按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ody to London； which is the most convenient place either to live or die in。
I cannot expect active health anywhere； you may； with common care and prudence； effect it everywhere； and God grant that you may have it！ Adieu。
LETTER CCXXXV
LONDON； November 21； 1758。
MY DEAR FRIEND： You did well to think of Prince Ferdinand's ribband； which I confess I did not； and I am glad to find you thinking so far beforehand。 It would be a pretty commission； and I will 'accingere me' to procure it to you。 The only competition I fear； is that of General Yorke； in case Prince Ferdinand should pass any time with his brother at The Hague； which is not unlikely； since he cannot go to Brunswick to his eldest brother； upon account of their simulated quarrel。
I fear the piece is at an end with the King of Prussia； and he may say 'ilicet'； I am sure he may personally say 'plaudite'。 Warm work is expected this session of parliament； about continent and no continent； some think Mr。 Pitt too continent； others too little so； but a little time； as the newspapers most prudently and truly observe； will clear up these matters。
The King has been ill； but his illness is terminated in a good fit of the gout； with which he is still confined。 It was generally thought that he would have died； and for a very good reason； for the oldest lion in the Tower； much about the King's age； died a fortnight ago。 This extravagancy； I can assure you； was believed by many above peuple。 So wild and capricious is the human mind！
Take care of your health as much as you can； for； To BE； or NOT To BE； is a question of much less importance； in my mind； than to be or not to be well。 Adieu。
LETTER CCXXXVI
LONDON； December 15； 1758。
MY DEAR FRIEND： It is a great while since I heard from you； but I hope that good； not ill health； has been the occasion of this silence： I will suppose you have been； or are still at Bremen； and engrossed by your Hessian friends。
Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick is most certainly to have the Garter； and I think I have secured you the honor of putting it on。 When I say SECURED； I mean it in the sense in which that word should always be understood at courts； and that is； INSECURELY； I have a promise； but that is not 'caution bourgeoise'。 In all events； do not mention it to any mortal； because there is always a degree of ridicule that attends a disappointment； though often very unjustly； if the expectation was reasonably grounded； however； it is certainly most prudent not to communicate； prematurely； one's hopes or one's fears。 I cannot tell you when Prince Ferdinand will have it； though there are so many candidates for the other two vacant Garters； that I believe he will have his soon； and by himself； the others must wait till a third； or rather a fourth vacancy。 Lord Rockingham and Lord Holdernesse are secure。 Lord Temple pushes strongly； but； I believe； is not secure。 This commission for dubbing a knight； and so distinguished a one； will be a very agreeable and creditable one for you； 'et il faut vous en acquitter galamment'。 In the days of ancient chivalry； people were very nice who they would be knighted by and； if I do not mistake； Francis the First would only be knighted by the Chevalier Bayard； 'qui etoit preux Chevalier et sans reproche'； and no doubt but it will be recorded； 'dans les archives de la Maison de Brunswick'； that Prince Ferdinand received the honor of knighthood from your hands。
The estimates for the expenses of the year 1759 are made up； I have seen them； and what do you think they amount to？ No less than twelve millions three hundred thousand pounds： a most incredible sum； and yet already subscribed； and even more offered！ The unanimity in the House of Commons； in voting such a sum； and such forces； both by sea and land； is not the less astonishing。 This is Mr。 Pitt's doing； AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES。
The King of Prussia has nothing more to do this year； and； the next； he must begin where he has left off。 I wish he would employ this winter in concluding a separate peace with the Elector of Saxony； which would give him more elbowroom to act against France and the Queen of Hungary； and put an end at once to the proceedings of the Diet； and the army of the empire； for then no estate of the empire would be invaded by a co…estate； and France； the faithful and disinterested guarantee of the Treaty of Westphalia； would have no pretense to continue its armies there。 I should think that his Polish Majesty； and his Governor； Comte Bruhl； must be pretty weary of being fugitives in Poland； where they are hated； and of being ravaged in Saxony。 This reverie of mine； I hope will be tried； and I wish it may succeed。 Good…night； and God bless you！
End