riage' shall take place at four o'clock to-morrow instead of five; but, as he may not be very punctual, I suppose half-past four will be the time. I have seen Backhouse,2 and settled with him this alteration.

DEAR MAHON,

Mr. Pitt to Lord Mahon.

Walmer Castle, Nov. 22, 1803.

Hester had already written to James desiring him to come to us as soon as he can obtain leave, which I hope will be immediately. It will certainly be most desirable to have an opportunity of talking over with him fully his future plans, and if his aversion to the Navy has taken a deep root it cannot be wished that he should remain in it; otherwise I should much regret his quitting a line in which he has already passed so much time and had so fair a prospect of succeeding. I will forward your letter to him by to-day's post, though probably he may have left Portsmouth before it gets there.

Ever affectionately yours,

W. PITT.

Lady Hester Stanhope to F. R. Jackson, Esq., at Berlin.

Walmer Castle, Jan. 14, 1804.

We are in almost daily expectation of the arrival of the French, and Mr. Pitt's regiment is now nearly

1 Of Lord Mahon to the Hon. Catherine Lucy Smith, fourth daughter of Lord Carrington.

2 Rev. J. H. Backhouse, rector of the parish, by whom the ceremony was to be performed.

perfect enough to receive them. We have the famous 15th Light Dragoons in our Barracks; also the Northampton and Berkshire Militia. The first and last of these regiments I command, and have an orderly dragoon whenever I please from the former and the band of the latter. I never saw any Militia regiment so well officered, or composed of such pleasant men, as the Berkshire. A Northamptonshire squire is not pleasant in his own country, and does not improve with transplanting, but the regiment is a fine body of men. I am at this moment alone here with my little brother James, who has left the Navy for the Army; he is too clever for a sailor, too refined, I mean. I do not regret the change, as higher powers approve it. He is now in the Guards, and is to join I believe soon: the time will be decided when Mr. Pitt returns. I expect him in a few days. He was perfectly well when he left me; his most intimate friends say they do not remember him as well since the year Ninety-Seven. Nothing can please me better than the pleasant footing I am upon with all those most attached to him, and the satisfaction it appears to give him when they show me civility. . Oh, such miserable things as the French gun-boats! We took a vessel the other day loaded with gin-to keep up their spirits I suppose: another with abominable bread and a vast quantity of peas and beans, which the soldiers eat. One of the boats had an extreme large chest of medicine, probably for half their flotilla. Their guns are ill-mounted, and cannot be used with the same advantage as ours, but are fine pieces of ordnance. Buonaparte was said to be at Boulogne a few days ago; our officers patrolled all night

with the men, which was pleasant. I have my orders how to act in case of real alarm in Mr. P.'s absence, and also a promise from him never to be further from the army than a two hours' ride. This is all I wish. I should break my heart to be drove up the country like a sheep when everything I most love was in danger.

DEAR MAHON,

Mr. Pitt to Lord Mahon.

Walmer Castle, Jan. 31, 1804.

The sooner you comply with the summons you have received, the better, and I hope your presence will have the effect of bringing the business at last to a conclusion. We will take as good care of the coast as we can in your absence; but as our garrison here is rather stronger than you will leave at Maxton, I hope you will advise Lady Mahon to take up her quarters here till you return.

Affectionately yours,

W. PITT.

Lady Hester Stanhope to Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart.

Walmer Castle, April 15, 1804.

I hope soon to have the pleasure of seeing you, but in the meantime must just state to you what I think about Mr. Pitt's health, not omitting to say how very uneasy his constant cough has lately made me, which

till within these last six days he would take no care of, exposing himself to these easterly winds late in the evening, attending his duty not as a soldier and Colonel of a regiment, but more like a drill-sergeant.

I have also to beg that you will most forcibly dwell upon all directions you think necessary to give him. Nobody is so like an angel when he is extremely ill, and few persons less tractable when a little ill; always urging it is nothing, and taking no care in the world of himself.1

Memorandum by Mr. Pitt.

(Downing Street) Dec. 26, 1804.

The messenger is to search with Burfield2 in the Library at Walmer for a large green bag, containing some heavy books. It is to be sealed up (if not sealed already) and brought immediately to town. The bag will be found either in the corner of the shelves, or in the closet made by one of the windows in the Library.

If necessary, the closet must be broke open.

1 Mr. Pitt resumed the Seals of Office as Prime Minister in less than a month from the date of this letter on the 10th of May, 1804.

2 Burfield was the gardener at Walmer Castle. He died at Deal

W. P.

so lately as 1859, at the age of 89, and his widow survived him till 1863. This memorandum, in Mr. Pitt's own writing, had remained in her possession.

Lady Hester Stanhope to Mr. Pitt.

Walmer Castle, Jan. 24 (1805).

Burfield went to Maidstone yesterday for the

last lot of trees and shrubs, which he expects will be all planted in ten days, unless a frost prevents it. I had a conversation with him about what was likely to grow in the chalk-pit. I proposed a few evergreen oaks, which he says will answer there, but nowhere else about the place. We both agreed upon filling it with a variety of creepers, furze, broom, or about anything that will grow and make it look less barren.

Lady Hester Stanhope to W. D. Adams, Esq.1

Walmer Castle, Feb. 3, 1805.

Last spring and part of the summer I bore in the great world much more than my value for talents, looks, &c. Everything was over-rated, and although I was perfectly aware of it at the time, then I own I enjoyed it. Now if I could command it, it would be indifferent to me; but my looks are gone, as they always do in the absence of health; and I have been recommended to come into the country to regain them; and here I have been three weeks. I am not dull, or rather not idle, as I have the charge of improve

1 Selected as Private Secretary | plished gentleman survived till by Mr. Pitt on his return to office. June, 1862.

This most amiable and accom