was prevented from continuing this letter yesterday, by
a visit from Lord Digby, who assured me that to the best of his
judgment you had nothing to fear from that quarter which has now and
then alarmed me not a little. I dined at Lord Ash[burnham's]: Lord
Frederick, Williams, Sir J. Peachy(?) and old(?) Elison. I do not
perceive that Lord Carm(arthen) has got any repu(ta)tion from his
violence against Lord George.(196) The attack surprised, (and) had
not been concerted with anybody; he had revealed his design but to
one, as he said, and that I am told was Lord Pembroke, une tete
digne de cette confidence.

It was a Motion cruel and ill-mannered, and not becoming one man of
quality to another; at the same time an unpardonable insult to the
Crown. Lord de Ferrars, I hear, has found out a precedent for it, as
he thinks, in King James 1st('s) time, but a precedent of what? of
ins(o)lence to the Crown; it was in that reign begun, with impunity.
If there could be any hesitation in this peerage, this motion must
have confirmed it.

Lord Abingdon spoke like a perfect blackguard, and Lord Shellbourne,
in a speech which Lord Cov(entry) calls such a model of perfect
oratory, to exemplify the contempt which the late King had of Lord
George, quoted not only his own words, but imitated his manner--two
of his grand-children, the Princes, in the House. This part of his
speech was a pantomime fitter for the treteaux des boulevards than
for a chamber of Parliament. However, Lord George will take his seat
next week, and what he will do, or be, afterwards, God knows.
Ellis(197) has his place.

Poor General Fraser died of an emetic, which occasioned the bursting
of a vessel. Lord Talbot has had another warning, and so has Lord R.
Bertie, and neither can live long. I was last night at Lady Lucan's,
to see young Beckford,(198) who seems to possess very extraordinary
talents; he is a perfect master of music, but has a voice, either
natural or feigned, of an eunuch. He speaks several languages with
uncommon facility, and well, but has such a mercurial turn, that I
think he may finish his days aux petites maisons; his person and
figure are agreeable. I did not come till late, and till he had
tired himself with all kind of mimicry and performances. The Duchess
of Bedford [was] there, and Lady Clermont. There is a picture
engraving at the man's house in St. James's Street where your
picture is to be engraved. His design is ingenious; it is the