234 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
they shou'd be able to clear them selves when the whole matter is heard, as is pretended they can do, the matter had better been hust till such time, as I heard it wou'd have been if Walpool had not moved for't himself. Some fancy he has over shot him self fancying the Tories wou'd oppose it, being it came from him.
My wife and I wish you many happy new years.
��[Lady Strafford.]
St, James's Square, December 28, 171 1.
.... I love Lady Wentworth better than ever, for she is to me as if she ware my own mothere and I believe next to you she loves me the best. I have heard an old saying there is no catching old birds with chaffe, so I hope I am to old for sister Wentworth to play me any of her tricks, tho' I must say she has laid as many trapps to draw me into her gang of company as ever any body did ; but she has never accom- plish'd her design, for I have been but twice to see her since I cam to town and then I did only make her a formall viset. She has invited my sisters and I to play at cards with her of twelve day, and since I here there is to be Mr. Nash and a great many more of her fellows, so I don't intend to say any thing tell the day comes, and then I'll send her word I have a great cold and so can't wait on her. I am not so much a fool but I can see through her designs, for she thinks if she introduces all her folks to me, if the world reflects on her for keeping such company, she'll say that I keep there company as well as she. I thinke my brother the greatest fool that ever was, for he is the fondest thing of the world of Nash and delighted with all his wife dos. She cam to the Queen's Chaple last Sunday after the prayers ware over, and she and Lady Jersey sat out among the men, which was made a great jest on ; but my brothere seem'd mightily pleased at her con- trivance and said she was much in the right, 'twas the warmest
place The Queen is still ill of the gout and a cold ; I
goe to the back starrs every day to know how she dos, for the
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