THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Claremont, April 9, 1763.

THE surprising event, which was to have come out yesterday at court, but I hear is now put off till Monday, of my Lord Bute's resignation, and the appointment of Mr. George Grenville to be first commissioner of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer, was so sudden and so extraordinary, that I cannot avoid troubling you with the few circumstances which I have learnt relating to it.

The first notice I had of it was in a letter from my nephew Onslow, which I received here on Thursday night, at ten o'clock; and I own I thought it so weak and so improbable, that I gave little or no credit to it, till it was confirmed to me yesterday from London; with these proofs of the verity of it, that Mr. Grenville had certainly said that he was to kiss hands as yesterday, and that my Lord Bute had sent for some of his friends, and had declared to them, that he intended to resign his employment, and to have nothing more to do with public business.

My Lord Bute and Mr. Fox have taken good care of their friends. A second reversion of so considerable an office as justice-clerk of Scotland, with that which he has already of keeper of the signet of Scotland, a place worth 1500l. per annum, for life, seems to me to be an ample reward for

Mr. Gilbert Elliot; who has also an employment of treasurer of the chambers, worth between two and three thousand pounds per annum. The extra

vagant reversions to Jenkinson and Martin (1), and the justice-general of Scotland for Mr. Mackenzie, are what have never been seen before. Mr. Fox also has filled the admiralty, and partly the treasury, with his creatures. I am glad our friend Stanley has absolutely refused the treasury; as I am very sure Lord Granby will do the lieutenancy of Ireland. What my nephew Charles (2) will do, I can't pretend to say; but I should hardly think he would act under George Grenville.

This whole system appears to me so weak and so absurd, that there is no reasoning upon it. Every body, I hear, laughs at it; as indeed it deserves. This fact must be certain, that the minister was

() Samuel Martin, Esq., member for Camelford, and one of the secretaries of the treasury. "Bute and Fox," writes Walpole to Mr. Montagu, "have paid their bravoes magnificently: no less than fifty-two thousand pounds a year are granted in reversion! Young Martin, who is older than I am, is named my successor; but I intend he shall wait some years." (Walpole held the patent office of usher of the receipts of exchequer.) "Lord Granby has refused Ireland, and the Northumberlands are to transport their magnificence thither."

(2) In a letter to Mr. Mitchell, of the 19th, Lord Barrington "Charles Townshend accepted the admiralty on says: Thursday, and went to kiss hands the next day; but he brought Peter Burrell with him to court, and insisted he likewise should be one of the board. Being told that Lords Howe and Digby were to fill up the vacant seats at the admiralty, he declined accepting the office destined for him, and the next day received a dismission from the King's service. Lord Sandwich is actually first lord."- Mitchell MSS.

thoroughly frightened, from the universal resentment of the whole nation which he had drawn upon himself, and from the late appearances in both houses of parliament, and that he was determined to get out at any rate. I suppose he hopes to retain the same power and influence out of employment that he had in it; but he may find that difficult. I question whether he has chosen the best person to act under him for that purpose.

I sent last night, by express to Newmarket, an account to the Duke of Devonshire of what I had heard. His grace will be in town to-morrow; and I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you at my Lord Temple's on Tuesday.

I am, dear Sir, &c.

HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

MR. PITT TO WILLIAM TAYLOR HOW, ESQ.

SIR,

Hayes, May 2, 1763.

I HAVE long waited, and still wait with extreme impatience, for Captain G. Max's arrival with the precious cargo consigned to his care.(') Nothing but this daily expectation could have made me so long postpone expressing to you the just sense of the very obliging trouble you have been so good as to take in a matter which is every way so highly

(1) See p. 212.

flattering to me. I esteem myself so fortunate in the favour of your acquaintance, that I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of endeavouring to cultivate it, at the risk of disobeying a kind of injunction from you not to answer the honour of your letter.

As the lands and seas which are between us

have not put me out of the reach of hearing how much the world of letters and civil society owe to you, you will not wonder that I cannot content myself with feeling in silence, how happy my lot is to have obtained a place in your favourable opinion and friendly sentiments.

Accept, Sir, my grateful acknowledgments for all your favours; and be persuaded that, wherever your pursuits of the arts and of literature, or your amusements lead you, you will be followed by constant wishes for your pleasure and welfare, from him who has the honour to subscribe himself, with sincere esteem and consideration,

Your most obedient &c.

MR. PITT TO RALPH ALLEN, ESQ.

MY DEAR SIR,

W. PITT.

Hayes, June 2, 1763.

HAVING declined accompanying Sir John Sebright in presenting the address from Bath ('),

(1) The victory in parliament being as complete as the minister could wish, he had nothing now to do but to try the force of corruption among the people, in order to obtain another

transmitted to us jointly by the town clerk, I think it, on all accounts, indispensably necessary, that I should inform you of the reason of my conduct. The epithet of adequate given to the peace contains a description of the conditions of it, so repugnant my unalterable opinion concerning many of them, and fully declared by me in parliament, that it was as impossible for me to obey the commands of the corporation in presenting their address, as it was unexpected to receive such a commission.

to

As to my opinion of the peace, I will only say, that I formed it with sincerity, according to such lights as my little experience and small portion of understanding could afford me. This conviction must remain to myself the constant rule of my conduct; and I leave to others, with much deference to their better information, to follow their own judgment.

Give me leave, my dear good Sir, to desire to convey through you to Mr. Mayor, and to the gentlemen of the corporation, these my free sentiments; and, with the justest sense of their past goodness towards me, plainly to confess, that I perceive I am but ill qualified to form pretensions

mode of approbation. The lieutenants of counties had begging letters sent to them, entreating them to use their utmost influence towards procuring addresses. The mayors and other magistrates of corporations, the leading men in societies, and every person who had influence enough to collect ten or twelve men together, were all applied to for addresses in favour of the peace.". History of the Minority, p. 89.