l66 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
then crys the Tories there's an end of the Noices the Whigs has made that they are for the Pretender, when the next heir has the Command of our greatest Army. I am assur'd to day that Mr. Hill desires to be excused from going abroad, pretending ill health, tho' it seems odd that he shou'd suffer it to be in the Gazet and receive joy of it from several of his friends two days agoe wch I was told by those that had been with him then to give him joy, and yet 'tis affirm'd to me with so much circumstance that I can't but believe it. What so some reports to be his reason I take to be invention, as that he waves it upon the talk of Mr. St. Johns being to go in the room of Lord Townsend. There's a strange story goes
about as if the Duke of M had writ Circular letters to
all the Princes of Allies to use their several interest with the Queen for him and that some of these Princes had sent copies of his letter to their Envoys here. I shall hear more of this matter to morrow if there's any truth int. The pam- phlets I have collected I keep to go with Mr, Witworth who tells me he goes very soon.
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London, 21 December^ 17 10, Dear Brother,
What I heard last post of Mr. Hill's excusing his going abroad for want of health is true, and it is not yet known who is to go in his room. Some talk as if 'twill be Prior. Last night came in a mail from Lisbon wch give a very different account of our affairs in Spain to what the French have indefer'd to make us believe ; from the office they will send you an extract, and by the Gazet to morrow we shall the particulars in general. I hear that our army is in a very good condition, 17,000 foot and 7,000 horse and plenty of all sorts of provission, and that we keep Garison still at Toledo, that King Charles went to Barcelona not out of any apprehension of the Enemy, but that he might have a more speedy correspondence with his Allies ; as an instance of wch he went from Madrid but with a Regiment of Horse, and took with him from thence two Grandees ladys by way
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