The Duke is expected every hour.  As he must not defend himself, his case will be harder than yours.  I was to go to Bath on Monday, but will certainly not go without seeing you:  let me know your motions, and I will meet you any where.  As I know your scrupulousness about saying any thing I say to you privately, I think it necessary. to tell you, that I don’t mean to preclude you from communicating any part of this letter to those with whom it may be proper for you to consult; only don’t let more weight be given to my intelligence than it deserves.  I have told you exactly where and what I heard.  It may not prove so, but there is no harm in being prepared.

(834) Now first printed.

(835) From the Expedition to Rochfort.  The expedition, under Sir Edward Hawke, sailed early in September, and, on the 28th, attacked the Isle of Aix; after which it returned to Spithead, without attempting to land the troops.-E.

(836) On the 22d, Mr. Beckford writes to Mr. Pitt.  “I hear that Admiral Hawke says, the land-general has acted in a very unbecoming manner, and will declare his sentiments to Parliament.  I hope he will:  that, if possible, the mystery may be unravelled.  I have often lamented the fatality attending conjunct commands.  The French avoid them in all their expeditions; for rank is perfectly settled among the land and sea officers, and the eldest commission carries the command.”  Chatham Correspondence, vol. i. p. 279.-E.

401 Letter 243 To The Earl Of Strafford.  Strawberry Hill, Oct. 11, 1757.

My dear lord, You will have seen or heard that the fleet is returned.  They have brought home nothing but one little island, which is a great deal more than I expected, having neither thought so despicably of France, or so considerably of ourselves, as to believe they were exposed to much damage.  My joy for Mr. Conway’s return is not at all lessened by the clamour on this disappointment.  Had he been chief commander, I should be very sure the nothing he had done was all he could do.  As he was under orders, I wait with patience to hear his general’s vindication.

I hope the Yorkists have not knocked out your brains for living in a county.  In my neighbourhood they have insulted the Parliament in person.(837) He called in the Blues, instead of piquing himself on dying in his curule chair in the stable-yard at Ember-court.  So entirely have we lost our spirit, that the standing army is forced to defend us against the people, when we endeavour to give them a militia, to save them from a standing army; and that the representative of the Parliament had rather owe his life to the Guards than die in the cause of a militia.  Sure Lenthall’s ghost will come and pull him by the nose!

I hope you begin to cast a southward look, and that my lady’s chickens and ducklings are old enough to go to a day-school, and will not want her any longer.

My Lord Townshend and George are engaged in a paper-war against one another, about the militia.  That bill, the suspension at Stade, and the late expedition, which has cost millions, will find us in amusements this winter.  It is lucky, for I despair of the Opera.  The Mattei has sent certificates to prove that she is stopped by an inundation.  The certificates I suppose can swim.  Adieu, my dear lord!