I have only seen, not known, the younger Madame de Boufflers.  For her musical talents, I am little worthy of them-yet I am just going to Lady Bingham’s to hear the Bastardella, whom, though the first singer in Italy, Mrs. Yates could not or would not agree with,(166) and she is to have twelve hundred pounds for singing twelve times at the Pantheon, where, if she had a voice as loud as Lord Clare’s, she could not be heard.  The two bon-mots You sent me are excellent; but, alas!  I had heard them both before; consequently your own, which is very good too, pleased me much more.  M. de Stainville I think you will not like:  he has sense, but has a dry military harshness, that at least did not suit me—­and then I hate his barbarity to his Wife.(167)

You was very lucky indeed to get one of the sixty tickets.(168) Upon the whole, your travels have been very fortunate, and the few mortifications amply compensated.  If a Duke(169) has been spiteful when your back was turned, a hero-king has been all courtesy.  If another King has been silent, an emperor has been singularly gracious- -Frowns or silence may happen to anybody:  the smiles have been addressed to you particularly.  So was the ducal frown indeed-but would you have earned a smile at the price set on it?  One cannot do right and be always applauded—­ but in such cases are not frowns tantamount?

As my letter will not set forth till the day after to-morrow, I reserve the rest for my additional news, and this time will reserve it.

St. Parliament’s day, 29th, after breakfast.

The speech is said to be firm, and to talk of the rebellion(170) of our province of Massachusetts.  No sloop is yet arrived to tell us how to call the rest.  Mr. Van(171) is to move for the expulsion of Wilkes; which will distress, and may produce an odd scene.  Lord Holland is certainly dead; the papers say, Robinson too, but that I don’t know—­so many deaths of late make report kill to right and left.

(161) Two rival Eloges of Fontenelle, by ChamPfort and La Harpe.-E.

(162) A cant phrase of Mr. Walpole’s; which took its rise from the following story:—­The tutor of a young Lord Castlecomer, who lived at Twickenham with his mother, having broken his leg, and somebody pitying the poor man to Lady Castlecomer, she replied, “Yes indeed, it is very inconvenient to my Lord Castlecomer."-E.

(163) Dr. James Johnson.-E.

(164) The seizure of Fort William and Mary, near Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, by the provincial militia, in which they found many barrels of gunpowder, several pieces of cannon, etc.-E.

(165) Augustus Hervey, to whom she was first married.

(166) Mrs. Yates was at this time joint manager of the Opera with Mrs. Brook.  In November 1773, she spoke a Poetical exordium, by which it appeared that she intended mixing plays with operas, and entertaining the public with singing and declamation alternately; but permission could not be obtained from the Lord Chamberlain to put this plan into execution.-E.