yet it is plain that their ambition had been wounded, and that they resented their power being crossed.  But I, Who am Whig to the backbone, indeed in the strictest sense of the word, feel hurt in a tenderer point, and which you,. who are a minister, must not allow me:  I am offended at their agreeing to an address that avows such deference for prerogative, and that is to protest so deeply against having to attack it.  However rebel this may sound at your court, my Gothic spirit is hurt; I do not love such loyal expressions from a Parliament.  I do not so much consider myself writing to Dublin castle, as from Strawberry castle, where you know how I love to enjoy my liberty.  I give myself the airs, in my nutshell, of an old baron, and am tempted almost to say with an old Earl of Norfolk, who was a very free speaker at least, if he was not an excellent poet,

“When I am in my castle of Bungey,
Situate upon the river Waveney,
I ne care for the King of cockney.”

I have been roving about Hampshire, have been at Winchester and Southampton and twenty places, and have been but one day in London —­consequently know as little news as if I had been shut up in Bungey castle.  Rumours there are of great bickerings and uneasiness; but I don’t believe there will be any bloodshed of places, except Legge’s, which nobody seems willing to take-I mean as a sinecure.  His Majesty of Cockney is returned exceedingly well, but grown a little out of humour at finding that we are not so much pleased with all the Russians and Hessians that he has hired to recover the Ohio.  We are an ungrateful people!  Make a great many compliments for me to my Lady Ailesbury; I own I am in pain about Missy.  As my lady is a little coquette herself, and loves crowds and admiration, and a court life, it will be very difficult for her to keep a strict eye upon Missy.  The Irish are very forward and bold:—­I say no more but it would hurt you both extremely to have her marry herself idly and I think my Lord Chancellor has not extended his matrimonial foresight to Ireland.  However, I have much confidence in Mrs. Elizabeth Jones:(613) I am sure, when they were here, she would never let Missy whisper with a boy that was old enough to speak.  Adieu!  As the winter advances, and plots thicken, I will write you letters that shall have a little more in them than this.  In the mean time I am going to Bath, not for my health, you know I never am ill, but for my amusement.  I never was there, and at present there are several of my acquaintance.  The French academy have chosen my Lord Chesterfield, and he has written them a letter of thanks. that is the finest composition in the world — indeed, I was told so by those who have not seen it; but they would have told me so if they had seen it, whether it was the finest or the worst; suffices it to be his!  Yours ever.

(612) mr.  Conway was now secretary of state to the Marquis of Hartington, lord lieutenant of Ireland.