Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/293

 very ingenious speech, professing that it had always been his opinion that this was a very good Bill, and therefore wou'd vote for't, but repeated some of the arguements of some of the late ministry who were against it last year, as an incroach- ment upon the prerogative, which he did not think, but those that did he cou'd not see how they cou'd be for't ; so prest that matter very handsomely upon them, but he was answer'd by none of them, but they voted as they had resolved before for the Bill, as being against the Court. When 'twas com- mittced they made two amendments, the first that it shou'd not take place till after the demise of her present majesty, and whereas this Bill had reserved for the Commons about 40 or 50 of great places and yet wou'd have it pass for a self-denial Bill, the Lords wou'd not allow of any one of them ; they carried these amendments by 16. The Whigs seeing that went away ; when the Court saw themselves strong enough they throw the bill out

��[Lady Strafford.]

.... Here is nothing talked about but men tbat goes in partys about the street and cuts peaple with swords or knives, and they call themselves by som hard name that I can nethere speak nor spell ; but a Satturday night coming from the opera they asalted Mr. Davenant and drew there swords upon him, but he took won of them and sent to the round house, but 'tis thought 'twas sombody that would have been known and they gave mony and made their eskape, but what was the great jest about town was they said they had cut of his head of hare.* Pray tell Capt. Powell that won of his dear

chingbrock is among those that goes about doing mischiefe"; and on the same day Lady Wentworth : — " I am very much frighted with the fyer, but much more with a gang of Devils that call themselves Mohocks ; they put an old woman into a hogshead, and rooled her down a hill, they cut of soms nosis, others hands, and severel barbarass tricks, without any provocation. They arc said to be young gentlemen, they never take
 * On March 14 Lady Strafford writes : — "The town says Lord Hin-

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