L30/14/359/1

From Rodrigo de Sousa/Souza Continho, Turin to 2nd Baron Grantham. [Text in French]:

2 Apr 1780

From: 1780 To: 1780

Translation My Dear Lord Grantham, I have just received your charming letter, where you console me for the loss I have had the misfortune to suffer. The friendship which - - - - this unexpected blow was so terrible that I could not resist the pain which oppressed me and it would have needed but little for me to have accompanied him to the tomb. It is only time My Lord, that has brought me back to myself, and the small amount of Philosophy I possess was of no use to me while I was suffering. The two terrible losses I had in less than a year and a half have finished by giving me a distaste for making any new ties and in spite of the charm of your persuasive eloquence, I believe that I shall not enter into any other engagement than those that Nature has given me towards the family I adore and which will always be the happiness of my life. You have never known me as a gallant, and why do you want to convince yourself that I have become one after leaving you. Believe rather that I persuaded myself that a woman can never make me happy, and it is only because of that, that I renounce taking one for ever. There you have the reason for my feelings, which will never change except some desire takes hold of my brain. You honour me by speaking of the sale you made of a beautiful carriage, to my late Father, I take upon myself the charge of paying for it, only asking that you have the grace to wait until I know the state of my Fathers’ affairs. You know my good faith and you know that you can rely on it. I think that it will be better if I address myself to some banker in London to allow you to lay hands on this sum, instead of my holding it for you in Lisbon. Do me the honour of informing me accordingly. You speak to me more than once My Lord of the work credited to you by the journals, and they gave me great pleasure which then turned to dismay when I waited in vain for the fulfilment of what they promised. There have even been occasions when I wanted to inconvenience you with tiresome letters, but the respect I have for your adorable brother made me forbear, fearing to see him seriously vexed with me for the moments I would have taken him away from your agreeable company. All that you tell me of London society is only too natural, and the moments when a country is vigorously attacked are no more agreeable in states where liberty reigns and everyone knows his worth. In the English Gazettes I receive here by every post, I have not read any of your speeches in Parliament, which would have given me the greatest pleasure and I would have seen the desires of the enlightened citizen, gentle and human. Permit me My Lord, to pity your old friends the Spanish, who have been engaged by their neighbours in a war which will end perhaps by removing a great part of the best of what they have in America, and a wish that they will at least be enlightened by it. I cannot cast an eye over the history of Spain since the beginning of this century without pitying the way most men have been led in error against their own interests. They supported the Great War of Succession to give themselves masters who successively engaged them in all the quarrels of France and which were all fatal to them. Permit me also My Lord, to add something to the account of your Nation, and to pity it for having made the Peace of 62, so humiliating for France and of no use to you others. I would not say that to your Minister here, but I am speaking to my friend, so worthy and so enlightened. I do not believe My Lord, that the Diplomatic Corp in Madrid can ever become comparable to that which it was as I saw it during my visit to Madrid, and your successors know this truth only too well. My Lord Grantham will return no more and it is an irreparable loss. If your country did not have at this moment, a need of citizens as enlightened as you, and if I did not perhaps have to make a journey to Portugal, I would take the liberty of proposing a journey to Italy to you, and to remind you of the southern sun which the hoar frosts of the north hide from you and which take away all your brightness But unfortunately I see that my suggestions would never be accepted and that you think to establish yourself in England. I flatter myself that I will have the pleasure of embracing you again, and assure you what feelings of friendship and perfect respect are engraved on the heart of a man who has never ceased to admire you. Accept My Lord, this sincere avowal and believe me to be with complete devotion and the deepest respect, Your most affectionate friend and obedient servant D. Rodrigo de Sousa Continho. P S My Lord, permit your adorable brother to find herein a thousand thanks and beg him to pay me a visit, I would also add my compliments to the estimable Mr Waddilove, whom you should endeavour to make a Bishop, and I will then speak of his hierarchy with great respect.

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DEATH, Turin