Your good mother is always sure of my sincerest regard; pray, tell her so.

Connor is getting on very well:  but, I cannot ask Captain Capel to rate him; that must depend upon the boy’s fitness, and Capel’s kindness.  I have placed another year’s allowance of thirty pounds in Capel’s hands, and given Connor a present.

What a story, about Oliver and Mr. Matcham buying an estate in Holstein; and, to sell out at such a loss!  I never heard the like.  I sincerely hope it will answer his expectations; it is a fine country, but miserably cold.

How can Tyson be such a fool!  I sincerely hope, he will never want money.  I am not surprised at Troubridge’s abuse; but, his tongue is no scandal.  You make me laugh, when you imitate the Doctor!

I am quite delighted with Miss Yonge’s goodness:  and I beg you will make my best respects to her and her good father; and assure Mr. Yonge, how much obliged I feel for all his kind attentions to you.  Those who do that, are sure of a warm place in my esteem.

I have wrote to Dumourier; therefore, I will only trouble you to say how much I respect him.  I fancy he must have suffered great distress at Altona.  However, I hope, he will now be comfortable for life.  He is a very clever man; and beats our Generals, out and out.  Don’t they feel his coming?  Advise him not to make enemies, by shewing he knows more than some of us.  Envy knows no bounds to its persecution.  He has seen the world, and will be on his guard.

I put Suckling into a frigate, with a very good man, who has a schoolmaster; he does very well.  Bulkley will be a most excellent sea-officer; it is a pity he has not served his time.  I have answered Mr. Suckling’s letter.

Gaetano is very well, and desires his duty.  I think, sometimes, that he wishes to be left at Naples; but, I am not sure.

Mr. Denis’s relation has been long in the Victory; but, if the Admiralty will not promote my lieutenants, they must all make a retrograde motion.  But, I hope, they will not do such a cruel thing.  I have had a very affectionate letter from Lord Minto.  I hope George will be confirmed; but, the Earl will not answer his application.

I shall send you some sherry, and a cask of paxoretti, by the convoy.  Perhaps, it had better go to Merton, at once; or, to Davison’s cellar, where the wine-cooper can draw it off.  I have two pipes of sherry, that is bad; but, if you like, you can send the Doctor a hogshead of that which is coming.  Davison will pay all the duties.  Send it entirely free, even to the carriage.  You know, doing the thing well, is twice doing it; for, sometimes, carriage is more thought of than the prime cost.

The paxoretti I have given to Davison; and ordered one hogshead of sherry to Canterbury, and one to dear Merton.

LETTER XXXVII.

  Victory, September 10th, 1803.