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mages were laid at 40,000l. The jury at eight on Sunday morning gave Sutton 5000l. damages, full costs, and his prize-money to the amount of 8000 more. Sir William was one of Sutton's witnesses. He swore that he was on deck, &c. during the whole time. The master of the ship, and two sailors, deposed that Sir William was not on deck during the whole time. Sir William, not suspecting such evidence, was not prepared to contradict it. I have not seen the Baronet, nor Lady B, since Friday. I fear a prosecution for perjury may follow against the Baronet, and there has been much talk of his shyness at the time of the action. Lord Rodney's evidence too has been much criticised, and his own letters produced against him respecting some opinions which he laid down as certain; but I have not yet all the particulars. Lord

Rodney has taken Mr. Darell's house at Kensington Gore for three months certain. His daughters are there. His Lordship has got the hooping cough as well as his young family, and in a violent degree. He gives 150l. for the three months. I have not yet been to visit my neighbour.

I dined in Portland Place last Friday with Sir Francis and Lady Bassett, Lord Plymouth, four or five ladies, half a dozen Members of Parliament, and Captain M- whose nose a parson Epulled, and Lady S▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ married. He sung the Baby and Nurse, an indecent attack on the King and Pitt, which hę sung too, as it is said, at Carlton House. All the company turned to me at the conclusion of the song, and, after infinite plaudits to Bobadil, asked if I did not think it the wittiest song in the world. I did, except only one from the

same author, called the Coalition. Bobadil on this blushed for the first time, the company laughed, and forced him to sing the Coalition, which is the bitterest satire on Fox and North, with really more fun than the other. I luckily recollected his singing it at the Horse Guards, when I dined last there with The tables were

and

turned, and the Coalition laughed at all the evening.

Yesterday the House of Commons determined to hear no more petitions after that of Hereford this session. By this resolution only the double returns will be heard, and Middlesex with all the others will necessarily be put off till December or February. Probably, very probably, the Middlesex petition will never be renewed. By a good calculation, instead of seventy-one, I really shall have very near three hundred majority, should the

matter ever come in issue. I am every day attending to my interest in the county, having taken my resolution the rest of my life to represent Middlesex, concerning which so many remarkable events have happened to me. I have now full time in every event, and as I shall not stir out of my county till Christmas, I will recover whatever inattention or carelessness may have lost. I understand from the member Stephenson, that if the poll had continued one day longer, many more of my friends would have come to Brentford, who were kept away from the fear of riots and bludgeons.

I read in the English papers that Beaumarchais has given up the projected edition of Voltaire, but I hope it cannot be true. I was a subscriber, and paid three guineas. His letter is excellent. My compliments if you see him.

Your packet contains a very obliging note from Mr. and Mrs. Wathen, which I have answered with all offers of future franks. Mr. Hutton dined here yesterday, and is very sociable. There is likewise a letter from him.

The King of Sweden has, I hear, un visage plat, and not much meaning in the eye, that index of the soul. Besides

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other objections to him, if he should be the cause of too great fatigue, by which my dear daugher may suffer, he will be sure of an additional strophe in my iambics against him.

Sherwin has sent me a proof of his noble large print of the heroic action of Sir Roger Curtis at Gibraltar, from a painting done by Sir Roger's direction, under his eye.

I desire to be respectfully remembered to the divine Dutchess, and affectionately to the Baron, Madame, and all our old

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