in such a hurry, when it was understood that the late Duke of Marlborough had left the Opposition to go to Court, that he was not suffered to sit down to his dinner which was on the table, nor to stay for his coach, but was obliged to go in the page's hackney-coach to attend the Prince, who gave him directions to go instantly in search of the Duke from His Royal Highness; but, in a few minutes' conversation, forgot the business so far as to insist on his first staying a game of cricket with him and the pages, with little bats and balls, in a large room in Norfolk House. His duplicity was such that Lord Melcombe once brought him a country member of parliament, whom he left with the Prince, that he might be brought over to vote with Opposition, and he could not refrain—for his conceit of himself kept pace with his duplicity and his folly with both—pointing at Lord Melcombe, who afterwards crossed the window, saying that he was counted a man of parts, but that he had touched him for £2000 that morning. He had a notion that he could get round anybody by talking nonsense to them, and after playing a dirty trick, or being caught in some infamous lie by such a man as Lord Granville, or any other the ablest men of the time, he would take them into a corner and say he had 'raccommoded all that,' or played 'Firmo Firmo'[1] with them. He once sent for Mr. Fox, assuring him that he had taken every precaution that it should not be known; admitting him at a private door, or by means of a confidential page, while he contrived to have some one to see him go out, that should tell Mr. Pelham immediately, and that it should go to the King. But Mr. Fox was beforehand with him, for he acquainted Mr. Pelham before he went, and went by his advice. The late Lord Lyttleton complained of Lord Granville, whom he had brought about the Prince, deserting him as he called it. When he reproached him for making such use as he had done of the Prince, Lord Granville asked, 'What the devil else he could think he ever went to the Prince for?' The Prince gave Mr. Hamilton a full-length picture of himself, his
- ↑ Apparently the name of some game of chance.
