sentence with
which Selwyn, half angry and half amused, concludes the last letter
of 1781, emphasises the extraordinary and commanding position which
Fox held at this critical moment in the House of Commons.

(1781,) Christmas Day, Tuesday m.--. . . . I dined yesterday at Lady
Lucan's. The dinner was at first designed for George and Mie Mie,
but upon my explaining myself to Lady Lucan concerning that [his
objection to their dining out late], this dinner took another turn,
and was at their usual hour; so instead of them, I met Lady
Clermont, Sir R. and Lady Payne, Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Gibbon.(187)
There were a few at Brooks's, and Hare in the chair to keep up the
appearance of a pharo bank, but nobody to punt but the Duke of
Rutland and Fish Craufurd. Charles, or Richard, if he is there,
never fail(s); and at their own bank they will lose a thousand in
one deal, and win them back in the other; but Richard, as I was
told, lost tout de bon 7,000, the other night, to this bank, in
which Hare and Lord Robert have a twelfth. The whole manoeuvre,
added to their patriotism, their politics, &c., &c., are incredible.

I am going to dine to-day at Delme's; he
has promised me some plum porridge. His son is to dine here with
George. Lady B(etty) brings him at half-hour after two. On Friday I
dine at Keene's, and in the evening George and Mie Mie come, and
George may renew his addresses to the young lady. Lady Lucan desires
that we should choose King and Queen at her house. I have myself no
objection to anything but the dinner abroad,

Tuesday night.--No letter come. At Delme's the D(uke) of
Q(ueensberry), Storer, Hanger, and G. Fitzwilliams, Lady Ann, and
the family. . . . Hare holding the Bank. The punters are, Charles,
par interet, Fish Craufurd, par complaisance, and the D. of R., par
betise. Storer's patent is at last passed,(188) as Gibbon tells me.
I hear no more; it is likely, for this next week, to be a great
dearth of news. For be the West India Islands taken, or secured, it
will be no matter I suppose of concern till Charles has made a
speech about them.

(187) The historian (1737-1794).

(188) See note (99).

How close were the ties of friendship which united Selwyn with
Storer and Hare has been told at the beginning of this volume: the
following letter will add to the picture of the group of friends and
of the diversions of London society at this moment.

James Hare to Lord Carlisle.

(1781,) Dec. 29.--