Dec. 27th, 1788.
MY DEAR LORD,
We divided last night at half-past twelve; our majority was 33, the
members being 99 to 66, which in the House of Peers was certainly a
large minority. The rat Peers were Duke of Queensbury, Marquis of
Lothian, Bishop Watson, Lord Malmesbury, Earl of Abergavenny, Lord
Chedworth, Lord Audley, Lord Eglinton; and all of the armed
neutrality, who are: Duke of Northumberland, Lord Rawdon, Lord
Selkirk, Lord Breadalbane, Lord Hawke, Lord Kinnaird, Lord
Shaftesbury, Lord Huntingdon; Lord Lonsdale absent; Lord Lansdowne
with us, and spoke better than I ever heard him in my life, fewer
flourishes, and less rhodomontade. The Chancellor spoke
incomparably; and did give it Lord Loughborough and Lord Rawdon
most completely, particularly the former, who felt it. We are in
good spirits, for we fall with _eclat_, and high in public
estimation. I have no time to add more; but that I am yours
affectionately,