l6o THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
and unprepared for't. In the house of Commons the Whigs, the Tories say, have begun to show their teeth before they can bite. Mr. Walpool, at the committee that was appointed to draw up their Address of thanks for the Queens speech, S^' Thomas Hanmore was in the chair, took notes and writ down what he seem'd not to Hke ; they there told him 'twas unparhamentary to writ so before the thing was finish't. But he mentain'd it to be the right of every member to writ what he pleased or why had they pen and ink allow'd. After some squabling they yeild him the point, but when 'twas finisht they desire to have his notes, but he made no answere but took his paper and lapt it up very deliberately and went away with it into the house, and showed it to Letchmore and some more who sett there heads together how they wou'd desire to have it amended when it came into the house. The Tories tell me as they had cook't it they made arrant nonsence on't and there was an hour debate about the words wch and and, who was for the Which and who for the And I know not, after that Mr. Walpool wou'd have the Pretender mention'd, wch accation'd some debate, but Mr. Harley's speech yeild up that matter. He said their mentioning the house of Hanover imply'd they had not thoughts of the Pretender, without naming him, wch seem'd to be all together needless, but since he had been nam'd he knew what use wou'd be made of it without doors if now refused. So 'twas agreed to but they amended to that amendment, so that the Tories say the Whigs did but make a rod for their own breech. 'Twas presented to the Queen to day about three a clock, since I shall see it in Print to morrow I thought 'twas not worth making my dinner stay to hear it. I must confess I long till it comes out because I have heard all this talk about it, tho' I beleive 'twon't be so well as the Lords for I hear 'tis three times as long.
London, 8 December, 1710. Dear Brother,
Last Sunday I thought I had a great deal of news to writ to you by the tuesdays Post, but that morning 'twas
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