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Lewis. It has been said that we and the dean were the authors of all that has since happened, by keeping the dragon in, when there was an offer to lay down. I was told to my face, that what I said in this case went for nothing; that I did not care, if the great person's affairs went to entire ruin, so I could support the interests of the dragon; that I did not know the half of his proceedings. Particularly it was said, though I am confident it was a mistake, that he had attempted the removing her from the favour of a great person. In short, the fall of the dragon does not proceed altogether from his old friend, but from the great person, whom I perceive to be highly offended, by little hints that I have received. In short, the dragon has been so ill used, and must serve upon such terms for the future, if he should, that I swear I would not advise Turk, Jew, nor infidel, to be in that state. Come up to town, and I can tell you more. I have been but indifferently treated myself, by somebody at court, in small concerns. I cannot tell who it is! But mum for that. Adieu.

KL

TO THE EARL OF OXFORD. *

July 25, 1714.

MY LORD,
TO-MORROW Sevennight I shall set out from

time, he had not had occasion to practise, but if he should, he'd not confine himself to the number of three blows if the officer should prove indiscreet."-Martin's Voyage to St Kilda, Lond. 1753, 8. p. 50.

* On hearing his intentions to resign his staff.-D. S.

hence to Ireland: my license for absence being so near out, that I can stay no longer without taking another. I say this, that if you have any commands, I shall have just time enough to receive them before I go. And if you resign in a few days, as I am told you design to do, you may possibly retire to Herefordshire, where I shall readily attend you, if you soon withdraw; or, after a few months stay in Ireland, I will return at the beginning of winter, if you please to command me. I speak in the dark, because I am altogether so, and what I say may be absurd. You will please to pardon me; for, as I am wholly ignorant, so I have none of your composure of mind. I pray God Almighty direct and defend you, &c.

FROM THE EARL OF OXFORD.

July 27, 1714. *

IF I tell my dear friend the value I put upon his undeserved friendship, it will look like suspecting you or myself. Though I have had no power since July 25, 1713, † I believe now, as a private man,

*Endorsed, "Just before the loss of his staff.”—N.

+ The Earl of Oxford, in his "Brief Account of Public Af. airs," "" presented to the queen on the 9th of June 1714, and published in the Report of the Secret Committee," mentions, that he wrote a large letter, dated July 25, 1713, to Lord Bolingbroke, "containing his scheme of the queen's affairs, and what was necessary for Lord Bolingbroke to do ;" which was answered by that lord on the 27th of that month.-B.

I may prevail to renew your license of absence, conditionally you will be present with me; for tomorrow morning I shall be a private person. When I have settled my domestic affairs here, I go to Wimple; thence alone, to Herefordshire. If I have not tired you tête-à-tête, fling away so much time upon one who loves you. And I believe, in the mass of souls, ours were placed near each other. I send you an imitation of Dryden, as I went to Kensington:

To serve with love,
And shed your blood,
Approved is above.
But here below,
Th' examples show,

'Tis fatal to be good.

FROM ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ.

me. *

SIR,

Whitehall, July 27, 1714.

I HAVE yours of the 25th. You judge very right; it is not the going out, but the manner, that enrages The queen has told all the lords the reasons of her parting with him, viz. " that he neglected all business; that he was seldom to be understood; that when he did explain himself, she could not

* It had been supposed that Lord Oxford's fall would have been softened by the grant of a dukedom, and pension of L. 5000. But, on the contrary, he was deprived of his staff in a verý súmmary and mortifying manner.

depend upon the truth of what he said; that he never came to her at the time she appointed; that he often came drunk; lastly, to crown all, he behaved himself toward her with bad manners, indecency, and disrespect."-Pudet hæc opprobria nobis, &c.

I am distracted with the thoughts of this, and the pride of the conqueror. * I would give the world I could go out of town to-morrow; but the secretary says I must not go till he returns, which will not be till the sixteenth of August, or perhaps the twenty-third; but I am in hopes I may go toward Bath the sixteenth.

I

The runners are already employed to go to all the coffeehouses. They rail to the pit of hell. am ready to burst for want of vent.

The stick is yet in his hand, because they cannot agree who shall be the new commissioners. We suppose the blow will be given to-night or tomorrow morning. The sterility of good and able men is incredible. When the matter is over, I will wait upon our she friend. If she receives me ‡ as usual, I will propose to her, that I will serve where I do, provided I may be countenanced, and

* Lord Bolingbroke.-H.

+ On the night of Tuesday, July 27, the day on which this letter is dated, a cabinet council was held (after the Earl of Oxford had resigned the staff, which he did on that day) to consult what persons to put in commission for the management of the treasury. The number to be five. Sir William Wyndham, chancellor of the exchequer, was to be one: but they could not agree in the choice of the other four. Their debate about the matter lasted till near two o'clock in the morning, at which the queen being present, it raised a violent agitation in her spirits,

which affected her head....H.

Lady Masham.-H.

at full liberty to pay my duty to all the Harleian family in the same manner I used to do. If that is not allowed me in the utmost extent, consistent with my trust here, I will propose an employment in the revenues, or to go out without any thing; for I will not be debarred going to him. If she does not receive me as she used to do, I will never go again. I flatter myself she will be so friendly as to enter into the consideration of my private circumstances, and preserve her old goodness to me.

There is no seeing the dragon till he is out, and then I will know his thoughts about your coming to Brampton I hear he goes out of town instantly to Wimple, and my lady to Brampton; that he will join her there, after a few days stay at Wimple. Adieu.

FROM LADY MASHAM.

July 29, 1714.

MY GOOD FRIEND,

I own it looks unkind in me not to thank you, in all this time, for your sincere kind letter; but I was resolved to stay till I could tell you the queen had got so far the better of the dragon, as to take her power out of his hands. He has been the most ungrateful man to her, and to all his best friends, that ever was born. I cannot have so much time now to write all my mind, because my dear mistress is not well, and I think I may lay her illness to the charge of the treasurer, who, for three weeks together, was teasing and vexing her without intermis

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