Mr. Fox was very desirous of bargaining for a peerage for Lady Caroline; the King has positively refused it, but has given him the reversion for three lives of clerk of the pelts in Ireland, which Doddington has now.  Mr. Conway is made groom of the bedchamber to the King.

A volume on all I have told you would only perplex you more; you will have time to study what I send you now.  I go to Strawberry Hill to-morrow for the holidays; and till they are over, certainly nothing more will be done.  You did not expect this new confusion, just when you was preparing to tremble for the campaign.  Adieu!

(772) “To Lord Temple,” says Lord Waldegrave, “the King had the strongest aversion, his lordship having a pert familiarity, which is not always agreeable to his Majesty. besides, in the affair of admiral Byng, he had used some insolent expressions, which his Majesty could never forgive.  Pitt, he said, made him long speeches, which probably might be very fine, but were greatly beyond his comprehension, and that his letters were affected, formal, and pedantic; but as to Temple, he was so disagreeable a fellow, there was no bearing him.”  Memoirs, p. 93.-E.

(773) “I told his Majesty, that the Duke of Newcastle was quite doubtful what part he should take, being equally balanced by fear on the one side and love of power on the other.  To this the King replied, ’I know he is apt to be afraid, therefore go and encourage him; tell him I do not look upon myself as king whilst I am in the hands of these scoundrels; that I am determined to get rid of them at any rate; that I expect his assistance, and that he may depend on my favour and protection.’” Waldegrave, p. 96.-E.

(774) The Duke of Cumberland.

(775) The new admiralty actually consisted of the following:—­ Lord Winchilsea, Admiral Sir W. Rowley, K. B., Hon. Edward Boscawen, Gilbert Elliott, Esq., John Proby, first lord Carysfort, Savage Mostyn, Esq., and the Hon. Edward Sandys, afterwards second lord Sandys.-D.

370 Letter 216 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, April 20, 1757.

You will wonder that I should so long have announced my lord Egremont to you for a master, without his announcing himself to you.—­it was no fault of mine; every thing here is a riddle or an absurdity.  Instead of coming forth secretary of state, he went out of town, declaring he knew nothing of the matter.  On that, it was affirmed that he had refused the seals.  The truth is, they have never been offered to him in form.  He had been sounded, and I believe was not averse, but made excuses that were not thought invincible.  As we are in profound peace with all the world, and can do without any government, it is thought proper to wait a little, till what are called the Inquiries are over;(776) what they are, I will tell you presently.  A man(777) who has hated and loved the Duke of Newcastle pretty heartily in the course of some years, is Willing