For the politics which you inquire after, and which may have given motion to this step, I can give you no satisfactory .  I have heard that it is in consequence of an impertinent letter sent over by Van Hoey in favour of the rebels, though at the same time I hear we are making steps towards a peace.  There centre all my politics, all in peace.  Whatever your cousin(1220) may think, I am neither busy about what does happen, nor making parties for what may.  If he knew how happy I am, his intriguing nature would envy my tranquillity more than his suspicions can make him jealous of my practices.  My books, my virt`u, and my other follies and amusements take up too much of my time to leave me much leisure to think of other people’s affairs; and of all affairs. those of the public are least my concern.  You will be sorry to hear of Augustus Townshend’s(1221) death.  I lament it extremely, not much for his sake, for I did not honour him, but for his poor sister Molly’s, whose little heart, that is all tenderness, and gratitude, and friendship, will be broke with the shock.  I really dread it, considering how delicate her health is.  My Lady Townshend has a son with him.  I went to tell it her.  Instead of thinking of her child’s distress, she kept me half an hour with a thousand histories of Lady Caroline Fitzroy and Major Johnstone, and the new Paymaster’s(1222) m`enage, and twenty other things, nothing to me, nor to her, if only she could drop the idea Of the pay of office.

The serene hessian is gone.  Little Brooke is to be an earl.  I went to bespeak him a Lilliputian coronet at Chenevix’s.(1223) Adieu! dear George.

(1220) George Dunk, Earl of Halifax.

(1221) Son of Viscount Townshend and Dorothy, sister of Sir Robert Walpole. he was a captain in the service of the East India Company, and died at Batavia, having at that time the command of the Augusta.-E.

(1222) Mr. Pitt.

(1223) A celebrated toy-shop.

485 Letter 207
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Arlington Street, June 20, 1746.

We are impatient for letters from Italy, to confirm the news of a victory over the French and Spaniards-(1224) The time is critical, and every triumph or defeat material, as they may raise or fall the terms of peace.  The wonderful letters of Van Hoey and M. d’Argenson in favour of the rebels, but which, if the ministry have any spirit, must turn to their harm, you will see in all the papers.  They have rather put off the negotiations, and caused the sending five thousand men this week to Flanders.  The Duke is not yet returned from Scotland, nor is anything certainly known of the Pretender.  I don’t find any period fixed for the trial of the Lords; yet the Parliament sits on, doing nothing, few days having enough to make a House.  Old Marquis Tullibardine, with another set of rebels are come, amongst whom is Lord Macleod, son of Lord Cromarty,(1225) already in the Tower.  Lady Cromarty went down incog. to Woolwich to see her son pass by, without the power of speaking to him:  I never heard a more melancholy instance of affection!  Lord Elcho(1226) has written from Paris to Lord Lincoln to solicit his pardon; but as he has distinguished himself beyond all the rebel commanders by brutality and insults and cruelty to our prisoners, I think he is likely to remain where he is.