des Variations de l’Eglise"-I think I could make as entertaining a history, though not so well written, “des Variations de l’Etat:"i mean of changes and counterchanges of party.  The Duke of Newcastle thought himself undone, beat up all quarters for support, and finds himself stronger than ever.  Mr. Fox was thought so unpopular, that his support was thought as dangerous as want of defence; every thing bows to him.  The Tories hate both him and Pitt so much, that they sit still to see them worry one another; they don’t seem to have yet found out that while there are parts and ambition, they will be obliged to follow and to hate by turns every man who has both.

I don’t at all understand my Lady Orford’s politics; but that is no wonder, when I am sure she does not understand ours.  Nobody knows what to make of the French inactivity:  if they intend some great stroke, the very delay and forbearance tells us to prepare for it, and a surprise prepared for loses much of its value.  For my own part, I have not prophetic sagacity enough to foresee what will be even the probable event either of our warlike or domestic politics.  I desired your brother to write you an account of General Johnson’s victory; the only great circumstance in our favour that has happened yet.  The greatest mystery of all is the conduct of Admiral Boscawen:  since he left England, though they write private letters to their friends, he and all his officers have not sent a single line to the Admiralty; after great pain and uncertainty about him, a notion prevailed yesterday, how well-founded I know not, that without any orders he is gone to attack Louisbourgh-considering all I have mentioned, he ought to be very sure of success.  Adieu! my dear Sir, I have told you the heads of all I know, and have not time to be more particular.

P. S. I am glad to be able to contradict an untruth, before I send it away -.  Admiral Boscawen and his fleet are arrived, and have brought along with them a French man-of-war of seventy-four guns.

293 Letter 162 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, November 25, 1755.

I have been so hurried since I came to town, and so enclosed in the House of Commons, that I have not been able to write a line sooner.  I now write, to notify that your plants will set out according to your direction next Monday, and are ordered to be left at Namptwich.

I differ with the doctors about planting evergreens in spring; if it happens to be wet weather, it may be better than exposing them to a first winter:  but the cold dry winds, that generally prevail in spring, are ten times more pernicious.  In my own opinion, the end of September is the best season, for then they shoot before the hard weather comes.  But the plants I send you are so very small, that they are equally secure in any season, and would bear removing in the middle of summer; a handful of dung will clothe them all for the whole winter.