Being harrassed in an extraordinary degree, I with ease per-
suaded myself that it should be better to delay my letter till
this day, that I might say what passed in opening the Parliament
yesterday.^ Your extraordinary effort to write so much would
have immediately forced me to answer if I had not known that
Maria had despatched a packet, and that My Lady threatened
another. I must acknowledge that Maria prised me every post
to take up the political part of the correspondence. But you will
be satisfied with my occupation lately.
Government had information (I know it to be very serious,

* On December 1 an Order in Council was passed, caUing ont part of the
militia. Another portion was called ont on the western and southern coasta
by a second Order of December 5. Parliament met on December 13 to ratify
the step taken by the Goyemment, within the fourteen days required by
statute.
1792.] THE CONSTITUTION IS THB FBENZY. 349

and not from them). The andden withdrawing of the Troops
from the coast to the City, the extraordinary assemblmg of
Parliament, the calling ont of a part of the Militia, of course
caused great alarm, but the efiFect was good. The middle ranks
in town proposed Associations.^ I believe we began in Sussex.
