hesitated, but Lord L. said that he recommended it to him to read it over carefully, and then decide; that he was limited as to time, and hinted that, upon a refusal, he should be obliged to come with another message.  The Duke complied very judiciously, and a speech was made accordingly; and Lord Huntingdon was present, and heard justice done to his relation.  The Duke was conscious of the part which he was forced to take by what he said to Lord Lothian and to Lord Amhurst; and this, as I am told, is the third time that his Grace has been compelled to make these amendes honorables.  I am glad to have heard this, because so much mechancete deserves this humiliation.  It may be that in telling me the story, it was aggravated, but I believe the fond of it to be true, and that his Grace deserves this and ten times more, and so probably Mr. Bates will directly or indirectly let him know.

Saturday morning.—­Mr. Walpole came to me last night, as George and I were playing together at whist with two dummies (for Mie Mie and Mrs. W(ebb) were gone to her dancing academy), and he stayed with me till near eleven; so I was obliged, finding it so late, only to scrawl out three words to let you know that the little boy was quite well. . . .

I do not find upon discourse anything exaggerated in the least in regard to his Grace.  Lord L(igonier), to those to whom he chooses to talk upon this subject, is very explicit, and from these I had it.  It was the same with Mr. Clavering and Colonel Cunning(ham).  Now for the Address.  I saw all these brouillons and their adherents go by; that starved weasel, Charles Turner, in his coach, grinning and squinting:  Wilkes(207) in his; Charles F(ox) and Ossory, laughing in Charles’s chariot, a gorge deployee.  They were not detained long.  The King beheld them come up the room with a very steady countenance, and one which expressed a good deal of firmness.  I have been told by several that he is shrunk, and does not look well.  I have heard that the Chan(cellor) sat up with him the other night, and till five in the morning.  Of this I know nothing.

He made them the only answer which he could, in my opinion, have made with any propriety, had he been less displeased than he has reason to be with these people.  But he laid such an emphasis upon the words, “By the means which shall seem to me the most conducive,” &c., &c., that the answer was by no means acceptable, or the reception; and what will follow from it and what (be) voted upon it, the Lord knows.

Next week will be one of bustle, and I will beg Storer to be circumstantial in all he relates to you of the House of Commons, as I shall myself, as far as it shall come to my knowledge.