Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/240

 224 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.

London, Decetnber 14, 171 1. Dear Brother,

The Whigs reckon that my Lady Sunderland's smart reply to Lady Rotchester is coming on a pace. Lady Rotchester one day at hampton court flerring ask't Lady Sunderland what was become of the whigs, she had heard nothing of them of late, she believed they were all dead.

Lady S told her if they were all dead they wou'd soon have

a Glorious resurrection. The house of Lords met yesterday and adjourn'd till Saturday ; the accational Bill they talk of, that Lord Notingham is to bring in, was not ready but will be by that day. Lord Wharton is to second him, it is to have for title a Bill for the further security of the Church, and the

Protestant Succession in house of H. If it is cook't up

as some people suppose 'twill be commical to see all the Torys against it ; one part of it, as the advising the invita- tion of some of that family over, has been proposed and rejected by each party in their turns. My Lord Wharton, tho' he seems now to be mighty fond of Lord Notingham, cou'd not for bear his jest a friday, for, when the lords were to name who shou'd be of the committee to draw up the

address, he nam'd Lord N and Duke of Cleveland and

wisper'd the Lord next to him, that he had match'd them well, being both changelings. They talk much of Lord Chomondley and the Duke of St. Albans to be out, but the Duke of Summerset, notwithstanding he voted the same way, by all I can [hear], will still keep his place. When the White Staves were to wait upon the Queen to know her pleasure when she wou'd be attended with the address the Duke of Buckingham out of a joke present my Lord Chomondley to the Queen, told her, Madam, this is your Majesty's Treasurer of your household, put his Lordship much to the blush.

I find now my Lord Treasurer had reckon and muster'd up a good Majority, but he was deceived by above 8 that had promised him to vote quite contrary to what they did; there's no fence against that. Duke Hambleton wou'd not venture in the house with his proxeys till his business is decided in

�� �