Now for Africa, where we have had great success.  The French have been driven out of all their forts and settlements upon the Gum coast, and upon the river Senegal.  They had been many years in possession of them, and by them annoyed our African trade exceedingly; which, by the way, ‘toute proportion gardee’, is the most lucrative trade we have.  The present booty is likewise very considerable, in gold dust, and gum Seneca; which is very valuable, by being a very necessary commodity, for all our stained and printed linens.

Now for America.  The least sanguine people here expect, the latter end of this month or the beginning of the next, to have the account of the taking of Cape Breton, and of all the forts with hard names in North America.

Captain Clive has long since settled Asia to our satisfaction; so that three parts of the world look very favorable for us.  Europe, I submit to the care of the King of Prussia and Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick; and I think they will give a good account of it.  France is out of luck, and out of courage; and will, I hope, be enough out of spirits to submit to a reasonable peace.  By reasonable, I mean what all people call reasonable in their own case; an advantageous one for us.

I have set all right with Munchausen; who would not own that he was at all offended, and said, as you do, that his daughter did not stay long enough, nor appear enough at Hamburg, for you possibly to know that she was there.  But people are always ashamed to own the little weaknesses of self-love, which, however, all people feel more or less.  The excuse, I saw, pleased.

I will send you your quadrille tables by the first opportunity, consigned to the care of Mr. Mathias here.  ’Felices faustaeque sint!  May you win upon them, when you play with men; and when you play with women, either win or know why you lose.

Miss------marries Mr.-------next week.  Who Proffers love, Proffers death,
says Weller to a dwarf:  in my opinion, the conclusion must instantly
choak the little lady.  Admiral marries Lady; there the danger, if danger
is, will be on the other side.  The lady has wanted a man so long, that
she now compounds for half a one.  Half a loaf—­

I have been worse since my last letter; but am now, I think, recovering; ’tant va la cruche a l’eau’;—­and I have been there very often.

Good-night.  I am faithfully and truly yours.

LETTER CCXXIV

Blackheath, June 27, 1758.

My dear friend:  You either have received already, or will very soon receive, a little case from Amsterdam, directed to you at Hamburg.  It is for Princess Ameba, the King of Prussia’s sister, and contains some books which she desired Sir Charles Hotham to procure her from England, so long ago as when he was at Berlin:  he sent for them immediately; but, by I do not know what puzzle,