on the commitment of Wilkes.  James Grenville,(374) who sat beside him, rose in all the acrimony of resentment:  drew a very favourable picture of his brother, and then one of Rigby, conjuring up the bitterest words, epithet, and circumstances that he could amass together:  told him how interested he was, and how ignorant:  painted his Journey to Ireland to get a law-place, for which he was so unqualified; and concluded with affirming he had fled from thence to avoid the vengeance of the people.  The passive Speaker suffered both painters to finish their words, and would have let them carry their colours and brushes into Hyde-park the next morning, if other people had not represented the necessity of demanding their paroles that it should go no farther.  They were both unwilling to rise:  Rigby did at last, and put an end to it with humour(375) and good-humour.  The numbers were 258 to 133.  The best speech of all those that were not spoken was Charles Townshend’s.(376) He has for some time been informing the world that for the last three months he had constantly employed six clerks to search and transcribe records, journals, precedents, etc.  The production of all this mountain of matter was a mouse, and that mouse stillborn:  he has voted with us but never uttered a word.

We shall now repose for some time; at least I am sure I shall.  It has been hard service; and nothing but a Whig point of this magnitude could easily have carried me to the House at all, of which I have so long been sick.  Wilkes will live, but is not likely to be in a situation to come forth for some time.  The blasphemous book has fallen ten times heavier on Sandwich’s own head than on Wilkes’s:  it has brought forth such a catalogue of anecdotes as is incredible!  Lord Hardwicke fluctuates between life and death.  Lord Effingham is dead suddenly, and Lord Cantelupe(377) has got his troop.

These are all our news; I am glad yours go on so smoothly.  I take care to do you justice at M. de Guerchy’s for all the justice you do to France, and particularly to the house of Nivernois.  D’Eon(378) is here still:  I know nothing more of him but that the honour of having a hand in the peace overset his poor brain.  This was evident on the fatal night(379) at Lord Halifax’s:  when they told him his behaviour was a breach of the peace, he was quite distracted, thinking it was the peace between his country and this.

Our operas begin to-morrow.  The Duchess of Grafton is come for a fortnight only.  My compliments to the ambassadress, and all your court.

(366) There is reason to think that at this moment Mr. Grenville and Lord Halifax were those to whom Mr. Walpole gave credit for honest intentions and a disposition to moderate and conciliate.  This opinion, though probably correct, Walpole soon changed, as to Mr. Grenville.-C.

(367) Randle Wilbraham, LL.D. a barrister, deputy steward of the University of Oxford, and member for Newton, in Lancashire.-E.