I can get a
qualification to take my seat to-morrow. My qualifications have been
always embarrassing to me. I have too attended the Cockpit to-night,
where there were a great many long faces. What we are to do after
Lord Cornwallis' catastrophe, God knows, or how anybody can think
there is the least glimmering of hope for this nation surpasses my
comprehension. What a stroke it is! but it still seems determined to
pursue the game, though we throw nothing but crabs. . . .

Selwyn meant to treat you to-morrow with a Georgic, Everybody that I
meet seem(s) to think that you did right in dispatching Mr. Flood. I
am so loaded with questions about Ireland, that I have no time as
yet to make any myself about England. Indeed, the attention of
everyone is confined to our situation in America. The Speech from
the Throne contains the same resolution which appeared in times when
we seemed to have a more favourable prospect of success, of
continuing the war, and of claiming the aid of Parliament to support
the rights of Great Britain. Charles has a Cockpit to-night, as well
as Lord North. The blue and buff Junto meet in St. James' Street to
fix upon their plan of operations for to-morrow.

With regard to private news, I find Lady Worsley is run away from
Sir Richard, and taken refuge with some gentleman whose name I do
not know in the army. I must go and pay my respects to my father.

Parliament opened under the shadow of the disasters in America on
November 27th. The Speech from the Throne showed no appreciation of
the gravity of the national situation, and the policy of the
Government was at once challenged by Fox, who moved, an amendment to
the Address. It was negatived, however, by 218 to 129 votes. The
House of Commons though it supported the Minister was conscious of
the folly of his policy, and on the following day the Opposition
again challenged the Government on the Report of the Address. The
result was again a defeat--more nominal than real--of the Opposition
by 131 votes to 54. Two days later (November 30th) on the motion
that the House should go into Committee of Supply, Mr. Thomas Pitt
(afterwards Lord Camelford) the uncle of William Pitt, who from
character and position carried great weight, rose to object to the
Speaker leaving the chair. In other words, he moved a vote of want
of confidence in the Government. The House again supported Lord
North by their votes, though the impossibility of continuing the
ministe