(1148) Sir Thomas Watson Wentworth, Knight of the Bath and

Earl of Malton. [In April 1746, he was advanced to the dignity

of Marquis of Rockingham. He died in 1750, was succeeded by

his second son, Charles Watson Wentworth, second marquis; on

whose death, in 1782, all the titles became extinct.]

(1149) Brother of the titular Duke of Perth. [And a general

officer in the French army. "The amount of supplies brought

by him reminds us," says Sir Walter Scott, "of those

administered to a man perishing of famine, by a comrade, who

dropped into his mouth, from time to time, a small shelfish,

affording nutriment enough to keep the sufferer from dying,

but not sufficient to restore him to active exertion."]

(1150) On the 2d of January, Admiral Vernon, having arrived in

the Downs from a cruise, struck his flag; upon which, Admiral

Martin took the command, in his room.-E.

(1151) Henry Hyde, only son of Henry, the last Earl of

Clarendon. He was called up to the House of Peers, by the

style of Lord Hyde, and died unmarried, before his father, at

Paris, 1753. (When Lord Cornbury returned from his travels,

Lord Essex, his brother-in-law, told him, with a great deal of

pleasure, that he had got a handsome pension for him, All Lord

Cornbury's answer was, "How could you tell, my Lord, that I

was to be sold? or, at least, how came you to know my price so

exactly?"--"It was on this account," says Spence, "that Pope

complimented him with this passage-

"Would you be bless't? despise low joys, low gains;

Disdain whatever Cornbury disdains;

Be virtuous, and be happy for your pains."

On the death of the earl, a few months after his son, the

viscounty of Cornbury and earldom of Clarendon became

extinct.-E.]

(1152) The battle of Kesselsdorf, gained by Prince Leopold of

Anhalt Dessau over the Saxon army, commanded by Count

Rutowsky. This event took place on the 15th of December, and

was followed by the taking of Dresden by the King of

Prussia.-D.

(1153) Henry Stuart, afterwards Cardinal of York. This

intelligence did not prove true.-D.

(1154) lady Rachel Russel, eldest sister of John, Duke of

Bedford, and widow of Scrope Egerton, Duke of Bridgewator;

married to her second husband, Colonel Richard Lyttelton,

brother of Sir George Lyttelton, and afterwards Knight of the

Bath.

460 Letter 191

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, Jan, 3, 1746.

I deferred writing to you till I could tell you that the

rebellion was at an end in England. The Duke has taken

Carlisle, but was long enough before it to prove how basely or

cowardly it was yielded to the rebel: you will see the

particulars' in the Gazette. His Royal Highness is expected

in town every day; but I still think it probable that he will

go to Scotland.(1155) That country is very clamorous for it.

If the King does send him, it should not be with that sword of

mercy with which the present family have governed those

people. All the world agrees in the fitness of severity to

highwaymen, for the sake of the innocent who suffer; then can

rigour be ill-placed against banditti. who have so terrified,

pillaged, and injured the poor people in Cumberland,

Lancashire, Derbyshire, and the counties through which this

rebellion has stalked? There is a military magistrate of some

fierceness sent into Scotland with Wade's army, who is coming

to town; it is General Hawley.(1156) He will not sow the

seeds of future disloyalty by too easily pardoning the

present.

The French still go on with their preparations at Dunkirk and

their sea-ports; but I think, few people believe now that they

will be exerted against us: we have a numerous fleet in the

Channel, and a large army on the shores opposite to France.

The Dutch fear that all this storm is to burst on them. Since

the Queen's making peace with Prussia, the Dutch are applying

to him for protection; and I am told, wake from their neutral

lethargy.

We are in a good quiet state here in town; the Parliament is

reposing itself for the holidays; the ministry is in private

agitation; the Cobham part of the coalition is going to be

disbanded; Pitt's wild ambition cannot content itself with

what he had asked, and had granted: and he has driven

Lyttelton and the Grenvilles to adopt all his extravagances.

But then, they are at 'variance again within themselves:

Lyttelton's wife(1157) hates Pitt, and does not approve his

governing her husband and hurting their family; so that, at

present, it seems, he does not care to be a martyr to Pitt's

caprices, which are in excellent training; for he is governed

by her mad Grace of Queensberry. All this makes foul weather;

but, to me, it is only a cloudy landscape.

The Prince has dismissed Hume Campbell(1158) who was his

solicitor, for attacking Lord Tweedale(1159) on the Scotch

affairs: the latter has resigned the seals of secretary of

state for Scotland to-day. I conclude, when the holidays are

over, and the rebellion travelled so far back, we shall have

warm inquiries in Parliament. This is a short letter, I

perceive; but I know nothing more; and the Carlisle part of it

will make you wear, your beaver more erect than I believe you

have of late. Adieu!

(1155) The Duke of Cumberland entered Carlisle on the 31 st of

December; but his pursuit of the Highlanders in person was

interrupted by despatches, which called him to London, to be

ready to take command against the projected invasion from

France.-E.

(1156) "Hawley," says Lord Mahon, "was an officer of some

experience,

but destitute of capacity, and hated, not merely by his

enemies, but by his own soldiers, for a most violent and

vindictive temper. One of his first measures, on arriving at

Edinburgh, to take the chief command, was to order two gibbets

to be erected, ready for the rebels who might fall into his

hands; and, with a similar view, he bid several executioners

attend his army on his march." Vol. ii. p. 357.

(1157) Lucy Fortescue, sister of Lord Clinton, first wife of

Sir George, afterwards Lord Lyttelton. [She died in January

1747, at the age of twenty-nine.

(1158) twin-brother to the Earl of Marchmont; who, in his

Diary .of the 2d of January, says, "My brother told me he had

been, last night, with Mr. Drax, the Prince's secretary, when

he had notified to him that the Prince expected all his family

to go together to support the measures of the administration,

and that, as Mr. Hume did not act so, he was to write him a

letter, discharging him, In the conversation, Mr. Drax said,

that the Prince was to support the Pelhams, and that his

dismission was to be ascribed to Lord Granville. My brother

said, that he had nothing to say to the Prince, other than

that he would support all the measures he thought conducive to

the King's interests, but no others."-E.

(1159) The Marquis of Tweedale was one of the discontented

Whigs, during the administration of Sir Robert Walpole; on

whose removal he came to court, and was made secretary of

state, attaching himself to Lord Granville's faction, whose

youngest daughter, Frances, he afterwards married, He was

reckoned a good civilian, but was a very dull man.

461 Letter 192

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, Jan. 17,1746.,

It is a very good symptom, I can tell you, that I write to you

seldom -. it is a fortnight since my last; and nothing

material has happened in this interval. The rebels are

intrenching and fortifying themselves in Scotland; and what a

despicable affair is a rebellion upon the defensive! General

Hawley is marched from Edinburgh, to put it quite out. I must

give you some idea of this man, who will give a mortal blow to

the pride of the Scotch nobility. He is called Lord chief

Justice; frequent and sudden executions are his passion. Last

winter he had intelligence of a spy to come from the French

army: the first notice our army had of his arrival, was by

seeing him dangle on a gallows in his mufti and boots. One of

the surgeons of the army begged the body of a soldier who was

hanged for desertion, to dissect: "Well," said Hawley, "but

then you shall give me the skeleton to hang up in the

guard-room." He is very brave and able; with no small bias to

the brutal. Two years ago, when he arrived at Ghent, the

magistrates, according to customs sent a gentleman, with the

offer of a sum Of money to engage his favour. He told the

gentleman, in great wrath, that the King his master paid him,

and that he should go tell the magistrates so; at the same

time dragging him to the head of the stairs, and kicking him

down. He then went to the town-hall; on their refusing him

entrance, he burst open the door with his foot, and seated

himself abruptly: told them how he had been affronted, was

persuaded they had no hand in it, and demanded to have the

gentleman given up to him, who never dared to appear in the

town while he stayed in it. Now I am telling you anecdotes of

him, you shall hear two more. When the Prince of Hesse, our

son-in-law, arrived at Brussels, and found Hawley did not wait

on him, the Prince sent to know if he expected the first

visit? He replied, "He always expected that inferior officers

should wait on their commanders; and not only that, but he

gave his Highness but half an hour to consider of it." The

Prince went to him. I believe I told you of Lord John

Drummond sending a drum to Wade to propose a cartel. Wade

returned a civil answer, which had the King's and council's

approbation. When the drummer arrived with it at Edinburgh,

Hawley opened it and threw it into the fire, would not let the

drummer go back, but made him write to Lord J. "That rebels

were not to be treated with." If you don't think that spirit

like this will do-do you see, I would not give a farthing for

your presumption.(1160)

The French invasion is laid aside; we are turning our hands to

war again upon the continent. The House of Commons is

something of which I can give YOU no description: Mr. Pitt,

the meteor of it, Is neither yet in place, nor his friends

out. Some Tories oppose: Mr. Pelham is distressed, and has

vast majorities. When the scene clears a little, I will tell

you more of it.

The two last letters I have had from you, are of December 21

and January 4. You was then still in uneasiness; by this time

I hope you have no other distresses than are naturally

incident to your miny-ness.

I never hear any thing of the Countess(1161) except just now,

that she is grown tired of sublunary affairs, and willing to

come to a composition with her lord: I believe that the price

will be two thousand a-year. The other day, his and her

lawyers were talking over the affair before her and several

other people: her counsel, in the heat of the dispute, said to

my lord's lawyers, "Sir, Sir, we shall be able to prove that

her ladyship was denied nuptial rights and conjugal enjoyments

for seven years." It was excellent! My lord must have had

matrimonial talents indeed, to have reached to Italy; besides,

you know, she made it a point after her son was born, not to

sleep with her husband.

Thank you for the little medal. I am glad I have nothing more

to tell you-you little expected that we should so soon recover

our tranquility. Adieu!

(1160) Glover, in his Memoirs, speaks of Hawley with great

contempt, and talks of "his beastly ignorance and negligence,"

which occasioned the loss of the battle of Falkirk.-D.

(1161) Lady Orford.

463 Letter 193

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, Jan. 28, 1746.

Do they send you the gazettes as they used to do? If you have

them, you will find there an account of another battle lost in

Scotland. Our arms cannot succeed there. Hawley, of whom I

said so much to you in my last, has been as unsuccessful as

Cope, and by almost every circumstance the same, except that

Hawley had less want of skill and much more presumption. The

very same dragoons ran away at Falkirk, that ran away at

Preston Pans.(1162) Though we had seven thousand men, and the

rebels but five, we had scarce three regiments that behaved

well. General Huske and Brigadier Cholmondeley,(1163) my

lord's brother, shone extremely - the former beat the enemy's.

right wing; and the latter, by rallying two regiments,

prevented the pursuit. Our loss is trifling: for many of the

rebels fled as fast as the glorious dragoons- but we have lost

some good officers, particularly Sir Robert Monroe; and seven

pieces of cannon. A worse loss is apprehended, Stirling

Castle, which could hold out but ten days; and that term

expires to-morrow. The Duke is gone post to Edinburgh, where

he hoped to arrive to-night; if possible, to relieve Stirling.

Another battle will certainly be fought before you receive

this; I hope with the Hessians in it, who are every hour

expected to land in Scotland. With many other glories, the

English courage seems gone too! The great dependence is upon

the Duke; the soldiers adore him, and with reason: he has a

lion's courage, vast vigilance and activity, and, I am told,

great military genius. For my own particular, I am uneasy

that he is gone: Lord Bury and Mr. Conway, two of his

aides-de-camp, and brave as he, are gone with him. The ill

behaviour of the soldiers lays a double obligation on the

officers to set them examples of running on danger. The

ministry would have kept back Mr. Conway, as being in

Parliament; which when the Duke told him, he burst into tears,

and said nothing should hinder his going--and he is gone!

Judge, if I have not reason to be alarmed!

Some Of our prisoners in Scotland (the former Prisoners) are

returned. They had the Privilege of walking about the town,

where they were confined, upon their parole: the militia of

the country rose and set them at liberty. General Hawley is

so strict as to think they should be sent back; but nobody

here comprehends such refinement: they could not give their

word that the town should not be taken. There are two or

three others, who will lay the government under difficulties,

when we have got over the rebellion. They were come to

England on their parole; and when the executions begin, they

must in honour be given up--the question indeed will be, to

whom?

Adieu! my dear sir! I write you this short letter, rather

than be taxed with negligence on such an event; though, YOU

perceive, I know nothing but what you will se in the printed

papers.

P.S. The Hessians would not act, because we would not settle a

cartel with rebels!

(1162) "Hawley was never seen in the field during the battle;

and every thing would have gone to wreck, in a worse manner

than at Preston, if General Huske had not acted with judgment

and courage, and appeared every where." Culloden Papers, p.

267.-E.

(1163) The Hon. James Cholmondeley, second son of George,

second Earl of Cholmondeley. He served with distinction both

in Flanders and Scotland. In 1750, he became colonel of the

Inniskillen regiment of dragoons; and died in 1775.-D.

464 Letter 194

To Sir Horace MANN.

Arlington Street Feb. 7, 1746.

Till yesterday that I received your last of January 27, I was

very uneasy at finding you still remained under the same

anxiety about the rebellion, when it had so long ceased to be

formidable with us: but you have got all my letters, and are

out of your pain. Hawley's defeat (or at least what was

called so, for I am persuaded that the victory was ours as far

as there was any fighting, which indeed lay in a very small

compass, the great body of each army running away) will have

thrown you back into your terrors; but here is a letter to

calm you again. All Monday and Tuesday we were concluding

that the battle between the Duke and the rebels must be

fought, and nothing was talked of but the expectation of the

courier. He did arrive indeed on Wednesday morning, but with

no battle; for the moment the rebel army saw the Duke's, they

turned back with the utmost precipitation; spiked their

cannon, blew up their magazine, and left behind them their

wounded and our prisoners. They crossed the Forth, and in one

day fled four-and-thirty miles to Perth, where, as they have

strong intrenchments, some imagine they will wait to fight;

but their desertion is too great; the whole clan of the

macdonalds, one of their best has retired on the accidental

death of their chief. In short, it looks exceedingly like the

conclusion of this business, though the French have embarked

Fitzjames's regiment at Ostend for Scotland. The Duke's name

disperses armies, as the Pretender's raised them.

The French seem to be at the eve of taking Antwerp and

Brussels, the latter of which is actually besieged. In this

case I don't see how we can send an army abroad this summer,

for there will be no considerable towns in Flanders left in

the possession of the Empress-Queen.

The new regiments, of which I told you so much, have again

been in dispute: as their term was near expired, the ministry

proposed to continue them for four months longer. This was

last Friday, when, as we every hour expected the news of a

conclusive battle, which, if favourable, would render them

useless, Mr. Fox, the general against the new regiments,

begged it might only be postponed till the following

Wednesday, but 170 against 89 voted them that very day. On

the very Wednesday came the news of the flight of the rebels;

and two days before that, news from Chester of Lord Gower's

new regiment having mutinied, on hearing that they were to be

continued beyond the term for which they had listed.

At court all is confusion-. the King, at Lord Bath's

instigation, has absolutely refused to make Pitt secretary at

war.(1164) How this will end, I don't know, but I don't

believe in bloodshed: neither side is famous for being

incapable of yielding.

I wish you joy of having the Chutes again, though I am a

little sorry that their bravery was not rewarded by staying at

Rome till they could triumph in their turn: however, I don't

believe that at Florence you want opportunities of exulting.

That Monro you mention was made travelling physician by my

father's interest, who had great regard for the old

doctor.(1165) if he has any skill in quacking madmen, his art

may perhaps be of service now in the Pretender's court.

I beg my eagle may not come till it has the opportunity of a

man-of-war: we have lost so many merchantmen lately, that I

should never expect to receive it that way.

I can say nothing to your opinion of the young Pretender being

a cheat; nor, as the rebellion is near at end, do I see what

end it would answer to prove him original or spurious.

However, as you seem to dwell upon it, I will mention it again

to my uncle.

I hear that my sister-Countess is projecting her return, being

quite sick of England, where nobody visits her. She says

there is not one woman of sense in England. Her journey,

however, will have turned to account, and, I believe, end in

almost doubling her allowance. Adieu! my dear child; love the

Chutes for me as well as for yourself.

(1164) Lord Marchmont, in his Diary of Feb. 9, says, "My

brother told me, that on the ministry insisting on Mr. Pitt

being secretary at war, and the King having said he should not

be his secretary, Lord Bath had gone to the King and told him,

though he had resolved never to take a place, yet now, finding

his ministers would force a servant on him, rather than he

should be so used, he would undertake to get him his money.

The King said. the ministers had the Parliament; Lord Bath

said, his Majesty had it, and not they: and that hereupon the

King thanked him; and it was expected the ministers would all

be out."-E.

(1165) In 1743, Dr. John Monro was appointed, through the

influence of Sir Robert Walpole, to one of the Radcliffe

travelling fellowships. In 1752, he succeeded his father as

physician to Bridewell and Bethlehem Hospitals. In 1758, he

published "Remarks on Dr. Battie's Treatise on Madness," in

which he vindicated his father's treatment of that disorder.

He died in 1791.-E.

466 Letter 195

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, Feb. 14, 1746.

By the relation I am going to make, you will think that I am

describing Turkish, not English revolutions; and will cast

your eye upwards to see if my letter is not dated from

Constantinople. Indeed, violent as the changes have been,

there has been no bloodshed; no Grand Vizier has had a cravat

made of a bowstring, no Janizaries have taken upon them to

alter the succession, no Grand Signior is deposed--only his

Sublime Highness's dignity has been a little impaired. Oh! I

forgot; I ought not to frighten you; you will interpret all

these fine allusions, and think on the rebellion--pho! we are

such considerable proficients in politics, that we can form

rebellions within rebellions, and turn a government

topsy-turvy at London, while we are engaged in a civil war in

Scotland. In short, I gave you a hint last week of an

insurrection in the closet, and of Lord Bath having prevented

Pitt from being secretary at war. The ministry gave up that

point; but finding that a change had been made in a scheme of

foreign politics, which they had laid before the King, and for

which he had thanked them; and perceiving some symptoms of a

resolution to dismiss them at the end of the session, they

came to a sudden determination not to do Lord Granville's

business by carrying the supplies, and then to be turned out:

so on Monday morning, to the astonishment of every body, the

two secretaries of state threw up the seals; and the next day

Mr. Pelham, with the rest of the Treasury, the Duke of Bedford

with the Admiralty, Lord Gower, privy seal, and Lord

Pembroke,' groom of the stole, gave up too - the Dukes of

Devonshire, Grafton, and Richmond, the Lord Chancellor,

Winnington, paymaster, and almost all the other great officers

and offices, declaring they would do the same. Lord Granville

immediately received both seals, one for himself, and the

other to give to whom he pleased. Lord Bath was named first

commissioner of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer;

Lord Carlisle, privy seal, and Lord Winchilsea reinstated in

the Admiralty. Thus far all went swimmingly; they had only

forgot one little point, which was, to secure a majority in

both Houses: in the Commons they unluckily found that they had

no better man to take the lead than poor Sir John Rushout, for

Sir John Barnard refused to be chancellor of the exchequer; so

did Lord Chief Justice Willes to be lord chancellor; and the

wildness of the scheme soon prevented others, who did not wish

ill to Lord Granville, or well to the Pelhams, from giving in

to it. Hop, the Dutch minister, did not a little increase the

confusion by declaring that he had immediately despatched a

courier to Holland, and did not doubt but the States would

directly send to accept the terms of France.

I should tell you too, that Lord Bath's being of the

enterprise contributed hugely to poison the success of it. In

short, his lordship, whose politics were never characterized

by steadiness, found that he had not courage enough to take

the Treasury. You may guess how ill laid his schemes were,

when be durst not indulge both his ambition and avarice! In

short, on Wednesday morning (pray mind, this was the very

Wednesday after the Monday on which the chance had happened,)

he went to the King, and told him he had tried the House of

Commons, and found it would not do!(1167) Bounce! went all

the project into shivers, like the vessels in Ben Jonson's

Alchymist, when they are on the brink of the philosopher's

stone. The poor King, who, from being fatigued with the Duke

of Newcastle, and sick of Pelham's timidity and compromises,

had given in to this mad hurly-burly of alterations, was

confounded with having floundered to no purpose, and to find

himself more than ever in the power of men he hated, shut

himself up in his closet, and refused to admit any more of the

persons who were pouring in upon him with white sticks, and

golden keys, and commissions, etc. At last he sent for

Winnington, and told him, he was the only honest man about

him, and he should have the honour of a reconciliation, and

sent him to Mr. Pelham to desire they would all return to

their employments.(1168)

Lord Granville is as jolly as ever; laughs and drinks, and

owns it was mad, and owns he -would do it again to-morrow. It

would not be quite so safe, indeed, to try it soon again, for

the triumphant party are not at all in the humour to be turned

out every time his lordship has drunk a bottle too much; and

that House of Commons that he could not make do for him, would

do to send him to the Tower till he was sober. This was the

very worst period he could have selected, when the fears of

men had made them throw themselves absolutely into all

measures of Government to secure the government itself; and

that temporary strength of Pelham has my Lord Granville

contrived to fix to him: and people will be glad to ascribe to

the Merit and virtue of the ministry, what they would be

ashamed to Own, but was really the effect of their own

apprehensions. It was a good idea Of somebody, when no man

would accept a place under the new system, that Granville and

Bath were met going about the streets, calling odd man! as the

hackney chairman do when they want a partner. This little

faction of Lord Granville goes by the name of the

Grandvillains.

There! who would think that I had written you an entire history

in the compass of three sides of paper?(1169) ***Vertot

would have composed a volume on this event. and entitled it,

the Revolutions of England. You will wonder at not having it

notified to you by Lord Granville himself, as is customary for

new secretaries of state: when they mentioned to him writing

to Italy, he said-"To Italy! no: before the courier can get

thither, I shall be out again." it absolutely makes one

laugh: as serious as the consequences might be, it is

impossible to hate a politician of such jovial good-humour. I

am told that he ordered the packet-boat to be stopped at

Harwich till Saturday, till he should have time to determine

what he would write to Holland. This will make the Dutch

receive the news of the double revolution at the same instant.

Duke and his name are pursuing the scattered rebels into their

very mountains, determined to root out sedition entirely. It

is believed, and we expect to hear, that the young Pretender

is embarked and gone. Wish the Chutes joy of the happy

conclusion of this affair!

Adieu! my dear child! After describing two revolutions, and

announcing the termination of a rebellion, it would be below

the dignity of my letter to talk of any thing of less moment.

Next post I may possibly descend out of my historical buskin,

and converse with you more familiarly--en attendant, gentle

reader, I am, your sincere well-wisher,

Horace Walpole, Historiographer

to the high and mighty Lord John, Earl Granville.

(1166) Henry Herbert, ninth Earl of Pembroke, an intelligent

lover of the arts, and an amateur architect of considerable

merit. Walpole says of him, in his account of Sculptors and

Architects, The soul of Inigo Jones, who had been patronised

by his ancestors, seemed still to hover over its favourite

Wilton, and to have assisted the Muses of Arts in the

education of this noble person. No man had a purer taste in

building than Earl Henry, of which he gave a few specimens:

besides his works at Wilton, the new Lodge in Windsor Park;

the Countess of Suffolk's house, at Marble Hill, Twickenham;

the Water-house, in Lord Orford's park at Houghton, are

incontestable proofs of Lord Pembroke's taste: it was more

than taste; it was passion for the utility and honour of his

country that engaged his lordship to promote and assiduously

overlook the construction of Westminster Bridge by the

ingenious M. Lahelye, a man that deserves more notice than

this slight encomium can bestow." He died in January

1750-1.-E.

(1167) "Feb. 13. Lord Bolingbroke told me, that Bath had

resigned, and all was now over. He approved of what had been

done, though he owned that Walpole'S faction had done what he

had wrote every King must expect who nurses up a faction by

governing by a party; and that it was a most indecent thing,

and must render the King contemptible. Lord Cobham told me,

that the King had yesterday sent Winnington to stop the

resignations; that he had offered Winnington the seat of

exchequer, after Bath had resigned it; but Winnington said it

would not do. At court I met Lord Granville, who is still

secretary, but declared to be ready to resign when the King

pleases." Marchmont Diary.-E.

(1168) In a letter to the Duke of Newcastle, of the 18th, Lord

Chesterfield says, " Your victory is complete: for God's sake

pursue it. Good policy still more than resentment, requires

that Granville and Bath should be marked-out,'and all their

people cut off. Every body now sees and knows that you have

the power; let them see and know too, that you will use it. A

general run ought to be made upon Bath by all your followers

and writers."-E.

(1169) The projectors of this ,attempt to remove the ministers

were overwhelmed with ridicule. Among other jeux d'esprit,

was "A History of the Long Administration," bound up like the

works printed for children, and sold for a penny; and of which

one would suspect Walpole to be the author. It concluded as

follows: "And thus endeth the second and last part of this

astonishing administration, which lasted forty-eight hours,

three quarters, seven minutes, and eleven seconds; which may

be truly called the most wise and most Honest of all

administrations, the minister having, to the astonishment of

all wise men, never transacted one rash thing, and, what is

more marvellous, left as much money in the treasury as he

found in it. This worthy history I have faithfully recorded

in this mighty volume, that it may be read with the valuable

works of our immortal countryman, Thomas Thumb, by our

children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, to the end

of the world:'-E.

469 Letter 196

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, March 6, 1746.

I know I have missed two or three posts, but you have lost

nothing: you perhaps expected that our mighty commotions did

not subside at once, and that you should still hear of

struggles and more shocks; but it all ended at once; with only

some removals and promotions which you saw in the Gazette. I

should have written, however, but I have been hurried with my

sister'S(1170) wedding; but all the ceremony of that too is

over now, and the dinners and the visits.

The rebellion has fetched breath; the dispersed clans have

reunited and marched to Inverness, from whence Lord Loudon was

forced to retreat, leaving a garrison in the castle, which has

since yielded without firing a gun. Their numbers are now

reckoned at seven thousand: old Lord lovat(1171) has carried

them a thousand Frasers. The French continually drop them a

ship or two: we took two, with the Duke of Berwick's brother

on board: it seems evident that they design to keep up our

disturbances as long as possible, to prevent our sending any

troops to Flanders. Upon the prospect of the rebellion being

at an end, the Hessians were ordered back, but luckily were

not gone; and now are quartered to prevent the rebels slipping

the Duke, (who is marching to them,) and returning into

England. This counter-order was given in the morning, and in

the evening came out the Gazette, and said the Hessians are to

go away. This doubling style in the ministry is grown so

characteristic, that the French are actually playing a farce,

in which harlequin enters, as an English courier, with two

bundles of despatches fastened to his belly and his back: they

ask him what the one is? "Eh! Ces sont mes ordres." and what

the other? "Mais elles sont mes contre-ordres."

We have been a little disturbed in some other of our politics,

by the news of the King of Sardinia having made his peace: I

think it comes out now that he absolutely had concluded one

with France, but that the haughty court of Spain rejected it:

what the Austrian pride had driven him to, the Spanish pride

drove him from. You will allow that our affairs are

critically bad, when all our hopes centre in that honest

monarch, the King of Prussia-but so it is: and I own I see

nothing that can restore us to being a great nation but his

interposition. Many schemes are framed, of making him

Stadtholder of Holland, or Duke of Burgundy in Flanders, in

lieu of the Silesias, or altogether, and that I think would

follow-but I don't know how far any of these have been carried

into propositions.

I see by your letters that our fomentations of the Corsican

rebellion have had no better success than the French tampering

in ours-for ours, I don't expect it will be quite at an end,

till it is made one of the conditions of peace, that they

shall give it no assistance.

The smallpox has been making great havoc in London; the new

Lord Rockingham,(1172) whom I believe you knew when only

Thomas Watson, is dead of it, and the title extinct. My Lady

Conway(1173) has had it, but escaped.

My brother is on the point of finishing all his affairs with

his countess; she is to have fifteen hundred per year; and her

mother gives her two thousand pounds. I suppose this will

send her back to you, added to her disappointments in

politics, in which it appears she has been tampering. Don't

you remember a very foolish knight, one Sir Bourchier

Wrey?(1174) Well, you do: the day Lord Bath was in the

Treasury, that one day! she wrote to Sir Bourchier at Exeter,

to tell him that now their friends were coming into power, and

it was a brave opportunity for him to Come Up and make his own

terms. He came, and is lodged in her house, and sends about

cards to invite people to come and see him at the Countess of

Orford's. There is a little fracas I hear in their domestic;

the Abb`e-Secretary has got one of the maids with child. I

have seen the dame herself but once these two months, when she

came into the Opera at the end of the first act, fierce as an

incensed turkey-cock, you know her look, and towing after her

Sir Francis Dashwood's new Wife,(1175) a poor forlorn

Presbyterian prude, whom he obliges to consort with her.

Adieu! for I think I have now told you all I know. I am very

sorry that you are so near losing the good Chutes, but I

cannot help having an eye to myself in their coming to

England.

(1170) Lady Maria Walpole, married to Charles Churchill, Esq.

(1171) Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, a man of parts, but of

infamous character. He had the folly, at the age of eighty,

to enter into the rebellion, upon a promise from the

Pretender, that he would make him Duke of Fraser. He was

taken, tried, and beheaded.-D.

)1172) Thomas Watson, third Earl of Rockingham, succeeded his

elder brother Lewis in the family honours in 1745, and died

himself in 1746. The earldom extinguished upon his death';

but the Barony of Rockingham devolved upon his kinsman, Thomas

Watson Wentworth, Earl of Malton, who was soon afterwards

created Marquis of Rockingham. ant`e, p. 458, letter 191.

(1173) Lady Isabella Fitzroy, daughter of Charles, Duke of

Grafton, and wife of Francis, Lord Conway, afterwards Earl of

Hertford.

(1174) Sir Bourchier Wrey of Tavistock, in Devonshire, the

fifth baronet of the family. He was member of parliament for

Barnstaple, and died in 1784.-D.

(1175) Widow of Sir Richard Ellis.

470 Letter 197

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, March 21, 1746.

I have no new triumphs of the Duke to send you: he has been

detained a great while at Aberdeen by the snows. The rebels

have gathered numbers again, and have taken Fort Augustus, and

are marching to Fort William. The Duke complains extremely of

the loyal Scotch: says he can get no intelligence, and reckons

himself more in an enemy's country, than when he was warring

with the French in Flanders. They profess the big professions

wherever he comes, but, before he is out of sight of any town,

beat up for volunteers for rebels. We see no prospect of his

return, for he must stay in Scotland while the rebellion

lasts; and the existence of that seems too intimately

connected with the being of Scotland, to expect it should soon

be annihilated.

We rejoice at the victories of the King of Sardinia, whom we

thought lost to our cause. To-day we are to vote subsidies to

the Electors of Cologne and Mentz. I don't know whether they

will be opposed by the Electoral Prince;(1176) but he has

lately erected a new opposition, by the councils of Lord Bath,

who has got him from Lord Granville: the latter and his

faction act with the court.

I have told you to the utmost extent of my political

knowledge; of private history there is nothing new. Don't

think, my dear child, that I hurry over my letters, or neglect

writing to you; I assure you I never do, when I have the least

grain to lap up in a letter: but consider how many chapters of

correspondence are extinct: Pope and poetry are dead!

Patriotism has kissed hands on accepting a place: the Ladies

O. and T.' have exhausted scandal both in their persons and

conversations: divinity and controversy are grown good

Christians, say their prayers and spare their neighbours; and

I think even self-murder is out of fashion. Now judge whether

a correspondent can furnish matter for the common intercourse

of the post.

Pray what luxurious debauch has Mr. Chute been guilty of, that

he is laid up with the gout? I mean, that he was, for I hope

his fit has not lasted till now. If you are ever so angry, I

must say, I flatter myself I shall see him before my eagle,

which I beg may repose itself still at Leghorn, for the French

privateers have taken such numbers of our merchantmen, that I

cannot think of suffering it to come that way. If you should

meet with a good opportunity of a man-of-war, let it come-or I

will postpone my impatience. Adieu!

P. S. I had sealed my letter, but break it open, to tell you

that an account is just arrived of two of our privateers

having met eight-and- twenty transports going with supplies to

the Brest fleet, and sunk ten, taken four, and driven the rest

on shore.

)1176) The prince of Wales.

471 Letter 198

To sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, March 28, 1746.

I don't at all recollect what was in those two letters of

mine, which I find you have lost: for your sake, as you must

be impatient for English news, I am sorry you grow subject to

these miscarriages but in general, I believe there is little

of consequence in my correspondence.

The Duke has not yet left Aberdeen, for want of his supplies;

but by a party which he sent out, and in which Mr. Conway was,

the rebels do not seem to have recovered their spirits, though

they have recruited their numbers; for eight hundred of them

fled on the first appearance of our detachment, and quitted an

advantageous post. As much as you know, and as much as you

have lately heard of Scotch finesse, you will yet be startled

at the refinements that nation have made upon their own

policy. Lord Fortrose,(1177) whose father was in the last

rebellion, and who has himself been restored to his fortune,

is in Parliament and in the army: he is with the Duke-his wife

and his clan with the rebels. The head of the mackintosh's is

acting just the same part. The clan of the Grants, always

esteemed the most Whig friendly tribe, have literally in all

the forms signed a neutrality with the rebels. The most

honest instance I have heard, is in the town of Forfar, there

they have chosen their magistrates; but at the same time

entered a memorandum in their town-book, that they shall not

execute their office "till it is decided which King is to

reign."

The Parliament is adjourned for the Easter holidays. Princess

Caroline is going to the Bath for a rheumatism. The countess,

whose return you seem so much to dread, has entertained the

town with an excellent vulgarism. She happened One night at

the Opera to sit by Peggy Banks,(1178) a celebrated beauty,

and asked her several questions about the singers and dancers,

which the other naturally answered, as one woman of fashion

answers another. The next morning Sir Bourchier Wrey sent

Miss Banks an opera-ticket, and my lady sent her a card, to

thank her for her civilities to her the night before, and that

she intended to wait on her very soon. Do but think of Sir B.

Wrey's paying a woman of fashion for being civil to my Lady

O.! Sure no apothecary's wife in a market-town could know less

of the world than these two people! The operas flourish more

than in any latter years; the composer is Gluck, a German: he

is to have a benefit, at which he is to play on a set of

drinking-glasses, which he modulates with water--I think I

have heard you speak of having seen some such thing.

You will see in the papers long accounts of a most shocking

murder, that has been committed by a lad(1179) on his

mistress, who was found dead in her bedchamber, with an

hundred wounds; her brains beaten out, stabbed, her face,

back, and breasts slashed in twenty places- one hears of

nothing else wherever one goes. But adieu! it is time to

finish a letter, when one is reduced for news to the

casualties of the week.

(1177) William Mackenzie, fifth Earl of Seaforth, the father

of Kenneth Lord Fortrose, had been engaged in the rebellion of

1715, and was attainted. He died in 1740. In consequence of

his attainder, his son never assumed the title of Seaforth,

but continued to be called Lord Fortrose, the second title of

the family. He was member of parliament in 1741 for the burghs

of Fortrose, etc., and in 1747 and 1754, for the county of

Ross, He died in 1762. His only son, Kenneth, was created

Viscount Fortrose, and Earl of Seaforth in Ireland.-D.

(1178_ Margaret, sister of John Hodgkinson Bank,.;, Esq.;

married, in 1757, to the Hon. Henry Grenville, fifth son of

the Countess Temple, who was appointed governor of Barbadoes

in 1746, and ambassador to the Ottoman Porte in 1761.-D.

(1179) One Henderson, hanged for murdering Mrs. Dalrymple.

473 Letter 199

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, April 15, 1746.

Your triumphs in Italy are in high fashion: till very lately,

Italy was scarce ever mentioned as part of the scene of war.

The apprehensions of your great King making his peace began to

alarm us and when we just believed it finished, we have

received nothing but torrents of good news. The King of

Sardinia(1180) has not only carried his own character and

success to the highest pitch, but seems to have given a turn

to the general face of the war, which has a much more

favourable aspect than was to be expected three months ago,

has made himself as considerable in the scale as the Prussian,

but with real valour, and as great abilities, and without the

infamy, of the other's politics.

The rebellion seems once more at its last gasp; the Duke is

marched, and the rebels fly before him, in the utmost want of

money. The famous Hazard sloop is taken, with two hundred men

and officers, and about eight thousand pounds in money, from

France. In the midst of such good news from thence, Mr.

Conway has got a regiment, for which, I am sure, you will take

part in my joy. In Flanders we propose to make another great

effort, with an army of above ninety thousand men; that is,

forty Dutch, above thirty Austrians, eighteen Hanoverians, the

Hessians, who are to return; and we propose twelve thousand

Saxons, but no English; though, if the rebellion is at all

suppressed in any time, I imagine some of our troops will go,

and the Duke command the whole: in the mean time, the army

will be under Prince Waldeck and Bathiani. You will wonder at

my running so glibly over eighteen thousand Hanoverians,

especially as they are all to be in our pay, but the nation's

digestion has been much facilitated by the pill given to Pitt,

of vice-treasurer of Ireland.(1181) Last Friday was the

debate on this subject, when we carried these troops by 255

against 122: Pitt, Lyttelton, three Grenvilles, and Lord

BarringTton, all voting roundly for them, though the eldest

Grenville, two years ago, had declared in the House, that he

would seal it with his blood that he never would give his vote

for a Hanoverian. Don't you shudder at such perjury? and this

in a republic, and where there is no religion that dispenses

with oaths! Pitt was the only one of this ominous band that

opened his - mouth,(1182) and it was to add impudence to

profligacy; but no criminal at the Place de Greve was ever so

racked as he was by Dr. Lee, a friend of Lord Granville, who

gave him the question both ordinary and extraordinary.

General Hawley has been tried (not in person, you may believe)

and condemned by a Scotch jury for murder, on hanging a spy.

What do you say to this? or what will you say when I tell you,

that Mr. Ratcliffe, who has been so long confined in the

Tower, and supposed the Pretender's youngest son, is not only

suffered to return to France, but was entertained at a great

dinner by the Duke of Richmond as a relation!(1183) The same

Duke has refused his beautiful Lady Emily to Lord

Kildare,(1184) the richest and the first peer of Ireland, on a

ridiculous notion of the King's evil being in the family--but

sure that ought to be no objection: a very little grain more

of pride and Stuartism might persuade all the royal bastards

that they have a faculty of curing that distemper.

The other day, an odd accidental discovery was made; some of

the Duke's baggage, which he did not want, was sent back from

Scotland, with a bill of the contents. Soon after, -.another

large parcel, but not specified in the bill, was brought to

the captain, directed like the rest. When they came to the

Custom-house here, it was observed, and they sent to Mr.

Poyntz,(1185) to know what they should do: be bade them open

it, suspecting some trick; but when they did, they found a

large crucifix, copes, rich vestments, beads, and heaps of

such like trumpery, consigned from the titulary primate of

Scotland, who is with the rebels: they imagine, with the

privity of some of the vessels, to be conveyed to somebody

here in town.

Now I am telling you odd events, I must relate one of the

strangest I ever heard. Last week, an elderly woman gave

information against her maid for coining, and the trial came

on at the Old Bailey. The mistress deposed, that having been

left a widow several years ago, with four children, and no

possibility of maintaining them, she had taken to coining:

that she used to buy old pewter-pots, out Of each of which she

made as many shillings, etc. as she could put off for three

pounds, and that by this practice she had bred up her

children, bound them out apprentices, and set herself up in a

little shop, by which she got a comfortable livelihood; that

she had now given over coining, and indicted her maid as

accomplice. The maid in her defence said, "That when her

mistress hired her, she told her that she did something up in

a garret into which she must never inquire: that all she knew

of the matter was, that her mistress had often given her

moulds to clean, which she did, as it was her duty: that,

indeed, she had sometimes seen pieces of pewter-pots cut, and

did suspect her mistress of coining; but that she never had

had, or put off; one single piece of bad money." The judge

asked the mistress if this was true; she answered, "Yes; and

that she believed her maid was as honest a creature as ever

lived; but that, knowing herself in her power, she never could

be at peace; that she knew,-by informing, she should secure

herself; and not doubting but the maid's real innocence would

appear, she concluded the poor girl would come to no harm."

The judge flew into the greatest rage; told her he wished he

could stretch the law to hang her, and feared he could not

bring off the maid for having concealed the crime; but,

however, the jury did bring her in not guilty. I think I

never heard a more particular instance of parts and villainy.

I inclose a letter for Stosch, which was left here with a

scrap of paper, with these words; "Mr. Natter is desired to

send the letters for Baron de Stosch, in Florence, by Mr. H.

W." I don't know who Mr. Natter(1186) is, nor who makes him

this request, but I desire Mr. Stosch will immediately put an

end to this method of correspondence; for I shall not risk my

letters to you by containing his, nor will I be post to such a

dirty fellow.

Your last was of March 22d, and you mention Madame Suares

illness; I hope she is better, and Mr. Chute's gout better. I

love to hear of my Florentine acquaintance, though they all

seem to have forgot me; especially the Princess, whom YOU

never mention. Does she never ask after me? Tell me a little

of the state of her state, her amours, devotions, and

appetite. I must transcribe a paragraph out of an old book of

letters,(1187) printed in 1660, which I met with-the other

day: "My thoughts upon the reading your letter made me stop in

Florence, and go no farther, than to consider the happiness of

them who live in that town, where the people come so near to

angels in knowledge, that they can counterfeit heaven well

enough to give their friends a taste of it in this life." I

agree to the happiness of living in Florence, but I am sure

knowledge was not one of its recommendations, which never was

any where it a lower ebb--I had forgot; I beg Dr. Cocchi's

pardon, who is much an exception; how does he do? Adieu!

P. S. Lord Malton, who is the nearest heir-male to the extinct

earldom of Rockingham, and has succeeded to a barony belonging

to it, is to have his own earldom erected into a marquisate,

with the title of Rockingham. Vernon, is struck off the list

of admirals.

(1180) Charles Emmanuel the Third, an able sovereign, and the

last of the House of Savoy who possessed any portion of that

talent for which the race had previously been so

celebrated.-.D.

(1181) On the death of Mr. Winnington, in the following month,

Mr. Pitt was appointed paymaster of the forces, and chosen of

the privy council.-E.

(1182) In a letter to the Duke of Cumberland, of the 17th, the

Duke of Newcastle says, "Mr. Pitt spoke so well, that the

premier told me he had the dignity of Sir William Wyndham, the

wit of Mr. Pulteney, and the knowledge and judgment of Sir

Robert Walpole: in short, he said all that was right for the

King, kind and respectful to the old corps, and resolute and

contemptuous of the Tory opposition."-E.

(1183) He was related to the Duke's mother by the Countess of

Newburgh, his mother.

(1184) Afterwards Duke of Leinster. he married Lady Emily in

the following February.-E.

(1185) Stephen Poyntz, treasurer, and formerly governor to the

Duke.

(1186) He was an engraver of seals.

(1187) A Collection of letters made by Sir Toby Matthews. [In

this Volume will be found an interesting account of the trial

of Sir Walter Raleigh.]

476 Letter 200

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, April 25, 1746.

You have bid me for some time send you good news-well! I think

I will. How good would you have it? must it be a total

victory over the rebels; with not only the Boy, that is here,

killed, but the other, that is not here, too; their whole army

put to the sword, besides -in infinite number of prisoners;

all the Jacobite estates in England confiscated, and all those

in Scotland--what would you have done with them?--or could you

be content with something much under this? how much will you

abate? will you compound for Lord John Drummond, taken by

accident? or for three Presbyterian parsons, who have very

poor livings, stoutly refusing to pay a large contribution to

the rebels? Come, I will deal as well with you as I can, and

for once, but not to make a practice of it, will let you have

a victory! My friend, Lord Bury,(1188) arrived this morning

from the Duke, though the news was got here before him; for,

with all our victory, it was not thought safe to send him

through the heart of Scotland; so he was shipped at Inverness,

within an hour after the Duke entered the town, kept beating

at sea five days, and then put on shore at North Berwick, from

whence he came post in less than three days to London; but

with a fever upon him, for which he had twice been blooded but

the day before the battle; but he is young, and high in

spirits, and I flatter myself will not suffer from this

kindness of the Duke: the King has immediately ordered him a

thousand pound, and I hear will make him his own aide-de-camp.

My dear Mr. Chute, I beg your pardon; I had forgot you have

the gout, and consequently not the same patience to wait for

the battle, with which I, knowing the particulars, postpone

it.

On the 16th, the Duke, by forced marches came up with the

rebels, a little on this side Inverness--by the way, the

battle is not christened yet; I only know that neither

Preston-Pans(1189) nor Falkirk(1190) are to be godfathers.

The rebels, who fled from him after their victory, and durst

not attack him, when so much exposed to them at his

passage(1191) of the Spey, now stood him, they seven thousand,

he ten. They broke through Barril's regiment, and killed Lord

Robert Kerr,(1192) a handsome young gentleman, who was cut to

pieces with above thirty wounds; but they were soon repulsed,

and fled; the whole engagement not lasting above a quarter of

an hour. The young Pretender escaped; Mr. Conway, says, he

hears, wounded: he certainly was in the rear. -They have lost

above a thousand men in the engagement and pursuit; and six

hundred were already taken; among which latter are their

French ambassador and Earl Kilmarnock.(1193) The Duke of

Perth and Lord ogilvie(1194) are said to be slain; Lord

Elcho(1195) was in a salivation, and not there. Except Lord

Robert Kerr, we lost nobody of note: Sir Robert Rich's eldest

son has lost his hand, and about a hundred and thirty private

men fell. The defeat is reckoned total, and the dispersion

general: and all their artillery is taken. It is a brave

young Duke! the town is all blazing round me, as I write, with

fireworks and illuminations - I have some inclination to wrap

up half-a-dozen skyrockets, to make you drink the Duke's

health. Mr. Doddington, on the first report, came out with a

very pretty illumination; so pretty, that I believe he had it

by him, ready for any occasion.

I now come to a more melancholy theme, though your joy will

still be pure, except from what part you take in a private

grief of mine. It is the death of Mr. Winnington,(1196) whom

you only knew as One Of the first men in England, from his

parts and from his employment. But I was familiarly

acquainted with him, loved and admired him, for he had great

good-nature, and a quickness of wit most peculiar to himself:

and for his public talents he has left nobody equal to him, as

before, nobody was superior to him but my father. The history

of his death is a cruel tragedy, but what, to indulge me who

am full of it, and want to vent the narration, you must hear.

He was not quite fifty, extremely temperate and regular, and

of a constitution remarkably strong, hale and healthy. A

little above a fortnight ago he was seized with an

inflammatory rheumatism, a common and known case, dangerous,

but scarce ever remembered to be fatal. He had a strong

aversion to all physicians, and lately had put himself into

the hands of one Thomson, a quack, whose foundation of method

could not be guessed, but by a general contradiction to all

received practice. This man was the oracle of Mrs.

Masham,(1197) sister, and what one ought to hope she did not

think of, coheiress to Mr. Winnington-. his other sister is as

mad in methodism as this in physic, and never saw him. This

ignorant wretch, supported by the influence of the sister,

soon made such progress in fatal absurdities, as purging,

bleeding, and starving him, and checking all perspiration,

that his friends Mr. Fox and Sir Charles Williams absolutely

insisted on calling in a physician. Whom could they call, but

Dr. Bloxholme, an intimate old friend of Mr. Winnington, and

to whose house he always went once a year? This doctor, grown

paralytic and indolent, gave in to every thing the quack

advised: Mrs. Masham all the while ranting and raving At

last, which at last came very speedily, they had reduced him

to a total dissolution, by a diabetes and a thrush; his

friends all the time distracted for him, but hindered from

assisting him; so far, that the night before he died, Thomson

gave him another purge, though he could not get it all down.

Mr. Fox by force brought Dr. Hulse, but it was too late: and

even then, when Thomson owned him lost, Mrs. Masham was

against trying Hulse's assistance. In short, madly, or

wickedly, they have murdered(1199) a man to whom nature would

have allotted a far longer period, and had given a decree of

abilities that were carrying that period to so great a height

of lustre, as perhaps would have excelled both ministers, who

in this country have owed their greatness to the greatness of

their merit.

Adieu! my dear Sir; excuse what I have written to indulge my

own concern, in consideration of what I have written to give

you JOY.

P. S. Thank you for Mr. Oxenden; but don't put yourself to any

great trouble, for I desired you before not to mind formal

letters much, which I am obliged to give: I write to you

separately, when I wish you to be particularly kind to my

recommendations.

(1188) George Keppel, eldest son of William Anne, Earl of

Albemarle, whom he succeeded in the title.

(1189/1190) @ Where the King's troops had been beaten by the

rebels. This was called the battle of Culloden.

(1191) the letter, relating that event, was one of those that

were lost.

(1192) Second son of the Marquis of Lothian.

(1193) William Boyd, fourth Earl of Kilmarnock in Scotland.

He was tried by the House of Lords for high treason, condemned

and beheaded on Tower Hill, August 18, 1746. (He was the

direct male ancestor of the present Earl of Errol. Johnson

says of him,

"Pitied by gentle minds, Kilmarnock died."-D.)

(1194) James, Lord Ogilvie, eldest son of David, third Earl of

Airlie. He had been attainted for the part he took in the

rebellion of 1715.-D.

(1195) David Lord Elcho, eldest son of James, fourth Earl of

Wemyss. He was attainted in 1746; but the family honours were

restored, as were those of Lord Airlie, by act of parliament,

in 1826.-D.

(1196) Thomas Winnington, paymaster of the forces.

(1197) Harriet, daughter of Salway Winnington, Esq. of

Stanford Court, in the county of Worcester: married to the

Hon. Samuel Masham, afterwards second Lord Masham. She died

in 1761.-D.

(1198) At the conclusion of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams's

political Odes will be found an affectionate epitaph to the

memory of his deceased friend.-E.

(1199) There were several Pamphlets published on this case, on

both sides. @In May, Dr. Thomson published "The Case of Thomas

Winnington." Esq.;" to which Dr. J. Campbell published a

reply, entitled "A Letter to a friend in Town, occasioned by

the Case of the Right Hon. Thomas Winnington."]

478 Letter 201

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, May 16, 1746.

I have had nothing new to tell you since the victory, relative

to it, but that it has entirely put an end to the rebellion.

The number slain is generally believed much greater than is

given out. Old Tullybardine(1200) has surrendered himself;

the Lords Kilmarnoch, Balmerino,(1201) and Ogilvie(1202) are

prisoners, and coming up to their trials. The Pretender is

not openly taken, but many people think he is in their power;

however, I dare say he will be allowed to escape; and some

French ships are hovering about the coast to receive him. The

Duke is not yet returned, but we have amply prepared for his

reception, by settling on him immediately and for ever

twenty-five thousand pounds a-year, besides the fifteen which

he is to have on the King's death. It was imagined the Prince

would have opposed this, on the reflection that fifteen

thousand was thought enough for him, though heir of the Crown,

and abounding in issue but he has wisely reflected forwards,

and likes the precedent, as it will be easy to find victories

in his sons to reward, when once they have a precedent to

fight with.

You must live on domestic news, for our foreign is exceedingly

unwholesome. Antwerp is gone;(1203) and Bathiani with the

allied army retired under the cannon of Breda; the junction of

the Hanoverians cut off, and that of the Saxons put off. We

are now, I suppose, at the eve of a bad peace; though, as Cape

Breton must be a condition, I don't know who will dare to part

with it. Little Eolus (the Duke of Bedford) says they shall

not have it, that they shall have Woburn(1204) as soon-and I

suppose they will! much such positive patriot politics have

brought on all this ruin upon us! All Flanders is gone, and

all our money, and half our men, and half our navy, because we

would have no search. Well! but we ought to think on what we

have got too!--we have got Admiral Vernon's head on our signs,

and we are going to have Mr. Pitt at the head of our affairs.

Do you remember the physician in Moli`ere, who wishes the man

dead that he may have the greater honour from recovering him?

Mr. Pitt is paymaster; Sir W. Yonge vice-treasurer of Ireland:

Mr. Fox, secretary-at-war; Mr. Arundel,(1205) treasurer of the

chambers, in the room of Sir John Cotton, who is turned out;

Mr. Campbell (one of my father's admiralty) and Mr. Legge in

the treasury, and Lord Duncannon(1206) succeeds Legge in the

admiralty.

Your two last were of April 19th and 26th. I wrote one to Mr.

Chute, inclosed to you, with farther particulars of the

battle; and I hope you received @it. I am entirely against

your sending my eagle while there is any danger. Adieu! my

dear child! I wrote to-day, merely because I had not written

very lately; but you see I had little to say.

(1200) Elder brother of the Duke of Athol; he was outlawed for

the former rebellion.

(1201) Arthur Elphinstone, sixth Lord Balmerino in Scotland.

He was beheaded at the same time and place with Lord

Kilmarnock; and on the scaffold distinguished himself by his

boldness, fortitude, and even cheerfulness.-D.'

(1202) This was a mistake; it was not Lord Ogilvie, but Lord

Cromarty.

(1203) It was taken by the French.-D.

(1204) The seat of the Duke of Bedford.

(1205) The Hon. Richard Arundel, youngest son of John, second

Lord Arundel of Trerice. He had been master of the mint under

Sir Robert Walpole's administration.-D.

(1206) William Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon, afterwards second

Earl of Besborough.-D.

479 Letter 202

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, May 22, 1746.

Dear George,

After all your goodness to me, don't be angry that I am glad I

am got into brave old London again: though my cats don't purr

like Goldwin, yet one of them has as good a heart as old

Reynolds, and the tranquillity of my own closet makes me some

amends for the loss of the library and toute la belle

compagnie celestine. I don't know whether that expression

will do for the azure ceilings; but I found it at my fingers'

ends, and so it slipped through my pen. We called at

Langley,(1207) but did not like it, nor the Grecian temple at

all; it is by no means gracious.

I forgot to take your orders about your poultry; the partlets

have not laid since I went, for little chanticleer

Is true to love, and all for recreation,

And does not mind the work of propagation.

But I trust you will come Yourself in a few days, and then you

may settle their route.

I am got deep into the Sidney papers, there are old wills full

of bequeathed ovoche and goblets with fair enamel, that will

delight you; and there is a little pamphlet of Sir Philip

Sidney's in defence of his uncle Leicester, that gives me a

much better opinion of his parts than his dolorous Arcadia,

though it almost recommended him to the crown of Poland; at

least I have never been able to discover what other great

merit he had. In this little tract he is very vehement in

clearing up the honour of his lineage; I don't think he could

have been warmer about his family, if he had been of the blood

of the Cues.(1208) I have diverted myself with reflecting how

it would have entertained the town a few years ago, if my

cousin Richard Hammond had wrote a treatise to clear up my

father's pedigree, when the Craftsman used to treat him so

roundly 'With being Nobody's son. Adieu! dear George!

Yours ever,

THE GRANDSON OF NOBODY.

(1207) A seat of the Duke of Marlborough.

(1208) Mr. Montagu used to call his own family the Cues.

480 Letter 203

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, June 5, 1746.

Dear George,

You may perhaps fancy that you are very happy in the country,

and that because you commend every thing you see, you like

every thing: you may fancy that London is a desert, and that

grass grows now where Troy stood; but it does not, except just

before my Lord Bath's door, whom nobody will visit. So far

from being empty, and dull, and dusty, the town is full of

people, full of water, for it has rained this week, and as gay

as a new German Prince must make any place. Why, it rains

princes: though some people are disappointed of the arrival of

the Pretender, yet the Duke is just coming and the Prince of

Hesse come. He is tall, lusty, and handsome; extremely like

Lord Elcho in person, and to Mr. Hussey,(1209) in what

entitles him more to his freedom in Ireland, than the

resemblance of the former does to Scotland. By seeing him

with the Prince of Wales, people think he looks stupid; but I

dare say in his own country he is reckoned very lively, for

though he don't speak much, he opens his mouth very often.

The King has given him a fine sword, and the Prince a ball.

He dined with the former the first day, and since with the

great officers. Monday he went to Ranelagh, and supped in the

house; Tuesday at the Opera he sat with his court in the box

on the stage next the Prince, and went into theirs to see the

last dance; and after it was over to the Venetian

ambassadress, who is the only woman he has yet noticed.

To-night there is a masquerade at Ranelagh for him, a play at

Covent Garden on Monday, and a Ridotto at the Haymarket; and

then he is to go. His amours are generally very humble, and

very frequent; for he does not much affect our daughter.(1210)

A little apt to be boisterous when he has drank. I have not

heard, but I hope he was not rampant last night with Lady

Middlesex, or Charlotte Dives.(1211) Men go to see him in the

morning, before he goes to see the lions.

The talk of peace is blown over; nine or ten battalions were

ordered for Flanders the day before yesterday, but they are

again countermanded; and the operations of this campaign again

likely to be confined within the precincts of Covent Garden,

where the army- surgeons give constant attendance. Major

Johnson commands (I can't call it) the corps de reserve in

Grosvenor Street. I wish you had seen the goddess of those

purlieus with him t'other night at Ranelagh; you would have

sworn it had been the divine Cucumber in person.

The fame of the Violetta(1212) increases daily; the

sister-Countesses of Burlington and Talbot exert all their

stores of sullen partiality in competition for her- the former

visits her, and is having her picture, and carries her to

Chiswick, and she sups at Lady Carlisle's, and lies--indeed I

have not heard where, but I know not at Leicester House, where

she is in great disgrace, for not going once or twice a week

to take lessons of Denoyer, as he(1213) bid her: you know,

that is politics in a court where dancing-masters are

ministers.

Adieu! dear George: my compliments to all at the farm. Your

cocks and hens would write to you, but they are dressing in

haste for the masquerade - mind, I don't say that Asheton is

doing any thing like that; but he is putting on an odd sort of

a black gown - but, as Di Bertie says on her message cards,

"mum for that." Yours ever.

(1209) Edward Hussey, afterwards Earl of Beaulieu. [He

married Isabella, widow of William, second Duke of Manchester,

the heroine of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams's poem entitled

"Isabella; or, the Morning;" and died in 1802.]

(1210) The Princess Mary, who was married to the Prince of

Hesse Cassel, in 1740.-E.

(1211) Afterwards married to Samuel, second and last Lord

Masham, who died in 1776.-E.

(1212) Afterwards Mrs. Garrick.

(1213) The Prince of Wales; with whom the dancing-master was a

great favourite.

482 Letter 204

To sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, June 6, 1746.

It was a very unpleasant reason for my not hearing from you

last post, that you was ill; but I have had a letter from you

since of May 24th, that has made me easy again for your

health: if you was not losing the good Chutes, I should have

been quite satisfied; but that is a loss you will not easily

repair, though I were to recommend you Hobarts(1214) every

day. Sure you must have had flights of strange awkward

animals, if you can be so taken with him! I shall begin to

look about me, to see the merits of England: he was no

curiosity here; and yet heaven knows there are many better,

with whom I hope I shall never be acquainted. As I have

cautioned you more than once against minding my recommendatory

letters, (which one gives because one can't refuse them,)

unless I write to you separately, I have no scruple in giving

them. You are extremely good to give so much credit to my

bills at first sight; but don't put down Hobart to my account;

I used to call him the Clearcake; fat, fair, sweet, and seen

through in a moment. By what you tell me, I should conclude

the Countess was not returning; for Hobart is not a morsel

that she can afford to lose.

I am much obliged to you for the care you take in sending my

eagle by my commodore-cousin, but I hope it will not be till

after his expedition. I know the extent of his genius; he

would hoist it overboard on the prospect of an engagement, and

think he could buy me another at Hyde Park Corner with the

prize-money; like the Roman tar that told his crew, that if

they broke the antique Corinthian statues, they should find

new ones.

We have been making peace lately, but I think it is off again;

there is come an unpleasant sort of a letter, transmitted from

Van Hoey(1215) at Paris; it talks something of rebels not to

be treated as rebels, and of a Prince Charles that is

somebody's cousin and friend-but as nobody knows any thing of

this--why, I know nothing of it neither. There are battalions

ordered for Flanders, and countermanded, and a few less

ordered again - if I knew exactly what day this would reach

you, I could tell you more certainly, because the

determination for or against is only of every other day. The

Duke is coming: I don't find it certain, however, that the

Pretender is got off.

We are in the height of festivities for the Serenity of Hesse,

our son-in-law, who passes a few days here on his return to

Germany. If you recollect Lord Elcho, you have a perfect idea

of his person and parts. The great officers banquet him at

dinner; in the evenings; there are plays, operas, ridottos,

and masquerades.

You ask me to pity you for losing the Chutes - indeed I do;

and I pity them for losing you. They will often miss

Florence, and its tranquillity and happy air. Adieu! Comfort

yourself with what you do not lose.

(1214) The Hon. John Hobart, afterwards second Earl of

Buckinghamshire. Walpole had given him a letter of

introduction to Sir Horace Mann.-E.

(1215) The Dutch minister at Paris.

483 Letter 205

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, June 12th, 1746.

My dear George,

Don't commend me -. you don't know what hurt it will do me;

you will make me a pains-taking man, and I had rather be dull

Without any trouble. From partiality to me you won't allow my

letters to be letters. If you have a mind I should write you

news, don't make me think about it; I shall be so long turning

my periods, that what I tell you will cease to be news.

The Prince of Hesse had a most ridiculous tumble t'other night

at the Opera; they had not pegged up his box tight after the

ridotto, and down he came on all four; George Selwyn says he

carried it off with an unembarrassed countenance. He was to

go this morning; I don't know whether he did or not. The Duke

is expected to-night by all the tallow candles and fagots in

town.

Lady Carolina Fitzroy's match is settled to the content of all

parties; they are taking Lady Abergavenny's house in Brook

Street; the Fairy Cucumber houses all Lady Caroline's

out-pensioners; Mr. Montgomery(1216) is now on half pay with

her. Her Major Johnstone is chosen at White's, to the great

terror of the society.- When he was introduced, Sir Charles

Williams presented Dick Edgecumbe(1217) to him, and said, , I

have three favours to beg of you for Mr. Edgecumbe: the first

is that you would not lie with Mrs. Day; the second, that you

would not poison his cards; the third, that you would not kill

him;" the fool answered gravely, "Indeed I will not."

The Good has borrowed old Bowman's house in Kent, and is

retiring thither for six weeks: I tell her she has lived so

rakish a life, that she is obliged to go and take up. I hope

you don't know any more of it, and that Major Montagu is not

to cross the country to her. There--I think you can't commend

me for this letter; it shall not even have the merit of being

one. My compliments to all your contented family.

Yours ever.

P.S. I had forgot to tell you, that Lord Lonsdale had summoned

the peers to-day to address the King not to send the troops

abroad in the present conjuncture. I hear he made a fine

speech, and the Duke of Newcastle a very long one in answer,

and then they rose without a division.(1218) Lord Baltimore

is to bring the same motion into our House.(1219)

(1216) The Honourable Archibald Montgomerie. He succeeded his

brother as eleventh Earl of Eglinton, in 1769, and died in

1796.-E.

(1217) Richard Edgecumbe, second Lord Edgecumbe.

(1218) 'There was a debate," writes Mr. Pelham to Horatio

Walpole on the 12th, "in the House of Lords this day, upon a

motion of Lord Lonsdale, who would have addressed the King, to

defer the sending abroad any troops till it was more clear

that we are in no danger @ home; which he would by no means

allow to be the case at present. The Duke of Newcastle spoke

well for one that was determined to carry on the war.

Granville was present, but said nothing. flattered the Duke of

Newcastle when the debate was over, and gave a, strong

negative to the motion."-E.

(1219) Lord Baltimore made his motion in the House of Commons,

on the 18th; when it was negatived by the great majority of

103 against 12.-E.

484 Letter 206

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, June 17, 1746.

Dear George,

I wrote to you on Friday night as soon as I could after

receiving your letter, with a list of the regiments to go

abroad; one of which I hear since, is your brothers. I am

extremely sorry it is his fortune, as I know the distress it

will occasion in your family.

For the politics which you inquire after, and which may have

given motion to this step, I can give you no satisfactory . I

have heard that it is in consequence of an impertinent letter

sent over by Van Hoey in favour of the rebels, though at the

same time I hear we are making steps towards a peace. There

centre all my politics, all in peace. Whatever your

cousin(1220) may think, I am neither busy about what does

happen, nor making parties for what may. If he knew how happy

I am, his intriguing nature would envy my tranquillity more

than his suspicions can make him jealous of my practices. My

books, my virt`u, and my other follies and amusements take up

too much of my time to leave me much leisure to think of other

people's affairs; and of all affairs. those of the public are

least my concern. You will be sorry to hear of Augustus

Townshend's(1221) death. I lament it extremely, not much for

his sake, for I did not honour him, but for his poor sister

Molly's, whose little heart, that is all tenderness, and

gratitude, and friendship, will be broke with the shock. I

really dread it, considering how delicate her health is. My

Lady Townshend has a son with him. I went to tell it her.

Instead of thinking of her child's distress, she kept me half

an hour with a thousand histories of Lady Caroline Fitzroy and

Major Johnstone, and the new Paymaster's(1222) m`enage, and

twenty other things, nothing to me, nor to her, if only she

could drop the idea Of the pay of office.

The serene hessian is gone. Little Brooke is to be an earl.

I went to bespeak him a Lilliputian coronet at

Chenevix's.(1223) Adieu! dear George.

(1220) George

Dunk, Earl of Halifax.

(1221) Son of Viscount Townshend and Dorothy, sister of Sir

Robert Walpole. he was a captain in the service of the East

India Company, and died at Batavia, having at that time the

command of the Augusta.-E.

(1222) Mr. Pitt.

(1223) A celebrated toy-shop.

485 Letter 207

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, June 20, 1746.

We are impatient for letters from Italy, to confirm the news

of a victory over the French and Spaniards-(1224) The time is

critical, and every triumph or defeat material, as they may

raise or fall the terms of peace. The wonderful letters of

Van Hoey and M. d'Argenson in favour of the rebels, but which,

if the ministry have any spirit, must turn to their harm, you

will see in all the papers. They have rather put off the

negotiations, and caused the sending five thousand men this

week to Flanders. The Duke is not yet returned from Scotland,

nor is anything certainly known of the Pretender. I don't

find any period fixed for the trial of the Lords; yet the

Parliament sits on, doing nothing, few days having enough to

make a House. Old Marquis Tullibardine, with another set of

rebels are come, amongst whom is Lord Macleod, son of Lord

Cromarty,(1225) already in the Tower. Lady Cromarty went down

incog. to Woolwich to see her son pass by, without the power

of speaking to him: I never heard a more melancholy instance

of affection! Lord Elcho(1226) has written from Paris to Lord

Lincoln to solicit his pardon; but as he has distinguished

himself beyond all the rebel commanders by brutality and

insults and cruelty to our prisoners, I think he is likely to

remain where he is.

Jack Spenser,(1227) old Marlborough's grandson and heir, is

just dead, at the age of six or seven and thirty, and in

possession Of near 30,000 pounds a-year, merely because he

would not be abridged of those invaluable blessings of an

English subject, brandy, small-beer, and tobacco.

Your last letter was of May 31st. Since you have effectually

lost the good Chutes, I may be permitted to lay out all my

impatience for seeing them. There are no endeavours I shall

not use to show how much I love them for all their friendship

to you. You are very kind in telling me how much I am

honoured by their Highnesses Of Modena; but how can I return

it? would it be civil to send them a compliment through a

letter of yours? Do what you think properest for me.

I have nothing to say to Marquis Riccardi about his trumpery

gems, but what I have already said; that nobody here will buy

them together; that if he will think better, and let them be

sold by auction, he may do it most advantageously, for, with

all our distress, we have not at all lost the rage of expense;

but that for sending them to Lisbon, I will by no means do it,

as his impertinent sending them to me without my leave, shall

in no manner draw me into the risk of paying for them. That,

in short, if he will send any body to me with full authority

to receive them, and to give me the most ample discharge for

them, I will deliver them, and shall be happy so to get rid of

them. There they lie in a corner of my closet, and will

probably come to light at last with excellent antique mould

about them! Adieu.

(1224) The battle of Placentia, which took place on the 15th

of May.-E.

(1225) George Mackenzie, third Earl of Cromartie, and his

eldest son John, Lord Macleod. They had been deeply engaged

in the rebellion, were taken prisoners at Dunrobin Castle in

Sutherland, and from thence conveyed to the Tower. They were,

upon trial, found guilty of high treason; but their lives were

granted to them. Lord Macleod afterwards entered the Swedish

service. Lady Cromartie was Isabel, daughter of Sir William

Gordon, of Invergordon, Bart.-D.

(1226) Eldest son of the Earl of Wemyss.

(1227) Brother of Charles Spenser, Earl of Sunderland and Duke

of Marlborough.

486 Letter 208

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, June 24, 1746.

Dear George,

You have got a very bad person to tell you news; for I hear

nothing before all the world has' talked it over, and done

with it. Till twelve o'clock last night I knew nothing of all

the kissing hands that had graced yesterday morning;

Arundel(1228) for treasurer of the chambers; Legge, and your

friend Walsh Campbell, for the treasury; Lord Duncannon for

the admiralty; and your cousin Halifax (who is succeeded by

his predecessor in the buck hounds) for chief justice in eyre,

in the room of Lord Jersey. They talk of new earls, Lord

Chancellor, Lord Gower, Lord Brooke, and Lord Clinton; but I

don't know that this will be, because it is not past.

Tidings are every minute expected of a great sea-fight; Martin

has got between the coast and the French fleet, which has

sailed from Brest. The victory in Italy is extremely big; but

as none of my friends are aide-de-camps there, I know nothing

of the particulars, except that the French and-Spaniards have

lost ten thousand men.

All the inns about town are crowded with rebel Prisoners, and

people are making parties of pleasure, which you know is the

English genius, to hear their trials. The Scotch, which you

know is the Scotch genius, are loud in censuring the Duke for

his severities in the highlands.

The great business of the town is Jack Spenser's will, who has

left Althorp and the Sunderland estate in reversion to Pitt;

after more obligations and more pretended friendship for his

brother, the Duke, than is conceivable. The Duke is in the

utmost uneasiness about it, having left the drawing of the

writings for the estate to his brother and his grandmother,

and without having any idea that himself was cut out of the

entail.

I have heard nothing of Augustus Townshend's will: my lady,

who you know hated him, came from the Opera t'other night, and

on pulling off her gloves, and finding her hands all black,

said immediately, "My hands are guilty, but my heart is free."

Another good thing she said, to the Duchess of Bedford,(1229)

who told her the Duke was windbound at Yarmouth, "Lord! he

will hate Norfolk as much as I do."

I wish, my dear George, you could meet with any man that could

copy the beauties in the castle: I did not care if it were

even in Indian ink. Will you inquire? Eckardt has done your

picture excellently well. What shall I do with the original?

Leave it with him till you come?

Lord Bath and Lord Sandys have had their pockets picked at

Cuper's Gardens. I fancy it was no bad scene, the avarice and

jealousy of their peeresses on their return. A terrible

disgrace happened to Earl Cholmondeley t'other night at

Ranelagh. You know all the history of his letters to borrow

money to pay for damask for his fine room at Richmond. As he

was going in, in the crowd, a woman offered him roses--"Right

damask, my lord!" he concluded she had been put upon it. I

was told, a-propos, a bon-mot on the scene in the Opera, where

there is a view of his new room, and the farmer comes dancing

out and shaking his purse. Somebody said there was a

tradesman had unexpectedly got his money.

I think I deal in bon-mots to-day. I'll tell you now another,

but don't print my letter in a new edition of Joe Miller's

jests. The Duke has given Brigadier Mordaunt the Pretender's

coach, on condition he rode up to London in it. "That I will,

Sir," said he, "and drive till it stops of its own accord at

the Cocoa Tree."

(1228) The Honourable Richard Arundel, second son to John,

Lord Arundel, of Trerice. He married, 1732, Lady Frances

Manners, daughter of John, second Duke of Rutland.-E.

(1229) Daughter of John, Earl Gower.

487 Letter 209

To George Montagu,

Arlington Street, July 3, 1746.

My dear George,

I wish extremely to accept your invitation, but I can't bring

myself to it. If I have the pleasure of meeting Lord

North(1230) oftener-at your house next winter, I do not know

but another summer I may have courage enough to make him a

visit; but I have no notion of going to any body's house, and

have the servants look on the arms of the chaise to find out

one's name, and learn one's face from the Saracen's head. You

did not tell me how long you stayed at Wroxton, and so I

direct this thither. I have wrote one to Windsor since you

left it.

The Dew earls have kissed hands, and kept their own titles.

The world reckon Earl Clinton obliged for his new honour to

Lord GranVille, though they made the Duke of Newcastle go in

to ask for it.

Yesterday Mr. Hussey's friends declared his marriage with her

grace of Manchester,(1231) and said he was gone down to

Englefield Green to take possession.

I can tell you another wedding more certain, and fifty times

more extraordinary; it is Lord Cooke with Lady Mary Campbell,

the Dowager of Argyle's youngest daughter. It is all agreed,

and was negotiated by the Countess of Gower and Leicester. I

don't know why they skipped over Lady Betty, who, if there

were any question of beauty, is, I think, as well as her

sister. They drew the girl in to give her consent, when they

first proposed it to her; but now la Belle n'aime pas trop le

Sieur L`eandre. She cries her eyes to scarlet. He has made

her four visits, and is so in love, that he writes to her

every other day. 'Tis a strange match. After offering him to

all the great lumps of gold in all the alleys of the city,

they fish out a woman of quality at last with a mere twelve

thousand pound. She objects his loving none of her sex but

the four queens in a pack of cards, but he promises to abandon

White's and both clubs for her sake.

A-propos to White's and cards, Dick Edgecumbe is shut up with

the itch. The ungenerous world ascribes it to Mrs. Day; but

he denies it; owning, however, that he is very well contented

to have it, as nobody will venture on her. Don't you like

being pleased to have the itch, as a new way to 'keep one's

mistress to one's self!

You will be in town to be sure for the eight-and-twentieth.

London will be as full as at a coronation. The whole form is

settled for the trials, and they are actually building

scaffolds in Westminster-hall.

I have not seen poor Miss Townshend yet; she is in town, and

better, but most unhappy.

(1230) Francis, Lord North and Grey; in 1752 created Earl of

Guilford. His lordship died in 1790, at the age of

eighty-six.-E.

(1231) Isabella, eldest daughter of John, Duke of Montagu,

married in 1723 to William, second Duke of Manchester, who

died in 1739. She married afterwards to Edward Hussey, Esq.

who was created Baron Beaulieu in 1762, and Earl Beaulieu in

1784.

488 Letter 210

To Sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, July 7, 1746.

I have been looking at the dates of my letters, and find that

I have not written you since the 20th of last month. As long

as it seems, I am not in fault; I now write merely lest you

should think me forgetful of you, and not because I have any

thing to say. Nothing great has happened; and for little

politics, I live a good deal out of the way of' them. I have

no manner of connexion with any ministry, or opposition to

ministry; and their merits and their faults are equally a

secret to me. The Parliament sitting, so long has worn itself

to a skeleton; and almost every body takes the opportunity of

shortening, their stay in the country, which I believe in

their hearts most are glad to do, by going down, and returning

for the trials, which are to be on the 28th of this month. I

am of the number; so don't expect to hear from me again till

that aera.

The Duke is still in Scotland, doing his family the only

service that has been done for them there since their

accession. He daily picks Up notable prisoners, and has

lately taken Lord Lovat, and Murray the secretary. There are

flying reports of the Boy being killed, but I think not

certain enough for the father(1232) to faint away again-I

blame myself for speaking lightly of the old man's distress;

but a swoon is so natural to his character, that one smiles at

it at first, without considering when it proceeds from

cowardice, and when from misery. I heard yesterday that we

are to expect a battle in Flanders soon: I expect it with all

the tranquillity that the love of one's country admits, when

one's heart is entirely out of the question, as, thank God!

mine is: not one of my friends will be in it. I -wish it may

be as magnificent a victory for us, as your giornata di San

Lazaro!

I am in great pain for my eagle, now the Brest fleet is

thought to be upon the coast of Spain: bi-it what do you mean

by him and his pedestal filling three cases? is he like the

Irishman's bird, in two places at once?

Adieu! my dear child; don't believe my love for you in the

least abridged, whenever my letters are scarce or short. I

never loved you better, and never had less to say, both which

I beg you will believe by my concluding, yours, etc.

P. S. Since I finished my letter, we hear that the French and

Spaniards have escaped from Placentia, not without some

connivance of your hero-king.(1233) Mons is taken.

(1232) James Stuart, called " The Old Pretender."-D.

(1233) The King of Sardinia.-D.

489 Letter 211

To sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, Aug. 1, 1746.

I am this moment come from the conclusion of the greatest and

most melancholy scene I ever yet saw! you will easily guess it

was the trials of the rebel Lords. As it was the most

interesting sight, it was the most solemn and fine:

a coronation is a puppet-show, and all the splendour of it

idle; but this sight at once feasted one's eyes and engaged

all one's passions. It began last Monday; three parts of

Westminster-hall were inclosed with galleries, and hung with

scarlet; and the whole ceremony was conducted with the most

awful solemnity and decency, except in the one point of

leaving the prisoners at the bar, amidst the idle curiosity of

some crowd, and even with the witnesses who had sworn against

them, while the Lords adjourned to their own House to consult.

No part of the royal family was there, which was a proper

regard to the unhappy men, who were become their victims. One

hundred and thirty-nine lords were present, and made a noble

sight on their benches, frequent and full. The

Chancellor(1234) was Lord High Steward; but though a most

comely personage with a fine voice, his behaviour was mean,

curiously searching for occasion to bow to the minister(1235)

that is no peer, and consequently applying to the other

ministers, in a manner for their orders; and not even ready at

the ceremonial. To the prisoners he was peevish; and instead

of keeping up to the humane dignity of the law of England,

whose character it is to point out favour to the criminal, he

crossed them, and almost scolded at any offer they made

towards defence. I had armed myself with all the resolution I

could, whit the thought of their crimes and of the danger

past, and was assisted by the sight of the Marquis

of Lothian(1236) in weepers for his son who fell at Culloden--

but the first appearance of the prisoners shocked me! their

behaviour melted me! Lord Kilmarnock and Lord Cromartie are

both past forty, but look younger. Lord Kilmarnock is tall

and slender, with an extreme fine person: his behaviour a most

just mixture between dignity and submission; if in any thing

to be reprehended, a little affected, and his hair too exactly

dressed for a man in his situation; but when I say this, it is

not to find fault with him but to show how little fault there

was to be found. Lord Cromartie is an indifferent figure,

appeared much dejected, and rather sullen: he dropped a few

tears the first day, and swooned as soon as he got back to his

cell. For Lord Balmerino, he is the most natural brave old

fellow I ever saw: the highest intrepidity, even to

indifference,. At the bar he behaved like a soldier and a

man; in the intervals of form, with carelessness and humour.

He pressed extremely to have his wife, his pretty Peggy,(1237)

with him in the tower. Lady Cromartie only sees her husband

through the grate, not choosing to be shut up with him, as she

thinks she can serve him better by her intercession without:

she is big with child and very handsome; so are their

daughters. When they were to be brought from the Tower in

separate coaches, there was some dispute in which the axe must

go--old Balmerino cried, "Come, come, put it with me." At the

bar, he plays with his fingers upon the axe, while he talks to

the gentleman-gaoler; and one day somebody coming up to

listen, he took up the blade and held it like a fan between

their faces. During the trial, a little boy was near him, but

not tall enough to see; he made room for the child and placed

him near himself.

When the trial began, the two earls pleaded guilty; Balmerino

not guilty, saying he could prove he was not at the taking of

the castle of Carlisle, as was laid in the Indictment. Then

the King's counsel opened, and Serjeant Skinner pronounced the

most absurd speech imaginable; and mentioned the Duke of

Perth, "who," said he, "I see by the papers is dead."(1238)

Then some witnesses were examined, whom afterwards the old

hero shook cordially by the hand. The Lords withdrew to their

House, and returning demanded, of the judges, whether one

point not being proved, though all the rest were, the

indictment was false? to which they unanimously answered in

the negative. Then the Lord High Steward asked the Peers

severally, whether Lord Balmerino @was guilty! All said,

"guilty upon honour," and then adjourned, the prisoner having

begged pardon for giving them so much trouble. While the

lords were withdrawn, the Solicitor-General Murray (brother of

the Pretender's minister)1239) officiously and insolently went

up to Lord Balmerino, and asked him, how he could give the

Lords so much trouble, when his solicitor had informed him

that his plea could be of no use to him? Balmerino asked the

bystanders who this person was! and being told, he said. "Oh,

Mr. Murray! I am extremely glad to see you; I have been with

several of your relations; the good lady, your mother, was of

great use to us at Perth." Are not you charmed with this

speech? how just it was! As he went away, he said, "They

call me Jacobite; I am no more a Jacobite than any that tried

me: but if the Great Mogul had set up his standard, I should

have followed it, for I could not starve." The worst of his

case is, that after the battle of Dumblain, having a company

in the Duke of Argyll's regiment, he deserted with it to the

rebels, and has since been pardoned. Lord Kilmarnock is a

Presbyterian, with four earldoms(1240) in him, but so poor

since Lord Wilmington's stopping a pension that my father had

given him, that he often wanted a dinner. Lord Cromartie was

receiver of the rents of the King's second son in Scotland,

which, it was understood, he should not account for; and by

that means had six hundred a-year from the Government: Lord

Elibank,(1241) a very prating, impertinent Jacobite, was bound

for him in nine thousand pounds, for which the Duke is

determined to sue him.

When the Peers were going to vote, Lord Foley(1242) withdrew,

as too well a wisher; Lord Moray,(1243) as nephew of Lord

Balmerino--and

Lord Stair--as, I believe, uncle to his great-grandfather.

Lord Windsor,(1244) very affectedly, said, "I am sorry I must

say, guilty upon my honour." Lord Stamford(1245) would not

answer to the name of Henry, having been christened Harry--

what a great way of thinking on such an occasion! I was

diverted too with old Norsa, the father of my brother's

concubine, an old Jew that kept a tavern; my brother, as

auditor of the exchequer, has a gallery along one whole side

of the court: I said, "I really feel for the prisoners!" old

Issachar replied, "Feel for them! pray, if they had succeeded,

what would have become of all us?" When my Lady Townshend

heard her husband vote, she said, "I always knew my Lord was

guilty, but I never thought he would own it upon his honour."

Lord Balmerino said, that one of his reasons for pleading not

guilty, was, that so many ladies might not be disappointed of

their show.

On Wednesday they were again brought to Westminster-hall, to

receive sentence; and being asked what they had to say, Lord

Kilmarnock, with a very fine voice, read a very fine speech,

confessing the extent of his crime, but offering his

principles as some alleviation, having his eldest son (his

second unluckily was with him,) in the Duke's army, fighting

for the liberties of his country at Culloden, where his

unhappy father was ? .n arms to destroy them. He insisted

much on his tenderness to the English prisoners, which some

deny, and say that he was the man who proposed their being put

to death, when General Stapleton urged that he was come to

fight, and not to butcher; and that if they acted any such

barbarity, he would leave them with all his men. He very

artfully mentioned Van Hoey's letter, and said how much he

should scorn to owe his life to such intercession. Lord

Cromartie spoke much shorter, and so low, that he was not

heard but by those who sat very near him; but they prefer his

speech to the other. He mentioned his misfortune in having

drawn in his eldest son, who is prisoner with him; and

concluded with saying, "If no part of this bitter cup must

pass from me, not mine, O God, but thy will be done!" If he

had pleaded not guilty, there was ready to be produced against

him a paper signed with his own hand, for putting to death the

English prisoners.

Lord leicester went up to the Duke of Newcastle, and said, "I

never heard so great an orator as Lord Kilmarnock; if I was

grace, I would pardon him, and make him paymaster."(1246)

That morning a paper had been sent to the lieutenant of the

Tower for the prisoners; he gave it to Lord Cornwallis,(1247)

the governor, who carried it to the House of Lords. It was a

plea for the prisoners, objecting that the late act for

regulating the trial of rebels did not take place till after

their crime was committed. The Lords very tenderly and

rightly sent this plea to them, of which, as you have seen,

the two Earls did not make use; but old Balmerino did, and

demanded council on it. The High Steward, almost in a

passion, told him, that when he had been offered council, he

did not accept it. Do but think on the ridicule of sending

them the plea, and then denying them council on it! The Duke

of Newcastle, who never lets slip an opportunity of being

absurd, took it up as a ministerial point, in defence of his

creature the Chancellor; but Lord Granville moved, according

to order, to adjourn to debate in the chamber of Parliament,

where the Duke of Bedford and many others spoke warmly for

their having council; and it was granted. I said their,

because the plea would have saved them all, and affected nine

rebels who had been hanged that very morning; particularly one

Morgan, a poetical lawyer. Lord Balmerino asked for Forester

and Wilbraham; the latter a very able lawyer in the House of

Commons, who, the Chancellor said privately, he was sure would

as soon be hanged as plead such a cause. But he came as

council to-day (the third day), when Lord Balmerino gave up

his plea as invalid, and submitted, without any speech. The

High Steward then made his, very long and very poor, with only

one or two good passages; and then pronounced sentence!

Great intercession is made for the two Earls: Duke

Hamilton,(1248) who has never been at court, designs to kiss

the King's hand, and ask Lord Kilmarnock's life. The King is

much inclined to some mercy; but the Duke, who has not so much

of Caesar after a victory, as in gaining it, is for the utmost

severity. It was lately proposed in the city to

present him with the freedom of some company; one of the

aldermen said aloud, "Then let it be of the Butchers!"(1249)

The Scotch and his Royal Highness are not at all guarded in

their expressions of each other. When he went to Edinburgh,

in his pursuit of the rebels, they would not admit his guards,

alleging that it was contrary to their privileges; but they

rode in, sword in hand; and the Duke, very justly incensed,

refused to see any of the magistrates. He came with the

utmost expedition to town, in order for Flanders; but found

that the court of Vienna had already sent Prince Charles

thither, without the least notification, at which both King

and Duke are greatly offended'. When the latter waited on his

brother, the Prince carried him into a room that hangs over

the Wall of St. James's Park, and stood there with his arm

about his neck, to charm the gazing mob

Murray, the Pretender's secretary, has made ample confessions:

the Earl of Traquair(1250 and Dr. Barry, a physician, are

apprehended, and more warrants are out; so much for rebels!

Your friend, Lord Sandwich, is instantly going ambassador to

Holland, to pray the Dutch to build more ships. I have

received yours of July 19th, but you see have no more room

left, only to say, that I conceive a good idea of my eagle,

though the sea] is a bad one. Adieu!

p S. I have not room to say any thing to the Tesi till next

post; but, unless she will sing gratis, would advise her to

drop this thought.

(1234) Philip Yorke, lord Hardwicke.

(1235 henry Pelham.

(1236) William ker, third marquis of Lothian. Lord Robert

Ker, who was killed at Culloden, was his second son.--D.

(1237) Margaret, lady Balmerino, daughter of Captain

chalmers.--D.

(1238) The duke of Perth, being a young man of delicate frame,

expired on his passage to France.--E.

(1239) Lord Dunbar.

(1240) Kilmarnock, Erroll, Linlithgow, and Calendar.--D.

(1241) Patrick Murray, fifth Lord Elibank.--D.

(1242) Thomas, second Lord Foley, of the first creation.--D.

(1243) James Stewart, ninth Earl of Moray. His mother was

jean Elphinstone, daughter of John, fourth Lord Balmerino.--D.

(1244) Robert Windsor, second viscount Windsor in Ireland. He

sat in Parliament as Lord Mountjoy of the isle of Wight. He

died in 1758, when His titles extinguished.--D.

(1245) Harry Grey, died in 1768.--D.

(1246) Alluding to Mr. Pitt, who had lately been preferred to

that post, from the fear the ministry had of his abusive

eloquence.

(1247) Charles, fifth Lord Cornwallis. He was created an earl

in 1753, and died in 1762.-D.

(1248) James, sixth Duke of Hamilton: died in 1758.-D.

(1249) "The Duke," says Sir Walter Scott, " was received with

all the honours due to conquest; and all the incorporated

bodies of the capital, from the guild brethren to the

butchers, desired his acceptance of the freedom of their

craft, or corporation." Billy the Butcher was one of his

by-names.-E.

(1250) Charles Stuart, fifth Earl of Traquair.-D.

494 Letter 212

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, Aug. 2, 1746.

Dear George,

You have lost nothing by missing yesterday at the trials, but

a little additional contempt for the High Steward; and even

that is recoverable, as his long, paltry speech is to be

printed; for which, and for thanks for it, Lord Lincoln moved

the House of Lords. Somebody said to Sir Charles Windham,

"Oh! you don't think Lord Hardwicke's speech good, because you

have read Lord Cowper's."--"No," replied he; "but I do think

it tolerable, because I heard Serjeant Skinner's."(1251) Poor

brave old Balmerino retracted his plea, asked pardon, and

desired the Lords to intercede for mercy. As he returned to

the Tower, he stopped the coach at Charing-cross to buy

honey-blobs as the Scotch call gooseberries. He says he is

extremely afraid Lord Kilmarnock will not behave well. The

Duke said publicly at his levee, that the latter proposed

murdering the English prisoners. His Highness was to have

given Peggy Banks a ball last night; but was persuaded to

defer it, as it would have rather looked like an insult on the

prisoners, the very day their sentence was passed. George

Selwyn says that he had begged Sir William Saunderson to get

him the High Steward's wand, after it was broke, as a

curiosity; but that he behaved so like an attorney the first

day, and so like a pettifogger the second, that he would not

take it to light his fire with; I don't believe my Lady

Hardwicke is so high-minded.

Your cousin Sandwich(1252) is certainly going on an embassy to

Holland. I don't know whether it is to qualify him, by new

dignity, for the head of the admiralty, or whether (which is

more agreeable to present policy) to satisfy him instead of

it. I know when Lord Malton,(1253) who was a young earl,

asked for the garter, to stop his pretensions, they made him a

marquis. When Lord Brooke, who is likely to have ten sons,

though he has none yet, asked to have his barony settled on

his daughters, they refused him with an earldom; and they

professed making Pitt paymaster, in order to silence the

avidity of his faction.

Dear George, I am afraid I shall not be in your neighbourhood,

as I promised myself. Sir Charles Williams has let his house.

I wish you would one day whisk over and look at Harley House.

The inclosed advertisement makes it sound pretty, though I am

afraid too large for me. Do look at it impartially: don't be

struck at first sight with any brave old windows; but be so

good as to inquire the rent, and if I can have it for a year,

and with any furniture. I have not had time to copy out the

verses, but you shall have them soon. Adieu, with my

compliments to your sisters.

(1251) Matthew Skinner, afterwards a Welsh judge.-E.

(1252) John, the fourth Earl of Sandwich; son of Edward

Richard, Viscount Hichinbrooke. He signed the treaty of peace

at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748.

(1253) Thomas Watson Wentworth, Earl of Malton, created

Marquis of Rockingham, in 1746. [He died In 1782, when his

title became extinct.)

495 Letter 213

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, Aug. 5, 1746.

Though I can't this week accept your invitation, I can prove

to you that I am most desirous of passing my time with you,

and therefore en attendant Harley House, if you can find me

out any clean, small house in Windsor, ready furnished, that

is not -,absolutely in the middle of the town, but near you, I

should be glad to take it for three or four months.(1254) I

have been about Sir Robert Rich's, but they will only sell it.

I am as far from guessing why they send Sandwich in embassy,

as you are; and, when I recollect of what various materials

our late ambassadors have been composed, I can only say, "ex

quovis ligno fit Mercurius." Murray(1255) has certainly been

discovering, and warrants are out; but I don't yet know who

are to be their prize. I begin to think that the ministry had

really no intelligence till now. I before thought they had,

but durst not use it. A-propos to not daring, I went t'other

night to look at my poor favourite Chelsea,(1256) for the

little Newcastle is gone to be dipped in the sea. In one of

the rooms is a bed for her Duke, and a press-bed for his

footman; for he never dares lie alone, and, till be was

married, had always a servant to sit up with him. Lady

Cromartie presented her petition to the King last Sunday. He

was very civil to her, but would not at all give her any

hopes. She swooned away as soon as he was gone.(1257) Lord

Corn-wallis told me that her lord weeps every time any thing

of his fate is mentioned to him. Old Balmerino keeps up his

spirits to the same pitch of gaiety. In the cell at

Westminster he showed Lord Kilmarnock how he must lay his

head; bid him not wince, lest the stroke should cut his skull

or his shoulders, and advised him to bite his lips. As they

were to return, he begged they might have another bottle

together, as they should never meet any more till---, and then

pointed to his neck. At getting into the coach, he said to

the gaoler, "Take care, or you will break my shins with this

damned axe."(1258)

I must tell you a bon-mot of George Selwyn's at the trial. He

saw Bethel's(1259) sharp visage looking wistfully at the rebel

lords; he said, What a shame it is to turn her face to the

prisoners till they are condemned." If you have a mind for a

true foreign idea, one of the foreign ministers said at the

trial to another, "Vraiment cela est auguste." "Oui," replied

the other, "cela est vrai, mais cela n'est pas royale." the I

am assured that the old Countess of Errol made her son Lord

Kilmarnock(1260) go into the rebellion on pain of

disinheriting him. I don't know whether I told you that the

man at the tennis-court protests that he has known him dine at

the man that sells pamphlets at Storey's Gate; "and," says he,

"he would often have been glad if I would have taken him home

to dinner." He was certainly so poor, that in one of his

wife's intercepted letters she tells him she has plagued their

steward for a fortnight for money, and can get but three

shillings. Can any one help pitying such distress?(1261) I

am vastly softened, too, about Balmerino's relapse, for his

pardon was only granted him to engage his brother's vote in

the election of Scotch peers.

My Lord Chancellor has got a thousand pounds in present for

his high stewardship, and has @(it the reversion of clerk of

the crown (twelve hundred a-year) for his second son. What a

long time it will be before his posterity are drove into

rebellion for want, like Lord Kilmarnock!

The Duke gave his ball last night to Peggy Banks at Vauxhall.

It was to pique my Lady Rochford, in return for the Prince of

Hesse. I saw the company get into their barges at Whitehall

Stairs, as I was going myself, and just then passed by two

city companies in their great barges, who had been a

swan-hopping:. They laid by and played "God save our noble

King," and altogether it was a mighty pretty show. When they

came to Vauxhall, there were assembled about five-and-twenty

hundred people, besides crowds without. They huzzaed, and

surrounded him so, that he was forced to retreat into the

ball-room. He was very near being drowned t'other night going

from Ranelagh to Vauxhall, and politeness of Lord Cathcart's,

who, stepping on the side of the boat to lend his arm, overset

it, and both fell into the water up to their chins.

I have not yet got Sir Charles's ode;(1262) when I have, you

shall see it: here are my own lines. Good night!

(1260) The Earl of Kilmarnock was not the son of the Countess

of Errol. His wife, the Lady Anne Livingstone, daughter of

the Earl of Linlithgow, was her niece, and, eventually, her

heiress.--E.

(1261) The Duke of Argyle, telling him how sorry he was to see

him engaged in such a cause, 'MY Lord,' says be, 'for the two

Kings and their rights, I care not a farthing which prevailed;

but I was starving, and by God, if Mahomet had set up his

standard in the highlands, I had been a good Mussulman for

bread, and stuck close to the party, for I must eat.'" Gray,

vol. 5.-E.

(1262) On the Duchess of Manchester, entitled Isabella, or the

Morning.-E.

497 Letter 214

To George Montagu, Esq.

Arlington Street, Aug. 11, 1746.

Dear George,

I have seen Mr. Jordan, and have taken his house at forty

guineas a-year, but I am to pay taxes. Shall I now accept

your offer of being at the trouble of giving orders for the

airing of it? I have desired the landlord will order the key

to be delivered to you, and Asheton will assist you.

Furniture, I find, I have in abundance, which I shall send

down immediately; but shall not be able to be at Windsor at

the quivering dame's before to-morrow se'nnight, as the rebel

Lords are not to be executed till Monday. I shall stay till

that is over, though I don't believe I shall see it. Lord

Cromartie is reprieved for a pardon. If wives and children

become an argument for saving rebels, there will cease to be a

reason against their going into rebellion. Lady Caroline

Fitzroy's execution is certainly to-night. I dare say she

will follow Lord Balmerino's advice to Lord Kilmarnock, and

not winch.

Lord Sandwich has made Mr. Keith his secretary. I don't

believe the founder of your race, the great Quu,(1263) of

Habiculeo, would have chosen his secretary from California.

I would willingly return the civilities you laid upon me at

Windsor. Do command me; in what can I serve you? Shall I get

you an earldom? Don't think it will be any trouble; there is

nothing easier or cheaper. Lord Hobart and Lord Fitzwilliam

are both to be Earls to-morrow: the former, of Buckingham; the

latter, by his already title. I suppose Lord Malton will be a

Duke; he has had no new peerage this fortnight. Adieu! my

compliments to the virtuous ladies, Arabella and Hounsibeloa

Quus.

P. S. Here is an order for the key.

(1263) The Earl of Halifax.-E.

497 Letter 215

To sir Horace Mann.

Arlington Street, Aug. 12, 1746.

To begin with the Tesi; she is mad if she desires to come

hither. I hate long histories, and so will only tell you in a

few words, that Lord Middlesex(1264) took the opportunity of a

rivalship between his own mistress, the Nardi, and the

Violette,(1265) the finest and most admired dancer in the

world, to involve the whole m`enage of the Opera in the

quarrel, and has paid nobody; but, like a true Lord of the

Treasury, has shut up his own exchequer. The principal

man-dancer was arrested for debt; to the composer his Lordship

gave a bad note, not payable in two years, besides amercing

him entirely three hundred pounds, on pretence of his siding

with the Violette. If the Tesi likes this account-venga!

venga!

Did I tell you that your friend Lord Sandwich was sent'

/ambassador to Holland? He is: and that Lady Charlotte

Fermor(1266) was to be married to Mr. Finch,(1267) the

Vice-chamberlain? She is. Mr. Finch is a comely black

widower, without children, and heir to his brother Winchilsea,

who has no sons. The Countess-mother has been in an embroil,

(as we have often known her,) about carrying Miss Shelly, a

bosom-friend, into the Peeresses' place at the trials. Lord

Granville, who is extremely fond of Lady Charlotte, has given

her all her sister's jewels, to the great discontent of his

own daughters. She has five thousand pounds, and Mr. Finch

Settles fifteen thousand pounds more upon her. Now we are

upon the chapter of marriages, Lord Petersham(1268) was last

night married to One Of our first beauties, Lady Caroline

Fitzroy;(1269) and Lord Coke(1270) is to have the youngest of

the late Duke of Argyl@s daughters,)1271) who is none of our

beauties at all.

Princess Louisa has already reached the object of her wish

ever since she could speak, and is Queen of Denmark, We have

been a little lucky lately in the deaths of Kings, and promise

ourselves great matters from the new monarch in Spain.(1272)

Princess Mary is coming over from Hesse to drink the Bath

waters; that is the pretence for leaving her brutal husband,

and for visiting the Duke and Princess Caroline, who love her

extremely. She is of the softest, mildest temper in the

world.

We know nothing certainly of the young Pretender, but that he

is concealed in Scotland, and devoured with distempers - I

really wonder how an Italian constitution can have supported

such rigours! He has said, that "he did not see what he had

to be ashamed of; and that if he had lost one battle, he had

gained two." Old Lovat curses Cope and Hawley for the loss of

those two, and says, if they had done their

duty, he had never been in this scrape. Cope is actually

going to be tried; but Hawley, who is fifty times more

culpable, is saved by partiality: Cope miscarried by

incapacity; Hawley, by insolence and carelessness.

Lord Cromartie is reprieved; the Prince asked his life, and

his wife made great intercession. Duke Hamilton's

intercession for Lord Kilmarnock has rather hurried him to the

block: he and Lord Balmerino are to die next Monday. Lord

Kilmarnock, with the greatest nobleness of soul, desired to

have Lord Cromartie preferred to himself for pardon, if there

could be but one saved; and Lord Balmerino laments that

himself and Lord Lovat were not taken at the same time; "For

then," says he, "we might have been sacrificed, and those

other two brave men escaped." Indeed Lord Cromartie does not

much deserve the epithet; for he wept whenever his execution

was mentioned. Balmerino is jolly with 'his pretty Peggy.

There is a remarkable story of him at the battle of Dunblain,

where the Duke of Argyll, his colonel, answered for him, on

his being suspected. He behaved well; but as soon as we had

gained the victory, went off with his troop to the Pretender:

protesting that he had never feared death but that day, as he

had been fighting against his conscience. Popularity has

changed sides since the year '15, for now the city and the

generality are very angry that so Many rebels have been

pardoned. Some of those taken at Carlisle dispersed papers at

their execution, saying they forgave 'all men but three, the

Elector of Hanover, the pretended Duke of Cumberland, and the

Duke of Richmond, who signed the capitulation at

Carlisle.(1273)

Wish Mr. Hobart joy of ])is new lordship; his father took his

seat to-day as Earl of Buckingham -. Lord Fitzwilliam is made

English earl with him, by his old title. Lord

TankerVille(1274) goes governor to Jamaica: a cruel method of

recruiting a prodigal nobleman's broken fortune, by sending

him to pillage a province! Adieu!

P. S. I have taken a pretty house at Windsor and am going

thither for the remainder of the summer.

(1264) Charles Sackville, eldest son of Lionel, Duke of

Dorset, a Lord of the Treasury.