1 62 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
London [about 12 December], 17 10.
Dear Brother,
I am told that there's nothing in the Report I writ you word of last post, that Mr. St. Johns was to go abroad, but this peice of news you may depend upon as true, that Mr. Hill is to go Plenipo in the Room of Cadogan, wch is
thought a mortification to the Duke of M . The Queen
has sent to Meredith, Mackcartney, and Honeywood, that she has no more occation for their service, she being inform'd it has been their frequent health in the Camp, ' Confusion to the New Ministry '; there was some talk as if Cadogan was to have the same message sent him, but the proofes are not so many and so strong against him. I have heard 'twas propose to the Queen to have these Gentlemen try'd by a Council of War, but that was thought showing them more favour than such insolence ought to meet with. 'Tis said Ross always when they begun these sort of healths left the Company, he's reckon'd a cunning Scotchman. All the favour these unfor- tunate gentlemen solicite for now is to have leave to sell, wch is thought won't be granted them. Now the Officers begin to curse again the president the late Ministry gave in turning out Lord Windsor, whose talking never came up to the Extravagance of these gentlemen. Some of their Expres- sions are, they say, too bad to be named so I can hear no more on't. I am to wish you joy of the Command of the Queen's Quota in the North, which Mr. Witworth told me, a Sunday, wou'd certainly be sent, but I shou'd be glad to hear your pay was commenc'd, tho' if you ask't it before the coming of the forces those that sett up for good husbandry for her Majesty might represent it as unreasonable, tho' they say Lord Peterborough has 5/. a day allow'd him till he comes to command as General of the Marines, wch is half pay. At St. James's Coffee house they are possitive still that Mr. St. John's is to go abroad, but now they say 'tis into Spain, and I don't know for what reason ; but the Whigs of late speaks with much more temper ot Lord Rotchester then Mr. Harley, the former they say acts openly and upon principle,
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