You may recollect, my dear Sir, when I informed you of Mrs. Hewsons having deviated from her first Determination, I said, or hinted, that it was not impossible that she might change again: It has turn’d out so. On my Return from Chilbolton I found a Letter from her, informing me that I had staid so long, that I had given her time to Change her Mind again—and that unless I had so order’d my Affairs that I could not take her and her Children, She was resolved on going. I answered her, that her Company would be perfectly agreable and convenient to me, and so much so, that I should make all possible Diligence for our Departure—for fear of again giving her time to change. So that in all probability you will see us together. I had already made an Agreement with a Man to take a Chariot to Paris for him, by which means—I save the Expence of one from Calais, which is generally 3 or 4 Louis. I shall now endeavor to get a Coach for Mrs. H. on the same terms. On her declining to go I had refused one, which is now gone. I am afraid you will think me tedious in returning home—and I begin to think so myself, and can assure you I have no Desire of staying longer here, and I should in all probability have got away this Week, had not my Father express’d a great Desire that I would sit to Stewart, who is esteem’d by West and everybody, the first Portrait Painter now living: he is moreover an American: I have seen several of his Performances, which appear’d to me very great indeed! He is astonishing for likeness’s. I heard West say—“that he nails the Face to the Canvass.”—by which he meant I believe to express, not only that the Resemblance of the Person was perfect—but that his colouring did not change; a fault common to some of the first Painters in this Country—and particularly to Sir Joshua.

I am to begin sitting tomorrow, and Stewart has promised to make all possible Dispatch. He hopes to finish the Principal Parts by Monday; if so, the Day following I shall endeavour to get away, provided I can in the mean time make another Visit to your good Friends Mr. and Mrs. Sargent.

I have, tho’ with some Difficulty, procur’d for Mr. West—the Miniature you sent Georgiana—and he is now doing your Head from it, in the Picture of the signing of the Treaty. I was yesterday at the Dean of St. Asaph’s Trial, saw Lord Mansfield—and heard one of the first Lawyers. The Dean gain’d the Point in agitation—but the Affair is by no means finished. It will come again before the Court the Week following.

I should have been at Lord Mayor’s show to Day—but I am kept at home by a Return of a Complaint I had before I left Paris. The Piles—Dr. Jeffries who attends me—says it is very common just now: If he succeeds with me as well as he did in the Fever and Ague—I shall not suffer much. I am otherwise perfectly well—and I think getting fat. My Father sends his Love with that of your ever dutiful and affectionate Grandson