I think of returning to town on Saturday, for a week; and then, farewell to the metropolis for many a month! I am, as usual, to all Hayes Most affectionately devoted, TEMPLE. (1) grandfather was. One remedy is obvious, and at which, after such insults and provocations, were I Lord Bute, I should not stick. I would deliver myself up, bound hand and foot, to Mr. Pitt, rather than not punish such traitors and wretches, who murmur, submit, affront, and swallow, in the most ignominious manner – 'Oh, il faudra qu'il y vienne,' as Leonore says in the Marquis de Roselle, il y viendra.'” The bill, with the amendment, passed the Lords. On the 15th of May, when the King went in person to give it the royal assent, a mob of journeymen silk-weavers proceeded to St. James's, with black flags, for the purpose of petitioning for relief, under pretence that they were reduced to a state of starvation, by the encouragement of French silks. They also surrounded both houses of parliament, and insulted the members. In the evening, the mob assaulted Bedford-house, and began to pull down the walls; but were eventually dispersed by the soldiery. (1) Mr. Burke, in a letter to Mr. Flood, of the 18th of May, thus states his view of the political prospect at this moment: "There is a strong probability that new men will come in, and not improbably with new ideas: at this very instant, the causes productive of such a change are strongly at work. The Regency bill has shown such a want of concert and want of capacity in ministers, such an inattention to the honour of the Crown, if not a design against it, such imposition and surprise upon the King, and such a misrepresentation of the disposition of parliament to the Sovereign, that there is no doubt a fixed resolution to get rid of them all (except perhaps of Grenville); but principally of the Duke of Bedford: so that you will have much more reason to be surprised to find the ministry standing by the end of next week, than to hear of their entire removal." Three days previous to the date of Mr. Burke's letter, the Duke of Cumberland had actually entered into a negotiation with Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt, respecting a change, and THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND TO MR. PITT. MR. PITT, Richmond Lodge, June 17, 1765. I THIS moment, with the utmost joy, receive his Majesty's commands, to desire you would attend first applied to the former for his conditions. The Duke did not object to them, but required that the Earl of Northumberland should be at the head of the treasury: to this Lord Temple replied, that he never would come into office under Lord Bute's lieutenant; and here the conference broke off. On the 19th, the Duke waited on Mr. Pitt, at Hayes; where he was met by Lord Temple, and the subject renewed. Mr. Pitt declared, he was ready to go to St. James's, "if he could carry the constitution along with him." The next day, Lord Frederick Cavendish was sent from the Duke to Mr. Pitt, with a modification of the proposal respecting Lord Northumberland; and Mr. Pitt returned the same answer. The situation of first lord of the treasury was then offered to Lord Lyttelton, who desired to consult Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt; thereupon, his Royal Highness, convinced that no advantage could be derived from further negotiation, advised the King to continue his present servants. "On the following day," says Walpole, "they dictated their terms: they demanded a royal promise, of never consulting Lord Bute; secondly, the dismission of Mr. Stuart Mackenzie from the direction of Scotland; thirdly, and lastly, for they could go no further, the Crown itself; or, in their words, the nomination of Lord Granby to be captain-general. The King expressed his anger and astonishment, and bade them return at ten at night for his answer; but, before that, he sent the chancellor to the junto, consenting to displace Mackenzie, refusing to promise not to consult Lord Bute, though acquiescing to his not interfering in business, but with a peremptory refusal to the article of Lord Granby. They took till next morning to advise on their answer, when they gave up the point of Lord Granby, but demanded Mackenzie's place for Lord Lorn, and the instant removal of Lord Holland; both which have been granted. Charles Townshend is pay-master, and Lord Wey him at the Queen's-house, on Wednesday, at ten in the morning, below stairs. He allows for the mouth viceroy of Ireland; so Lord Northumberland remains on the pavé." The following is Mr. Stuart Mackenzie's own account of his removal, in a letter to Mr. Mitchell, dated Hill-street, June 4::-"The Duke of Cumberland's advice to his Majesty, to send for the present people again, was seconded by two men, no less attached to the King, nor no less bound in council, than the Duke himself; I mean the Lord Chancellor and Lord Egmont. His Majesty, offended in the highest degree with the insolence offered him by his present ministers, would have put any mortal in their places, that could have carried on business, if the three great personages above mentioned could have suggested to him any plan for that purpose. And they undoubtedly would have done it, if they could; as there is no animal on the face of the earth, that the Duke has a more thorough contempt for, or a greater aversion to, than Grenville. However, as no other remedy could be found, his Majesty sent for these people again. They, on their part, demanded certain terms, without which they declined coming in; the principal of which was, that I should be dismissed from the administration of the affairs of Scotland, and (on a further explanation) likewise from the office of privy-seal. His Majesty answered, that as to the first, it would be no great punishment, he believed, to me, as I had never been very fond of the employment; but that as to the second, I had his promise to continue it for life. Grenville replied to this purpose, 'In that case, Sir, we must decline coming in.' 'No,' says the King, 'I will not, on that account, put the whole kingdom in confusion, and leave it without a government at all; but I will tell you how that matter stands; that he has my royal word to continue in the office: and if you force me, from the situation of things, to violate my royal word, remember you are responsible for it, and not I.' Upon that very solemn charge, Grenville answered, Sir, we must make some arrangement for Mr. Mackenzie.' The King replied, "If I know any thing of him, he will give himself very little trouble about your arrangements for him.' "His Majesty afterwards sent for me to his closet; where I was a very considerable time with him, and if it were possible infirmities of the gout, but also knows where merit is. I remain your affectionate friend, WILLIAM. () MR. PITT TO THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND. SIR, Hayes, Tuesday morning, half-past six. [June 18, 1765.] I HAVE just received the very great honour of your royal highness's condescending letter, sig for me to love my excellent Prince now better than I ever did before, I should certainly do it; for I have every reason that can induce a generous or a grateful mind, to feel his goodness to me; but such was his Majesty's situation at that time, that had he absolutely rejected my dismission, he would have put me in the most disagreeable situation in the world; and, what was of much higher consequence, he would have greatly distressed his affairs." -Mitchell MSS. (1) In consequence of this letter, Mr. Pitt waited upon the King, on Wednesday the 19th. The result of this audience was, the sending for Lord Temple. On the next day, Mr. Pitt received the following note from his royal highness: "Cumberland House, June 20, 1765. "Mr. Pitt,-Late last night his Majesty ordered me to let you know, that he desired to see you again on Saturday next, at ten in the morning, at the Queen's-house. "I remain your very affectionate friend, "WILLIAM." On Saturday, Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple had a joint audience of his Majesty; when the following conditions were proposed to them; that Mr. Stuart Mackenzie should be restored, that Lord Northumberland should be made lord-chamberlain, and that the King's friends should continue in their present situations. With the two first of these conditions Mr. Pitt was disposed to comply, but he required some explanation with regard to the third. Lord Temple expressed his dislike of all the conditions; and thus the conference closed. nifying to me his Majesty's pleasure to attend him at the Queen's-house on Wednesday, at ten in the morning. Penetrated with the deepest sense of his Majesty's goodness, I will not fail to be in waiting there at the hour commanded. Permit me, Sir, to express how much it confounds me to occasion so much trouble to your royal highness. I am, with the most profound respect, Your royal highness's most obedient, W. PITT. LORD LYTTELTON TO MR. PITT. DEAR SIR, Curzon Street, June 29, 1765. I CANNOT go out of town without expressing to you the great satisfaction I feel in your having shown such a regard to the wishes of the public and desires of the King, as to yield yourself, in this time of difficulty and danger, to the service of the How much I grieve that the state will not receive the benefit of this compliance, I need not say to you, who saw how much I wished it, and how essential I thought it to the safety of my country. state. Permit me also to return you my most hearty thanks for the very honourable mark of your esteem and friendship, which I am informed by |