n, but I do not perceive it. I perceive
that he is strong and well, and I hope he will have a great deal of
hunting, sans etre trop temeraire. My hearty love to Lady Caroline.
Mie Mie and I have not laid aside the thoughts of that which is so
connected with our wishes and affections, but I see no immediate
prospect of doing or hearing anything one likes as yet.

I was in hopes that when Lord C. came here next, you and the family
would come with him. I cannot bear the thoughts of not seeing you
till after Christmas. The winter will appear terrible (sic) long to
me, who have so little pleasure here besides that of going in a
morning to Grosvenor Place?(243)

To-day I have a bill sent me of 100 pounds 12 shillings 0 pence.
laid out for the poor King, who ordered me to bespeak for him the
best set which I could get of the glass dishes and basons for his
dessert. The Regency may perhaps not want them, thinking that they
have no occasion for any dessert, and that they can do without it:
perhaps so, nous verrons. Old Begum, as they call her, is more
absurd, I hear, than ever.

I was sorry that I could not dine yesterday at Whitehall, but I
shall not dine out of my room for some time. Wine is my destruction,
with the cold that I endure after it. I shall keep myself, if I can,
from any complaint that will prevent my going to Parliament. The
rat-catchers are going about with their traps, but they shall not
have a whisker of mine.

Lord C. sets out you say on Monday next; then I shall see him, I
suppose, on Wednesday; he will not hurry up as he did down, and then
I am afraid I shall hardly get access to him. Charles you know is
come; I have not heard anything more of him. The papers say that
Pitt and the Chan(cell)or(244) went to Windsor together in one
chaise, and he and Dr. Graham(245) in another. I want to know, how
he has relished Sheridan's(246) beginning a negotiation without him.
I have figured him, if it be true, saying to him, at his arrival, as
Hecate does to the Witches in Macbeth, "Saucy and (over) bold, how
did you dare to trade and traffic, &c., and I, the mistress of your
charms, the close contriver of all harms, was never called to bear
my part," &c. I will not (go) on to the rest of the passage,(247)
for fear of offending. I hope that I shall not have offended you by
anything which I have said; if I do not, you shall hear from me as
often as you please. Be only persuaded that I am most truly and
devotedly yo