that consolation being abridged.  I pique myself on no philosophy but what a long use and knowledge of the world had given me-the philosophy of indifference to most persons and events.  I do pique myself on not being ridiculous at this very late period of my life; but when there is not a grain of passion in my affection for you two, and when you both have the good sense not to be displeased at my telling you so, (though I hope you would have despised me for the contrary,) I am not ashamed to say that your loss is heavy to me; and that I am only reconciled to it by hoping that a winter in Italy, and the journeys and sea air, will be very beneficial to two constitutions so delicate as yours.  Adieu! my dearest friends it would be tautology to subscribe a name to a letter, every line of which would suit no other man in the world but the writer.

(702) This alludes to Miss Berry’s father having been disinherited by an uncle, to whom he was heir at law, and a large property left to his younger brother.-M.B.

(703) A drawing by Miss Agnes Berry.

(704) Julia Howe, an unmarried sister of Admiral Earl Howe, who lived at Richmond.

Letter 357 To The Miss Berrys.  Sunday, Oct. 31, 1790. (page 457)

Perhaps I am unreasonably impatient, and expect letters before they can come.  I expected a letter from Lyons three days ago, though Mrs. Damer told me I should not have one till to-morrow.  I have got one to-day; but alas! from Pougues only, eleven and a half posts short of Lyons!  Oh! may Mrs. Damer prove in the right to-morrow!  Well!  I must be happy for the past; and that you had such delightful weather, and but one little accident to your carriage.  We have had equal summer till Wednesday last, when it blew a hurricane.  I said to it, “Blow, blow, thou winter wind, I don’t mind you now!” but I have not forgotten Tuesday the 12th; and now I hope it will be as calm as it is to-day on Wednesday next, when Mrs. Damer is to sail.(705) I was in town on Thursday and Friday, and so were her parents, to take our leaves; as we did on Friday night, supping all at Richmond-house.  She set out yesterday morning, and I returned hither.  I am glad you had the amusement of seeing the National Assembly.  Did Mr. Berry find it quite so august as he intended it should be?  Burke’s pamphlet is to appear to-morrow, and Calonne has published a thumping one of four hundred and forty pages.(706) I have but begun it, for there is such a quantity of calculations, and one is forced to bait so often to boil milliards of livres down to a rob of pounds sterling, that my head is only filled with figures instead of arguments, and I understand arithmetic less than logic.