Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/49

 me. We have million of stories fly about of the quarrel

between our two great men, but why the D. of M going

to England is to be a consequence of it, I can't well see, nor why lord privy seal should be out as the Dutch gazette says, I can't conceive, for let which will get the better of t'other, 'twill be Tory still, for I hope neither will be so mad as to trust the Whigs : I am sorry for the Queen who I am sure is enough perplext, nor can I well tell on which side Lady Masham is ; I am sure none knows the truth more than your Lordship, and if you will open my eyes without a name to your letter be assur'd the secret shall be inviolably kept by your, &c.

The peaceful accession of George L led, as we all know, to the downfall of Bolingbroke, and the collapse of the Tory party ; and the recall of Lord Strafford from his embassy at the Hague was soon resolved upon by the victorious Whigs. His duties there did not, however, terminate till the end of December, 17 14. In a letter from him to Lord Halifax written in November asking for a settlement of the accounts connected with his embassy, and pointing out the great expenses he was led into by the necessary celebrations for the Peace and the King's Coronation, he says : — " I assure I had above 500 people whom I entertained both in eating and drinking from 10 o'clock at night till five in the morning, .... 'Tis hard after having served the crown constantly either in the army or ministry ever since the Revolution till this time to think that being recalled without any previous notice I should be obliged either to leave a clamour of debts behind me, or else to pawn or sell some of my things to pay them, which can't be done secretly here. I don't pretend to plead poverty for I thank God my estate and revenues are more than sufficient to maintain me at the full height I wish to live, but it is all so tied by marriage settlements that I can't dispose of one farthing of my capital, tho' I should suffer the dishonour to the Crown and myself of having my baggage stopped for debt, and tho' I have lost already 8000/. a year by the Queen's death, yet I do assure your Lordship

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