has lately taken to live on roots and study astronomy.(1480) Lord Marchmont, you know, was one of Pope’s heroes, had a place in Scotland on Lord Chesterfield’s coming into the ministry, though he had not power to bring him into the sixteen:  and was very near losing his place last winter, on being Supposed the author of the famous apology for Lord Chesterfield’s resignation.  This is the history of these Scotch brothers, which I have told you for want of news.

Two Oxford scholars are condemned to two years’ imprisonment for treason;(1481) and their vice-chancellor, for winking at it, is soon to be tried.  What do you say to the young Pretender’s persisting to stay in France?  It will not be easy to persuade me that it is without the approbation of that court.  Adieu!

(1479) Lord Hardwicke.-D.

(1480) In the preceding March, Lord Marchmont had married a second wife.@, Miss Crampton.  The circumstances attending this marriage are thus related by David Hume, in a letter to Mr. Oswald, dated January 29, 1748:-” Lord Marchmont has had the most extraordinary adventure in the world.  About three weeks ago he was at the play, when he espied in one of the boxes a fair virgin, whose looks, airs, and manners had such a wonderful effect upon him, as was visible by every bystander.  His raptures were so undisguised, his looks so expressive of passion, his inquiries so earnest, that every person took notice of it.  He soon was told that her name was Crampton, a linendraper’s daughter, who had been bankrupt last year.  He wrote next morning to her father, desiring to visit his daughter on honourable terms, and in a few days she will be the Countess of Marchmont.  Could you ever suspect the ambitious, the severe, the bustling, the impetuous, the violent Marchmont of becoming so tender and gentle a swain-an Orondates!"-E.

(1481) In drinking the Pretender’s health, and using seditious expressions against the King.  They were also sentenced “to walk round Westminster-hall with a label affixed to Their foreheads, denoting their crime and sentence, and to ask pardon of the several courts;” which they accordingly performed.-E.

571 Letter 267 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, Dec. 15, 1748.

I conclude your Italy talks of nothing but the young Pretender’s imprisonment at Vincennes.  I don’t know whether he be a Stuart, but I am sure, by his extravagance he has proved himself’ of English extraction!  What a mercy that we had not him here! with a temper so, impetuous and obstinate, as to provoke a French government when in their power, what would he have done with an English Government in his power?(1482) An account came yesterday that he, with his Sheridan and a Mr. Stafford (who was a creature of my Lord Bath,) are transmitted to Pont de Beauvoisin, under a solemn promise never to return into France (I suppose unless they send for him).  It is said that a Mr. Dun, who married Alderman Parsons’s eldest daughter, is in the Bastile for having struck the officer when the young man was arrested.