seat in Parliament, it seems, is not vacated, as 1757. nobody was appointed to succeed, and Potter* comes in for Bath. People in the city are uneasy for Admiral Holbourne. It is imagined that the French fleet that took the Greenwich man-of-war in the West Indies is gone to the northward to Cape Breton; and if they meet the fleet that sailed some time ago for Brest, they will be together a good deal superior to Holbourne. Lord Cholmondeley talked a great deal of nonsense to me at the levee about his pension†; but as he means to write it to your Grace, I leave it to you to construe. I can recollect nothing more; but if anything arises, I shall send you instant intelligence. Lord Ilchester told me at dinner an excellent character, a Lady Doneraile‡ had told him, she heard of my Lord Lieutenant and his secretary. His Grace was the honestest and best man, but an ipse-dixit man, which she did not think he was the worse for; and his secretary was a good four-bottle man. If I can but keep up my character as well as your Grace will yours, I don't know if I may not come away as popular. My best compliments to 1757. the Duchess and the Misses. I sent their letters to poor Lady Halkelton, who was married on Saturday, and has been in tears ever since. Past eleven o'clock. MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. Leicester Fields, three o'clock, I am this minute come from court, where I saw the enclosed list of persons* all kiss hands; so that nothing remains for to-morrow but the law. The levee to-day was more curious even than the last your Grace was present at. Lord Winchelsea's salutation to Lord Anson was, that he was at his service to protect him whenever he should find it necessary against his own board; that he thought him now in a much worse situation than when he was left in the island of Tinian; and that had it been his case to have been left on that island, even there he would not have kept such company as his Lordship was now going into. * A list of the Administration Duke of Newcastle. Lord Gower. Lord Anson-with Lord Tem ple's whole board, Admiral Mr. Pitt. Sir Harry Eustace-for Off ley's place. Legge. Lord Gower tells me the King was very civil to him. His successor was not in the closet long enough for the door to be shut; and Legge as short a time for his seals. I have a notion his Majesty spoke a little of his mind to Lord Mansfield, for he was a full half hour with him; Pitt about five minutes. The good Duke of Newcastle has been again assuring me, for your Grace's belief, that you shall find every thing at the Treasury as you can wish, and begs me to be the mediator for your friendship and protection for him. Lord Anson, too, hardly in his office before he begged I would give him timely notice of your Grace's going to Ireland, that he may have a proper convoy ready for you. I never saw more marked coldness in my life than to-day between the two Law Lords; and I am sure the time will come when Mansfield will show to the other's cost the difference between them in the House of Lords. I hope your Grace and I shall both be present. No fresh news from the Duke. But Colloredo is going away without taking leave; so the port of Ostend will swarm immediately with French privateers, and be shut from any further correspondence with us. More work for the new Admiralty. Add to which, the King of Prussia begins to be much dissatisfied that we have no naval force in the Baltic for his protection; and Michel† has been forced for these six weeks past to keep him quiet by writing him * Austrian minister at London. + British minister at the court of Berlin. up 1757. I find it is expected that the Russian minister will also be recalled very speedily. Nothing done about Halifax, who, I hear, is gone to Horton. MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. My dear Lord, Leicester Fields, July 2. 1757. Having despatched my Irish business in the other packet, there remains very little of intelligence to send your Grace from here. The UKE OF BEDFORD. King was very civil to in the closet long Legge as short in Majesty for he from Devonshire House you will 3, I hear, has a little; and had Sooner, I verily believe cepted. your Grace from the Duke of Dout Jennison's pension I had yester om good authority was altered, and they Lord-Keeper Henley took his seat upon the woolsack yesterday, and poor Lord Sandys remains upon the pavé. The Duke of Devonshire is very angry at it; but he will tell your Grace all that has passed concerning it himself on Monday night at Wobourn. He told me yesterday he should not be of their conciliabulum. Of whom that august meeting is to consist his Grace will also inform you. I am very glad to find by your Grace's letter that Lord Kildare has acted so sensibly with relation to the 1757. |