They now talk of the King’s not going abroad:  I like to talk on that side; because though it may not be true, one may at least be able to give some sort of reason why he should not.  We go into mourning for your Electress on Sunday; I suppose they will tack the Elector of Mentz to her, for he is just dead.  I delight in Richcourt’s calculation- I don’t doubt but it is the method he often uses in accounting with the Great Duke.

I have had two letters from you of the 5th and 12th, with a note of things coming by sea; but my dear child, you are either run Roman Catholicly devout, or take me to be so; for nothing but a religious fit of zeal could make you think of sending me so many presents.  Why, there are Madonnas enough in one case to furnish a more than common cathedral-I absolutely will drive to Demetrius, the silversmith’s, and bespeak myself a pompous shrine!  But indeed, seriously, how can I, who have a conscience, and am no saint, take all these things?  You must either let me pay for them, or I will demand my unfortunate coffee-pot again, which has put you upon ruining yourself By the way, do let me have it again, for I cannot trust it any longer in your hands at this rate; and since I have found out its virtue, I will present it to somebody, whom I shall have no scruple of letting send me bales and cargoes, and ship-loads of Madonnas, perfumes, prints, frankincense, etc.  You have not even drawn upon me for my statue, my hermaphrodite, my gallery, and twenty other things, for which I am lawfully your debtor.

I must tell you one thing, that I will not say a word to my lord of this Argosie, as Shakspeare calls his costly ships, till it is arrived, for he will tremble for his Dominichin, and think it will not come safe in all this company-by the way, will a captain of a man-of-war care to take all?  We were talking over Italy last night- my lord protests, that if he thought he had strength, he would see Florence, Bologna, and Rome, by way of Marseilles, to Leghorn.  You may imagine how I gave in to such a jaunt.  I don’t set my heart upon it, because I think he cannot do it; but if he does, I promise you, you shall be his Cicerone.  I delight in the gallantry of the Princess’s brother.(793) I will tell you what, if the Italians don’t take care, they will grow as brave and as wrongheaded as their neighbours.  Oh! how shall I do about writing to her?  Well, if I can, I will be bold, and write to her to-night.

I have no idea what the two minerals are that you mention, but I will inquire, and if there are such, you shall have them; and gold and silver, if they grow in this land; for I am sure I am deep enough in your debt.  Adieu! .

P. S. It won’t do!  I have tried to write, but you would bless yourself to see what stuff I have been forging for half an hour, and have not waded through three lines of paper. i have totally forgot my Italian, and if she will but have prudence enough to support the loss of a correspondence, which was long since worn threadbare, we will come to as decent a silence as may be.