I this Instant receiv’d your Letter of the 2d. It gives me inexpressible Grief to learn that you have been so long without receiving any Letter from me, and that you attribute it to my neglect! I can assure you you wrong me, for I have wrote, I think constantly every Week; some of my Letters went by Private Hands, others by the Post: the former may have been long in getting to you or lost; the latter must have reached you, if given to the Bell-man by the People here, as I directed, and which I cannot think was neglected. I could not keep Copies of my Letters, but I wished I had taken down their several Dates, and I will in future. To the best of my Recollection this is my 10th. Letter since I left home. But enough of this—the Arrival of my Letters must have already justified me. Alexr. indeed mentions your having received one two days after your Letter—I wish therefore you had kept it back, it gave me great uneasiness! but I suppose you had already sent it.

The Abbé and Ld. Fitzmaurice arrived only last Night at 12 o Clock—and they set off this Morning at 9 for Bowood; It was not ’till Eleven that I heard of their Arrival so that I have not been able to see them. The Abbé wrote me a Note with the Prints &ca—mentioning the Reason for his not calling on me, informing me that he purpos’d returning to Paris the beginning of next Month—and wishing me to let him know my Plan; which I shall do, and shall be happy if we can arrange Matters so as to return together; tho I doubt it: for unless I receive a farther Congé from you, I shall certainly sett off much sooner than the Abbé purposes doing.

Mrs. Hewson has at length determined to accept your Proposal—I did not urge her to it: The Friends she has consulted have advised her: Mrs. Blount is the principal One, and would, I believe, herself be of the Party—did she understand French—but she does not even read it. Mrs. H. has some Arrangements to take, but we shall I believe be with you at the End of the Month—unless I receive Letters from you to detain me: Mrs. Sargent, with [wh]om I have been spending 2 Days in the Country, hopes I shall, and if I do, has made me promise to make her another Visit. I never in my Life I think, on so short an Acquaintance, took so great a liking for any two Persons as for Mr. and Mrs. Sargent; It is true I had often heard you speak of them—and their attachment for you cannot be surpass’d. Their Sentiments for you have been imbib’d by all their Neighbourhood, At the Houses we visited—I think I met with no less than three of your Busts—and two of your Portraits in Oil. Lord Stanhope—and his Son Ld. Mahon, (who live at about 3 Miles from Mr. Sargents)—received me very politely, and express’d the greatest Respect for you. I have a Book for you from Ld. Stanhope—and another for the Society at Philada.—I gave Mrs. Sargent several Pieces of your Writing, who was infinitely pleased with them, and thinks the Dialogue with Made la Goute, ought to be publish’d for the Benefit of Mankind.

I have much more to tell you but must leave you for the present, it being 5 o Clock—and I am engag’d to dine at Pardises with Dr. Blagden, and others of the Royal Society. Charettier setts off tomorrow for Paris, I shall send you some Pamphlets by him, and if possible write again. Adieu for the present—and believe me as ever—my dearest Sir, Your most dutiful and affectionate Grandson