for Mr Knox. Various letters speak of his serious illness, and the
multiplicity of the remedies resorted to in his aid rivalled those
employed on behalf of Lady Elizabeth Lowther. On June 11th a certain Mr
Maconochie, a Scotch friend of John Stanhope, wrote from Edinburgh:--


We had fine fun at Pitt's dinner. Lord Melville made a very good
speech; we had good singing too. I went to the evening Collation on
the King's Birthday where there was about 1,000 people, and the
immortal memory of Mr Pitt drunk with three times three. The Whigs, I
can assure you, are quite down in Scotland.

By the way when I speak of Whigs, you have alarmed me very much about
poor Knox. What is his complaint? You have never told me, you only say
he is in great danger--no wonder, poor fellow, _with six physicians
attending him_.


Later, Mr Maconochie furnished John Stanhope with news of another common
friend.


I was in Edinburgh on Wednesday last. Mrs Playfair has got three or
four youths from the South, among whom is the _aimable_ Lord John
Russell [19] I suppose he intends to honour the speculative with his
presence as Mrs Playfair told me she hoped I would not vote against
him. I certainly shall not, as I think any _thing_ of the appearance
of a gentleman will be of invaluable service.

You must observe in the newspapers that old Sir William Douglas [20]