374 DEATH OF FOX. [1806. 



stant engagements of which are wholly inconsistent 

 with regular attention to Parliamentary business. All 

 these arrangements are very mortifying to Sheridan ; 

 and he is at no pains to conceal his discontent, which 

 is now aggravated by being refused the support of 

 Government for Westminster. You will see his speech 

 on this occasion in the newspapers. 



" I cannot say anything on the subject of the 

 negotiation ; but I hope that our late successes have 

 not altered our tone, or made us more impracticable. 

 Lauderdale's stay is a favourable circumstance, and I 

 conclude that we have still some chance. 



" Sydney Smith has at length got the promise of a 

 living of 400 a-year in Yorkshire. Lady Holland 

 wrote to him in such terms that he concluded there 

 was an actual vacancy, and he came up in great haste 

 to get the presentation passed through the proper 

 offices ; and now he finds out that the incumbent is 

 still living, though not likely to continue long. This 

 is no small disappointment to the eager expectant, 

 who came up in the mail-coach from a remote county, 

 in the hopes of immediate possession. The living is 

 the Eectory of Foston, between York and Malton, 

 and about four miles from Castle Howard. The 

 Chancellor and Sheridan have been playing strange 

 pranks in their water parties, very much to the 

 annoyance of the feebles and admirers of ministerial 

 decorum. They have had a project of marrying 

 Petty to Miss Drummond, Lady Scott's daughter, but 

 it has entirely failed. 



