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  PRIVATE LETTERS

  OF

  EDWARD GIBBON.

[Illustration: SILHOUETTE PORTRAIT OF EDWARD GIBBON.
  _Frontispiece, Vol. II._]

  PRIVATE LETTERS

  OF

  EDWARD GIBBON

  (1753-1794).

  WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

  THE EARL OF SHEFFIELD.

  EDITED BY

  ROWLAND E. PROTHERO,

  BARRISTER-AT-LAW, SOME-TIME FELLOW OF ALL SOULS' COLLEGE, OXFORD.

  VOL. II.

  LONDON:
  JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.
  1896.




  LONDON:
  PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED.
  STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.




GIBBON'S CORRESPONDENCE.

1753-1794.




  418.

  _To his Stepmother._


  Bentinck Street, July 3rd, 1781.

  DEAR MADAM,

Though your kind impatience might make the time appear tedious, there
has been no other delay in my business, than the necessary forms of
Election. My new constituents of Lymington obligingly chose me in my
absence. I took my seat last Wednesday, and am now so old a member
that I begin to complain of the heat and length of the Session. So
much for Parliament. With regard to the board of trade, I am ignorant
of your friend's meaning, and possibly she may be so herself. There
has not been (to my knowledge) the most distant idea of my leaving
it, and indeed there are few places within the compass of any
rational ambition that I should like so well.

In a few days, as soon as we are relieved from public business, I
shall go down to my Country house for the summer. Do not stare.
I say my Country house. Notwithstanding Caplin's very diligent
enquiries, I have not been able to please myself with anything in the
neighbourhood of London, and have therefore hired for three months
a small pleasant house at Brighthelmstone. I flatter myself that in
that admirable sea-air, with the vicinity of Sheffield place, and a
proper mixture of light study in the morning and good company in the
evening, the summer may roll away not disagreably.--As I know your
tender apprehensions, I promise you not to bathe in the sea without
due preparation and advice.

Mrs. Porten has chosen, not for health but pleasure, a different
sea-shore: she has been some weeks at Margate, and will scarcely
return to town before my departure. I sincerely sympathize in all
the melancholy scenes which have afflicted your sensibility, and am
more particularly concerned about poor Miss Gould, to whom I wish
to express the thoughts and hopes of friendship on this melancholy
occasion. Lady Miller's[1] sudden death has excited some attention
even in this busy World, her foibles are mentioned with general
regard. Adieu, Dear Madam, and do not let Mrs. Ravaud tempt you into
Elysium: we are tolerably well here.

  I am
  Ever yours,
  E. GIBBON.

  [1] Anna, Lady Miller (1741-1781), author of _Letters from Italy,
  by an Englishwoman_ (1776), a verse-writer and a well-known
  character at Bath, held a literary salon at her villa at
  Batheaston. She held, writes Walpole, January 15, 1775, "a
  Parnassus-fair every Thursday, gives out rhymes and themes, and
  all the flux of quality at Bath contend for the prizes." An
  antique vase, purchased in Italy, was placed on a modern altar
  decorated with laurel, and each guest was invited to place in
  the urn an original composition in verse. The author of the one
  declared to be the best was crowned by Lady Miller with a wreath
  of myrtle. Selections from these compositions were published at
  intervals. "Nothing here," said Miss Burney in 1780, "is more
  tonish than to visit Lady Miller." Lady Miller died suddenly at
  Bristol Hot Wells on June 24, 1781. Her husband, Sir John Riggs
  Miller, died in 1798.




419.

_To his Stepmother._


  Bentinck Street, July 9th, 1781.

  Dear Madam,

Nothing but my absence (on a visit to Mr. Jenkinson[2] in Surrey)
should have prevented me from writing by the _first_ post to
remove those fears which could be suggested only by too exquisite
a sensibility. I am well and happy; the modest expression of
_tolerably_ was intended to express a very high degree of content,
and I most sincerely assure you that my journey to Brighthelmstone is
in search not of health but of amusement and society.

  I am, Dear Madam,
  Ever yours,
  E. GIBBON.

  [2] Probably C. Jenkinson, M.P. for Saltash and Secretary at War;
  afterwards Earl of Liverpool.




420.

_To his Stepmother._


  Brighthelmstone, July 26th, 1781.

  DEAR MADAM,

[Sidenote: HIS HOUSE AT BRIGHTON.]

After a short visit to Sheffield I came to this place last Sunday
evening, and think it will answer my expectations. My house, which is
not much bigger than yours, has a full prospect of the sea and enjoys
a temperate climate in the most sultry days. The air gives health,
spirits and a ravenous appetite. I walk sufficiently morning and
evening, lounge in the middle of the day on the Steyne, booksellers'
shops, &c., and by the help of a pair of horses can make more distant
excursions. The society is good and easy, and though I have a large
provision of books for my amusement, I shall not undertake any deep
studies or laborious compositions this summer. You will rejoyce, I am
sure, in hearing so favourable an account of my situation, and I wish
I could propose to you to share it with me.

  I am, Dear Madam,
  Most truly yours,
  E. GIBBON.




421.

_To his Stepmother._


  Brighthelmstone, August 24th, 1781.

  DEAR MADAM,

Of all mortals I have the least right to complain of a friend's
silence, but yours has been so _long_ and so _unnatural_ that I am
seriously alarmed. If you can assure me by a line that it does not
proceed from want of health or spirits, I shall be perfectly at
ease. Notwithstanding our princely visitors (the Cumberlands) who
are troublesome, I like the air and society so well that I shall
certainly stay here at least till the end of September. Adieu.

  I am, Dear Madam,
  Ever yours,
  E. G.




422.

_To Lord Sheffield._


  Brooke's, Thursday Evening, 1781.

What I _hear_ would fill volumes, what I _know_ does not amount to
half a line.--All is expectation: but I fear that our enemies are
more active than our friend. _He_[3] is still at Bushy; a meeting
is held next Saturday morn at eleven o'clock, but I think you need
not hurry yourself. According to Louisa's phrase, I will be your
grandfather. The black Patriot[4] is now walking and declaiming in
this room with a train at his heels. Adieu. No news.

  E. G.

If there is another meeting Sunday evening you shall find a note. I
have not seen Lord Loughborough, but understand he has preached war
and any coalition against the Minister.

  [3] Lord North resided at Bushy, Lady North having been appointed
  in July, 1771, Keeper and Ranger of Bushy Park.

  [4] Probably C. J. Fox.




423.

_To Lord Sheffield._


  1781.

Mrs. Williams, No. 8, Downing Street, will embrace Lord S., Mr.
Purden and Co. for two Guineas and a half per week. The stables
and _Coach houses_ will be empty, and Mr. Collier will provide
the needful refreshments.--Sir R[ichard] W[orsley] has opened the
trenches in Doctors Commons, and cryed down his wife's credit with
tradesmen, &c. I supped last night at Lord L[oughborough]'s with Mrs.
Abingdon,[5]--a judge and an actress; what would Sir Roger Hill[6]
say? Dinner will be on table at five o'clock next Monday in Bentinck
Street.

Saturday night. Brookes's absolutely alone. The town even yet very
empty.

  [5] Fanny Barton, Mrs. Abington, first appeared on the stage at
  the Haymarket in 1755. Her great success was, however, gained at
  Drury Lane, after her return from Dublin, from 1764 onwards. She
  was the first Lady Teazle, and acted Ophelia to Garrick's Hamlet.
  She died in 1815.

  [6] Sir Roger Hill was a Baron of the Court of Exchequer at the
  time of the Commonwealth, and therefore, it is suggested, would
  have shrunk from contact with a player. He was an ancestor of
  Lady Sheffield.




424.

_To Lord Sheffield._


  Friday, two o'clock, 7th Sept., 1781.

[Sidenote: FRENCH AND SPANISH FLEETS IN THE CHANNEL.]

Lord Hillsborough[7] tells me that himself and Co. believe that the
combined fleets are gone into Brest. Expresses that left Bristol
yesterday, and Plymouth, Wednesday, cannot give the least account of
them, and a Portuguese ship from Lisbon the 23rd last month, beat
several days between Scilly and the Land's end without seeing or
hearing of them. However, at all events more than twenty-five swift
sailing vessels had been sent out to meet and warn the West India
fleets. Adieu.

We shall meet at Brighton on Monday.

  E. G.

  [7] Wills Hill, second Viscount Hillsborough, in 1789 created
  first Marquis of Downshire (1718-1793). In November, 1779, he
  succeeded Lord Weymouth as Secretary of State for the northern
  department, and held that office till the resignation of the
  Government in March, 1782. Walpole, writing on September 11, says
  the combined French and Spanish fleets were at the entrance of
  the Channel, "where they certainly will not venture to stay long."




425.

_To Lady Sheffield._


  Bentinck Street, Friday evening, ten o'clock, 1781.

*Oh, ho! I have given you the slip; saved thirty miles, by proceeding
directly this day from Eartham to town, and am now _comfortably_
seated in my library, in _my own_ easy chair, and before _my own_
fire; a style which you understand, though it is unintelligible to
your Lord. The town is empty; but I am surrounded with a thousand old
acquaintance of all ages and characters, who are ready to answer a
thousand questions which I am impatient to ask. I shall not easily
be tired of their Company; yet I still remember, and will honourably
execute, my promise of visiting you at Brighton about the middle of
next month. I have seen nobody, nor learned anything, in four hours
of a town life; but I can inform you, that Lady * * * [erased] is
now the declared mistress of Prince Henry of Prussia, whom she
encountered at Spa; and that the Emperor has invited this amiable
Couple to pass the winter at Vienna; fine encouragement for married
women who behave themselves properly! I spent a very pleasant day in
the little paradise of Eartham, and the hermit expressed a desire
(no vulgar compliment) to see and to know Lord S. Adieu. I cordially
embrace, &c.*




426.

_To his Stepmother._


  Bentinck Street, October 6th, 1781.

  DEAR MADAM,

I have meditated a letter many posts, and the bell of Saturday
evening now admonishes or rather reproaches. Allow me only to say
that I am perfectly well, and expect very soon some more