cretary of State. It is said that Mr. Pitt is to be First Lord of the Treasury, and that the Parliament will be dissolved immediately. I know nothing more. You will learn the new arrangements from the Gazette of to-morrow night or Tuesday, which last day is the soonest I could write again, for this must go away this evening. The Great Seal has been sent for from the Commissioners, and, it is supposed, will be given again to Lord Thurlow.

Friday evening.

I saw nobody after Court; so, do not know what passed there, nor if any body kissed hands; nor am likely to hear before the end of the evening, for I almost always dine alone and early, and do not go out till eight o'clock, when it would be too late to send this to the Secretary's office.

If the Parliament is dissolved, as it may be by this time for ought I know, I shall go to Strawberry Hill, for nobody will be left in town, but all gone to their re-elections; so, I could only transcribe the Gazette, and be able to send you little news.

LETTER CCCCXIV.

Berkeley Square, Jan. 8, 1784.

THE Gazettes have told you all the changes. The House of Commons is to meet on Monday, and all expectation hangs thereon. Each party promises itself-or others the majority. I never deal in prophecies; and, not having more knowledge than prophets, I shall not pretend to foretell the event, much less the consequences it will produce either way.

I have no other reasons for writing to you. Cavalier Mozzi's message by you, and his letter to Mr. Duane, will, I think, put an end to our arbitrage. I do not imagine that Mr. Lucas will give up the interest upon interest, at least not without such strong reluctance as will make it very difficult for me, as my Lord's nominee, to decide against him. On the other hand, I do not see how Mr. Duane, or even I, can pronounce for that accumulated interest, after such earnest protests of Cavalier Mozzi. My inclination, therefore, as I must, either way, give such dissatisfaction, and as the lawyers are so positive in their contradictory opinions, as to decline the arbitrage. At present we can do nothing. Lucas is in the West, looking after Lord Orford's boroughs, in case the Parliament should be dissolved. I myself have an avocation or occupation of a more melancholy kind.

My brother, Sir Edward,* is, I fear, dying: yesterday we had no hopes; a sort of glimmering to-day, but scarce enough to be called a

"Sir Edward Walpole's three natural daughters were, Mrs. Keppel, wife to the Hon. Frederick Keppel, Bishop of Exeter; the Countess of Waldegrave, afterwards Duchess of Gloucester; and the Countess of Dysart."-Lord Dover's Life of Horace Walpole.-(See Collective Edit. of Walpole's letters, 1840.)

ray of hope. He has for a great number of years enjoyed perfect health, and even great beauty, without a wrinkle, to seventy-seven; but last August his decline began by an aversion to all solids. He came to town in the beginning of November; his appetite totally left him and in a week he became a very infirm, wrinkled, old man. We think that he imagined he could cure himself by almost total abstinence. With great difficulty he was persuaded to try the bark; it restored some appetite, and then he would take no more. In a word, he has starved himself to death, and is now so emaciated and weak, that it is almost impossible he should be saved, especially as his obstinacy continues; nor will he be persuaded to take sustenance enough to give him a chance, though he is sensible of his danger, and cool, tranquil, perfectly in his senses as ever. A cordial, a little whey, a dish of tea, it costs us all infinite pains to induce him to swallow. I much doubt whether entire tractability could save him!

I am very sorry your Sweedish King* is so expensive to you. Should he think of any return, do not be disappointed, if, on opening a weighty bale, you find nothing but a heap of copper-money.

Lord Hardwicket is a great oaf, both in the book he has written, and in thinking it worth being sent so far as to Florence. The ig norance in it is extreme, and so are the blunders. The fable of the late King giving my father a large sum of money towards building Houghton must have been borrowed from some vulgar pamphlet or magazine. There is not a shadow of truth in it, nor did one of the family ever hear of it. I do not mean to impeach the late King's goodness to him; but, for presents, he most assuredly never made him but two: a very large diamond, but with a great flaw in it, which Lady Mary had; and, after the Queen's death, her crystal huntingbottle, with a golden stopper and cup. I have often heard my father mention these as the only presents. He was too grateful and too frank to have been silent on money; nor would it have escaped the Opposition, who were reduced to charge him with falsehoods, in want of truths. This pretended friend was reduced to fish in the kennels of Grub Street, to eke out his meagre anectodes of a man whose long administration might have furnished so many; but, like his lordship's other publications, they are all dead before him! He has all his life resembled an angler, who stands for hours and days by a river with a line and hook, and at last catches a paltry dace or bleak, which no mortal will touch.

Some events next week must produce; I perhaps shall be shut up in the house of mourning, and know little of the matter! Parliamentary

*Gustavus III. In 1783, having been advised by his physicians to spend the winter in a milder climate than Sweden, he set out in the beginning of October for Italy, and remained during the winter and ensuing spring at Pisa, Rome, Naples, Florence and Genoa.

+ Philip, second Earl of Hardwicke. The book alluded, to was a collection of anecdotes respecting Sir Robert Walpole, called " Walpoliana," printed in 4to. but not published. Lord Hardwicke died in 1790.

debates are now so circumstantially detailed in the newspapers, that at best I could but send you extracts. Adieu!

LETTER CCCCXV.

Berkeley Square, Jan. 13, 1784.

AMID the distresses of my family I can find time to send you but few lines. My brother died yesterday evening, with the same constant tranquillity which he had preserved through his whole illness. His almost unvaried health from soon after thirty to seventy-seven, his ample fortune and unambitious temper, make his life and death rather to be envied than lamented. His boundless benevolence and charity had left him but very moderate wealth, which he has given chiefly to his eldest daughter, Mrs. Keppel.

Yesterday was the mighty day of expectation in the House of Commons: at six in the morning the ex-Ministers had a majority of 39.

I could tell you but few or no particulars, having been shut up entirely at my brother's; and this whole morning was employed on reading his will, and other melancholy duties, till seven this evening, when I have barely time to write and send this to the Secretary's office. It was expected yesterday that the Parliament will be immediately dissolved-what the opinion is to-day, I do not at all know. I am interrupted, and must bid you good night.

LETTER CCCCXVI.

Berkeley Square, Feb. 2, 1784.

As your nephew tells me that he sends you punctual accounts of our politics, I shall say nothing on them. I do not know how he contrives to give you a clear idea of them, so fluctuating and uncertain they are. Once or twice a week there is a day which it is said will be decisive. To-day is in that number; yet I expect it so little, that I am writing to you at ten at night, without inquiring whether the House of Commons, where action is expected, is up; without knowing what was to be there.

My reason for writing is to tell Cavalier Mozzi, through you, that Lucas was with me this morning along with Messrs. Duane and Sharpe. I then acquainted them, as I had resolved, that Mr. Sharpe, having received from the Cavalier, and I from you, the strongest remonstrances against the injustice criante of allowing my lord interest upon interest, and Mr. Lucas adhering to the demand, I did not see how Mr. Duane and I could proceed any farther as referees; as to decide on either side, must discontent the other; whereas our business

was to accord them as amicably as we could, consistently with equity. Mr. Duane then declared against the legality of interest on interest. I said, if it was illegal, it was not a point on which we could decide, but ought to be left to lawyers; and that it would be better to name two new lawyers, one on each side; and, if they disagreed, to call in a third, who should pronounce decisively. Mr. Duane was warm against that; said, the whole cause must be gone over again, and would not end in years. He was for offering my Lord 600. out of 24317. demanded by Lucas, who on the other hand offered to abate 10007. Neither would come into the proposal of the other. At last, after many words, I hit on this expedientthat the 54577., which we had all agreed my Lord should receive as a compromise of the demands of both parties, (and which yet Lucas persists in calling a very liberal concession on my Lord's part, not, I believe, because strictly just, but he having all the proofs in his hands, and Mr. Sharpe few or none but what Lucas pleased to give him,) I proposed, I say, that Mr. Duane and I should decide that sum to my Lord, and then that my Lord and the Cavalier should settle as they could the demand of 24317. Mr. Duane and Mr. Sharpe were much pleased with this expedient. Lucas did not like it so well, but could urge nothing material against it. On that issue we left it for the present. Lucas is to write to my Lord, and Mr. Sharpe to Mozzi, who will now know what he likes to do, and how much of the 24317. he will sacrifice for a termination. He may take what time he will to consider on it, or what measures he pleases to obtain as much as he can. Do not let him answer hastily or inconsiderately. If he is impatient to finish, I believe Lucas is as eager to finger the money for my Lord. The more patient will have the advantage. As I believe the demand exorbitant, if not totally unjust, I cannot help saying, that I should think Mozzi had better offer but little at first, which may make Lucas at last except less than he would if the of fer were considerable. A delay cannot make much addition to the time already lost; and whatever he recovers by this new contestation will pay him for losing two or three months more.

I have thus done all that was possible for me to do in my situa tion. Thinking my party in the wrong in general, though perhaps not wholly, (as it does seem that my Lady had appropriated some things to herself to which she had no right,) I have preferred justice to partiality towards the person for whom I acted; and, as I avowed to Lucas to-day, I have contradicted him throughout whenever I knew (by my own acquaintance with the affairs of the family) that he urged what was not true or matter of fact; for instance, in the case of Lady Orford's jewels, the chief of which I remembered my brother had retained when she went abroad. Still, I dare to say, that, besides displeasing my Lord and Lucas, I shall not have answered Cavalier Mozzi's expectations. I can only say to that, that when I have submitted, I have been guided by Mr. Duane, and never allowed but what he said ought to be allowed-and yet I as

sure you he has not flinched a jot when he thought Lucas unreasonable. Mr. Sharpe has said less, but has been against the interest on interest.

Upon the whole, I am still of opinion that had Cavalier Mozzi Come over when I advised him, he would have fared better-but that is past!

You, my dear sir, will be as tired as I am of this tedious affair; but your goodness to poor Mozzi will make you excuse it. I could not possibly have explained myself to him in Italian, nor even in French; he is lucky that I could not in terms of law, which even you could not have translated into Italian, nor perhaps into sense. Adieu! I am quite fatigued, having been writing another letter on business.

I have received and thank you for the two prints of old Cosimo's Duchess; and I thank you for telling me the price of the Fatti Farnesiani, which I shall pay directly to Mr. Croft; I have been so hurried by my brother's death, that I forgot it till just now on reading your last of Jan. 10th again.

LETTER CCCCXVII.

March 12, 1784.

YOUR nephew sends you such regular accounts from the fountainhead, the House of Commons, that I could only retail them more imperfectly. As it will not be long before you see him, you will understand our state of politics better by question and answer, than from maimed or partial relations. The present face of things looks like a suspension of arms-not a truce; much less has your halfnephew succeeded in his endeavours to negotiate an accommodation. The Opposition acquiesce in raising the supplies; and, consequently, the rest of the session is not likely to be tempestuous, as it has been. You may be sure that I approve of your nephew's intention of withdrawing from Parliament. As I have never for one moment regretted my own retirement from that disagreeable occupation, I cannot wonder at another's being sick of it. Ambition, vanity, and interest may reconcile one to acting a part in their theatre; but where they are weak motives, or not existent, how many are there to disgust!

You perceive that I have received yours of Feb. 14th, and the news of Florence in it, which require no answer. Nor have I any to send you in return. Politics have engrossed all conversation, and stifled other events, if any have happened. Thus I find it difficult to be so punctual as I was wont, or to fill a decent sheet when I do write. Indeed, our ladies, who used to contribute to enliven correspondence, are become politicians, and, as lady Townley says,