as a Protestant, at the same time he was offering to go whithersoever the Jesuits would send him; and the still more glaring improbability of his risking himself again under their power!  Sir George desired the woman might be produced—­Sir Harry shuffled, and at last said he believed it was a lie of Bower.  When he was beaten out of every point, he said, he Would put it on this single fact, “Ask Mr. Bower if he was not reconciled to the church of Rome in the year ’44.”  The whole foundation proves to be this:  Bower, who is a very child in worldly matters, was weak enough, for good interest, to put fifteen hundred pounds into the hands of one Brown, a Jesuit here in London, and from that correspondence they have forged his hand; and finding the minds of men alarmed and foolish about the invasion and the earthquake, they thought the train would take like wildfire.  I told Bower, that though this trusting a Jesuit did great honour to his simplicity, it Certainly did none to his judgment.  Sir George begged I would advise them what to do-they were afraid to enter into a controversy, which Hooke might manage.  I told him at once that their best way would be to advertise a great reward for discovery of the forgery, and to communicate their intention to Sir Harry bedington.  Sir George was pleased with the thought-and indeed it succeeded beyond expectation.  Sir Harry sent word that he approved the investigation of truth, be the persons concerned of what profession they would; that he was obliged to go out of town next day for his health, but hoped at his return Sir George would give him leave to cultivate an acquaintance which this little affair had renewed.  Sir George answered with great propriety and spirit, that he should be very proud of his acquaintance, but must beg leave to differ with him in calling a little affair what tended to murder a man’s character, but he was glad to see that it was the best way that Rome had of answering Mr. Bower’s book.  You see, Sir Harry is forced to let the forgery rest on himself, rather than put a chancellor of the exchequer upon the scent after priests!  He has even hesitated Upon giving Bower copies of the letters.

Since I began my letter, we hear that France is determined to try a numerous invasion in several places in England and Ireland, coute qui coute, and knowing how difficult it is.  We are well-prepared and strong; they have given us time.  If it were easy to invade us, we should not have waited for an attack till the year 1756.  I hope to give you a good account both of England and your brother.  Adieu!

(660) Bower was a man of very bad character, and it is now generally believed that he intended to cheat the Jesuits out of a sum of money.-D.

(661) Dr. Douglas, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury, an intimate friend of Lord Bath.  He had detected sundry errors in Bower’s Lives of the Popes.-D.

312 Letter 175 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  Arlington Street, March 4, 1756.