<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0309" id="link2H_4_0309"></SPAN></p>
<h2> LETTER CCCVIII </h2>
<h3> LONDON, March 15, 1768. </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: This letter is supplemental to my last. This morning Lord
Weymouth very civilly sent Mr. Wood, his first 'commis', to tell me that
the King very willingly gave you leave of absence from your post for a
year, for the recovery of your health; but then added, that as the Court
of Vienna was tampering with that of Saxony, which it seems our Court is
desirous to 'contrequarrer', it might be necessary to have in the interim
a 'Charge d'Affaires' at Dresden, with a defalcation out of your
appointments of forty shillings a-day, till your return, if I would agree
to it. I told him that I consented to both the proposals, upon condition
that at your return you should have the character and the pay of
Plenipotentiary added to your present character and pay; and that I would
completely make up to you the defalcation of the forty shillings a-day. He
positively engaged for it: and added, that he knew that it would be
willingly agreed to. Thus I think I have made a good bargain for you,
though but an indifferent one for myself: but that is what I never minded
in my life. You may, therefore, depend upon receiving from me the full of
this defalcation, when and how you please, independently of your usual
annual refreshment, which I will pay to Monsieur Larpent, whenever you
desire it. In the meantime, 'Cura ut valeas'.</p>
<p>The person whom Mr. Wood intimated to me would be the 'Charge d'Affaires'
during your absence, is one Mr. Keith, the son of that Mr. Keith who was
formerly Minister in Russia.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0310" id="link2H_4_0310"></SPAN></p>
<h2> LETTER CCCIX </h2>
<h3> LONDON, April 12, 1768. </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND: I received, yesterday, your letter of the 1st; in which
you do not mention the state of your health, which I desire you will do
for the future.</p>
<p>I believe you have guessed the true reason of Mr. Keith's mission; but by
a whisper that I have since heard, Keith is rather inclined to go to
Turin, as 'Charge d'Affaires'. I forgot to tell you, in my last, that I
was almost positively assured that the instant you return to Dresden,
Keith should decamp. I am persuaded that they will keep their words with
me, as there is no one reason in the world why they should not. I will
send your annual to Mr. Larpent, in a fortnight, and pay the forty
shillings a-day quarterly, if there should be occasion; for, in my own
private opinion, there will be no 'Charge d'Affaires' sent. I agree with
you, that 'point d'argent, point d'Allemand', as was used to be said, and
not without more reason, of the Swiss; but, as we have neither the
inclination nor I fear the power to give subsidies, the Court of Vienna
can give good things that cost them nothing, as archbishoprics,
bishoprics, besides corrupting their ministers and favorite with places.</p>
<p>Elections here have been carried to a degree of frenzy hitherto unheard
of; that for the town of Northampton has cost the contending parties at
least thirty thousand pounds a side, and——————-has
sold his borough of————-, to two members, for nine
thousand pounds. As soon as Wilkes had lost his election for the city, he
set up for the county of Middlesex, and carried it hollow, as the jockeys
say. Here were great mobs and riots upon that occasion, and most of the
windows in town broke, that had no lights for WILKES AND LIBERTY, who were
thought to be inseparable. He will appear, the 10th of this month, in the
Court of King's Bench, to receive his sentence; and then great riots are
again expected, and probably will happen. God bless you!</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0311" id="link2H_4_0311"></SPAN></p>
<h2> LETTER CCCX </h2>
<h3> BATH, October 17, 1768. </h3>
<p>MY DEAR FRIEND. Your last two letters, to myself and Grevenkop, have
alarmed me extremely; but I comfort myself a little, by hoping that you,
like all people who suffer, think yourself worse than you are. A dropsy
never comes so suddenly; and I flatter myself, that it is only that gouty
or rheumatic humor, which has plagued you so long, that has occasioned the
temporary swelling of your legs. Above forty years ago, after a violent
fever, my legs swelled as much as you describe yours to be; I immediately
thought that I had a dropsy; but the Faculty assured me, that my complaint
was only the effect of my fever, and would soon be cured; and they said
true. Pray let your amanuensis, whoever he may be, write an account
regularly once a-week, either to Grevenkop or myself, for that is the same
thing, of the state of your health.</p>
<p>I sent you, in four successive letters, as much of the Duchess of
Somerset's snuff as a letter could well convey to you. Have you received
all or any of them? and have they done you any good? Though, in your
present condition, you cannot go into company, I hope that you have some
acquaintances that come and sit with you; for if originally it was not
good for man to be alone, it is much worse for a sick man to be so; he
thinks too much of his distemper, and magnifies it. Some men of learning
among the ecclesiastics, I dare say, would be glad to sit with you; and
you could give them as good as they brought.</p>
<p>Poor Harte, who is here still, is in a most miserable condition: he has
entirely lost the use of his left side, and can hardly speak intelligibly.
I was with him yesterday. He inquired after you with great affection, and
was in the utmost concern when I showed him your letter.</p>
<p>My own health is as it has been ever since I was here last year. I am
neither well nor ill, but UNWELL. I have in a manner lost the use of my
legs; for though I can make a shift to crawl upon even ground for a
quarter of an hour, I cannot go up or down stairs, unless supported by a
servant. God bless you and grant you a speedy recovery!</p>
<p>NOTE.—This is the last of the letters of Lord Chesterfield to his<br/>
son, Mr. Philip Stanhope, who died in November, 1768. The<br/>
unexpected and distressing intelligence was announced by the lady to<br/>
whom Mr. Stanhope had been married for several years, unknown to his<br/>
father. On learning that the widow had two sons, the issue of this<br/>
marriage, Lord Chesterfield took upon himself the maintenance of his<br/>
grandchildren. The letters which follow show how happily the writer<br/>
adapted himself to the trying situation.<br/></p>
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