encouraged some of the old part of the ministry, particularly Winnington and Fox, to undertake to procure this Address.  Friday it came on in the committee; the Jacobites and patriots (such as are not included in the coalition) violently opposed the regiments themselves; so did Fox, in a very warm speech, levelled particularly at the Duke of Montagu, who, besides his old regiment, has one Of horse and one of foot on this new plan.(1128) Pitt defended them as warmly:  the Duke of Bedford, Lord Gower, and Lord Halifax, being at the head of this job.  At last, at ten at night, the thirteen regiments of foot were voted without a division, and the two of horse carried by 192 to 82.  Then came the motion for the address, and in an hour and half more, was rejected by 126 to 124.  Of this latter number were several of the old corps; I among the rest.  It is to be reported to the House to-morrow, and will, I conclude, be at least as warm a day as the former.  The King is now against the address, and all sides are using their utmost efforts.  The fourteen lords threaten to throw up, unless their whole terms are complied with; and the Duke of Bedford is not moderately insolent against such of the King’s servants as voted against him.  Mr. Pelham espouses him; not recollecting that at least twice a-week all his new allies are suffered to oppose him as they please.  I should be sorry, for the appearance, to have the regiments given up; but I am sure our affair is over, if our two old armies are beaten and we should come to want these new ones; four only of which are pretended to be raised.  Pitt, who has alternately bullied and flattered Mr. Pelham, is at last to be secretary-at-war;(1129) Sir W. Yonge to be removed to vice-treasurer of Ireland, and Lord Torrington(1130) to have a pension in lieu of it.  An ungracious parallel between the mercenary views Of these patriot heroes, the regiment-factors, and of their acquiescent agents, the ministry, with the disinterested behaviour of m Lord Kildare,(1131) was drawn on Friday by Lord Doneraile; who read the very proposals of the latter for raising, clothing, and arming a regiment at his own expense, and for which he had been told, but the very day before this question, that the King had no occasion.—­“And how,” said Lord Doneraile, “can one account for this, but by saying, that we have a ministry who are either too good-natured to refuse a wrong thing, or too irresolute to do a right one!”

I am extremely pleased with the, purchase of the Eagle and Altar, and think them cheap:  and I even begin to believe that I shall be able to pay for them.  The gesse statues are all arrived safe.  Your last letter was dated Oct. 19, N. S. and left you up to the chin in water(1132) just as we were drowned five years ago.  Good night, if you are alive still! (1127) He had been confined in the Tower ever since the assassination plot, in the reign of King William; but at last made his escape.

(1128) This circumstance is thus alluded to in Sir C. H. Williams’s ballad of “The heroes.