The curtain was at last drawn up, the day before yesterday, and discovered the new actors together with some of the old ones.  I do not name them to you, because to-morrow’s Gazette will do it full as well as I could.  Mr. Pitt, who had carte blanche given him, named every one of them:  but what would you think he named himself for?  Lord Privy Seal; and (what will astonish you, as it does every mortal here) Earl of Chatham.  The joke here is, that he has had a fall upstairs, and has done himself so much hurt, that he will never be able to stand upon his legs again.  Everybody is puzzled how to account for this step; though it would not be the first time that great abilities have been duped by low cunning.  But be it what it will, he is now certainly only Earl of Chatham; and no longer Mr. Pitt, in any respect whatever.  Such an event, I believe, was never read nor heard of.  To withdraw, in the fullness of his power, and in the utmost gratification of his ambition, from the House of Commons, (which procured him his power, and which could alone ensure it to him) and to go into that hospital of incurables, the House of Lords, is a measure so unaccountable, that nothing but proof positive could have made me believe it:  but true it is.  Hans Stanley is to go ambassador to Russia; and my nephew, Ellis, to Spain, decorated with the red ribband.  Lord Shelburne is your secretary of state, which I suppose he has notified to you this post by a circular letter.  Charles Townshend has now the sole management of the House of Commons; but how long he will be content to be only Lord Chatham’s viceregent there, is a question which I will not pretend to decide.  There is one very bad sign for Lord Chatham in his new dignity; which is, that all his enemies, without exception, rejoice at it; and all his friends are stupefied and dumb-founded.  If I mistake not much, he will in the course of a year enjoy perfect otium cum dignitate.  Enough of politics.

Is the fair, or at least the fat Miss C——­ with you still?  It must be confessed that she knows the art of courts, to be so received at Dresden and so connived at in Leicester-fields.

There never was so wet a summer as this has been, in the memory of man; we have not had one single day, since March, without some rain; but most days a great deal.  I hope that does not affect your health, as great cold does; for with all these inundations it has not been cold.  God bless you!

SAMUEL JOHNSON

1709-1784

To BENNET LANGTON

Postponement of a visit

6 May, 1755.

SIR,

It has been long observed, that men do not suspect faults which they do not commit; your own elegance of manners, and punctuality of complaisance, did not suffer you to impute to me that negligence of which I was guilty, and [for] which I have not since atoned.  I received both your letters, and received them with pleasure proportioned to the esteem which so short an acquaintance strongly impressed, and which I hope to confirm by nearer knowledge, though I am afraid that gratification will be for a time withheld.