as I was desirous it should come to you this night 1756. as early as was possible. I am now just come in from the play from Lady Coventry's box, who desires a thousand compliments to you and Caroline: the Duchess of Hamilton was with her, in the height of beauty. I will now give you as clear and as short a narrative as I can, of all I can relate which has passed since I came to town. I found upon my coming to the King's Head, the Duke of Marlborough and Mr. Fox, and upon discussing with the latter, before the Duke of Devonshire came in, I found every thing confirmed which I had before heard of the impracticability of Mr. Pitt, who would not serve with Mr. Fox as a minister, and seemed determined to place himself and family sole governors of every thing. However as they had not presumption enough to name the first Lord of the Treasury, of which Mr. Legge was to be a Commissioner and Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was hoped by us then present, that by the King's nominating the Duke of Devonshire first Lord, such a control would be laid on Pitt and his friends, the treasury continuing in the King's power, that Mr. Fox, though not in a cabinet councillor's place, would still keep such a weight in the House of Commons as would hinder Pitt and his party from getting the absolute ascendancy over the King himself, and confine them to that proper degree of power they had a right to expect, and in which they might have been useful to the public. When the Duke of Devonshire came 1756. in, and we had dined, and Mr. Rigby had retired to your sister's, we began to talk of the business of our meeting, and after the first assurances of good wishes, each to the other, the Duke of Devonshire gave us an account of all that had passed between him and Mr. Pitt, and though he condemned his impracticability, and declared his predilection for Mr. Fox, yet he plainly leaned to the coming into their terms, though he absolutely refused coming into the treasury with Mr. Legge. In this unpleasant situation things were last night, when I parted from Mr. Fox at half-past one. He told me he had mentioned to the King my being in town, who seemed very desirous of seeing me. Accordingly I went to court this morning, and immediately after the levee went into the King's closet, who began in the most gracious manner thanking me for the part I had acted, and lamenting the terrible state of public affairs, and most bitterly exclaimed against Pitt's insolent treatment of him. He hardly gave me time to speak at all, being very eager in discourse the whole time I stayed with him, which was about half an hour. Lord Granville then went in, and carried the King a paper drawn up by himself, which, though short, was replete with good sense, and which tended to make on the part of his Majesty such offers to Pitt and his family as he cannot reasonably refuse, but such as if he does (which I make no doubt he will), must put him in the wrong in the opinion of every reasonable man, and enable us all to weather the storm of opposition, should : they be so rash as to undertake it. I have not time to explain the whole of this now, but will when I see you upon the Duke of Devonshire's coming out of the closet, he brought me orders to stay in town, till a meeting could be had to consider of the proposal, which at that instant Lord Granville was communicating to me and Mr. Fox, and which meeting is now fixed for to-morrow night at Devonshire House. I then went to Lady Yarmouth and then to the Duke, who seems much pleased with the state in which things now appear. I believe the Duke of Newcastle and the Chancellor resign on Thursday. I am quite tired with writing, so must defer the rest till we meet, which I hope will be on Thursday. Ever unalterably yours, BEDFORD. P. S. If your brother comes to Woburn time enough to be at Devonshire House to-morrow night, you are desired to send him up. Adieu. 1756. MR. FOX TO THE DUKE of bedford. London, November 4. 1756. After what Rigby has just now told me, your Grace won't imagine I am writing to persuade your Grace. But as I am prouder of your friendship and good opinion than of any place the King could 1756. give me, I must omit nothing that may justify the part I take. I left the King yesterday determined to name his own treasury. The Duke of Devonshire, not I, got his leave to offer Legge the Exchequer, and me the Pay Office; I refused any office; and, upon a little consideration, however I might dislike the actors, approved of the scene that opened itself, for the following reasons. I think peace and quiet this session as necessary to this country, as ever a night's sleep was to a man dying with a fever. No system in which I am a minister can be carried on without great contention. And by a combination of circumstances obvious to your Grace, I cannot be a minister (without the Duke of Newcastle, &c. and against Pitt &c.), without being the prime minister. I am not capable of it. Richelieu, were he alive, could not guide the councils of a nation, if (which would be my case) he could not from November to April have above two hours in four-and-twenty to think of any thing but the House of Commons. I should not be an honest man if I attempted, at a nation's risk, a task that no man alive can be equal to. I return to where I begun; there is in this arrogant and foolish scheme, peace in the House of Commons, and therefore I am for it. That they will admit of no other and better with the same advantage of quiet to the nation, is my grief, not my fault. But if Pitt will have it that either he or I must be dishonest and mad, let it be him that is so, and for the sake of the public, let me assist to 1756. make his arrogance of as little detriment to the public as possible. I am, my dear Lord, your Grace's, &c. &c. H. Fox. The Duke of Devonshire went to Pitt (who has the gout in the country) this morning. Pitt demurs to accepting without Holdernesse goes out, and gives no answer till to-morrow night, when he shall have consulted Lord Temple. LORD GOWER TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. My Lord, I was with his Majesty this morning, who was extremely satisfied with my determination of staying in his service, especially when I informed him it was with your Grace's advice, and that your resolution was (though you could not think it proper for you to enter into his service circumstanced as things were at present) not to obstruct his measures nor to throw this country into more confusion at this critical conjuncture. His Grace of Devon is a good deal embarrassed, laments much that the King could not avail himself at this time of your integrity and abilities as a minister, and protests that in the situation he now finds himself, there is no man's opinion or advice that he would |