FROM LORD BOLINGBROKE. DEAR DEAN, THE Earl of Oxford was Aug. 3, 1714. But this is nothing; will be the scene of Here every thing is removed on Tuesday: the queen died on Sunday. What a world is this! and how does Fortune banter us! John Barber tells me, you have set your face toward Ireland. Pray do not go. I am against it. John is against it. Ireland some disorder, at least it will be the scene of mortification to your friends. quiet, and will continue so. perity divided, misfortune may perhaps to some degree unite us. The tories seem to resolve not to be crushed; and that is enough to prevent them from being so. Pope has sent me a letter from Gay: being learned in geography, he took Binfield to be the ready way from Hanover to Whitehall. Adieu. But come to London, if you stay no longer than a fortnight. Ever your's, dear Jonathan, most sincerely. * I have lost all by the death of the queen, but my spirit; and I protest to you, I feel that increase upon me. The whigs are a pack of jacobites; that shall be the cry in a month, if you please. * A village where Mr Pope's father lived, and whence several of Mr Pope's letters were written. It is in Windsor forest, and lies in Berkshire.---H. FROM ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ. Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1714. I AM Overwhelmed with business, and therefore have only time to tell you I received yours of August the first, and think you should come to town, to see how the world goes: for all old schemes, designs, projects, journies, &c. are broke by the great event. We are ill prognosticators. Every thing goes on with a tranquillity we durst not hope for. Earl Berkeley commands the fleet. Lord Dorset compliments the king, The Duke of Bolton, lord-lieutenant of Southampton. Addison, secretary to the regents. FROM MR BARBER. HONOURED SIR, Aug. 3, 1714. You may easily imagine the concern we were all in on the sudden surprise of the queen's death. I have hardly recovered it yet. Lord Bolingbroke told me last Friday, that he would reconcile you to Lady Somerset, and then it would be easy to set you right with the queen, and that you should be made easy here, and not go over. He said twenty things in your favour, and commanded me to bring you up, whatever was the consequence. He said farther, he would make clear work with them. But all vanished in a minute; and he is now threatened and abused every day by the party, who publickly rejoice, and swear they will turn out every tory in England. Enclosed you have a letter from my lord: he desires you would come up, and be any where incognito. Why not at the queen's house? The Earl of Berkeley is to command the fleet to fetch over the king; and the Duke of Argyll is to go to Scotland. I send you the list of the twentyfive kings. Poor Lady Masham is almost dead with grief ******. * The parliament meets to-morrow, which will hinder me from coming down for three or four days; but if you resolve to stay in the country farther, I will certainly come down, for I must needs see you. Pray favour me with a line. am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant. Pray come up. I When my lord gave me the letter, he said, " he hoped you would come up, and help to save the constitution, which, with a little good management, might be kept in tory hands.' for FROM CHARLES FORD, ESQ. London, Aug. 5, 1714. I HAVE Writ to Dawson † for a license of absence you; but you know you must take the oaths in *The lords of the regency. + Joshua Dawson, Esq. secretary to the lords justices of Ireland. He built a very fine house in a street called by his Ireland within three months. There are a great many here in the same circumstances: and in all probability, some of them will desire an act of parliament to have leave to do it here. In that case, it will be no difficult matter to have you included. Mr Lewis tells me, he wrote to you to come up to town, and I see no reason why you should not. All matters go on very quiet, and we are not apprehensive of any disturbances. Stocks never rose so much in so few days. This is imputed to the hatred of the old treasurer, and the popularity of the new one. The whigs were not in council when he was recommended. Lord Bo lingbroke proposed it there, as well as to the queen; and I hope they two are upon very good terms, though Mr Lewis seems positive of the contrary. I never heard of any pique the duke had to him, but that he was to be chief minister; and that being at an end, why may not they be reconciled? The dragon was thought to show more joy upon proclaiming the king, than was consistent with the obligations he had received from He was hissed all the way by the mob, and some of them threw halters into his coach. This was not the effect of party; for the Duke of Ormond was huzzaed throughout the whole city, and was followed by a vast crowd to his own house, though he used all possible endeavours to prevent it. There was an attempt to affront the captain in the cavalcade, but it did not succeed; and though a few hissed, the acclamations immediately drowned the noise. Not a single man shewed the least respect to the own name, which is now the mansion-house of the lord-mayor of Dublin.-F. colonel; and last night my Lord Bingley was beaten by mistake, coming out of his house. I doubt he has disobliged both sides so much, that neither will ever own him; and his enemies tell stories of him, that I shall not believe till I find you allow them. you; The lords justices made a speech to the parliament to day. If it comes out time enough, I will send it but I hear it only contains their proceedings upon the queen's death; that they have yet received no directions from the king, and to desire the commons to continue the funds, which are expired. I am told our regents are already divided into four parties. The greatest use they have made yet of their power, is to appoint my Lord Berkeley to command the fleet which is to bring over the king, and to make the Duke of Bolton lord-lieutenant of Hampshire. I send you a Gazette, † though I am ashamed to have it seen. I had writ a great deal more of the queen's illness, an account of her birth, &c. but I could not find out Mr Lewis, and had nobody to consult with, and therefore chose rather to say too little, than any thing I doubted might be improper. Yesterday the Duke of Marlborough made his public entry through the city: first came about two hundred horsemen, three in a row, then a company of trainban ls, with drums, &c. his own chariot with himself and his duchess. Then my duchess followed by sixteen coaches with six horses, and between thirty and forty with two horses. There * Who had been appointed ambassador-extraordinary to the court of Spain, in the room of Lord Lexington, in December 1713....H. + He was gazetteer.--.H. |