MARRIAGE, BATTLE, FIRE, AND SCANDAL.
Nothing extraordinary has occurred in this family since my last. My Lady is better. We expect Batt to-morrow, probably Lally, and also Mr. Levade's son-in-law, with whom I have corresponded. The Duchess of York[192] almost smothered the French Revolution in this country; Lord Cornwallis's operations[193] almost suppressed the Duchess of York, and I daresay the Duke of Richmond's fire[194] has afforded some relief to Lord Cornwallis. I should be happy to furnish you with as much scandal as possible, but I know of no event of the kind worth record, unless Lady Belmore's[195] trip to the Continent incontinently with Lord Ancrum should be deemed so, and Lady Tyrconnell's[196] Flight to Glamis Castle with Lord Strathmore. These amiable women have left behind them grown daughters. May the Mamas——
I have secured for you the famous Shakespear; Boydel[197] is satisfied that I subscribed for two setts. It is by far the finest book ever printed. I have your first number and 5 large and 5 small prints in my possession, but I shall not send them—you must come for them.
As you care nothing about the good of the nation, it is almost unnecessary to mention that the gross produce of the Permanent Revenue last year, including Land and Malt, amounted to £20,355,380 exclusive of fines, forfeitures, Taxes on Places, First Fruits, &c., amounting to £125,476 and the profit of the Lottery. The Gross Excise last year £9,054,850, encrease this year £1,200,000, of which £800,000 are old and £400,000 new Duties. The British Shipping has increased 318,522 tons since 1773. The whole tonnage of France is not much more than a fourth more. Their tonnage in 1787 was little more than a fifth of ours.
Lord Cornwallis[198] has been marching about in Tippoo's country for six weeks to prove that it was not the monsoon that obliged him to quit Seringapatam. Was it not a curious omission to have neither a minister nor a spy in the Maratta Camp, and was it not an extraordinary folly to risk an engagement for the purpose of besieging Seringapatam 9 days before there was an absolute famine in the English Camp? Abercrombie's cattle were all swept away by Tippoo's General, and neither Abercrombie nor any of his officers have a second coat or shirt.
We never had cavalry in an Indian Army before. It was the great strength of this famous army. It is all ruined.
583.
To Lord Sheffield.
Lausanne, December 28th, 1791.