Letter 63 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  Monday, five o’clock, Feb. 1761. (page 110)

I am a little peevish with you-I told you on Thursday night that I had a mind to go to Strawberry on Friday without staying for the Qualification bill.  You said it did not signify—­No!  What if you intended to speak on it?  Am I indifferent to hearing you?  More-Am I indifferent about acting with you?  Would not I follow you in any thing in the world?—­This is saying no profligate thing.  Is there any thing I might not follow you in?  You even did not tell me yesterday that you had spoken.  Yet I will tell you all I have heard; though if there was a Point in the world in which I could not wish you to succeed where you wish yourself, perhaps it would be in having you employed.  I cannot be cool about your danger; yet I cannot know any thing that concerns you, and keep it from you.  Charles Townshend called here just after I came to town to-day.  Among other discourse he told me of your speaking on Friday, and that your speech was reckoned hostile to the Duke of Newcastle.  Then talking of regiments going abroad, he said, * * * * * With regard to your reserve to me, I can easily believe that your natural modesty made you unwilling to talk of yourself to me.  I don’t suspect you of any reserve to me:  I only mention it now for an occasion of telling you, that I don’t like to have any body think that I would not do whatever you do.  I am of no consequence:  but at least it would give me some, to act invariably with you; and that I shall most certainly be ever ready to do.  Adieu!

Letter 64 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, March 7, 1761. (page 111)

I rejoice, you know, in whatever rejoices you, and though I am not certain what your situation(129) is to be, I am glad you go, as you like it.  I am told it is black rod. lady Anne Jekyll(130) said, she had written to you on Saturday night.  I asked when her brother was to go, if before August; she answered:  “Yes, if possible.” long before October you may depend upon it; in the quietest times no lord lieutenant ever went so late as that.  Shall not you come to town first?  You cannot pack up yourself, and all you will want, at Greatworth.

We are in the utmost hopes of a peace; a Congress is agreed upon at Augsbourg, but yesterday’s mail brought bad news.  Prince Ferdinand has been obliged to raise the siege of Cassel, and to retire to Paderborn; the hereditary prince having been again defeated, with the loss of two generals, and to the value of five thousand men, in prisoners and exchanged.  If this defers the peace it will be grievous news to me, now Mr. Conway is gone to the army.

The town talks of nothing but an immediate Queen, yet I am certain the ministers know not of it.  Her picture is come, and lists of her family given about; but the latter I do not send you, as I believe it apocryphal.  Adieu!