(470 Eldest son of William Hay, Earl of Kinnoul.

(471) For an account of the political changes which took place upon the death of Mr. Pelham, see Lord Dover’s Preface to these Letters, vol. i. p. 29.-E.

(472) John Manners, third Duke of Rutland, the father of the more celebrated Lord Granby.  He died in 1779, at the age of eighty-three.-D.

(473) The Duke of Rutland did not succeed to the privy seal; but Charles Spencer, second Duke of Marlborough.-D.

(474) Margaret Tuckfield, second wife of Samuel Rolle, of Haynton in Devonshire; by whom she was mother of Margaret Countess of Orford, and afterwards married to John Harris, of Hayne in Devonshire, master of the household to the King.

204 Letter 97 To Sir Horace Mann.  Strawberry Hill, April 24, 1754.

Before I received your letter of March 29th, I had already told you the state of our politics, as they seemed fixed—­at least for the present.  The Duke of Newcastle is alone and all powerful, and, I suppose, smiles at those who thought that we must be governed by a succession of geniuses.  I don’t know whether there arc not more parts in governing without genius!- -be it as it will, all the world acquiesces:  he has placed all the orators in whatever offices they demanded, and the New Parliament, which is almost chosen, will not probably degenerate from the complaisance of its predecessor.  Which of the popes was it, who being chosen for his insufficience, said, “I could not have believed that it was so easy to govern!” You will forgive my smiling in my turn at your begging me to lay aside family considerations, and tell you if I do not think my uncle the fittest subject for a first minister.  My dear child, you have forgot that three years are past since I so totally laid aside all family considerations, as not to speak or even bow to my uncle.  Since the affair of Lord Orford and Miss Nichol], I have not had the least intercourse with the Pigwiggin branch; and should be very sorry if there were any person in the world but you, and my uncle himself, who thought him proper for minister.

I believe there is no manner of intention of sending Lord Albemarle to Ireland:  the style toward that island is extremely lofty; and after some faint proposals of giving them some agreeable governor, violent measures have been resumed:  the Speaker is removed from being chancellor of the exchequer, more of his friends are displaced, and the Primate, with the Chancellor and Lord Besborough, are again nominated lords Justices.  These measures must oppress the Irish spirit, or, what is more likely, inflame it to despair.  Lord Rochford certainly returns to Turin.  General Wall, who was in the highest favour here, and who was really grown fond of England--not at all to the prejudice of doing us what hurt he could in his public character, is recalled, to succeed Don Carvalho and Lancaster, as secretary of state for foreign affairs.  If he regrets England too much, may not he think of taking Ireland in his way back?