This is however the present style.  They announced with infinite applause a new production of Tickell:—­it has appeared, and is a most paltry performance.  It is called the Cassette Verte of M. de Sartine, and pretends to be his correspondence with the opposition.  Nay, they are so pitifully mean as to laugh at Dr. Franklin, who has such thorough reason to sit and laugh at them.  What triumph it must be to him to see a miserable pamphlet all the revenge they can take!  There is another, still duller, called Opposition Mornings, in which you are lugged in.  In truth, it is a compliment to any man to except him out of the number of those that have contributed to the shocking disgraces inflicted on this undone country.  When Lord Chatham was minister, he never replied to abuse but by a victory.

I know no private news:  I have been here ever since Tuesday, enjoying my tranquillity, as much as an honest man can do who sees his country ruined.  It is just such a period as makes philosophy wisdom.  There are great moments when every man is called on to exert himself-but when folly, infatuation, delusion, incapacity, and profligacy fling a nation away, and it concurs itself, and applauds its destroyers, a man who has lent no hand to the mischief, and can neither prevent nor remedy the mass of evils, is fully justified in sitting aloof and beholding the tempest rage, with silent scorn and indignant compassion.  Nay, I have, I own, some comfortable reflections.  I rejoice that there is still a great continent of Englishmen who will remain free and independent, and who laugh at the impotent majorities of a prostitute Parliament.  I care not whether General Burgoyne and Governor Johnstone cross over and figure in, and support or oppose; nor whether Mr. Burke, or the superior of the Jesuits, is high commissioner to the kirk of Scotland.  My ideas are such as I have always had, and are too plain and simple to comprehend modern confusions; and, therefore, they suit with those of few men.  What will be the issue of this chaos, I know not, and, probably, shall not see.  I do see with satisfaction, that what was meditated has failed by the grossest folly; and when one has escaped the worst, lesser evils must be endured with patience.

After this dull effusion, I will divert you with a story that made me laugh this morning till I cried.  You know my Swiss David, and his incomprehensible pronunciation.  He came to me, and said, “Auh! dar is Meses Ellis wants some of your large flags to put in her great O.”  With much ado, I found out that Mrs. Ellis had sent for leave to take up some flags out of my meadow for her grotto.

I hope in a few days to see Lady Ailesbury and Miss Jennings here; I have writ to propose it.  What are your intentions?  Do you stay till you have made your island impregnable?  I doubt it will be our only one that will be so.

(360) On the breaking out of the war between this country and America, Spain had offered to mediate between them; but, receiving a refusal, she at once declared herself a principal in the war and ready to fulfil the terms of the family compact.-E.