“I received this morning yours of April 12 and 29th, and at the same time one from my son at Paris, dated the 4th instant.  I have wrote to him this day, that on his answer I will immediately set out to Valence, and shall be glad to see him there.  I suppose you are now convinced I have never been mistaken in his character; which remains unchanged, and what is yet worse, I think is unchangeable.  I never saw such a complication of folly and falsity as in his letter to Mr. Gibson.  Nothing is cheaper than living in an inn in a country town in France; they being obliged to ask no more than twenty-five sous for dinner, and thirty for supper and lodging, of those that eat at the public table; which all the young men of quality I have met have always done.  It is true I am forced to pay double, because I think the decency of my sex confines me to eat in my chamber.  I will not trouble you with detecting a number of other falsehoods that are in his letters.  My opinion on the whole (since you give me leave to tell it) is, that if I was to speak in your place, I would tell him, ’That since he is obstinate in going into the army, I will not oppose it; but as I do not approve, I will advance no equipage till I know his behaviour to be such as shall deserve my future favour.  Hitherto he has always been directed, either by his own humour, or the advice of those he thought better friends to him than myself.  If he renounces the army, I will continue to him his former allowance; notwithstanding his repeated disobedience, under the most solemn professions of duty.  When I see him act like a sincere honest man, I shall believe well of him; the opinion of others, who either do not know him or are imposed on by his pretences, weighs nothing with me.”

On May 30 Lady Mary went from Avignon to Valence, where about a week later her son visited her.  She at once sent a full account to Montagu.

“Avignon, June 10 [1742.]

“I am just returned from passing two days with our son, of whom I will give you the most exact account I am capable of.  He is so much altered in his person, I should scarcely have known him.  He has entirely lost his beauty, and looks at least seven years older than he is; and the wildness that he always had in his eyes is so much increased it is downright shocking, and I am afraid will end fatally.  He is grown fat, but is still genteel, and has an air of politeness that is agreeable.  He speaks French like a Frenchman, and has got all the fashionable expressions of that language, and a volubility of words which he always had, and which I do not wonder should pass for wit with inconsiderate people.  His behaviour is perfectly civil, and I found him very submissive; but in the main, no way really improved in his understanding, which is exceedingly weak; and I am convinced he will always be led by the person he converses with either right or wrong, not being capable of forming any fixed judgment of his own.  As to his enthusiasm, if