do not see, what is almost universal in
those who have pretensions to patriotism, an exclusive consideration
of their own benefit, and meaning, at the bottom, no earthly good to
any but to themselves and their own dependants. M. Fayette est
entreprenant, hardi, avec un certain point d'honneur, et avec cela,
plus consequent que le reste des Reformateurs, qui, apres tout, est
un engeance si detestable a mon avis, qu'un pais ne peut avoir un
plus grand fleeau. How often will that poor country regret the
splendour of a Court, and that Lit de Justice, sur lequel le Roi et
ses sujets avoient coutume de dormir si tranquillement! But when I
think of ambition, it is not that of all kinds that I condemn . . .

(279) Queensberry.

(280) Mme. Piozzi, formerly Mrs. Thrale (1741-1821). The reference
is to "Her Observations and Reflections made in a Journey through
France, Italy, and Germany," which was brought out in 1789. She is
best known as the friend of Dr. Johnson.

(281) Jean Galas (1698-1762), whose unhappy story was the subject of
tragedies prought out in Paris in 1790 and 1791.

(1790) July (Aug?) 7, Saturday, Isleworth.--I hope that this letter
will reach you before you set out for Cumberland, because I am
impatient to tell you that the Perfection of Nature is at this
instant the Perfection of Health. I came over here in my boat to
write my letter from a place where I am sure that your thoughts
carry you very often, and to make my letter from that local
circumstance more welcome to you. I brought over with me two, almost
the last, roses now in bloom, which I could find in the Duke's
garden; one of them would have been for you if you had been here,
because I know the complexion in roses which you prefer; so I have
desired Lady Caroline to smell to it sympathiquement. I found upon
my table at Richm(on)d, when I came down, as I expected, Lady
Sutherland's letter envelop(p)ee a la francoise, and in my next I
will transcribe so many extracts, as it shall be the same as if I
sent you the letter; but I am not sure that sending the original
itself would not be illicit without a particular permission from her
Excellency. I am much obliged to her for it, and shall do my best to
obtain more, although France is a country now which, if I could, I
would obliterate from my mind. Had this Revolution happened two
thousand years ago, I might have been amused with an account of it,
wrote by some good historian, or if it had happened but