ministry still make a secret:  one cannot learn the least particulars from them.  This anxiety for my friends in the army, this uncertainty about ourselves, if it can be called uncertain that we are undone, and the provoking folly that one sees prevail, have determined me to go to the Hague.  I shall at least hear sooner from the army, and shall there know better what is likely to happen here.  The moment the crisis is come I shall return hither, which I can do from Helvoetsluys in twelve hours.  At all events, I shall certainly not stay there above a month or six weeks:  it thickens too fast for something important not to happen by that time.

You may judge of our situation by the conversation of Marshal Belleisle:  he has said for some time, that he saw we were so little capable of making any defence that he would engage, with five thousand scullions of the French army, to conquer England—­yet, just now, they choose to release him! he goes away in a week.(1085) When he was told of the taking Cape Breton, he said. “he could believe that, because the ministry had no hand in it.”  We are making bonfires for Cape Breton, and thundering over Genoa, while our army in Flanders is running away, and dropping to pieces by detachments taken prisoners every day; while the King is at Hanover, the regency at their country-seats, not five thousand men in the island, and not above fourteen or fifteen ships at home!  Allelujah!

I received yours yesterday, with the bill of lading for the gesse figures, but you don’t tell me their price; pray do in your ’next.  I don’t know what to say to Mr. Chute’s eagle; I would fain have it; I can depend upon his taste-but would not it be folly to be buying curiosities now! how can I tell that I shall have any thing in the world to pay for it, by the time it is bought?  You may present these reasons to Mr. Chute; and if he laughs at them, why then he will buy the eagle for me; if he thinks them of weight, not.

Adieu!  I have not time or patience to say more.

(1085) The Marshal and his brother left England on the 13th of August.-E.

431 Letter 175 To George Montagu, Esq. [August 1, 1745.]

Dear George, I cannot help thinking you laugh at me when you say such very civil things of my letters, and yet, coming from you, I would fain not have it all flattery: 

So much the more, as, from a little elf,
I’ve had a high opinion of myself,
Though sickly, slender, and not large of limb.

With this modest prepossession, you may be sure I like to have you commend me, whom, after I have done with myself, I admire of all men living.  I only beg that you will commend me no more:  it is very ruinous; and praise, like other debts, ceases to be due on being paid.  One comfort indeed is, that it is as seldom paid as other debts.