February

68. To Viscount Althorp

Duke Street, 16 Febr. 1773.

My dear Lord,

Had you left Harrow to set out upon your journey, I persuade myself you would have informed me of your motions. I conclude, therefore, that you are still there, and, if I hear nothing to the contrary, will have the pleasure of seeing you next Sunday about one o'clock, if neither bad weather nor accidents prevent me. I sat yesterday from two o'clock till midnight in the House of Commons, and was highly entertained with a debate about an Expedition against the Blacks in the Island of St. Vincents'. Though France had ceded St. Vincent, the islanders possessed the best land, refused to be moved, and in 1771 said they were not subject to British rule. In April 1772 an expedition was dispatched, which suffered many casualties but also mistreated the islanders. The House debate on 15 Feb. concerned the bill on the general injustice of the expedition, the parts of which were rejected. However, the expedition was terminated. The treaty of 17 Feb. insured local ownership of most of the land and government by local laws and customs. In return, the islanders ceded some land and agreed to take the oath of allegiance. ^†1 I will tell you the particulars, when we meet. For the honour of Harrow School, Lord Folkestone spoke with great spirit and propriety. Viscount Folkestone, Jacob Pleydell Bouverie, became the second Earl of Radnor in 1776. He was M.P. for and Recorder of Salisbury, 1771-6. ^†2 Farewell, my dear Lord, and believe me

Your ever affectionate and faithful friend

Wm. Jones.

Original: Earl Spencer's muniment room

69. To Lady Spencer

Duke Street, 26 Febr. 1773.

Madam,

Though I know that your Ladyship receives frequent accounts of Lord Althorp's health both from himself and others, yet I am persuaded that you will not be displeased to have those accounts repeated and confirmed; and it is this persuasion only, which can excuse the liberty I am now taking. I had the pleasure last Sunday of seeing Him at Harrow in perfect health, and of finding both the masters of the school, and all who know him, uniform and constant in their praises of him: they all assured me, (what I knew indeed, myself, but was pleased to hear repeated) that He is modest, attentive, and sweet-tempered, has fine parts and uncommon industry, which cannot fail to make him a truly valuable man. I should not have said so much as this three years ago, when I might have been suspected of flattery, but, as I can have no inducement at present to pay any compliments at the expense of the strictest truth, I may speak what I take to be true, without any fear of being thought partial or interested. What a pleasure will it give me to the last hour of my life, to reflect, that so amiable a youth received from me the first principles of that knowledge, which he will hereafter exert to the satisfaction of his friends, and the benefit of his country! One thing only remains: I heartily wish, that it may be in my power, either by my conversation or correspondence with him, to give him some tincture of the Sciences to which I am now applying myself, as I brought him acquainted with those parts of Literature, to which I had then turned my mind. There are three authors, with whom I hope, one day or other, to bring him acquainted, Euclid, Locke and Blackstone: the first will open to him the principles of all natural knowledge, the second will show him the nature and extent of human reason, and the third will offer to him a specimen of that reason reduced to practice in the admirable Laws of our country; and here I cannot help observing, that, with how much pain and reluctance soever I separated myself from him two years ago, yet, without that

separation, I should never have been able to make my studies so useful to him, as they may now perhaps be; since I should never have applied myself to the sciences, and especially to that profession, in which I am now ambitious of excelling. Indeed I almost begin to agree with those philosophers, who think, that all the important events of human life are not left altogether to Chance, but are conducted by a superintending wisdom, which ordains that Whatever happens is the Best. For example, Pope, An Essay on Man, Epistlei, ll. 287-94: 'One truth is clear, WHATEVER is, IS RIGHT.' Or Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations, iv. 10. ^†1 The common topicks of publick conversation this winter are the affairs of the East-India company, The East India Company's financial condition was precarious. On 24 Feb. the general court voted to ask Parliament for a large loan; but when the petition was heard on 9 Mar., North attacked the Company's premiss that it had a right to such relief. ^†2 the petition from the Clergy with regard to the thirty nine articles, In Feb. 1772 some 250 clergymen had petitioned the House for relief from subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles, but North's objection that discussion would revive religious controversy led to the petition's not being brought up. ^†3 the expedition against the Caribbs in the Island of St. Vincent, and other affairs which have come before parliament. I have attended the debates in the House of Commons pretty constantly, and never miss an opportunity of hearing the great Speakers at the Bar or in the Senate; so that I could give your Ladyship a full account of all these affairs, if my letter were not already too long. We have a new serious Opera called the Cid, and set to musick by Sacchini, which is greatly admired. I am not fond of the piece, though the Musick is, certainly, fine; but the dancing by Fierville, and Madlle. Heinel Anthony Maria Gaspar Sacchini (1727-86), distinguished violinist and composer, gained fame in England with elegant operas like Il Cid and Tamerlano, which Dr. Burney liked. Anne-Frédérique Heinel (1753-1808) and the ballet master Fierville were a famous dance team, Jones seeing them in Il Cid at the King's Opera House on 23 Feb. Their 1782-3 presentation packed the Opera House for months. ^†4 is far superiour to any thing of the kind that I ever saw--If I am taking too great a liberty, Madam, in writing this letter, your Ladyship will, I persuade myself, readily excuse me, when you consider, that I can have no inducement in the world, but my desire of informing you of Lord Althorp's health, (whom you will always allow me to call my friend,) and of testifying to you the sincere respect, with which I am Madam

Your Ladyship's most faithful and obedient Servant

Wm. Jones.

Original: Earl Spencer's muniment room