the city was to present a petition to The King against the Quebec-bill yesterday; and I suppose they will tell me to-morrow whether it was presented.  The King’s speech tells me, there has nothing happened between the Russians and the Turks.(113) Lady Barrymore told me t’other day, that nothing was to happen between her and Lord Egremont.  I am as well satisfied with these negatives, as I should have been with the contrary.  I am much more interested about the rain, for it destroys all my roses and orange-flowers, of which I have exuberance; and my hay is cut, and cannot be made.  However, it is delightful to have no other distresses.  When I compare my present tranquillity and indifference with all I suffered last year,(114) I am thankful for my happiness and enjoy it—­unless the bell rings early in the morning—­then I tremble, and think it an express from Norfolk.

It is unfortunate that when one has nothing to talk of but one’s self, one should have nothing to’ say of one’s self.  It is shameful, too, to send such a scrap by the post.  I think I shall reserve it till Tuesday.  If -I have then nothing to add, as is probable, you must content yourself with my good intentions, as you, I hope, will with this speculative campaign.  Pray, for the future, remain at home and build bridges:  I wish you were here to expedite ours to Richmond, which they tell me Will not be passable these two years.  I have done looking so forward.  Adieu!

(112) Mr. Conway was now on a tour of military curiosity through Flanders, Germany, Prussia, and part of Hungary.

(113) Peace between Russia and Turkey Was proclaimed at St. Petersburgh on the 14th of August, 1774.-E.

(114) During the illness of his nephew, Lord Orford.

Letter 70 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Matson, near Gloucester, Aug. 15, 1774. (page 95)

Dear Sir, As I am your disciple in antiquities (for you studied them when I was but a scoffer), I think it my duty to give you some account of my journeying, in the good cause.  You will not dislike my date.  I am in the Very mansion where King Charles the First and his two eldest sons lay during the siege; and there are marks of the last’s hacking with his hanger on a window, as he told Mr. Selwin’s grandfather afterwards.  The present master has done due honour to the royal residence, and erected a good marble bust of the Martyr, in a little gallery.  In a window is a shield in painted glass, with that King’s and his Queen’s arms, which I gave him.  So you see I am not a rebel, when alma mater antiquity stands godmother.