may be another port on the coast of France, which we hope to discover, as we did one in the last war. By degrees, and somehow or other, I believe, we shall be fully acquainted with France. I saw the German letter you mention, think it very mischievous, and very well written for the

purpose.

You talk of being better than you have been for many months; pray, which months were they, and what was the matter with you? Don't send me your fancies; I shall neither pity nor comfort you. You are perfectly well, and always were ever since I knew you, which is now I won't say how long, but within this century. Thank God you have good health, and don't call it

names.

John and I are just going to Garrick's with a grove of cypresses in our hands, like the Kentish men at the conquest. He has built a temple to his master Shakspeare, and I am going to adorn the outside, since his modesty would not let me decorate it within, as I proposed, with these

Το GEORGE MONTAGU, Esq.

Twickenham, Monday.

You are desired to have business to hinder you from going to Northampton, and you are desired to have none to hinder you from coming to Twickenham. The autumn is in great beauty; my lord Radnor's baby houses lay eggs every day, and promises new swarms; Mrs. Chandler treads, but don't lay; and the neighbouring dowagers order their visiting coaches before sunset-can you resist such a landscape? only send me a line that I may be sure to be ready for you, for I go to London now and then to buy coals.

I believe there cannot be a word of truth in lord Granville's going to Berlin; by the clumsiness of the thought, I should take it for ministerial wit-and so, and so.

The Twickenham Alabouches say that Legge is to marry the eldest Pelhamine infanta; he loves a minister's daughter-I shall not wonder if he intends it, but can the parents? Mr. Conway mentioned nothing to me but of the prisoners of the last battle, and I hope it extends no farther, but I vow I don't see why it should not. Adieu !

Το GEORGE MONTAGU, Esq.

Arlington-street, Oct. 28, 1756.

Can you recommend one a first minister? We want one so much, that we do not insist upon his having a character from his last place: there will be good vails. But I forget; one ought to condole with you; the duke of Newcastle is your cousin, and as I know by experience how much much one loves one's relations, I sympathize with you! But, alas! all first ministers are mortal; and, as sir Jonathan Swift said, crowned heads and cane heads, good heads and no heads at all, may all come to disgrace. My father, who had no capacity, and the duke of Newcastle, who has so much, have equally experienced the mutability of this world. Well-a-day, well-a-day! his grace is gone! He has bid adieu to courts, retires to a hermitage, and will let his beard grow as long as his duchess's.

And so you are surprised! and the next question you will ask will be, who succeeds? Truly that used to be a question the easiest in the world to be resolved upon change of ministers. It is now the most unanswerable. I can only tell you that all the atoms are dancing, and as atoms always do, I suppose, will range themselves into the most durable system imaginable. Beyond the

past hour I know not a syllable; a good deal of the preceding hours-a volume would not contain it. There is some notion that the duke of Bedford and your cousin Halifax are to be the secretaries of state-as Witwoud says, they will sputter at one another like roasted apples.

The duchess of Hamilton has brought her beauty to London at the only instant when it would not make a crowd. I believe we should scarce stare at the king of Prussia, so much are we engrossed by this ministerial ferment.

I have been this morning to see your monument; it is not put together, but the parts are admirably executed: there is a helmet that would tempt one to enlist. The inscription suits wonderfully, but I have overruled the gold letters, which not only are not lasting, but would not do at all, as they are to be cut in statuary marble. I have given him the arms, which certainly should be in colours: but a shield for your sister's would be barbarous tautology. You see how arbitrary

I am, as you gave me leave to be.

Adieu!

Ever yours.

: To GEORGE MONTAGU, Esq.

Arlington-street, Nov. 6, 1756.

AFTER an interministerium of seventeen days, Mr. Pitt has this morning accepted the government as secretary of state; the duke of Newcastle and Mr. Fox being both excluded. The duke of Devonshire is to be at the head of the treasury; the chancellor1 retires, the seals to be in commission. Remnants of both administrations must be preserved, as Mr. Pitt has not wherewithal to fill a quarter of their employments. Did you ever expect to see a time when he would not have cousins enough? It will take some days to adjust all that is to follow. You see that unless Mr. Pitt joins with either Fox or Newcastle, his ministry cannot last six months; I would bet that the lightness of the latter emerged first. George Selwyn, hearing some people at Arthur's t'other night lamenting the distracted state of the country, joined in the discourse with the whites of his eyes and his prim mouth, and fetching a deep sigh, said, "yes, to be sure it is terrible! there is the duke of Newcastle's faction, and there is Fox's faction, and there is Leicester house! between two factions and one faction we are torn to pieces!"