We have at last discovered the pedestal for my glorious eagle, at the bottom of the store-ship; but I shall not have it out of the Custom-house till the end of this week.  The lower part of the eagle’s beak(1390) has been broke off and lost.  I wish you would have the head only of your Gesse cast, and send it me, to have the original restored from it.

The commission for the scagliola tables was given me without any dimensions; I suppose there is a common size.  If the original friar(1391) can make them, I shall be glad:  if not, I fancy the person would not care to wait so long as you mention, for what would be less handsome than mine.

I am almost ashamed to send you this summer letter; but nobody is in town; even election news are all over.  Adieu!’

(1390) “Quench’d in dark clouds of slumber lie The terror of his beak, and lightnings of his eye,” Gray.-E.

(1391) Scagliola is a composition, which was made only at Florence by Father Hugford, an Irish friar.

536 Letter 241 To sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, Sept. 1, 1747.

Your two last are of August 1st and 22d.  I fear my last to you was of July 28th.  I have no excuse, but having nothing to tell you, and having been in the country.  Bergen-op-zoom still holds out; the French having lost great numbers before it, though at first, at least, it was not at all well-defended.  Nothing else is talked of, and opinions differ so much about the event, that I don’t pretend to guess what it will be.  It appears now that if the Dutch had made but decent defences of all the other towns, France would have made but slow progress in the conquest of Flanders, and Wanted many thousand men that now threaten Europe.

There are not ten people in London besides the Chuteheds and me; the White one is going into Hampshire; I hope to have the other a little with me at Twickenham, whither I go to-morrow for the rest of the season.

I don’t know what to say to you about Mr. Mill; I can learn nothing about him:  my connexions with any thing ministerial are little as possible; and were they bigger, the very commission, that you apprehend, would be a reason to’ make them keep it secret from you, on whose account alone, they would know I inquired.  I cannot bring myself to believe that he is employed from hence; and I am always so cautious of meddling about you, for fear of risking you in any light, that I am the unfittest person in the world to give you any satisfaction on this head:  however, I shall continue to try.

I never heard any thing so unreasonable as the Pope’s request to that Cardinal Guadagni;(1392) but I suppose they will make him comply.

You will, I think, like Sir James Grey; he is very civil and good-humoured, and sensible.  Lord (1393) is the two former; but, alas he is returned little wiser than he went.

Is there a bill of exchange sent to your brother? or may not I pay him without? it is fifty pounds and three zechins, is it not?  Thank you.