the reversion of an auditor of the imprest; this is all he has done ostensibly for his family, but the great things bestowed on the most insignificant objects, make me suspect some private compacts.  Yet I may wrong him, but I do not mean it.  Lord Granby has refused Ireland, and the Northumberlands are to transport their magnificence thither.(275) I lament that you made so little of that voyage, but is this the season of unrewarded merit?  One should blush to be preferred within the same year.  Do but think that Calcraft is to be an Irish lord!  Fox’s millions, or Calcraft’s tythes of millions, cannot purchase a grain of your virtue or character.  Adieu!

(271) In September 1766, Lady Waldegrave became the wife of his Royal Highness William Henry Duke of Gloucester; by whom she was mother of Prince William and of the Princess Sophia of Gloucester.-E.

(272) Married to a sister of Lady Waldegrave.

(273) Lord Waldegrave had been governor of George the Third.-E.

(274) Samuel Martin, Esq. member for Camelford, one of the joint secretaries of the treasury, named to succeed Walpole as usher of receipts of the exchequer, comptroller of the great roll, and keeper of the foreign receipts.-E.

(275) The Earl of Northumberland was gazetted on the 20th of April lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and on the 14th of May the Marquis of Granby was appointed master of the ordnance.-E.

Letter 152 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, April 22, 1763. (page 212)

I have two letters from you, and shall take care to execute the commission in the second.  The first diverted me much. .

I brought my poor niece from Strawberry on Monday.  As executrix, her presence was quite necessary, and she has never refused to do any thing reasonable that has been desired of her.  But the house and the business have shocked her terribly; she still eats nothing, sleeps worse than she did, and looks dreadfully; I begin to think she will miscarry.  She said to me t’other day, “they tell me that if my lord had lived, he might have done great service to his country at this juncture, by the respect all parties had for him.  This is very fine; but as he did not live to do those services, it will never be mentioned in history!” I thought this solicitude for his honour charming.  But he will be known by history; he has left a small volume of Memoirs, that are a chef-d’oeuvre.(276) He twice showed them to me, but I kept his secret faithfully; now it is for his glory to divulge it.

I and glad you are going to Dr. Lewis After an Irish voyage I do not wonder you want careening.  I have often preached to you—­nay, and lived to you too; but my sermons were flung away and my example.