I have been with Mie Mie at Gainsborough’s,(136) to finish her picture.  I thank you for inquiring after her; it has been one of my comforts that she has escaped any of these colds.  She seems to grow very strong; so far, so good.

Sir G(eorge) M’Cartney and Lady Holl(an)d dined here yesterday, and we had the contrivance to keep our party a secret from Craufurd, for, although he was engaged to two other places, he told March that he should have been glad to have come, and certainly would, if he had known it.  I think verily he grows more tiresome every day, and everybody’s patience is a bout, except Smith’s and Sir George’s.

Sir G(eorge) has been telling me to-day, that Lord Stormont is coming from France, and is to have Lord Marchmont’s place, who is satisfied by the peerage of his son, and that Lord Harcourt will stay but a very little while longer in Ireland.  This must produce in all probability other removes.

I dine to-morrow with Lord Gower, Lady G(ower), Lord and Lady Waldegrave, l’Ambassadeur, and Monsr.  Tessier, at Bedford House.  I shall know, perhaps, something more of this then.  Her Grace has suppers for the class I dine with to-day, but I am not of them.  Monsieur Tessier is to read to the Queen, and till then, will read no more; he goes down to pass his Xmas at Wilton.  I wish, for Lady Carlisle’s entertainment, that you had him for two or three days, at Castle H.

I should, with your approbation, have been glad to have carried him with me.  I shall be glad to bring anybody, but I have no prospect, but of John St. John.  Storer tells me that he goes to the Bath.  Eden would be excessively happy to go, if it was for a few days only, but his attendance at this time seems scarcely to be dispensed with.  Our last news from America are certainly not good, but it does not alter my expectations of what will be the issue of the next campaign.  It is a great cause of amusement to Charles, but I see no good to him likely to come from it in the end.

I wish to know, if I could, precisely your time of leaving Castle H(oward).  I should be glad to contrive it, so as to return with you.  You will be here for the Trial,(137) I take for granted.  It will be altogether the most extraordinary one that ever happened in this or I believe any other country.  It is a cursed, foul pool, which they are going to stir up, and-how many rats, cats, and dogs, with other nuisances, will be seen floating at the top, nobody can tell.  It will be as much a trial of the E(arl) of B(ristol) as of her, and in point of infamy, the issue of it will be the same, and the poor defunct Duke stand upon record as the completest Coglione of his time.  The Attorney and Solicitor General have appointed Friday, as I hear, for a hearing of what her Bar can say in favour of a Noli prosequi, which is surely nothing.

(136) Gainsborough was at this time living at Schomberg House, Pall Mall, and therefore was a near neighbour of Selwyn.  This portrait is not to be found among Gainsborough’s existing works.