BLACKHEATH,August 17,1765
MY DEAR FRIEND:You are now two letters in my debt;and I fear the gout has been the cause of your contracting that debt.When you are not able to write yourself,let your Secretary send me two or three lines to acquaint me how you are.
You have now seen by the London "Gazette,"what changes have really been made at court;but,at the same time,I believe you have seen that there must be more,before a Ministry can be settled;what those will be,God knows.Were I to conjecture,I should say that the whole will centre,before it is long,in Mr.Pitt and Co.,the present being an heterogeneous jumble of youth and caducity,which cannot be efficient.
Charles Townshend calls the present a Lutestring Ministry;fit only for the summer.The next session will be not only a warm,but a violent one,as you will easily judge;if you look over the names of the INS and of the OUTS.
I feel this beginning of the autumn,which is already very cold:the leaves are withered,fall apace,and seem to intimate that I must follow them;which I shall do without reluctance,being extremely weary of this silly world.God bless you,both in it and after it!
