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conversation。 My Lord says； that in his last conference； he thought he
had as good a right to nominate the new Ministry as Mr。 Pitt； and
consequently named Lord G…； Lord L； etc。； for Cabinet Council
employments； which Mr。 Pitt not consenting to； Lord T… broke up the
conference； and in his wrath went to Stowe； where I presume he may remain
undisturbed a great while； since Mr。 Pitt will neither be willing nor
able to send for him again。 The pamphlet； on the part of Mr。 Pitt； gives
an account of his whole political life ； and； in that respect； is tedious
to those who were acquainted with it before； but； at the latter end；
there is an article that expresses such supreme contempt of Lord T…；
and in so pretty a manner； that I suspect it to be Mr。 Pitt's own： you
shall judge yourself； for I here transcribe the article： 〃But this I will
be bold to say； that had he （Lord T…） not fastened himself into
Mr。 Pitt's train； and acquired thereby such an interest in that great
man； he might have crept out of life with as little notice as he crept
in； and gone off with no other degree of credit； than that of adding a
single unit to the bills of mortality〃 I wish I could send you all the
pamphlets and half…sheets that swarm here upon this occasion； but that is
impossible； for every week would make a ship's cargo。 It is certain；
that Mr。 Pitt has； by his dignity of Earl； lost the greatest part of his
popularity； especially in the city； and I believe the Opposition will be
very strong； and perhaps prevail； next session； in the House of Commons；
there being now nobody there who can have the authority and ascendant
over them that Pitt had。
People tell me here； as young Harvey told you at Dresden； that I look
very well； but those are words of course； which everyone says to
everybody。 So far is true； that I am better than at my age； and with my
broken constitution； I could have expected to be。 God bless you！
LETTER CCXC
BLACKHEATH； September 12； 1766。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I have this moment received your letter of the 27th past。
I was in hopes that your course of waters this year at Baden would have
given you a longer reprieve from your painful complaint。 If I do not
mistake； you carried over with you some of Dr。 Monsey's powders。 Have
you taken any of them； and have they done you any good ？ I know they did
me a great deal。 I； who pretend to some skill in physic； advise a cool
regimen； and cooling medicines。
I do not wonder； that you do wonder； at Lord C…'s conduct。 If he was
not outwitted into his peerage by Lord B； his accepting it is utterly
inexplicable。 The instruments he has chosen for the great office；
I believe； will never fit the same case。 It was cruel to put such a boy
as Lord G… over the head of old Ligonier； and if I had been the former；
I would have refused that commission； during the life of that honest and
brave old general。 All this to quiet the Duke of R to a resignation；
and to make Lord B Lieutenant of Ireland； where； I will venture to
prophesy； that he will not do。 Ligonier was much pressed to give up his
regiment of guards； but would by no means do it； and declared that the
King might break him if he pleased； but that he would certainly not break
himself。
I have no political events to inform you of； they will not be ripe till
the meeting of the parliament。 Immediately upon the receipt of this
letter； write me one； to acquaint me how you are。
God bless you； and； particularly； may He send you health； for that is the
greatest blessing！
LETTER CCXCI
BLACKHEATH； September 30； 1766。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I received； yesterday； with great pleasure； your letter
of the 18th； by which I consider this last ugly bout as over； and； to
prevent its return； I greatly approve of your plan for the south of
France； where I recommend for your principal residence； Pezenas Toulouse；
or Bordeaux； but do not be persuaded to go to Aix en Provence； which； by
experience； I know to be at once the hottest and the coldest place in the
world； from the ardor of the Provencal sun； and the sharpness of the
Alpine winds。 I also earnestly recommend to you； for your complaint upon
your breast； to take； twice a…day； asses' or （what is better mares' milk；
and that for these six months at least。 Mingle turnips； as much as you
can； with your diet。
I have written； as you desired； to Mr。 Secretary Conway； but I will
answer for it that there will be no difficulty to obtain the leave you
ask。
There is no new event in the political world since my last； so God bless
you！
LETTER CCXCII
LONDON； October 29； 7766。
MY DEAR FRIEND： The last mail brought me your letter of the 17th。 I am
glad to hear that your breast is so much better。 You will find both
asses' and mares' milk enough in the south of France； where it was much
drank when I was there。 Guy Patin recommends to a patient to have no
doctor but a horse； and no apothecary but an ass。 As for your pains and
weakness in your limbs； 'je vous en offre autant'； I have never been free
from them since my last rheumatism。 I use my legs as much as I can； and
you should do so too； for disuse makes them worse。 I cannot now use them
long at a time； because of the weakness of old age； but I contrive to
get； by different snatches； at least two hours' walking every day； either
in my garden or within doors； as the weather permits。 I set out to…
morrow for Bath； in hopes of half repairs； for Medea's kettle could not
give me whole ones； the timbers of my wretched vessel are too much
decayed to be fitted out again for use。 I shall see poor Harte there；
who； I am told； is in a miserable way； between some real and some
imaginary distempers。
I send you no political news； for one reason； among others； which is that
I know none。 Great expectations are raised of this session； which meets
the 11th of next month； but of what kind nobody knows； and consequently
everybody conjectures variously。 Lord Chatham comes to town to…morrow
from Bath； where he has been to refit himself for the winter campaign； he
has hitherto but an indifferent set of aides…decamp； and where he will
find better； I do not know。 Charles Townshend and he are already upon
ill terms。 'Enfin je n'y vois goutte'； and so God bless you！
LETTER CCXCIII
BATH； November 15； 1766。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I have this moment received your letter of the 5th
instant from Basle。 I am very glad to find that your breast is relieved；
though perhaps at the expense of your legs： for； if the humor be either
gouty or rheumatic； it had better be in your legs than anywhere else。
I have consulted Moisy； the great physician of this place； upon it； who
says； that at this distance he dares not prescribe anything； as there may
be such different causes for your complaint； which must be well weighed
by a physician upon the spot； that is； in short； that he knows nothing of
the matter。 I will therefore tell you my own case； in 1732； which may be
something parallel to yours。 I had that year been dangerously ill of a
fever in Holland； and when I was recovered of it； the febrific humor fell
into my legs； and swelled them to that degree； and