the house of Lords ; Thursday next is appointed for that. I designe to get into the house to hear the debate for there's a great deal to be said of both sides, and if ever any cause was debated without party this will be so. Every day for these two or three days the Whigs have report that Prince Eugene was landed, but now 'tis said he does not come, and there's a rumour spread as if Lord Privy Seal was not to go over to Holland, but I hear my Lord say he believed he shou'd go next week. I have sent you the Lords' reasons for dissenting from the advise. I have heard a great many Tory Lords regret they had not your Proxy.
London, December i8, 171 1. Dear Brother,
This bill of my Lord Notingham's was so well cook't up that it met with noe opposition yesterday, but order'd to be engross, and will have the third reading to morrow in order to be sent down to the Commons. They say 'tis the same as the late famous Occation Bill, with another title, and some little more favour show'd to the Dessenting Teachers, to please the Whigs ; and the Tories say they won't loose so good a Bill for the sake of such a trifle, there was nothing in't as they talk't of a designe to invite any of the family of Hanover into
England. My Lord N made a complaint of a grub
street speech they had cry'd about, as spoke by him in the house, of which he said he had not spoke one word, and now they cry up and down a sham speech of his vindication from the former. The Duke of Summerset went out of town a Saturday, to keep his Christmas at Pittworth, upon wch all the tories were full of the news that he was turn'd out, I believe that's too tough a bite for them or any body to meddle with; the Dutchess of Summerset is left in town. There's several schemes of the removes, as Mr. St. Johns to be made Earlc of Bullingbrook, Lord Dartmouth Master of the horse, Sir Thomas Handmer Secretary of State ; another that the Duke of Bcauford is to be Master of the horse, or the Duke of Shrewsbur}', and he Lord Chamberlain. \\\ short people
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