he said, Miss Chudleigh,(1135) one of the maids, was fitter for the employment; and dictated a letter which he made her write to Lord Harrington, to desire he would draw the warrant for her.  There were fourteen people at table, and all were to sign it:  the Duke of Queensberry(1136 would not, as being a friend of Pitt, nor Mrs. Layton, one of the dressers:  however, it was actually sent, and the footman ordered not to deliver it till Sir William Yonge was at Lord Harrington’s-alas! it would be endless to tell you all his Caligulisms!  A ridiculous thing happened when the Princess saw company:  the new-born babe was shown in a mighty pretty cradle, designed by Kent, under a canopy in the great drawing-room.  Sir William Stanhope went to look at it; Mrs. Herbert, the governess, advanced to unmantle it; he said, “In wax, I suppose.”—­“Sir!”—­“In wax, Madam?”—­“The young Prince, Sir.”—­“Yes, in wax, I suppose.”  This is his odd humour? when he went to see this duke at his birth, he said, “Lord! it sees!”

The good Provost of Edinburgh has been with Marshal Wade at Newcastle, and it is said, is coming to London-he must trust hugely to the inactivity of the ministry!  They have taken an agent there going with large contributions from the- Roman Catholics, who have pretended to be so quiet!  The Duchess of Richmond, while her husband is at the army, was going to her grace of Norfolk:(1137) when he was very uneasy at her intention, she showed him letters from the Norfolk, “wherein she prays God that this wicked rebellion may be soon suppressed, lest it hurt the poor Roman Catholics.”  But this wise jaunt has made such a noise that it is laid aside.

Your friend Lord Sandwich has got one of the Duke of Montagu’s regiments:  he stayed quietly till all the noise was over.  He is now lord of the admiralty, lieutenant-colonel to the Duke of Bedford, aide-de-camp to the Duke of Richmond, and colonel of a regiment!

A friend of mine, Mr. Talbot, who has a good estate in Cheshire, with the great tithes, which he takes in kind, and has generally fifteen hundred pounds stock, has expressly ordered his steward to burn it, if the rebels come that way:  I don’t think this will make a bad figure in Mr. Chute’s brave gazette.  As we go on prospering, I will take care to furnish him with paragraphs, till he kills Riviera(1138) and all the faction.  When my lovely eagle comes, I will consecrate it to his Roman memory; don’t think I want spirits more than he, when I beg you to send me a case of drams:  I remember your getting one for Mr. Trevor.

I guessed at having lost two letters from you in the packet-boat that was taken:  I have received all you mention, but those of the 21st and 28th of September, one of which I suppose was about Gibberne:  his mother has told me how happy you have made her and him, for which I much thank you and your usual good-nature.  Adieu!  I trust all my letters will grow better and better.  You must have passed a lamentable