To: Sir William Wyndham. n.p. 6 February [n.s.] 1725. Text: MS, Petworth House Archives 19, fols 30–4.

am sorry for the alarm which my late indisposition has given, and I am att the same time flatter’d by it. the truth is that the frequent returns of the feavour, and the perpetual disorder which dwelt in my stomach, had worn me quite down, and exhausted all my spirits; but the Marquise, who knows that I never disguize any thing to her, not even those things which may be disagreable, ought to have moderated her own alarm, and yours, by what I writ att y^e end of y^e same letter as acquainted her with my illness. God be prais’d I am very much better. not only my feavour seems effectually cur’d, but my stomach begins to be reestablish’d, and I am in hopes that my life will become worth wearing some time longer. it is not necessary to live, but it is ^so necessary to live agreably, that I do not well conceive how any one can resolve to live otherwise, unless he be chain’d down to life by the sentiments of his heart, and the force of friendship. for my own part, 47there is nothing else which makes existing desirable to me, and if the Marquise and you, and one or two friends did not attach me to life, I should soon grow tir’d of the world as one grows tir’d of bad company, and wish to be out of it. these are not the thoughts of a melancholy man, my dear Friend, but of a reasonable man. ¹ of one who has been taught by time and reflexion to see things as they are, and to rate them according to their true value. I wish with all my heart that ye act ² which is to pass in my favour may be soon brought on, and I suppose that it will be so. but I know too well the necessity of timing things in Parliament, to be surpriz’d or concern’d att some delay. the state you describe of people who expect they know not what, who are ready to be angry they know not why, and eager to act tho’ they have neither plan nor concert, is a state which I have been several times a witness of. in a government like ours, not only the stronger passions, but every little humour, has force enough to ruffle the face of publick affairs. all which ^an honest and sensible man can do is to steer on with calmness, and to guide themselves ^himself by the Reason of things, whilst the herd of mankind are deliver’d over to their passions. ³ I came to town but last night, and have been confin’d all this day att home by Bouquet ⁴ in the morning, and by company in ye afternoon. tomorrow or next day I will endeavour to find M^r Trevilyan, ⁵ and shall be extreamly pleas’d to contribute to his improvement or to his amusement in this country. I think of going this week to Fontainebleau, so that if I fail of seeing him before that time, I will certainly not fail of it as soon as I return to Paris. I am heartily concern’d for my father, and wish with all my heart that it had been possible to hinder him from shewing to the world what I have long known, and what I hop’d that no body else would know. he has writ to me much in the same stile in which he spoke to you. I made him the very same answer, as to the report he complains of, that you did, and have once more told him that as I never would consent formerly to hold my title to y^e family Estate ⁶ in any other manner than y^t in which it was settled upon me, so he might be assur’d that I remain’d firm & unalterably in the same sentiments. I beleive my Lord Cowper ⁷ did press him to take my title, but indeed to value oneself upon rejecting such a proposal is in french se parer de merite a tres peu de fraix. ⁸ what it is in English you will tell y^r self. I wish for his sake that he was able to add, that he had treated Cowper as he deserv’d to be treated for daring to make such an overture to a father. the injury to me was small in comparison of the affront to him. I doubt he has not yet made any of these reflexions. you will do him service & lay an obligation on me, in contradicting what is I doubt but too true, since he has given you authority for it; and as to y^e advice he asks of you, for gods sake advise him to hold ye same language to others as he has held to you, and to concern himself no further in this affair, nor in any other which relates to me. I am infinitely oblig’d to our friend the Duke ⁹ for his concern, but I own to you that I have not y^e least. there is something so unjust, so ridiculous, and so repugnant to all order & method, 48in proposing to make a new settlem[en]^t for a family who does not desire it, that the proposal can never be receiv’d, if some few people are wild enough to make it. for my own part I declare to you that if such a clause were inserted I should desire the Ministers, and all my particular friends to oppose the Bill, ¹⁰ and you will do me a favour if you declare thus much in my name to all those who may speak to you on the subject. the King was pleas’d long ago to seek me out for an object of his clemency; ¹¹ and as great as the goodness he has shewn me is, it is unmerited on my part. the Ministers have made no conditions with me. my family shall make none. adieu dear S^r William. let me assure Lady Katherine of my respects, and desire you to make my best compliments acceptable to all our common friends, several of whom I hear are in town.