Thus, you see the crisis is advanced far beyond orations, and wears all the aspect of civil war.  For can one imagine that the whole nation is converted at once, and in some measure without provocation from the King, who, far from enforcing the prerogative like Charles the First, Cancelled the despotism obtained for his grandfather by the Chancellor Maupeou, has exercised no tyranny, and has shown a disposition to let the constitution be amended.  It did want it indeed; but I fear the present want of temper grasps at so much, that they defeat their own purposes; and where loyalty has for ages been the predominant characteristic of a nation, it cannot be eradicated at once.  Pity will soften the tone of the moment; and the nobility and clergy have more interest in wearing a royal than a popular yoke; for great lords and high-priests think the rights of mankind a defalcation of-their privileges.  No man living is more devoted to liberty than I am; yet blood is a terrible price to pay for it!  A martyr to liberty is the noblest of characters; but to sacrifice the lives of others, though for the benefit of all, is a strain of heroism that I could never ambition.

I have just been reading Voltaire’s Correspondence,—­one of those heroes who liked better to excite martyrs, than to be one.  How vain would he be, if alive now!  I was struck with one of his letters to La Chalotais, who was a true upright patriot and martyr too.  In the 221 st Letter of the sixth volume, Voltaire says to him, “Vous avez jett`e des germes qui produiront un jour plus qu’on ne pense.”  It was lucky for me that you inquired about France; I had not a halfpennyworth more of news in my wallet.

A person who was very apt to call on you every morning for a Minute, and stay three hours, was with me the other day, and his grievance from the rain was the swarms of gnats.  I said, I supposed I have very bad blood, for gnats never bite me.  He replied, “I believe I have bad blood, too, for dull people, who would tire me to death, never Come Dear me.”  Shall I beg a pallet-full of that repellent for you, to set in your window as barbers do?

I believe you will make me grow a little of a newsmonger, though you are none; but I know that at a distance, in the country, letters of news are a regale.  I am not wont to listen to the batteries on each side of me at Hampton-court and Richmond; but in your absence I shall turn a less deaf ear to them, in hopes of gleaning something that may amuse you:  though I shall leave their manufactures of scandal for their own home consumption; you happily do not deal in such wares.  Adieu!  I used to think the month of September the dullest of the whole set; now I shall be impatient for it.

(644) The name given by Mr. Walpole to parties coming to view his house.-M.B.

(645) Lady Mary-Amelia, daughter of Wills, first Marquis of Downshire; married, in 1773, to James seventh Earl of Salisbury, advanced, in August 1789, to the title of Marquis.  Her ladyship was a warm patroness of the art of archery, and a first-rate equestrian.  In November 1835, at the age of eighty-four, she was burnt to death at Hatfield-house.-E.