This is the substance; and wonderful it is what can make the French give us such terms, or why they have lost so much blood and treasure to so little purpose! for they have destroyed very little of the fortifications in Flanders.  Monsieur de St. Severin told Lord Sandwich, that he had full powers to sign now, but that the same courier that should carry our refusal, was to call at Namur and Bergen-op-zoom, where are mines under all the works, which were immediately to be blown up.  There is no accounting for this, but from the King’S aversion to go to the army, and to Marshal Saxe’s fear of losing his power with the loss of a battle.  He told Count Flemming, the Saxon minister, who asked him if the French were in earnest in their offer of peace, “Il est vrai, nous demandons la paix comme des l`aches, et ne pouvons pas l’obtenir.”

Stocks rise; the ministry are in spirits, and ;e s’en faut but we shall admire this peace as our own doing!  I believe two reasons that greatly advanced it are, the King’s wanting to go to Hanover, and the Duke’s wanting to go into a salivation.

We had last night the most magnificent masquerade that ever was seen:  it was by Subscription at the Haymarket:  every body who subscribed five guineas had four tickets.  There were about seven hundred people, all in chosen and very fine dresses.  The supper was in two rooms, besides those for the King and Prince, who, with the foreign ministers, had tickets given them.

You don’t tell me whether the seal of which you sent me the impression, is to be sold:  I think it fine, but not equal to the price which you say was paid for it.  What is it?  Homer or Pindar?

I am very miserable at the little prospect you have of success in your own affair:  I think the person(1433) you employed has used you scandalously.  I would have you write to my uncle; but my applying to him would be far from doing you service.  Poor Mr. Chute has got so bad a cold that he could not go last night to the masquerade.  Adieu! my dear child! there is nothing -well that I don’t wish you, but my wishes are very ineffectual!

(1430) The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.-D.

(1431) Of Hungary.-D.

(1432) That is, the works destroyed, as they were after the treaty of Utrecht.-D.

(1433) Mr. Stone, the Duke of Newcastle’s private secretary.-E.

549 Letter 251 To George Montagu, Esq.  May 18, 1748.

Here I am with the poor Chutehed,(1434) who has put on a shoe but to-day for the first time.  He sits at the receipt of custom, and one passes most part, of the day here; the other part I have the misfortune to pass en Pigwiggin.  The ceremony of dining is not over yet:  I cannot say that either the Prince or the Princess look the comelier for what has happened.  The town says, my Lady Anson(1435) has no chance for looking different from what she did before she was married:  and they have a story of a gentleman going to the Chancellor to assure him,