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that submission is ease! I am so near the end of my course, that I bear these uncomfortable prospects with more indifference than I should have done some years ago. I take no part; for, when boys are on the stage, a veteran makes but an awkward figure: nor can I tap a new controversy, of which I shall probably see but little of the progress. Methinks one ought to be ready to go at one's time, and not be called away when one has much to do. I was enough engaged when the former Pitt and Fox were the heroes of the scene. Were I to list under the son of the one or the other, I should feel as if I were reading the romance of Amadis de Gaul, which continues through the adventures of his son.

April 11th.

I hear nothing of your nephew, nor know where to inquire; yet, as he has parted with his house in town and abandoned his borough, I conclude he perseveres in his intention of visiting you, and that I shall see him before he sets out.

The scene is wofully changed for the Opposition, though not half the new Parliament is yet chosen. Though they still contest a very few counties and some boroughs, they own themselves totally defeated. They reckoned themselves sure of two hundred and forty members: they probably will not have a hundred and fifty; and, amongst them, not some capital leaders,-perhaps not the commander-in-chief, Mr. Foxt certainly not the late commander-in-chief of the army, General Conway. In short, between the industry of the Court and the India Company, and that momentary phrenzy that sometimes seizes a whole nation, as if it were a vast animal, such aversion to the Coalition and such a detestation of Mr. Fox have seized the country, that, even where omnipotent gold retains its influence, the elected pass through an ordeal of the most virulent abuse. The great whig families, the Cavendishes, Rockinghams, Bedfords, have lost all credit in their own counties; nay, have been tricked out of seats where the whole property was their own; and in some of those cases a royal finger has too evidently tampered, as well as singularly and revengefully towards Lord North and Lord Hertford; the latter of whom, however, is likely to have six of his own sonst in the House of Commons-an extraordinary instance. Such a proscription, however, must have sown so deep resentment as it was not wise to provoke; considering that permanent fortune is a jewel that in no crown is the most to be depended upon!

When I have told you these certain truths, and when you must be aware that this torrent of unpopularity broke out in the Capital, will it not sound like a contradiction if I affirm that Mr. Fox himself is still strug

* Mr. Pitt was second son of William Earl of Chatham, who was also a second son; as Charles Fox was of Lord Holland, a second son also.

Though Mr. Fox was elected both for Westminster and Kirkwall, petitions from both were presented against him.

He did get but five of his sons into that Parliament.

gling to be chosen for Westminster, and maintains so sturdy a fight, that Sir Cecil Wray, his antagonist, is not yet three hundred ahead of him, though the Court exerts itself against him in the most violent manner, by mandates, arts, &c.-nay, sent at once a body of two hundred and eighty of the Guards to give their votes as householders, which is legal, but which my father in the most quiet seasons would not have dared to do? At first the contest threatened to be bloody: Lord Hood* being the third candidate, and on the side of the Court, a mob of three hundred sailors undertook to drive away the opponents; but the Irish chairmen,† being retained by Mr. Fox's party, drove them back to their element, and cured the tars of their ambition of a naval victory. In truth, Mr. Fox has all the popularity in Westminster; and, indeed, is so amiable and winning, that, could he have stood in person over all England, I question whether he would not have carried the Parliament. The beldams hate him; but most of the pretty women in London are indefatigable in making interest for him, the Duchess of Devonshire in particular. I am ashamed to say how coarsely she has been received by some worse than tars!-But me nothing has shocked so much as what I heard this morning: at Dover they roasted a poor fox alive by the most diabolic allegory!—a savage meanness that an Iroquois would not have committed. Base, cowardly wretches! how much nobler to have hurried to London and torn Mr. Fox himself peacemeal! I detest a country inhabited by such stupid barbarians. I will write no more to-night; I am in a passion!

April 15th, at night.

Your nephew has been in town for a moment, and called on me; but hurried into Kent, apprehending an opposition to his friend, Mr. Marsham: but Lord Mahon,|| a savage, a republican, a royalist-I don't know what not-has been forced to drop it; and your nephew will set out immediately, and sends for this letter, which I must finish in haste. I can add nothing newly decisive. The Court will have a great majority; but the tide, at least here, begins to turn. They did not carry a supply of six new Directors of the East India Company swimmingly yesterday: Mr. Fox was within two or three voices of choosing three of those very friends who were to have been, members of his bill which proves that he has still great weight among the

* Lord Hood was an admiral,

† Almost all the hackney-chairmen in London were Irish.

Lady Georgiana Spencer. She certainly procured the greatest part of Mr. Fox's votes for him: though the Court party endeavoured to deter her by the most illiberal and indecent abuse, yet they could not fix the smallest stain on her virtue.

The Honourable Charles Marsham, son and heir of Robert, second Lord Romney. Wraxall describes him as a man by no means prepossessing or engaging in his manners; but admits that he wanted not ability, and that he deservedly at tracted general consideration in his parliamentary capacity.

Lord Mahon, by his first marriage, stood in the near relation of brother-in-law to Mr. Pitt. He was a very eccentric man in dress and manners, and his opinions were tinged with republicanism. His temper was impetuous and fiery.

proprietors. His own election.for Westminster still continues, and he has recovered much ground within these three days, so that Sir Cecil Wray's majority of above 300 is reduced to 175.

The aspect in Ireland is cloudy; nay, has been stormy. The mob broke into the House of Commons, and insulted the members for not passing what is called the Protecting Duties, which your nephew must explain; but the rioters were suppressed and imprisonedreste à voir whether the Volunteers will not espouse the Protecting Duties, which might be very serious. I thought and said, that our India Bill was still more a bill for Ireland; meaning, that if lost, and the Ministry changed, I concluded the Irish would say, that it was not fit to be governed by a country that could not govern itself for six months together. It looks as if I had not been totally mistaken; nor shall I be, if France, whose whole eye is on India, should contrive to find us employment in Ireland. That Island is more à leur portée than America was. In short, the present reign may be painted in one sentence, which I found t'other day in Muratori's Annals of Italy: "Cento si richieggono ad edificare; un solo basta perdistruggere tutto." Adieu! Return me this letter.

LETTER CCCCXX.

Berkeley Square, April 29, 1784. NEVER did more traverses happen in a law suit than befall poor Cavalier Mozzi! Three weeks ago Mr. Duane sent me the Cavalier's letter to Mr. Sharpe, with the handsome offer of 1000%, which I concluded my Lord would jump at; and I expected to hear, that, as soon as he could despatch an answer, I should have notice to settle the whole affair with the lawyers. No such summons arrived. Alas! the night before last I was told accidentally that Mr. Duane had a stroke of apoplexy! I immediately wrote to Mr. Sharpe to inquire: he has this moment been with me, confirmed the melancholy story, adding, that he doubts much of Mr. Duane's recovery. However, he brought me my Lord's answer-satisfactory so far, as that he will close with the Cavalier's offer; but not at all content with it. No matter: the affair will at least be terminated, though neither side will be pleased. A little time, I suppose, will be wasted in waiting for the event of Mr. Duane's illness; and Lucas, as Mr. Sharpe said this morning, will not hurry himself a jot more than a snail: yet, whether poor Mr. Duane recovers or not, the matter will be adjusted; it might, no doubt, in a week, but I dare to say will not be finished in two months.

As I sent you all the news I knew by your nephew, I have none to add. Most elections are over; and, if they were not, neither you nor I care about such details. I have no notion of filling one's head

with circumstances of which, in six weeks, one is to discharge it for ever. Indeed, it is well that I live little in the world, or I should be obliged to provide myself with that viaticum for common conversation. Our ladies are grown such vehement politicians, that no other topic is admissible; nay, I do not know whether you must not learn our politics for the conversationi at Florence,-at least, if Paris gives the ton to Italy, as it used to do. There are as warm parties for Mr. Fox or Mr. Pitt at Versailles and Amsterdam as in Westminster. At the first, I suppose, they exhale in epigrams; are expressed at the second by case-knives; at the last they vent themselves in deluges of satiric prints, though with no more wit than there is in a caseknife. I was told last night that our engraved pasquinades for this winter, at twelvepence or sixpence a-piece, would cost six or seven pounds.

Having written thus far, I received yours of the 9th, in which I find Cavalier Mozzi is anew displeased with Mr. Sharpe, whom indeed I do not understand. He told me to-day, as justifying my Lord's dissatisfaction, that he did think his Lordship was entitled to interest on interest on part of his demand; namely, on what Lady Orford had taken away from the seats in the country. This he had not intimated before; nor indeed does he now pretend that my Lord should have more than the 1000l. that he consents to take. For Sharpe's demand of the same allowance as he used to have from my Lady, it is extortion; as he certainly, by his own statement, has not been collecting rents since her death. In short, I can only recur to my old opinion, that Cavalier Mozzi should have come over himself: I could have given him advice here; but, being made referee for my Lord, I could not take part against him. I doubt I have gone to the utmost limits of decency and equity to protect Mozzi; and Lucas, I am persuaded, will have represented that delicacy in the worst light. I do not care; I will take no step to disculpate myself. I am only sorry that I could do no better for Mozzi: though I repeat it, he must in part blame himself for not coming to defend his own cause, which has given Sharpe and Lucas full elbow-room for plundering him;-and yet Sharpe blames, or pretends to blame, Lucas; and I must own in justice to the former, that more than once he did provoke the latter by his opposition. I hope that Mozzi gained so much by Lady Orford's favour, from what was not within reach of our legal harpies, that he will be much at his ease.

We do not know that Lady Charlotte Herbert is dead, though a letter received to-day represents her case as totally desperate. Though her father was forced to be acquainted with her danger, his return will be far from a consolation. We are not surprised at any extravagance in his Lordship's morals, though at his age; but much at his profligacy, counteracting his avarice. I will give you one instance of the latter. At Wilton he always recommends his port before his other wines, saying, "I can warrant the port good,. for I make it myself."

I am sorry to hear you are tormented with the rheumatism. I have had it in my shoulder, though not sharply, ever since last July, and prefer the gout to it. The latter goes at its period, and does not return for some time; but the rheumatism may depart to-day and come back to-morrow, or never leave one at all. Our winter has been doleful too, though less so than in many countries. Of spring there was not a symptom a fortnight ago, though commonly many trees and most shrubs are in full leaf by the end of April. I shall visit my Strawberry to-morrow, and hope at least to find the grass verdant. We are so pestered by robbers, that a month ago I thought they had stolen all the turf of my meadows. Good night! It is near one in the morning.

r

LETTER CCCCXXI.

Strawberry Hill, June 3, 1784.

As I was told two days ago that Mr. Duane is recovered, and still, as I heard nothing from Lucas or Sharpe, I yesterday wrote to the latter, complaining of the continuation of delay, though all points are agreed and declaring I was ashamed of seeing Cavalier Mozzi so incessantly ill-treated. That night I found a letter on my table from Sharpe, not an answer to mine, which he could not have received; but one to tell me that he had the day before had a letter from the Cavalier, consenting to all their demands, and promising to send the necessary order on the following Saturday. Sharpe adds these words: "In the mean time Mr. Lucas and I have prepared a writing for the mutual discharge of all demands, which is now submitted to Mr. Duane's consideration."

Thus I suppose, at last, when all has been extorted that can be, those honest gentlemen will let the Cavalier receive his remaining pittance; though, no doubt, Lucas will not be very expeditious, if he can help it, for fear of breaking his good old custom of being dilatory.

Well! but a letter was not all I found from Sharpe; it was accompanied by a very large snuff-box, and a request to inquire of you whether any letter of advice was sent by you to any person, or the bill of lading signed by the captain of the Swedish ship, the Esperance, (the captain's name Lingdeen,) to whom was consigned, in January 1782, the portrait of Lord Clinton, by Vandyck, which, the Cavalier says, in April last was addressed to your nephew for my Lord, and of which my Lord has yet heard nothing more. Oh! but now comes the curious part! The snuff-box, which is a black tortoise-shell one, contains an uncommonly large enamel portrait, by Zincke, of Lady Orford, painted, I suppose, early for my brother Orford. The features are extremely like; the countenance not at all so: on the neck is a flaw from the furnace. If I was surprised at its being sent to me, I was not less at its real destination. It was sent to me, says

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