. 2. Yesterday the marriage message came to both Houses of Parliament. You will see the words of it in the papers: and, thanks to the submissive piety of this session, it is hoped that the princes of the next generation will not find it so easy as their uncles have done, to expose themselves and bur then the public. 3. To-day 3. To-day the House of Commons was employed in a very odd way. Tommy Townshend moved, that the sermon of Dr. Knowell, who preached before the House on the 30th of January, (id est, before the Speaker and four members,) should be burnt by the common hangman, as containing arbitrary, tory, high-flown doctrines. The House was nearly agreeing to the motion, till they recollected that they had already thanked the Preacher for his excellent discourse, and ordered it to be printed. Knowell's bookseller is much obliged to the Right Honourable Tommy Townshend. When do you come to town? I want money, and am tired of sticking to the earth by so many roots. Embrassez de ma part, &c. Adieu. Ever yours. N° XXVI. EDWARD GIBBON, Esquire, to Mrs. GIBBON, Beriton. DEAR MADAM, London, March 21st, 1772. I HAVE advanced with some care and some success in gaining an idea of the Lenborough estate. The tenants are at will, and, from a comparison of my rents with the neighbouring ones, particularly Lord ****, there is great probability that my estate is very much under-let. My friend Holroyd, who is a most invaluable counsellor, is strongly of that opinion. Sir *** *** is just come home. I am sorry to see many alterations, and little improvement. From an honest wild English buck, he |