L30/14/314/2

From Sir James Porter, Ham, Surrey to 2nd Baron Grantham:

20 Sep 1774

From: 1774 To: 1774

Rumour of Grantham succeeding Lord Holdam who is currently with little hope of recovery. Worsley "cruelly shocked" at his son's death. Time will heal etc... Elections; the fury and madness of expence continues". Porter "assured that Sir Watkins Williams urges opposition in four counties, will cost him at least £50,000, the first opening and seat at Hertford for that county has cost £4000 there is much time yet to come to quadruple that sum, boroughs £4 and £5000." Turkish peace sudden and unexpected "the passes they had to defend against the Russ I am persuaded and know an army of our billingsgate women would have defended" however, Turks deserted them. Romansow took possession and starved the Turkish army. Russia suffered greatest loss of men, they cannot continue and have gained nothing solid but the ports in the Crimea "which if they will steal or creep through the Treaty may furnish them a fleet in a very few years superior to the Turkish and make them masters of Constantinople in 48 hours. Garrisons there may secure the independency of the Tartars which without them is a chimera".

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Holdam,
Worsley,
Watkins, William

Turkey, Russia