Your letter of the 29th, for which you are so good as to make excuses on not sending it to the post in time, did arrive but two days later than usual; and as it is now two months from the 16th of March, and I have so many certificates of the prosperous state of your pretty nose, I attributed the delay to the elements, and took no panic.  But how kindly punctual you are, When you charge yourself’ with an irregularity of two days! and when your letters are so charmingly long, and interest me so much in all you do!  But make no more excuses.  I reproach myself with occasioning so much waste of your time, that you might employ every hour; for it is impossible to see all that the Medicis had collected or encouraged in the loveliest little city, and in such beautiful environs-nor had I forgotten the Cascines, the only spot containing English verdure.  Mrs. Damer is as well, if not better, than she has been a great while:  her looks surprise every body; to which, as she is tanned, her Spanish complexion contributes.  She and I called, the night before last, on your friend Mrs. Cholmeley; and they are to make me a visit to-morrow morning, by their own appointment.  At Dover Mrs. Damer heard the Gunnings are there:  here, they are forgotten.

You are learning perspective, to take views:  I am glad.  Can one have too many resources in one’s self?  Internal armour is more necessary to your sex, than weapons to ours.  You have neither professions, nor politics, nor ways of getting money, like men; in any of which, whether successful or not, they are employed.  Scandal and cards you will both always hate and despise, as much as you do now; and though I shall not flatter Mary so much as to suppose she will ever equal the extraordinary talent of Agnes in painting, yet, as Mary, like the scriptural Martha, is occupied in many things, she is quite in the right to add the pencil to her other amusements.

I knew the Duchesse de Brissac(790) a little, and but a little, in 1766.  She was lively and seemed sensible, and had an excellent character.  Poor M. de Thygnols!(791) to be deprived of that only remaining child too!—­but, how many French one pities, and how many more one abhors!  How dearly will even liberty be bought, (if it shall prove to be obtained, which I neither think it is or will be,) by every kind of injustice and violation of consciences!  How little conscience can they have, who leave to others no option but between perjury and starving!  The Prince de Chimay I do not know.

After answering the articles of yours, I shall add what I can of new.  After several weeks spent in search of precedents, for trials ceasing or not on a dissolution of parliament, the Peers on Monday sat till three in the morning on the report; when the Chancellor and Lord Hawkesbury fought for the cessation, but were beaten by a large majority; which showed that Mr. Pitt(792) has more weight (at present) in that House too, than—­the diamonds of Bengal.  Lord Hawkesbury protested.  The trial recommences on Monday next, and has already caused the public fourteen thousand pounds; the accused, I suppose, much more.