Monday evening.

We have had a sort of a day in the House of Commons.  The proposition for accepting the six hundred and seventy thousand pounds for the French prisoners passed easily.  Then came the Navy:  Dowdeswell, in a long and very sensible speech, proposed to reduce the number of sailors to ten thousand.  He was answered by—­Charles Townshend—­oh! yes!—­are you surprised?  Nobody here was:  no, not even at his assertion, that he had always applauded the peace, though the whole House and the whole town knew that, on the Preliminaries, he came down prepared to speak against them; but that on Mr. Pitt’s retiring, he plucked up courage, and spoke for them.  Well, you want to know what place he is to have--so does he too.  I don’t want to know what place, but that he has some one; for I am sure he will always do most hurt to the side on which he professes to be; consequently, I wish him with the administration, and I wish so well to both sides, that I would have him more decried, if that be possible, than he is.  Colonel Barr`e spoke against Dowdeswell’s proposal, though not setting himself up at auction, like Charles, nor friendly to the ministry, but temperately and sensibly.  There was no division.  You know my opinion of Charles Townshend is neither new nor singular.  When Charles Yorke left us,(739) I hoped for this event, and my wish then slid into this couplet: 

To The Administration.

One Charles, who ne’er was ours, you’ve got-’tis true:  To make the grace complete, take t’other too.

The favours I ask of them, are not difficult to grant.  Adieu! my dear lord.  Yours ever, H. W.

Tuesday, 4 o’clock.

I had sealed my letter and given it to my sister, who sets out to-morrow, and will put it into the post at Calais; but having received yours by the courier from Spain, I must add a few words.  You may be sure I shall not mention a tittle of what you say to me.  Indeed, if you think it necessary to explain to me, I shall be more cautious Of telling you what I hear.  If I had any curiosity, I should have nothing to do but to pretend I had heard some report, and so draw from you what you might not have a mind to mention:  I do tell you when I hear any, for your information, but insist on your not replying.  The vice-admiral of America is a mere feather; but there is more substance in the notion of the Viceroy’s quitting Ireland.  Lord Bute and George Grenville are so ill together, that decency is scarce observed between their adherents:  and the moment the former has an opportunity or resolution enough, he will remove the latter, and place his son-in-law(740) in the treasury.  This goes so far, that Charles Townshend, who is openly dedicated to Grenville, may possibly find himself disappointed, and get no place at last.  However, I rejoice that we have got rid of him.  It will tear up all connexion between him and your brother, root and branch:  a circumstance you will not