The parliament met this morning, the House extremely full, and many new faces. We have done nothing but choose

a speaker, and in choosing him, flattered Mr. Onslow who is re-chosen. In about ten days one shall be able to judge of the complexion of the winter, but there is not likely to be much opposition. The Duke was coming, but is gone back to Breda for a few days. When he does return, it will be only for three weeks. He is to watch the French and the negotiations for peace, which are to be opened-I believe not in earnest.

Whithed has made his entrance into Parliament; I don't expect he will like it. The first session is very tiresome with elections; and without opposition there will be little spirit.

Lady Middlesex has popped out her child before its time; it is put into spirits, and my Lord very loyally cries over it. Lady Gower carried a niece to Leicester-fields* the other day, to present her: the girl trembled-she pushed her, "What are you so afraid of! Don't you see that musical clock! Can you be afraid of a man that has a musical clock?" Don't call this a letter; I don't call it one; it only comes to make my letter's excuses. Adieu !

LETTER CLXXXIV.

Arlington-Street, Nov. 24, 1747.

You say so many kind things to me in your letter of Nov. 7th on my talking of a journey to Florence, that I am sorry I mentioned it to you. I did it to show you that my silence is far from proceeding from any forgetfulness of you; and as I really think continually of such a journey, I name it now and

vessels going from the ports of France to the West Indies, and guarded by a strong force of ships-of-war. He completely routed them, and took six of the ships-of-war. It was in his dispatch to the Admiralty on this occasion, that he made use of the following remarkable expression-"As the enemy's ships were large, they took a great deal of drubbing.”—D.

* Where the Prince of Wales held his court. Lady Gower was Mary Tufton, daughter of Thomas Earl of Thanet, and widow of Anthony Grey Earl of Harold, who became in 1736 the third wife of John second Lord Gower.-D.

in

then; though I don't find how to accomplish it. In short, my affairs are not so independent of everybody, but that they require my attending to them, to make them go smoothly; and unless I could get them into another situation, it is not possible for me to leave them. Some part of my fortune is my Lord O.'s hands; and if I were out of the way of giving him trouble, he has not generosity enough to do anything that would be convenient to me. I will say no more on this subject, because it is not a pleasant one; nor would I have said this, but to convince you that I did not mention returning to Florence out of gaieté de cœur, I never was happy but there; have a million of times repented returning to England, where I never was happy, nor expect to be. For Mr. Chute's silence, next to myself, I can answer for him: he always loves you, and I am persuaded wishes nothing more than himself at Florence. I did hint to him your kind thought about Venice, because, as I saw no day-light to it, it could not disappoint him; and because I knew how sensible he would be to this mark of your friendship. There is not a glimmering prospect of our sending a Minister to Berlin; if we did, it would be a person of far greater consideration than Sir James Grey; and even if he went thither, there are no means of procuring his succession for Mr. Chute. My dear child, you know little of England, if you think such and so quiet merit as his likely to meet friends here. Great assurance or great quality are the only recommendations. My father was abused for employing low people with parts-that complaint is totally removed.

You reproach me with telling you nothing of Bergenopzoom: seriously I knew nothing but what was in the papers; and in general, on those great public events, I must transcribe the gazette, if you will have me talk to you. You will have seen by the King's Speech, that a Congress is appointed at Aix-laChapelle, but nobody expects any effect from it. Except Mr. Pelham, the ministry in general are for the war; and what is comical, the Prince and the Opposition are so too.

* Lord Orford, the eldest brother of Horace Walpole.-D.

We have had but one division yet in the House, which was on the Duke of Newcastle's interfering in the Seaford election. The numbers were, 247 for the Court, against 96. But I think it very probable that in a little time a stronger opposition will be formed, for the Prince has got some new and very able speakers; particularly a young Mr. Potter,* son of the last Archbishop, who promises very greatly the world is already matching him against Mr. Pitt.

I sent Niccolini the letter and here is another from him. I have not seen him this winter, nor heard of him: he is of very little consequence, when there is anything else that is.

I have lately had Lady Mary Wortley's Eclogues † published, but they don't please, though so excessively good: I say so confidently, for Mr. Chute agrees with me: he says, for the epistle to Arthur Grey, scarce any woman could have written it, and no man; for a man who had had experience enough to paint such sentiments so well, would not have had warmth enough left. Do you know anything of Lady Mary? her adventurer son is come into parliament, but has not opened. Adieu, my dear child! nous nous reverrons un jour !

LETTER CLXXXV.

Arlington-Street, Jan. 12, 1748.

I HAVE just received a letter from you of the 19th of last month, in which you tell me you was just going to complain of me, when you received one from me: I fear I am again as much to blame, as far as not having written; but if I had, it

* Thomas, son of Dr. Potter, Archbishop of Canterbury, was appointed Secretary to the Princess of Wales, in which post he remained till the death of the Prince: he made two celebrated speeches on the Seaford election, and on the contest between Aylesbury and Buckingham for the Summer Assizes; but did not long support the character here given of him.

Some of these Eclogues had been printed long before: they were now published with other of her poems by Dodsley, in quarto, and soon after with others reprinted in his Miscellany.

Edward Wortley Montagu, after a variety of adventures in various characters, was taken up at Paris with Mr. Taaffe, another Member of Parliament, and imprisoned in Fort Léveque, for cheating and robbing a Jew.

VOL. II.-4*

could only be to repeat what you say would be sufficient, but what I flatter myself I need not repeat. The town has been quite empty, and the parliament, which met but yesterday, has been adjourned these three weeks. Except elections and such tiresome squabbles, I don't believe it will produce anything it is all harmony. From Holland we every day hear bad news, which, though we don't believe at the present, we agree it is always likely to be true by to-morrow. Yet with no prospect of success, and scarce with a possibility of beginning another campaign, we are as martial as ever; I don't know whether it is, because we think a bad peace worse than a bad war, or that we don't look upon misfortunes and defeats abroad as enough our own, and are willing to taste of both at home. We are in no present apprehension from domestic disturbances, nor in my private opinion do I believe the French will attempt us, till it is for themselves. They need not be at the trouble of sending us Stuarts; that ingenious house could not have done the work of France more effectu ally than the Pelhams and the patriots have.

I will tell you a secret; there is a transaction going on to send Sir Charles Williams to Turin; he has asked it, and it is pushed in my private opinion, I don't believe Villettes* will be easily overpowered; though I wish it from loving Sir Charles, and from thinking meanly of the other-but talents are no passports-Sir Everard Falkener is going to Berlin. General Sinclair is presently to succeed Wentworth: he is Scotchissime, in all the latitude of the word; and not very able; he made a poor business of it at Port L'Orient.

Lord Coket has demolished himself very fast; I mean his character: you know he was married but last Spring; he is always drunk, has lost immense sums at play, and seldom goes home to his wife till eight in the morning. The world is vehement on her side; and not only her family, but his

*Minister at Turin, afterwards in Switzerland.

† He had been Ambassador at Constantinople; he was not sent to Berlin, but was Secretary to the Duke, and one of the general Postmasters.

Edward, only son of Thomas Earl of Leicester, married Mary, youngest daughter of John Duke of Argyll, from whom he was parted; he died in 1752.

own give him up. At present matters are patching up, by the mediation of my brother, but I think can never go on: she married him extremely against her will; and he is at least an out-pensioner of Bedlam: his mother's family have many of them been mad.

I thank you, I have received the eagle's head: the bill is broken off individually in the same spot with the original; but as the piece is not lost, I believe it will serve.

I should never have expected you to turn Lorrain :* is your Madame de Givrecourt a successort of my sister? I think you hint so. Where is the Princess, that you are so reduced? Adieu, my dear child! I don't say a kind word to you, because you seem to think it necessary, for assuring you of the impossibility of my ever forgetting, or loving you less.

LETTER CLXXXVI.

Arlington-Street, Jan. 26, 1748.

I HAVE again talked over with our Chute the affair of Venice; but besides seeing no practicability in it, we think you will not believe that Sir James Grey will be so simple as to leave Venice, whither with difficulty he obtained to be sent, when you hear that Mr. Legge‡ has actually kissed hands, and sets out on Friday for Berlin, as Envoy-Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. We thought Sir Everard Falkener sure, but this has come forth very unexpectedly. Legge is certainly a wiser choice; nobody has better parts; and if art and industry can obtain success, I know no one would use more: but I don't think that the King of Prussia, with half parts, and much cunning, so likely to be the dupe of more parts, and as much cunning, as the people with whom Legge

* The Emperor kept a Lorrain regiment at Florence; but there was little intercourse between the two nations.

† With Count Richcourt.

Henry Legge, second son of the Earl of Dartmouth, was made Secretary of the Treasury by Sir Robert Walpole; and was afterwards Surveyor of the Roads, a Lord of the Admiralty, a Lord of the Treasury, Treasurer of the Navy, Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had been bred to the sea, and was for a little time Minister at Berlin.