Letter from Philip Francis, London, to Sir Henry Strachey, 1773 August 7 : autograph manuscript signed.

Asking him to express his compliments to Lady Clive for the hospitality he received at Lord Clive's House and suggesting that he might also "...prevail upon Miss Ducarel to set it to Music. Let me know what it is, that I may see for once how sound and Sense go together. Tho' I have no great hopes of supplanting Tufty, I am infinitely ambitious of possessing a Share in Lady Clive's Favour. If I could take rank before Mr. Beaumont, and immediately after Casar, I think I could wait with patience for the Death of all the Dogs & Cats in the Family. I pray you to inform her Ladyship, that I have taken the Liberty to send an Italian Book for her to Berkeley Square, upon an interesting Subject - Heaven avert the Omen! but it is called "Lagrime in morte di un Gatto", and contains every Thing that can be said upon so serious an Occasion. In the Case of a Mortality at Walcot, for even Cats with all their Lives find themselves mortal at last, - This Treatise will furnish Epitaphs for them all. - But the Subject grows too affecting;" relating news he has received from India and the current India stock price; concluding "Au reste, we are as quiet as Lambs. If any Thing more interesting should occur, you shall hear from me again. London is actually as hot as Calcutta, and as dull as a Country Village."