(644) Lord Chesterfield, in a letter to Mr. Dayrolles of the 19th, says, “The House of Commons sits three or four times a week till nine or ten at night, and sometimes till four or five in the morning; so attentive are they to the good of their dear country.  That zeal has of late transported them into much personal abuse.  Even our insignificant House sat one day last week till past ten at night upon the Russian and Hessian treaties; but I was not able to sit it out, and left it at seven, more than half dead; for I took it into my head to speak upon them for near an hour, which fatigue, together with the heat of the house, very nearly annihilated me.  I was for the Russian treaty as a prudent eventual measure at the beginning of a war, and probably preventive even of a war in that part of the world; but I could not help exposing, though without opposing, the Hessian treaty, which is, indeed, the most extraordinary one I ever saw."-E.

(645) " Here, pleased, behold her mighty wings outspread, To hatch a new Saturnian age of Lead.”  Dunciad.-E.

(646) Mr. Pelham.

(647) “Places,” writes Lord Chesterfield to Mr. Dayrolles on the 19th, “are emptying and filling every day.  The patriot of Monday is the courtier of Tuesday, and the courtier of Wednesday is the patriot of Thursday.  This, indeed, has more or less been long the case, but I really think never so impudently and so profligately as now. @The power is all falling from his Grace’s into Fox’s hands; which, you may remember, I told you long ago would happen."-E.

297 Letter 165 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, Dec. 20, 1755.

I am very much pleased that you are content with what are to be trees a thousand years hence, though they were the best my Libanus afforded.  I was afraid you would think I had sent you a bundle of picktooths, instead of pines and firs:  may you live to chat under their shade!  I am still more pleased to hear that you are to be happy in some good fortune to the Colonel:  he deserves it; but, alas! what a claim is that!  Whatever makes him happy, makes you so, and consequently me.

A regular opposition, composed of immense abilities, has entertained us for this month.  George Grenville, Legge, a Dr. Hay, a Mr. Elliot, have shone; Charles Townshend lightened; Pitt has rode in the whirlwind, and directed the storm with abilities beyond the common reach of the genii of a tempest.  As soon as that storm has a little spent its fury, the dew of preferments begins to fall and fatten the land.  Moses and Aaron differ indeed a little in which shall dispense the manna, and both struggle for their separate tribes.  Earl Gower is privy seal, the Lords Darlington and Dublin joint paymasters, Lord Gage paymaster of the pensions, Mr. O’Brien in the treasury.  That old rag of a dishclout ministry, Henry Furnese, is to be the other lord.  Lord Bateman and Dick Edgcumbe(648) are the new admirals; Rigby, Soame Jennings,