The Regency-bill has passed with more ease than could have been expected from so extraordinary a measure; and from the warmth with which it was taken up one day in the House of Commons.  In the Lords there were but 12 to 106, and the former, the most inconsiderable men in that House.  Lord Bath and Lord Grenville spoke vehemently for it:  the former in as wild a speech, with much parts, as ever he made in his patriot days; and with as little modesty he lamented the scrambles that he had seen for power!  In our House, Mr. Pelham had four signal mortifications:  the Speaker, in a most pathetic and fine speech, Sir John Barnard, and Lord Cobham,(249) speaking against, and Mr. Fox, though voting for it, tearing it to pieces.  Almost all the late Prince’s people spoke or voted for it; most, pretending deference to the Princess, though her power is so much abridged by it.  However, the consolation that resides in great majorities balanced the disagreeableness of particular oppositions.  We sit, and shall sit, till towards the end of June, though with little business of importance.  If there happens any ministerial struggle, which seems a little asleep at present, it will scarce happen till after the prorogation.

Adieu! my dear child; I have nothing else worth telling you at present—­at least, the same things don’t strike me that used to do; or what perhaps is more true, when things of consequence takes one up, one can’t attend to mere trifling.  When I say this, you will ask me, where is my philosophy!  Even where the best is:  I think as coolly as I can, I don’t exaggerate what is disagreeable, and I endeavour to lessen it, by undervaluing what I am inclined to think would be a happier state.

(249) Richard Grenville, eldest son of Richard Grenville, of Wotton, Esq. and of Esther Temple, Countess Temple and Viscountess Cobham, in her own right.  Lord Cobham became well known in the political world as Earl Temple; which title he succeeded to on the decease of his mother in 1752.-D.

105 Letter 41 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, May 30, 1751.

Mrs. Boscawen says I ought to write to you.  I don’t think so. you desired I would, if I had any things new to tell you; I have not.  Lady Caroline and Miss Ashe had quarrelled, about reputations before you went out of town.  I suppose you would not give a straw to know all the circumstances of a Mr. Paul killing a Mr. Dalton, though the town, who talks of any thing, talks of nothing else.  Mrs. French and her Jeffery are parted again.  Lady Orford and Shirley married:  they say she was much frightened; it could not be for fear of what other brides dread of happening, but for fear it should not happen.

My evening yesterday was employed, how wisely do You think? in trying to procure for the Duchess of Portland a scarlet spider from Admiral Boscawen.  I had just seen her collection, which is indeed magnificent, chiefly composed of the spoils of her father’s, and the Arundel collections.  The gems of all sorts are glorious.  I was diverted with two relics of St. Charles the Martyr; one, the pearl you see in his pictures, taken out of his ear after his foolish head was off; the other, the cup out of which he took his last sacrament.  They should be given to that nursery of nonsense and bigotry, Oxford.