You say so many kind things to me in your letter of Nov. 7th, on my talking of a journey to Florence, that I am sorry I mentioned it to you.  I did it to show you that my silence is far from proceeding from any forgetfulness of you; and as I really think continually of such a journey, I name it now and then; though I don’t find how to accomplish it.  In short, my affairs are not so independent of every body, but that they require my attending to them to make them go smoothly; and unless I could get them into another situation, it is not possible for me to leave them.  Some part of my fortune is in my Lord O.’s(1401) hands; and if I were out of the way of giving him trouble, he has not generosity enough to do any thing that would be convenient for me.  I will say no more on this subject, because it is not a pleasant one; nor would I have said this, but to convince you that I did not mention returning to Florence out of gaiet`e de coeur.  I never was happy but there; have a million of times repented returning to England, where I never was happy, nor expect to be.

For Mr. Chute’s silence, next to myself, I can answer for him:  He always loves you, and I am persuaded wishes nothing more than himself at Florence.  I did hint to him your kind thought about Venice, because, as I saw no daylight to it, it could not disappoint him; and because I knew how sensible he would be to this mark of your friendship.  There is not a glimmering prospect of our sending a minister to Berlin; if we did, it would be a person of far greater consideration than Sir James Grey; and even if he went thither, there are no means of procuring his succession for Mr. Chute.  My dear child, you know little of England, if you think such and so quiet merit as his likely to meet friends here.  Great assurance, or great quality, are the only recommendations.  My father was abused for employing low people with parts-that complaint is totally removed.

You reproach me with telling you nothing of Bergen-op-zoom; seriously, I know nothing but what was in the papers; and in general, on those great public events, I must transcribe the gazette, if you will have me talk to you.  You will have seen by the King’s speech that a congress is appointed at Aix-la-Chapelle, but nobody expects any effect from it.  Except Mr. Pelham, the ministry in general are for the war; and, what is comical, the Prince and the Opposition are so too.  We have had but one division yet in the House, which was on the Duke of Newcastle’s interfering in the Seaford election.  The numbers were, 247 for the court, against 96.  But I think it very probable that, in a little time, a stronger opposition will be formed, for the Prince has got some new and very able speakers; particularly a young Mr. Potter,(1402) son of the last Archbishop, who promises very greatly; the world is already matching him against Mr. Pitt.

I sent Niccolini the letter; and here is another from him.  I have not seen him this winter, nor heard of him:  he is of very little consequence, when there is any thing else that is.