friend's absence, and the distance between England and America was
prohibitive of letters frequent. Two, however, from Paris in 1779
give an insight into Selwyn's life abroad. He resumed the
correspondence in 1780. He was not well; he was being pressed to go
to "that abominable town" of Gloucester. He hated electioneering,
but it is from Matson that the next letter, in the midst of the
General Election of 1780, is dated. He lost his seat--perhaps not
without regret--for he returned to the less irksome representation,
if such it could be called, of Ludgershall.


(1779,) April 18, Sunday, Paris.--. . . I have managed in regard to
my lodging as I once did in regard to poor Mr. Pottinger, whom I
wanted to avoid and so asked him in my confusion to dine with me,
which you cannot forget that he accepted. I wished above all things
to be lodged as far from a certain Lady(140) as I could, and I have
so contrived it, that for the present I am next door. I intend for
the future to describe her by that name, that is, La Dame, as Lord
Clarendon does the Duchess of Cleveland. I will for the rest of my
life mention her as little as possible; but when I am forced to
speak upon her subject I will take care not to call her by her name,
and I am the more authorised so to do, as she has called me by every
name but that by which I should be described, and that is your
friend.

The Barone servante is gone to England, as you perhaps know, and
perhaps she is now on his (sic) road back. However I shall be quit I
hope for a distant bow; for although honest Iago had taken as much
care as possible that he should cut my throat, a much better friend
took care that he should not; which is the Marechal B(iron).(141)