and Gilbert dropt almost together.  Drummond has left Salisbury for York, Thomas is translated from Lincoln to Salisbury, Green made Bishop of Lincoln, and succeeded in his deanery by Mr. York:  Hayter is translated from Norwich to London, Young from Bristol to Norwich, and Newton is made Bishop of Bristol; and I must not forget to tell you, that, among several new chaplains, Beadon is one.  This leads me naturally to Lord Bute, who, though the professed favourite of the King, has hitherto escaped the popular clamour pretty well:  the immense fortune that is come into his family by the death of old Wortley Montague has added much to his consequence, and made him be looked upon as more of an Englishman, at least they can no longer call him a poor Scot.

His wife was created a peeress of Great Britain at the same time that Mr. Spencer, Mr. Doddington, Sir Richard Grosvenor, Sir Nat.  Curzen, Sir Thomas Robinson, and Sir William Irby were created peers.  He has married his eldest daughter to Sir James Lowther and is himself, from being Groom of the Stole, become Secretary of State—­Lord Holderness being removed with very little ceremony indeed, but with a pension, to make room for him.  He and Mr. Pitt together have made good courtiers of the Tories; Lords Oxford, Litchfield, and Bruce, being supernumerary lords, and Norbonne Berkeley, Northey, and I think George Pitt, supernumerary Grooms of the Bedchamber.  Sir Francis Dashwood is Treasurer of the Chamber, in the room of Charles Townshend, who was made Secretary at War upon Lord Barrington’s succeeding Mr. Legge as Chancellor of the Exchequer.  Lord Talbot, who is in high favour, is Steward of the Household, and with his usual spirit has executed a scheme of economy, which, though much laughed at at first, is now much commended.  They made room for him upon Lord Bute’s being made Secretary, at which time Lord Huntingdon was made Groom of the Stole, and succeeded as Master of the Horse by the Duke Rutland, who was before Steward of the Household.  Thus have I concluded this series of removals, which was first begun, after the old King’s death, by Lord Bute’s being Groom of the Stole in the room of Lord Rochford, who has a pension, and Lord Huntingdon’s being made Master of the Horse instead of Lord Gower, who was made Master of the Wardrobe in the room of Sir Thomas Robinson, who has his peerage for a recompense; and written you a long letter, which may perhaps be no better for you upon the whole than an old newspaper.  However, I was determined your curiosity should be no sufferer by my long silence if I could help it.

I must not conclude without saying something of our new Queen.  She seems to me to behave with equal propriety and civility, though the common people are quite exasperated at her not being handsome, and the people at Court laugh at her courtesies.  All our friends are well, and have had nothing happen to them that I know of which requires particular mention.  Gisborne either has or will write to you very soon.  Convince me, dear Robinson, by writing soon that you forgive my long silence, and believe me to be, with the sincerest regard for you and yours, your most affectionate friend,