letters to his son, 1756-58-第8部分

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I　hear　that　Mr。　Mitchel　is　to　be　recalled；　notwithstanding　the　King　of　Prussia's　instances　to　keep　him。　　But　why；　is　a　secret　that　I　cannot　penetrate。

You　will　not　fail　to　offer　the　Landgrave；　and　the　Princess　of　Hesse　（who　I　find　are　going　home）；　to　be　their　agent　and　commissioner　at　Hamburg。

I　cannot　comprehend　the　present　state　of　Russia；　nor　the　motions　of　their　armies。　　They　change　their　generals　once　a　week；　sometimes　they　march　with　rapidity；　and　now　they　lie　quiet　behind　the　Vistula。　　We　have　a　thousand　stories　here　of　the　interior　of　that　government；　none　of　which　I　believe。　　Some　say；　that　the　Great　Duke　will　be　set　aside。

Woronzoff　is　said　to　be　entirely　a　Frenchman；　and　that　Monsieur　de　l'Hopital　governs　both　him　and　the　court。　　Sir　C。　　W。　　is　said；　by　his　indiscretions；　to　have　caused　the　disgrace　of　Bestuchef；　which　seems　not　impossible。　　In　short；　everything　of　every　kind　is　said；　because；　I　believe；　very　little　is　truly　known。　　'A　propos'　of　Sir　C。　W。；　he　is　out　of　confinement；　and　gone　to　his　house　in　the　country　for　the　whole　summer。　　They　say　he　is　now　very　cool　and　well。　　I　have　seen　his　Circe；　at　her　window　in　Pall…Mall；　she　is　painted；　powdered；　curled；　and　patched；　and　looks　'l'aventure'。　　She　has　been　offered；　by　Sir　C。　W's　friends；　L500　in　full　of　all　demands；　but　will　not　accept　of　it。　　'La　comtesse　veut　plaider'；　and　I　fancy　'faire　autre　　chose　si　elle　peut。　Jubeo　to　bene　valere。




LETTER　CCXXI

BLACKHEATH；　May　18；　O。　S。　　1758。

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　I　have　your　letter　of　the　9th　now　　before　me；　and　condole　with　you　upon　the　present　solitude　and　inaction　of　Hamburg。　　You　are　now　shrunk　from　the　dignity　and　importance　of　a　consummate　minister；　to　be　but；　as　it　were；　a　common　man。　　But　this　　has；　at　one　time　or　another；　been　the　case　of　most　great　men；　who　have　not　always　had　equal　opportunities　of　exerting　their　talents。　　The　greatest　must　submit　to　the　capriciousness　of　fortune；　though　they　can；　better　than　others；　improve　the　favorable　moments。　　For　instance；　who　could　have　thought；　two　years　ago；　that　you　would　have　been　the　Atlas　of　the　Northern　Pole；　but　the　Good　Genius　of　the　North　ordered　it　so；　and　now　that　you　have　set　that　part　of　the　globe　right；　you　return　to　'otium　cum　dignitate'。　　But　to　be　serious：　now　that　you　cannot　have　much　office　business　to　do；　I　could　tell　you　what　to　do；　that　would　employ　you；　I　should　think；　both　usefully　and　agreeably。　　I　mean；　that　you　should　write　short　memoirs　of　that　busy　scene；　in　which　you　have　been　enough　concerned；　since　your　arrival　at　Hamburg；　to　be　able　to　put　together　authentic　facts　and　anecdotes。　　I　do　not　know　whether　you　will　give　yourself　the　trouble　to　do　it　or　not；　but　I　do　know；　that　if　you　will；　'olim　hcec　meminisse　juvabit'。　　I　would　have　them　short；　but　correct　as　to　facts　and　dates。

I　have　told　Alt；　in　the　strongest　manner；　your　lamentations　for　the　loss　of　the　House　of　Cassel；　'et　il　en　fera　rapport　a　son　Serenissime　Maitre'。　When　you　are　quite　idle　（as　probably　you　may　be；　some　time　this　summer）；　why　should　you　not　ask　leave　to　make　a　tour　to　Cassel　for　a　week？　which　would　certainly　be　granted　you　from　hence；　and　which　would　be　looked　upon　as　a　'bon　procede'　at　Cassel。

The　King　of　Prussia　is　probably；　by　this　time；　at　the　gates　of　Vienna；　making　the　Queen　of　Hungary　really　do　what　Monsieur　de　Bellisle　only　threatened；　sign　a　peace　upon　the　ramparts　of　her　capital。　　If　she　is　obstinate；　and　will　not；　she　must　fly　either　to　Presburg　or　to　Inspruck；　and　Vienna　must　fall。　　But　I　think　he　will　offer　her　reasonable　conditions　enough　for　herself；　and　I　suppose；　that；　in　that　case；　Caunitz　will　be　reasonable　enough　to　advise　her　to　accept　of　them。　　What　turn　would　the　war　take　then？　　Would　the　French　and　Russians　carry　it　on　without　her？　　The　King　of　Prussia；　and　the　Prince　of　Brunswick；　would　soon　sweep　them　out　of　Germany。　　By　this　time；　too；　I　believe；　the　French　are　entertained　in　America　with　the　loss　of　Cape　Breton；　and；　in　consequence　of　that；　Quebec；　for　we　have　a　force　there　equal　to　both　those　undertakings；　and　officers　there；　now；　that　will　execute　what　Lord　L　never　would　so　much　as　attempt。　　His　appointments　were　too　considerable　to　let　him　do　anything　that　might　possibly　put　an　end　to　the　war。　　Lord　Howe；　upon　seeing　plainly　that　he　was　resolved　to　do　nothing；　had　asked　leave　to　return；　as　well　as　Lord　Charles　Hay。

We　have　a　great　expedition　preparing；　and　which　will　soon　be　ready　to　sail　from　the　Isle　of　Wight；　fifteen　thousand　good　troops；　eighty　battering　cannons；　besides　mortars；　and　every　other　thing　in　abundance；　fit　for　either　battle　or　siege。　　Lord　Anson　desired；　and　is　appointed；　to　command　the　fleet　employed　upon　this　expedition；　a　proof　that　it　is　not　a　trifling　one。　　Conjectures　concerning　its　destination　are　infinite；　and　the　most　ignorant　are；　as　usual；　the　boldest　conjecturers。　　If　I　form　any　conjectures；　I　keep　them　to　myself；　not　to　be　disproved　by　the　event；　but；　in　truth；　I　form　none：　I　might　have　known；　but　would　not。

Everything　seems　to　tend　to　a　peace　next　winter：　our　success　in　America；　which　is　hardly　doubtful；　and　the　King　of　Prussia's　in　Germany；　which　is　as　little　so；　will　make　France　（already　sick　of　the　expense　of　the　war）　very　tractable　for　a　peace。　　I　heartily　wish　it：　for　though　people's　heads　are　half　turned　with　the　King　of　Prussia's　success；　and　will　be　quite　turned；　if　we　have　any　in　America；　or　at　sea；　a　moderate　peace　will　suit　us　better　than　this　immoderate　war　of　twelve　millions　a　year。

Domestic　affairs　go　just　as　they　did；　the　Duke　of　Newcastle　and　Mr。　Pitt　jog　on　like　man　and　wife；　that　is；　seldom　agreeing；　often　quarreling；　but　by　mutual　interest；　upon　the　whole；　not　parting。　　The　latter；　I　am　told；　gains　ground　in　the　closet；　though　he　still　keeps　his　strength　in　the　House；　and　his　popularity　in　the　public；　or；　perhaps；　because　of　that。

Do　you　hold　your　resolution　of　visiting　your　dominions　of　Bremen　and　Lubeck　this　summer？　　If　you　do；　pray　take　the　trouble　of　informing　yourself　correctly　of　the　several　constitutions　and　customs　of　those　places；　and　of　the　present　state　of　the　federal　union　of　the　Hanseatic　towns：　it　will　do　you　no　harm；　nor　cost　you　much　trouble；　and　it　is　so　much　clear　gain　on　the　side　of　useful　knowledge。

I　am　now　settled　at　Blackheath　for　the　summer；　where　unseasonable　frost　and　snow；　and　hot　and　parching　east　winds；　have　destroyed　all　my　fruit；　and　almost　my　fruit…trees。　　I　vegetate　myself　little　better　than　they　do；　I　crawl　about　on　foot　and　on　horseback；　read　a　great　deal；　and　write　a　little；　and　am　very　much　yours。




LETTER　CCXXII

BLACKHEATH；　May　30；　1758。

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　I　have　no　letter　from　you　to　answer；　so　this　goes　to　you　unprovoked。　　But　'a　propos'　of　letters；　you　have　had　great　honor　done　you；　in　a　letter　from　a　fair　and　royal　hand；　no　less　than　that　of　her　Royal　Highness　the　Princess　of　Cassel；　she　has　written　your　panegyric　to　her　sister；　Princess　Amelia；　who　sent　me　a　compliment　upon　it。　　This　has　likewise　done　you　no　harm　with　the　King；　who　said　gracious　things　upon　that　occasion。　I　suppose　you　had　for　her　Royal　Highness　those　attentions　which　I　wish　to　God　you　would　have；　in　due　proportions；　for　everybody。　You　see；　by　this　instance；　the　effects　of　them；　they　are　always　repaid　with　interest。　　I　am　more　confirmed　by　this　in　thinking；　that；　if　you　can　conveniently；　you　should　ask　leave　to　go　for　a　week　to　Cassel；　to　return　your　thanks　for　all　favors　received。

I　cannot　expound　to　myself　the　conduct　of　the　Russians。　　There　must　be　a　trick　in　their　not　marching　with　more　expedition。　　They　have　either　had　a　sop　from　the　King　of　Prussia；　or　they　want　an　animating　dram　from　France　and　Austria。　　The　King　of　Prussia's　conduct　always　explains　itself　by　the　events；　and；　within　a　very　few　days；　we　must　certainly　hear　of　some　very　great　stroke　from　that　quarter。　　I　think　I　never　in　my　life　remember　a　period　of　time　so　big　with　great　events　as　the　present：　within　two　months　the　fate　of　the　House　of　Austria　will　probably　be　decided：　within　the　same　space　of　time；　we　shall　certainly　hear　of　the　taking　of　Cape　Breton；　and　of　our　army's　proceeding　to　Quebec　within　a　few　days　we　shall　know　the　good　or　ill　success　of　our　great　expedition；　for　it　is　sailed；　and　it　cannot　be　long　before　we　shall　hear　something　of　the　Prince　of　Brunswick's　operations；　from　whom　I　also　expect　good　things。　　If　all　these　things　turn　out；　as　there　is　good　reason　to　believe　they　will；　we　may　once；　in　our　turn；　dictate　a　reasonable　peace　to　France；　who　now　pays　seventy　per　cent　insurance　upon　its　trade；　and　seven　per　cent　for　all　the　money　raised　for　the　service　of　the　year。

Comte　Bothmar　has　got　the　small…pox；　and　of　a　bad　kind。　　Kniphausen　diverts　himself　much　here；　he　sees　all　places　and　all　people；　and　is　ubiquity　itself。　　Mitchel；　who　was　much　threatened；　stays　at　last　at　Berlin；　at　the　earnest　request　of　the　King　of　Prussia。　　Lady　is　safely　delivered　of　a　son；　to　the　great　joy　of　that　noble　family。　　The　expression；　of　a　woman's　having　brought　her　husband　a　son；　seems　to　be　a　proper　and　cautious　one；　for　it　is　never　said　from　whence。

I　was　going　to　ask　you　how　you　passed　your　time　now　at　Hamburg；　since　it　is　no　longer　the　seat　of　strangers　and　of　business；　but　I　will　not；　because　I　know　it　is　to　no　purpose。　　You　have　sworn　not　to　tell　me。

Sir　William　Stanhope　told　me　that　you　promised　to　send　him　some　Old　Hock　from　Hamburg；　and　so　you　did　not。　　If　you　meet　with　any　superlatively　good；　and　not　else；　pray　send　over　a　'foudre'　of　it；　and　write　to　him。　I　shall　have　a　share　in　it。　　But　unless　you　find　some；　either　at　Hamburg　or　at　Bremen；　uncommonly　and　almost　miracuously　good；　do　not　send　any。　Dixi。　　Yours。




LETTER　CCXXIII

BLACKHEATH；　June　13；　1758。

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　　The　secret　is　out：　St。　Malo　is　the　devoted　place。　Our　troops　began　to　land　at　the　Bay　of　Cancale　the　5th；　without　any　opposition。　　We　have　no　further　accounts　yet；　but　expect　some　every　moment。　　By　the　plan　of　it；　which　I　have　seen；　it　is　by　no　means　a　weak　place；　and　I　fear　there　will　be　many　hats　to　be　disposed　of；　before　it　is　taken。　　There　are　in　the　port　above　thirty　privateers；　about　sixteen　of　their　own；　and　about　as　many　taken　from　us。　237

Now　for　Africa；　where　we