(749) “The King became every day more and more averse to his new ministers.  Pitt, indeed, had not frequent occasions of giving offence, having been confined by the gout the greater part of the winter; and when he made his appearance he behaved with proper respect, so that the King, though he did not like his speeches, always treated him like a gentleman.”  Waldegrave, p. 93.-E.

(750) Lady Hervey, in a letter of the 13th, gives the following account of Damien’s attempt:—­“I have barely time to tell you the news of the day, which arrived by a courier from France this morning to M. d’Abreu, the Spanish minister.  The King of France was stepping into his coach to go to Bellevue, and a fellow who seemed to be gaping and looking at the coach en hayeur, took his opportunity, and taking aim at the King’s heart thrust his dagger into his side,—­Just over against the heart; but a lucky and sudden motion the King gave with his elbow at that moment, turned the dagger. which made only a slight wound in his ribs, as they say, which is judged not to be dangerous.  The fellow was immediately secured."-E.

(751) The Dauphin, son of Louis xv., had been bred a bigot; but, as he by no means wanted sense, he got over the prejudices of his education, and before he died had far more liberal sentiments.

(752) Prospero Lambertini, by the name of Benedict xiv.  For Walpole’s inscription on his picture, see Works, vol. i. p. 218; and also post, letter to Sir Horace Mann of the 20th of June, in this year.-E.

(753) Sister of William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham.

360 Letter 210 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, Jan. 30, 1757.

Last night I received your most melancholy letter of the 8th of this month, in which you seem to feel all or more than I apprehended.  As I trust to time and the necessary avocation of your thoughts, rather than to any arguments I could use for your consolation, I choose to say as little more as possible on the subject of your loss.  Your not receiving letters from your brothers as early as mine was the consequence of their desiring me to take that most unwelcome office upon me:  I believe they have both written since, though your eldest brother has had a severe fit of the gout:  they are both exceedingly busied in the details necessarily fallen upon them.  That would be no reason for their neglecting you, nor I am persuaded will they; they shall certainly want no incitements from me, who wish and will endeavour as much as possible to repair your loss, alas! how inadequately!  Your brother James has found great favour from the Duke.(754) Your @brother Ned, who is but just come to town from his confinement, tells me that your nephew will be in vast circumstances; above an hundred thousand pounds, besides the landed estate and debts!  These little details related, I had rather try to amuse you, than indulge your grief and my own; your dear brother’s memory will never be separated from mine; but the way in which I shall show it, shall be in increased attention to you:  he and you will make me perpetually think on both of you!