I am just come from dining en famille with the Duke de Choiseul: he was very civil—but much more civil to Mr. Wood,(998) who dined there too. I imagine this gratitude to the peacemakers. I must finish; for I am going to Lady Mary, and then return to sup with the Duchess de Choiseul, who is not civiller to any body than to me. Adieu! Yours ever.
(994) Now first printed.
(995) Mr. Charles Townshend died very unexpectedly, on the 4th of September; he being then only in his forty-second year.-E.
(996) "The chancellorship of the exchequer," says Adolphus, "was filled up ad interim by Lord Mansfield. It was offered to Lord North, who, for some reasons which are not precisely known, declined accepting it. The offer was subsequently made to Lord Barrington; who declared his readiness to undertake the office, if a renewed application to Lord North should fail: a fresh negotiation was attempted with the Duke of Bedford, but without effect, and at length Lord North was prevailed on to accept the office. Mr. Thomas Townshend succeeded Lord North as paymaster, and Mr. Jenkinson was appointed a lord of the treasury; Lord Northington and General Conway resigning, Lord Gower was made president of the council; Lord Weymouth, secretary of state; and Lord Sandwich, joint postmaster-general. These promotions indicated an accommodation between the ministry and the Bedford party; and the cabinet was further strengthened by the appointment of Lord Hillsborough to the office of secretary of state for America. The ministry, thus modelled, was called the Duke of Grafton's administration; for, although Lord Chatham still retained his place, he was incapable of transacting business."-E.
(997) Lord Chatham's enemies were constantly insinuating, that his illness was a political one. For the real state of his health at the time Walpole was penning this uncharitable passage, see Lady Chatham's letter to Mr. Nuthall of the 17th of August, and his lordship's own grateful and affectionate letter to Mr. Thomas Walpole of the 30th of October. Correspondence, Vol. iii. p. 282, 289.-E.
(998) Mr. Robert Wood. He was under-secretary of state at the time of the treaty of Paris.-E.
Letter 331 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.
Arlington Street, Oct. 24, 1767. (page 505)
Dear Sir, It is an age since we have had any correspondence. My long and dangerous illness last year, with my journey to Bath; my long attendance in Parliament all winter, spring, and to the beginning of summer: and my journey to France since, from whence I returned but last week,(999) prevented my asking the pleasure Of Seeing you at Strawberry Hill.
I wish to hear that you have enjoyed your health, and shall be glad of any news of you. The season is too late, and the Parliament too near opening, for me to propose a winter journey to you. if you should happen to think at all of London, I trust you would do me the favour to call on me. In short, this is only a letter of inquiry after YOU, and to show you that I am always most truly yours.
(999) Walpole left Paris the 9th of October; on the morning of which Madame du Deffand thus resumes her correspondence with him:—"Que de lachet`e, de faiblesse, et de ridicules je vous ai laiss`e voir! Je m'`etais bien promis le contrire; mais, mais— oubliez tout cela, pardonnez-le moi, mon Tuteur, et ne pensez plus `a votre Petite que pour vous dire qu'elle est raisonnable, ob`eissante, et par-dessus tout reconnaissante; que son respect, oui, je dis respect, que sa crainte, mais sa crainte filiale, son tendre mais s`erieux attachement, feront jusqu'`a son dernier moment le bonheur de sa vie. Qu'importe d'`etre vielle, d'`etre aveugle; qu'importe le lieu qu'on habite; qu'importe que tout ce qui environne soit sot ou Extravagant: quand l'`ame est fortement occup`ee, il ne lui manque rien que l'objet qui l'occupe; et quand cet objet repond `a ce qu'on sent pour lui, on n'a plus rien desirer."-E.