My long letter, which, perhaps, you will not receive till after this (you will receive it from a lady), will give you a full detail of the last extraordinary week. Since that, there has been an accidental suspension of arms. Not only Mr. Pitt is laid up with the gout, but the Speaker has it too. We have been adjourned till to-day, and, as he is not recovered, have again adjourned till next Wednesday. The events of the week have been, a complaint made by Lord Lyttelton in your House, of a book called 'Droit le Roy;" a tract written in the highest strain of prerogative, and drawn from all the old obsolete law-books on that question. The ministers met this complaint with much affected indignation, and even on the complaint being communicated to us, took it up themselves; and both Houses have ordered the book to be burned by the hangman. To comfort themselves for this forced zeal for liberty, the North Briton,' and the Essay on Woman,' have both been condemned' by juries in the King's Bench; but that triumph has been more than balanced again, by the City giving their freedom to Lord Chief-Justice Pratt,* ordering his picture to be placed in the King's Bench, thanking their members for their behaviour in Parliament on the warrant, and giving orders for instructions to be drawn for their future conduct.

Lord Granby is made lord lieutenant of Derbyshire; but the vigour of this affront was wofully weakened by excuses to the Duke

1 'Droit le Roy, or the Rights and Prerogatives of the Imperial Crown of Great Britain. In the examination of Griffin, the printer, before the Peers, he stated that Timothy Becknock, afterwards hanged in Ireland as an accomplice of George Robert Fitzgerald, had sent the pamphlet to the press, and was, Griffin believed, the author of it.-CROKER.

2 Gray writes to Dr. Wharton, on the 21st of February :—“The House of Lords, I hear, will soon take in hand a book lately published by some scoundrel lawyer, on the prerogative; in which is scraped together all the flattery and blasphemy of our old law-books in honour of kings. I presume it is understood, that the court will support the cause of this impudent scribbler."-Works, by Mitford, vol. iv. p. 30.WRIGHT.

3 Mr. Wilkes was tried on the 21st of February, for republishing the North Briton,' No. 45, and for printing the 'Essay on Woman,' and found guilty of both.— CROKER.

The preamble of these resolutions is worthy of observation:-"Whereas the independency and uprightness of judges is essential to the impartial administration of justice, &c., this court in manifestation of their just sense of the inflexible firmness and integrity of the Right Honourable Sir C. Pratt, lord chief-justice, &c., gives him the freedom of the City, and orders his picture to be placed in Guildhall;" as if impartiality could only be assailed from one side, and as if gold boxes and pictures, and addresses from the corporation of London, were not as likely to have influence on the human mind as the favours from the Crown. Their applause was either worth nothing, or it was an attempt on the impartiality of the judge.-CROker.

of Devonshire, and by its being known that the measure was determined two months ago.

All this sounds very hostile; yet, don't be surprised if you hear of some sudden treaty. Don't you know a little busy squadron that had the chief hand in the negotiation' last autumn? Well, I have reason to think that Phraates [Bute] is negotiating with Leonidas [Pitt] by the same intervention. All the world sees that the present ministers are between two fires. Would it be extraordinary if the artillery of both should be discharged on them at once? But this is not proper for the post: I grow prudent the less prudence is

necessary.

We are in pain for the Duchess of Richmond, who, instead of the jaundice, has relapsed into a fever. She was blooded twice last night, and yet had a very bad night. I called at the door at three o'clock, when they thought the fever rather diminished, but spoke of her as very ill. I have not seen your brother or Lady Aylesbury to-day, but found they had been very much alarmed yesterday evening. Lord Suffolk,' they say, is going to be married to Miss Trevor Hampden.

Your brother has told me, that among Lady Hertford's things seized at Dover, was a packet for me from you. Mr. Bowman has undertaken to make strict inquiry for it. Adieu, my dear lord.

P.S. We had, last Monday, the prettiest ball that ever was seen, at Mrs. Anne Pitt's,' in the compass of a silver penny. There were one hundred and four persons, of which number fifty-five supped. The supper-room was disposed with tables and benches back to back, in the manner of an ale-house. The idea sounds ill; but the fairies had so improved upon it, had so be-garlanded, so sweetmeated, and so desserted it, that it looked like a vision. I told her she could only have fed and stowed so much company by a miracle, and that, when

1 The negotiation in August, 1763, already alluded to, for Mr. Pitt's coming into power. There is some reason to suppose that Mr. Calcraft was employed in the first steps of this negotiation, and this may be what Mr. Walpole here refers to.CROKER.

2 The Duchess was the sister of Lady Aylesbury's first husband.-CROKER.

3 Henry, twelfth Earl of Suffolk, married, May, 1764, Miss Trevor, who had been on the point of marriage with Mr. Child of Osterley, when he suddenly died in September, 1763.-CROKER.

4 Sister of the great Lord Chatham, whom she resembled in some qualities of her mind. Mr. Walpole, when some foreigner, who could not see Mr. Pitt himself, had asked him if he was like his sister, answered, in his usual happy style of giving a portrait at a touch, "Ils se ressemblent comme deux gouttes de feu !" She was privy purse to the Princess Dowager [and died 9th February, 1780].-CROKER.

we were gone, she would take up twelve baskets-full of people. The Duchess of Bedford asked me before Madame de Guerchy, if I would not give them a ball at Strawberry? Not for the universe! What! turn a ball, and dust, and dirt, and a million of candles, into my charming new gallery! I said, I could not flatter myself that people would give themselves the trouble of going eleven miles for a ball-(though I believe they would go fifty)—" Well, then,” says she, "it shall be a dinner.”—“ With all my heart, I have no objection; but no ball shall set its foot within my doors."

906. TO GROSVENOR BEDFORD.

DEAR SIR:

Feb. 29, 1764.

I WILL get you to send one of the porters of the Exchequer, in whom you have most confidence, with the enclosed three guineas. Two are for the prisoners that are sick in the new jail, Southwark; the other for those in the common side of the Marshalsea prison. He must not say from whom he comes, but in the name of A. B., and don't let him go into the prison, for the jail distemper is there.

I want some gilt paper

and a penknife. Yours ever,

H. W.

907. TO THE REV. WILLIAM COLE.

DEAR SIR:

Arlington Street, March 3, 1764. JUST as I was going to the Opera, I received your manuscript. I would not defer telling you so, that you may know it is safe. But I have additional reason to write to you immediately; for, on opening the book, the first thing I saw was a new obligation to you, the charming Faithorne of Sir Orlando Bridgman, which according to your constantly obliging manner you have sent me, and I almost fear you think I begged it; but I can disculpate myself, for I had discovered that it belongs to Dugdale's 'Origines Juridiciales,' and had ordered my bookseller to try to get me that book, which when I accomplish, you shall command your own print again; for it is too fine an impression to rob you of.

I have been so entertained with your book, that I have stayed at home on purpose, and gone through three parts of it. It makes me wish earnestly some time or other to go through all your collections,

for I have already found twenty things of great moment to me. One is particularly satisfactory to me; it is in Mr. Baker's MSS. at Cambridge; the title of Eglesham's book against the Duke of Bucks,' mentioned by me in the account of Gerbier, from Vertue, who fished out everything, and always proves in the right. This piece I must get transcribed by Mr. Gray's assistance. I fear I shall detain your manuscript prisoner a little, for the notices I have found, but I will take infinite care of it, as it deserves.

I have got among my new old prints a most curious one of one Toole. It seems to be a burlesque. He lived in temp. Jac. I., and appears to have been an adventurer, like Sir Ant. Sherley:' can you tell me anything of him?

I must repeat how infinitely I think myself obliged to you both for the print and the use of your manuscript, which is of the greatest use and entertainment to me; but you frighten me about Mr. Baker's MSS. from the neglect of them. I should lose all patience if yours were to be treated so. Bind them in iron, and leave them in a chest of cedar. They are, I am sure, most valuable, from what I have found already.

908. TO THE EARL OF HERTFORD.

4

MY DEAR LORD: Strawberry Hill, Sunday, March 11, 1764. THE last was so busy a week with me, that I had not a minute's time to tell you of Lord Hardwicke's death. I had so many auctions, dinners, loo-parties, so many sick acquaintance, with the addition of a long day in the House of Commons (which, by the way, I quitted for a sale of books), and a ball, that I left the common newspapers to inform you of an event, which two months ago would have been of much consequence. The Yorkes are fixed, and the contest' at Cambridge will but make them strike deeper root in opposition.

I

1 This libellous book, written by a Scotch physician, and which is reprinted in the second volume of the Harleian Miscellany, and in the fifth volume of the Somers' Collection of Tracts, was considered by Sir Henry Wotton "as one of the alleged incentives which hurried Felton to become an assassin."-WRIGHT.

2 Sherley's various embassies will be found in the collections of Hakluyt and Purchas. An article upon his travels, which were published in 1601, occurs likewise in the second volume of the Retrospective Review.' The travels of the three brothers, Sir Thomas, Sir Anthony, and Master Robert Sherley, were published from the original manuscripts in 1825.-WRIGHT.

3 Cole's MSS. are safe, and accessible, in the British Museum.-CUNNINGHAM.

4 Lord Hardwicke died 6th March, 1764.-CUNNINGHAM.

3 For high steward of the University, between Lord Sandwich and the new Lord

have not heard how their father has portioned out his immense treasures. The election at Cambridge is to be on Tuesday, 24th; Charles Townshend is gone thither, and I suppose, by this time, has ranted, and romanced, and turned every one of their ideas topsyturvey.

Our long day was Friday, the opening of the budget. Mr Grenville spoke for two hours and forty minutes; much of it well, but too long, too many repetitions, and too evident marks of being galled by reports, which he answered with more art than sincerity. There were a few more speeches, till nine o'clock, but no division. Our armistice, you see, continues. Lord Bute is, I believe, negotiating with both sides; I know he is with the opposition, and has a prospect of making very good terms for himself, for patriots seldom have the gift of perseverance. It is wonderful how soon their virtue thaws!

Last Thursday, the Duchess of Queensberry' gave a ball, opened it herself with a minuet, and danced two country dances as she had enjoined everybody to be with her by six, to sup at twelve, and go away directly. Of the Campbell-sisters, all were left out but Lady Strafford. Lady Rockingham and Lady Sondes, who, having had colds, deferred sending answers, received notice that their places were filled up, and that they must not come; but were pardoned on submission. A card was sent to invite Lord and Lady Cardigan, and Lord Beaulieu instead of Lord Montagu.' This, her grace protested, was by accident. Lady Cardigan was very angry, and yet went. Except these flights, the only extraordinary thing the Duchess did, was to do nothing extraordinary, for I do not call it very mad that

Hardwicke.-CROKER. Gray, in a letter of the 21st of February, written from Cambridge, says, This silly dirty place has had all its thoughts taken up with choosing a new high steward; and had not Lord Hardwicke surprisingly, and to the shame of the faculty, recovered by a quack medicine, I believe in my conscience the noble Earl of Sandwich had been chosen, though (let me do them the justice to say) not without a considerable opposition."-Works, by Mitford, vol. iv. p. 29.-WRIGHT. 1 "The Duchess of Queensberry [Catherine Hyde] has been passing a night here, and endeavouring to recollect the ideas of past pleasure. She was exactly herself,-very clever, very whimsical, and just not mad."-MS. Letter, Middleton Park, July 11th, 1763. CUNNINGHAM.

The sisters omitted were Lady Dalkeith, Lady Elizabeth Mackenzie, and Lady Mary Coke.-CROKER.

3 John, Duke of Montagu, left two daughters; the eldest, Isabella, married first the Duke of Manchester, and, secondly, Mr. Hussey, an Irish gentleman, created, in consequence of this union, Lord Beaulieu. Mary, the younger sister, married Lord Cardigan, who was, in 1776, created Duke of Montagu: their eldest son having been, in 1762, created Lord Montagu. The marriage of the elder sister with Mr. Hussey was considered, by her family and the world, as a mésalliance; and, therefore, the mistake of Lord Beaulieu for Lord Montagu was likely to give offence.-CROKER.