I do not wish to take any part that has the appearance of connection, where you are not connected.

Pray, Sir, give me one line of advice; I have not a wish of my own, and could very readily have given my negative, but chose first to communicate this to you, for whom I have long and ever shall retain the most perfect esteem; who am

Your most faithful and

most obliged humble servant, GEORGE COoke.

I hope for the honour of an answer by the return

of the post.

MR. PITT TO GEORGE COOKE, ESQ.

MY DEAR SIR,

Bath, December 7, 1765.

TRULY sensible of the many proofs of your kind friendship, I will venture to do, what I generally wish to avoid even when asked, that is, obey your commands in offering my advice to you upon the matters you propose. I confess it appears to me, that nothing would be less suited to your situation, or your opinions of men, than to be held out to the world as connected with the Duke of Newcastle; who, in my poor judgment, will render impossible any solid system for the settlement of this distracted country, as long as his Grace's influence predominates. What his Grace proposes to you is

nothing but a little artifice, to hold out to the public an appearance of connection where he knows he has none, and I know he never shall have any. When his Grace does me the honour to say that any thing is, "exactly conformable to my ideas," he is pleased to use the name of a man, who has never communicated his ideas to the Duke of Newcastle upon the present state of affairs; and who is finally resolved never to be in confidence or concert again with his Grace. Whenever my ideas, in their true and exact dimensions, reach the public, I shall lay them before the world myself.

In the mean time, be assured, my dear Sir, that I do not form the least wish to withhold you, or any friend, from taking any step your own judgment or inclination may lead to. I only mean, being asked my thoughts, to say frankly, that I shall never depart from the principles, and system of measures, in which I have been so often sacrificed by the Duke of Newcastle, nor accede to his Grace's ministry, because he, occasionally, is pleased to adopt, in words, and to mar in effect, any parts of that system, which he has first subverted. My paper grows full, and a folio would not be too large to tell you with what affectionate esteem,

I am ever, dear Sir,

most faithfully yours,

WILLIAM PITT.

GEORGE COOKE, ESQ. TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Lincoln's-inn Fields, December 10, 1765.

How good you are! A thousand and a thousand thanks for your kind favour of the 7th instant. I have no wish for a connection with any one but yourself, and can boast of little merit, except the being truly sensible of yours. No one living knows that I wrote to you on the subject: my conduct will best express my gratitude. I did not suf ficiently explain myself, when I made use of the expression, "exactly conformable to your ideas." His Grace, in the conference I had with him, never once mentioned your name, or alluded to your sentiments; and I made use of those words, in my letter to you, to show you, that he thought of the American affairs, with respect to the stamp duty, in the same light that you considered them, when I had the honour of some conversation with you at Burton Pynsent on that subject. I hope it is unnecessary to add, that I never make use of your name in vain or idle talk, much less never repeat any discourse you are so good as to oblige me with.

I shall rejoice to hear of your health being entirely restored, and that Lady Chatham and your charming little family are quite well; who am, with unalterable esteem and the sincerest regard, dear Sir, your most faithful and

Most obliged humble servant,
GEORGE COoke.

MR. PITT TO THOMAS NUTHALL, ESQ.

Bath, December 10, 1765.

DEAR NUTHAll,

BUT enough of low arts in low men! What, my dear Nuthall, can I have to do in or near the political world? I was frustrated and disabled from doing any material good last June. The world now is fallen into the Duke of Newcastle's hands; the country is undone; and I am of opinion, that no solid system for giving it but a chance for any tolerable degree of safety can be possible under his Grace's auspices, and where his influence colours and warps the whole.

I am much obliged to you for your kind solicitudes for a health certainly of no use but to the owner. Gout has hitherto not been so unmerciful as it is wont; but I fear it has not quitted scores with me for the winter. I am much better at present; crawl to the pump, and drink water with success. When I shall crawl to London I cannot yet fix. I would willingly be there for one fortnight, if able; and, after that, wish never to see again a scene of destruction and ruin, laid by faction, before the ashes of the late King were cold (I mean by the old servants of the Crown combining with new influences to subvert the then system); and where the same experienced hand now moulds and directs the political machine; with what allies will be seen. There are in the ministry-and you can guess them, without sorcery-some whose per

sons and good intentions I truly esteem, and whose situation I pity. Believe me always, with truth and affection,

Yours, &c.,

W. PITT.

PRINCE CHARLES OF BRUNSWICK TO MR. PITT.

MONSIEUR,

Londres, ce 11e Decembre, 1765.

Je suis bien faché que des raisons dictées par la prudence m'obligent à me priver de l'avantage de vous rendre mes devoirs à Bath, selon mes désirs; mais vous savez, Monsieur, qu'il ne suffit pas de ne point se mêler d'aucune affaire, qu'il faut encore plus soigneusement en éviter les apparences. Voilà franchement les seuls motifs qui me forcent à remettre jusqu'à votre arrivée en ville, le plaisir de vous entretenir sur différentes matières continentales, et à demander votre volonté et vos conseilles sur des objets à moi personels.

Comme je crains beaucoup, après tout ce que nous avons vu, l'instabilité des systèmes politiques de ce païs, vous sentez bien que sans votre avis je n'oserois m'ouvrir sur rien. J'attends, avec le plus grand empressement des bonnes nouvelles de l'état de votre santé, et le moment de vous assurer de bouche, avec combien d'estime et de haute considération, j'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur, &c.

CHARLES DE BRUNSWIC.