You will expect that I should mention the progress of the West Indian war; but the Parliamentary campaign opening so warmly, has quite put the Ohio upon an obsolete foot.  All I know is, that the Virginians have disbanded all their troops and say they will trust to England for their defence.  The dissensions in Ireland increase.  At least, here are various and ample fields for speeches, if we are to have new oppositions.  You will believe that I have not great faith in the prospect, when I can come quietly hither for two or three days to place the books in my new library.  Mr. Chute is with me, and returns you all your kind speeches with increase.  Your two brothers, who dine at lord Radnor’s, have just been here, and found me writing to you:  your brother Gal. would not stay a moment, but said, , Tell him I prefer his pleasure to my own.”  I wish, my dear Sir, I could give you much more, that is, could tell you more; but unless our civil wars continue, I shall know nothing but of contested elections:  a first session of a Parliament is the most laborious scene of dulness that I know.  Adieu!

(527) Mr. Legge.

(528) Mr. Murray; he was preferred to be attorney-general this year, in the room of Sir Dudley Ryder, who was made lord chief justice, on the death of Sir William Lee.

(529) “At this time,” says Lord Waldegrave, “Fox had joined Pitt in a kind of parliamentary opposition.  They were both in office,—­the one paymaster, the other secretary at war,-and therefore could not decently obstruct the public business; but still they might attack persons, though not things.  Pitt undertook the difficult task of silencing Murray, the attorney-general, the ablest man, as well as the ablest debater, in the House of Commons; whilst Fox entertained himself with the less dangerous amusement of exposing Sir Thomas Robinson, or rather assisted him whilst he turned himself into ridicule; for Sir Thomas, though a good secretary of state -is far as the business of his office, was ignorant even of the language of the House of Commons controversy; and when he played the orator, it was so exceedingly ridiculous, that those who loved and esteemcd him could not always preserve a friendly composure of countenance.”  Memoirs, 1). 31.-E.

(530) John Earl of Orrery and Cork, author of a translation of Pliny’s Epistles, a Life of Dr. Swift, etc.

230 Letter 118 To Richard Bentley, Esq.  Arlington Street, Friday, Dec. 13, 1754.

“If we do not make this effort to recover our dignity, we shall only sit here to register the arbitrary edicts of one too powerful a subject.”  Non riconosci tu Faltero viso?  Don’t you at once know the style?  Shake those words all altogether-, and see if they can be any thing but the disiecta membra of Pitt?  In short, about a fortnight ago, bomb burst.  Pitt, who is well, is married, is dissatisfied—­not With his bride, but with the Duke of Newcastle; has twice thundered