endeavour to conform to them. I am, Sir, with

the greatest respect,

Your most obedient and

most obliged servant,

KINNOUL. (')

LORD GEORGE BEAUCLERK (2) TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Edinburgh, January 29, 1760.

CONTRIBUTIONS for the French prisoners have prevailed, and been carried on successfully in this country. Without my knowledge or asking my consent, different advertisements, representing their situation in a false light, were put into the public papers. These having had their effect, several applications were made to me, desiring the collectors of this supposed charity might have access to the prisoners, in order to distribute the money and necessaries put into their hands.

I was glad to be confirmed in the opposition I

() "The earl of Kinnoul," says Smollett, "made such excuses for the conduct of Admiral Boscawen, as entirely removed all the misunderstanding between the two crowns; and could not fail of being agreeable to the Portuguese monarch, thus respected, soothed, and deprecated by a mighty nation, in the very zenith of power and prosperity."

(2) Sixth son of Charles, first duke of St. Albans. In 1758, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and made commander-in-chief of the forces in Scotland. He died in 1768

gave to these solicitations by the opinion of several persons of distinguished rank and character, and have hitherto persisted in my refusal; having always thought that the government allowance was very sufficient for their maintenance, and that illjudged donations of this kind might more and more put it in their power to contrive ways and means for effecting their escape; which, even without such aids, they have frequently attempted.

I have been told, but not from such authority as is to be depended upon, that you, Sir, have expressed yourself as having no dislike to the intention of the contributors, and, of course, none that the money or apparel should be distributed amongst the prisoners. It is this I wish to have the honour of being informed of; as I shall most readily embrace every opportunity of closing with all such measures as may meet with your approbation. I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient and

most humble servant,

G. BEAUCLErk.

MR. PITT TO LORD GEORGE BEAUCLERK.

MY LORD,

Whitehall, February 20, 1760.

I HAVE been favoured with your Lordship's letter of the 29th past, on the subject of contributions in Scotland for the French prisoners. I am very

much obliged to your Lordship for the honour you do me in the expression of your inclination of closing with such measures as may meet with my approbation; but whatever my opinion, as a private person, may be of this charity('), designed for the French prisoners, I must, in the present case, beg leave to wave setting it in competition with any objections that may occur to your Lordship, or other persons of rank and character in Scotland, with regard to the expediency of allowing any such contributions to be distributed to the French prisoners there; and as your Lordship is of opinion, "that ill-judged donations of this kind might, more and more, put it in the power of the prisoners to contrive ways and means for effecting their escape, which even, without such aids, they have frequently attempted," your Lordship will, doubtless, in case any difficulties should arise on this occasion, think it proper to lay the same before the secretary

(1) "The French ministry," says Smollett, "had withdrawn the usual allowance from their subjects who were detained prisoners in England, and those wretched creatures, amounting to nearly twenty thousand, were left to the mercy of their enemies. The allowance with which they were indulged by the British government effectually secured them from the horrors of famine; but still they remained destitute of other conveniences, and particularly exposed to the miseries of cold and nakedness. The generous English beheld these forlorn captives with sentiments of sympathy and compassion: they considered them as their fellow-creatures and brethren in humanity, and forgot their country while they beheld their distress. A considerable subscription was raised in their behalf; and, in a few weeks, they were completely clothed by the charity of their British benefactors."

of state, with whom your Lordship is in correspondence as commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces in Scotland. I am, &c.

W. PITT.

THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Madrid, February 11, 1760.

GENERAL WALL has earnestly desired me, in my private letter to you, to assure you how mortified he is to perceive the great distrust, with regard to the Spanish court, which M. d'Abreu in his despatches has represented even the King to be in ('); and as he knows I now send a messenger, he has given me leave to tell you, that nothing can or shall ever let him act contrary to what he looks upon to be the real interest of Spain, which is to live in perfect harmony and a close union with England; that he perceives the Catholic King is really hurt with the want of confidence in him, which M. d'Abreu represents to be the case at his Majesty's court; and that after all the professions and proofs I have given of the King's confidence in the Spanish monarch, which the general has faithfully and repeatedly conveyed to the Catholic King. What must be thought of M. d'Abreu and myself

(1) See, on this subject, M. d'Abreu's letter to Mr. Pitt, of the 11th September, 1759, vol. i. p. 350.

holding such different language? If you have recourse, Sir, to some of my early despatches after my arrival here, you will there find what is now too much verified, that I scarce flattered myself with gaining the ground I expected at Madrid, till the Marquis d'Abreu was removed. Believe me, with the highest esteem and most sincere respect, Your most obedient and

most humble servant,

BRISTOL.

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Newcastle House, March 1, 1760.

I HOPE to hear you have had a good night, and find yourself much better this morning. Everybody attended the council last night but my Lord Temple, whom my Lord Holdernesse forgot to summon. I was extremely sorry for it, for indeed we wanted him. I wonder such unlucky omissions are not avoided. I opened the business with as much strength as I could, in every part; and insisted that the reference should be immediately made to the Judges; and I wished the answer might be returned by such of them as were, or should be, in town. My Lord President ('), with great vehemence, opposed the whole; insisted that it was wrong to (1) The Earl of Granville.