(1084) There was a dispute among the chapter at Ely respecting the situation of the organ.

letter 367 To George Montagu, Esq.  August 18, 1769. (page 551)

As I have heard nothing of you since the Assyrian calends, which is much longer ago than the Greek, you may perhaps have died in Media, at Ecbatana, or in Chaldoea, and then to be sure I have no reason to take it ill that you have forgotten me.  There is no Post between Europe and the Elysian fields, where I hope in the Lord Pluto you are; and for the letters that are sent by Orpheus, Aeneas, Sir George Villiers, and such accidental passengers, to be sure one cannot wonder if they miscarry.  You might indeed have sent one a scrawl by Fanny, as Cock-lane is not very distant from Arlington-street; but, when I asked her, she scratched the ghost of a no, that made One’s ears tingle again.  If, contrary to all probability, you still be above ground, and if, which is still more improbable, you should repent of your sins while you are yet in good health, and should go strangely further, and endeavour to make Atonement by writing to me again, I think it conscientiously right to inform you, that I am not in Arlington-street, nor at Strawberry-hill, nor even in Middlesex; nay, not in England; I am—­I am—­guess where—­not in Corsica, nor at Spa—­stay, I am not at Paris yet, but I hope to be there in two days.  In short, I am at Calais, having landed about two hours ago, after a tedious passage of nine hours.  Having no soul with me but Rosette, I have been amusing myself with the arrival of a French officer and his wife in a berlin, which carried their ancestors to one of Moli`ere’s plays:  as Madame has no maid with her, she and Monsieur very prudently untied the trunks, and disburthened the venerable machine of all its luggage themselves; and then with a proper resumption of their equality, Monsieur gave his hand to Madame, and conducted her in much ceremony through the yard to their apartment.  Here ends the beginning of my letter; when I have nothing else to do, perhaps, I may continue it.  You cannot have the confidence to complain, if I give you no more than my moments perdus; have you deserved any better of me?

Saturday morning.

Having just recollected that the whole merit of this letter will consist in the Surprise, I hurry to finish it, and send it away by the captain of the packet, who is returning.  You may repay me this surprise by answering my letter, and by directing yours to Arlington-street, from whence Mary will forward it to me.  You will not have much time to consider, for I shall set out on my return from Paris the first of October,(1085) according to my solemn promise to Strawberry; and you must know, I keep my promises to Strawberry much better than you do.  Adieu!  Boulogne hoy!