Nous avons le bonheur de posséder ici Monseigneur le Duc Ferdinand. Son altesse séré

nissime jouit d'une santé parfaite, après toutes les fatigues essuyées durant six années consécutives. Ce prince est aussi aimable dans la société, qu'il étoit respectable à la tête de vos armées. Il est rempli pour vous, Monsieur, des sentimens les plus distingués et les plus invariable.

Oserois-je me flatter, Monsieur, qu'un éloignement d'un an ne m'aura pas tout-à-fait effacé de votre mémoire? Je vous conjure d'être persuadé, qu'une des époques les plus satisfaisantes de ma vie, a été celle qui m'a mis à même de vous voir, de vous entendre, et de vous admirer.

J'ai l'honneur d'être, &c. &c.

DE FÉRONCE, Conseiller Privé.

MR. PITT TO M. DE FE'RONCE.

[From a draught in Lady Chatham's handwriting.]

MONSIEUR,

Hayes, ce- Fevrier, 1765.

Je fus retenu au lit par une goute des plus sévères, quand je reçus l'honneur de votre lettre. Jugez avec quelle impatience j'ai conté les momens depuis, (cette même goute me persécutant toujours,) dans l'espérance de reprendre assez de force, pour vous témoigner, de ma propre main, à quel point cette condéscendance si infiniment gra

cieuse, et ces bontés illimités, dont vous me faites part, d'une manière si obligeante, m'ont portées la consolation et la joie dans le cœur.

Je saisis maintenant le premier moment de convalescence, pour vous supplier de me mettre aux pieds de leurs altesses sérénissimes et royales, avec l'offre le plus humble de mes hommages; renouvellant, en même temps, les respectueuses assurances, que je ne cesserai jamais de mettre ma gloire et mon bonheur en la continuation de leur haute protection, comme aussi de compter pour le premier de mes regrets de n'avoir à leur offrir que le tribut d'une zèle inutile, et d'une admiration aussi infructueuse qu'illimitée.

Puisse le ciel continuer à repandre toutes ses faveurs sur l'heureuse union de ces illustres époux; mesurant leur bonheur domestique à l'étendue de la renommée de la maison de Brunswic! Le très gracieux souvenir dont Monseigneur le Duc Ferdinand daigne m'honorer me pénétre l'âme de sentimens au dessus de toute expression. Ce que vous me dites, Monsieur, de la santé parfaite de son altesse sérénissime, et de la manière de vivre de ce Prince me touche infiniment. Quel spectacle, en effet, plus intéressant, que de voir ce vainqueur des François, après tous ces immortels travaux, jouissant, dans le sein de sa patrie, des douceurs de la société, et en faisant lui-même les délices! J'ai l'honneur d'être, &c.

W. PITT.

EARL TEMPLE TO LADY CHATHAM.

Half-past one, Friday. [May 10, 1765.]

MY DEAR LADY CHATHAM,

I HAVE kept your servant till now, as Lord Lyttelton appointed to call upon me at eleven; and, in these very wonderful times, I wished to be able to report the result of the conversation.

I now find it to be upon the subject of a meeting proposed to be had at Lord Rockingham's this morning, on the insertion of the name of the Princess of Wales in the Regency bill ('); which was

(1) Early in April, the King was attacked by an alarming illness. Upon his recovery, in a speech from the throne, on the 24th of that month, he proposed to the consideration of parliament, the expediency of vesting in him the power of appointing, from time to time, by instruments under his signmanual, either the Queen, or any other person of the royal family, usually residing in Great Britain, to be guardian of his successor, and regent of the kingdom, till that successor should attain the age of eighteen. A bill being accordingly brought into the House of Lords, Lord Lyttelton moved an address to the King, to name the person he would recommend for regent; which was rejected by eighty-nine to thirty-one. After this, the Duke of Richmond moved, that the persons capable of the regency should be the Queen, the Princess Dowager, and all the descendants of the late King usually resident in England; which was also rejected: but, on the following day, Lord Halifax moved the Duke of Richmond's own words, with the single omission of the Princess Dowager's name: "And thus, she alone," writes Walpole to Lord Hertford," is rendered incapable of the Regency, and stigmatised by act of parliament ! The astonishment of the world is not to be described. Lord Bute's friends are thunderstruck; the Duke of Richmond almost danced about the House for joy: some palliate it, by

yesterday accomplished in the manner I shall hereafter relate. I was not invited to the meeting. Lord Lyttelton wished to know my thoughts, and at first seemed to think it indispensable that we should attend in the House of Lords, in order to disagree with the amendment. In the course of the conversation I think I convinced him of the contrary, and his declarations were, that he was fully resolved, in all points and situations, to keep himself upon Mr. Pitt's ground and mine; which he will this day give to understand very clearly.

On Tuesday, the debate in the House of Commons, upon the second reading, was of the most superlative dullness. Lord John Cavendish persisted in making a motion for an address, similar to that moved in the Lords by Lord Lyttelton, contrary, as I learn, to the general opinion of a previous meeting, and the protest of many others who were not there. The party in general would have gone with Mr. Pitt, if he had come up; and great were the expectations. Inability and meanness are the characteristics of this whole proceeding. I shall pass over the very uninteresting parts of this matter, and relate only the phenomenon of Moreton's (1)

saying it was done at the Princess's desire; but the most inquisitive say, the King was taken by surprise, and that Lord Halifax did not observe to his Majesty the omission of his mother's name. Be that as it may, open war seems to be declared between the court and the administration, and men are gazing to see which side will be victorious."

(1) Chief justice of Chester, and member for Abingdon.

motion yesterday, seconded by Kynaston, without a speech, and thirded by the illustrious Sam. Martin. The speech of the first was dull, and of the latter. very injudicious; saying, that the House of Lords had passed a stigma on the Princess of Wales, disclaiming all knowledge of her wishes, but concluding with a strong affirmative. George Onslow opposed the motion with very bad reasons; Lord Palmerston with much better. George Grenville seemed to convey, that the alteration made in the Lords was not without the King's knowledge; but that, to be sure, in his opinion, such a testimony of zeal and affection which now manifested itself in the House of Commons, in favour of his royal mother, could not but prove agreeable to his Majesty, and that therefore he should concur in it.

The Cocoa-tree have thus capacitated her royal highness to be regent: it is well they have not given us a king, if they have not; for many think Lord Bute is king. No division; many noes. (')

(1) On the following day, when the amendment was reported, the House divided; for it 167, against it 37. But now," continues Walpole, "to unfold all this black scene; it comes out, that the Bedfords had stirred up our fools to do what they did not dare to do themselves. Old Newcastle had even told me, that unless we opposed the Princess, the Duke of Bedford would not. To-morrow our correction goes to the Lords. It will be a day of wonderful expectation, to see in what manner they will swallow their vomit. When the bill shall be passed, the eyes of mankind will turn to see what will be the consequence. The Princess, and Lord Bute, and the Scotch, do not affect to conceal their indignation. If Lord Halifax is even reprieved, the King is more enslaved to a cabal than ever his