Hear, but be silent especially to Mrs. G.—The Gout has attacked my left foot, and that Imperious Mistress, if I presumed without her permission to dispose of myself——However, she seems inclined to pardon and to leave me. In that case poor Clarke is my next difficulty; without a hope of recovery he may linger longer, than some days ago I thought was possible. Should I find myself at liberty, I have engaged myself to visit the Widow the first week in January; ten days from that date will lead me to the meeting of Parliament, an awful meeting indeed! You will receive with this the resolutions of the American Congress.[274] I shall certainly be in town (if your impatience soon drives you from Bath) to house you and My Lady in your passage. Deyverdun is not averse to go to S. P. when I go to Up-park.
E. G.
233.
To J. B. Holroyd, Esq.
Dec. 24th, 1774.
I do not upon the whole like your Sackville Street plan. At least I should not like it, were it not for an unlucky guest I have got in the house. I do not mean my Gout, for that is on the wing, but a bad kind of small-pox which has attacked one of my Virgins in the Garret.
DEEP IN AMERICA.
I am deep in America with Maudit, passed four hours with him yesterday, and I shall dine and spend the day tête-à-tête with him next Monday. He squeaks out a great deal of sense and knowledge, though after all I mean to think, perhaps to speak, for myself. I likewise (at his house) conversed with Governor Hutchinson,[275] with whom I mean to get acquainted.
Tremlett I will try to see in May, but his book is not worth the 18 pence he gave for it. I mean barring the good Spanish. That Spanish is in truth the original, composed by one Miguel de Luna in the sixteenth century, as a pretended translation from an imaginary Arabic Manuscript of General Tarikh.[276] The History is a Romance mixed up with gross improbabilities and anachronisms. Adieu. Young Cooke[277] of Turin dined with me to-day. I thought it a civility to Denham, though I believe only half the house will thank me for it. He is a very fine Gentleman. Adieu. I salute My Lady. Do you salute Madame ma Mère, Sunday morning, tell her that I am sorry for her Rheumatism, have taken care of the Lees, and will epistolize her Monday or Tuesday.