summoned at Buckingham House, at which the twelve Judges attended. It was determined not to shut up the Courts but to order military execution. Both Houses are adjourned to Monday sevennight, which hurt General Conway so much, who intended yesterday to move for the repeal of the Toleration, and found the House adjourned before he could get to it, though early, that he is gone out of town. The night passed quietly, and by this evening there will be eighteen thousand men in and round the town. As yet there are more persons killed by drinking than by ball or bayonet. At the great Popish distiller's they swallowed spirits of all kinds, and Kirgate saw men and women lying dead in the streets under barrows as he came home yesterday.

We have now, superabundantly, to fear robbery: 300 desperate villains were released from Newgate. Lady Albemarle was robbed at Mrs. Keppel's door in Pall Mall at twelve at night. Baron D'Aguilar's coach was shot at here last night, close to the Crown.

I have so much exerted my no strength, and had so little sleep these two nights, that I came hither to-day for some rest. It will be but grim repose. It is said that this insurrection was expected in France a month ago. Just as I came away Mr. Griffith told me the French were embarking. In short, what may not be expected? Then one turns from what is to come, to helpless misery, that will soon be forgotten but by the sufferers; whole families ruined, wives that tried to drag their husbands out of the mobs and have found them breathless, the terrors of the Catholics, indeed of all foreigners, but one. That Scythian heroine, the Princess Daskiou, is here; her natural brother Rantzau was taken in Monsieur Cordon's Chapel, and was reclaimed by Simonin, and released. She herself on Wednesday, I know, sent Lord Ashburnham word that his house was marked for destruction. Merciful tigress! it is proof he is not an Emperor.

My bosom, I think, does not want humanity, yet I cannot feel pity for Lord Mansfield. I did feel joy for the four convicts who were released from Newgate within twenty-four hours of their execution; but ought not a man to be taught sensibility, who drove us cross the Rubicon? I would not hurt a hair of his head: but if I sigh for the afflicted innocent, can I blend him with them?

You will call me fool in your own mind, and tell yourself that a week ago I announced that national lethargy would doze into despotism. I have long known how short-sighted my penetration is. I allow all you can think of my littleness of mind. However, I

would not change a mean understanding or a want of spirit for any thing I hold to be wrong, nor think, I beg you, that by that assertion I pretend to any goodness. I am often guilty, but it is not with tranquillity, nor from my soul being steeled against remorse. Still less do I condemn others who act what they think right, or doubt the soundness of the principles of my friends. On the contrary, I honour those who have more firmness than myself; yet in the most quiet times my opinion was exactly what it is now. Many years ago I shocked Mrs. Macaulay by telling her, that had I been Luther and could have foreseen the woes I should occasion, I should have asked myself, whether I was authorised to cause the deaths of three or four hundred thousand persons, that future millions might be advantaged. The Spartan Matron despised my scruples.

Well! confusion is trumps! One only thing I anxiously beg, do not think ill of your friends; I don't mean myself-I am of no consequence, but be assured that you will love even Lord Rockingham when I can tell you something that I cannot write. If I live to see you again, but ifs are the subterfuges of those that cannot support present unhappiness; whoever can descry connection between this instant and anything that is to come, is the maximus of all Apollos. Adieu !

Saturday morning.

I have this moment received two letters from town to tell me that Lord George Gordon was overtaken in his flight to Scotland, and was just brought prisoner to the Horse-Guards. This is all I know yet, except that some say he was seized in the Park, and was not fled.

Wait for the echo.

1931. TO THE COUNTESS OF OSSORY.

Strawberry Hill, Saturday night, late.

WAS not I cruelly out of luck, Madam, to have been fishing in troubled waters for two days for your Ladyship's entertainment, and to have come away very few hours before the great pike was hooked? Well, to drop metaphor, here are Garth's lines reversed,

Thus little villains oft submit to fate,

That great ones may enjoy the world in state.

Four convicts on the eve of execution are let loose from Newgate, and Lord George Gordon is sent to the Tower. If he is hanged,

the old couplet will recover its credit, for Mr. Wedderburn is Chief Justice.

I flatter myself I shall receive a line from your Ladyship tomorrow morning: I am impatient to hear what you think of black Wednesday. I know how much you must have been shocked, but I long to read your own expressions; when you answer, then one is conversing. My sensations are very different from what they were. While in the thick of the conflagration, I was all indignation and a thousand passions. Last night, when sitting silently alone, horror rose as I cooled; and grief succeeded, and then all kinds of gloomy presages. For some time people have said, where will all this end? I as often replied, where will it begin? It is now begun, with a dreadful overture; and I tremble to think what the chorus may be ! The sword reigns at present, and saved the capital! What is to depose the sword ?-Is it not to be feared, on the other hand, that other swords may be lifted up?-What probability that everything will subside quietly into the natural channel?-Nay, how narrow will that channel be, whenever the prospect is cleared by peace? What a dismal fragment of an empire! yet would that moment were come when we are to take a survey of our ruins! That moment I probably shall not see. When I rose this morning, I found the exertions I had made with such puny powers, had been far beyond what I could bear; I was too sick to go on with dressing myself. This evening I have been abroad, and you shall hear no more of it. I have been with Lady Di., at Richmond, where I found Lady Pembroke, Miss Herbert, and Mr. Brudenell. Lord Herbert is arrived. They told me the melancholy position of Lady Westmorland. She is sister of Lord George Gordon, and wife of Colonel Woodford, who is forced to conceal himself, having been the first officer who gave orders to the soldiers to fire, on the attack of Lord Mansfield's house. How many still more deplorable calamities from the tragedy of this week that one shall never hear of! I will change my style, and, like an epilogue after a moving piece, divert you with a bon-mot of George Selwyn. He came to me yesterday morning from Lady Townshend, who, terrified by the fires of the preceding night, talked the language of the Court, instead of Opposition. He said she put him in mind of removed tradesmen, who hang out a board with, "Burnt out from over the way." Good night, Madam, till I receive your letter.

Monday morning, the 12th.

Disappointed! disappointed! not a line from your Ladyship; I

will not send away this till I hear from you. Last night, at Hampton Court, I heard of two Popish chapels demolished at Bath, and one at Bristol. My coachman has just been in Twickenham, and says half Bath is burnt; I trust this is but the natural progress of lies, that increase like a chairman's legs by walking. Mercy on us! we seem to be plunging into the horrors of France, in the reigns of Charles VI. and VII. !—yet, as extremes meet, there is at this moment amazing insensibility. Within these four days I have received five applications for tickets to see my house! One from a set of company who fled from town to avoid the tumults and fires. I suppose Æneas lost Creüsa by her stopping at Sadlers' Wells.

13th.

The letter I have this moment received is so kind, Madam, that it effaces all disappointment. Indeed, my impatience made me forget that no post comes in here on Mondays. To-day's letters from town mention no disturbance at Bristol or anywhere else. Every day gained is considerable, at least will be so when there has been time for the history of last week to have spread, and intelligence from the distant counties to be returned. All I have heard to-day is of some alteration to be made to the Riot Act, that Lord George cannot be tried this month, and that the King will go to the House on Monday. I will now answer what is necessary in your Ladyship's and take my leave, for, as you observe, the post arrives late, and I have other letters that I must answer. Mr. Williams interrupted me, and has added a curious anecdote,—and a horrible one, to my collection of the late events. One project of the diabolical incendiaries was to let loose the lions in the Tower, and the lunatics in Bedlam. The latter might be from a fellow feeling in Lord George, but cannibals do not invite wild beasts to their banquets. The Princess Daskiou will certainly communicate the thought to her mistress and accomplice, the Legislatress of Russia.

George, I think, need not fear Mimy's being reclaimed: when parents can give up a child, I have no notion of their caring what becomes of it.

My cousin, the Miss Townshend, whom your Ladyship mentions, is quite a stranger to me. My nephews, nieces, and cousins compose such a clan, that, with all my genealogic propensities, I never saw all of them, though it seems this young lady is one who, according to the proverb, knows Jack Pudding. She shall certainly command a ticket for Strawberry, and I actually enclose one; but when you

talk of enthusiasm, Madam, it is impossible to make an acquaintance on that ground; it would be Jackpudding-ing myself in good

earnest.

I do not know whether I am glad or sorry that you must remove from Grosvenor-place. That will depend on your future habitation; but I must finish, and would, if I dared, return the Dearest-but there would be a soupçon of the Jack Pudding in that too, and therefore I don't.

P.S. I like an ironic sentence in yesterday's London Courant,' which says, all our grievances are red-dressed.

MY DEAR LORD,

1932. TO THE EARL OF HARCOURT.1

Strawberry Hill, June 10, 1780. IF confusion and every horror are excuses, your Lordship will forgive my not thanking you sooner, as I intended, for the very kind message and invitation you were so good as to leave at my house. I did drive to yours in total ignorance of what was passing, at the very instant you were in such danger in the House of Lords. Thank God! your Lordship and all my friends escaped massacre! It was my plan, a week ago, to go to Malvern the beginning of July, and to wait [on] your Lordship and Lady Harcourt, going or coming, as should be least inconvenient to you. One must have the confidence of a true enthusiast or a false one to say what one will do three weeks hence! I will! is no longer a phrase in the now narrow vocabulary of an Englishman. Two days ago the Mob, today the Army,-to-morrow who were, are, will be our masters?

Exhausted with fatigue and watching, I came from town yesterday at two o'clock, to seek a little repose, leaving a fierce calm. Since the early part of Thursday evening, I have not heard of any disturbance; and whether terrified like a brat that has set his frock on fire, or to rooke new legions, Scoticè clans, of Infernals, the Gordon is fled.

Wednesday no mortal pen can describe, that has not seen a city taken by storm; yet who ever saw a capital of the size of London in flames in more than a dozen places, and its own inhabitants rioting in every barbarity? How it escaped a wide conflagration.

Now first published.-CUNNINGHAM.