347 letter 122 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, Oct. 12, 1743.

They had sent your letter of Sept. 24th to Houghton the very night I came to town.  I did not receive it back till yesterday, and soon after another, with Mr. Chute’s inclosed, for which I will thank him presently.  But, my dear child, I can, like you, think Of nothing but your bitter father’s letter.—! and that I should have contributed to it! how I detest myself!(864) My dearest Sir, you know all I ever said to him:(865) indeed, I never do see him, and I assure you that I would worship him as the Indians do the Devil, for fear-he should hurt you:  tempt you I find he will not.  He is so avaricious, that I believe, if you asked for a fish, he would think it even extravagance to give you a stone:  in these bad times, stones may come to be dear, and if he loses his place and his lawsuit, who knows but he may be reduced to turn paviour?  Oh! the brute! and how shocking, that, for your sake, one can’t literally wish to see him want bread!  But how can you feel the least tenderness, when the wretch talks of his bad health, and of not denying himself comforts!  It is weakness in you:  whose health is worse, yours or his? or when did he ever deny himself a comfort to please any mortal?  My dear child, what is it possible to do for you? is there any thing in my power?  What would I not do for you? and, indeed, what ought I not, if I have done you any disservice?  I don’t think there is any danger of your father’s losing his place,(866) for whoever succeeds Mr. Pelham is likely to be a friend to this house, and would not turn out one so connected with it.

I should be very glad to show my lord an account of those statues you mention:  they are much wanted in his hall, where, except the Laocoon, he has nothing but busts.  For Gaburri’s drawings, I am extremely pleased with what you propose to me.  I should be well content with two of each master.  I can’t well fix any price; but would not the rate of a sequin apiece be sufficient? to be sure he never gave any thing like that:  when one buys the quantity you mention to me, I can’t but think that full enough, one ’with another.  At least, if I bought so many as two hundred, I would not venture to go beyond that.

I am not at all easy from what you tell me of the Spaniards.  I have now no hopes but in the winter, and what it may produce.  I fear ours will be most ugly-the disgusts about Hanover swarm and increase every day.  The King and Duke have left the army, which is marching to winter-quarters in Flanders, He will not be here by his birthday, but it will be kept when he comes.  The parliament meets the 22d of November.  All is distraction! no union in the Court:  no certainty about the House of Commons:  Lord Carteret making no friends, the King making enemies:  Mr. Pelham in vain courting Pitt, etc.  Pultney unresolved.  How will it end?  No joy but in the Jacobites.  I know nothing more, so turn to Mr. Chute.