de Grace; with two bomb-ketches he set the town on fire in different places, and had brought up four more to act, notwithstanding a very smart fire from the forts, which, however, will probably force him to retire without burning the flat-bottomed boats, which are believed out of his reach.  The express came from him on Wednesday morning.  This is Sunday noon, and I don’t know that farther intelligence is arrived.  I am sorry for this sort of war, not only for the sufferers, but I don’t like the precedent, in case the French should land.  I think they will scarce venture; for besides the force on land, we have a mighty chain of fleet and frigates along the coast.  There is great animosity to them, and few can expect to return.

Our part of the war in Germany seems at an end:  Prince Ferdinand is retiring, and has all the advantage of that part of great generalship, a retreat.  From America we expect the greatest things; our force there by land and sea is vast.  I hope we shall not be to buy England back by restoring the North Indies!  I will gladly give them all the hundred thousand acres that may fall to my share on the Olio for my twenty acres here.  Truly I don’t like having them endangered for the limits of Virginia!

I wait impatiently for your last orders for the watch; if the worst comes to the worst, I can convey it to you by some French officer.

The weather is sultry; this country never looked prettier.  I hope our enemies will not have the heart to spoil it!  It would be much disappointment to me, who am going to make great additions to my castle; a gallery, a round tower, and a cabinet, that is to have all the air of a Catholic chapel—­bar consecration.  Adieu!  I will tell you more soon, or I hope no more.

(1041) “Every body,” says Gray, in a letter to Dr. Wharton, of the 21st, “continues as quiet about the invasion as if a Frenchman, as soon as he set his foot on our coast, would die, like a toad in Ireland.  Yet the King’s tents and equipage are ordered to be ready at an hour’s warning.”  Works, vol. iii. p. 218.-E.

498 Letter 323 To Sir David Dalrymple.(1042) Strawberry Hill, July 11, 1759.

You will repent, Sir, I fear, having drawn such a correspondent upon yourself.  An author flattered and encouraged is not easily shaken- off again; but if the interests of my book did not engage me to trouble you, while you are so good as to write me the most entertaining letters in the world, it is very natural for me to lay snares to inveigle more of them.  However, Sir, excuse me this once, and I will be more modest for the future in trespassing on your kindness.  Yet, before I break out on my new wants, it will be but decent, Sir, to answer some particulars of your letter.

I have lately read Mr. Goodall,S(1043) book.  There is certainly ingenuity in parts ’of his defence:  but I believe one seldom thinks a defence ingenious without meaning that it is unsatisfactory.  His work left me fully convinced of what he endeavoured to disprove; and showed me, that the piece you mention is not the only one that he has written against moderation.