To: Henrietta St John, afterwards Lady Luxborough. [?Paris.] 27 January [n.s.] 1725. Text: MS, BL Add. 34196, fols 28–9.

since I had some time ago a little return of health which began to give me great hopes, I have been extreamly out of order; and it is but within these few days that I begin to feel my health return by the use of a remedy which has great reputation, and I believe deservedly in this country. the anxiety I was in for the Marq:[uise] help’d to augment my disquietude, & by consequence my illness. god be prais’d her health is good, notwithstanding the very singular complaint of want of smell and taste. ¹ I am sorry my dear Girl that you have lost that laudable appetite which you carry’d with you out of this country. ² if y^e fogs have taken it from you, I hope the serenity of y^e spring will restore it to you. I find that our french Ladys are more generous than yours in England. to tell you the truth here is not much regret for the dead, but our women have a great deal of concern for y^e sick, because the sick you know may recover. their concern for me is pure generosity, and the most disinterested friendship. I am out of their service, & neither fit nor inclin’d to return to it. Rutter ³ is not yet arriv’d, short days, bad weather, and, worse roads, make it a tedious peice of work to bring a parcel of young Horses from London to Paris. soon after his arrival I hope to begin to hunt, and perhaps the exercise may promote my recovery. the truth is I have pass’d in all respects a very melancholy winter. there is no consideration whatever which shall oblige me to pass such another. pray my dear Girl make my humble compliments to M^rs Gore, ⁴ whose obliging letter I will not fail to acknowledg my self very soon. I have not seen M^elle Aissé ⁵ these two days but I sent y^e letter, which M^rs Sheilds⁶brought, to her yesterday by M^e de Feriol. Adieu my Dear Henriette, ever most faithfully & most affectionately yours.