eve, that
whenever there is anything like a settlement in Government, he will
find himself disappointed and mortified, and he will then see that
he has been doing other people's work, and not his own.

Brooks's is at present a place open to great speculation and
amusement and curiosity, and I go there and talk there, but it is
without heat, or anything which makes it in any respect disagreeable
to myself or others. If that was not my temper I should not go among
them. Boothby said last night to me, that he thought that they were
not so cock-a-hoop, as he phrased it, and Lord G[ower] said that he
believed, what may be true, that they become frightened at their own
success. It is much easier to throw things into confusion than to
settle them to one's own liking. Troubled waters are good to fish
in, it is true, but sometimes in searching for a fish you draw up a
serpent. I have much more admiration of Charles's talents than
opinion of his judgment or conduct.

(1782,) March 13, Wednesday m(orming).--Two packets of mine were
sent yesterday to the messenger who was, as Sir S. Portine told me,
to set out for Ireland last night at nine. I intended to have sent
another by the post; but I had not materials enough, and I found
myself indisposed with my cold, and could do nothing but drink tea
by the fireside at White's.

The story of St. Christopher's tells well at the outset, and gives
me at least, who am sanguine, great hopes, but the Opposition still
is incredulous as to good news, and the same intelligence which they
dispute the authenticity of to-day, would be, to-morrow, if they
were in place, clear as proofs of Holy Writ, clearer indeed than
those are to the greatest part among them.

I was assured last night, that the King is so determined, as to
Charles, that he will not hear his name mentioned in any overtures
for a negotiation, and declares that the proposal of introducing him
into his councils is totally inadmissible. I should not be surprised
if this was true in its fullest extent. I can never conceive that a
King, unless he and his Government differ from all others, can do
otherwise.

Friday is our great day of struggle; some changes I should think
must be, but Denbigh,(215) who is a good calculator as to numbers,
says that we shall have eight more than last time. That will make
but a paltry majority; however, if it be so, we shall brush on, I
suppose, live upon expedients, and hope for a more favourable
c