she is more publick in espousing the Whig intrest then ever. .... The town says Lord North and Gray is very jealouse of his Lady, tho' they say without a cause, for I never heard no harm of her. I am jest com from the Drawing room, and the queen spoke to me very civilly, and Lady Wharton stood jest by the Queen, and she reached across her to speak to me and took no notis of her, which pleased me very much.
��[Lord Berkeley of Stratton.]
February 26, 17 12.
It is noe compliment when I tell your Lordship that my heart leaps at the coming in of every post when I see your seal, tho it proves only a circular, for all of them I return many humble thanks. I was yesterday to wait of My Lady Strafford who hath had a sore throat, but was very well again and in cheerfull and agreeable humour, that I regret the time you loose from her. We are in great expectation of the next letters to hear of the proposals of the allies, which I hope will quell in some measure the angry humour reigning at present, and give a better opinion then is generally con- ccivd of the peace, I mean among people that will be con- vinced, for those who like themselves for being out of humour, it is noe matter what they think or say. Prince Eugene's nephew dyed yesterday morning of the small pox, or rather of drinking which threw him into it, for he fell in with the young debauchez here, w^ho kept him continually drunk. They say his uncle was not well satisfied with him, nor did honour him with any great share of his kindness. Having never had the small pox, he was persuaded to remove out of Leicester house, and to lye at the D. of Grafton's in my neighbourhood. I saw a little more of him on Sunday last then I had done, in a visit to a Lady, but found him as reserv'd, tho' better bred then any English man. They talk of his going away soon.
My Lord Pelham is dead of an Apoplexy and left his son I believe the richest heir in England ; with what he had
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