The great war between the Duke of Portland and Sir James Lowther is said to be compromised: it is certain that the latter is to be a viscount, which looks like his giving up the elections contested between them.

I have had such another misfortune as I had last year in poor Lady Suffolk. My Lady Hervey, + one of my great friends, died in my absence. She is a great loss to several persons; her house was one of the most agreeable in London; and her own friendliness, good breeding, and amiable temper, had attached all that knew her. Her sufferings, with the gout and rheumatism, were terrible, and yet never could affect her patience, or divert her attention to her friends.

LETTER CXXVIII.

Strawberry Hill, Oct. 24, 1768.

I HAVE been confined these three weeks with the gout in both feet, and am still lying upon my couch; yet I must oblige myself to write you a few lines, as the resignation of Lord Chatham will have excited your curiosity. In truth, I am little able to satisfy it; for besides having entirely bidden adieu to politics, I am here, ten miles from town, which is a thousand miles from truth. To the King, I am told Lord

* An election contest. Sir James was not created a Peer at that time. + Mary Lepelle, widow of John Lord Hervey, eldest son of the first Earl of Bristol, and mother of the three succeeding earls, George-William, Augustus, and Frederic.

Chatham pleaded want of health, and despair of it: but to the Duke of Grafton he complained of the treatment of Sir Jeffery Amherst, and the intended removal of Lord Shelburne -the last, an unwise measure of the last accession to the Administration. I do not see why want of health should have dictated this step more just now than at any moment for this last year. It being timed too at the eve of the Parliament has a suspicious look. As I have always doubted of the reality of his disorder, this proceeding does not abate my suspicion, yet there is in this conduct as in all his preceding, something unaccountable. No reconciliation seems to have taken place with his family he is as extravagantly profuse as ever, and I believe almost as much distressed. Lord Shelburne protested that he had not received the slightest intimation of Lord Chatham's intention, and yet has since resigned himself. The common report, for I really know nothing of the matter, is, that this nail started will not unpeg the Administration. Lord Rochford is Secretary of State, but Lord Weymouth goes into Lord Shelburne's province. Who is to be Privy Seal I do not know.

We have rumours here that the rebuffs in Corsica have shaken the Duke of Choiseul's credit considerably, which tottered before by the King's apprehension of that invasion producing a war. Our newspapers have even disgraced the duke, and given him the Duke of Nivernois for successor; I do not wish them a more superficial minister than the latter. He is a namby

pamby kind of pedant, with a peevish petite santé,

and much more fit to preside over one of

your foolish Italian academies than to manage the affairs of a great kingdom.

Adieu! I write in such an uneasy posture that you will excuse my saying no more.

LETTER CXXIX.

Arlington Street, Nov. 3, 1768.

I WISH you joy on the consummation of your wishes, and am pleased with the honours showered on you. Mr. Conway did receive your letter, and is happy to have contributed to your satisfaction.

The

Lord Chatham, if one may judge by symptoms, is not only peaceable, but has reason to be pleased. Privy Seal is given to his friend Lord Bristol,* and not only the Chancellor, + but Mr. James Grenville remain in place; a complexion of circumstances that places Lord Shelburne in an awkward situation. Till today it was even believed that the latter's friend, Colonel Barré, would retain his place, but to-day I hear that he will resign it. Lord Harcourt is likely to go ambassador to Paris, and they say Lord Charles Spencer is to succeed him as Chamberlain to the Queen. Colonel Fitzroy, the Duke of Grafton's brother, is made her Vice-Chamberlain ;-a clear proof of the favour of the

Duke.

* George William Hervey, second Earl of Bristol of that family. + Charles Pratt, Lord Camden.

The Parliament is to meet on Tuesday next; and a busy session it must be. The turbulent temper of Boston, of which you will see the full accounts in all the papers, is a disagreeable prospect. Corsica will not fail to be talked of, and the heat

of the late elections must rekindle as the petitions come to be heard. How happy do I feel to be quite out of the whirlwind! How I should feel the remains of my gout if I knew that I was to be hurried down to the House of Commons! The town will not want even private amusement, which must pass too through the parliamentary channel. I mean the Duke of Grafton's divorce; an event I am very sorry for, as I wish well to both parties.

Are the Black Prince and Princess not arrived yet? I am impatient to hear of their landing, and to learn the present state of their charms. I am glad they are not parrots, and will not be able to jabber what they hear on shipboard, to the great scandal of an Austrian Court. Adieu!

LETTER CXXX.

Arlington Street, Nov. 18, 1768.

As there has been no event since the Parliament met, I did not write to you any account of it. Being happily quit of it, I do not burthen my memory with inquiring into details. If any genius should arise, or promise to arise, one is sure enough of hearing it

without curiosity. By the modesty of the Opposition, and by their little impatience for a division, it is plain they were conscious of the weakness of their numbers. From their conduct yesterday, it is certain that they have more weaknesses than one. They moved for all papers, with all powers, in which any mention has been made of Corsica. When the strength of a new Parliament is not known, methinks it were wise, by a plausible question to draw in as many of the lookers out, at least of the rational and the well meaning, as possible. In lieu of that, they frame a question that required a very opponent stomach to digest. Accordingly, the motion was rejected by 230 to 84 and thus a fluctuating majority becomes a stable one-for every interested man will now be in a hurry to be the two hundred and thirty first. It was a great day for the Administration, a better for the Duke of Choiseul, a bad one for this country; for whatever the Ministry may incline or wish to do, France will look on this vote as a decision not to quarrel for Corsica. She may determine to pursue a scheme she was ready to abandon; and we may be at last drawn in to save Corsica, when it might have been saved without our interfering.

The Duke of Newcastle* is dead, of a stroke of a palsy. He had given up politics ever since his illness a few months ago! It does not make the least alteration of any kind.

So the Turks have opened their temple of Janus! * Thomas Holles Pelham, Duke of Newcastle.