it lay so heavy at their stomachs, that they brought up part of it again, and obtained the Queen’s name to be placed, as one that might be regent.  Mankind laughed, and proclaimed their Wisdoms bit.  Upon this, their Wisdoms beat up for opponents, and set fire to the old stubble(808) of the Princess and Lord Bute.  Every body took the alarm; and such uneasiness was raised, that after the King had notified the bill to both Houses, a new message was sent, and instead of four secret nominations, the five Princes were named, with power to the crown of supplying their places if they died off.

Last Tuesday the bill was read a second time in the Lords.  Lord Lyttelton opposed an unknown Regent, Lord Temple the whole bill, seconded by Lord Shelburne.  The first division came on the commitment of the whole bill.  The Duke of Newcastle and almost all The opposition were with the majority, for his grace could not decently oppose so great a likeness of his own child, the former bill, and so they were one hundred and twenty.  Lord Temple, Lord Shelburne, the Duke of Grafton, and six more, composed the minority; the Slenderness of which so enraged Lord Temple, though he had declared himself of no party, and connected with no party, that he and the Duke of Bolton came no more to the House.  Next day Lord Lyttelton moved an address to the King, to name the person he would recommend for Regent.  In the midst of this debate, the Duke of Richmond started two questions; whether the Queen was naturalized, and if not, whether capable of being Regent:  and he added a third much more puzzling; who are the Royal Family?  Lord Denbigh answered flippantly, all who are prayed for:  the Duke of Bedford, more significantly, those, only who are in the order of succession—­a direct exclusion of the Princess; for the Queen is named in the bill.  The Duke of Richmond moved to consult the judges; Lord Mansfield fought this off, declared he had his opinion, but would not tell it—­and stayed away next day!  They then proceeded on Lord Lyttelton’s motion, which was rejected by eighty-nine to thirty-one; after which, the Duke of Newcastle came no more; and Grafton, Rockingham, and many others, went to Newmarket:  for that rage is so strong, that I cease to wonder at the gentleman who was going out to hunt as the battle of Edgehill began.

The third day was a scene of folly and confusion, for when Lord Mansfield is absent,

“Lost is the nation’s sense, nor can be found.”

The Duke of Richmond moved an amendment, that the persons capable of the Regency should be the Queen, the Princess Dowager, and all the descendants of the late King usually resident in England.  Lord Halifax endeavoured to jockey this, by a previous amendment of now for usually.  The Duke persisted with great firmness and cleverness; Lord Halifax, with as much peevishness and absurdity; in truth, he made a woful figure.  The Duke of Bedford supported t’other Duke against the Secretary, but would