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ought； two years ago； that you would have been the Atlas of the Northern Pole； but the Good Genius of the North ordered it so； and now that you have set that part of the globe right； you return to 'otium cum dignitate'。 But to be serious： now that you cannot have much office business to do； I could tell you what to do； that would employ you； I should think； both usefully and agreeably。 I mean； that you should write short memoirs of that busy scene； in which you have been enough concerned； since your arrival at Hamburg； to be able to put together authentic facts and anecdotes。 I do not know whether you will give yourself the trouble to do it or not； but I do know； that if you will； 'olim hcec meminisse juvabit'。 I would have them short； but correct as to facts and dates。
I have told Alt； in the strongest manner； your lamentations for the loss of the House of Cassel； 'et il en fera rapport a son Serenissime Maitre'。 When you are quite idle （as probably you may be； some time this summer）； why should you not ask leave to make a tour to Cassel for a week？ which would certainly be granted you from hence； and which would be looked upon as a 'bon procede' at Cassel。
The King of Prussia is probably； by this time； at the gates of Vienna； making the Queen of Hungary really do what Monsieur de Bellisle only threatened； sign a peace upon the ramparts of her capital。 If she is obstinate； and will not； she must fly either to Presburg or to Inspruck； and Vienna must fall。 But I think he will offer her reasonable conditions enough for herself； and I suppose； that； in that case； Caunitz will be reasonable enough to advise her to accept of them。 What turn would the war take then？ Would the French and Russians carry it on without her？ The King of Prussia； and the Prince of Brunswick； would soon sweep them out of Germany。 By this time； too； I believe； the French are entertained in America with the loss of Cape Breton； and； in consequence of that； Quebec； for we have a force there equal to both those undertakings； and officers there； now； that will execute what Lord L never would so much as attempt。 His appointments were too considerable to let him do anything that might possibly put an end to the war。 Lord Howe； upon seeing plainly that he was resolved to do nothing； had asked leave to return； as well as Lord Charles Hay。
We have a great expedition preparing； and which will soon be ready to sail from the Isle of Wight； fifteen thousand good troops； eighty battering cannons； besides mortars； and every other thing in abundance； fit for either battle or siege。 Lord Anson desired； and is appointed； to command the fleet employed upon this expedition； a proof that it is not a trifling one。 Conjectures concerning its destination are infinite； and the most ignorant are； as usual； the boldest conjecturers。 If I form any conjectures； I keep them to myself； not to be disproved by the event； but； in truth； I form none： I might have known； but would not。
Everything seems to tend to a peace next winter： our success in America； which is hardly doubtful； and the King of Prussia's in Germany； which is as little so； will make France （already sick of the expense of the war） very tractable for a peace。 I heartily wish it： for though people's heads are half turned with the King of Prussia's success； and will be quite turned； if we have any in America； or at sea； a moderate peace will suit us better than this immoderate war of twelve millions a year。
Domestic affairs go just as they did； the Duke of Newcastle and Mr。 Pitt jog on like man and wife； that is； seldom agreeing； often quarreling； but by mutual interest； upon the whole； not parting。 The latter； I am told； gains ground in the closet； though he still keeps his strength in the House； and his popularity in the public； or； perhaps； because of that。
Do you hold your resolution of visiting your dominions of Bremen and Lubeck this summer？ If you do； pray take the trouble of informing yourself correctly of the several constitutions and customs of those places； and of the present state of the federal union of the Hanseatic towns： it will do you no harm； nor cost you much trouble； and it is so much clear gain on the side of useful knowledge。
I am now settled at Blackheath for the summer； where unseasonable frost and snow； and hot and parching east winds； have destroyed all my fruit； and almost my fruit…trees。 I vegetate myself little better than they do； I crawl about on foot and on horseback； read a great deal； and write a little； and am very much yours。
LETTER CCXXII
BLACKHEATH； May 30； 1758。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I have no letter from you to answer； so this goes to you unprovoked。 But 'a propos' of letters； you have had great honor done you； in a letter from a fair and royal hand； no less than that of her Royal Highness the Princess of Cassel； she has written your panegyric to her sister； Princess Amelia； who sent me a compliment upon it。 This has likewise done you no harm with the King； who said gracious things upon that occasion。 I suppose you had for her Royal Highness those attentions which I wish to God you would have； in due proportions； for everybody。 You see； by this instance； the effects of them； they are always repaid with interest。 I am more confirmed by this in thinking； that； if you can conveniently； you should ask leave to go for a week to Cassel； to return your thanks for all favors received。
I cannot expound to myself the conduct of the Russians。 There must be a trick in their not marching with more expedition。 They have either had a sop from the King of Prussia； or they want an animating dram from France and Austria。 The King of Prussia's conduct always explains itself by the events； and； within a very few days； we must certainly hear of some very great stroke from that quarter。 I think I never in my life remember a period of time so big with great events as the present： within two months the fate of the House of Austria will probably be decided： within the same space of time； we shall certainly hear of the taking of Cape Breton； and of our army's proceeding to Quebec within a few days we shall know the good or ill success of our great expedition； for it is sailed； and it cannot be long before we shall hear something of the Prince of Brunswick's operations； from whom I also expect good things。 If all these things turn out； as there is good reason to believe they will； we may once； in our turn； dictate a reasonable peace to France； who now pays seventy per cent insurance upon its trade； and seven per cent for all the money raised for the service of the year。
Comte Bothmar has got the small…pox； and of a bad kind。 Kniphausen diverts himself much here； he sees all places and all people； and is ubiquity itself。 Mitchel； who was much threatened； stays at last at Berlin； at the earnest request of the King of Prussia。 Lady is safely delivered of a son； to the great joy of that noble family。 The expression； of a woman's having brought her husband a son； seems to be a proper and cautious one； for it is never said from whence。
I was going to ask you how you passed your time now at Hamburg； since it is no longer the seat of strangers and of business； but I will not； because I know it is to no purpose。 You have sworn not to tell me。
Sir William Stanhope told me that you promised to send him some Old Hock from Hamburg； and so you did not。 If you meet with any superlatively good； and not else； pray send over a 'foudre' of it； and write to him。 I shall have a share in it。 But unless you find some； either at Hamburg or at Bremen； uncommonly and almost miracuously good； do not send any。 Dixi。 Yours。
LETTER CCXXIII
BLACKHEATH； June 13； 1758。
MY DEAR FRIEND： The secret is out： St。 Malo is the devoted place。 Our troops began to land at the Bay of Cancale the 5th； without any opposition。 We have no further accounts yet； but expect some every moment。 By the plan of it； which I have seen； it is by no means a weak place； and I fear there will be many hats to be disposed of； before it is taken。 There are in the port above thirty privateers； about sixteen of their own； and about as many taken from us。 237
Now for Africa； where we have had great success。 The French have been driven out of all their forts and settlements upon the Gum coast； and upon the river Senegal。 They had been many years in possession of them； and by them annoyed our African trade exceedingly； which； by the way； 'toute proportion gardee'； is the most lucrative trade we have。 The present booty is likewise very considerable； in gold dust； and gum Seneca； which is very valuable； by being a very necessary commodity； for all our stained and printed linens。
Now for America。 The least sanguine people here expect； the latter end of this month or the beginning of the next； to have the account of the taking of Cape Breton； and of all the forts with hard names in North America。
Captain Clive has long since settled Asia to our satisfaction； so that three parts of the world look very favorable for us。 Europe； I submit to the care of the King of Prussia and Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick； and I think they will give a good account of it。 France is out of luck； and out of cou