Still there is little news.  To-day it is said that Lord George Sackville is summoned in haste from Ireland, where the grand juries are going to petition for the resitting Of the Parliament.  Hitherto they have done nothing but invent satirical healths, which I believe gratify a taste more peculiar to Ireland than politics, drinking.  We have had one Considerable day in the House of Commons here.  Lord Egmont, in a very long and fine speech, opposed a new Mutiny-bill for the troops going to the East Indies (which I believe occasioned the reports with you of an approaching war.) Mr. Conway got infinite reputation by a most charming speech in answer to him, in which he displayed a system of military learning, which was at once new, striking and entertaining.(454) I had carried Monsieur de Gisors thither, who began to take notes of all I explained to him:  but I begged he would not; for, the question regarding French politics, I concluded the Speaker would never have done storming at the Gaulls collecting intelligence in the very senate-house.  Lord Holderness made a magnificent ball for these foreigners last week:  there were a hundred and forty people, and most stayed supper.  Two of my Frenchmen learnt country-dances, and succeeded very well.  T’other night they danced minuets for the entertainment of the King at the masquerade; and then he sent for Lady Coventry to dance:  it was quite like Herodias-and I believe if he had offered her a boon, she would have chosen the head of St. John—­I believe I told you of her passion for the young Lord Bolingbroke.

Dr. Mead is dead, and his collection going to be sold.  I fear I have not virtue enough to resist his miniatures.  I shall be ruined!(455)

I shall tell you a new instance of the Sortes Walpolianae:  I lately bought an old volume of pamphlets; I found at the end a history of the Dukes of Lorrain, and with that an account of a series of their medals, of which, says the author, there are but two sets in England.  It so happens that I bought a set above ten years ago at Lord Oxford’s sale; and on examination I found the Duchess, wife of Duke Ren`e,(456) has a headdress, allowing for being modernized, as the medals are modern, which is evidently the same with that figure in my Marriage of Henry VI. which I had imagined was of her.  It is said to be taken from her tomb at Angiers; and that I might not decide too quickly en connoisseur, I have sent to Angiers for a draught of the tomb.

Poor Mr. Chute was here yesterday, the first going out after a confinement of thirteen weeks; but he is pretty well.  We have determined upon the plan for the library, which we find will fall in exactly with the proportions of the room, with no variations from the little door-case of St. Paul’s, but widening the larger arches.  I believe I shall beg your assistance again about the chimney-piece and ceiling; but I can decide nothing till I have been again at Strawberry.  Adieu! my dear Sir.