MR. PITT TO THE EARL OF BUTE. [From a rough draught in Mr. Pitt's hand-writing.] October 7, 1761. MY LORD, OVERWHELMED with the extent of his Majesty's gracious goodness towards me, I desire the favour of your Lordship to lay me at the royal feet, with the humble tribute of the most unfeigned and respectful gratitude. Penetrated with the bounteous favour of a most benign sovereign and master, I am confounded with his condescension in deigning to bestow one thought about any inclination of his servant, with regard to the modes of extending to me marks of his royal beneficence. Any public mark of his Majesty's approbation, flowing from such a spontaneous source of clemency, will be my comfort and my glory; and I cannot but be highly sensible of all those circumstances, so peculiarly honourable, which, attending the first of the two ideas suggested to me by his you made. Indeed, my good lord, my situation, at all times perilous, is become much more so; for I am no stranger to the language held in this great city: Our darling's resignation is owing to Lord Bute, and he must answer for all the consequences;'- which is, in other words, for the miscarriages of another system, that Pitt himself could not have prevented. All this keeps up my attention, and strengthens my mind, without alarming it; not only whispers caution, but steadiness and resolution; wherein my noble friend's assistance will prove a real comfort to me." Majesty's direction, have been mentioned. Commanded, however, as I am by the King, in a manner so infinitely gracious, not to suppress my thoughts on a subject of this extreme delicacy, I trust it will be judged obedience, not presumption, if I express the doubts I have as to the propriety of my going into either of the offices mentioned, or indeed, considering that which I have resigned, going again into any whatever. Thus much in general I have presumed, not without pain and fear, to submit to his Majesty's consideration; too proud to receive any mark of the King's countenance and favour, but above all doubly happy could I see those dearer to me than myself comprehended in that monument of royal approbation and goodness, with which his Majesty shall condescend to distinguish me. I cannot conclude this letter, already much too long, without expressing my warm thanks to your Lordship for the most obliging manner in which you have conveyed to me his Majesty's gracious intentions, and assuring your Lordship, that I shall always set a high value on the favourable sentiments which you are pleased to express on my subject. I have the honour to be, with great truth and respect, Your, &c., W. PITT. THE EARL OF BUTE TO MR. PITT. SIR, October 8, 1761. I LAID the contents of your letter before his Majesty; who was graciously pleased to admit of the reasons you gave for not accepting office, and to approve of the respectful openings some part of the letter afforded. Having received the King's commands to consider of the most becoming method of carrying his intentions into execution, I have lost no time in my researches. The English civil list would by no means answer; the Irish had objections: one only thing remained, that could possibly serve the King's generous purpose. This his Majesty approves of, and has directed me accordingly to acquaint you, that as you declined accepting any office, his Majesty will confer the dignity of peerage on Lady Hester Pitt, to descend through her ladyship to your sons, with a grant of three thousand pounds per annum, on the plantation duties, to yourself and any two other lives you shall name. These unusual marks of the royal approbation cannot fail to be agreeable to a mind like yours. Permit me to assure you, that the communicating of them gives me the greatest pleasure. I am, Sir, with unfeigned regard, Your most obedient humble servant, BUTE. MR. PITT TO THE EARL OF BUTE. [From a draught in Mr. Pitt's hand-writing.] October 8, 1761. I HAVE not words to express the sentiments of veneration and gratitude with which I receive the unbounded effects of beneficence and grace, which the most benign of sovereigns has condescended to bestow on me, and on those most dear to me. Your Lordship will not wonder if the sensations which possess my whole breast refuse me the power of describing their extent, and leave me only to beg your Lordship will be so good as to lay me and Lady Hester at the King's feet, and to offer for us to his Majesty the genuine tribute of the truly feeling heart; which I will dare to hope, the same royal benevolence which showers on the unmeritorious such unlimited benefits may deign to accept with equal condescension and goodness. I am, &c., W. PITT. THE EARL OF BUTE TO MR. PITT. SIR, St. James's, Friday, 40m. past one. [October 9, 1761.] I HAVE laid your letter before his Majesty, as no words I could use can exceed the warmth and dutiful respect of your expressions. The King was extremely pleased with the perusal, and has directed me to enquire, Sir, of you, what title you would choose, and what names you would wish inserted in the grant; his Majesty having already given directions to the Duke of Newcastle concerning it. I, with the utmost sincerity, congratulate you, Sir, and Lady Hester, on this eminent mark of his Majesty's regard and approbation, and am, Sir, with great respect, Your most obedient BUTE. THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER (1) TO MR. PITT. HONOURED SIR, Prior Park, October 8, 1761. IF, in a general distress, it be permitted to proclaim one's joy for the accumulated glory of a (1) In December, 1759, Dr. Warburton, through the interest of Mr. Allen with Mr. Pitt, was elected to the see of Gloucester. "In the common estimation," says Dr. Hurd, in his memoir of the bishop, "this was a preferment suitable to his merit. Mr. Pitt himself gloried in it, as what did honour to his administration. I remember to have seen a letter of his, in which he said, that nothing of a private nature, since he had been in office, had given him so much pleasure as his bringing Dr. Warburton upon the bench.' This virtuous self-gratulation became the minister, and others may be of his mind; but I have sometimes doubted with myself, whether the proper scene of abilities like his be not a private station, where only great writers have the leisure to do great things." In the course of |