The magistrates soon brought the Horse and Foot Guards, and the pious ragamuffins soon fled; so little enthusiasm fortunately had inspired them; at least all their religion consisted in outrage and plunder; for the Duke of Northumberland, General Grant, Mr. Mackinsy, and others, had their pockets picked of their watches and snuff-boxes.  Happily, not a single life was lost.

This tumult, which was over between nine and ten at night, had scarce ceased before it broke out in two other quarters.  Old Haslang’s[1] Chapel was broken open and plundered; and, as he is a Prince of Smugglers as well as Bavarian Minister, great quantities of run tea and contraband goods were found in his house.  This one cannot lament; and still less, as the old wretch has for these forty years usurped a hired house, and, though the proprietor for many years has offered to remit his arrears of rent, he will neither quit the house nor pay for it.

[Footnote 1:  Count Haslang was the Bavarian Minister.]

Monsieur Cordon, the Sardinian Minister, suffered still more.  The mob forced his chapel, stole two silver lamps, demolished everything else, threw the benches into the street, set them on fire, carried the brands into the chapel, and set fire to that; and, when the engines came, would not suffer them to play till the Guards arrived, and saved the house and probably all that part of the town.  Poor Madame Cordon was confined by illness.  My cousin, Thomas Walpole, who lives in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, went to her rescue, and dragged her, for she could scarce stand with terror and weakness, to his own house.

I doubt this narrative will not re-approach you and Mr. Wyndham.  I have received yours of the 20th of last month.

You will be indignant that such a mad dog as Lord George should not be knocked on the head.  Colonel Murray did tell him in the House, that, if any lives were lost, his Lordship should join the number.  Nor yet is he so lunatic as to deserve pity.  Besides being very debauched, he has more knavery than mission.  What will be decided on him, I do not know; every man that heard him can convict him of the worst kind of sedition:  but it is dangerous to constitute a rascal a martyr.  I trust we have not much holy fury left; I am persuaded that there was far more dissoluteness than enthusiasm in the mob:  yet the episode is very disagreeable.  I came from town yesterday to avoid the birthday [June 4].  We have a report here that the Papists last night burnt a Presbyterian meeting-house, but I credit nothing now on the first report.  It was said to be intended on Saturday, and the Guards patrolled the streets at night; but it is very likely that Saint George Gordon spread the insinuation himself.