Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/450

 434 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.

much is done by forriegners. Upon my Lord Albermarle's coming over 'tis much talk't of again as if he was to be made Groom of the Stole, to decide the dispute among our great men, and the judges have already given their opinion that the Act of Parliament against Forreigners has no retrospect, tho' some people pretend they will have a pluck at them for all that, for the words are as plain as words can be against them, and those very lords, for whom the law is to be broak, were present and gave their assent to't tho' that matter was then objected in the house ; but they were such hearty friends to the Hannover succession that they were willing to lose their previledges rather then have the nation want so great a blessing, for wch they may be relieved in a court of equity, but by common Law not, tho' 'tis not likely it will be ever tryed there, for there's no penalty upon a forreigner that does act in contradiction to that law, nor any reward for a prose- cutor so that nobody but the P 1 itself can take notice of

it. There's a great many people want to have you over at

least before the setting of P, for they say they want such

a great man as you to be at the head of them, but I shou'd be sorry to see you at the head of a discontented party, but wish rather to see you and some others sattisfied. I think a Pention without an Employment a poor thing, let it be never so great, for one that can live without it. I hope Fortune, but to say better God's Providence, will direct you for the best, and for the good you wish me may you never have any thing to Chagreen you. We have now such fine weather that I wish my Lady at sea with a fair wind, and saftly arriv'd at St. James Square by next week ; by wch time I hope I shall have time for a few days to go into the country to see my wife, who is now ill of a feavour, wch makes me more uneasie then the mortification I have lately meet with. Dr. Ratclift dying this morning, and has left 80,000/. to the University of Oxford ; he has died like an illnatur'd brute as he has lived, he left none of his poor relations any thing. Mr, Bromley and vSir Geo. Beaumond are left Executors. There's a second part of the Secret History of the White Staff, wch tells the world no secret, that there's a great many Rogues in the

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