(794) Mary, another daughter and coheiress of the sixth Earl Thanet, widow of Anthony Grey, Earl of harold, and third wife of John first Earl Gower.-C.

(795) Dr. Young died on the 5th of April, in his eighty-fourth year.-E.

Letter 248 To The Earl Of Hertford.  Arlington Street, April 18, 1765. (page 388)

Lady Holland carries this, which enables me to write a little more explicitly than I have been able to do lately.  The King has been in the utmost danger; the humour in his face having fallen upon his breast.  He now appears constantly; yet, I fear, his life is very precarious, and that there is even apprehension of a consumption.  After many difficulties from different quarters, a Regency-bill is determined; the King named it first to the ministers, who said, they intended to mention it to him as soon as he was well; yet they are not thought to be fond of it.  The King is to come to the House on Tuesday, and recommend the provision to the Parliament.(796) Yet, if what is whispered proves true, that the nomination of the Regent is to be reserved to the King’s will, it is likely to cause great uneasiness.  If the ministers propose such a clause, it is strong evidence of their own instability, and, I should think, would not save them, at least, some of them.  The world expects changes Soon, though not a thorough alteration; yet, if any takes place shortly, I should think It would be a material One than not.  The enmity between Lord Bute and Mr. Grenville is not denied on either side.  There is a notion, and I am inclined to think not ill founded, that the former and Mr. Pitt are treating.  It is certain that the last has expressed wishes that the opposition may lie still for the remainder of the session.  This, at least, puts an end to the question on your brother,(797) of which I am glad for the present.  The common town-talk is, that Lord Northumberland does not care to return to Ireland,—­that you are to succeed him there, Lord Rochford you, and that Sandwich is to go to Spain.  My belief is, that there will be no change, except, perhaps, a single one for Lord Northumberland, unless there are capital removals indeed.

The Chancellor, Grenville, the Bedfords, and the two Secretaries are one body; at least, they pass for such:  yet it is very lately, if one of them has dropped his prudent management with Lord Bute.  There seems an unwillingness to discard the Bedfords, though their graces themselves keep little terms of civility to Lord Bute, none to the Princess (Dowager).  Lord Gower is a better courtier, and Rigby would do any thing to save his place.

This is the present state, which every day may alter:  even to-morrow is a day of expectation, as the last struggle of the Poor-bill.  If the Bedfords carry it, either by force or sufferance, (though Lord Bute has constantly denied being the author of the opposition to it,) I shall less expect any great change soon.  In those less important, I shall not wonder to find the Duke of Richmond come upon the scene, perhaps for Ireland, though he is not talked of.