[Footnote 1:  French chroniclers remark that the title Abbe had long since ceased in France to denote the possession of any ecclesiastical preferment, but had become a courteous denomination of unemployed ecclesiastics; and they compare it to the use of the term “Esquire” in England.]

There is nothing new, but a very dull pamphlet written by Lord Bath, and his chaplain Douglas, called a “Letter to Two Great Men.”  It is a plan for the peace, and much adopted by the City, and much admired by all who are too humble to judge for themselves.

I was much diverted the other morning with another volume on birds by Edwards, who has published four or five.  The poor man, who is grown very old and devout, begs God to take from him the love of natural philosophy; and having observed some heterodox proceedings among bantam cocks, he proposes that all schools of girls and boys should be promiscuous, lest, if separated, they should learn wayward passions.  But what struck me most were his dedications, the last was to God; this is to Lord Bute, as if he was determined to make his fortune in one world or the other.

Pray read Fontaine’s fable of the lion grown old; don’t it put you in mind of anything?  No! not when his shaggy majesty has borne the insults of the tiger and the horse, &c., and the ass comes last, kicks out his only remaining fang, and asks for a blue bridle? Apropos, I will tell you the turn Charles Townshend gave to this fable.  “My lord,” said he, “has quite mistaken the thing; he soars too high at first:  people often miscarry by not preceding by degrees; he went and at once asked for my Lord Carlisle’s garter—­if he would have been contented to ask first for my Lady Carlisle’s garter, I don’t know but he would have obtained it!” Adieu!

CAPTURE OF CARRICKFERGUS.

TO SIR HORACE MANN.

ARLINGTON STREET, Feb. 28, 1760.

The next time you see Marshal Botta, and are to act King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, you must abate about a hundredth thousandth part of the dignity of your crown.  You are no more monarch of all Ireland, than King O’Neil, or King Macdermoch is.  Louis XV. is sovereign of France, Navarre, and Carrickfergus.  You will be mistaken if you think the peace is made, and that we cede this Hibernian town, in order to recover Minorca, or to keep Quebec and Louisbourg.  To be sure, it is natural you should think so:  how should so victorious and heroic a nation cease to enjoy any of its possessions, but to save Christian blood?  Oh!  I know you will suppose there has been another insurrection, and that it is King John of Bedford, and not King George of Brunswick, that has lost this town.  Why, I own you are a great politician, and see things in a moment—­and no wonder, considering how long you have been employed in negotiations; but for once all your sagacity is mistaken.  Indeed, considering the total destruction of the maritime force of France,