You say their outrageous folly tempts you to smile(862)—­yes, yes:  at times I should have laughed too, if I could have dragged my muscles at once from the zenith of horror to the nadir of contempt:  but their abominations leave one leisure enough to leap from indignation to mirth.  I abhor war and bloodshed as much as you do; but unless the earth is purged of such monsters, peace and morality will never return.  This is not a war of nation and nation; it is the cause of every thing dear and sacred to civilized man, against the unbounded licentiousness of assassins, who massacre even the generals who fight for them—­not that I pity the latter; but to whom can a country be just that rewards tools with the axe?  What animal is so horrible as one that devours its own young ones?

That execrable nation overwhelms ill moralizing.  At any other minute the unexpected death of Lady Falmouth would be striking:  yet I am sorry for Mrs. Boscawen.  I have been ill for six weeks with the gout, and am just recovered:  yet I remember it less than the atrocities of France; and I remember, if possible, with greater indignation, their traitors here at home; amongst whom are your antagonists.  Do not apologize for talking Of them and yourself.  Punish them not by answering, but by supporting the good cause, and by stigmatizing the most imprudent impiety that ever was avowed.

Mrs. Garrick dined here to-day, with some of the quality of Hampton and Richmond.  She appears quite well, and was very cheerful:  I wish you were as well recovered.  Do you remember how ill I found you both last year in the Adelphi?  Adieu! thou excellent champion, as well as practiser, of all goodness.  Let the vile abuse vented against you be balm to your mind:  your writings must have done great service, when they have so provoked the enemy.  All who have religion or principle must revere your name.  Who would not be hated by Duponts and Dantons!—­and if abhorrence of atheism implies Popery, reckon it a compliment to be called Papist.  The French have gone such extravagant lengths, that to preach or practise massacres is, with them, the sole test of merit-of patriotism.  Just in one point Only they have merit; they sacrifice the blackest criminals with as much alacrity as the most innocent or the most virtuous:  but I beg your pardon; I know not how to stop when I talk of these ruffians.  Yours, most cordially and most sincerely.

(860) Now first collected.

(861) Three abusive answers to Miss More’s pamphlet against M. Dupont had just been published.-E.

(862) Miss More had said,—­“These mad monkeys of the Convention do contrive to enliven my unappeasable indignation against them with occasional provocatives to mirth.  How do you like the egregious inventions of the anniversary follies of the 10th of August?"-E.

Letter 408 To The Miss Berrys.  Strawberry Hill, Tuesday evening, eight o’clock, Oct. 15, 1793. (page 547)