no place but open towns, nor have they any artillery for a siege but one-pounders.  Three battalions of Dutch are landed at Gravesend, and are ordered to Lancashire:  we expect every moment to hear that the rest are got to Scotland; none of our own are come yet.  Lord Granville and his faction persist in persuading the King, that it is an affair of no consequence; and for the Duke of Newcastle, he is glad when the rebels make any progress, in order to confute Lord Granville’s assertions.  The best of our situation is, our strength at sea:  the Channel is well guarded, and twelve men-of-war more are arrived from Rowley.  Vernon, that simple noisy creature, has hit upon a scheme that is of great service; he has laid Folkstone cutters all round the coast, which are continually relieved, and bring constant notice of everything that stirs.  I just now hear that the Duke of Bedford declares that he will be amused no longer, but will ask the King’s leave to raise a regiment.  The Duke of Montagu has a troop of horse ready, and the Duke of Devonshire is raising men in Derbyshire.  The Yorkshiremen, headed by the Archbishop [Herring] and Lord Malton, meet the gentlemen of the county the day after to-morrow, to defend that part of England.  Unless we have more ill fortune than is conceivable, or the general supineness continues, it is impossible but we must get over this.  You desire me to send you news:  I confine myself to tell you nothing but what you may depend upon; and leave you in a fright rather than deceive you.  I confess my own apprehensions are not near so strong as they were; and if we get over this, I shall believe that we never can be hurt; for we never can be more exposed to danger.  Whatever disaffection there is to the present family, it plainly does not proceed from love to the other.

My Lady O[rford] makes little progress in popularity.  Neither the protection of my Lady Pomfret’s prudery, nor of my Lady Townshend’s libertinism, do her any service.  The women stare at her, think her ugly, awkward, and disagreeable; and what is worse, the men think so too.  For the height of mortification, the King has declared publicly to the Ministry, that he has been told of the great civilities which he was said to show to her at Hanover; that he protests he showed her only the common civilities due to any English lady that comes thither; that he never intended to take any particular notice of her; nor had, nor would let my Lady Yarmouth.  In fact, my Lady Yarmouth peremptorily refused to carry her to court here; and when she did go with my Lady Pomfret, the King but just spoke to her.  She declares her intention of staying in England, and protests against all lawsuits and violences; and says she only asks articles of separation, and to have her allowance settled by any two arbitrators chosen by my brother and herself.  I have met her twice at my Lady Townshend’s, just as I used at Florence.  She dresses English and plays at whist.  I forgot to tell a bon-mot of Leheup on her first coming over; he was asked if he would not go and see her?  He replied, “No, I never visit modest women.”  Adieu! my dear child!  I flatter myself you will collect hopes from this letter.