(652) Now first printed.

(653) The Prussian charg`e d’affaires.

(654) The Countess of Suffolk was very deaf.-E.

(655) No.160.  On attacks upon Licentiousness.—­Story of Sir Eustace Drawbridge-court; written by Walpole.

303 Letter 170
To The Hon. H. S. Conway. 
Arlington Street, Jan. 24, 1756.

Oh sir, I shall take care how I ever ask favours of you again!  It was with great reluctance that I brought myself to ask this:  you took no notice of my request; and I flattered myself that I was punished for having applied to you so much against my inclination.  Just as I grew confirmed in the pride of being mortified, I hear that you have outgone my application, and in the kindest manner in the world have given the young man a pair of colours.  It would have been unpleasant enough to be refused; but to obtain more than one asked is the most provoking thing in the world!  I was prepared to be very grateful if you had done just what I desired; but I declare I have no thanks ready for a work of supererogation.  If there ever was a spirit that went to heaven for mere gratitude, which I am persuaded is a much more uncommon qualification than martyrdom, I must draw upon his hoard of merit to acquit myself.  You will at least get thus much by this charming manner of obliging me:  I look upon myself as double obliged; and when it cost me so much to ask one favour, and I find myself in debt for two, I shall scarce run in tick for a third.

What adds to my vexation is, that I wrote to you but the night before last.  Unless I could return your kindness with equal grace, it would be not very decent to imitate you by beginning to take no notice of it; and therefore you must away with this letter upon the back of the former.

We had yesterday some history in the House — Beckford produced an accusation in form against Admiral Knowles on his way to an impeachment.  Governor Verres was a puny culprit in comparison!  Jamaica indeed has not quite so many costly temples and ivory statues, etc. as Sicily had:  but what Knowles could not or had not a propensity to commit in rapine and petty larceny, he has made up in tyranny.  The papers are granted, and we are all going to turn jurymen.  The rest of the day was spent in a kind of avoirdupois war.  Your friend Sir George Lyttelton opened the budget; well enough in general, but was strangely bewildered in the figures; he stumbled over millions, and dwelt pompously upon farthings.  Pitt attacked him pretty warmly on mortgaging the sinking fund; Sir George kept up his spirit, and returned the attack on his eloquence:  it was entertaining enough, but ended in high compliments; and the division was 231 to 5(;.