Mr. B - advised me to send a
requete or petition to the chancellor of France, that I might
obtain an order to have my books examined on the spot, by the
president of Boulogne, or the procureur du roy, or the sub-delegate
of the intendance.
He recommended an advocat of his
acquaintance to draw up the memoire, and introduced him
accordingly; telling me at the same time, in private, that if he
was not a drunkard, he would be at the head of his profession. He
had indeed all the outward signs of a sot; a sleepy eye, a
rubicund face, and carbuncled nose. He seemed to be a little out
at elbows, had marvellous foul linen, and his breeches were not
very sound: but he assumed an air of importance, was very
courteous, and very solemn. I asked him if he did not sometimes
divert himself with the muse: he smiled, and promised, in a
whisper, to shew me some chansonettes de sa facon. Meanwhile he
composed the requete in my name, which was very pompous, very
tedious, and very abject. Such a stile might perhaps be necessary
in a native of France; but I did not think it was at all suitable
to a subject of Great-Britain. I thanked him for the trouble he
had taken, as he would receive no other gratification; but when
my landlord proposed to send the memoire to his correspondent at
Paris, to be delivered to the chancellor, I told him I had
changed my mind, and would apply to the English ambassador. I
have accordingly taken the liberty to address myself to the earl
of H - ; and at the same time I have presumed to write to the
duchess of D - , who is now at Paris, to entreat her grace's
advice and interposition. What effect these applications may
have, I know not: but the sieur B - shakes his head, and has told
my servant, in confidence, that I am mistaken if I think the
English ambassador is as great a man at Paris as the chancellor
of France.
I ought to make an apology for troubling you with such an
unentertaining detail, and consider that the detention of my
books must be a matter of very little consequence to any body,
but to - Your affectionate humble servant.
LETTER III
BOULOGNE, August 15, 1763.
SIR - I am much obliged to you for your kind enquiries after my
health, which has been lately in a very declining condition. In
consequence of a cold, caught a few days after my arrival in
France, I was seized with a violent cough, attended with a fever,
and stitches in my breast, which tormented me all night long
without ceasing. At the same time I had a great discharge by
expectoration, and such a dejection of spirits as I never felt
before. In this situation I took a step which may appear to have
been desperate. I knew there was no imposthume in my lungs, and I
supposed the stitches were spasmodical.
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