230. To J. B. Holroyd, Esq.

December, 1774.

Poor Clarke is too melancholy a subject to dwell much upon. Had I wrote last night I should have said that symptoms appeared rather more favourable, but I must now have contradicted myself. I fear there remains but little hope. If I have any really good news to send you I will not lose a moment. Otherwise permit me to be silent on that unpleasant head.

Monday last was our first engagement. You have seen the Address, [267] Lord John Cavendish’s amendment, and the numbers—264 to 73. Burke was a water-mill of words and images; Barré an Actor equal to Garrick; Wedderbourne artful and able. Lord G. Germaine, though An Anti-American, remained silent; Hartley, [268] Sir William Maine [269] and some other new Members lost their maidenheads with very little credit. Once or twice I was a little lewd, but am now well pleased that I resisted the premature temptation. I divided with the Majority. Your Lewes friend Sir Thomas [270] (to the general surprize) with the minority.

As to private affairs, It is a strange pair of brutes that I an engaged with. I send your letters as instructions to Hugonin. As to Lovegrove we expect his Ultimatum . The Bishop of Landaff gives a very bad character of Matthews.

Last Tuesday I dined at Lethiuellier’s [271] with Maudit, [272] Lascelles and Sir Thomas Millar. Next Tuesday they dine in Bentinck Street, with the addition of Batt. [273] From some circumstance it appears that my romantic attack on Lord A. might have succeeded. Adieu.

Embrace my Lady. The treaty between moles and paper is far advanced.