ANDREW MITCHELL, ESQ. TO MR. PITT.

(Private.)

Head-Quarters at Friburg, January 15, 1760. (1) ACCEPT, Sir, of my most hearty congratulations on the glorious and unbounded success of his Majesty's arms, in every part of the globe. The events of last year are the most glorious and the most important in English history, and cannot fail to

(1) Lord Barrington, in a letter to Mr. Mitchell, of the 14th of January, draws the following picture of the political state of affairs at the opening of the new year: "If I were to give you an account of the past and present state of things here since I wrote last, I should compose a volume. For the present it may suffice that I assure you of the union, cordiality, and good-will which reign at present among the King's servants. It, fortunately for them, our master, and the public, is such, that there never was more at any period of our time. I could not have said this three months ago, but I can safely assert it now; and I think there is every appearance that the same happy temper will continue. I verily believe that the Duke of Newcastle and his brother did not more cordially wish each other to continue in their respective stations, than the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt do now; and there are less disputes and coldness by a great deal, than there used to be between the two brothers This union, great and extraordinary as it may seem, is nothing in comparison with that of the parliament and the nation; which seem to have one mind and one object. What is most astonishing, the object in which the whole people is united is wise and good. Do not, however, imagine, my dear Mitchell, that this proceeds from any improvement made by our countrymen either in wisdom or in virtue; for it arises solely from this, no man who can raise any sort of disturbance finds it either convenient or agreeable to be out of humour at this time. These are happy conjunctures, my dear friend, and I hope and believe the proper use will be made of them."- Mitchell MSS.

transmit to posterity the King and his ministers in the fairest and most amiable lights. His Majesty's generous offer of peace, in the midst of accumulated victories, surpasses every thing that can be done by the sword; as it joins to conquest, humanity and moderation.

The situation I am in, as well as the late dis

named one of the

tinguished instance I have had of your friendship, encourages me to ask the favour of your interest and recommendation to his Majesty, that I may have the honour of being plenipotentiaries, in case a congress to treat of peace should be agreed upon. I will make use of no arguments to support my pretensions. If they are solid they will occur to yourself, and I am too much concerned to judge with impartiality.

My other letters will inform you of our situation here. I think it my duty to speak the truth, and without disguise; it belongs to you to judge what is fit to be done in this most critical conjuncture. Wishing you health and many years to enjoy the glory, and to re-establish on a solid and lasting foundation the happiness, of your country, I have the honour to be, with most sincere respect and affection, dear Sir,

Your most obliged and most

obedient and humble servant,

ANDREW MITCHELL.

THE EARL OF HARDWICKE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Grosvenor Square, January 15, 1760.

You do me a great deal of honour in sending for my perusal the draughts of instructions for the Earl of Kinnoul. (') I should have given you no trouble but by returning them, had you not required me to transmit to you any observation that might occur to me. These draughts are, in my humble opinion, very judiciously adapted to the occasions of his lordship's mission; and there is but one observation which occurs to me: that arises upon the distinction, allowed by many of the best writers on the laws of nations, between the beginning of an aggression against an enemy, or continuing a mere chace within the territory of a neutral friend; and continuing the pursuit of a flying enemy, after a battle fairly begun, and carried on in the open sea, even within gunshot of the forts, or to the entrance of the port of a neutral friend.

That you may see how far this is allowed, I have (to save you the trouble of looking for it in

() Thomas, eighth earl of Kinnoul, and second Lord Hay. See vol. i. p. 161, note. He had been recently appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the court of Portugal, to remove the misunderstanding which had arisen between the two crowns, in consequence of admiral Boscawen's squadron having attacked and destroyed some French ships under the Portuguese fort, in the bay of Lagos.

your library) sent herewith Bynkershoek's " Quæstiones Juris Publici," which is a book of the best authority. This distinction is laid down and argued, lib. i. cap. 8.; and I have inserted a paper at the place.

I apprehend that the intent of this extraordinary embassy is to prevent any dispute, and therefore do not mean to suggest any thing that may raise one. I would only submit to your better consideration, whether it may not be advisable to insert some saving words, that may avoid any prejudice being inferred from this instance to other cases that may happen.

Permit me only to add, that I beg pardon for this freedom, which your commands have drawn from me; and that I am always, with the greatest respect and truth, dear Sir,

Your most obedient and

most humble servant,

HARDWICKE.

THE EARL OF KINNOUL TO MR. PITT.

Whitehall, January 25, 1760.

SIR,

IF I had not been obliged to go to the duchy court (') this morning, I should have attended you

(1) The earl was at this time chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster.

to have acquainted you, that I had received a letter from my brother (1) at Lisbon, dated the 4th of January. There is nothing very material in the letter; but in the account he gives me of the foreign ministers residing there, he mentions that the French ambassador is tired of the country, and somewhat disgusted. He desires that I may be prepared with instructions with respect to my behaviour, in case he should endeavour to interfere with me in point of rank when we meet at court.

I have taken the liberty to send you the draught of a speech to be made to the King of Portugal, conformable to the instructions; and a translation of it in French, which is the language in which I shall deliver it; and also the draught of a memorial relating to the institution of the wine company; the introduction to which I have endeavoured to make conformable to the instruction upon that point. I beg the favour of you, that you will be so good as to peruse and correct these pieces.

The heads of the conversation to be had with the Portuguese ministers upon the affair off Lagos before my audience are upon so delicate a subject, that I hope you will honour me with your thoughts and directions upon them, and upon the quære at the end. Nothing can be so satisfactory to me as to have your commands upon every subject as far as it is possible, before I go; and it shall be my

(1) The hon. Edward Hay, at this time ambassador to the court of Portugal, and afterwards governor of Barbadoes. He died in 1780.