356 Letter 127
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Arlington Street, Jan. 24, 1744.

Don’t think me guilty of forgetting you a moment, though I have missed two or three posts.  If you knew the incessant hurry and fatigue in which I live, and how few ’moments I have to myself, you would not suspect Me.  You know, I am naturally indolent, and without application to any kind of business; yet it is- impossible, in this country, to live in the world, and be in parliament, and not find oneself every day more hooked into politics and company, especially inhabiting a house that is again become the centre of affairs.  My lord becomes the last resource, to which they are all forced to apply.  One part of the ministry, you may be sure, do; and for the other, they affect to give themselves the honour of it too.

Last Thursday I would certainly have written to give you a full answer to your letter of grief (894) but I was shut up in the House till past ten at night; and the night before till twelve.  But I must speak to you in private first.  I don’t in the least doubt but my Lady Walpole and Richcourt would willingly be as mischievous as they are malicious, If they could:  but, my dear child, it is impossible.  Don’t fear from Carteret’s silence to you; he never writes:  if that were a symptom of disgrace, the Duke of’ Newcastle would have been out long ere this:  and when the regency were not thought worthy of his notice, you could not expect it.  As to your being attached to Lord Orford, that is your safety.  Carteret told him the other day, “My Lord, I appeal to the Duke of Newcastle, if I did not tell the King, that it was you who had carried the Hanover troops.”  That, too, disproves the accusation of Sir Robert’s being no friend to the Queen of Hungary.  That is now too stale and old.  However, I will speak to my lord and Mr. Pelham-would I had no more cause to tremble for you, than from little cabals!  But, my dear child, when we hear every day of the ’Toulon fleet sailing, can I be easy for you? or can I not foresee where that must break, unless Matthews and the wonderful fortune of England can interpose effectually?  We are not without our own fears; the Brest fleet of twenty-two sail is out at sea; they talk, for Barbadoes.  I believe we wish it may be thither destined?  Judge what I think; I cannot, nor may write:  but I am in the utmost anxiety for your situation.

The whole world, nay the Prince himself allows, that if Lord Orford had not come to town, the Hanover troops had been lost.(895) They were in effect given up by all but Carteret.  We carried our own army in Flanders by a majority of 112.(896) Last Wednesday was the great day of expectation:  we sat in the committee on the Hanover troops till twelve at night:  the numbers were 271 to 226.  The next day on the report we sat again till past ten, the opposition having moved to adjourn till Monday, on which we divided, 265 to 177.  Then the Tories all went away in a body, and the troops were voted.