BATH,October 11,1769.
MADAM:Nobody can be more willing and ready to obey orders than I am;but then I must like the orders and the orderer.Your orders and yourself come under this description;and therefore I must give you an account of my arrival and existence,such as it is,here.I got hither last Sunday,the day after I left London,less fatigued than I expected to have been;and now crawl about this place upon my three legs,but am kept in countenance by many of my fellow-crawlers;the last part of the Sphinx's riddle approaches,and I shall soon end,as I began,upon all fours.
When you happen to see either Monsieur or Madame Perny,I beg you will give them this melancholic proof of my caducity,and tell them that the last time I went to see the boys,I carried the Michaelmas quarterage in my pocket;and when I was there I totally forgot it;but assure them,that I have not the least intention to bilk them,and will pay them faithfully the two quarters together,at Christmas.
I hope our two boys are well,for then I am sure you are so.I am,with great truth and esteem,your most faithful,humble servant,CHESTERFIELD.