Chapter XIX: Letter 47: ) (6)

My health this winter has been perfect, without the slightest attack of the gout, and I rejoyce to hear that you revive with the Spring. A friend like Mrs. P. was a real loss, and I think with you that in such an intimate connection the heart is of much more importance than the head. Embrace in my name Sara and the tame cat. I hope the former is not offended with, and I am persuaded that the latter adores, me, but am much disappointed that her Bath residence has not produced any shining adventures: a pair of small, neat horns might peep very gracefully out of a laurel crown, which her husband well deserves, though I think with you that his effusions are too frequent and precipitate.[478] Adieu, dear Madam. I am still ignorant and indeed indifferent about the precise moment of my parliamentary beatification. Lord S. is chaired next Monday at Coventry; but it is needless to mention that family, as you hear the earliest and most copious accounts of them. Once more, Adieu!

I am, Dear Madam,
Most truly yours,
E. GIBBON.

[477] Mrs. Hutcheson, whose maiden name was Lawrence, married as
her first husband Colonel Steward. Her second husband, Archibald
Hutcheson, M.P. for Hastings, at the time of his death (1740)
commended her to the guidance of William Law. She was joined
by Miss Hester Gibbon, and the two ladies, in 1743, settled at
King's Cliffe, in a house belonging to Law. There Mrs. Hutcheson
founded a school for boys. She died at the age of ninety-one, in
January, 1781, and, at her own request, was buried at the feet of
Mr. Law.

[478] William Hayley (1745-1820) was a voluminous poet. Byron
(_English Bards and Scotch Reviewers_) attacks him with severity--

"Whether he spin poor couplets into plays,
Or damn the dead with purgatorial praise,
His style in youth or age is still the same,
For ever feeble and for ever tame."

In 1780 he had addressed to Gibbon _An Essay on History, in Three
Epistles_. He married, in 1769, Eliza Ball, daughter of the Dean
of Chichester. The marriage proved unhappy; but it should be
added that Mrs. Hayley adopted her husband's illegitimate son,
who, born in 1780, afterwards became the sculptor, and treated
him as her own child. In 1789 Hayley was separated from his wife,
whose mind had become affected. Hayley was at this time living at
Eartham, in Sussex, a property which he had inherited from his
father.

[Sidenote: HIS ANNUAL TAX TO THE GOUT.]

416.

_To his Stepmother._

Friday, May 30th, 1781.

DEAR MADAM,

When I was called upon last February for my annual tax to the Gout, I only paid for my left foot which in general is most heavily assessed: the officer came round last week to collect the small remainder that was due for the right foot. I have now satisfied his demand; he is retired in good humour, and I feel myself easy both in mind and body.--If I complained of your silence, though somewhat longer than usual, I should be unreasonable indeed, and I only wish to be assured that it does not proceed from want of health or spirits. I hope you do not stand in need of a Physician, but I am concerned to think that, since the Jew's departure, you have not any one who knows your constitution or in whom you repose any confidence. How do you propose to spend the summer? do you mean to breathe the sharp air of the Welsh mountains? If you would visit the banks of the Thames you would find a hearty wellcome, and my cottage would be easily enlarged by an occasional lodging. I feel great comfort in this retreat at Hampton Court, and shall now escape every week from the heat and dust of the House of Commons.

I am, Dear Madam,
Ever yours,
E. G.

417.

_To his Stepmother._

June 16th, 1781.

DEAR MADAM,

I take the earliest opportunity of informing you that in the course of next week I shall be elected for the borough of Lymington in Hampshire. You may be sure of hearing from me before the end of the month.

I am,
Ever yours,
E. GIBBON.

END OF VOL. I.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
STANFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

* * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals.

The carat character (^) indicates that the following letter is superscripted (example: 2^e). If two or more letters are superscripted they are enclosed in curly brackets (example: 2^{ndly,}).

Variations in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been retained.

Corrections have been made for Volume 1 as listed in the Errata.

Page 44: The original had a blank area where the transcriber has inserted a dash as follows:

"and the accession of a just and righteous prince. Lord ---- was ..."

The following two sidenotes appear in the margin of page 395 next to the pararaphs which follow. All other sidenotes appear at the top of alternate pages:

[Sidenote: December 31st, 1780.]

A profane historian will depart from Bentinck Street, London, and drink tea, sup and lye at Newbury in Berkshire.

[Sidenote: January 1st, 1781.]

The same historian will gently proceed from Newbury to Bath till he reaches the aerial cell of the Fairy of the Green, or more probably the white mountain. It is apprehended that the said Fairy will not be able to dine that day before four o'clock in the afternoon.