and tendency. The Duke adheres firm to the persons and principles in which you left him. I must defer the rest till I have the pleasure of seeing you; which, I hope, will be in a few days. I am, with the sincerest respect and affection, dear Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, MR. PITT TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. [From a draught in Mr. Pitt's handwriting.] MY LORD, London, October 13, 1763. AFTER the long conversation I had the honour to have with your Grace, the day I waited on you at dinner at Claremont, you will easily judge of my disappointment and concern to find that Mr. Attorney-general, far from being open to meet upon one common ground, in maintaining the privilege of parliament, had, from the beginning, given a direct and full opinion against it, in the case now in question. I have little to say upon this unhappy business, further than that I could wish I had been told the full state of the thing sooner, that I might not have proceeded in the vain dream, that some solid union upon Revolution-principles, and an assertion in earnest of the freedom of the constitution, was practicable, under the various biasses, managements, and entanglements, which draw various ways. This state of discordancy, which now comes out, is indeed not much to be wondered at; for how could the lingering on in a court-situation, under a rash and odious ministry, be brought to square with the conduct of those, who were openly resisting the dangerous power of it ? (1) (1) On the 1st of November, Mr. Yorke resigned the situation. of attorney-general, and Sir Fletcher Norton was appointed in his stead. The parliament met on the 15th. Upon the return of the Commons to their own House, after hearing the King's speech, Mr. Grenville stated, that his Majesty having received information, that John Wilkes, Esq. was the author of a most seditious and dangerous libel, published since the last session, had caused him to be apprehended, and detained for trial. He then recapitulated the proceedings in the courts below; and, having laid on the table the libel, with the examination of the bookseller and printer, moved, that the North Briton, No. 45., was a false, scandalous, and seditious libel, tending to excite the people to traitorous insurrections against the government. The debates thereupon have not been preserved; but Dr. Birch, in a letter to Lord Royston, says, that “ Mr. Pitt declared strongly against the paper, but objected to the words, 'tending to traitorous;' but which, after a long debate, in which he had the most considerable share, and a division of 273 against 111, were carried." When this motion was disposed of, Wilkes, premising that, in his person, the rights of all the commons of England and the privileges of parliament had been violated, stated the circumstances of his arrest and discharge, and the proceedings against him in the court of King's Bench by subpœna. He requested the judgment of the House on his privilege; declaring, however, that, if they decided in his favour, he would wave the advantage, and put himself on a jury of his country. The question of privilege was adjourned to the following day; "when, just as the House was going to proceed upon it," writes Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell, "news came that Wilkes had been shot through the body in a duel by Sam. Martin, late secretary of the treasury, who had said, in his speech the day before, (after mentioning some virulent abuse thrown on him in the North Briton,) that whoever was capable, in a printed · The fatal consequences of this disunion are too obvious to admit of much observation. All I will say is, that my resistance of my Lord Mansfield's influence is not made in animosity to the man, but in opposition to his principles. If his ways of thinking are to prevail in Westminster-hall, it is indifferent to me, whether his lordship's name, or any other, is to sound the highest among the long-robe. I should do Mr. Yorke great injustice, if I did not acknowledge the many obliging expressions which he did me the honour to employ on my personal subject, as well as those with regard to my friend Lord anonymous paper, to asperse him by name, was a cowardly scoundrel.' Wilkes, the next morning, wrote a letter to Martin, acknowledging himself the author of that paper; and they proceeded to Hyde Park, where the duel was fought. The wound is not thought dangerous; but it occasioned the putting off the consideration of the question of privilege to the 23d, and the House proceeded on the King's speech. Mr. Pitt spoke with great ability, and the utmost degree of temper. He said he had not altered his opinion of the peace, which he still thought inadequate to our situation and successes; but that, being made and approved by parliament, nothing more unfortunate could happen, than that it should be broken; that it was every man's business to contribute all he could to make it lasting, and to improve it; for which purpose he recommended union, and abolition of party distinctions, as absolutely necessary. He spoke civilly, and not unfairly, of the ministers; but of the King, he said every thing which duty and affection could inspire. The effect of this was a vote for an address, nem. con. I think, if fifty thousand pounds had been given for that speech, it would have been well expended. It secures us a quiet session; and, with the help of a division of 300 to 111, the day before, will give strength and reputation to government, both at home and abroad."-Mitchell MSS. Chief Justice Pratt. I am going to Hayes, and sincerely rejoice to carry with me the satisfaction of knowing, that Lord Rockingham is much better. I am, my Lord, your Lordship's &c., W. PITT. THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PITT. Claremont, October 14, 1763. DEAR SIR, I RECEIVED this morning the honour of your letter; which has given me a concern, which I am afraid will not soon be removed. I have had very little discourse of late with Mr. Attorney-general, relating to any incidental questions that might arise in parliament, upon the proceedings in Mr. Wilkes's case. Sometime ago, when the question was fresh, I found Mr. Attorneygeneral disposed to adhere to what he had done, and the opinion he had been of when he was consulted as attorney-general, and had acted as such; and then, or soon after, I understood from him, that he had had some discourse with you upon the subject. I always feared that some difference of opinion might, unfortunately, arise upon these points, if they should come into the House; but as I did not know the particular question upon which that difference might happen, and as I was not so able, or so well instructed upon these points, as I should be, I did hope that if some previous things could be settled, an amicable discussion and consideration of such points might reconcile these differences; and in that hope, I chose rather to leave these points of difference to be discussed in that manner, than, by an improper intermeddling on my part, defeat my own wish and view of removing those difficulties, if they should arise. I say this in justification of myself, for not having brought the question immediately under consideration. I may have erred in judgment, but it arose singly from a good intention. I believe, and indeed know, that others, who have known more of Mr. Attorney-general's opinion upon these points, have reasoned in the same manner, and from the same causes, with myself. I most sincerely lament this unhappy circumstance; and see from it, the fatal consequences of this disunion, if no methods can yet be found to prevent it. I have done, and shall do, every thing in my power to remove all obstacles which might create any coolness or difference amongst those, who alone, in my opinion, can save this country and this government, if not from utter ruin, at least from contempt and insignificance, both at home and abroad, and establish such an administration and such a conduct of affairs as may, in some measure, recover our credit abroad, and make the best provision that the present situation will admit of, for the security of our interests at home, the honour of the King, and the |