"I have the honour to remain, malady, yours, etc., etc."
You may be quite sure, my friend, that I did not allow so singular
an epistle to remain long unanswered. I replied to it in the
following words:--
"SIR,--The perusal of your agreeable letter made me
almost grieve for the disgrace of the duc de
Choiseul. Be assured, that to his own conduct,
and that of his family, may be alone attributed
the misfortune you deplore.
"The regrets you so feelingly express for the
calamity which has befallen your late protector
do honour to your generous heart; but
recollect that your old friends were not the
only persons who could
appreciate and value your fine talents; to
be esteemed worthy the honourable appellation
of your patron is a glory which the proudest
might envy; and, although I cannot boast of
being a Minerva, who, after all, was possibly
no wiser than the rest of us, I shall always
feel proud and happy to serve you with my
utmost credit and influence.
"I return you my best thanks for the wishes
you express, and the attachment you so kindly
profess. You honour me too much by repeating
my name amidst the bosom of the Alps! be assured,
that I shall not be behindhand in making the saloons
of Paris and Versailles resound with yours. Had I
leisure for the undertaking, I would go and
teach it to the only mountain worthy of re-echoing
it--at the foot of Parnassus.
"I am, sir, yours, etc.
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