If that should be, and the in nova fert animus should take place, we must as individuals be meta[mor]phosed indeed, and what will become of the public neither he, Burke, Charles, or any one of the Cavendishes I suppose knows or cares.  But I think that Lord N(orth’s) peremptory assurance of yesterday, together with the King’s strong expressions of resentment for the manner in which he has been treated, may suspend all this nonsense for the present, and leave us at leisure to regret something of more essential consequence to the public than whether Charles and Hare live in St. James’s Street, or at the Treasury.

To-day we have the Taxes, which are heavy enough of themselves without all the speeches made to oppose them; to-morrow I know nothing of; and on Friday we shall have another trial of skill between the Privileges of the Crown and the Prerogative of the People.  In the meantime there is in the larder the loss of Minorca and of St. Kit’s,(211) with good hopes of further surrenders, to feed our political discontent, and private satisfaction.  I have a new relation, as you know, that is the most zealous Constitutionist, according to his own notions, that ever was, and he has honoured me lately with very long conferences; ma porte ne lui est jamais refusee, cela s’entend.  But I can only ask questions for information, and even my doubts or ignorance are not acceptable, but we part always upon very good terms, because I always appear attentive, and so he presumes that of course I must be more instructed than when he came to me.

Charles has attempted more than once to feel my pulse, but finding them (sic) beat pretty much as usual, he augurs no good from it.  I have only desired, if they are resolved to turn me out, to have three months’ warning, that I may get into another place, which I shall certainly have if I go with the same character which I had in my last.  I am sober, and honest, and have no followers, and although I used to be out at nights and play at the alehouse, I have now left it off.

I was asked last night at Lady Buckingham’s, and am ashamed of my laziness in not going.  I dine with his Lordship on Saturday, and to-day I am going with Mie Mie and Mrs. W(ebb) to Mr. Gregg’s, who has got a little ball for a dozen children of her age, because it is the birthday of one of his own.

Arnold’s being behind the King’s chair when the Address came up has given great offence.  They will not suffer soon an enemy to the Americans to come into the guard room.  I think that Arnold might as well have paired off with Laurens;(212) it would have conciliated matters much more.

. . .  Poor Lady H(ertfor)d[’s] civilities in inviting so many of the Opposition to her Ball, afford a great deal of mirth.  Charles did not go; he has not leisure for those trifles.  Hare and Lord Robert have the drudgery of dealing between them.  Your kinsman Walker is a cul de plomb at the table, and has lost, I believe, both his eyes and fortune at it.  He seems so blind as not to see the card which is before him.  Keene seems to have surrendered in his mind this forteresse, so I take for granted that he knows how little a while it will last.