But you are impatient all this while to hear of your friend Mabout whom you enquired fo anxioufly in your last. With regard to his health, I fhall only fay, that I hope our journey fouthward will improve it. In other refpects, as well as in that, he must have undergone much change fince you formerly knew him; yet, even now, I diftinctly recognife in him thofe amiable qualities, which then at tracted and fecured your esteem and affection. They are tempered by the more manly virtues, and regulated by a knowledge of the world, but they will always maintain a predominance in his character. From this, joined to the extent of his knowledge, the accuracy of his judgment, and the delicacy of his tafte, I anticipate much of both pleasure and improvement in his company. He likes to talk of his intimacy with you, and this has at once established betwixt us an indiffoluble bond of union.

WE fet out from London, two days after the public rejoicings for the figning of the Preliminaries of PEACE. This happy event gives rife to the indulgence of many pleafing reveries, checked, however, by occafional alternations of fear. Q F. F. Q. S.! M. has flood the journey wonderfully well, and we are ready to proceed to France by the first veffel that offers. We have brought with us two fervant, Cimbaloni and Edwards. The firit, as you will guefs from his name, is by birth an Italian, tho' by refidence he is a citizen of the world. Under different mafters, he has travelled through almoft every country in Europe, and he profefles to fpeak all forts of language, English, French, Spanish, Portuguefe, Dutch, German, Turk ith, and modern Greek, befides his vernacular tongue. But if I may be allowed to judge from the fpeci VOL. LXV.

mens he hourly gives us of his English and his French, he is not content with any one of the languages in its native purity, but enriches each with materials borrowed from the general stock. He. is a clever, active, plaufible fellow, and promiles to be a very useful. travelling-fervant. As to Edwards, he is a good, honeft, faithful lad, who is much attached from grati tude to M's family, and who is permitted to accompany us, merely because he could not think of parting with his mafter. Though he fpeaks no language but his mother tongue, we may have no reafon to repent our having taken him with us.

As no free communication is yet open betwixt the two nations, we. can only get over under a flag of truce, and in a veffel employed by Government. We are therefore de-. tained here in a state of teazing fufpence, with regard to the time of our departure. In the mean time, we amufe ourselves as well as the place will allow, though it affords few objects to intereft and gratify curiofity. The docks extend into the very heart of this little town, and begin now to refume an ap pearance of activity, which had but too long been fufpended. Every countenance feems brightened by hope, and animated by the purfuit of fome object. I believe no place in the kingdom joined more cordially than Dover in the general rejoicings at the profpect of Peace. Its profperity, I may almoft fay, its exiflence, is entirely dependant on our intercourfe with France. The caftle forms a picturesque crown to a mountain at the north end of the town, and during the war, has been confiderably improv ed. On the brow of a cliff which hangs over the pebbly thore, are perched the new barracks, to which the only accefs is a narrow tunaef

drilled through the chalky rock, and lighted at intervals from above. Some of the apartments are mere excavations in the fubftance of the mountain, which is eafily perforated without being liable to fall in upon the workmen. All the mountains in this neighbourhood confift of this cretaceous matter, in which there are embedded great quantities of ground flints depofited in horizon. tal ftrata, at intervals of about three feet of folid chalk. From the battlements of the caftle, the celebrated cliffs of Shakespeare form a confpicuous object. They rear their lofty head to the fouthward of the

town.

Oct. 17. I was interrupted yefterday by a welcome call from a fellow-traveller, who is in the fame predicament with ourselves, and who came to announce the profpect of a fpeedy releafe from it. The Ambaffador, it feems, has fent down two or three carriages, and I forget how many horfes, to wait

for him at Calais, and a packet is ordered to be in readiness to depart with them to-morrow. I was amufed with the object of my vifitor's journey to France. It is, to get quit of a giddiness or confusion in his head! I have heard of many a found brain being rendered giddy and confufed by a trip to the Con-. tinent, but I never before knew that prefcribed as a cure for the disease. Its virtues feem to refemble thofe of the fumes of tobacco fo feelingly defcribed by our countryman in thefe elegant verfes:

"Tobacco reek, Tobacco reek,

"When I am well, it makes me fick : "Tobacco reek, Tobacco reck, "It makes me well when I am fick."

I willingly close this long letter to expedite matters for our departure. My next will be dated from Calais.

Yours, with esteem & affection,

THIS interefting letter needs no comment. Cold indeed muft that breaft be, which can perufe it with. out emotion, or reflect upon his fate without regret.

"Cairsbrook, Monday, July 31.1648. "My Lords and Gentlemen,

"Ir is no fmall comfort to me that my native country hath fo

true a fence of my prefent condi tion, as I finde expreft by your lettre of the 8 of this month, and declaration; bothe wh I receaved upon Fryday laft. And the fame reafon wh makes you difcreetly and generously at this tyme forbeare to press any thing to me, hinders me likewais to make particular profeffions unto you, leaft it may be imagind that defyre of

can

liberty fhould be the only fecretary to my thoughts: yet thus much I cannot but fay, that as, in all humaine reafon, nothing but a free perfonnall treaty with me fetle the unhappy distractions of thefe diftreffed kingdomes, fo, if that could once be had, I would not doubt but that (by the grace of God) a happy peace would foone follow; fuch force, I belive, true reafon hath in the harts of all men, when it may be clearly and calmely heard. And I am not ashamed at all tymes to profeffe, that it hath and fo fhall be alwais want of understanding, not will, if I doe not yeald to reafon, whenfoever and from whomfoever I heare it; and it were a ftrange thing should reafon be less esteemed because it comes from me, wch truely I doe not expect from you; your declaration feeming to me (and I hope that your actions will prove that I am not deceaved) to be fo well grounded upon honor and justice, that albeit, by way of opinion, I cannot give a placet to every claufe in it; yet, I am confident, upon a calme

and friendly debate, we fhall very well agree. To conclude: I cannot for the present better fhow my thankefullnefle to you, for the generous and loyall expreffions of your affections to me, than by giving you my honeft and harty advice, wch is, really and conftantly, (without feeking privat ends) to purfue the public profeffions in your declaration, as fincere Chriftians and good fubjects ought to doe; alwaies remembring, that as the best foundation of loyalty is Chriftianity, fo true Christianity teaches perfect loyalty; and, without this just reciprocation, neither is truly what they pretend to be. But I am both confident that this needs not to you, as also that you will rightly understand this, which is affectionatly intended by your most affeured reall conftant friend,

CHARLES R."

Superscribed, " For the Lords and Gentlemen Committies of the Scots Parliament, together with the Officers of that Army."

ftruck, and that it has not hit you. It did indeed occur to me that fo fingular a way of treating you, won'd procure you friends, who, when power fhould come to their turn, wou'd fee juftice done you; that it was by the late promotions that yourbrevet of Lieutenant Colonel was entirely to be difregarded, and that to ferve longer under fuch difcouragements, was more difagreeable than to lofe all your labour; and that at worst, the general being fatisfy'd with your conduct, wou'd be cafily able to make you compenfation for your lotfes. I hope I am right in thefe views or conjectures. However high an idea I may have entertain'd of philofophy in general, or your approximation towards that noble acquirement; I fhou'd be forry to find, that the indifference which you exprefs, proceeded entirely from philofophy.

I have been fet upon by feveral to write fomething; tho' it were only to be inferted in the magazines, in oppofition to this account which Voltaire has given of our expeditions; but my anfwer ftill is, that it is not worth while, and that he is fo totally miitaken in every cir cumftance of that affair, and indeed of every affair, that, I prefume, nobody will pay much attention to him. I hope you are of the fame opinion.

I beg to be remember'd to the Doctor, I am forry to hear that Gt is growing out of all shape, and yet ftill retains his inclination to foppery; for my part I have ceas'd dreffing fince my belly has fwell'd fo enormously. Alas! that is not an infirmity like growing fat, to be difguis'd with powder and pomatum. We hear that Mrs M-r--y fhines extremely; and impiously captivates all hearts, without giving the leaft return of her own: I hope that the rumours which have been fpread abroad, fo much to her difadvantage, are not true; what is

doing? Is he always as obftinate, and fometimes as much in the wrong as formerly? Does his difmiflion from his Majesty's service, enfure us of your company next fummer? I afk a great many ques tions to fill up this letter of condoleance, or confolation; but I defire to live on very eafy terms with my friends. I know you hate, and I hate to give trouble: It will be fufficient, if, on our meeting, you give answers to my long catechifm. I am with great fincerity,

THE king found, on his acceffion, an able adminiftration, ftrong from the combination of parties, and popular from uninterrupted fuccefs.

The duke of Newcastle was the of tenfible head of this miniftry. A veteran in the service of government, he was confidered the leader of the Whig party, and during a period of fortythree years, filled a high fituation at court and in the cabinet. His princely fortune and extenfive influence rendered him a powerful coadjutor, and his uniform zeal in promoting the fucceffion of the house of Brunswick, endeared him to the great majority of the Whigs, as the champion of that caufe. In his temper he was fretful and capricious, and jealous of those who rivalled his political afcendancy. This jealoufy, which formed the leading feature of his character, was restrained by the fuperior talents and authority of Sir Robert Walpole, but on his retreat it became uncontrouled, and engendered perpe. tual altercations with fucceeding minifters, not excepting even his own brother, Mr Pelham. Some peculiarities in his manner, and a want of method in the transaction of bufinefs, expofed him to ridicule. He was trifling and embarraffed in converfation, always cager and in a hurry, unbounded in adulation, and profufe in promifes. Yet the duke of Newcastle poffeffed much greater abilities than are ufually attributed to him: he had a quick comprehenfion, was a ufeful and frequent debater, spoke with great animation, wrote

with uncommon facility, and was perfect master of foreign affairs. He filled the office of fecretary of state from the year 1723, to the death of Mr Pelham in 1754, when he became first lord of the treasury. Placed at the head of affairs, he was diftracted with the multiplicity of business: weakness of councils, fluctuation of opinions, and deficiency of spirit, marked his adminiftra tion. In 1744, he ftrengthened himself by a coalition with the Tories and the Whigs in oppofition to government, and formed the adminiftration which was ludicrously termed the broad bottom. The difcordant parts of this motely combination, were principally cemented by the conciliating manners of Mr Pelham; but on his death in 1754. diffenfions broke out, and after many ineffectual attempts to form a permanent administration, (during which the duke made a temporary refignation in November 1756, and continued out of office till July 1757) that cabinet was arranged which continued, without effential alteration, till the period at which this hiftory commences. The duke of Newcastle still retained the controul of domeftic affairs, and the patronage of the church; but the conduct of the war, and the management of the houte of commons, were committed to Mr Pitt.

Mr Pitt commenced his political career as a Whig, in oppofition to Sir Robert Walpole, and foon diftinguished himself by the splendour and energy of his eloquence. He was an adherent

of