Lord March is much obliged to you for your kind and constant mention of him; he is extremely well, and’ not plagued with Zamparini’s(68) or anything that I know of.  The Duchess of North[umberlan]d(69) according to her present arrangement sets out for Paris, or some place or places abroad, next week.  If she is not constantly wagging, as I’m told, she is in danger of a lethargy.  Mrs. Horton sets out for Nice on Friday.

There has been a very long debate in the House of Commons to-day upon a motion of Ald.  Beckford’s(70) concerning a Bill he intends to bring in for the more effectual prevention of bribery and keeping out nabobs, commissaries, and agents of the House of Commons, or at least from their encroachments upon the claims of persons established in towns and boroughs, by descent, family interest, and long enjoyed property; the principle of his scheme is certainly good.

The Mayor and Corporation of Oxford are to appear at the Bar in defence of themselves, for having offered themselves to sale for 7,500 pounds.  They had the honnetete to offer the refusal to their old members, who told them in answer to their modest proposal that as they had no intention to sell them, so they could not afford to buy them.  I was not at the House, but this is likely to make a great noise.  Bully’s petition has been presented by Lord Sandw.,(71) and will probably be carried through this Session.  Some of the Bishops intend to make speeches against it, as I hear.

Charles Boon has married a squint-eyed, chitten-face citizen with about 5,000 pounds fortune.  Sir G. Mac(72) wedding will be about Monday or Tuesday next.  They consummate at Comb, Vernon’s house.  Sir Ch[arles] is returned from Barton, and Lady Sarah gone to the Opera.  You may be sure that we do not pass an hour without mention of you, but, shall I tell you mind (sic), when Lady Carlisle tells you that she has seen her at Chapel, and when I tell you that I have dined with her, we certainly mean to please you; but do we not help to keep up a flame that, in as much as that is the proper description of it, had better be extinguished?  Crescit indulgent isti.  I am sure I shall never say anything to lessen the just and natural esteem which you have for her, but when there is grafted on that what may make you uneasy, I must be an enemy to that or to yourself, and you know, I am sure, how incapable I am of that.  I have a long letter almost every week from my flame also, Me du Deffand,(73) but these are passions which non in seria ducunt.  She is very importunate with me to return to Paris, by which (?), if there is any sentiment, it must be all of her side.  I should not be sorry to make another sejour there; but if I did, and it was with you, I should not throw away with old women and old Presidents,(74) which is the same thing, some of those hours which I regret very much at this instant.  You may assure Lord Kildare that I will do my best about his election at the young club.(75)