is not mentioned, nor Sir G. Sutton, who has a numerous family; but the heir is not so much stripped as it was expected he would have been.

Warner is at present out of my reach, and I am out of the way of supplying him with news. The most interesting I have lately heard is, that Lord M.'s faculties failed him totally in the House of Lords. It was so remarkable as to cast a gloom over the whole assembly, to see the ruin of what had been so excellent. I hear that he has been thought in Westminster Hall to be declining. For one in decline, Madame du Deffand seems to make tolerably jolly parties: she is much in the right, if it amuses her. I get my father out most mornings in the chaise, which he sometimes murmurs at, but, on the whole, it rather amuses him. He is pretty well, but complains a little of his want of breath. I fear I must not expect to see him in perfect health. Remember me to Mie Mie, and believe me to be, most affectionately,

*

Yours, &c.

Apparently the great Lord Mansfield. He survived till the 20th of March, 1793.

THE REV. DR. WARNER TO GEORGE SELWYN.

DEAR SIR,

Hockliffe, Bedfordshire, June 10 [1779].

THIS is the first minute I am alone; the company who came with me from town have just left me, and this first minute I dedicate to you.

I did not write last post, but I would have found time to have written could I have said anything that would have been of any use or comfort to you. I am perpetually thinking of, and grieving for, your situation, and my inability of doing anything towards relieving it; but, if you will rouse, you may help yourself effectually. The infamous manner in which they dare to treat you, shews their persuasion that they have you fast ; and if they have you fast, what is to be hoped for from their tender mercies to you or to the child!

Good God! Nothing but distress and anguish everywhere. The post is just come in, and brings me a letter which obliges me to fly directly across the country to Eton, to try to save Cropley's eldest boy, now in his last year, and with a certainty of King's, from a threatened expulsion. This is very afflicting. He has strained a point beyond his abilities to keep him there, with a view to this provision for life. We must see what is to be

done. I meant that this should be a long letter. It must now be a very short one; but I shall try if I can write to you upon the road in the evening, in time for this post. I cannot go any further now, as I must absolutely write a line or two upon some particular business.

Minifie gives no hopes that any help can come but from yourself.

THE DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY TO GEORGE SELWYN.

[June, 1779.]

You are always thinking of the same thing, but it is to no purpose to think, because you can do yourself no good, and if you let the Fagnianis alone, the child will certainly remain for the present where she is. This is as much as you can expect, and perhaps more than you would have been able to have brought about with most other people. I desired Warner to write to you, and to try and persuade you how very impossible it is for me to be of any use to you. If you thought one moment, and had any knowledge of Madame Fagniani, you must think that, at this time, if she knew anything that I wished, she would do directly the contrary. I am sure, in the present circumstances of things, you had better come here and be quiet for some time, for I think the mother

perfectly capable to send for the child to Milan, merely to plague you, if you continue

respondence.

your cor

I have always understood, that when the child was to be educated in a convent at Paris, you were to be satisfied; and now you seem more distressed than ever. I am sure, if you continue where you are, no constitution can resist the agitation you must go through, and you will certainly bring yourself to a situation of health not to be retrieved. Every body inquires when you are to return: I wish I knew when that was to be. It is necessary in all situations to determine something, and, I am sure, the worst thing you can do is to remain where you are. my dear friend, yours, &c.

Farewell,

Q.

THE REV. DR. WARNER TO GEORGE SELWYN.

Hockliffe, June 13, 1779.

DEAR SIR,

I COULD not get to Eton on Thursday in time for the post, and I did not stop till I got there. God knows if we shall be able to do anything, unless I can interest Barnard,* the provost, more than I have reason to expect.

* Dr. Edward Barnard, Head Master, and afterwards Provost of Eton College. He died on the 2nd of December, 1781.

I returned here on Friday, through a day of unceasing rain, drenched and petrified. Yesterday morning I received your letters of the 3rd, 6th, and 7th, before going to Lord Ossory's. Both he and Lady Ossory asked much after you; hoped you were in good spirits, and happy with Mie Mie. What was I to say?—Why, no, you were not in such good spirits as I could wish, as there seemed to be some demur on the parts of her parents to your bringing Mie Mie to England. They were very sorry that you should not have all the happiness you deserved. Her ladyship told me that she had written you a great deal of news lately. Lord Ossory, who came from town on Wednesday, said that he hoped it was not yet certain that the Spanish war, we had been so much afraid about, would take place, and that matters were not quite so bad as had been represented in Ireland. This, from an Opposition man, looked well. He had wished much, as an Opposition man, for the success of Jack Townshend in the contest for the University of Cambridge, but he has lost it.

A hard run thing; and more voters than has been often known were drawn together from all quarters, in all, you see, 440. Many people, and Sir George Saville amongst the rest, were obliged, for want of