You are desired to have business to hinder you from going to Northampton, and you are desired to have none to hinder you from coming to Twickenham.  The autumn is in great beauty; my Lord Radnor’s baby-houses lay eggs every day, and promise new swarms; Mrs. Chandler treads, but don’t lay; and the neighbouring dowagers order their visiting coaches before sunset-can you resist such a landscape? only send me a line that I may be sure to be ready for you, for I go to London now and then to buy coals.

I believe there cannot be a word of truth in Lord Granville’s going to Berlin; by the clumsiness of the thought, I should take it for ministerial wit—­and so, and so.

The Twickenham Alabouches say that Legge is to marry the eldest Pelhamine infanta; he loves a minister’s daughter—­I shall not wonder if he intends it, but can the parents!  Mr. Conway mentioned nothing to me but of the prisoners of the last battle. and I hope it extends no farther, but I vow I don’t see why it should not.  Adieu!

342 Letter 198 To Sir Horace Mann.  Strawberry Hill, Oct. 17, 1756.

Lentulus (I am going to tell you no old Roman tale; he is the King of Prussia’s aide-de-camp) arrived yesterday, with ample Confirmation of the victory in Bohemia.(718) Are not you glad that we have got a victory that we can at least call Cousin?  Between six and seven thousand Austrians were killed:  eight Prussian squadrons sustained the acharnement, which is said to have been extreme, of thirty-two squadrons of Austrians:  the pursuit lasted from Friday noon till Monday morning; both our countrymen Brown and Keith(719) performed wonders—­we seem to flourish much when transplanted to Germany—­but Germany don’t make good manure here!  The Prussian King writes that both Brown and Piccolomini are too strongly entrenched to be attacked.  His Majesty ran to this victory; not `a la Mulwitz.(720) He affirms having found In the King of Poland’s cabinet ample justification of his treatment of Saxony—­should not one query whether he had not those proofs(721) in his hands antecedent to the cabinet?  The Dauphiness(722) is said to have flung herself at the King of France’s feet and begged his protection for her father; that he promised “qu’il le rendroit au centuple au Roi de Prusse.”

Peace is made between the courts of Kensington and Kew; Lord Bute(723) who had no visible employment at the latter, and yet whose office was certainly no sinecure, is to be groom of the stole(724) to the Prince of Wales; which satisfies.  The rest of the family will be named before the birthday—­but I don’t know how, as soon as one wound is closed, another breaks out!  Mr. Fox, extremely discontent at having no power, no confidence, no favour, (all entirely engrossed by the old monopolist(725) has asked leave to resign.  It is not yet granted.  If Mr. Pitt will—­or can, accept the seals, probably Mr. Fox will be indulged,—­if Mr. Pitt will not, why then, it is impossible to tell