very dear friend; and my mind tells me, that
you will soon have reason, either by good news, or by a proper
reinforcement sent to you, to be in a much happier state of mind
than you could possibly be when you left us this morning. All looks
melancholy without you.

Ever, my dear Lord, your truly attached friend,

Wm. HAMILTON.

VI.

Palermo, June 20th, 1799.
Eight o'Clock at Night.

MY DEAR LORD,

Having wrote fully by the felucca to-day, that went off at three
o'clock--and have not yet General Acton's answer, with respect to what
the Court would wish you to do when you hear how the French fleet is
disposed of--I have nothing to write by the transport.

God bless you! And I hope, somehow or other, we shall meet again soon.

My dear Lord, your's, most sincerely,

Wm. HAMILTON.

VII.

Piccadilly, February 19th, 1801.

MY DEAR LORD,

Whether Emma will be able to write to you to-day, or not, is a
question; as she has got one of her terrible sick head-achs. Among
other things that vex her, is--that we have been drawn in to be under
the absolute necessity of giving a dinner to ****** on Sunday next.
He asked it himself; having expressed his strong desire of hearing
Banti's and Emma's voices together.

I am well aware of the danger that would attend ******* frequenting
our house. Not that I fear, that Emma could ever be induced to act
contrary to the prudent conduct she has hitherto pursued; but the
world is so ill-natured, that the worst construction is put upon the
most innocent actions.

As this dinner must be, or ****** would be offended, I shall keep
it strictly to the musical part; invite only Banti, her husband, and
Taylor; and, as I wish to shew a civility to Davison, I have sent him
an invitation.

In short, we will get rid of it as well as we can, and guard against
its producing more meetings of the same sort.

Emma would really have gone any lengths, to have avoided Sunday's
dinner. But I thought it would not be prudent to break with ******;
who, really, has shewn the greatest civility to us, when we were last
in England, and since we returned: and she has, at last, acquiesced to
my opinion.

I have been thus explicit, as I know well your Lordship's way of
thinking; and your very kind attachment to us, and to every thing that
concerns us.

The King caught cold at the Chapel the other day, and there was
no levee yesterday; and, to-day, the Queen alone will be