Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/463

 and some other odd circumstances. What will the House of Lords say when they meet, to a Peer of England's being taken up on such a Pretence ?

The great affair that occasions the most speculation att present is my Lord Cadogan's going into Holland. Some say itt is in order to settle with the Dutch the business of the Northern Fishery, which the Government have for some time past had a project to establish, and accordingly proposals have been made for erecting a Society. Itt is said my Lord Cadogan has carried over a very considerable sum of money, and no doubt itt must cost a great deal to bribe the Dutch to consent, who are more likely to endeavour to bribe others to stop itt.

Other people say confidently that my Lord Cadogan's business is to bring the Dutch to join with us in sending a Fleet to the Mediterranean to stop the progress of the Spaniards ; and others say itt is to make the Duke of York Statholder. However that is, itt's pretty certain that the Dutch are in no small confusion att this time.

The King of Prussia has his thoughts bent that way, and has a good large body of troops in their neighbourhood. We shall hear more of these matters when the Parliament meets, which they say will be very early. God knows what temper they will be in, for itt is certain there is no better intelligence now than there was when the Parliament rose between the present and the late ministry, and itt has been said that some of the latter who are now att the Bath seem to be afraid of being taken up, for the writers for the court have accused them of being in Plots with the Jacobites.

I can tell you no more upon public affairs, and perhaps you will think this little worth the trouble of reading, but however itt will answer my purpose so far, I hope to draw an answer from you by which I may know how your Lordship and the rest of the famil}' att Stainborough doe, and when you think of returning southwards.

Perhaps you have not heard an account of Lord Jersey's illness. Pm inform'd that he had not been in bed for almost a month before, and for one week had liv'd entirely upon

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