80
[1780.
TO HERCULES ROSS, ESQ.
Salisbury-street, 9th August, 1783.
My dear Friend,
I am sure you are well convinced that nothing but my notknowing where to direct to you, could have hindered you frombeing troubled with my nonsense. Twice I called at yourhouse, and they could only tell me you were in Scotland : thethird time, a man told me he believed if I directed to Edin burgh , you would get the letter, therefore I determined towrite, at all events. The innumerable favours I have receivedfrom you, be assured I shall never forget; and any opportu-nity that may offer of making some small return, you mayalways command : but I have done. You have always lookedon me with a favourable eye, and I believe that I don’t wantgratitude.
I have closed the war without a fortune: but I trust,and, from the attention that has been paid to me, believethat there is not a speck in my character. True honour, Ihope, predominates in my mind far above riches. I camehome in the Albemarle, with Lord Hood, last from Ja maica , where I left Hanbury, as indefatigable in business asever, (you know best), he is I hope, and think, in a fair wayfor making a fortune. Shaw was up at Porto Prince ; he has,I fancy, done pretty well in the Neutral trade: all our otherJamaica friends are vanished. Wallcoff, who was Agent ofTransports, I supped with him last night; he begged I wouldpresent his best compliments, and say everything that couldbe said of his sensibility of your civility to him; your health,I am told, is perfectly good: I hope it will always conti-nue so.
Do you know Captain Pringle, of the Daedalus ? Fie livesat Caroline Park, four miles from Edinburgh : he is my par-ticular friend, and a man of great honour. I have had a verypressing invitation to come down to him : but, as I have notseen my relations, I cannot take this opportunity, which Isincerely regret, as it deprives me of the pleasure of seeingyou so soon as I wished. In the winter, we shall meet inLondon , I have no doubt. I had a letter yesterday from