perceive I deal much in Swiss.  I saw your brother this morning myself; he does not mend so fast as I wish, but I still attribute it to the weather.  I mentioned to him Dr. Cocchi’s desire of seeing his case and regimen in writing by Dr. Pringle, but I found he did not care for it; and you may imagine I would not press it.  I sifted Dr. Pringle himself, but he would not give me a positive answer:  I fear he still thinks that it is not totally an asthma.  If you had seen him so much worse, as I have, you would be tolerably comforted now.  Lord Malpas(682) saw him to-day for the first time, and told me alone that he found him much better than he expected.  His spirits and attention to every thing are just as good as ever, which was far from being the case three months ago.

I read the necessary part of your letter to Sir George Lyttelton, who thinks himself much obliged, and leaves the vases entirely to your taste, and will be fully content with the five jesses you name.

We have nothing new; the Parliament rises the 25th:  all our attention is pointed to Minorca, of which you must be much better and sooner informed than we can.  Great dissatisfactions arise about the defenceless state in which it was left; it is said, some account arrived from Commodore Edgcumbe(683) the night before last, but it is kept very secret, which at least specifies the denomination of it.  I hope to find Mr. Conway in town to-morrow night, whither he is just returned from Ireland; he has pacified that country to the standard of his own tranquillity.

I have read the poem you mention, the Pucelle, and am by no means popular, for I by no means like it-it is as tiresome as if it was really a heroic poem.  The four first cantos are by much the best, and throughout there are many vivacities; but so absurd, perplexed a story is intolerable; the humour often missed, and even the parts that give most offence, I think very harmless.

P. S. We are to declare war this week; I suppose, in order to make peace, as we cannot make peace till we have made war.

(682) George, eldest son of George third Earl of Cholmondeley, by Mary, daughter of Sir Robert Walpole:  he died before his father and was father of George the fourth earl.

(683) George, second son of Richard Lord Edgecumbe, succeeded his brother in the title, and was by George iii. created Viscount Mount Edgccumbe.

323 Letter 183 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, May 19, 1756.

Nothing will be more agreeable to me than to see you at Strawberry Hill; the weather does not seem to be of my mind, and will not invite you.  I believe the French have taken the sun.  Among other captures, I hear the King has taken another English mistress. a Mrs. Pope, who took her degrees in gallantry some years ago.  She went to Versailles with the famous Mrs. quon:  the King took notice of them; he was told that they were not so rigid as all other