ink now of putting on my
clothes in the evening only, and so going, as I did last year, to
the King's side, to make her Majesty my bow as she passes from that
apartment to the ball-room. We had yesterday at dinner Dick Vernon
and Keith Stewart only, besides Lord Gower's family.

I was going home to dine by myself tres sagement et tres
tranquillement, dans le dessein de me menager, when Lord G. was so
good as to propose my going home with him; and thinking that to be
an opportunity of talking more with him upon you and your affairs,
as we did, I could not resist it. I do assure you, my dear Lord, it
is a great pleasure to me to see the zeal with which he speaks of
you, and your interests, which is not, to be sure, surprising,
considering your connection, but it makes me happy that my former
intimacy with him begins to revive, which it has gradually done,
from the time that you have belonged to him.

Miss Pelham(97) came to Lady Gower after dinner, and I think intends
to go to-day to the Birthday, but such a hag you have no conception
of; and a patch which she is obliged to wear upon the lower eyelid,
improves the horror of her appearance. She will kill herself, I make
no doubt.

The letter which you have been so good to enclose for my
satisfaction, from Lady Holl(an)d to you, does not much elate me, I
own; it is just that of one who is obliged to say a great deal, and
finds an inconvenience in doing anything; and as to Charles's
writing to you, you know best how these promises have been
fulfilled. If I could direct her Ladyship's good disposition, I
should make her show your letter to her to Lord Holl(an)d; I am
persuaded that his faculties are not so entirely lost as not to
discern with how much force of reason, propriety, and good nature it
is wrote. What he would do in consequence of it, I cannot be quite
so sure. Then he might, perhaps, relapse into a state of imbecility,
or affected anility, which might deprive you of the advantage which
you should expect from it.

Among other things which passed between Lord Gower and me upon the
subject of Charles, to which our conversation, by the way, was not
confined, I told him that your people of business had proposed that
you should sue Charles for the Annuities, and how that advice seemed
to shock you. He was not surprised at that, knowing your delicacy
and friendship. But sueing Charles, you will find in a short time,
has no horror but in the expression. If you are s