] miss the
opportunity of writing by Gibraltar.

You must not, my Emma, think of hearing from me by way of Malta; it
takes as long to send a letter to Malta, as to England.

The Monmouth, which you complain of not hearing by, I knew nothing of
her movements for some months before. The ships from Malta, with the
convoys, pick up our letters at Gibraltar. Therefore, do not hurt my
feelings, by telling me that I neglect any opportunity of writing.

Your letters of April 13th, 22d, and May 13th, through Mr. Falconet,
came safe, a few days ago. Mr. Falconet is the French banker; and he
dare not buy a little macaroni for me, or let an Englishman into his
house.

Gibbs is still at Palermo: I fancy, he will make a good thing of my
estate; however, I wish it was settled. He wrote me, a short time
since, that he wished I would give him a hint (but without noticing
that it came from him) that I thought Mrs. Graefer and her child had
better go to England; on pretence of educating her daughter, &c.

But I would have nothing to do with any such recommendation. It would
end in her coming to me, in England; and saying, that she could not
live upon what she had, and that I advised her to come to England, or
she should not have thought of it.

In short, Gibbs wants to remove her. He is afraid of his pocket, I
fancy; and the daughter is, I fancy, now in some seminary at Palermo,
at Gibbs's expence.

I wrote him word, fully, I would advise no such thing; she was to form
her own judgment.

What our friends are after at Naples, they best know. The poor King is
miserable at the loss of Acton.

The Queen writes me about honest Acton, &c. &c. and I hear, that she
has been the cause of ousting him: and they say--her enemies--that her
conduct is all French. That, I do not believe; although she is likely
to be the dupe of French emigres, who always beset her.

I doubt much, my dear Emma, even her constancy of real friendship to
you; although, in my letter to Acton, which Mr. Elliot says he read to
her, I mentioned the obligations she was under to you, &c. &c. in very
strong terms.

What could the name of the minister signify! It was the letter which
was wanted to the Prime-Minister.

But, never mind; with prudence, we shall do very well.

I have wrote to Davison, by land: who, I am very sorry for; but, he
never would take a friend's caution, and he has been severely bit.

Your accounts of Merton delight me; and you will long ago