marchande. You will inform Lord March of this, as he gave me the commission.

*

Nobody whom I know is here but Lord Robert, and the great Earl of Farnham, who told me yesterday he had resolved on staying here till next March. He talks much of the accueil he receives in this country, and is determined not to protect Madame du Barry † too much, for fear of giving

* Robert, first Earl of Farnham. He died November 16th, 1769.

+ The celebrated mistress of Louis XV. This beautiful woman (who, previous to her becoming the royal mistress, had led a life of profligacy in Paris) was a person of mean birth, and had recently been under the protection of the Comte du Barry, who, in order to advance his own fortunes and those of his mistress, had contrived to have her thrown in the King's way. She shortly obtained so great an influence over her royal lover that he consented to receive her publicly at court. In order, however, to effect this purpose, it was necessary to confer on her a certain rank by marriage; and, accordingly, Du Barry produced his younger brother, Count Guillaume du Barry, who was complaisant enough to lead her to the altar, at the expense of his own degradation. Horace Walpole, who saw her in September 1769, in the royal chapel at Versailles, observes, "Madame du Barry arrived over against us below, without rouge, without powder, and indeed sans avoir fait sa toilette; an odd appearance, as she was so conspicuous, close to the altar, and amidst both court and people. She is pretty, when you consider her; yet so little striking, that I never should have asked who she was. There is nothing bold, assuming, or affected in her manner. Her husband's sister was along with her. In the tribune above, surrounded by prelates, was the amorous and still handsome King. One could not help smiling at the mixture of piety, pomp, and carnality."—Letters, vol. iv. p. 256.

jealousy to his friend Monsieur de Choiseul.*

War is not believed in here as much as at London. I never remember being so discontented in mind, in my whole life, as I am at this moment. However improper such language may be from a military man, I pray for a peace, and a quick return to England. I wait only for my baggage from Calais, and intend setting out on my melancholy journey quite alone, next Tuesday. It will take me near a fortnight going to Marseilles: then comes the melancholy passage to Mahon; then the charming séjour of Minorca; so that I have an agreeable series of pleasures before me.

Sunday night, December 23rd. The post goes to-morrow, so I must close my letter. My intention is still to set out on Tuesday, provided I hear to-morrow from England.

Nothing remarkable since I wrote the above, so adieu, my dear George. Ever yours sincerely, H. ST. JOHN.

THE HON. HENRY ST. JOHN TO GEORGE SELWYN.

MY DEAR GEORGE,

Mahon, February 19th, 1771.

YOUR last letter came very opportunely, and brought me the most acceptable news I ever

* In the course of this month the Duc de Choiseul, by means of the intrigues of Madame du Barry, was driven from office and power, and ordered to retire to his château at Chanteloup.

had, that of a peace. You may probably have expected to see me in England by the time you receive this; but my governor, Jack Mostyn,* has desired me to put off my departure till another packet, (about a month, perhaps,) till he has a second confirmation of the peace, and thinks himself at liberty to grant leave of absence to officers under his command. As I am now secure of going home, I do not grudge staying here a little longer, though I pass the dullest life possible, and long impatiently to be among my friends again.

Our present Governor talks of staying here some years. He has found out the sweets of his government, and intends to enjoy them, though at the expense of leaving old White's, which you know was his darling pleasure. In lieu, however, of that loss, he has established a White's in this town, called a whist club, which meets every evening, of which I am the president for the first week, in order to regulate forms, &c. It is composed of the officers of the garrison; and, what happens to be droll, the man, at whose house we meet, happens to be called White. Entre nous, it is thought very properly by the gentlemen of the garrison, that he had better have assembled them every evening at his own house, where it has always been customary for governors to see company every evening, than

* Lieutenant-General John Mostyn. He was advanced to the rank of General in May the following year.

to meet them at a public-house, where every officer pays for what he wants, as well as the Governor.

Johnston and Lady Cecilia, the deposed grandees of this island, bear, and indeed are forced to bear, their being superseded, with better temper than I could have suspected; but he has got a regiment of dragoons given him, to make up for the loss of the government. I have given you more than I believe you desire of Minorca news; but, did I not send such sort of stuff, I should have little to say. I have enjoyed very good health here, and the climate is very fine, though I frequently complain of its being too hot even at this time of year. We have natural roses in profusion,

and yesterday I ate very fine green peas.

We have Lord George and Lady Louisa Lennox† here, who seem to like this place exceedingly. She lives among the officers the only woman, and has more of the man than the woman in her manner of life. That sort of indelicacy suits very ill with any woman, and less so with a woman of fashion. She is, however, in general, popular and well-liked, from her affability and good humour. I am on a civil and good footing with them, but I avoid intimacies.

*See antè, July 21, 1768.

+ Lord George Henry Lennox, a general in the army, was second son of Charles second Duke of Richmond. He married, in 1759, Louisa, daughter of William Ker fourth Marquis of Lothian, by whom he was the father of Charles, who succeeded in 1806 as fourth Duke of Richmond.

We have had a report here, but God forbid it be true! that, notwithstanding the pacification lately signed by us and Spain, there is a probability of a rupture; but I do not believe it, after the formal declaration of peace made by our Ministers to the Parliament. How are people pleased with the terms in England? I mean the majority, and not the canaille.* I suppose there scarcely remains a shadow of an Opposition, after taking so many of them into place. Great preferment in the law; but I hear of none in the military, or at court, which would more immediately interest me.

I live, as I have now lived this long time, upon hopes; I wish I had something more solid; but, at this instant of time, I am so happy with the prospect of being in England in two months, that I scarcely think of other disappointments. I think I may probably be at Paris, if no unforeseen accident occurs, about the middle of April, where I shall be glad to receive your commands. Adieu, my dear George! You say a hundred flattering things of me, which I can assure you are very satisfactory to me, though I cannot think I deserve them; but I should not enjoy those sentiments

*The famous dispute between England and Spain, relative to the Falkland Islands, had recently been brought to an amicable termination. However, in consequence of the Governor of Buenos Ayres having subsequently despatched an armed force to dispossess the English of Port Egmont, it was generally apprehended in England that our peaceable relations with Spain would be again disturbed, and that war would be the infallible result.