BC_1758_EMONTAGU_BS_1

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<Q A 1758? TC BS EMONTAGU>
<X ELIZABETH MONTAGU>
 [}ELIZABETH MONTAGU TO BENJAMIN STILLINGFLEET. 1758? JUNE 13. LONDON. MO 5109}]
<P1>
The 13=th= of june [\ADDED 1758\] Dear Sir
   It has always been an abatement to my pleasure in corresponding with you that I was taking up the time you could employ to more usefull purpose or agreable amusement, & I could never find an hour in which my letter could properly steal in upon you. but even the unhappy have their moments, & I have at last found [\one/] most suitable to me; which is when you are in the Coblers library, after Bunyan & quarter, those classicks of y=e= artifices in leather, I think I may properly come in, & as I shall talk of Heroes, talk of Kings, armaments & navies, expect to take y=e= par of y=e= biographer of the Seven champions tho I know his history is adorn'd with cuts. In the first place I congratulate you on our success in Africa, some account of it you will have seen in the news papers, but I may add that we shall now serve our selves with a certain gum necessary in staining cottons for which we used to expend sixty thousand pounds a Year. This affair was affected by an honest rough Sea Captain whose name is Marsh, who owes his advancement in y=e= Navy to M=r= Boscawen. Prince Ferdinands passing y=e= Rhine is lookd upon by the skillfull in War as a very great peice of Generalship, & our Gracious Sovereign is much delighted with the event. All English hearts are in palpitations for what this week is to bring forth, we expect hourly to hear
<P2>
of the success of our attack upon S=t= Malo's of a battle daily expected to be performd by that great Master of the science of defence the King of Prussia, & of what has happend at Louisbourg. Our troops landed at S=t= Malo's without opposition, but what dire contention may have fallen out since we know not. there was a report yesterday that y=e= place was carried by y=e= loss of a thousand [\of our/] Men but thank God it was merely a rumour. So much for War & Wars alarms; as to our civil occurrences they have been so boisterously carried I need not change the tone of my narrat[{ive{] [\IN MARGIN\] All the Judges the Lord Keeper, the Chief Justice & the late L=d= Chancellor gave their opinions against y=e= (\habeas corpus\) bill L=d= Temple much in wrath insulted y=e= Judges in some of his questions, L=d= Lyttelton warmly & sharply reproved [\him/] upon which words rose so high the House of Lords interposed. The last day of this bill L=d= Mansfield & Lord Hardwicke spoke so full to the matter, even ye Tory Lords & these most violent in their wishes for it declared they were convinced y=e= new bill was dangerous to liberty in many respects, in many absurd; so that had there been a division there w=d= not have been four votes for it but M=r= Pitts party discreetly avoided a division. This affair has not set the legislative Wisedom of ye House of Commons in a very high light, but the great M=r= Beckford whom
<P3>
No arguments can convince, no defeat make ashamed, nor mistake make diffident, did on the notion for a vote of credit stand up in y=e= house of Commons & say, he w=d= not oppose that measure as he had an opinion of y=e= two Commoners in y=e= administration but in y=e= Peers that composed it, he had no confidence, & ran on in foul abuse of them, & then ended with a severe censure on y=e= house of Lords in general. L=d= Royston answerd him that this was unparliamentary [\in being DELETED\] [\where/] personal, & indecent in regard to y=e= house of Peers in general, to which M=r= Pitt answerd with great heat that he was sorry to hear such language from a Gentleman who was to be a Peer; [\he/] set forth y=e= great importance & dignity of M=r= Beckford personally, & above all the dignity & importance of an Alderman, considering it was a title he [\sh=d= INTO should\] be more proud of than that of a Peer This speech has enraged y=e= Lords, offended the Commons, & the Citty ungratefully say, it was too gross. Those who wish well to this Country & consequently to an union of parties at this juncture are very sorry for these heats, it is well if they do not unsolder y=e= union Lady F: Williams is set out for Hampton Court to day. [\REST CROSSED OUT BY MM? I have pass'd a good deal of time at Ealing since you left us & the fresh air has done some service to my health which you so kindly enquire after
<P4>
I began Islington waters to day. I am anxious for M=r= Emin, who went with Commodore Howe. I can give credit very easily to what you say of y=e= potatoes they make a fine meal & better starch than y=e= finest wheat. & I have known y=e= potatos meal put into pudding because better than wheat flour. L=d= Chesterfield exhorted y=e= Irish to make starch of it. Thank God we have a prospect of a good Harvest from y=e= refreshing rains we have had of late.
   I will give you immediate intelligence of y=e= event of our Enterprize, & sh=d= till it was decided have delay_d writing, if I had not thought my letter now w=d= suit so well with your present studies. I am afraid my letter is hardly legible, but D=r= & M=rs= Mille staid with me till after y=e= first bell had gone by & as the ancient histories of S=t= George & y=e= Dragon &c are usually in y=e= black letter my manuscript will still suit y=e= better with y=e= books you have been reading. I am delighted with y=r= Idea of [\Torri\] & his family I expect to see some of them in y=e= advertiser stolen or stray_d. I shall think they have good luck who find either M=r= Arnold or his [\Agues OR Agnes?\] . I hope you will find benefit from Cheltenham waters, & do not doubt of your finding pleasure at Foxly. I must tell you that with all your taste you make a very false judgment of your own letters. I will allow you to say it may give [\you/] some trouble to write them, but pray do not assert that I have not great pleasure in reading them for it becomes not a descendant of y=e= great Bishop Stillingfleet to tell a fib.
   I am with great regard y=r= most Obliged
   EM\]