be absolutely excluded.  In a minute, the yard, the kitchen, and the parlour, were filled.  Mr. Grenville, advancing toward me, shook me by the hand with a degree of cordiality that was extremely seducing.  As soon as he and as many more as could find chairs, were seated, he began to open the intent of his visit.  I told him I had no vote, for which he readily gave me credit.  I assured him I had no influence, which he was not equally inclined to believe, and the less, no doubt, because Mr. Ashburner, the draper, addressing himself to me at this moment, informed me that I had a great deal.  Supposing that I could not be possessed of such a treasure without knowing it, I ventured to confirm my first assertion, by saying, that if I had any I was utterly at a loss to imagine where it could be, or wherein it consisted.  Thus ended the conference.  Mr. Grenville squeezed me by the hand again, kissed the ladies, and withdrew.  He kissed likewise the maid in the kitchen, and seemed upon the whole a most loving, kissing, kind-hearted gentlemen.  He has a pair of very good eyes in his head, which not being sufficient as it should seem for the many nice and difficult purposes of a senator, he has a third also, which he wore suspended by a riband from his buttonhole.  The boys halloo’d, the dogs barked, Puss scampered, the hero, with his long train of obsequious followers, withdrew.  We made ourselves very merry with the adventure, and in a short time settled into our former tranquillity, never probably to be thus interrupted more.  I thought myself, however, happy in being able to affirm truly that I had not that influence for which he sued; and which, had I been possessed of it, with my present views of the dispute between the Crown and the Commons, I must have refused him, for he is on the side of the former.  It is comfortable to be of no consequence in a world where one cannot exercise any without disobliging somebody.  The town, however, seems to be much at his service, and if he be equally successful throughout the country, he will undoubtedly gain his election.  Mr. Ashburner perhaps was a little mortified, because it was evident that I owed the honour of this visit to his misrepresentation of my importance.  But had he thought proper to assure Mr. Grenville that I had three heads, I should not I suppose have been bound to produce them....

To LADY HESKETH

An acquaintance reopened

Olney, 9 Nov. 1785.

MY DEAREST COUSIN,

Whose last most affectionate letter has run in my head ever since I received it, and which I now sit down to answer two days sooner than the post will serve me; I thank you for it, and with a warmth for which I am sure you will give me credit, though I do not spend many words in describing it.  I do not seek new friends, not being altogether sure that I should find them, but have unspeakable pleasure in being still beloved by an old one.  I hope that now our correspondence has suffered its last interruption, and that we shall go down together to the grave, chatting and chirping as merrily as such a scene of things as this will permit.