LETTER CCCXVII

Bath, October 9, 1770.

Madam:  I am extremely obliged to you for the kind part which you take in my, health and life:  as to the latter, I am as indifferent myself as any other body can be; but as to the former, I confess care and anxiety, for while I am to crawl upon this planet, I would willingly enjoy the health at least of an insect.  How far these waters will restore me to that, moderate degree of health, which alone I aspire at, I have not yet given them a fair trial, having drank them but one week; the only difference I hitherto find is, that I sleep better than I did.

I beg that you will neither give yourself, nor Mr. Fitzhugh, much trouble about the pine plants; for as it is three years before they fruit, I might as well, at my age, plant oaks, and hope to have the advantage of their timber:  however, somebody or other, God knows who, will eat them, as somebody or other will fell and sell the oaks I planted five-and-forty years ago.

I hope our boys are well; my respects to them both.  I am, with the greatest truth, your faithful and humble servant, Chesterfield.

LETTER CCCXVIII

Bath, November 4,1770

Madam:  The post has been more favorable to you than I intended it should, for, upon my word, I answered your former letter the post after I had received it.  However you have got a loss, as we say sometimes in Ireland.

My friends from time to time require bills of health from me in these suspicious times, when the plague is busy in some parts of Europe.  All I can say, in answer to their kind inquiries, is, that I have not the distemper properly called the plague; but that I have all the plague of old age and of a shattered carcass.  These waters have done me what little good I expected from them; though by no means what I could have wished, for I wished them to be ‘les eaux de Jouvence’.

I had a letter, the other day, from our two boys; Charles’ was very finely written, and Philip’s very prettily:  they are perfectly well, and say that they want nothing.  What grown-up people will or can say as much?  I am, with the truest esteem, Madam, your most faithful servant.  Chesterfield.

LETTER CCCXIX

Bath, October 27,1771.

Madam:  Upon my word, you interest yourself in the state of my existence more than I do myself; for it is worth the care of neither of us.  I ordered my valet de chambre, according to your orders, to inform you of my safe arrival here; to which I can add nothing, being neither better nor worse than I was then.

I am very glad that our boys are well.  Pray give them the inclosed.

I am not at all surprised at Mr.------’s conversion, for he was, at
seventeen, the idol of old women, for his gravity, devotion, and
dullness.  I am, Madam, your most faithful, humble servant,
Chesterfield.

LETTER CCCXX