say, going to Carlton House; that the only Court is where the king resides.  Lady P. with her paltry air of significant learning and absurdity, said, “Oh Lord! is there no Court in England, but the king’s? sure, there are many more!  There is the Court of Chancery, the Court of Exchequer, the Court of King’s Bench, etc.”  Don’t you love her?  Lord Lincoln does her dauhter:  he is come over, and met her the other night:  he turned pale, spoke to her several times in the evening, but not long, and sighed to me at going away.  He came over all alive; and not only his uncle-duke, but even majesty is fallen in love with him.  He talked to the king at his levee, without being spoken to.  That was always thought high treason; but I don’t know how the gruff gentleman liked it; and then he had been told that Lord Lincoln designed to have made the campaicn, if we had gone to war; in short, he says, Lord Lincoln (306) is the handsomest man in England

I believe I told you that Vernon’s birthday passed quietly, but it was not designed to be pacific; for at twelve at night, eight gentlemen, dressed like sailors, and masked, went round Covent Garden with a drum, beating up for a volunteer mob, but it did not take; and they retired to a great supper that was prepared for them at the Bedford Head, and ordered by Whitehead (307) the author of Manners.  It has been written into the country that Sir R. has had two fits of an apoplexy, and cannot live till Christmas; but I think he is recovered to be as well as ever.  To-morrow se’nnight is the Day! (308) It is critical.  You shall hear faithfully.

The opera takes:  Monticelli (309) pleases almost equal to Farinelli:  Amorevoli is much liked; but the poor, fine Viscontina scarce at all. (310)I carry the two former to-night to my Lady Townshend’s.

Lord Coventry (311) has had his son thrown out by the party:  he went to Carlton House; the prince asked him about the election.  “Sir,” said he, “the Tories have betrayed me, as they will you, the first time you have occasion for them.”  The merchants have petitioned the King for more guardships.  My lord president, (312) referred them to the Admiralty; but they bluntly refused to go, and said they would have redress from the King himself.

I am called down to dinner, and cannot write more now.  I will thank dear Mr. Chute and the Grifona next post.  I hope she and you liked your things.  Good night, my dearest child!  Your brother and I sit upon your affairs every morning.  Yours ever.

(302) Second son of Sir Robert Walpole.  He was clerk of the pells, and afterwards knight of the Bath. [Sir Edward died unmarried, in 1784, leaving three natural daughters; Laura, married to the Hon. and Rev. Frederick Keppel, afterwards Bishop of Exeter; maria, married, first to the Earl of Waldegrave, and, secondly to the Duke of Gloucester; and Charlotte, married to the Earl of Dysart.]

(303) Eldest sister of the Lord Viscount Howe.  She was soon after this married to a relation of her own name. [John Howe, Esq. of Hanslop, Bucks.]