The opposition is nibbling, but is not popular, nor have Yet got hold of any clue of consequence.  There is not the vivacity that broke forth before the holidays.

I condole with you for Madame Antinori,(658) and Madame Grifoni; but I know, my dear child, how much too seriously your mind will be occupied about your dear brother, to think that romantic grief will any longer disquiet you.  Pray Heaven!  I may send you better and better news.  Adieu!

P. S. I forgot to thank you for your history of the war with Lucca in your last but one.

(657) “A formal declaration of war from France,” writes Lord Chesterfield to Mr. Dayrolles on the 23d, “seems to be the natural consequence of Rouill`e’s memorial.  I am not so fond of war as I find many people are.  Mark the end on ’t.  Our treaty lately concluded with Russia is a fortunate event, and secures the peace of the empire; and is it possible that France can invade the Low Countries, which are the dominions of the Empress Queen, only because Admiral Boscawen has taken two of their ships in America?  I see but two places where France can annoy us; in America, by slipping over in single ships a considerable number of troops, and next by keeping us in a state of fear and expense at home, with the threats and appearances of an intended invasion."-E.

(658) A Florentine lady, whom Sir Horace admired, and who was just dead:  she was sister of Madame Grifoni.

306 Letter 172 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, Feb. 5, 1756.

I think I can give you a little better account of your brother, who is so dear to both of us; I put myself on a foot with you, for nothing can love him better than I do.  I have been a week at Strawberry Hill. in order to watch and see him every day.  The Duke’s physician, Dr. Pringle, who now attends him, has certainly relieved him much:  his cough is in a manner gone, his fever much abated, his breath better.  His strength is not yet increased; and his stitches, which they impute to wind, are not relieved.  But both his physicians swear that his lungs are not touched.  His worst symptom is what they cannot, but I must and will remove:  in short, his wife is killing him, I can scarce say slowly.  Her temper is beyond imagination, her avarice monstrous, her madness about what she calls cleanliness, to a degree of distraction; if I had not first, and then made your brother Ned interpose in form, she would once or twice a week have the very closet washed in which your brother sleeps after dinner.  It is certainly very impertinent to interfere in so delicate a case, but your brother’s life makes me blind to every consideration:  in short, we have made Dr. Pringle declare that the moment the weather is a little warmer, and he can be moved, change of air is absolutely necessary, and I am to take him to Strawberry Hill, where you may imagine he will neither be teased nor neglected:  the physicians are strong for