(770) M. Elie de Beaumont was admitted an advocate at the French bar in 1762.  The weakness of his voice militated against his success as a pleader, but the beauty and eloquence with which he drew up his M`emoires, and especially the one in favour of the unfortunate Calas family, gained him great reputation.  He was born in 1732, and died in 1786.-E.

(771) A French epistolary novel written by Madame Elie de Beaumont.  She also wrote the third part of “Anecdotes de la Cour et du R`egne de Edouard ii.”  She was born at Caen in 1729, and died in 1783.-E.

(772) “Churchill,” observes Mr. Campbell, in his Specimens of the British Poets, " may be ranked as a satirist immediately after Pope and Dryden, with perhaps a greater share of humour than either.  He has the bitterness of Pope, with less wit to atone for it; but no mean share of the free manner and energetic plainness of Dryden,” Vol. vi.  P. 5.-E.

Letter 245 To The Earl Of Hertford.  Arlington Street, March 28, 1765. (page 382)

Three weeks are a great while, my dear lord, for me to have been without writing to you; but besides that I have passed many days at Strawberry, to cure my cold (which it has done), there has nothing happened worth sending across the sea.  Politics have dozed, and common events been fast asleep.  Of Guerchy’s affair,(773) you probably know more than I do; it is now forgotten.  I told him I had absolute proof of his innocence, for I was sure, that if he had offered money for assassination, the men who swear against him would have taken it.

The King has been very seriously ill,; and in great danger.  I would not alarm you, as there were hopes when he was at the worst.  I doubt he is not free yet from his complaint, as the humour fallen on his breast still oppresses him.  They talk of his having a levee next week, but he has not appeared in public, and the bills are passed by commission; but he rides out.  The Royal Family have suffered like us mortals; the Duke of Gloucester has had a fever, but I believe his chief complaint is of a youthful kind.  Prince Frederick is thought to be in a deep consumption; and for the Duke of Cumberland, next post will probably certify you of his death, as he is relapsed, and there are no hopes Of him.  He fell into his lethargy again, and when they waked him, he said he did not know whether he could call himself obliged to them.

I dined two days ago at Monsieur de Guerchy’s, with the Comte de Caraman,(774) who brought me your letter.  He seems a very agreeable Man, and you may be sure, for Your sake, and Madame de Mirepoix’s, no civilities in my power shall be wanting.  I have not yet seen Schouvaloff,(775) about whom one has more curiosity—­it is an opportunity of gratifying that passion which one can so seldom do in Personages of his historic nature, especially remote foreigners.  I wish M. de Caraman had brought