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might then have gone in the Boston frigate, and his 

 stay here has been the cause of great mortification 

 and real detriment to our friend the Abbe Correa. 



I explained to Sir Joseph Banks that his presence 

 here gave umbrage to the two emigrant Dukes of 

 Luxemburg and Coigny, and that they had applied 

 to the court to have him sent away. Since that time 

 still more noise has been made about it, and it has 

 been contrived to supersede the Abbe in a lucrative 

 and honourable place, which had been promised 

 him, — that of public librarian ; and he still appre- 

 hends other disagreeable consequences : not that I 

 imagine poor M. Broussonet is the real cause, any 

 further than that the Abbe's enemies have eagerly 

 seized upon the opportunity, and alleged his at- 

 tachment to Mons. B. as a proof of their former 

 slanderous accusations. It is true that our friend 

 the Abbe has been rather too unguarded in express- 

 ing his political opinions in such a country as this. 

 Under a weak, irresolute, though arbitrary prince, 

 surrounded by a corrupt, ignorant, bigoted, intri- 

 guing court, what else can be expected? It happens 

 too, very unfortunately, that the Duke de Lafoens*is 

 confined in a violent fit of the gout, or he might in 

 some measure have stemmed the torrent. 



In consequence of Sir J. Banks's recommenda- 

 tion, I am sure Mr.Walpole would readily undertake 

 it, and could certainly protect Mons. B., and obtain 

 leave for him to stay here as long as convenient ; 

 but you may judge of M. Broussonet's feelings on 



* John de Braganza, uncle to the Queen of Portugal. 



