etween the American Colonies and Great Britain and the
West Indies.

(1775?) Dec. 19, Tuesday.--I write to you before dinner, and before
I have all the opportunities which I might have before night of
sending you news, for fear that it should happen as it did last
Saturday, that I fall asleep, and so let pass the hour of the post.
The cold drives me to the fire, and the fire into a profound nap, in
which every earthly thing is forgot; but it shall happen no more,
that a post goes without something to indicate my existence.

Last night and the night before I supped at Lady Betty Stanley's.
Their suppers are magnificent, but their hours are abominably late;
however, they do not discourage my Lord of Worcester from staying
them out. We are very merry, all of us, and I think Mrs. North the
merriest of us all. At 2 this morning, the Bishop and I were almost
left alone; the rest of the company were in their domino's, and
going to the Masquerade. I have seen nobody to-day to tell me what
passed there.

I have been with Mie Mie at Gainsborough's,(136) to finish her
picture. I thank you for inquiring after her; it has been one of my
comforts that she has escaped any of these colds. She seems to grow
very strong; so far, so good.

Sir G(eorge) M'Cartney and Lady Holl(an)d dined here yesterday, and
we had the contrivance to keep our party a secret from Craufurd,
for, although he was engaged to two other places, he told March that
he should have been glad to have come, and certainly would, if he
had known it. I think verily he grows more tiresome every day, and
everybody's patience is a bout, except Smith's and Sir George's.

Sir G(eorge) has been telling me to-day, that Lord Stormont is
coming from France, and is to have Lord Marchmont's place, who is
satisfied by the peerage of his son, and that Lord Harcourt will
stay but a very little while longer in Ireland. This must produce in
all probability other removes.

I dine to-morrow with Lord Gower, Lady G(ower), Lord and Lady
Waldegrave, l'Ambassadeur, and Monsr. Tessier, at Bedford House. I
shall know, perhaps, something more of this then. Her Grace has
suppers for the class I dine with to-day, but I am not of them.
Monsieur Tessier is to read to the Queen, and till then, will read
no more; he goes down to pass his Xmas at Wilton. I wish, for Lady
Carlisle's entertainment, that you had him for two or three days, at
Castle H.

I should, with your approbation, have bee