eated.

I am in daily hopes of hearing from you. I am sorry that the
children are to be left behind; that is, that their health, which is
a valuable consideration, makes it prudential. I shall be happy when
I see them again, but it is not in my power to fix the time any more
than the means of my happiness. . . .

Storer has little to do than to sing, Se caro sei, and to write to
me, and therefore pray make him write. Richard the Third is to be
acted here to-night. I will go and see an act of it, pour me
desennuyer.

(1774,) Aug. 13, Saturday, Matson.--As you are one of the first
persons who occupies my thoughts when I awake, so it shall be a rule
with me hereafter, when I am to write to you, to make that my first
business, and not defer, as I have these two last posts, writing
till the evening, when it is more probable, at least in this place,
to suffer some interruption. This looks like an apology for what I
am sure needs none; it requires much more, that I seem to have
established it as a rule to trouble you so often. I have not here
the shallow pretence of telling you some little occurrence[s] which
can hardly be interesting in the Parish of St. James's, but when
they are confined to this spot. I can have no reason for pestering
you with them, but par un esprit de bavardise, ou pour me rappeler
plus souvent a votre souvenir; ce que votre amitie a rendu pour moi
tres inutile.

I have this whole week been immersed in all the provincial business
of a justice, a juryman, and a candidate; and yesterday was forced
to open my trenches before the town as one who intended to humbug
them for one seven years more.

J'ignore le destin qui le ciel me prepare,
Mais il est temps enfin qu' larbe se declare.

I entertained the whole Corporation (of the City of Gloucester)
yesterday at dinner, and afterwards made them a speech, which I am
glad that nobody heard but themselves. However i'ai reussi, I do not
mean in point of eloquence, but I carried my point; and if it was
possible to judge from the event of one meeting only, I should think
that there would be a peaceable election, and the expense not exceed
many hundred pounds, and those given chiefly to the service of the
city. But if [I] did not make my escape, and parry off all the
proposals made to me by the people whose whole employment is to
create disturbance, I should soon be drawn into a contest from which
I should not escape but at the expense of thousands.

At