I am to dine at Ditton to-morrow, and will certainly talk on the subject You recommend; yet I am far, till I have heard more, from thinking with your ladyship, that more troops and artillery at Jersey would be desirable.  Any considerable quantity of either, especially of the former, cannot be spared at this moment, when so big a cloud ’hangs over this island, nor would any number avail if the French should be masters at sea.  A large garrison would but tempt the French thither, were it but to distress this country; and, what is worse, would encourage Mr. Conway to make an impracticable defence.  If he is to remain in a situation so unworthy of him, I confess I had rather he was totally incapable of making any defence.  I love him enough not to murmur at his exposing himself where his country and his honour demand him; but I would not have him measure himself in a place untenable against very superior force.  My present comfort is, as to him, that France at this moment has a far vaster object.  I have good reason to believe the government knows that a great army is ready to embark at St. Maloes, but will not stir till after a sea-fight, which we do not know but may be engaged at this moment.  Our fleet is allowed to be the finest ever set forth by this country; but it is inferior in number by seventeen ships to the united squadron of the Bourbons.  France, if successful, means to pour in a vast many thousands on us, and has threatened to burn the capital itself, Jersey, my dear Madam, does not enter into a calculation of such magnitude.  The moment is singularly awful; yet the vaunts of enemies are rarely executed successfully and ably.  Have we trampled America under our foot?

You have too good sense, Madam, to be imposed upon by my arguments, if they are insubstantial.  You do know that I have had my terrors for Mr. Conway; but at present they are out of the question, from the insignificance of his island.  Do not listen to rumours, nor believe a single one till it has been canvassed over and over.  Fear, folly, fifty Motives, Will coin new reports every hour at such a conjuncture.  When one is totally void of credit and power, patience is the only wisdom.  I have seen dangers still more imminent.  They were dispersed.  Nothing happens in proportion to what is meditated.  Fortune, whatever fortune is, is more constant than is the common notion.  I do not give this as one of my solid arguments, but I have encouraged myself in being superstitious on the favourable side.  I never, like most superstitious people, believe auguries against my wishes.  We have been fortunate in the escape of Mrs. Damer, and in the defeat at Jersey even before Mr. Conway arrived-, and thence I depend on the same future prosperity.  From the authority of persons who do not reason on such airy hopes, I am seriously persuaded, that if the fleets engage, the enemy will not gain advantage without deep-felt loss, enough probably to dismay