Well, at last this is not to be the year of our captivity!  There is a cluster of good packets come at once.  The Dutch have marched twelve thousand men to join our army; the King of Sardinia (but this is only a report) has beaten the Spaniards back over the Varo, and I this moment hear from the Secretary’s office, that Prince Charles has undoubtedly passed the Rhine at the head of fourscore thousand men-where, and with what circumstances, I don’t know a word; ma basta cos`i.  It is said, too, that the Marquis de la Ch`etardie(946) is sent away from Russia:  but this one has no occasion to believe.  False good news are always produced by true good, like the waterfall by the rainbow.  But why do I take upon me to tell you all this?-you, who are the centre of ministers and business! the actuating genius in the conquest of Naples!  You cannot imagine how formidable you appear to me.  My poor little, quiet Miny, with his headache and `epuisements, and Cocchio, and coverlid of cygnet’s down, that had no dealings but with a little spy-abb`e at Rome, a civil whisper with Count Lorenzi,(947) or an explanation on some of Goldsworthy’s absurdities, or with Richcourt about some sbirri,(948) that had insolently passed through the street in which the King of Great Britain’s arms condescended to hang!  Bless me! how he is changed, become a trafficking plenipotentiary with Prince lobkowitz, Cardinal Albani(949) and Admiral Matthews!  Why, my dear child, I should not know you again; I should not dare to roll you up between a finger and thumb like wet brown paper.  Well, heaven prosper your arms!  But I hate you, for I now look upon you as ten times fatter than I am.

I don’t think it would be quite unadvisable for Bistino(950) to take a journey hither.  My Lady Carteret would take violently to any thing that came so far as to adore her grandeur.  I believe even my Lady Pomfret would be persuaded he had seen the star of their glory travelling westward to direct him.  For my part, I expect soon to make a figure too in the political magazine, for all our Florence set is coming to grandeur; but you and my Lady Carteret have outstripped me.  I remain with -the Duke of Courtland in Siberia-my father has actually gone thither for a long season.  I met my Lady Carteret the other day at Knaptons,(951) and desired leave to stay while she sat for her picture.  She is drawn crowned with corn, like the Goddess of Plenty, and a mild dove in her arms, like Mrs. Venus.  We had much of my lord and my lord.  The countess-mother was glad my lord was not there-he was never satisfied with the eyes; she was afraid he would have had them drawn bigger than the cheeks.  I made your compliments abundantly, and cried down the charms of the picture as politically as if’ you yourself had been there in person.

To fill up this sheet, I shall transcribe some very good lines published to-day in one of the papers, by I don’t know whom, on Pope’s death.