Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/297

 LETTERS OF LORD BERKELEY OF STRATTON. 2$ I

intend to cease tormenting you with my nonsence. T fancy ever)- letter you have from me you find me out to have less witt than you thought before ; but you have won thing for your comfort, which is, the less witt wemen has the better wives they make, so according to that rule you are a most happy man in your choise.

��[Lord Berkeley of Stratton.]

March 25, 17 12.

I have your Lordship's before me of the 30th new stile, a day of great expectation, which hath faild us, like most things of this world, by the French not giving their answer. It hath been reported here that they had dcsir'd a cessation of arms, and to deliver Dunkirk and Namur immediately, the first of great importance, the other of very little (I only tell you what is said in the town) and that this is only to prevent the siege of Cambray, after which we ma\- march to Paris, I am afraid as we did after taking Lisle and Tourna\-. The D. of Arg}'le is come in high praises of General Staremberg, with whom he agreed better then Stanhope did, and I find that Staremberg is the Newe [hope ?] of the tories, in opposition to Prince Eugene, who they say is but a novice in comparison of Staremberg. He must without doubt be an extraordinary man to maintain himself in such a countrey, under soe many disadvantages. Then his personal qualities must gain the love of every bod\', noe gasconnades, noc haughtiness, and a life fit for a religious house. Now to goe from a camp to a more peaceable place, I may tell you that the Sheriff's bill is not in a likely wa}' of passing, for after three tlays fruitlessly spent about it they have been forc'd to refer it to a private Committee, where in all probability it will draw in length, and come to nothing. The D. of Shrewsbury certainly goes for Ireland, after long aspiring to it. There hath happened an odd thing lately in that countrey in the North parts, where they let great tracts of land for feeding cattel, which are kept by a few shephards, and the poor people enrag'd that they

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