rather a happiness than a misfortune : I never was so well helped by all my acquaintances. There was a sort of conspiracy amongst my friends against my enemies ; but I assure you nothing has relieved me more, notbing has been more acceptable to me, than the new assurances of your tenderness. You tell me you are ready to leave England and to corne to me : is it very true ? Can you give me such a token of your heart ? Come then, but come to Paris : I shall be there in all likehood towards Christmas. You know I have a little house, where there is a pretty apartment that I can give to a friend : what hinders you from gratifying me with your présence ? Have you not been long enough in the damp air of London ? Had I consulted but my love for liberty, and my désire of living with you, certainly I had posted away to Covent-Garden and to Russel-street : but I was nailed up in France by all the services my friends have done for me. I could not, without ingratitude, forsake my own afgairs, of which they have taken so constant and so useful a care. Had it not been for this, dépend upon it I would have passed the rest of my days in London : but as long as I am loved so earnestly by some people in France, it will be impossible for me to seek for anotber asylum. Where there is friendsbip there is our natural soil : come, then, and renew with me the ties of that sacred and unalterable virtue. Let not your proposal be a transient enthusiasm of a tender soul, but the firm resolution of a strong and a virtuous mind. Come, my dear, I conjure you to do it. It is most certain I have but few years to live ; do not debar me of tbe pleasure to pass these moments with you.
I have written many things which I long to show you. The satisfaction a true friend may receive from the communication of my thoughts, is beyond the vain applause of the public.
Have you seen the little, and too little, book written by Montesquieu, on the décadence of the Roman Empire ? They call it the décadence of Montesquieu. It is true the book is very far from being what it ought to be ; but yet there are many things in it which deserve to be read, and that makes me angry with the author for having so lightly treated of so great a matter. That book is full of hints. It is less a book than an ingénions table des matières written in an odd style : but, to enlarge fully upon such a subject, requires liberty. An author at London may give a full career to his thoughts ; here be must stint them. We bave here but the tenth part of our soul. Farewell, my soul is entirely attached to your’s.
