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Strawberryhill Dec. 9.th 1787.

It was not at all extraordinary, Dear Sr, that I should tell your Daughters that I thought your marriage with Madame de Villegagnon very sensible: I have long had great respect & esteem for that Lady, & have no doubt but her virtues and understanding will make you very happy: & since you despair of returning to your own Country, so creditable a match in France seems a very wise measure, & the alliance will replace agreably the Friends you have left in England. I should have been very glad if your Affairs would have allowed your bringing Madame Walpole over, & consequently, my making my court to her in person; but tho I should hope the former may still happen, I am much too old to form any project at all distant, & therefore must beg you, Sr, to offer my most respectfull compliments & congratulations to Her

I am exceedingly glad of peace: I always wish for it for the sake of others, & now very interestedly, as my late time of life makes me desirous of perfect tranquility, & of not suffering uneasiness for any of my Friends, or on their account of their Friends.

Whether the Treaty of Commerce will be advantageous or the contrary, to this Country, I do not pretend in the least to judge. You know, I think, how utterly ignorant I am of all matters of Trade - I may say truly, of anything usefull. I never had a head or an inclination for business, & I have passed an idle life in amusing myself with trifles - nor do I regret my option. The Abilities, Integrity & Temper of my Father seldom meet, & without them all, Ambition, I believe is no path to much felicity, or to solid Reputation.

I am not better acquainted with the present internal policies of France with which I had little or no correspondence since my dear Friend Madame du Deffand’s death. I did cast my eye on M. de Colonne’s book, but not understanding the Finances or terms of Finances of France, I was little the wiser. The part I did understand, I admired very moderately. Eloquence has advanced with us to such masculine Superiority, even in the youngest men, that studied flowers & affected Pathos, composed by the Pen, are in my eyes quite puerile. Colonne’s apostrophe to the Manes of his Father made me smile, instead of touching me; & when I recollected the Anecdote of La Chalotais, my smile was converted into an emotion less tender.

For my own amusement I am sorry the Press of Paris is so barren of everything but politics, unless it were to send us more Figaros & Tarares! Our own press produces full as little entertainment: we lived two years upon the Dotage of Dr Johnson & his foolish Biographers - yes, I have seen one French book, which I should be glad to have & can not get Mons. D’Argerson’s (I think it is called) Loisirs. There is much good sense in it, & many anecdotes; & I do not dislike it for not resembling what he calls his model, Montaigne, who surfeits me with his own Vanity - I cannot conceive why Montaigne is so much admired, unless by people who would like to talk as much of themselves. Adieu! dear Sr,

yt most obedient humble servt Hor Walpole