275.
To his Stepmother.
House of Commons, Wednesday Evening, February, 1776.
Dear Madam,
I write two lines to return you my thanks for what you say of my book,[323] of which you are not indeed so good a Judge as you would be of any written by another author. By a mistake you have received two bound books instead of one. Be so good as to return one of them by coach or wagon, and I will give an order that an unbound one shall go to-morrow to Brook Street. Your soiled one (honourable marks) you will retain. But when will you flatter me in person in Bentinck Street? March approaches.
I am, Dear Madam,
Ever yours,
E. Gibbon.