136 SUPPOSED LETTER FROM THE PRETENDER held the least correspondence with any one person of the tory party. I observe, as near as I can, the instructions of the king my father; among whose papers there is not one letter, as I remember, from any tory, except two lords and a lady, who, as you know, have been for some years past devoted to me and the whigs. I approve of the scheme you sent me, signed by our friends. I do not find 24's name to it perhaps he may be sick, or in the country. Middleton will be satisfied to be groom of the stole ; and if you have Ireland, 11 may have the staff, provided 15 resigns his pretensions; in which case, he shall have six thousand pounds a year for life, and a dukedom. I am content 13 should be secretary and a lord; and I will pay his debts when I am able. I confess, I am sorry your general pardon has so many exceptions; but you and my other friends are judges of that. It was with great difficulty I prevailed on the queen to let me sign the commission for life, though her majesty is entirely reconciled. If 2 will accept the privy seal, which you tell me is what would please him, the salary should be doubled: I am obliged to his good intentions, how ill soever they may have succeeded. All other parts of your plan. I entirely agree with; only as to the party that opposes us, your proposal about Z may bring an odium upon my government: he stands the first excepted; and we shall have enough against him in a legal way. I wish you would allow me twelve more domesticks of my own religion; and I will give you what security you please, not to hinder any designs you have, of altering the present present established worship. Since I have so few employments left me to dispose of, and that most of our friends are to hold theirs for life; I hope you will all be satisfied with so great a share of power. I bid you heartily farewell; and am your assured friend. A PRETENDED A PRETENDED LETTER OF THANKS FROM LORD WHARTON TO THE LORD BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH, IN THE NAME OF THE KITCAT CLUB. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, REMARKS ON THE BISHOP'S PREFACE. FIRST PRINTED IN 1712. "Do you know that Grub street is dead and gone last week? "No more ghosts or murders now for love or money. I plied it "close the last fortnight, and published at least seven papers * of 66 my own, beside some of other people's; but now every single "half sheet pays a halfpenny to the queen. The Observator is "fallen; the Medleys are jumbled together with the Flyingpost; "the Examiner is deadly sick; the Spectator keeps up, and doubles "its price; I know not how long it will hold. Have you seen "the red stamp the papers are marked with? methinks the stamp"ing is worth a halfpenny.” Journal to Stella, Aug. 7, 1712. * One of these was probably the pamphlet here reprinted. |