1757. present, but to mention that I hope no answer may I am, &c. BEDFORD. MR. SECRETARY PITT TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. My Lord, Whitehall, November 18. 1757. Having laid before the King your Grace's letter of the 12th instant, containing for his Majesty's information a narration of things that have passed relating to the proceedings of the House of Commons of Ireland concerning pensions, and inclosing your Grace's answer to the House with regard to complying with their desire in transmitting to the King their resolutions of the 1st instant relating thereto, and desiring his Majesty's orders for your future conduct,—I am commanded by the King, in consequence of the unanimous opinion of a meeting of his Majesty's servants consulted on his most secret affairs, to signify to your Grace the King's pleasure that you do transmit, to be laid before his Majesty, the said resolutions; and that you do also acquaint the House of Commons, in such manner as your Gracê shall judge most proper, that you have so done. The King cannot but have received with much surprise and concern an account of proceedings of so disagreeable and unexpected a nature, and which bear strong marks of such heats and animosities as, if not timely and properly allayed, may be productive of great and serious mischief to his Majesty's service, and materially affect the immediate safety and welfare of the kingdom of Ireland; and the King relies on your Grace's prudence and ability that the wisest and most salutary methods will be employed to attain this happy and necessary end. I am here to observe to your Grace, with regard to the apprehensions you express of designs for stopping the money bill, that as those apprehensions are founded only on the surmise of heats and resentments that might follow your non-compliance with the demands of the House in transmitting their resolutions to his Majesty, they will, it is hoped, immediately and entirely cease on your 1757. 1757. Grace's complying with the same as above directed by the King. I come now to the last and very material point of your Grace's letter, with regard to your being better enabled to carry on the business of government with advantage to the King and honour to yourself; and I am to signify to your Grace, on a matter of this weighty nature, which demands the most mature consideration, that it is his Majesty's pleasure that you do transmit, for the King's information, your Grace's sentiments and lights concerning the causes of the present animosities, and the difficulties to Government resulting from them, as well as the properest remedies for the same; and in pointing out such methods as your Grace may judge most advisable for deriving support and facility to his Majesty's affairs, your Grace will mention, to be laid before the King, the names of persons, if any such shall occur to you, most capable, and best qualified from their abilities, credit, and connections, to strengthen and promote his Majesty's service. I am, &c. W. PITT. 1757. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO MR. SECRETARY PITT. Sir, Dublin Castle, November 24. 1757. The messenger whom I had despatched with my letters to the Duke of Newcastle and yourself of the 13th, brought me back yesterday your answer of the 18th. I am much obliged to you for the great despatch you have given this business, especially as it sets me at ease, without waiting for orders for so doing, of transmitting purely and simply the resolutions of the House of Commons to the King, which nothing should have induced me to have done, but the apparent danger to the money bill if I should have acted otherwise. I have wrote so very fully to you in my last despatch, that I shall trouble you with no more at present. I am, &c. BEDFORD. LADY ELIZABETH WALDEGRAVE TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. St. James's, November 26. 1757. My dear Duke of Bedford, Nothing but your vast good heart could ever have made you reflect that such an insignificant * Lady Elizabeth Waldegrave, wife of the Honourable John Waldegrave, afterwards Earl of Waldegrave; daughter of John first Earl Gower, sister to the Duchess of Bedford, and lady of the bed- She is the "Lady Betty" of 1757. mortal as myself existed, that must be affected with every trifle that can check your ease and quiet. It was, indeed, no small satisfaction to have it under your Grace's own hand how little those perpetrators of malice and mischief on your side of the water have it in their power to distress or personally mortify you; and it is my opinion they will find that out when it is too late, and repent their folly when they have no friend to redress their absurdities. They talk loudly here of supporting you, and that there is an end of all government if they do not: if they are sincere and in earnest, I think you will get the better of those turbulent spirits. I imagine the messenger that goes to-day will inform you a little on what you are to depend, and what expect from hence. I have not been able to pick up any intelligence with regard to their particular and private opinion upon your affairs; but I am glad to hear his Grace of Devonshire is steady and well upon the occasion. Mr. Reynard assured me his letter to his brother was very spirited and strong, and thinks will not a little frighten that wise speaker. I have heard prodigious commendations of your Grace's letter to Mr. Pitt. As his Majesty does not love very long epistles, he was afraid he should have difficulty to persuade him to read it, and he says every line is of too much consequence to be lost: there is flummery from a great orator. George looks much down since these last violent proceedings of his friends; but he is so dark and deep, I take it he is not very fathomable. |