I am very sensible of your lordship’s kindness to my nephew Mr. Cholmondeley.  He is a sensible, well-behaved young man, and, I trust, would not have abused your goodness.  Mr. Mason writes to me, that he shall be at York at the end of this month.  I was to have gone to Nuneham; but the house is so little advanced, that it is a question whether they can receive me.  Mason, I doubt, has been idle there.  I am sure, if he found no muses there, he could pick up none at Oxford, where there is not so much as a bedmaker that ever lived in a muse’s family.  Tonton begs his duty to all the lambs, and trusts that Lady Strafford will not reject his homage.

(487) On the 13th of September, when General Elliot repulsed the grand attack made on Gibraltar — and Captain Curtis of the Brilliant, who commanded the marine brigade upon the occasion, and his men, saved numbers of the Spaniards, at the hazard of their own lives.-E.

Letter 256 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, Nov. 5, 1782. (page 321)

I had begun a letter in answer to another person, which I have broken off on receiving yours, dear Sir.  I am exceedingly concerned at the bad account you give of yourself; and yet on weighing it, I flatter myself that you are not Only out of all danger, but have had a fortunate crisis, which I hope will Prolong your life.  A bile surmounted is a present from nature to us, who are not boys:  and though you speak as weary of life from sufferings, and yet with proper resignation and philosophy, it does not frighten me, as I know that any humour and gathering, even in the gum, is strangely dispiriting.  I do not write merely from sympathizing friendship, but to beg that if your bile is not closed or healing, you will let me know; for the bark is essential, yet very difficult to have genuine.  My apothecary here, I believe, has some very good, and I will send you some directly.

I will thank you, but not trouble you with an account of myself.  I had no fit of the gout, nor any new complaint; but it is with the utmost difficulty I keep the humour from laming me entirely, especially in my hands, which are a mine of chalk-stones; but, as they discharge themselves, I flatter myself they prevent heavier attacks.

I do take in the European Magazine, and think it in general one of the best.  I forgot what was said of me:  sometimes I am corrected, sometimes flattered, and care for neither.  I have not seen the answer to Mr. Warton, but will send for it.

I shall not be sorry on my own account if Dr. Lort quits Lambeth, and comes to Saville-row, which is in my neighbourhood; but I did not think a wife was the stall where he would set up his staff.

You have given me the only reason why I cannot be quite sorry that you do not print what you had prepared for the press.  No kind intention towards me from you surprises me-but then I want no new proofs.  My wish, for whatever shall be the remainder of my life is to be quiet and forgotten.  Were my course to recommence, and one could think in youth as one does at sixty-five, I have no notion I should have courage to appear as an author.  Do you know, too, that I look on fame now as the idlest of all visions? but this theme would lead me too far.