There are parties among them, I find; la Duchesse de Biron and Me de Cambis for the Etats Generaux; Me de Boufflers (and) M. de Calonne(275) pour le parti du Roi.  It was right to apprise me of all this, or I should, with my civilities, have made a thousand qui pro quo’s; but had I known that Lady Derby was in town, I should have gone to her, undoubtedly, par preference, as I shall do, the very next time I go to London.  I am desired to dine there on Sunday with Lord Brudnell, but really the going, though but nine miles, par des chemins si bourbeux, and changing my room and bed at this time, is not to my mind.  I shall keep here quietly as much as I can, till I know of your being come to town, but when will that be?

If Lord Jersey(276) cannot keep himself steady neither on his legs or his horse, you may be confined at C(astle) H(oward) the whole winter, which is better than to be at Gainthrop with me, and Hodgsson, that is certain.  I did not hear but of one of his falls till yesterday, at Lord Ashburnham’s.(277) My respects to them both, I beg.  Mie Mie sends hers to your Ladyship, with a thousand kind compliments besides.  Caroline will receive both from her and me a letter on her arrival at Stackpole Court, and I shall now make no scruple to write to her often, since I find, what I wished, that it is paying my court to Mr. C(ampbell) expressing my affection to her.

Poor William’s watch I found in a sad condition.  I brought it to town, as he desired, and have lodged it safely with my watch-maker, against his coming home.  Miss Digby, the Dean’s(278) daughter, it is supposed, will be the new Maid of Honour.  Hotham has poor Lord Waldegrave’s Regiment; the chariot is not yet disposed of; I will bet my money on Lord Winchelsea.

I wish that I could find out, if there were any thoughts of your brother’s going Ambassador to France.  I have as yet no authority for it, but the papers.

The K(ing) was at the play last night, for the first time.  The acclamations, as I am told, were prodigious.  Tears of joy were shed in abundance.  Nous savons ce que c’est que la populace, et combien peu il en coute a leurs caprices, ou de pleurer, on de massacrer, selon l’occasion.

We are at peace at home, I thank God, four le moment.  I hope that it will continue, and that no Lord Stanhope, or a Dr. Priestly, will think a change of Government would make us happier.  John is now at the ackma (acme) of Theatrical reputation, and we shall see his name on every rubrick post, I suppose, of all the Booksellers between St. James’s and the Temple, with that of Congreve, Otway, &c., &c.

(273) Miss Gunning was married to the Hon. Stephen Digby on Jan. 6, 1790, see ante letter of November 2, 1788, paragraph beginning “Miss Gunning I find at the Park . . .”, and note (235).