1758. of Bedford thinks it is his duty to represent to his Majesty that it is his opinion, that in consideration of the present tranquil state of that kingdom, and the great decrease of the pension list, occasioned by the death of several persons, who had very considerable charges upon it, that the present time is the properest for his Majesty to carry into execution his gracious intentions to his royal daughter and her family, provided his Majesty will be pleased to consent that the following pensions during pleasure, may be likewise placed on that establishment, which, as they are entirely intended for persons resident in that kingdom, and calculated solely to enable me to carry on with success his Majesty's service there, will be the likeliest means to quiet people's minds, who might otherwise be uneasy to see such a great annual sum carried out of their country without having any share of it themselves. This seems likewise the more necessary in order to quiet people's minds there, as his Grace the Duke of Newcastle informs me, that it is for his Majesty's service in this kingdom that Mr. Charlton should have a pension of 1500l. per annum for his life. on the establishment of Ireland, which I think likewise may be done, without detriment to his service. "His Majesty is likewise most humbly desired to approve of the inclosed list of peers proposed to be promoted to higher honours; and of commoners to the peerage; as likewise of persons proposed to be put into the Privy Council: and to permit me humbly to assure him, that considering the difficulties I had to struggle with, the favours now asked for his subjects there (who are either very considerable in themselves, or by their connections with others) are far less than what has been usually granted upon the recommendation of former lord-lieutenants, though in times of infinite less. difficulty than I had to struggle with." 1758. MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. Pay Office, June 20. 1758. The news of this day is of a very bad sort, not much credited, I find, by the generality; but Calcraft, who told me of it, relies much upon his intelligence, and says that the siege of Olmutz is certainly raised by M. Daun, who made a forced march to the King of Prussia's army over a country that was thought impracticable, and defeated him; and that a large convoy of provisions going to his Majesty's army, escorted by 4000 men, is likewise cut off. I dined at Holland House: only Calcraft and me; have been since at Arthur's, where this news has been heard, but I find is not believed. But I rather expect it will turn out a bad account. I was with the Duke of Newcastle this morning at the Treasury; he has wrote your Grace an answer to your very proper letter to him upon Prince 1758. Ferdinand's business, containing a kind of promise that there shall be no more pensions granted. I likewise saw Lord Bessborough there, who acquainted me that he had wrote to your Grace for the government of the county of Kilkenny; and when I told him of your Grace's answer to Lord Castlecomer upon that subject, I never saw any body more pleased, or more sensible of your great kindness and civility towards him. I called at Lord Ancram's this morning, with a view to have seen any of the family but himself, but could not get into the house. General Blith's having the command operates very differently there, I believe, but makes it an unpleasant garrison, I should guess. The Duke of Marborough did me the honour this morning of a visit, and bid me tell your Grace if he had a day possibly at leisure he would wait upon you at Woburn, but he is hurried to death to get away next Monday. Lord Downe told me in a whisper he had still hopes of going to Germany; and I have heard since, that there is a captain too ill in Kingsley's to serve, who is still to receive his pay, and Lord Downe to do the duty without pay, but with a commission of captain; and as this is not to be a place of profit, it is not to vacate his seat for Yorkshire. Cuninghame, and all the volunteers, supernumerary aides de camps, &c., are not permitted to go. Blith is also to set out on Monday, and Prince Edward, who now wears the sea uniform, is a midshipman on board Howe's ship. MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. (Private.) Pay Office, ten o'clock, Wednesday evening, June 28. I I am arrived here this evening sent for express by the Duke of Newcastle, to attend your Grace to-morrow with a request (if I may call it so) from H. M. It is for a pension of 2000l. a year upon Ireland, for Prince Ferdinand for life. shall reserve all observations upon this matter, until I have the honour of seeing your Grace; nor should I have troubled you with a letter upon this subject only; but, as I have just now seen Mr. Wood*, he has told me of some letters, which were sent to your Grace yesterday from Mr. Pitt concerning some regiments of dragoons upon the Irish establishment. I think, therefore, better your Grace should know that I am in town, before I set out for Woburn, that if you have any business to employ me in here, I may do it. If your Grace should have none for me, a single line to tell me so by this messenger will be sufficient, and I shall pay my respects to you to-morrow evening at Woburn. The Duke of Newcastle swore to me, that nobody but the King and himself knew of the affair of the pension, which is to lie at your mercy; and I * Robert Wood, Esq. under secretary for the southern depart ment. 1758. 1758. promised nobody but your Grace should ever hear of it from me, if you refuse it. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. Mv Lord. Woburn Abbey, June 30. 1758. Last night Mr. Rigby brought me your Grace's message, importing the King's desire that a pension of 20007. per annum on the Irish establishment, might be granted to his highness Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, for his life. To which I must answer, that though it is undoubtedly in his Majesty's power to dispose of the redundant money in the treasury of Ireland, yet it is as undoubtedly my duty to submit to his Majesty's wisdom my doubts, if any such occur to me, on the fitness of such a measure. Now, my Lord, in the present case it doth appear to me, that, considering the small sum now in the treasury, in comparison of what there was three years ago, and the little prospect there is of there being any redundancy at the beginning of the next session of Parliament, and likewise that the sum of 67501. has just now been placed on the pension list, of which sum but 12501. is granted to residents in Ireland, it may attended with great inconvenience to his Majesty's service, and probably with some clamour in the House of Commons, should this additional sum be be |