[Sidenote: PARLIAMENT AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE.]
371.
_To J. B. Holroyd, Esq._
Friday Evening, 1779.
When do you come to town? You gave me hopes of a visit, and I want
to talk over things in general with you, before you march to the
extremities of the West, where the Sun goes to sleep in the Sea.
Mrs. Trevor told me your destination was Exeter;[428] and I suppose
nothing but truth can proceed from a pretty mouth. I have been, and
am still very diligent; and, though it is a huge beast, (the Roman
Empire,) yet, if I am not mistaken, I see it move a little. You seem
surprized that I was able to get off Bath: very easily, the extreme
shortness of our Holydays was a fair excuse; her recovery of health,
spirits, &c. made it less necessary, and she accepted my Apology,
which was however accompanied with an offer, if she chose it, in
the prettiest manner possible. A load of business in this house,
(I write from it,) will be the amusement of the Spring; Motions,
Enquiries, taxes, &c. &c. We are now engaged in Lord Pigot's affair,
brought on by a motion from the Admiral,[429] that the Attorney
General should prosecute Mr. Stratton[430] and Council;[431] all the
Masters, Charles, Burke, Wedderburne, are of the same side, for it;
Lord North seems to make a feeble stand, for the pleasure of being
in a Minority. The day is hot and dull; will be long: some curious
Evidence; one Man who refused three Lacks of Rupees, (£37,500,)
merely not to go to Council; our mouths watered at such Royal
corruption; how pitiful is our Insular bribery! A letter from aunt
Hester. Adieu.
[428] The Sussex Militia were ordered to Exeter.
[429] Admiral Pigot, M.P. for Bridgnorth, brother of Lord Pigot.
See Letter 311.
[430] Mr. Stratton was a member of the Madras Council, by which
Lord Pigot was arrested.
[431] The House resolved on an address to the Crown for the
prosecution of Stratton and other members of the Council.
The case was tried in the Court of King's Bench, before Lord
Mansfield, Wedderburn being for the prosecution and Dunning
for the defence. The jury convicted (December 20, 21), and on
February 10, 1780, Messrs. Stratton, Brooke, Floyer, and Mackay
were fined £1000 apiece.
372.
_To his Stepmother._
House of Commons, April 16th, 1779.