T—— has given out that if it had not been for him the Pretender had been here long agoe; and 'tis supposed of late he has been taken into grace and favour of the Whigs, and that he has promised them if they impeach Lord B—— he will not oppose them, and that underhand he has given them some matters to go upon; and people don't stick to say that all the Captains that are gone under Sir James Wishart are a parcel of Jacobites and persons unknown to the fleet, and all put in by the recommendation of Lord Bulling—— and what was to be brought us home in that fleet I dare not name, tho' some people pretend that some of these things will be made plain to-morrow, but as I sett at home I believe I am told many a lye. I was told that the A:B:C:(sic) was to be brought into the house yesterday to leave his proxy to vote to-morrow, but till next post I can writ no more of these matters, and then may be this mountain may bring forth a mouse.
The Queen I thank God continues so well as to be abroad every day. The Dutchess of Sommerset has been very ill at Kingsenton, but to the disappointment of some people is like to do very well again. Lord B—— goes on still merryly, and in his cups and out of his cups brags what a mighty man he is. He has often frolicks at Greenwich, and there he banters the people with the expectation of his bringing the Queen there; till t'other day I could not imagine from whence such a rumour of her going there cou'd be spread. There's a story of him some time ago, but I heard it since I writ to you last, which was that he himself shou'd brag that in one day he was the happiest man alive, got drunk, harrang'd the Queen, and at night was put to bed to a beautyfull young lady, and was tuck't up by two of the prettiest young peers in England, Lord Jersey and Bathurst, who by the by makes no pretty figure in the world to be pimps for his Lordship, who they suppose is happy in armes of nothing but common ——. He has now Bell Chuck, a blackguard girle, in high keeping, who was first kept by Lord Orrery. I have done and beg your pardon for entertaining you with such stuff. . . . .
