that my best wishes have attended you most constantly through the course of your ministry. I have grieved in adverse, and rejoiced in prosperous events. I am persuaded you have already done more for your country than any other man could have done; and if those wishes and my prayers can have any effect, you will live to see a glorious and happy conclusion of the arduous and perilous work you have undertaken.

I have the honour to be, with the utmost sincerity and highest respect, dear Sir,

Your most faithful and

affectionate humble servant,

GEORGE ARMAGH.

MR. PITT TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

[From a rough draught, in Mr. Pitt's hand-writing.]

[September, 1760.]

MY LORD,

My sentiments of esteem and affection towards your Grace are too real not to own, that the honour of your letter has given me much pain as well as pleasure. I find in it very obliging proofs of

your friendship and favourable opinion, and I am filled with most sensible satisfaction; but, the melancholy colour thrown over other parts of it, and I know not what touch of discontent, be it with yourself, or perhaps with your friend, not

only have damped my joy in receiving kind marks of your remembrance, but given me sincere

concern.

What shall I do or say to dispel the cloud, and set both yourself and your humble servant right again in your eyes? Will my dear Lord Primate give me leave to talk with him, as I could do to Lord Temple in a similar case? and I think my heart is so clear towards your Grace, that I might venture to expostulate even as to a brother.

I will briefly and simply, then, expose my situation as to interfering in military promotions; more especially in that to the rank of colonel. I have declared, in the most explicit manner, on my legs in the House of Commons, my opinion concerning promotions of favour over the heads of ancient lieutenant-colonels, actually serving with the highest distinction in all parts of the world; and I have, as it were, publicly pledged myself to that most meritorious class of officers, that I would never contribute, from any considerations of family or parliamentary interest, to their depression. On these grounds, I excused myself to Lord Besborough and to the Duke of Devonshire last winter, when they much interested themselves for Lord Drogheda; the distinguished zeal as well as the general character of which noble lord, gave me the sincerest wish to have had it in my power to serve him, without too much mortifying and deeply wounding, in very senior officers, that gallant and respectable spirit which, thank Heaven! breathes

through the British troops. I do not, however, mean by this, that a person of Lord Drogheda's quality and weight in his country is to keep the exact pace of lieutenant-colonel in the serevery vice, and rise only inch by inch through such an immense list, according to the strict date of his commission; but all I mean to submit to your Grace's and to Lord Drogheda's candour is, that among the very many lieutenant-colonels above his lordship on that list, there are not a few who cannot be postponed without great hardship and loud complaints in the army. The regiments and aides-de-camp now vacant, and about to become so, would go a good way in clearing this crying debt to signal services; and a little time may open the way, without much discontent, to that mark of favour, to which Lord Drogheda's great merit to government and ardour for the service so well entitle him.

This is the plain and true state of the case. My cause is before the court, and I know your Grace can only pass an equitable sentence. Be assured, my lord, that nothing but an essential duty can weigh with me against a wish of your Grace.

"More lov'd than any, but less dear than all,"

is a beautiful line, which shall close my peroration; and I will rest satisfied, that my true respect and sincere friendship for your Grace will not, in your own eye, stand impeached, though for the

present, my hand must not contribute to Lord Drogheda's promotion. (1)

Let me rejoice with your Grace on the glorious close of the scene in North America. (2) May the same favourable Providence bless us with the proper and happy fruit of victory-peace, advantageous, solid, lasting peace!

I am, &c.

W. PITT.

(1) Charles, sixth earl of Drogheda, was born in 1730. In 1762, he was made colonel of the 18th regiment of light dragoons; and, after having been muster-master general and master-general of the ordnance, he was, in 1791, appointed joint post-master-general of Ireland. In the same year he was raised to a marquisate, and in 1801 created an English peer, by the title of baron Moore, of Moore Place, Kent. At the entry of George the Fourth into Dublin, in August, 1821, the marquis, then in his ninety-second year, appeared at the window of his house, in Sackville-street, dressed in the old-fashioned uniform of the above-mentioned regiment. He died at Dublin in December, 1822.

(2) The surrender of Montreal; of which General Amherst took possession on the 7th of September, and thereby completed the conquest of all Canada:-"a conquest," says Smollett, "the most important of any that ever the British arms achieved; whether we consider the safety of the English colonies in North America, now secured from invasion and encroachment; the extent and fertility of the country subdued; or the whole Indian commerce thus transferred to the traders of Great Britain." Upon this occasion, Lord Temple thus addresses Mr. Pitt: "No end of glory and exultation! the close of the King's reign is most strikingly distinguished by lustre of every sort. May he feel it as he ought; and long enjoy the comfort of it, without forgetting who has wrought the wonderful change!"

THE EARL OF HARDWICKE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Wimpole, September 29, 1760.

I TAKE the opportunity of my Lord Anson's return to London, to transmit to your office the draught of your letters to the Earl of Bristol of the 26th instant, together with the inclosures accompanying them, which were brought me on Saturday last by Pritchard the messenger. The copies of the two memorials, delivered on the 9th of this month by the Conde de Fuentes I received several days before, but as they were docketted for my use, I have kept them for consideration.

Permit me to profit of this occasion to acknowledge the great honour you do me by these communications, which I esteem as fresh marks of that confidence whereof I am very proud. I wish it was in my power to make any return which might be agreeable to you, and at the same time useful to his Majesty's service. I own I never was more surprised in my life than at the style and turn of these two extraordinary pieces, so different from what there was reason to expect from the mission of M. de Fuentes; but what could not fail to strike most was, the previous and unprecedented appeal to the court of France, avowed in the memorial relating to the Newfoundland fishery. Nothing could be more wise, nor more agreeable to the King's dignity, than the réponse verbale