L30/14/226/14

Sent from Aix-en-Provence:

2 Apr 1774

From: 1774 To: 1774

Arrived in Aix about a fortnight ago, and mean to stay until the 15th, to be at Paris by the end of the month, and in London by 20 May. Finds Aix to be "the most Unsociable of all possible Places" to strangers, and even amongst the inhabitants there is much discord ever since the affair of the Parliaments. Of 65 principal families that went into exile in one day, very few have returned to Aix. Several English families at Aix, including the Archbishop of Tuam and his family, and Sir John and Lady Blois. General Keppel followed the Lockharts from Nice, but sets out soon for Holland. The Provost was in bad health when they left Nice. Parliament has had an easy and quiet session, although America is expected to give some late days. It is proposed to deprive the Bostonians of their Charter. Such punishment is unfortunate but necessary. Lockhart believes that "an ill judg'd & ill timed Lenity in several successive Administrations has been...of the most pernicious Consequence to the good order of the State at home, & to its authority over its Dependencies." Charles Fox's first conversion to patriotism succeeded very well in obtaining him a much better place than that he had resigned, but Lockhart does not think the second attempt will be so fortunate, as he was extremely offensive to Lord North. Hears frequently from Eden, and laments the fact that his uncle Sir Merton Davison (who left Sir John an estate of nearly £6000 per annum, and the younger children only £1000 each) did not leave him a considerable legacy, but he himself seems very well satisfied with his brother's good fortune. Mentions Lord Findlater, who is soon to set out for Paris with a Mr. Crosby, the son of an Irish Lord Crosby, but means to stay abroad for another year.

item

Blois, John,
Keppel,
Lockhart,
Fox, Charles,
North,
Eden,
Davison, Merton,
Findlater,
Crosby