will bring to your mind what I have formerly said to you on that figure. Pray condescend to explain this matter to me. The removal of my lord Townshend has given a little spirit; but that will soon flag, if the king, at his return, does not make farther changes. What measures his majesty will take is uncertain; but this we are very sure of, that the division of the whigs is so great, that, morally speaking, nothing but another rebellion can ever unite them. Sunderland, Stanhope, and Cadogan are of one side; Townshend, Walpole, Oxford, Devonshire, and the chancellor[1], on the other. The latter seem at present to be strongest; but when the former appear with a German reinforcement, they will undoubtedly turn the balance. They are both making their court to the tories, who, I hope, will be a body by themselves, and not serve as recruits to either of the other two. Lord Townshend's friends give out, that his disgrace is owing to refusing four things, viz. to keep up the army; repeal the limitations of the succession-act; to send money to Germany for carrying on a war against Sweden; and to attaint lord Oxford. When lord Sunderland[2] comes over, he will probably cry 'whore again,' and endeavour to saddle lord Townshend in his turn. For these reproaches now are like that of Jacobitism in former reigns. We are told, that lord Bolingbroke has permission to stay in France, notwithstanding the late treaty, provided he retires from Paris.
- ↑ William, earl Cowper.
- ↑ By whose intrigues lord viscount Townshend had been removed from the post of secretary of state, which was given to James Stanhope, afterward earl Stanhope.
