ease and satisfaction of the nation. I once thought that hour near: I am sorry to say (and particularly from what I have seen this day), that I think it farther off than ever. I will not, however, despair. The prudent interposition of friends may reconcile differences of opinion in points of business, as well as of personal considerations. That interposition, I am sure, will not be wanting.

I shall take the first safe opportunity of writing myself to the Duke of Devonshire upon this subject; who, I am sure, will agree with me, not only in lamenting the thing, but in endeavouring to remove the cause of it. I have this morning a letter from Mr. Legge, which will be entirely to your satisfaction. I am, with the greatest truth and respect, dear Sir,

Your most affectionate humble servant,
HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

THE RT. HON. CHARLES TOWNSHEND TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Grosvenor Square, October 31, 1763.

I AM much mortified to find I have twice lost an opportunity of seeing you this day, and that, by calling at your door, I was prevented being at home, when you did me the honour of inquiring after me. If your stay in town should be short, and your time should be engaged, I beg the favour of

being permitted to wait upon you at Hayes, that I may have an opportunity of expressing, at least in part, the sincere and grateful sense I bear of your partiality, generosity, and friendship, towards me upon a late occasion. (') So distinguished a testimony of Mr. Pitt's approbation and regard, given without my knowledge, and in a manner so very delicate towards me, must and ever will, as long as I have any judgment or gratitude, constitute my chief honour and satisfaction in life.

I am, with the truest personal regard, and the most perfect consideration,

Dear Sir, your most obliged and

most obedient humble servant,

C. TOWNSHend.

SIR,

VISCOUNT IRWIN (2) TO MR. PITT.

Templenewsam, November 5, 1763.

As I have not the honour of being personally acquainted with you, I am under a necessity of troubling you with a letter-a liberty which my

(1) Mr. Charles Townshend was one of the five or six persons whom Mr. Pitt, in his recent interview with the King, had named for particular places.

(2) Charles Ingram, Esq., member for Horsham, and one of the grooms of the bed-chamber, had succeeded to the title in May, on the death of his uncle, the right hon. and rev. Dr. George Ingram, Viscount Irwin.

sincere regard for your character and conduct occasions, and which, I hope, you will excuse.

My inheriting a peerage has made a vacancy in parliament for the borough of Horsham; and it is my great ambition, that you will do me the honour to name some friend of yours to supply my place, and believe me to be, with great regard and attachment, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

MR. PITT TO VISCOUNT IRWIN.

IRWIN.

November, 1763.

MY LORD,

WORDS must ill express the warm sense I have of the peculiar honour which your letter has brought me, and how invaluably dear I shall ever hold such a testimony of your Lordship's favourable and friendly opinion. The kind manner in which this essential mark of countenance and support of my public conduct is conveyed to me, adds every flattering circumstance to the most effectual favour.

As I am happy in owing such obligations to Lord Irwin, I embrace, with equal pride and joy, this public mark of his friendship, and venture to offer to his Lordship's consideration and favour a gentleman, whose sound principles, fair character, and promising abilities in Westminster Hall, will,

I am assured, never misbecome his Lordship's protection.

This gentleman is Mr. Robert Pratt, nephew of Lord Chief Justice Pratt. If your Lordship will do me the honour to accept of my recommendation in behalf of this gentleman, to fill the vacancy at Horsham, you will confer on me the highest obligation; and if you allow me ardently to court every occasion of cultivating, personally, that acquaintance and friendship, which your Lordship has so kindly opened to me, you will still add the only obliging circumstance of which your goodness towards me remains susceptible. I am, with the truest respect and sincerest attachment,

Your Lordship's most obliged

and most obedient humble servant, W. PITT. (1)

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Newcastle House, December 13, 1763.

I RETURN you my most sincere thanks for the honour of your obliging letter, which I received this morning, and for the confidential manner in which it was written. I heartily wish that quiet

(1) Mr. Robert Pratt was returned for Horsham, and sat for that borough in two parliaments. In 1768, he was appointed a master in chancery, and died in 1775.

and country air may perfectly re-establish your health; in the preservation and activity of which your country and your friends are so much interested, and especially in the present most difficult and dangerous conjuncture.

I have long lamented the melancholy state of the public, both at home and abroad; and I have for some time had my fears, that the present and late exercise of power, felt by every body, and in all places, would have very fatal consequences to this country.(') Nobody laments more than I do the

(1) On the 24th of November, when the question, "that the privilege of parliament does not extend to the case of writing and publishing seditious libels," again came to be discussed, Mr. Pitt, though very ill, came down to the House on crutches, and vehemently reprobated the facility with which parliament was surrendering its own privileges; but he carefully impressed on the House, that he was merely delivering a constitutional opinion, and not vindicating the libel, or its author. He condemned the whole series of North Britons, and called them illiberal, unmanly, and detestable. "He abhorred,” he said, “all national reflections: the King's subjects were one people; whoever divided them was guilty of sedition. His Majesty's complaint was well-founded; it was just; it was necessary. The author did not deserve to be ranked among the human species; he was the blasphemer of his God, and the libeller of his King. He had no connection with him; he had no connection with any such writer. It was true, that he had friendships, and warm ones; he had obligations, and great ones; but no friendships, no obligations, could induce him to approve what he firmly condemned. It might be supposed, that he alluded to his noble relation (Lord Temple). He was proud to call him his relation; he was his friend, his bosom friend; whose fidelity was as unshaken as his virtue. They went into office together, and they came out together; they had lived together, and would die together. He knew nothing of any connection with the writer of that libel."