private business, which pressed upon me in the
various items of correspondence, accounts, and papers, that I
have been obliged to delay this letter longer than I intended.
My attorney hath now his leave of absence from me, to anew paint
the green door, and repolish the brass knocker of his country
villa. As soon as Lady Y. is sufficiently strong I propose
quitting town, remaining ten days at Delaforde, and then
proceeding to swim at Southampton or Lymington, having as just
claim to breathe a sweeter air as the said attorney.

On Monday last, I quitted for a few hours the Westminster
contest, to dine with the Stoke Club, which was well attended,
and your Lordship's venison declared to be in high season.
Captain Salter hath suffered some severe loss of fortune from
the bankruptcy of the house of Maine, at Lisbon, as I
understand; in consequence thereof, he hath let his house at
Stoke to Major Masters, and means himself and family to reside
at Bath. He hath let his house for L200 per annum, and for a
term.

Late in the evening, I hastened back from Slough to protect my
house, in case of a riot; but the precaution of the police, in
appointing for the occasion some hundreds of extra constables,
kept all quiet. The Foxites, aware of the circumstance, sought
to arrogate all credit from that tranquillity of the night which
they could not prevent, and advertised "be quiet" accordingly.
Unprecedented modesty! I could wish to give some idea of the
conduct of the party, but cannot convey a just one. On the
hustings a daily farce passed, which even those busy in the
general scene, but who attended not that spot, can have no
conception of.

At dinner, in Downing Street, I was requested to take "my day or
two station" on the hustings; it being necessary to have some
gentlemen there who might notice procedure, and prevent the high
bailiff yielding in every case to the most abject fears on every
threat of Mr. Fox, which he did, insomuch that Lord Apsley and
myself were obliged to threaten him with a prosecution. On the
hustings were posted a set of young men, neatly dressed in blue
and buff for the occasion, blacklegs from all the race-courses,
and all the Pharo and E.O. tables in town. Their business was to
affront every gentleman who came on the hustings without their
livery.