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Letters ... to sir Horace Mann, ed. by lord Dover. Concluding ser
Letters to sir Horace Mann ed by lord Dover Concluding ser Author:Horace Walpole Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: most extraordinary cause between the families of Douglas and Hamilton, equal to any of the Causes Cilebres. Adieu! I do not hear a word of my Lord Chatham. Madam... more »e du Barri, the French meteor, does not seem to be a fixed star. LETTER CXXXV. Arlington Street, Jan. 31, 1769. The affair of Wilkes is rather undecided yet, than in suspense. It has been a fair trial between faction and corruption; of two such common creatures, the richest will carry it. The Court of Aldermen set aside the election of Wilkes on some informality, but he was immediately rechosen. This happened on Friday last, the very day of his appearance at the House of Commons. He went thither without the least disturbance or mob, having dispersed his orders accordingly, which are obeyed implicitly. He did not, however, appear at the bar till ten at night, the day being wasted in debating whether he should be suffered to enter on his case at large, or be restrained to his two chief complaints. The latter was carried by 270 to 131, a majority that he will not easily reduce. He was then called in, looked ill, but behaved decently, and demanded to take the oaths and his seat. This affair, after a short debate, was refused; and his counsel being told the restrictions imposed, the House adjourned at midnight. To-day he goes again to the House, but whatever steps he takes there, or however long debates he may occasion, you may look upon his fate as decided in that place. We are in hourly expectation of hearing that a nymph, more common still than the two I have mentioned, has occasioned what Wilkes has failed in now, a change in an administration. I mean the Comtesse du Barn. The grands habits are made, and nothing wanting for her presentation but—what do you think ? some woman of quality to present her. In that...« less