1774] To the Countess of Upper Ossory 67
and better; but, dear Sir, Mr. Gray never set his foot in the
Massachusetts. He and Pindar might sing very pretty
catches for aught we know, but nobody cares about such
things nowadays. You lose your time, indeed you do. The
belles lettres were in fashion once, and so were fardingales.
But this is a grave nation, and soon grows weary of trifles.
For one while we were mad about commerce, but that
bubble is over too. We have at last found out that fleets
do more good by destroying trade than by protecting it;
for if we have no trade, we are not vulnerable by an enemy.
Spain enjoys Peru and Mexico by extirpating the inhabitants.
She found that her natives migrated thither. What did she
do ? Laid waste the New World; and the Spaniards stayed
at home—to be sure; and we are going to be as wise. I
wish you would turn your mind to these things as I do.
There is some good in fathoming the arcana of Government*
but poetry and writing lives is an occupation only fit for
a schoolboy,—
Non sic fortis Etnvria crevit,
Scilicet et renm facta esi pulcherrima Roma.
ISfo, she conquered the world and plundered her provinces,
and then was blest with those demigods, Caligula, Domitian,
and Heliogabalus, who were always sent to heaven as soon
as they were ripe for it. Adieu!
1568. To THE COUNTESS OF UPPER OSSOEY.
Strawberry Hill, Oct. 16, 1774.
WHY, Madam, you are a Proteus in petticoats, and every
day appear in some new character! Three days ago you
was setting out ambassadress to Spain : to-day you are
agent for Mr. Ongley1, and carrying a county election.
LETTER 1668.—J Robert Henley-Ongley, M.P. for Bedfordshire; or. (July
80,1776) Baron Ongley, of Old Warden in Ireland j d. 1786,
F 2