on for some time, without doing anything, because they did not know what
to do. At last du Vergy, about two months ago, applied himself to the
Grand Jury of Middlesex, and made oath that Mr. de Guerchy had hired him
(du Vergy) to assassinate d'Eon. Upon this deposition, the Grand jury
found a bill of intended murder against Monsieur de Guerchy; which bill,
however, never came to the Petty Jury. The King granted a 'noli prosequi'
in favor of Monsieur de Guerchy; and the Attorney-General is actually
prosecuting du Vergy. Whether the King can grant a 'noli prosequi' in a
criminal case, and whether 'le droit des gens' extends to criminal cases,
are two points which employ our domestic politicians, and the whole Corps
Diplomatique. 'Enfin', to use a very coarse and vulgar saying, 'il y a de
la merde au bout du baton, quelque part'.

I see and hear these storms from shore, 'suave mari magno', etc. I enjoy
my own security and tranquillity, together with better health than I had
reason to expect at my age, and with my constitution: however, I feel a
gradual decay, though a gentle one; and I think that I shall not tumble,
but slide gently to the bottom of the hill of life. When that will be, I
neither know nor care, for I am very weary. God bless you!

Mallet died two days ago, of a diarrhoea, which he had carried with him
to France, and brought back again hither.




LETTER CCLXXVI

BLACKHEATH, July 2, 1765