em to follow
you in your travels, and had besides the pleasure of hearing that
you were well, and knowing exactly where you are, which was an
occupation for the whole morning. The Antiquities of France have
furnished me with the knowledge of some places through which you
have passed. Mme de Sevigne(3) did, long ago, bring me acquainted
with others; and sure I am that when she was at Rochers, she could
not think more of the Pont de Garde than I should have done, if I
had known of your being there.

If you do me the honour to give me in future letters so much detail,
I shall be infinitely happy. You may be assured that I shall not
communicate a letter of yours to any one, not even to L(ady)
S(arah),(4) who hinted to me she wanted to see your last, without
your leave; but as for burning them directly, I cannot in your
absence resolve upon that; je les conserverai pretieusement till
your return, and that is all I can promise without your very express
commands.

The accident that had like to have happened to you and Charles(5) ma
fait glacer le sang. I hope it was not Robert that was so heedless.
But that, the wild boars, the Alps, precipices, felouques, changes
of climate, are all to me such things as, besides that they
grossissent de loin, that if I allowed my imagination its full
scope, I should not have a moment's peace.

I shall think no more of anything that may happen unfortunately
either to you or me for the next twelve months, than I do in passing
from Dover to Calais of the one-inch plank that is between me and
Eternity. I have assured myself that as long as the time will appear
in passing now, I shall think some time hence its progress not so
slow, and I will not add imaginary to real evils, by supposing it
possible that I shall not meet you again.

I came down here on this day sevennight, and could I have walked
Out--but the deep snow has prevented that--I should have passed my
time among my workmen tolerably well.

Lord Lisbourne(6) and Williams(7) were to have come with me, but
disappointed me. His lordship was hunting a mare's nest, as they
say, and fancied he should be this week nominated either of the
Admiralty or Board of Trade. He is fututo de, and Lord Ch[arle]s
Spencer(8) is of the first, and no vacancy in the other.

Vernon(9) has Fanshaw's place at the Green Cloth, and this Greasy
Cook dismissed with a sop, but of what sort I know not; however, he
thinks himself happy that a dish-clout was not