This is not our only quandary!  A message of 40,000 pounds a-year, with an intention of an establishment for a court, and an invitation of coming to live at Kensington, has been sent to Leicester-fields.  The money was very kindly received—­the proposal of leaving our lady-mother refused in most submissive terms.  It is not easy to enforce obedience; yet it is not pleasant to part with our money for nothing—­and yet it is thought that will be the consequence of this ill-judged step of authority.  My dear child, I pity you who are to represent and to palliate all the follies of your country!

My uncle has got his peerage:  but just when the patent was ready my Lord Privy Seal Gower went out of town, on which the old baby wrote him quite an abusive letter, which my Lord Gower answered with a great deal of wit and severity.  Lord Ilchester(699) and Lord Falconberg(700) are created earls.

General Isemberg of the Hessians has already diverted us:  he never saw the tide till he came to Southampton; he was alarmed, and seeing the vessel leaning on the shore, he sent for his master of the horse, and swore at him for overturning the ship in landing the horses.  Another of them has challenged a Hampshire justice, for committing one of his soldiers; but hitherto both Hessians and Hanoverians are rather popular.

Your brother, whom, if any thing, I think better, is set out this morning for Bristol.  You cannot pray more for its restoring his health than I do.  I have just received yours of May 28th, to which I make no answer, as all the events I have mentioned are posterior to your accounts.  Adieu! my dear Sir.

(698) In the month of June 1756, the Marshal de Richelieu, at the head of sixteen thousand men, landed in Minorca, and almost immediately obtained possession of the whole island, as well as of the fortress of St. Philip and Port Mahon, the population joining him; and the garrison, commanded by General Blakeney, being very weak, and not having received the expected succours from Admiral Byng.-D.

(699) Stephen first Earl of Ilchester, eldest surviving son of Sir Stephen Fox.  His titles were given him, with remainder, in failure of issue male of himself, to his younger brother, Henry Fox.,-D.

(700) Thomas Belasyse, fourth Viscount and first Earl of Fauconberg.  He died in 1774.-D.

330 Letter 188 To George Montagu, Esq.  June 18.

The two drawings of the Vine and Strawberry, which you desired, are done. and packed up in a box; tell me how I must send them.  The confusion about the ministry is not yet settled; at least it was not at noon to-day; but, for fear that confusion should ever finish, all the three factions are likely to come into place together.  Poor Mr. Chute has had another bad fit; he took the air yesterday for the first time.  I came to town but last night, and returned to my chateau this evening knowing nothing but that we are on the crisis of battles and ministries.  Adieu!