*You are mistaken about your dates. It is to-morrow seven-night, the 17th, that my book will decline into the World.* I will attend to Coachman and house, though I could wish that in point of price and situation you had been a little more explicit.
*I am glad to find that by degrees you begin to understand the advantage of a civilized city,*—I cannot say as much as Batt and Cantab, who dined with me, Beauclerck and Lady Di.[322] Adieu. *No public business; Parliament has sate every day, but we have not had a single debate.* There is a rumour that Quebec is taken, and Washington is said to have communicated the news to Howe, but it is not yet absolutely believed. *I think you will have your book on Monday. The parent is not forgot, though I had not a single one to spare.*
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.