Dear Sir, I must never send you trifles; for you always make me real presents in return.  The beauty of the coin surprises me.  Mr. White must be rich, when such are his duplicates.  I am acquainted with him, and have often intended to visit his collection; but it is one of those things one never does, because one always may.  I give you a thousand thanks in return, and what are not worth more, my own print, Lord Herbert’s Life, (this is curious, though it cost me little,) and some orange flowers.  I wish you had mentioned the latter sooner:  I have had an amazing profusion this year, and given them away to the right and left by handfuls.  These are all I could collect to-day, as I was coming to town; but you shall have more if you want them.

I consign these things as you ordered — I wish the print may arrive without being rumpled:  it is difficult to convey mezzotintos; but if this is spoiled you shall have another.

If I make any stay in France, which I do not think I shall, above six weeks at most, you shall certainly hear from me but I am a bad commissioner for searching you out a hermitage.  It is too much against my interest- and I had much rather find you one in the neighbourhood of Strawberry.  Adieu!

Letter 218 To The Earl Of Hertford.  Strawberry Hill, August 3, 1764. (page 332)

As my letters are seldom proper for the post now, I begin them at any time, and am forced to trust to chance for a conveyance.  This difficulty renders my news very stale:  but what can I do?  There does not happen enough at this season of’ the year to fill a mere gazette.  I should be more sorry to have you think me silent too long.  You must be so good as to recollect, when there is a large interval between my letters, that I have certainly one ready in my writing-box, and only wait for a messenger.  I hope to send this by Lord Coventry.  For the next three weeks, indeed, I shall not be able to write, as I go in a few days with your brother to Chatsworth and Wentworth Castle.

I am under more distress about my visit to you—­but I will tell you the truth.  As I think the Parliament Will not meet before Christmas, though they now talk of it for November, I would quit our Politics for a few weeks; but the expense frightens me, which did not use to be one of my fears.  I cannot but expect, knowing the enemies I have, that the treasury may distress me.(633) I had laid by a little sum which I intended to bawble away at Paris; but I may have very serious occasion for it.  The recent example of Lord Holderness,(634) Who has had every rag seized at the Custom-house, alarms my present prudence.  I cannot afford to buy even clothes, which I may lose in six weeks.  These considerations dispose me to wait till I see a little farther into this chaos.  You know enough of the present actors in the political drama to believe that the present system is not a