I cannot expound to myself the conduct of the Russians.  There must be a trick in their not marching with more expedition.  They have either had a sop from the King of Prussia, or they want an animating dram from France and Austria.  The King of Prussia’s conduct always explains itself by the events; and, within a very few days, we must certainly hear of some very great stroke from that quarter.  I think I never in my life remember a period of time so big with great events as the present:  within two months the fate of the House of Austria will probably be decided:  within the same space of time, we shall certainly hear of the taking of Cape Breton, and of our army’s proceeding to Quebec within a few days we shall know the good or ill success of our great expedition; for it is sailed; and it cannot be long before we shall hear something of the Prince of Brunswick’s operations, from whom I also expect good things.  If all these things turn out, as there is good reason to believe they will, we may once, in our turn, dictate a reasonable peace to France, who now pays seventy per cent insurance upon its trade, and seven per cent for all the money raised for the service of the year.

Comte Bothmar has got the small-pox, and of a bad kind.  Kniphausen diverts himself much here; he sees all places and all people, and is ubiquity itself.  Mitchel, who was much threatened, stays at last at Berlin, at the earnest request of the King of Prussia.  Lady is safely delivered of a son, to the great joy of that noble family.  The expression, of a woman’s having brought her husband a son, seems to be a proper and cautious one; for it is never said from whence.

I was going to ask you how you passed your time now at Hamburg, since it is no longer the seat of strangers and of business; but I will not, because I know it is to no purpose.  You have sworn not to tell me.

Sir William Stanhope told me that you promised to send him some Old Hock from Hamburg, and so you did not.  If you meet with any superlatively good, and not else, pray send over a ‘foudre’ of it, and write to him.  I shall have a share in it.  But unless you find some, either at Hamburg or at Bremen, uncommonly and almost miracuously good, do not send any.  Dixi.  Yours.

LETTER CCXXIII

Blackheath, June 13, 1758.

My dear friend:  The secret is out:  St. Malo is the devoted place.  Our troops began to land at the Bay of Cancale the 5th, without any opposition.  We have no further accounts yet, but expect some every moment.  By the plan of it, which I have seen, it is by no means a weak place; and I fear there will be many hats to be disposed of, before it is taken.  There are in the port above thirty privateers; about sixteen of their own, and about as many taken from us. 237