there the happiest imitations of the ancients; the delicacy of Horace, and the force of Juvenal. I am, with great truth and consideration,

Dear Sir,

Your faithful friend,

and most humble servant,

W. PITT.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH(') TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Dublin, September 11, 1760.

I FLATTER myself you will have the goodness to pardon this one intrusion (the first I have ever presumed to make) from a person who, however unworthy, has yet been as little troublesome to you as any one can have been, whom you have ever honoured with the smallest share of your friendship or confidence. I am far from setting up any better claim to your favour, than that of having returned to this country from England, three years ago, with your badge upon my breast; where it has appeared ever since, visible enough to deprive me of the privilege of begging at any other door. My situation here, and the part given me in the King's service, put me now under an indispensable necessity of begging; and the consideration I have just now mentioned (I shall not use unnecessary words in enlarging upon it) contains the whole

() Dr. George Stone. See Vol. I. p. 229. note.

of my apology for addressing this application to

you.

The circumstance of the Earl of Drogheda's having raised a regiment of light dragoons, I know is familiar to you. I believe I was the first person (having for many years lived in friendship with his family) with whom Lord Drogheda consulted before he offered his proposal. I was at first startled at the expense: he was then lieutenant-colonel of horse; in his course to which command he had expended upwards of six thousand pounds of his own fortune, and was here to advance very near five thousand more for a commission of a more precarious tenure, and to lose all possibility of return of the first six thousand, which was otherwise secure to him, in case of his retiring from the service. All this I thought it incumbent upon me to lay before him; but he was bent upon the undertaking, nor did I take much pains to dissuade him from it, hoping that he might obtain the rank of colonel, from which he was not far distant by his standing in the army, without borrowing any aid from his nobility, property, or alliances. When this distinction could not be obtained, I was the only one of Lord Drogheda's friends who did not endeavour to oppose his inclinations for proceeding: and he did proceed, and has completely, and in an extraordinary manner, executed what he undertook, without desiring an alteration in any one condition of his proposal, although the material one that was ad

vantageous to himself was not granted; and though other gentlemen were commissioned afterwards to raise regiments, upon terms in every respect more favourable to them.

I beg you to believe that I am neither so absurd nor so ignorant as to move this business (which is in the Duke of Bedford's province) to you originally, or that I could hope for any assistance from you upon those terms. It is the subject of my constant, and I may say of my only very earnest, solicitation to the Duke of Bedford. Mr. Rigby is in full possession of my application, and I am encouraged to hope it will succeed; but I am very certain that your countenance will both secure and accelerate its execution, if I can have credit enough to engage you to take one step out of your common way, in a business which affects me most essentially.

The Duke of Bedford and Mr. Rigby will, I am sure, do me full justice in their testimony of my conduct towards his Grace, and with regard to the King's service in a country, sometimes as untoward as it could be if it were more powerful. They are also extremely good to me in their acceptance of my services, and I make no doubt are in earnest in desiring that I may be gratified in this request; which I should be ashamed of making in this very strong manner, if I were suing for a gratification to myself merely; but I am less modest when I am speaking for one of the first noblemen in the country; who, if the merits of his

family to the crown and government of England were weighed and considered, and his own personal value tried and known there, would not stand in need of my mediation. mediation. As far as truth, justice and honour, generous and elevated sentiments of public and private virtue, persevering application in business, sound good sense, an excellent temper, and the firmest personal intrepidity can recommend a man to esteem and favour, I can with confidence affirm that Lord Drogheda's title to them ought to be undisputed.

From all these motives, I presume to make it my humble request, and to beg your assistance in promoting it in the manner you shall judge most proper, that his Majesty may be graciously pleased to grant to the Earl of Drogheda the commission of colonel, with the rights and appointments of colonel of the regiment of light dragoons; whereof he is lieutenant-colonel commandant. If civil considerations, and those of his country only, can be of moment, it may be observed, that Lord Drogheda's alliances and friendships connect him very closely with those who are at present both willing and able to support the service of the government; and the effects of his being disgusted would not be unperceived. With regard to myself, they must have a very strong operation. Difficulties, objections, and competitions, I know there will be in the way to the obtaining of this favour; but I know they are such as may all be either surmounted or adjusted.

I have applied to no other person besides yourself, -excepting the Duke of Bedford, and, of course, Mr. Rigby; and if you are so good, sir, as to retain any friendly thoughts towards me, and are disposed to give me a proof of them in this instance, you will not be at a loss for the most proper and effectual means. It would be impertinence in me to point them out. The favour itself will be a most sensible gratification to me; but it will still be more welcome, if it comes through your approbation and assistance, and will make my prospect of the world, over which some late misfortunes have cast a gloom, look rather more cheerful before me: but if it is refused, or not obtained, the melancholy cast of my mind will impute the miscarriage of the suit to the unworthiness of the hand which presents it; and I shall soon grow to consider it as a warning for me to retire from a scene where I am no longer desired.

Let me entreat this further favour of you, that if you are not disposed to procure this gratification for me, you will not add the trouble of writing to that which the reading of this long letter has already given you, but rather suffer me to know my disappointment by your silence. I shall understand my case equally in that way; and my mortification would be rather less painful, than if I were to see, under your own hand, that I am slightly considered by you.

But, whatever may be the fate of this application, or my own fate, permit me to assure you,