334 Letter 193 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, August 29, 1756.

A journey of amusement into Yorkshire would excuse my not having writ to you above this month, my dear Sir, but I have a better reason,—­nothing has happened worth telling you.  Since the conquest of Minorca, France seems to have taken the wisest way for herself, and a sure one too of ruining us, by sitting still, and yet keeping us upon our guard, at an outrageous expense.  Gazettes of all countries announce, as you say, almost a league of Cambray against us; but the best heads think, that after all Europe has profited of our profusion, they will have the sense only to look on, while France and we contend which shall hereafter be the Universal Merchant of Venal Princes.  If we reckon at all upon the internal commotions in France, they have still a better prospect from ours:  we ripen to faction fast.  The dearness of corn has even occasioned insurrections:  some of these the Chief Justice Willcs has quashed stoutly.  The rains have been excessive just now, and must occasion more inconveniences.  But the warmth on the loss of Minorca has opened every sluice of opposition that has been so long dammed up.  Even Jacobitism perks up those fragments of asses’ ears which were not quite cut to the quick.  The city of London and some counties have addressed the King and their members on our miscarriages.  Sir John Barnard, who endeavoured to stem the torrent of the former, is grown almost as unpopular as Byng.  That poor simpleton, confined at Greenwich, is ridiculously easy and secure, and has even summoned on his behalf a Captain Young, his warmest accuser.  Fowke, who of two contradictory orders chose to obey the least spirited, is broke.  Pamphlets and satirical prints teem; the courts are divided; the ministers quarrel-indeed, if they agreed, one should not have much more to expect from them! the fair situation!

I do not wonder that you are impertinenced by Richcourt;(705) there is nothing so catching as the insolence of a great proud woman(706) by a little upstart minister:  the reflection of the sun from brass makes the latter the more troublesome of the two.

Your dear brother returns from Bristol this week; as I fear not much recovered, I shall have good reason to press his going abroad, though I fear in vain.  I will tell you faithfully, after I have seen him a few days, what I think of him.

I never doubt your zeal in executing any commission I give you.  The bill shall be paid directly; it will encourage me to employ you; but you are generally so dilatory in that part of the commission, that I have a thousand times declined asking your assistance.  Adieu! my dear Sir.

(705) Count Richcourt, a Lorrainer, prime minister at Florence for the Great Duke.

(706) The Empress Queen, wife of the Great Duke.

335 Letter 194
To Richard Bentley, Esq. 
Wentworth Castle, August.