The Duchess of Cleveland (561) died last night of what they call a miliary fever, which is much about:  she had not been ill two days.  So the poor creature, her duke, is again to be let; she paid dear for the hopes of being duchess dowager.  Lady Catherine Pelham,(562) has miscarried of twins; but they are so miserable with the loss of their former two boys, that they seem glad now of not having any more to tremble for.

There is a man who has by degrees bred himself up to walk upon stilts so high, that he now stalks about and peeps into one pair of stairs windows.  If this practice should spread, dining-rooms will be as innocent as chapels.  Good night!  I never forget my best loves to the Chutes.

P. S. I this moment hear that Edgecombe (563) and Lord Fitzwilliam are created English peers:  I am sure the first is, and I believe the second.

(558) Commemorated in a line of Pope-"’Tis all a libel, Paxton, Sir, will say."-D.

(559) On a division of 180 against 128, Paxton was this day committed to Newgate where he remained till the end of the session, July 15.  He died in April 1744.-E.

(560) The Duke of Cumberland, third Son of George the Second.-E.

(561) Lady Henrietta Finch, sister of the Earl of Winchilsea, wife of William, Duke of Cleveland. [On whose death, in 1774, the title became extinct.]

(562) Catherine, sister of John Manners, Duke of Rutland, and wife of Henry Pelham.  They lost their two sons by an epidemic sore-throat, after which she would never go to Esher, or any house where she had seen them.

(563) Richard Edgecombe, a great friend of Sir R. Walpole, was Created a baron to prevent his being examined by the Secret Committee concerning the management of the Cornish boroughs. (He was created Lord Edgecumbe on the 20th of April, and in December appointed chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster.  He died in 1758.]

247 Letter 63 To Sir Horace Mann.  London, April 22, 1742.

You perceive, by the size of my paper, how little I have to say.  The whole town is out of town for Easter, and nothing left but dust, old women, and the Secret Committee.  They go on warmly, and have turned their whole thoughts to the secret-service money, after which they are inquiring by all methods.  Sir John Rawdon (564) (you remember that genius in Italy) voluntarily swore before them that, at the late election at Wallingforrd, he spent two thousand pounds, and that one Morley promised him fifteen hundred more, if he would lay it out.  “Whence was Morley to have it?"-"I don’t know; I believe from the first minister.”  This makes an evidence.  It is thought that they will ask leave to examine members, which was the reason of Edgecumbe’s going into the peerage, as they supposed he had been the principal agent for the Cornish boroughs.  Sir John Cotton said, upon the occasion, “Between Newgate (565 and the House of Lords the committee will not get information.”