George Selwyn: His Letters and His Life

rlisle-Highway adventures-London Society-Newmarket intelligence-An evening in town-Charles Fox and America-Carlisle declines a Court post-Money from Fox-Selwyn and gambling-A Private Bill Committee-Se

bs-In Paris -Ele

in Fox's affairs. His gambling debts had been accumulating. The birth of a son to his elder brother-closing, at any rate for the time, Charles Fox's reversionary interests-caused his creditors to press their claims. Lord Holland was obliged to come to the assistance of his son. It is at this moment that the correspondence which is gathered in the present chapter begins. Lord Holland had raised a large sum with whi

g to the financial matters to which brief allusion has just been made, and which formed a subject so full of interest and anxiety for Selwyn. He has time, however, to give his friend news of the political and social events of London. The American question was

f much censure upon him, because all the friendship in the world which you can show him will never wipe off what he and his family at this instant stands (sic) accused of, which is, setting at nought the solemnest ties in the world and after the maddest dissipation of money possible, the amassing for his sake 50,000 pounds to pay everybody but those who deserved the first consideration, and without which he could never [be] said to be free, and it would [be] a constant reproach to be easy. When there was no idea but of his having 20,000 advanced, which sum was otherwise to have been left

consult him, Mr. Gregg, and Lavie. I would also seriously apply to my Lord Gower for his advice, and make him a confidant in what relates to this business. He has very powerful motives for interesting himself in it. All others I would silence at once by saying that you had fixed upon particular persons to talk with upon this subject, and that you would not listen an instant to any other. After one or two attemp

, and experience, and with as nice feelings in points of honour and friendship as anybody ever had. It is the

Stavordale,(94) by their joint securities (and let Lady Holland contribute hers), try to raise the other 5,000, and then this debt is paid; and when the worst comes to the worst, you will lose yourself only the 5

y judgment only, but I have heard it said, that a great deal of his inattention upon these occasions has been affected, and that if the same money was to be received and not to be paid, our faculties would then improve. I wish that if he has any left, he would exert them now for the sake of the reputation of his family as well as of his own; or he will add a load of obloquy to that whi

h his country a

ord of useless

you, which perhaps I ought not to have done, but I cannot help it. I hope that you will burn my letters, for if

him. "He will," they say, "manage this, and will settle that, with the Minister." Stuff! The Minister, whoever he happens to be, will settle this matter with Charles, and say, "Sir, I know you want me, and that I do not want you, but in a certain degree. Speak, and be paid, as Sir W. Young was." Alas, poor Charles

s expected of his future. He sat for Stockbridge from 1772-1774, and for Knaresborough from 1781 to his death. Like all of the fashionable men of his day, he played heavily. In 1779 he had become deeply involved in debt, but obtained the post of Minister Pl

s debt to

nd companion of Fox, and as great a gambler. "Lord Stavordale, not one-and-twent

Paymaster-General, and on this account his unpopula

1792); Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1767; First Lord of the Treasury, 1770 to 1782; S

so long, that I have increased my cough by it greatly, and am so unable to go this morning to Court, that I think now of putting on my clothes in the evening only, and so going, as I did last ye

alking more with him upon you and your affairs, as we did, I could not resist it. I do assure you, my dear Lord, it is a great pleasure to me to see the zeal with which he speaks of you, and your interests, whi

day, but such a hag you have no conception of; and a patch which she is obliged to wear upon t

u, you know best how these promises have been fulfilled. If I could direct her Ladyship's good disposition, I should make her show your letter to her to Lord Holl(an)d; I am persuaded that his faculties are not so entirely lost as not to discern with how much force of

to shock you. He was not surprised at that, knowing your delicacy and friendship. But sueing Charles, you will find in a short time, has no horror but in the expression. If you are shocked, you will be singly so; Charles will not be so, it is my firm belief. As soon as

h Mr. Wallis and Mr. Gregg; we will have nothing to do with Lavie, pour le moment. Il ne respectera pas celui-ci comme les deux autres. Discuss with them before Charles the means of extricating yourself from these engagements. Let him hear what they say, and what they would advise you to do, as g

. M('Cartney) told me that it was to him. Il fondera en larmes, and then you will be told afterwards, whenever a measure of any vigour is proposed, that you had acquiesced, because you had been disarmed, confounded. This happened no longer ago than last

n." I do not think that of Charles so much as the rest of the world does, and to which he has undoubtedly given some reason by his behaviour to his father, and to his friends. I attribute it all to a vanity that has, by

no pretensions to it, which is what has offended more people than even what Lady H(ollan)d is so good as to call his misconduct. I do assure you, my dear Lord, that notwithstanding all that I have been obliged by my friendship and confiden

tacked him so violently upon what he did at the Bath, that he was obliged to have recourse, as he did last year, to an absolute denial of the fact. The imagination of the blacklegs at the Billiar

l with Gregg upon this business of the Annuities. I like his conversation the best, I own, because I see less resentment in it. He speaks to the mat

re, instead of the linnets. I am glad it was no worse. I think your fears about the rebuilding of the House are not so well founded as your satisfaction might be, that you had not been drawn in to insure it. I think that you are more obliged to what he thinks upon that subject (for he said that he did not believe in fire) than to y

e plaisanterie. Hare is in town, and, if I was to credit his own insinuations, upon the point of bringing his affair to a conclusion. But I think that he prepares the world too much for some change in his condition, for he drives about in an old chariot of Foley's,(100) as I am t

h I have said upon the history and fate of that unfortunate Prince, excused myself from giving any sort of fete at my own house; but I do not carry my rigour so far, as not to accept one on that day at the house of another person. Voila le point ou

f Newcastle (1728-1804). died at her estate

es; Fox was his racing partner, and the money they lost, which included a hundred tho

ox and North, in whose family he was intimate. Fox made him Secretary of Legation at Paris in 1783-Gibbon competing for the office, and when the Duke of Manchester was called home he was nominated as Minister Plenipotentiary; six days later, however, his friends were no longer in power. It was in this year that his long friendship with Carlisle was broken; he did not stand for re-election for Morpeth and revoked the bequest of all his property which he had made to him. Storer never married. He was universally admired for his ver

See no

both as candidates upon separate interests, but secretly assisting one another, were, as Richard the 3rd calls it, a weak device of the enemy. I found myself greatly relieved, and sat down and wrote a letter to the Mayor and Co

door as he was going to take an airing in Hyde Park, with Clever in the chariot. I was sitting upon the steps, with the little girl(103) on my lap, which diverted him, and he made me a very pleasant bow, and that was my last view of him. I had had an acquaintance with him of above thirt

rson but themselves. Williams gave a dinner to talk him over, which I suppose was done with the voix larmoyante, et voila to

day return here. I dine to-day with the Essex's at March's; we supped last night at Lady Harrington's, the consequence of which is to eat a turtle

m to sit up with the corpse, as the only piece of preferment which was then vacant in the family. But they afterwards promoted him to be outrider to the hearse. Alice told me of it, and said that it was a comfort and little relief to the poor man for the present; and Mr. More, the attorney, to whom I mention

mned Lords in the year 16-, "Happy had it been for all your Lordships had you lain under so indulgent a restraint." It is difficult for me to say which was the kindest thing you ever did by me, but I am sure that this was one of the wisest which I ever did by myself; and

am Montgomery, and second wife of

ted daughter. This is the first men

Fox, second

ingenious and rather childish character of this

t between 10 and 11, which announced to me the close of that melancholy history; I mean, as far as regards my two very old friends. The loss of the latter, I must own, I feel much the more s

ined; and after dinner Varcy and I went to Tunbridge. We saw Penthurst (sic) yesterday morning, and dined with his Honour Brudenell, who gave us, that is

e of the prettiest places in the world. The houses are so many bijouzs made up for the occasion, so near the place, so agreste, and the whole an air of such simpl

stay there to-day to d

ut I had solemnly en

er party at Spring G

y good turtle. Our com

iot,(107) Lady A., Ma

s quarters at Hampto

arker, Langlo

t I came here to write to you plus a mon aise. Lady Mary Howard was at Tunbridge, and asked much after you; Lady Powis, the Duke of Leeds, hardly anybody besides tha

e so late that I doubt if I shall see him to-night. I met him on the road, as I was going to Knowles, on his return from Tunbridge, and he

he certainly intended to have made him his heir, and the attorney had left with him a will to be filled up. But we are never sure of doi

g done for her, and only because we-may do it any day in the week. But I thank God I've secured, as much as anything of that nature can be secured, what will be, I hope, a very comfortable resource for h

hess of Kingston,(109) who is, they say, at Calais. Feilding also complains of her; so elle s'est bromllee avec la justice au pied de la lettre. Nobody doubts of her felony; the only debate in c

Carlisle and Lady Julia, and my love to the little ones. I long to see the boy excessively. I hear of your returning to London in Sept

cond Lor

r of second Earl of Harrington. She ma

s correspondence is usua

d him during Mr. Hervey's life, but at the death of the Duke, who left her all his disposable property, proceedings were instituted against her and she was found guilty. She afterwards went to St. Petersburg, where she gave an entertainment for the Empress Catherine said to be more splendid than had ever been seen in Russia. She bought an estate

o have an amanuensis, as you will know to-morrow morning when the post comes in. I had got a small particle of shining sand in my eye that during the whole day, but particularly at night, gave me most exquisite pain, and prevented me from writing to you, whi

n out of town ever since Monday till to-day. He has been at a Mr. Darell's in Cambridgeshire, who has a wife I believe with a bla

nd in a damned good house, plate, windows cut down to the floor, elbowing his Majesty with an enormous bow window. The dog is monstrously well nipped; he obtrudes his civilities upon me, malgre que j'en ai, and will in time for

etters to write, and so you will have them to write for some time, for the Devil take me if I believe that you have wrote or will write one of them. A go

y, that my coming down upon that pretended meeting would have been nugatory, as he calls it. The Devil take them; I have wished him and his Corporation in Newgate a thousand times. But there will be no trifling after the end of this next week. The Assizes begin on Monday sevenn

cannot be poured into the neck of so small a vessel at once. I agree with you that it is not to be wished that she should be a sa

ne to his fortune. I have my doubts of that, but am clear that he runs constant risk of being very uneasy. But th

in vending for them some of their contraband goods, for which he was to be allowed a profit. He sold the goods, and never accounted with his principals for a farthing; and so now they place him to sit up with the corps[

land's death, he planned out a kind of itinerant trade, which was going from horse race to horse rac

e family as well as myself, and his debt is to the amount of five t

e Howard are to hav

o end to the honours

le's picture, I mean

d and cleaned, and t

I hear goes to Hunt

l then be time enough to meet these Judges, who do not begin to poison and hang till Monday. Lady

er's death, and some trifling things which had belonged to Lord H(olland). Lord Ilchester was extremely pleased

deur with his White's friends. I cannot but think, as he was so remarkably methodical, that he intended, by making no will,

that a calculation is made of what the interest of that money will amount to from this time to the settlement of the account; and that it is to be made capital, and is part of what is due to the public. I protest I don't un

illeux l'interet que tout le monde prend a tout ceci, aussi bien qu'au manage de notre Prince, dont je ne saurois pour dire des nouvelles. Meynell, Panton, and Jame

ed from writing by last post, cette f

g the waters; he looks a little better, but not much. They have lent him a horse to ride there,

Sir G. Metham that I [am] originally a Yorkshire man, and that my name is Salveyne; and he says that the best Yorkshire

soldier, afterwards Fi

sle; married, 1789, John Campbell, who was

8). In this correspondence Selwyn often refers to him as George. Selwyn

devoted himself particularly, however, to literary society, and published verses, and p

olland died

lchester (1704-1776), the elder br

ry gentleman and a Me

a constituency could n

wo following lette

ester

lay at my house, and the next morning he came with me in my chaise to this place for the Assizes. I have seen little of him since, being chiefly in the Grand Jury chamber, but I take it for grant

s among those who live in the country and have nothing else to do but to quarrel, are so great, that without intending to hurt me, they will stir up trouble and opposition, which will be both hazardous and expensive. I am torment

ament, Ministers, and Boroughs than by pursuing the emoluments attached to those connections. However, as it is the last time that I shall ever have anything to do of this kind, I will endeavour to keep up my spirits as well as I c

alpole has a project of coming into this part of the world the end of this week, and, if he does, of coming to me on Saturday. I shall be gla

, there is nothing in this eccentric situation in which I am now that can afford me the least pleasure, and everything I love to see in the world

that their health, which is a valuable consideration, makes it prudential. I shall be happy when I s

e, and therefore pray make him write. Richard the Third is to be act

s more probable, at least in this place, to suffer some interruption. This looks like an apology for what I am sure needs none; it requires much more, that I seem to have established it as a rule to trouble you so often. I have not here the shallow pretence of telling you some little occurre

ice, a juryman, and a candidate; and yesterday was forced to open my trenches

stin qui le ci

ps enfin qu' la

ed my point; and if it was possible to judge from the event of one meeting only, I should think that there would be a peaceable election, and the expense not exceed many hundred pounds, and those given chiefly to the service of the city. B

my own language. He came yesterday from Lady Ailesbury's, and stays with me till Tuesday, and then I hope we shall return to London togethe

cannot digest. But it is chiefly their liquors, which are like so much gin. The civility which they shew me, I may say indeed the friendship which I have from some of these people, make me very sorry that

loss to know the source of his generosity. I have no personal acquaintance with him, but as a member of the Corporation have a permission to send for what venison we want. He has some charming ruins of an

other, I wish that, or anything which can put him once more in a way of establishment. I shall however not have any hopes of that, till he is less intoxicated than he is with the all sufficiency, as h

and of rebuilding Winterslow. If Lady Holland had not died just as she did, I believe that

with a commission to see that justice was done me, and to send my pye, if I should have one, into Kent. Mine is a q

t between us five. Three of my tenants joined for one in the Lottery two or three years since, and they got a 20,000 pound prize. I made a visit to one of them the ot

m that if he treats his sister with great attention I shall love him excessively, but s'il fait le fier, because he is a Viscount and a Ho

as Lord Carlisle's youngest

rom Gloucester and was again among his fri

o-day at the Duke of Argyle's(117) at a quarter before four. He and the Duchess went to Richmond at six. The maccaroni dinner was at Mannin's. My eyes are still very painful

ople who thought that they could dupe you, that you know more of the matter than they do. I know too little to be active, but have prudence enough to take no steps while I am in the dark upon the suggestion of others who can

ut what is to pay for his chair to go down to the House the Lord

He had married for his second wife the Duche

ated for her beauty and charm as her sisters, Lady Holland, Lady Louisa Connolly, and Lady

enerous heart with anxiety for the character, the health, and the happiness of his friend before he found time to compute and lament its calamitous influence on his own fortunes."

e importunity begins with you, mine will avail nothing. Besides, I fairly own that I cannot keep my temper. My ideas, education, and former experience, or inexperience, of these things, make me see some things in t

feeling, all the principle, &c., should be of one side only. If you don't press it, he will not think it pressing, and will say so; that must depend upon what you choose to reveal. He may not think you want it

istory of Charles

regg here to dinner, and we have had our leg of mutton together; a poor epitome of Roman greatness. I believe, as Lord Gran

that there can be no doubt of the validity and payment of the debt, and there is no anticipation of it. But it is not to be expected that Charles should think more of Stavordale's debt than his own. He lost in three nights last week 3,000, as he told me himself, and has lent Richard God knows what; the account, and

cessively pleased with the account which I gave him of the present state of your affairs, together with your manner of expressing yourself about them. Every

e known for a certainty that he was to have set out. I believe March's money and mine helped to grease his wheels. March deserves to have lost his, because he was the seducer. I cou

1748-1863). He began at Eton his lifelong friendship with Fox a

me for three hundred, of which I am determined to give him but two; as he knows so well where to get the other hundred, which is that Richard owes me, but seems determined that I shall not have. Charles is winning more, and the quinze table is now at its height. I have set down Brooks to be the completest composition of knave and fool that ever was, to which I

ous well-known clubs were in the habit of meeting here, notably the Society of Dilettanti which was formed in

me of me. I am here with Mie Mie, and shall be so for ten or twelve days longer, and then the weather being cool and the days grown short, I shall find the evenings too tedious to myself an

I have submitted to those who desire to govern me in this matter, and that is in regard to Luggershall. My lawyers and Mr. T. Towns

the failure of what I am enjoined as lord of the manor to do by the charter would certainly be very prejudicial upon an enquiry

s is my present arrangement, which, however important it may be represented to be, should be altered if I could be essentially useful to

on M(arch?) to have allowed me to do what I am now doing, by which I flatter myself to bring about what will be in many respects of use to that l

: so the consequence was, what might be expected, he came with all the force imaginable against the turnpike gate, (and) set my chaise upon its head. Mr. Craufurd was with me, and on the left side, which was uppermost, and we were for a small space of time lying under the horses, at their mercy, and the waggoner's, who seemed very much inclined to whip them on, and from one or other, that is, either from the going of the waggon over us, or the kicking of the horses, we w

my compliments to Mr. Nicolson; il a l'air d'un personnage tres respectable, d'un homme affide et sur. I cannot afford to wish any period of mine, at ever so little distance, to be arrived, but I am tempted to wish that I was two years older, for this reason, that I am confident your affairs, and the state of your mind, will be pleasanter than it has been in for a great while. So my wife(123) has made you another agreeable visit for a fortnight, as she called it. I am sorry for what you tell me of the visit which w

means of placing her where my mind will for the present be easy about her, and that she may be brought up with that education that, with the help of other advantages, may in some measure recompen

tomach I find weakened from that cause, more than from any other,-for I'm more and more abstemious every day,-yet I now see that all will en

and so to avoid it I sent that coachman who had like to have destroyed m

pt that of his Administration, which you will be so just to me as to recollect that I never gave any credit to, because he knows how I desire that those resources may be applied. On the contrary, when I spoke to him the other day about your demand, I was answered only with an elevation d

or a living which he has given to a friend of mine at Gloucester, accompanied with the most obliging letter to me in the world. This and yours have put me to-day in very good humour. We had an assembly last

he initiated the policy of sending convicts beyond the seas as colonists. Sydney in Australia was named after him. His second daughter married the second Earl

allusion to one

etter than I expected in that beggarly place. I made an acquaintance with a neighbouring gentleman, who has a very good estate, and a delightful old mansion, where I played at whist and supped on Wednesday evening. He is a descendant of the Speaker Smith, and son of

ister, painted by Sir P. Lely, that was one of the best portraits I ever saw. I wish Sir J. Reynolds had been there to have told me why those colours were

re and Charles I am told have lost everything they had at Newmarket. General Smith has been the winner. Richard also is stripped. No company in town as yet, or ne

ercharged, and so many of the facts being incontestable, you may take the whole story for a true one, no one part being more improbable than another. Will you have it sent? It is d

r visits at Richmond to Lady Fawkener, and to Petersham. I thank you fo

ys writes of him as "Emily": in a letter of M

the momentous struggle into which the King and his ministers had drawn their country. The flippancy with which Selwyn alludes to the rebellion is indicative of the general state of opinion even among those who

his odd-looking parson, who came to town to christen the child. I went from thence and supped at Lady Hertford's, with Lord Fr(ederick) Cavendish, Mrs. Howe, and the Beau Richard, who is returned from Jamaica. His friend Colonel Kane has got the start

may depend upon it, if that little dispute interests you, I will let you

r what, as a preliminary assurance to the Insurgents; and then for the inference, under any change he can't allow himself to take an emplo

clamours, as if this was a creation, and taking it for granted that the King is to accept their interpretations instead of his own. I s

down (done) sur le champ, but I would not be hampered by engagements. Qu'en pensez-vous, Seigneur? I take it for granted that Lord Gower will be here soon. I have desired Gregg to wait on him with an account of all that has passed in your affairs during my regency, because Gregg w

was called Peter the Czar, in allusion to his great wealth, which, however, he and Lady

Southwell (1721-1780), was create

g what it did, and the style of it being what it was, I carried this morning to Lord G(ower), who seemed perfectly satisfied with the option you had made, and the manner in which you expressed yourse

elieve (sic), notwithstanding the demur you made upon it, if it had been a point with him that you should have accepted it-I did believe that you would. I

ave seen, that I could not but credit it. It is my real belief that the Opposition will be disappointed, and those who have joined them upon speculation and resentment, not a little vexed at being duped.

ll probability before we rise, for none of the leading persons in Administration has spoke, or the principal squibs of opinion. Charles is down, but has not ye

hat Lord G(ower) had been talking to him, but he assured me that he had not; so from what quarter his intelligence came I know not. Lord G. thought that it was most probable from Lord North. If you had made that your o

s bowels. The two Lascells and (sic) dined at his house not a week ago. Sir R. Keith comes in, in his room. Lord N(orth) and Lord Suffolk recommend him. March has demurred upon it, but seems not determined for particular reasons. I have been employed about this, this whole day at Court, and then with Lord North, and going backwards and forwards. March will not

of a Lordship of the Bedchamber, see Tr

bles and for quieting the minds of his Majesty's subjects in America. The motion was negatived

r from me to-morrow, but by no accident facheux. For the future, however I conclud

. Stewart, and la famille; en verite votre beau-pere est bien servi; le diner fut superbe. I was obliged, without staying f

to anybody till the evening, excepting to Ald. Harris, who is at present very clamorous for a letter, for

ediately to Gregg, and it was my design to have carried your bond to Brooks, who should have intercepted the 1,000 for his own use, and then I should have applied the same sum afterwards to the tradesmen; but he was too quick for me, and set (sat) up and lost it and more to Lord Stavordale. I know that

fatal to us all. I painted it in very strong colours, and he has promised me to go, as soon as this Sedgmoor Bill is reported. I moved to have Tuesday fixed for it. We had a debate and division upon my motion, and this Bill will at last not go down so glibly as Bully hoped that

do not desire to hinder me from a favourite amusement. If it was an innocent one also, passe; but it is not only dangerous, but in its consequences criminal, and the

t speak this from having now suffered, for I have not, as I told you before, since March last; that is, by the event. But I have

e best tie, and the tax the easiest paid, and restrictive enough, and twenty guineas you will take; and if you tie me up, I beg my forfeitures may go to the children, and then perhaps I may forfeit for their sake, you'll say. I really think it will be a wise measure for me, and a safe o

row at Eden's(130); and on Monday all the St.

some people's manner of delivering their sentiments, by which they receive great advantage. You remember Sir R. Payne's way of describing you, which was still more odd; he said if anybody looked through the keyhole at any time to see how you behaved when you was alone, th

d Atterbury quite through. I do not propose the Bishop as a pattern for a

ts to Lady C(arlisle) and my love to the children, and last of all do not despair of me about Hazard, for it being what I love so much, is precisely the r

e ante,

rlisle, accompanying him later to Ireland as secretary. Between 1785 and 1789 he filled appointments as ambassador successively to France, Spain, and the United Provinces. In 1

Charles Fox. The main event of his political life was his tenure of the

3 to 1784, held a sinecure post as Surveyor-General of Land Revenues. He wrote some political pamphlets, a play, and an opera. The play w

all that could be said on our side. But as the business was managed, it was the worst Question that I ever voted for. We were a Committee absolutely of Almack's; so if the Bill is not resumed, and better conducted and supported, this phantom of 30,000 pounds clear in Bully's pocket to pay off his annuities vanishes. It is surprising what a fatality a

gh nothing in the world has happened, but j'ai les dragons noirs et fort noirs; l'avenir me donne des horreurs, but brisons la pour la present: I have bought to-day at Lord Holland's sale of books, "Dart's Antiquities of Westminster Abbey," a very complete copy on large paper. But I paid 6 pounds for it, which is 2 pounds mo

ble book, one of the first translations which was in that language, and has infinite merit. The print is not good enough for me, it will come high and I seldom read. I must buy quartos now, large letter, and books of another kind which amuse me more. Lady Holland has got well again. Scott has left 200,000 pounds and two daughters who divide it. ... I hear some good news is come to-day from America. I shall know more of it from this dinner I am going to. I have no mind to go, but can

ord Bol

cluded in those printed by t

orward the political information of the moment to Carlisle, so that a letter of Storer is sometimes supplement

orer to Lo

entioned it to you; but if I am not able to come, it will be some comfort to me to know that you will have him and St. John; so that if you fail

ise of it are totally renounced. You never hear the right mentioned, but in order to give it up. The rigid polit

Bill; it is lucus a non lucendo. The Americans are neither to trade with the West Indies or Great Britain; they are not interdicted any commerce with us, but they

he passing of this Bill is not the fear of starving, which they have their apprehensions of, but the danger there is of their being taken on false pretences by the men of war that

yesterday, the Sedgmoor Inclosure Bill, in which Lord Bolingbroke was very much interested (G. Selwyn was Chairman for and in the Committee) was thrown out, owing to some irr

this is one of my great undertakings, it is more owing to you, than to any other motive. I know you will laugh at me, for saying so, but I really believ

it, generally lose by it. This I think Lord G.'s case. He seemed to speak with much more weight, before he was in office. The Ghost of Mindon is for ever brought in neck and shoulders to frighten h

are say you will hardly know 'em again. You will soon grow used to them, however, and upon very little acquaintance, will be as intimate with them as ever.

. I live there almost; what with Balls, Bt (?), Tessier, Commerce, Supper, and Quinze, I am never out of the house. They have invited me to go to the Oaks, this Christmas, but if Castle Howard is too far, the Oaks, I assur

t trade and intercourse between the American C

fear that it should happen as it did last Saturday, that I fall asleep, and so let pass the hour of the post. The cold drives me to the fire, and the f

ourage my Lord of Worcester from staying them out. We are very merry, all of us, and I think Mrs. North the merriest of us all. At 2 this morning, the Bishop a

ank you for inquiring after her; it has been one of my comforts that she has

for, although he was engaged to two other places, he told March that he should have been glad to have come, and certainly would, if h

Lord Marchmont's place, who is satisfied by the peerage of his son, and that Lord Harcourt will

ing more of this then. Her Grace has suppers for the class I dine with to-day, but I am not of them. Monsieur Tessier is to read to the Queen, and till then

Bath. Eden would be excessively happy to go, if it was for a few days only, but his attendance at this time seems scarcely to be dispensed with. Our last news from America are certainly not goo

ve any other country. It is a cursed, foul pool, which they are going to stir up, and-how many rats, cats, and dogs, with other nuisances, will be seen floating at the top, nobody can tell. It will be as much a trial of the E(arl) of B(ristol) as of her, and in point of infamy,

Pall Mall, and therefore was a near neighbour of Selwyn. This p

See no

and a place seeker, shows a much truer appreciation of the actual condition of affairs. With a keener interest than Selwyn in political matters he sometimes, as already mentione

orer to Lo

to Parliament in so strange a form, that it met with very little encouragement; Wilkes counted twelve

upon the news of that plot, that made so much noise for a day or two at the opening of Parliament; and said that some pers

could easily make another person at (all?) similar to him; that he had seen the difficulty of such an undertaking by observing, that gentlemen who made it the whole object and study

nd his party divided with us upon the previous Question. Lord North upon this desired, while the minority was in the Lobby, that gentlemen would stay for the

ch, I will not take that out of his hands, which he has so much more right to. He spoke for above two hours. Good God!

rcely in their power to say what we are to do. Whether we are to send Russians, or French, or what nation the troops are to be of, I cannot guess. They say Russians cannot go

hambley, and the investiture of Quebec, their diligence and activity is wonderful, and it must end in the possession of all N(orth) Am(erica). They have taken a store-ship, and have several ships at sea. De peu a peu nous

." For the despatch of political news he trusted, as he often did, to Storer. "I hope that Storer gives you a more particular account of what is said in the House than I can do. What is he employing himself about? Why won't he attempt to say something? What signifies, knowing what Cicero said and how he said it, if a man ca

as we know troubled by Mie Mie's parents, and he

hey now are. But whoever upon that concludes that I must be easy is either ignorant or indifferent to the feelings of mankind. The bare possibility of be[ing] rendered so unhappy as I should be made upon a change of their resolution, or from the operations of caprice and travers, I say the mere apprehensions of that, even sli

u contributed, Lady C(arlisle) and your children. There is a hiatus valde deflendus; indeed, a lacune which I d

j'ai l'esprit et le coeur trop fracasses for me to be happy at present, and all I can say is that I might, by untoward accidents, be more miserable, and these are removed from my view pour le moment; but I wait for a period of time when I shall be r

r to-morrow. I hope all goes quietly, at least Gregg says that you write cheerfully. On s'accout

ed "The Diaboliad."(138) This hero is Lord Ernham. Lord Hertford and Lord Beauchamp are the chief persons whom he loads with his invectives. Lord Lyttleton (and) his cousin Mr. Ascough are also treated with not much lenity; Lord Pembroke with great familiarity, as well as C. Fox; and Fitzpatrick, although painted in colours bad enough at present, is represented as one whom in time the Devil will lose

ish stories would make me peevish. Alas! I have no time to be peevish. Quand on a le coeur gros, et serre, comme je l'ai souvent a cette heure, il est rare que l'on a de l'hume

debts; that is, give him 40,000 pounds from his own children, pour le delivrer des Juifs. He pays already to one

t. The middle piece, the demeurant, as it is called, a fine Oriental arcade, which reached from one end of the table to the other, fell in like a tremblement de terre. The wax, which cemented the composing parts, m

ed to the Worst Man in His Majesty's

supposed to have grown old, and being anxious to find a success

onder struck th

h trying for'

t unpluck'd, th

the certain

els Ambition

f told, the fa

. . . . .

'd-the Herald st

tty next in

ne to hear th

osts and suffe

hrice, he chose

ld the cracklin

know Ambition

ecution in the cas

se almost constant sinkings of my spirits; but, my dear Lord, you may be quite assured that des plaies comme les miennes ne se referment fas bient

Lady Cornwallis told me yesterday she expected some much sooner. Mr. D'Oyley's picture of affairs was no

ould give him five guineas he would give me 100 if I lost my place. He must get one himself to justify my accepting the proposal. The match of ten

es, who will probably come and die in his own country. I wish these were mine, and I had no other, but we cannot choose our own misfortunes; if we could, there is no

of the White's peop

the Macaroni's at Lord

ot conclude, as this

es

g.-At Almack'

Egremont, Jack Towns

er, Hare, 2 Craufu

Sir W Draper, Sir C.

by it. Lady Harriot came again to fetch her husband in their vis a vis, and I crammed myself in too. I left Draper and Sir C. Davers travelling through the worst roads of C

. I hope that he will not. It will do the cause no good in any respect. I am for leaving everything for the present, bad as it is, where the il

rt as minister, A German of her acquaintance has promised Lady Townshend to contrive that she and I shall have a sight of her before she goes. She met her grandson coming to town in a chaise and fo

wo, however, from Paris in 1779 give an insight into Selwyn's life abroad. He resumed the correspondence in 1780. He was not well; he was being pressed to go to "that abominable town" of Gloucester. He hated electioneering, but it

be lodged as far from a certain Lady(140) as I could, and I have so contrived it, that for the present I am next door. I intend for the future to describe her by that name, that is, La Dame, as Lord Clarendon does the Duchess of Cleveland. I will for the rest of my lif

ever I shall be quit I hope for a distant bow; for although honest Iago had taken as much care as possible that

; but this was at noon, and he was giving audience. He took me out immediately into another room, and after some civil reproaches for not having been there before-for some English, who dine with him on a

, I desired him to accept of it, and I think he received it as well as I could for her sake have wished him to do. I believe he will think that Lady Dunmore's daughters will not be the only beauties that we shall be able to produce. He was delighted with it. I gave him also another of Admiral Kepp

but that is impossible, for the only step towards it, which is returning to her family, and to yours, she is determined not to take; she will ret

emove, for one apartment will not do; we must have three; one for Monsieur le Marquis, another for the child and her people, and o

se proposed marriage to a foreign baron met

ron (1753-1794). Though he joined the Re

and was First Lord of the Admiralty under the Rockingham Administration in 1782, and was soon after crea

xpected, that it is by much the greatest embarras I ever felt, and a monstrous exercise of expense to me. But Mie Mie will be there to-morrow. Les parens ont change d'avis, and I must go to Lyons to fetch (her). God knows how much

o far or so fast. I have had a letter from Warner; he has seen t

rom Lyons; but when I

want to hear how

bli ici. J'aurai des entretiens avec la mere, qui ne sont pas toujours composes avec du miel. "Helas! Rende m

was arranged that the Marchesa Fragni

nance to writing, although you have, and that I am very well pleased to go on in my old way of scribbling, as long as I am convinced that it is agreeable to you. But a line now and then is comfortable, for

matters, and will not allow me a moment's time for anything else. I have no comfort, but that it will be concluded on Thursday, or F

r own omnipotence that I should have never been forgiven, if I had not yielded to this importunity. I am assured that it will succeed, and that both Sir A. and myself shall be returned, but my credulity does not extend to that point. It is very probable, indeed, that by this effort I may retain my own seat, which I did not care for, bu

es, such as the Duke of Beaufort, &c., and those who would have been active, if they had been desired to be so half a year ago, never spoke to. Mr. Robinson,(144) in his letters to me, has always spoke in the plur

lace, if not here. He is really a very agreeable man, and seems to penetrate into the characters of the people he has seen very well. He

e were jobed (sic) for it at our return. I get here time enough to go to bed, that is about 11 o'clock

attachment to Government, assembles, and for half an hour you would be diverted with their different sentiments and proposals. There is one who has a knack at squibbs, as they c

, to me

his? My father

come to us without trouble it is very well; but when they do not, I do not know one earthly thi

ther corruption whatever, and of that of manners in particular; and the little attention that is paid t

hat no one may toss your hat over the walls of the Castle. I dread to think what a wrongheaded people you are to transact business with for the next three years of your life. But I am less afraid of you from your character, than

n 1764. In 1770 he was appointed Secretary to the Treasury, which office he retained till Lord North's fall in 1782. He was the business manager of the Ministry, and had i

his year been appointed L