The other is less known, communicates himself to nobody, is suspected of deep policy and deep designs, but seems to intend to set out under a mask of very smooth varnish; for he has just obtained the payment of all his bitter enemy La Chalotais’ pensions and arrears.  He has the advantage, too, of being but moderately detested in comparison of his rival, and, what he values more, the interest of the mistress.  The Comptroller-General[3] serves both, by acting mischief more sensibly felt; for he ruins everybody but those who purchase a respite from his mistress.  He dispenses bankruptcy by retail, and will fall, because he cannot even by these means be useful enough.  They are striking off nine millions from la caisse militaire, five from the marine, and one from the affaires etrangeres:  yet all this will not extricate them.  You never saw a great nation in so disgraceful a position.  Their next prospect is not better:  it rests on an imbecille [Louis XVI.], both in mind and body.

[Footnote 1:  Villars Coterets was the country residence of the Duc d’Orleans; Chantilly that of the Prince de Conde; and Chanteloup that of the Duc de Choiseul:  and the mere fact of their being in disgrace at Court was sufficient to make them popular with the people.]

[Footnote 2:  The following specimen of these vaudevilles was given by Madame du Deffand to Walpole:—­

    “L’avez-vous vue, ma Du Barry,
       Elle a ravi mon ame;
       Pour elle j’ai perdu l’esprit,
       Des Francais j’ai le blame: 
    Charmants enfans de la Gourdon,
    Est-elle chez vous maintenant? 
       Rendez-la-moi,
       Je suis le Roi,
    Soulagez mon martyre;
       Rendez-la-moi,
       Elle est a moi,
     Je suis son pauvre Sire. 
    L’avez-vous vue,” &c.

    “Je sais qu’autrefois les laquais
    On fete ses jeunes attraits;
       Que les cochers,
       Les perruquiers,
    L’aimaient, l’aimaient d’amour extreme,
     Mais pas autant que je l’aime. 
    L’avez-vous vue,” &c.]

[Footnote 3:  The Comptroller-General was the Abbe Terrai, notoriously as corrupt as he was incompetent.  One of his measures, reducing the interest on the Debt by one-half, was tantamount to an act of bankruptcy; but the national levity comforted itself by jests, and one evening, when the pit at the theatre was crowded to suffocation, one of the sufferers carried the company with him by shouting out a suggestion to send for the Abbe Terrai to reduce them all to one-half their size.]

ENGLISH GARDENING IN FRANCE—­ANGLOMANIE—­HE IS WEARY OF PARIS—­DEATH OF GRAY.

TO JOHN CHUTE, ESQ.

Paris, August 5, 1771.

It is a great satisfaction to me to find by your letter of the 30th, that you have had no return of your gout.  I have been assured here, that the best remedy is to cut one’s nails in hot water.  It is, I fear, as certain as any other remedy!  It would at least be so here, if their bodies were of a piece with their understandings; or if both were as curable as they are the contrary.  Your prophecy, I doubt, is not better founded than the prescription.  I may be lame; but I shall never be a duck, nor deal in the garbage of the Alley.