it weakened him much and kept him from the air, but it brought off a great load of black stuff from his stomach, and his spirits are exceedingly better.  He is to go to the Bath as soon as he is able.  Would to heaven I could prevail for his going to Italy, but he will not listen to it.  You may be confident that I do not stop at mere decency in checking his domestic torment—­it is terrible; but when I saw him in so much danger, I kept no measures-I went lengths that would be inexcusable in any other situation.  No description can paint the madness, (and when I call it madness, I know I flatter) the preposterous unreasonableness and infernal temper of that little white fiend!  His temper, which is equal to yours, bears him up under it.  I am with him two or three mornings every week, and think I shall yet preserve him for you.  The physicians are positive that his lungs are not touched.

We proceed fiercely in armaments-yet in my own opinion, and I believe the ministry think so too, the great danger is for Port Mahon.  Admiral Bing sails directly for the Mediterranean.  The Brest fleet that slipped away, is thought on its progress to Nova Scotia.  The Dutch have excused sending us their troops on the imminence of their own danger.  The parliamentary campaign is almost over; you know I persist in believing that we shall not have any other here.

Thank you much for your kindness to Mr. Dick; I will repay you on your brother, though I don’t know how to place him to any account but my own.  If I could be more anxious than I am about him, it would be, my dear child, on what you say to me on yourself; but be comforted, all will yet be well.

Mr. Chute’s picture is not yet arrived; when it comes, he shall thank you himself.  I must now give you a new commission, and for no less a minister than the chancellor of the exchequer.  Sir George Lyttelton desires that you will send him for his hall the jesses of the Venus, the dancing Faun, the Apollo Medicis, (I think there is a cast of it,) the Mercury, and some other female statue, at your choice:  he desires besides three pair of Volterra vases, of the size to place on tables, and different patterns. consign the whole to me, and draw the bill of lading on me.

I have nothing more to tell you but a naivet`e of my Lady Coventry; the King asked her if she was not sorry that there are no masquerades this year-(for you must know we have sacrificed them to the idol earthquake,)-she said, no, she was tired of them; she was surfeited with most sights; there was but one left that she wanted to see—­and that was a coronation!  The old man told it himself at supper to his family with a great deal of good humour.  Adieu! my dear child.

315 Letter 177 315 Letter 177 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.(664) Arlington Street, March 25, 1756.