(514) Mr. Flood took his seat for Winchester on the 8th of December, and on the same evening addressed the House in Opposition to Mr. Fox’s East India bill.  “He spoke,” says Wraxall, “with great ability and good sense, but the slow, measured, and sententious style of enunciation which characterized his eloquence, appeared to English ears cold and stiff:  unfortunately, too, for Flood, one of his own countrymen, Courtenay, instantly Opened on him such a battery of ridicule and wit, as seemed to overwhelm the new Member.  He made no attempt at reply, and under these circumstances began the division.  It formed a triumphant exhibition Of ministerial strength, the Coalition numbering 208; while only 102 persons, of whom I was one, followed Pitt into the lobby yet, within twelve days afterwards he found himself first minister, and so remained above seventeen years."-E.

(515) John James Hamilton.  In 1789, he succeeded his uncle as ninth Earl of Abercorn, and second Viscount Hamilton; and in 1790, was created Marquis of Abercorn.-E.

Letter 271 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.  Berkeley Square, Wednesday, May 5, 1784. (page 342)

Your cherries, for aught I know, may, like Mr. Pitt, be half ripe before others are in blossom; but at Twickenham, I am sure, I could find dates and pomegranates on the quickset hedges, as soon as a cherry in swaddling-clothes on my walls.  The very leaves on the horse-chestnuts are little snotty-nosed things, that cry and are afraid of the north-wind, and cling to the bough as if old poker was coming to take them away.  For my part, I have seen nothing like spring but a chimney-sweeper’s garland; and yet I have been three days in the country-and the consequence was, that I was glad to come back to town.  I do not wonder that you feel differently; any thing is warmth and verdure when compared to poring over memorials.  In truth, I think you will be much happier for being out of Parliament.  You could do no good there; you have no views of ambition to satisfy:  and when neither duty. nor ambition calls, (I do not condescend to name avarice, which never is to be satisfied, nor deserves to be reasoned with, nor has any place in your breast,) I cannot conceive what satisfaction an elderly man can have in listening to the passions or follies of others:  nor is eloquence such a banquet, when one knows that, whoever the cooks are, whatever the sauces, one has eaten as good beef or mutton before, and perhaps, as well dressed.  It is surely time to live for one’s self, when one has not a vast while to live; and you, I am persuaded, Will live the longer for leading a country life.  How much better to be planting, nay, making experiments on smoke (if not too dear), than reading applications from officers, a quarter of whom you could not serve, nor content three quarters!  You had not time for necessary exercise :  and, I believe, would have blinded