Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/163

 chamber, then that he must ask whilest the promise was fresh in memory, wch he did, but was paid with complyments, as being sorry they were engaged. The town upon this change reason'd as if his Lordship was trick't by the Treasurer, and the Duke of Shrewsbery's succeeding had appearance from former greatness {sic) as if he was not come in without his consint ; but I knowing this story cou'd not help smiH«g at all the fine reasoning thereupon, tho I said nothing.

I was told of a speech the Duke of Argile made to the Queen before he went to Flanders wch I made no reflection upon till now that it seems it might be from a veiw he had

to command in Spain — that the Duke of M put him

upon all the desparate services, wch he observed was not to gratifie the desire he had always to distinguish himself, but to expose a life he knew wou'd have no perticular attach- ments but herself He thought he might take notice of this perticular without the calling his courage the least in question. I writ you in my last he was come over, so if there is a change he may be an obstruction, tho' I think it can't be till Stan- hope come home to take his place in the house of Commons, and then if he adheres to oppose the court in their known opinion, there may be a fresh provokation to wipe out the merit of his past action ; but at present his late services seems to speak for pardon for his past fault, but since I have concluded with myself that there is a possibility that he may be remov'd, I have resolv'd to give Mr. L. your letter and see him burn it or tear it before my face, and according as he advises proceed to solicite others. Your desire of commanding in the army again is known to the Dukes of Sommerset and Shrews- bery, tho' there must be no adress made to the first Duke about this, for he's Stanhope's friend. In this and several other things the town says he has not gone in consort with the new advisers, so much as lately 'twas reported the Whigs had got him again. (The Prince's Dr., a Scotchman, is a powerfull solicitor for Argile with Mrs. Masham,;who now is // v visseted in crowds by Whigs and Torys, some of whom I have heard wish her damn. For my part I han't had courage to go with the crowd yet, because I know she reckons me inj

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