BLACKHEATH,June 15,1759

MY DEAR FRIEND:Your letter of the 5th,which I received yesterday,gave me great satisfaction,being all in your own hand;though it contains great,and I fear just complaints of your ill state of health.You do very well to change the air;and I hope that change will do well by you.

I would therefore have you write after the 20th of August,to Lord Holderness,to beg of him to obtain his Majesty's leave for you to return to England for two or three months,upon account of your health.Two or three months is an indefinite time,which may afterward insensibly stretched to what length one pleases;leave that to me.In the meantime,you may be taking your measures with the best economy.

The day before yesterday,an express arrived from Guadaloupe which brought an account of our being in possession of the whole island.And Imake no manner of doubt but that,in about two months,we shall have as good news from Crown-point,Quebec,etc.Our affairs in Germany,I fear,will not be equally prosperous;for I have very little hopes for the King of Prussia or Prince Ferdinand.God bless you.