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my present situation of connection with several it from me.

who expect

I am extremely glad to hear from Mr. Ranby, whom I saw this morning, so good an account of your amendment. I have been these two last

days in the country, or should have certainly inquired after it more immediately, and nothing but the fear of being troublesome would have prevented my attempting to wait upon you; which I shall be happy to do whenever it may not be inconveinent, and when I have that honour, shall give you as little trouble as possible; but if in receiving your commands on any subject I could be thought in the least useful, should at the same time be happy if it depended upon me to give you the smallest information my situation might furnish that was worth your attention. I am, Sir, with the greatest truth and respect,

Your most obedient and faithful servant,

H. S. CONWAY.

THE KING TO MR. PITT.

MR. PITT,

Richmond Lodge, 40 m. past ten, a. m.
July 22, 1766.

I AM glad you find yourself so much recovered as to be able to come to me to-morrow. I desire, therefore, you will attend me at the Queen's-house, at eleven in the forenoon.

GEORGE R.

THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES TOWNSHEND TO

SIR,

MR. PITT.

Grosvernor Square, July 22, 1766.

HAVING learned, from your message of this morning, that you have been obliged, by circumstances of public convenience, to contract the time which you before desired me to take, in giving my answer upon the subject of our last conversation, I should be sorry to oppose any wishes of mine to a consideration of so superior a nature. At the same time, it is with the utmost regret I now find myself under the necessity of determining upon a point of this nature, without any communication with Lord Townshend and others with whom I act in friendship.

When I had the honour of being appointed to the office which I now hold, (') I refused acceptance, until I had first obtained, from the best authority, the fullest assurance that it had been proposed to me with his Majesty's entire approbation upon the same principle, I am now ready to change it, if it be his Majesty's pleasure, and I should think myself both an ungrateful servant and a bad citizen, if, in such an hour as this, I should decline, from motives of interest or love of ease, resulting from the most lucrative office, to

(1) Mr. Townshend was at this time paymaster-general.

take whatever station, his Majesty shall command me, in an administration, formed with his perfect approbation. It is doing me, I fear, too much honour to think I can be of much service to the public in any station, but in this I refer myself to the will of his Majesty, and would not be governed by my own sense or my own preferences. I am, with great personal respect, and the highest consideration, Sir,

Your most obedient, and

most humble servant,

C. TOWNSHEend.

THE KING TO MR. PITT.

MR. PITT,

Richmond Lodge, 5 m. past eight, p. m.,
July 24, 1766.

I AM glad your fever has not prevented your proceeding this day, and that you are enabled to lay before me to-morrow, the final arrangement of the Treasury. I shall therefore, be ready to receive you at the Queen's house at eleven.

GEORGE R.

THE RIGHT HON. JAMES GRENVILLE TO MR. PITT.

MY DEAR MR. PITT,

Pinner, July 24, 1766.

I FEEL the greatest pleasure, and have the warmest thanks to return to you for the honour of your kind letter. The public satisfaction will, I trust, correspond with the genuine regard and attention, which you have invariably shown to the real interests of this country, and with the efficacy of your present endeavours to serve it.

The destination which you have been so good as to procure for me from his Majesty's grace and favour far exceed any claim of merit in me. I am sensible that my abilities to support the system of administration which you have formed are slender; but I can with truth speak of the ardour of my wishes for the success of it. If I could flatter myself, (which I almost do) that in this situation I may be as serviceable to your views, as if I had been appointed to any other more active employment, my desires would be complete.

My son (') joins with me in his most affectionate respects to you and Lady Chatham.

I am ever your affectionate brother,

JAMES GRENVILLE.

(1) His eldest son James, at this time member for Thirsk.

THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Grosvernor Square, Friday morning, [July 25, 1766.]

THINKING it very possible that I may not find you at home, as Mr. Townshend has just informed me that you were with the King, I sit down to write these few lines; first, to acquaint you that Mr. Townshend was last night so thoroughly convinced of your firmness in adhering to the determination concerning him, that he seemed to have laid aside all hopes of any change in his favour: he approved and admired the motive from which it came, and was sensible that as you had thought first of him, you had still the same opinion, notwithstanding the untoward circumstance that might render it difficult, or perhaps wrong, for you to revert again to him for the post that had been mentioned to him.

His wish was as strong that it might take place, but as he intimated that he did not desire that he should appear to solicit it too violently, I could not propose to him to see you again upon it, and to talk the point once more over, lest he should change his idea again, and look upon himself as recherché. On the contrary, I told him that I left you in the same way of thinking; which, perhaps, made him still more look upon it as a desperate

case.

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