The French whisper in confidence, in order that it may be the more known and the more credited, that they intend to invade us this year, in no less than three places; that is England, Scotland, and Ireland.  Some of our great men, like the devils, believe and tremble; others, and one little one whom I know, laugh at it; and, in general, it seems to be but a poor, instead of a formidable scarecrow.  While somebody was at the head of a moderate army, and wanted (I know why) to be at the head of a great one, intended invasions were made an article of political faith; and the belief of them was required, as in the Church the belief of some absurdities, and even impossibilities, is required upon pain of heresy, excommunication, and consequently damnation, if they tend to the power and interest of the heads of the Church.  But now that there is a general toleration, and that the best subjects, as well as the best Christians, may believe what their reasons find their consciences suggest, it is generally and rationally supposed the French will threaten and not strike, since we are so well prepared, both by armies and fleets, to receive and, I may add, to destroy them.  Adieu!  God bless you.

LETTER CCXLV

Blackheath, June 15, 1759

My dear friend:  Your letter of the 5th, which I received yesterday, gave me great satisfaction, being all in your own hand; though it contains great, and I fear just complaints of your ill state of health.  You do very well to change the air; and I hope that change will do well by you.  I would therefore have you write after the 20th of August, to Lord Holderness, to beg of him to obtain his Majesty’s leave for you to return to England for two or three months, upon account of your health.  Two or three months is an indefinite time, which may afterward insensibly stretched to what length one pleases; leave that to me.  In the meantime, you may be taking your measures with the best economy.

The day before yesterday, an express arrived from Guadaloupe which brought an account of our being in possession of the whole island.  And I make no manner of doubt but that, in about two months, we shall have as good news from Crown-point, Quebec, etc.  Our affairs in Germany, I fear, will not be equally prosperous; for I have very little hopes for the King of Prussia or Prince Ferdinand.  God bless you.

LETTER CCXLVI

Blackheath, June 25, 1759

My dear friend:  The two last mails have brought me no letter from you or your secretary.  I will take this as a sign that you are better; but, however, if you thought that I cared to know, you should have cared to have written.  Here the weather has been very fine for a fortnight together, a longer term than in this climate we are used to hold fine weather by.  I hope it is so, too, at Hamburg, or at least at the villa to which you are gone; but pray do not let it be your ‘villa viciosa’, as those retirements are often called, and too often prove; though, by the way, the original name was ‘villa vezzosa’; and by wags miscalled ‘viciosa’.