Duchess of Bedford was not invited, and made a little opposition-supper, which was foolish enough.  As the latter had refused to return my Lady Falmouth’s visit, my Lady Lincoln singled her out, visited and invited her.  The dignity of the assembly was great- Westminster Hall was illuminated for chairs; the passage from it hung with green baize and lamps, and matted.  The cloister was the prettiest sight in the world, lighted with lamps and Volterra vases.  The great apartment is magnificent.  Sir Thomas Robinson the Long, who you know is always propriety itself, told me how much the house was improved since it was my brother’s.  The Duchess of Norfolk gives a great ball next week to the Duke of Cumberland:  so you see that she does not expect the Pretender, at least this fortnight.  Last night, at my Lady Hervey’s, Mrs. Dives was expressing great panic about the French:  my Lady Rochford, looking down on her fan, said with great softness, “I don’t know, I don’t think the French are a sort of people that women need be afraid of.”  Adieu!

(664) Now first published.

(665) The Paddington or New Road, which the Duke of Bedford opposed as making a dust behind Bedford House, and from some intended buildings being likely to interrupt his prospect.  The Duke of Grafton warmly espoused the other side of the question.

(666) The Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.

(667) Lord Lincoln was at this time auditor of the exchequer.-E.

316 Letter 178 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  Strawberry Hill, April 16, 1756.

You wrong me very much in thinking I omit writing because I don’t hear from you as often as you have a mind I should:  you are kinder to me in that respect than I have reason, considering your numerous occupations, to expect:  the real and whole truth is, that I have had nothing to tell you; for I could not tire either you or myself with all the details relating to this foolish road-bill, which has engrossed the whole attention of every body lately.  I have entered into it less than any body.  What will you say when you are told that proxies have been sent for to Scotland? that my Lord Harrington has been dragged into the House of Lords from his coffin, and Lord Arran(668) carried thither to take the oaths, who I believe has not appeared there since the Revolution?  In short, it has become quite a trial for power:  and though the Dukes of Grafton and Bedford have lent their names and their vehemence, you will guess what has been the engine behind the curtain.

The French are so obliging as to wait till we have done with these important squabbles:  the House of Commons takes care too not to draw off the attention of the nation.  The Militia-bill has passed through that solitude, but I hear will be stopped in the House of Lords.  I have lived lately in a round of great disagreeable suppers, which you know are always called for my Lady Yarmouth, as if the poor woman loved nothing