"I doubt it. 'Tis scarce so much with the Duke as with the Duchess[[3]] that she is herself displeased; and Prince Eugene has already offended her by coming to court in a bag-wig instead of the peruque. She said to her ladies that next time she supposed he would come in his night-cap. Prince Eugene, you see, is a soldier, accustomed to think very little of matters of this kind; and in all points of etiquette the Queen is mighty particular."
"And what other news is there, Harry?"
"Well, Sir, the Secretary for War, a young man named Robert Walpole, has been sent to the Tower for bribery."
"Why on earth have they sent him there for that?" asked the Squire, sarcastically. "Does not every one of the Ministers sell all his Secretary-ships? Didn't he buy his place, to begin with?"
"Doubtless, Sir," answered Harry; "and every year the Duchess of Marlborough, whose perquisite they are, either gives or sells the Queen's old gowns; but when the blame must be laid on some one, 'tis easy to find a man to bear it."
"Any other piece of roguery?" asked his father.
"No, Sir, I remember none," said Harry. "Just before I left London, the Queen was touching for the evil.[[4]] 'Tis a solemn ceremony, I am told, though I was not able to see it. 'Tis stale news, I fear, that there hate been prosecutions of newspaper writers for attacks on the Ministry.
"No, Harry, I had not heard of that," said the Squire, quickly. "Likely enough! A set of beggarly printers daring to bring out lampoons on gentlemen in the Queen's service! Served 'em right!"
"There have been a good many of the lampoons, I believe."
"Is it only the Whig Ministers who suffered from these rascally newspapers?" asked his father.