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a vein with their teeth, when they are heated by a long course, in order to breathe more freely- I am often tempted to open a vein, and procure for myself everlasting liberty.

LETTER XLVII.

March 24.

I

HAVE written to court for leave to refign; and I hope I fhall obtain it. You will forgive me for not having previously confulted you. It was expedient for me to leave this place. I knew all you could alledge in order to induce me to ftay, and therefore I beg of you to foften

this news as much as you can to my mother, when you acquaint her with it. I can do nothing for myself, how fhould I do any thing for others? She will undoubtedly be grieved to find, that I have stopped fhort in that career which would have led directly to my being first a Privy Counsellor, and then Minister; and to see me thus returning to my original nothing. Argue on the fubject as much as you will, combine all the reasons which fhould have induced me to ftay; I am going, that is fufficient. But that you may not be ignorant where I am going, I shall tell you that here is the Prince of,

who

who is much pleafed with my come pany, and who having heard of my intention to refign, has invited me to his country-houfe, to pafs the fpring months with him. He affures me that I fhall be left quite at liberty; and as we agree on all fubjects but one, I fhall venture to accompany him.

LETTER XLVIII.

April 19.

THANK you for your two letters. I waited for my anfwer from court before I wrote to you. I was under continual apprehenfion

leaft

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leaft my mother should apply to the minifter, in order to defeat my purpofe. But I have received my difmiffion and here it is. I will not tell you with what regret it was given to me, nor what the minifter faid in his letter to me; for you would renew your lamentations. The money which I fent to my mother for, I fhall not want; for the hereditary Prince has made me a prefent-and it was accompanied by a few words which affected me almost to tears.

LETTER

LETTER XLIX.

May 5.

SET out to-morrow; and as my native place is but fix miles out of the great road, I have a mind to fee it, and call back to my remembrance the happy dreams of my childhood. I fhall go in at the fame gate which I came through with my mother, when after my father's death fhe left that delightful retreat to immure herself in your melancholy town. Adieu, my dear friend. You shall hear of my expedition.

LETTER.

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