so indifferent about the antiquity of theirs; Lord Huntingdon’s, Lord Abergavenny’s, and Lord Castlehaven’s scarcely hung on their backs; the former they pretend were used at the trial of the Queen of Scots.  But all these honours were a little defaced by seeing Lord Temple, as lord privy seal, walk at the head of the peerage.  Who, at the last trials, would have believed a prophecy, that the three first men at the next should be Henley the lawyer, Bishop Secker, and Dick Grenville.

The day before the trial, the Duke of Bolton fought a duel at Marylebone with Stewart who lately stood for Hampshire; the latter was wounded in the arm, and the former fell down.(50) Adieu!

(49) Robert Henley, afterwards Earl of Northington.-E.

(50) “Here has just been a duel between the Duke of Bolton and Mr. Stewart, a candidate for the county of Hampshire at the late election:  what the quarrel was I do not know; but, they met near Marylebone, and the Duke, in making a pass, overreached himself, fell down, and hurt his knee.  The other bid him get up, but he could not; then he bid him ask his life, but he would not; so he let him alone, and that’s all.  Mr. Stewart was slightly wounded.”  Gray, vol. iii. p. 238.-E.

Letter 21 To Sir Horace Mann.  Strawberry Hill, April 20, 1760. (page 54)

The history of Lord George Sackville, which has interested us so much and so long, is at last at an end-,gently enough, considering who were his parties, and what has been proved.  He is declared unfit to serve the King in a military capacity-but I think this is not the last we shall hear of Whatever were his deficiencies in the day of battle, he has at least showed no want of spirit, either in pushing on his trial or during it.  His judgment in both was perhaps a little more equivocal.  He had a formal message that he must abide the event whatever it should be.  He accepted that issue, and during the course of the examination, attacked judge, prosecutor and evidence.  Indeed, a man cannot be said to want spirit, who could show so much in his circumstances.(51) I think, without much heroism, I could sooner have led up the cavalry to the charge, than have gone to Whitehall to be worried as he was; nay, I should have thought with less danger of my life.  But he is a peculiar man; and I repeat it, we have hot heard the last of him.  You will find that by serving the King he understands in a very literal sense; and there is a young gentleman(52) who it is believed intends those words shall not have a more extensive one.