These great men were, the Duke of Newcastle, Sir Robert Walpole, my Lord Wilmington, my Lord Harrington, and Mr. Pelham.  My Lord Hervey had not the honour to be on the foot of a minister. . . .

I have nothing more to say, but that this Madame Walmond is at present in a mighty mean dirty lodging in St. James’s Street.  Her husband came with her, but he is going away; and that house that was Mr. Seymour’s, in Hyde Park, which opens into the King’s garden, is fitting up for her; -and the Duchess of Kendal’s lodgings are making ready for her at St. James’s.  There is nothing more known at present as to the settlement, but that directions are given for one upon the establishment of Ireland. perhaps that mayn’t exceed the Duchess of Kendal’s, which was three thousand pounds a-year.  But ’tis easy for the first minister to increase that as she pleases.

[See p. 101.]

London, December 3rd, 1737.  I saw one yesterday that dined with my Lord Fanny, (131) who, as soon as he had dined, was sent for to come up to his Majesty, and there is all the appearance that can be of great favour to his lordship.  I mentioned him in my last, and I will now give you an account of some things concerning his character, that I believe you don’t know.  What I am going to say I am sure is as true as if I had been a transactor in it myself.  And I will begin the relation with Mr. Lepelle, my Lord Fanny’s wife’s father, having made her a cornet in his regiment as soon as she was born, which is no more wrong to the design of an army than if she had been a son:  and she was paid many years after she was a maid of honour.  She was extreme forward and pert; and my Lord Sunderland got her a pension of the late King, it being too ridiculous to continue her any longer an officer in the army.  And into the bargain, she was to be a spy; but what she could tell to deserve a pension, I cannot comprehend.  However, King George the First used to talk to her very much; and this encouraged my Lord Fanny and her to undertake a very extraordinary project:  and she went to the drawing-room every night, and publicly attacked his Majesty in a most vehement manner, insomuch that it was the diversion of all the town; which alarmed the Duchess of Kendal, and the ministry that governed her, to that degree, lest the King should be put in the opposers’ hands, that they determined to buy my Lady H- off; and they gave her 4000 pounds to desist, which she did, and my Lord Fanny bought a good house with it, and furnished it very well.

[See p. 106.  Reminiscences, Chapter ix]

London, March 19th, 1738.  My Lord, I have received the favour of yours of the 11th by the post, but not that which you mention by another hand.  And since you can like such sort of accounts as I am able to give you, I will continue to do it.  I think it is very plain now that Sir Robert don’t think it worth his while to make any proposals where it was once suspected he would.  And his wedding was