An exact man should acknowledge the receipt of Letters, Papers,
&c. How do I know for instance whether my Hampshire Acres, the
long expected fruits of my Anabaptist's Labours, may not be sunk,
irrecoverably sunk in the Sussex Dirt? *However, notwithstanding my
indignation, I will employ five minutes in telling you two or three
recent pieces of News.
1. Charles Fox is commenced Patriot, and is already attempting
to pronounce the words _Country_, _Liberty_, _Corruption_, &c.;
with what success, time will discover. Yesterday he resigned the
Admiralty.[168] The most probable account seems to be, that he could
not prevail on Ministry to join with him in his intended repeal of
the Marriage Act (a favourite measure of his father, who opposed it
from its origin,) and that Charles very judiciously thought Lord
Holland's friendship imported him more than Lord North's.
2. Yesterday the Marriage Message came to both Houses of Parliament.
You will see the words of it in the Papers; and, thanks to the
submissive piety of this Session, it is hoped that the Princes of the
next Generation will not find it so easy as their Uncles have done to
expose themselves and to burthen the Public.
[Sidenote: DR. NOWELL'S SERMON.]
3. To-day the House of C. was employed in a very odd way. Tommy
Townshend[169] moved, that the Sermon of Dr. Knowell, who preached
before the House on the 30th of January (_id est_, before the
Speaker and four Members,) should be burnt by the Common Hangman,
as containing arbitrary, Tory, High-flown doctrines. The House was
nearly agreeing to the Motion, till they recollected that they had
already thanked the Preacher for his excellent discourse, and ordered
it to be printed. Knowell's Bookseller is much obliged to the Right
Honourable Tommy Townshend.
When do you come to Town? I want Money, and am tired of sticking to
the Earth by so many Roots.* No news from Fleet Street. _Embrassez de
ma part la Sainte famille._ Adieu.
Ever yours,
E. G.
[168] Fox only retired from the Government on the Royal Marriage
question. In January, 1773, he resumed office as one of the Lords
of the Treasury.
[169] Afterwards Lord Sydney. Dr. Nowell's sermon, which, it was
alleged, inculcated passive obedience, was preached January 30,
1772, at St. Margaret's, Westminster. The vote of thanks was
voted January 31, and the sermon printed by desire of the House.
On February 21 it was moved that, for the future, the thanks
of the House should not be voted till the sermon was printed
and delivered. The motion here attributed to Townshend was an
expression of his opinion, given in the course of the debate.
Lord North evaded the motion by moving the order of the day. On
February 25 a motion was proposed and carried to expunge the
entry of the vote of thanks.
129.
_To his Stepmother._
Pall Mall, February the 22nd, 1772.