March(10) is passing Xmas between Lord Spencer's and the Duke of
Grafton's.(11) There is no Oubourn;(12) that family has been
occupied, and is now, between recovering a little of his Grace's
sight, and niggling themselves into Administration.

I believe I told you of Crawfurd's(13) preferment in my
letter of last Friday sevennight. I shall return to London the end
of this week, and go in search of further news for your
entertainment. The journal which you suppose me to keep is no other
than minutes I make of what I hear. When you come back from your
travels my office of journalist will cease.

I have no one with me but Raton,(14) but he is in great health and
beauty. I'm sorry that you told me nothing of poor Rover; pray bring
him back if you can, and don't let a Cardinal or any other dog stick
it into him.

I find my affairs here, which you are so good as to enquire after,
much as I expected them. The needy and tumultuous part of my
constituents are daily employed more and more, as the time of
election approaches, to find me a competitor, and put me, if they
cannot, to a needless expense, but I believe their schemes will be
abortive as to the main design; and as to money, I must expect to
see a great deal of it liquified and in streams about the streets of
the neighbouring city.

Morpeth I hope will be settled to your satisfaction for this time by
the help of the Duke of Grafton, and in all future times by no means
but what are in your hands. I hope as soon as I come to town to find
the St. Andrew(15) ready to be sent, and shall by this post send a