Letter 304 To The Rev. Mr. COLE.  Arlington Street, May 10, 1766. (page 479)

At last I am come back, dear Sir, and in good health.  I have brought you four cups and saucers, one red and white, one blue and white, and two coloured; and a little box of pastils.  Tell me whether and how I shall convey them to you; or whether you will, as I hope, come to Strawberry this summer, and fetch them yourself; but if you are in the least hurry, I will send them.

I flatter myself you have quite recovered your accident, and have no remains of lameness.  The spring is very wet and cold, but Strawberry alone contains more verdure than all France.

I scrambled very well through the custom-house at Dover, and have got all my china safe from that here in town.  You will see the fruits when you come to Strawberry Hill.  Adieu!

Letter 305 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Arlington Street, May 13, 1766. (page 479)

Dear sir, I am forced to do a very awkward thing, and send you back one of your letters, and, what is still worse, opened.  The case was this:  I received your two at dinner, opened one and laid the other in my lap; but forgetting that I had taken one out of the first, I took up the wrong ’Hand broke it open,. without perceiving my mistake, till I saw the words, Dear Sister.  I give you my honour I read no farther, but had torn it too much to send it away.  Pray excuse me; and another time I beg you will put an envelope, for you write just where the seal comes; and besides, place the seals so together that though I did not quite open the fourth letter, yet it stuck so to the outer seal, that I could not help tearing it a little.  Adieu!

Letter 306 To George Montagu, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, May 25, 1766. (page 480)

When the weather will please to be in a little better temper, I will call upon you to perform your promise; but I cannot in conscience invite you to a fireside.  The Guerchys and French dined here last Monday, and it rained so that we could no more walk in the garden than Noah could.  I came again, to-day, but shall return to town to-morrow, as I hate to have no sun in May, but what I can make with a peck of coals.

I know no news, but that the Duke of Richmond is secretary of state,(956) and that your cousin North has refused the vice-treasurer of Ireland.  It cost him bitter pangs, not to preserve his virtue, but his vicious connexions.  He goggled his eyes, and groped in his money-pocket; more than half consented; nay, so much more, that when he got home he wrote an excuse to Lord Rockingham, which made it plain that he thought he had accepted.  As nobody was dipped deeper in the warrants and prosecution of Wilkes, there is no condoling with the ministers on missing so foul a bargain.  They are only to be pitied, that they can purchase nothing but damaged goods.