Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/262

 246 the wentworth papers.

[Peter Wentworth.J

London, /(^//z/^ry 11, 1712. Dear Brother,

This interval of Parliament there's very little news to tell you, well made me miss last post. The wonder is still why the Duke of Sommerset is not out, the town says he has promised to come into all the measures of the ministry, and now they see that his assiduity has made the Queen loath to part with him, that they might not seem to press her so much as the late ministry did, they give themselves an air as if they will act cheerfully with him, tho' he's not removed. He went to Sion yesterday, and he cannot move without some fresh talk about him, but everything one hears wou'd be too im- pertinant to trouble you with. The Duke of Beauford had a great levee this morning to wish him joye of the Duke of St. Alban's place, the band of pensioners. Some people will argue the Duke of Sommerset is yet to be out, and that he only stays in till they cou'd perswade the Duke of Beauford to be sattisfied with this place, the master of the horse being designed for some other. You have heard that P. Eugene had an audience of the Queen Sunday at six a clock ; he did not stay above a quarter of an hour with her. He has show'd himself much to the Ladies, for a Munday night he was at Lady Betty Germain's Assemblee, and there were ladys came there that had never been there before to see Lady Betty, which made a crowd ; the next was Lady Harvey's and there was the like company. Wednesday was the Opera and there he brought a great crowd, so much that Operas are to be perform'd thrice a week whilst he stays here. He has been to return all the vissits of the ministry, they say he's to dine with Lord Treasurer to-morrow. He was at the Dutchess of Shrewsbury's assemblee last night where I had stairing enought of him, but I had more modesty then most of the ladies, for I saw none of them scruple as fast as they cou'd get up to see him, to look him full in the face, tho' he was looking at them. He sup that night at the Duke of Shrews-

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