LONDON,April 12,1768.
MY DEAR FRIEND:I received,yesterday,your letter of the 1st;in which you do not mention the state of your health,which I desire you will do for the future.
I believe you have guessed the true reason of Mr.Keith's mission;but by a whisper that I have since heard,Keith is rather inclined to go to Turin,as 'Charge d'Affaires'.I forgot to tell you,in my last,that Iwas almost positively assured that the instant you return to Dresden,Keith should decamp.I am persuaded that they will keep their words with me,as there is no one reason in the world why they should not.I will send your annual to Mr.Larpent,in a fortnight,and pay the forty shillings a-day quarterly,if there should be occasion;for,in my own private opinion,there will be no 'Charge d'Affaires'sent.I agree with you,that 'point d'argent,point d'Allemand',as was used to be said,and not without more reason,of the Swiss;but,as we have neither the inclination nor I fear the power to give subsidies,the Court of Vienna can give good things that cost them nothing,as archbishoprics,bishoprics,besides corrupting their ministers and favorite with places.
Elections here have been carried to a degree of frenzy hitherto unheard of;that for the town of Northampton has cost the contending parties at least thirty thousand pounds a side,and -------------has sold his borough of ---------,to two members,for nine thousand pounds.As soon as Wilkes had lost his election for the city,he set up for the county of Middlesex,and carried it hollow,as the jockeys say.Here were great mobs and riots upon that occasion,and most of the windows in town broke,that had no lights for WILKES AND LIBERTY,who were thought to be inseparable.He will appear,the l0th of this month,in the Court of King's Bench,to receive his sentence;and then great riots are again expected,and probably will happen.God bless you!