THE COUNT de fuentes TO M. WALL. (1) London, January 23, 1761. THE Duke of Devonshire (2) asked me the other day, what state the affair of Honduras (3) was in. I communicated to him the last resolution of this court. He then told me, that he had lately asked the King to dispense with his attendance in council, except when ordered upon any particular occasion. He was surprised a little at the resolution, that the despatch should serve for an answer, remembering that he himself had assured me they would give one; and protested to me, that he knew nothing of it. I believe it is so; and am confirmed in my opinion, that both he and many others dissemble, waiting for an opportunity to destroy Mr. Pitt's party. (1) Endorsed, "translation of a letter in cipher." (*) The Duke of Devonshire was at this time lord chamberlain. (3) After the conquest of Jamaica by the English, one of the first objects of the settlers was the great profit arising from the logwood trade, and the facility of wresting a portion of it from the Spaniards. Their first attempt was made at Cape Catoche, the south-east promontory of Yucatan. When most of the trees near this cape were felled, they removed to the island of Trist, in the bay of Campeachy; and, in later times, they made the bay of Honduras their principal station. The Spaniards, alarmed at this encroachment, endeavoured by negociation, remonstrances, and open force, to prevent the English from obtaining any footing on that part of the American continent. But, after struggling against it for more than a century, the court of Madrid, in 1763, gave a reluctant consent to this settlement of foreigners in the heart of its territories; and the privilege was confirmed by the definitive treaty of 1783. At present there is no other voice in council but his, which, joined to that of my Lord Bute, serves to decide matters; so that the Duke of Devonshire, if he had been present, would have been obliged to have followed the opinion of the rest. Great has been the loss of King George the Second his authority and long experience greatly restrained the ideas of this people's minister, and gave the greatest force to the opposite party. He is every thing; and during his ministry we shall never get justice done us. The contrary party, not being able to resist him at present, will not oppose his way of thinking against us, but will rather be glad to see him engaged, in hopes of some consequence resulting, which may bring about his fall. (') FUENTES. (1) In Dodington's Diary, of the 2d of January, there is the following entry "Lord Bute came and said, he was sure that the ministry had some glimpse of getting off our system, by setting up that of abandoning Hanover, and of supplying the money to distress France into a peace; that they would, by their popularity, force this measure upon the King, who must consequently lose a great deal of his own. I told him, as the truth was, that this measure was the only sound one to get out of the war; that I had begun to put my thoughts upon it into writing, to persuade him to obtain powers of the King to carry it into execution. He paused a considerable time, and did not say positively that he could or could not get his Majesty to consent to this system; but he returned to say, that he thought the ministry had an eye that way. If such should be their scheme, I said, it would be irresistible; but there was one way to defeat the use they proposed from it, which was, to put himself at the head of it, in a great office of business, and to take the lead. Lord Bute said, that though he THE MARQUIS GRIMALDI (1) TO THE COUNT DE Paris, February 15, 1761. IN consequence of our reciprocal charges, I am to inform your excellency, that this ministry has assured me, that neither they nor their allies have any direct negotiation of peace in hand; but it is certain that they ardently wish for one here; and have laboured to bring the courts of Vienna and Petersbourgh into such terms, that they flatter themselves that proposals being made, with the consent of their allies, to the Kings of England and Prussia, these two monarchs could not fail of accepting them, as they will be favourable for them. It is necessary that your excellency should observe the greatest secrecy in regard to this project, though you should know it for your own govern was sure the ministry looked that way, he hoped and believed, they would not easily follow it; that I, indeed, always talked of them, as if they were united, whereas they neither were, nor could be that the Duke of Newcastle most sincerely wished for peace, and would go any length to attain it: that Mr. Pitt meditated a retreat, and would stay in no longer than the war. But, for my part, I think they will continue the war as long as they can; and keep in, when it is over, as long as they can; and that will be as long as they please, if they are suffered to make peace. All which can never end well for the King and Lord Bute. We agreed upon getting runners, and to settle what he would disperse." — p. 375. (1) Spanish ambassador at the court of France. ment. It is possible there may be an opposition, and impediments may arise; but I am not disheartened, nor shall I fail trying, on this account, if there is not a way of taking some measures with these people it is certain we have thought of it a little late. I do not know whether our court will come into it; but I think it my duty to propose what may be useful to us, and I judge it necessary without exposing the king. GRIMALDI. THE MARQUIS GRIMALDI TO THE COUNT DE Paris, February 26, 1761. LITTLE can be said in cipher, but I will tell you in a few words what is essential. The case is, that France having resolved for peace, in order to prevent greater misfortunes, is ready to offer it, and accept of it in statu quo. She has got over the courts of Vienna and Petersbourgh to renounce the greatest part of their pretensions; every thing has been communicated to me here. This project ought to be kept as a great secret from the ministry of England. It is possible yet that there may be quarrelling, or that peace may not take place; which is looked upon here as almost certain, on this footing. (1) Endorsed, "translation of a letter in cipher." In consideration of this and of our situation, I begin working, in order to see if we can make some alliance with France, which may protect us from those accidents we ought to fear: but whether we obtain it, or whether there are difficulties to be surmounted, (as it is said here, that we have waited till they are destroyed, and are consequently of no use) it is necessary to dissemble, and that they may not suspect our projects and negotiations. I add, that the court of Vienna submits unwillingly to what is desired here; but it cannot stand alone, and does not know how to answer the argument of these people, that they these three years have been sacrificing their in terests in America to serve the Queen of Hungary; that the time is come that they can do it no longer; nor is there any treaty to oblige them to it. GRIMALDI, JOHN WILKES, ESQ. TO MR. PITT. SIR, Great George Street, Friday, February 27, 1761. MAY I for a few moments draw your attention from the interests of your country to the concerns of an individual, whose pride it is to have Mr. Pitt his patron and friend? I do not mean to be importunate, nor to cause the least embarrassment, but beg to submit to you every wish I have, and |