a vote of general censure on the rioters.  This was communicated to us at a conference, and yesterday we acted the same farce; when Rigby trying to revive the imputation on the Lord Mayor, etc. (who, by the by, did sit most tranquilly at Guildhall during the whole tumult) the ministry disavowed and abandoned him to a man, vindicating the magistracy, and plainly discovering their own fear and awe of the city, who feel the insult, and will from hence feel their own strength.  In short, to finish this foolish story, I never saw a transaction in which appeared so little parts, abilities, or conduct; nor do I think there can be any thing weaker than the administration except it is the opposition:  but an opposition, bedrid and tonguetied, is a most ridiculous body.  Mr. Pitt is laid up with the gout; Lord Hardwicke, though much relieved by a quack medicine, is still very ill; and Mr. Charles Townshend is as silent as my Lord Abercorn(406—­that they too should ever be alike!

This is not all our political news; Wilkes is an inexhaustible fund:  on Monday was heard, in the common Pleas, his suit against Mr. Wood,(407) when, after a trial of fourteen hours, the jury gave him damages of one thousand pounds; but this was not the heaviest part of the blow.  The Solicitor-general(408) tried to prove Wilkes author of the North Briton, and failed in the proof.  You may judge how much this miscarriage adds to the defeat.  Wilkes is not yet out of danger:  they think there is still a piece of coat or lining to come Out of the wound.  The campaign is over for the present, and the troops going into country quarters.  In the mean time, the house of Hamilton has supplied us with new matter of talk.  My lord was robbed about three o’clock in the night between Saturday and Sunday, of money, bills, watches, and snuff-boxes, to the amount of three thousand pounds.  Nothing is yet discovered, but that the guard in the stable yard saw a man in a great coat and white stockings come from thereabouts, at the time I have named.  The servants have all been examined over and over to no purpose.  Fielding(409) is all day in the house, and a guard of his at night.  The bureau in my lord’s dressing-room (the little red room where the pictures are) was forced open.  I fear you can guess who was at first suspected.(410)

I have received yours, my dear lord, of Nov. 30th, and am pleased that my Lady Hertford is so well reconciled to her ministry.  You forgot to give me an account of her audience, but I have heard of the Queen’s good-natured attention to her.

The anecdotes about Lord Sandwich are numerous; but I do not repeat them to you, because I know nothing how true they are, and because he has, in several instances, been very obliging to me, and I have no reason to abuse him.  Lord Hardwicke’s illness, I think, is a rupture and consequences.

I hope to hear that your little boy is recovered.  Adieu!  I have filled my gazette, and exhausted my memory.  I am glad such gazettes please you — I can have no other excuse for sending such tittle-tattle.