*Lenborough is no more.--Lrd. Temple acted like a Jew, and I dare
say now repents of it. In his room Way found me a better man, a rich
brutish honest horse Dealer, who has got a great fortune by serving
the cavalry. On Thursday he saw Lenborough, on Friday came to town
with R. W., and this morning at nine o'clock we struck at £20,000,
after a very hard battle, in which he squeezed from me a promise of
throwing him back a hundred for trouble, &c. As times go I am not
dissatisfied; the worst of it is the time of payment, which I could
not prevail on him to fix sooner than November, though he gave me
hopes of getting it somewhat earlier. Gosling must wait till then.
R[ichard] W[ay] and the new Lord of Lenborough (by name Lovegrove)
dined with me; and though we did not speak the same language, yet
by the help of signs, such as that of putting about the bottle, the
natives seemed well satisfied.
The whole world is going down to Portsmouth,[187] where they will
enjoy the pleasure of smoke, noise, heat, bad lodgings, and expensive
reckonings. For my own part, I have firmly resisted importunity,
declined parties, and mean to pass the busy week in the soft
retirement of my _bocage de_ Bentinck Street.
Yesterday the East India Company positively refused the Loan,--a
noble resolution, could they get money anywhere else.[188]
They are violent, and it was moved, and the motion heard with some
degree of approbation, that they should instantly abandon India to
Lord North, Sujah Dowlah, or the Devil, if he chose to take it.*
My respectfull salutations wait on Madame. If with the handkerchiefs
she was to bring me over some Irish linnen for shirts, it would be an
action worthy of her humanity. Adieu.