accept either, but nothing till Lord Anson is satisfied, for whom he asks treasurer of the navy.  The Duke goes to Kensington to-morrow, when all this is to be declared-however, till it is, I shall doubt it.  Lord Lincoln and his principal friends are vehement against it; and indeed his grace seems to be precipitating his own ruin.  If Mr. Fox could forgive all that is past, which he by no means intends, here are now provocations added—­will they invite Mr. Fox’s support?  Not to mention what Unpopular German steps the Duke must take to recover the King’s favour, who is now entirely Fox’s; the latter is answerable for nothing, and I believe would not manage inquiries against his grace as Mr. Pitt has—­leniently.  In short, I think the month of October will terminate the fortunes of the house of Pelham for ever—­his supporters are ridiculous; his followers will every day desert to one or other of the two princes(788) of the blood, who head the other factions.  Two parts in three of the cabinet, at least half, are attached to Mr. Fox; there the Duke will be overborne; in Parliament will be deserted.  Never was a plan concerted with more weakness!

I enclose a most extraordinary print.  Mr. Fox has found some caricaturist(789) equal to George Townshend, and who manages royal personages with at least as little ceremony.  I have written “Lord Lincoln” over the blue riband, because some people take it for him—­likeness there is none:  it is certain Lord Lincoln’s mother was no whore; she never recovered the death of her husband.  The line that follows “son of a whore” seems but too much connected with it; at least the “could say more” is not very merciful.  The person of Lord Bute, not his face, is ridiculously like; Newcastle, Pitt, and Lord Temple are the very men.  It came out but to-day, and shows how cordial the new union is.  Since the Ligue against Henry iii. of France, there never was such intemperate freedom with velvet and ermine; never, I believe, where religion was not concerned.

I cannot find by the dates you send me that I have received yours of Jan. 1, and Feb. 12, and I keep all your letters very orderly.  Mine of this year to you have been of Jan. 6, 17, 30; Feb. 14; March 3 , 17; April 7, 20; May 5, 19.  Tell me if you have received them.

What a King is our Prussian! how his victories come out doubled and trebled above their very fame!  My Lady Townshend says, “Lord! how all the Queens will go to see this Solomon! and how they will be disappointed!” How she of Hungary is disappointed!  We hear that the French have recalled their green troops, which had advanced for show, and have sent their oldest regiments against the Duke.(790) Our foreign affairs are very serious, but I don’t know whether I do not think that our domestic tend to be more so!  Adieu!

(788) The Prince of Wales, who espoused Mr. Pitt; and the Duke of Cumberland, Mr. Fox.