Lord North was immediately sent to the King, who was looking over a table, where Princess Emily, the Duchess of Dorset, and Duke of Grafton were playing.  He was extremely surprised, and said, “Why, they told me he was better!” He bid Lord North tell the Princess, he would do every thing she could desire; and has this morning sent her a very kind message in writing.  He is extremely shocked—­but no pity is too much for the Princess; she has eight children, and is seven months gone with another.  She bears her affliction with great courage and sense.  They asked her if the body was to be opened; she replied, what the King pleased.

This is all I know yet; you shall have fresh and fresh intelligence—­for reflections on minorities, Regencies, Jacobitism, Oppositions, factions, I need not help you to them.  You will make as many as any body, but those who reflect on their own disappointments.  The creditors are no inconsiderable part of the moralists.  They talk of fourteen hundred thousand pounds on post-obits.  This I am sure I don’t vouch; I Only know that I never am concerned to see the tables of the money-changers overturned and cast out of the temple.(226)

I much fear, that by another post I shall be forced to tell you news that will have much worse effects for my own family, My Lord Orford has got such another violent boil as he had two years ago—­and a thrush has appeared too along with it.  We are in the utmost apprehensions about him, the more, because there is no possibility of giving him any about himself.  He has not only taken an invincible aversion to physicians, but to the bark, and we have no hopes from any thing else.  It will be a fatal event for me, for your brother, and for his own son.  Princess Emily,(227) Mr. Pelham(228) and my Lady Orford, are not among the most frightened.

Your brother, who dines here with Mr. Chute and Gray,(229) has just brought me your letter of March 12th.  The libel you ask about was called “Constitutional Queries:”  have not you received mine of February 9th? there was some account of our present history.  Adieu!  I have not time to write any longer to you; but you may well expect our correspondence will thicken.

(225) Frederick, Prince of Wales, was a man in no way estimable, though his understanding and disposition were cried up by those who were in opposition to his father’s government.  Walpole says of him, “His best quality was generosity; his worst, insincerity and indifference to truth, which appeared so early, that Earl Stanhope wrote to Lord Sunderland from Hanover, “He has his father’s head, and his mother’s heart.”  His death was undoubtedly a deliverance for those who, had he lived, would have become his subjects.-D.

(226) Frederick, Prince of Wales’s debts were never paid.-D.

(227) Princess Emily had the reversion of New-park.

(228) The auditor of the exchequer, was in the gift of Mr. Pelham, as chancellor of the exchequer, and first lord of the treasury.