Lord Stair is at last appointed general.  General Oglethorpe (908) is to have a commission for raising a regiment of Hussars, to defend the coasts.  The Swiss servants in London have offered to form themselves into a regiment; six hundred are already clothed and armed, but no colonel or officers appointed.  We flatter ourselves, that the divisions in the French ministry will repair what the divisions in our own undo.

The answer from the court of France to Mr. Thomson on the subject of the boy (909) is most arrogant:  “that when we have given them satisfaction for the many complaints which they have made on our infraction of treaties, then they will think of giving us des `eclaircissements.”

We have no authentic news yet from Matthews:  the most credited is a letter from Marseilles to a Jew, which says it was the most bloody battle ever fought; that it lasted three days; that the two first we had the worst, and the third, by a lucky gale, totally defeated them.  Sir Charles Wager always said, “that if a sea-fight lasted three days, he was sure the English suffered the most for the two first, for no other nation would stand beating for two days together.”

Adieu! my dear child.  I have told you every circumstance I know:  I hope you receive my letters; I hope their accounts will grow more favourable.  I never found my spirits so high, for they never were so provoked. hope the best, and believe that, as long as I am, I shall always be yours sincerely.

P. S. My dear Chutes, I hope you will still return to your own England.

(903) James Barry, fourth Earl of Barrymore.  He died in 1747.  See ant`e, p. 269.  Letter 74.

(904) “Some treasonable papers of consequence were found in Cecil’s pockets, which gave occasion to the apprehending of Lord Barrymore.  They were both concerned in the affair of transmitting the Pretender’s letter to the late Duke of Argyle; which it was now lamented had not then undergone a stricter examination.  I observed the Tories much struck with the news of this being secured.”  Mr. P. Yorke’s Parl.  Journal.-E.

(905) Admiral Vernon.

(906) “Lord Barrington’s motion for deferring the suspension was thrown out by 181 against 83.  Pitt and Lyttelton walked down the House whilst Lord Barrington was speaking, and went away; so did Mr. Crowne, though a Tory; but most of that party voted with the Ayes.  Lord Chesterfield told the chancellor there was no opposition to this bill intended amongst the Lords; not even a disposition to it in any body; and greatly approved the limiting it to so short a time.”  Mr. P. Yorke’s Parl. journal.-E.

(907) “Lord Orford, though he had never spoken in the House of Lords, having remarked to his brother Horatio that he had left his tongue in the House of Commons, yet on this occasion his eloquent voice was once more raised, beseeching their lordships to forget their cavils and divisions, and unite in affection round the throne.  It was solely owing to him, that the torrent of public opposition was braved and overcome.”  Lord Mahon, Hist. vol. iii. p. 273.-E.