68 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
London, December 28, 1708. Dear Brother,
I find the Torys designe as soon as the house meets again to be very strick in the examination of those that were concern in the late intended invasion, and they talk that they shall be able to bring strange things to light.
Mr. Addisson is certain of going over Secretary to Lord Wharton, and Mr. Steel put in for his place, but Lord Sunderland has put him off with a promise to get him the next place he shall ask that may be keep with his Gazette. I hear it is one of the Scotch members that is to come into Mr. Addisson place, but I don't know his name yet. To-day we had the news that Bruges and Placendal had surender'd, but yet 'tis said the Duke of Marlborough won't come over till the midle of February. We have no other manner of news which I am sorry for, for if I knew any I have time enough to writ it ; all the world is at the Opera where I can't go. When one does not know what to say they talk of the weather, the sudden change will give me an opportunity to make my letter a little longer ; 'tis now a very hard frost and as great a snow as we have had for many years in England.
London, yia:««(2ry 4, 1709.
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.... My ink has been fros, and tho I writ with it as it comes boiling from the fire, it's white. If I might tell you all the stories are daily brought in of accidents accationed by the great frost I might fill sheets, as childern drown upon the Thames, post-boys being brought in by their horses to their stages frose to their horses stone dead, and we are obliged to the horses for having our letters regular. There are several stories trump'd up that happen'd the last great frost in 1684 and told as now ; they begin to build booths upon the Thames, it begins to a little to thaw, so I hope it will not last so long as that did, for 'twill make all provission very dear and I that have a family must think of that .... there's nobody without their troubles. The Duke of Marlborough
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