I have some thoughts of going to Bath for a week; though I don’t know whether my love for my country, while my country is in a quandary, may not detain me hereabouts.  When Mr. Muntz has done, you will be so good as to pacquet him up, and send him to Strawberry.  I rather wish you would bring him yourself; I am impatient for the drawing you announce to me.  A commission has passed the seals, I mean of’ secrecy, (for I don’t know whether they must not be stole,) to get you some swans; and as in this age one ought not to despair of any thing where robbery is concerned, I have some hopes of succeeding.  If you should want any French ships for your water, there are great numbers to be had cheap, and small enough.  Adieu!

618) Now first printed.

280 Letter 152
To Richard Bentley, Esq. 
Arlington Street, Sept. 30, 1755.

Solomon says somewhere or other, I think it is in Castelnuovo’s edition—­is not there such a one?—­that the infatuation of a nation for a foolish minister is like that of a lover for an ugly woman:  when once he opens his eyes, he wonders what the devil bewitched him.  This is the text to the present sermon in politics, which I shall not divide under three heads, but tell you at once, that no minister was ever nearer the precipice than ours has been.  I did tell you, I believe, that Legge had refused to sign the warrant for the Hessian subsidy:  in short, he heartily resented the quick coldness that followed his exaltation, waited for an opportunity of revenge, found this; and, to be sure, no vengeance ever took speedier strides.  All the world revolted against subsidiary treaties; nobody was left to defend them but Murray, and he did not care to venture.  Offers of graciousness, of cabinet councillor, or chancellor of the exchequer, were made to right and left.  Dr. Lee was conscientious; Mr. Pitt might be brought, in compliment to his Majesty, to digest one—­but a system of subsidies—­impossible!  In short, the very first ministership was offered to be made over to my Lord Granville.  He begged to be excused—­he was not fit for it.  Well, you laugh—­all this is fact.  At last we were forced to strike sail to Mr. Fox he is named for secretary of state, with not only the lead, but the power of the House of Commons.  You ask, in the room of which secretary?  What signifies of which?  Why, I think, of Sir Thomas Robinson, who returns to his wardrobe; and Lord Barrington comes into the war-office.  This is the present state of things in this grave reasonable island:  the union hug like two cats over a string; the rest are arming for opposition.  But I Will not promise you any more warlike winters; I remember how soon the campaign of the list was addled.