Autograph Letter to an unknown recipient ('My dear Lord') dated from Chantelou aug: the 15th

Bookseller Notes

The letter is not signed, but it does seem to reach a conclusion. The recipient is an old political ally, still apparently engaged in public affairs. The letter seems to have been prompted by one from the recipient, soliciting Bolingbroke's opinion on a question of the day. Bolingbroke begins his reply: 'My thoughts are employed much less than you imagine, my dear Lord, about ye affairs of Europe, or even Britain. I am not only a Veteran, but an Invalide.' The letter carries on in this sad, weary, vein for the full 4 pages, eulogising the escape from business, the pleasures of retirement, while lamenting his desuetude, and reminiscing - not without uninteresting incident. However 'retired' Bolingbroke felt, he did in fact come back. 'Despite all his protestations to the contrary and all his efforts to renew his studies of history and philosophy, Bolingbroke was still captivated by the contemporary political scene in Britain. He did not entirely abandon his efforts to defeat Walpole or to destroy his system of government' (ODNB).Bolingbroke was at Chanteloup for barely a year.