“The young King spoke his speech[300] with great grace; his voice,
they say, is very fine, and his delivery most remarkably good. The
Princess Dowager is not to be at St. James’s, and people think she
looks chagrin’d; no doubt she had visions of power and authority
which will probably not be answered; all people seem glad that she
is not likely to have influence. Dr. Wilson made a very flattering
sermon at Court, upon which the King express’d great displeasure,
and order’d all the Chaplains should be told he did not come to
Church to hear himself praised. Lord Egremont[301] made a fine
speech in the House of Lords for the address. Lord Royston is
to move for the address in the House of Commons to-day, and Sir
Richard Grosvenor,[302] who is to be made a peer, it is said,
seconds him. Mr. Pratt[303] is to be made Lord Chief Justice in
room of Willes, whose son is to be Solicitor-General, and Mr. York
attorney. Some say Pratt is to be made a Peer. There seems a very
strong union between Pitt and the Duke of Newcastle, but as yet no
one knows how things will combine. The whole Cocoa Tree[304] and
every human creature has been at Court, and this being said one
day in a large company, I was ask’d when I should go. I said not
till you came to town, but when you did you intended I should be
presented. Mrs. Boscawen said she suppos’d I should be introduced
by Lady Bute, as we were relations, and visited; I answered no, for
I should not go as a courtier....
“I should ask Lady Cardigan to carry me, who was the head of the
Montagu family, and a person who went as a great independant lady
to pay her duty to her sovereign without being a courtier. It
seems if I am to go to Court, I must not appear anywhere till I
have kiss’d hands, which makes it necessary, if done, to be done
soon, but I shall wait your orders, and I beg you to speak freely.”
[300] Parliament met on November 13.
[301] Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont.
[302] Sir Richard Grosvenor, afterwards 1st Earl Grosvenor.
[303] Made 1st Earl Camden, became Lord Chancellor and Lord
President of the Council.
[304] A famous Whig coffee-house.
To this letter Mr. Montagu replies--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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