Ly. Spencer[165] cannot reconcile herself to the insignificance of being out of power; she is carrying on an intrigue with Mrs. Fitzherbert thro’ Jack Payne to reinstate Mr. Pitt, by making him acceptable to the Prince. Ly. S. is the greatest prude alive, and yet because it is her interest she passes many hours daily with Mrs. F.[166] The latter is rancorous against Fox; she has never pardoned his compliance with the Prince’s orders in the last Regency, when he declared that no marriage had taken place between them. _9th March._--A person said to the Duchess of Gordon that Pitt, now he was out of office, would have leisure to amuse himself and indulge in his favourite recreations. Among the latter _Pope Joan_ was named. ‘Aye,’ said the Dss., ‘I wish he would think more of _Joan_ and less of the Pope’--more of the ladies and less of the Catholics. [Sidenote: MR. GEORGE PONSONBY] George Ponsonby, distinguished in Ireland as a pleader and orator, has carried the election for the County of Wicklow. During the poll a man upon the hustings assigned for reason of his voting against him that _common report_ said he had been connected with the United Irishmen. ‘_Common report_ is known to be a liar,’ said Ponsonby, ‘and so, I think, are its trumpeters.’ More is expected from him in the Imperial Parlt., than from all the Irish put together; his talents are supposed to be well adapted to the English style of debate, and his language good without being too florid, the common defect of Irish eloquence. He is cautious, and will not hastily risk impairing the reputation he has already acquired. Mr. Fox has not the highest opinion of his political honesty, but Grey, who loves with fervour every person connected with him, is jealous at the suspicion.[167] We must wait to see how opportunity may tempt and time mature his propensities. Horne Tooke has at length got into Parlt. for the rotten borough of Old Sarum, through the patronage of Lord Camelford. Ld. Temple has given notice of a motion to investigate into his eligibility; the question is whether he can sit in Parlt. after having taken priest’s orders. He has already spoken frequently, but his wit suits the mob at the hustings better than the genteel mob of Parlt. He is too fond of talking of himself, and his jokes are trite. He made formerly a very satirical good joke in a toast, and it was so well disguised that what is very Jacobinical appears extremely loyal--‘_The brave followers of the Duke of York_,’ meaning the _French_, who pursued him when his army was put to flight in Holland. It will be a good expulsion for ye Opposition, as he is very mischievous, and would overset any little popularity they might acquire if they could conduct themselves with tolerable prudence.