ind a
parallel for it, I cannot; no more than a remedy, or a reparation
for all the losses which we have and must sustain, if we are not
successful. Till I see the issue of this cast, I will not conclude,
what the Duc de Chatelet told me to be true, that it is une cause
perdue.

I will take the first opportunity of speaking to Gregg about your
not writing to him, for he has been waiting for a letter from you,
with unusual impatience, and I will write to Boothby if he does not
in a few days return to town. I was with Ekins last night, and I
stayed with him till ten. He is more crippled than I ever knew him
to be. He is going to change his house, from which change, as of
posture, he derives some comfort. It matters little from what
hope(s) we derive comfort while we hope them.

Lady Mary H(oward) is very angry with me, as Lady Townshend assures
me, for not having been near her. The truth is, that when I carried
George to wait on her the day that he was in town, before his going
to school, her room was quite insupportable, and for that reason I
could not allow him safely to stay there.

Mr. Walpole, more defait, more perdus de ses membres, than I ever
yet saw any poor wretch, is gone to-night to the play-house, to see
the Tragedy of Narbonne. The gout may put what shackles it pleases
on some people; on les rompt, et la vanite l'emporte. He seems as
able to act a part in the drama as to assist at the performance of
it.

Poor Barker has lost all the hopes which he ever had of resource.
His uncle, from whom he had great and reasonable expectations
formerly, is dead at Constantinople, and without a groat. He has
now, poor man, pour tout potage, Lady Harrington's dinner and
compassion, and the one is as late and uncertain as the other. If
his own relation, with his enormous wealth, and after such
unexpected and unmerited good fortune, does not assist him, he will
for ever pass with me for a man destitue de sentimens comme de
principes. But, perhaps, not knowing more than I do of the
connection and of the persons, my judgment may be severe and unjust.

My dear Lord, to what an unreasonable length have I spun out this
letter. But from my disposition of mind to-day, and being alone, or
en famille only, I did not think that I should be very concise. To
my own tristes you have added more, and the account(s) which I have
of your health, and of what it may be, and of the Castle air, &c.,
do by no means aid me on this occasion.