an explanation of his situation as an officer, and such manly and spirited observations upon the late removals in the army ('), that he was much more an intimidating, than an intimidated voice, on the side of the ministry; but the effect was not the less important against us. He did not affirm, that officers had been removed for their conduct in parliament; but if they had, or if twenty more such removals were intended, the ministry would be still disappointed in their expectations. Mr. Conway voted with us; several new faces were among our small numbers.

About three o'clock in the morning I left this scene, to which I went with a mind truly disabled to do even the little I can at any time perform. I reflect with concern that, in the tumult of things, the affair of papers illegally taken, and as illegally pro

(1) The removals here spoken of, are thus noticed by Horace Walpole, in a letter to Lord Hertford: "The measure of turning out the officers in general, who oppose the government, has been much pressed, and, what is still sillier, openly threatened by one set-but they dare not do it; and, having notified it without effect, are ridiculed by the whole town, as well as by the persons threatened, particularly by Lord Albemarle, who has treated their menaces with the utmost contempt and spirit. This mighty storm has vented itself on Lord Shelburne and Colonel Barré, who were yesterday turned out; the first from aide-de-camp to the King, the latter from adjutant-general, and governor of Stirling. My present expectation is an oration from Barré, in honour of Mr. Pitt; for these are scenes that make the world so entertaining! After that, I shall demand a satire on Mr. Pitt from Wilkes; and I do not believe I shall be balked, for Wilkes has already expressed his resentment on being given up by Pitt; who, says Wilkes, ought to be expelled for an impostor."

duced, was not sufficiently, nor in any reasonable degree for such a point, enforced.

Votes of compliment to the King, Queen, Princess of Wales, Prince of Brunswick and Princess Augusta, upon the marriage, preceded this gloomy transaction. The address movers, in my opinion, performed their part in a good style. The Brunswick family was praised, if not equally to their merits, yet becomingly; and the topics of the war handled liberally, and not dashed with the usual ingredients; the glories and the astonishing success of it attributed to the heroism and amazing abilities of the nephew and uncle; the desperate situation of affairs, and the danger which hung over all Europe at the time when the stand was made by the Brunswick family, well enough touched; the change produced to this nation, and to the whole Protestant cause, amply enlarged upon. Mr. George Townshend moved for the hereditary Prince and Princess, and did justice, for once, to the cause trusted to him, even with some elegance in parts.

Present my affectionate respects to Mr. Pitt, and with them every sentiment which he deserves most from me, but as I think from all the world; and believe me to be,

Ever yours most faithfully,

JAMES GRENVILLE.

The Club (1) goes on with new vigour. I am

(1) The Opposition club, in Albemarle-street; the origin of which is thus stated in the "History of the Minority":

infinitely perplexed by the pressing of many quarters to be of it. The acclamations of the theatre, at the appearance of the Prince of Brunswick, exceeded any thing that ever happened. The royal family were present. The ministry were to a man silent, on the day of the votes of compliment.

MR. PITT TO M. DE FERONCE. (')

[From a draught in Mr. Pitt's handwriting.]

MONSIEUR,

Hayes, ce 23 Janvier, 1764.

J'AI l'esprit si rempli, et le cœur si touché, de l'honneur qui me fut accordé hier, qu'il m'est

Early in the winter, some gentlemen of weight and character proposed to the party a scheme of association, the purpose of which was to keep their friends together, and to give them the pleasure of meeting and conversing with each other; the idea was approved of by a great part, though not all the minority; and a tavern in Albemarle-street, kept by Mr. Wildman, was fixed upon for the place of meeting. No political business was meant to be transacted at any of the meetings. The intention was simply to preserve union." Of the Ministerial club, at the Cocoa-tree, Gibbon, in his journal for November, 1762, gives the following description: "That respectable body, of which I have the honour of being a member, affords every evening a sight truly English. Twenty or thirty, perhaps, of the first men in the kingdom, in point of fashion and fortune, supping at little tables covered with a napkin, in the middle of a coffeeroom, upon a bit of cold meat, or a sandwich, and drinking a glass of punch. At present we are full of king's counsellors, and lords of the bed-chamber; who, having jumped into the ministry, make a very singular medley of their old principles and language with their modern ones."

:

(1) Chief secretary of Prince Charles of Brunswick.

impossible de ne pas vous adresser quelques mots sur l'étendue de ma sensibilité et de ma reconnoissance la plus respectueuse de toutes ces bontés inestimables, dont Monseigneur le Prince héréditaire a daigné me combler. (1)

Quelque difficile que je m'étois figuré qu'il me fut de porter plus haut l'idée que, sur la voix de l'Europe, j'avois conçu de ce jeune héros, j'ai d'abord reconnu mon erreur; et il me reste maintenant d'un si gracieux entretien les vives impressions à jamais gravées dans la mémoire de ces éminentes qualités, faites pour inspirer aux cœurs un véritable attachement personnel, en commandant toute leur vénération.

Ma goute, qui en comparaison ne m'a paru un mal, que depuis que S. A. R. est en Angleterre, me défend toujours d'espérer de pouvoir me rendre en ville, avant le jour fixé pour son départ, et de lui offrir de nouveau mes hommages, et ces vœux qui suivront partout, avec chaleur, les pas de cet illustre Prince.

Je ne saurois exprimer à quel point il m'est affligeant de ne pouvoir pas faire pouvoir pas faire ma cour à Madame la Duchesse de Brunswick. Je dirai seulement sur ce sujet intéressant, qu'avec le reste de la nation, je serois inconsolable de voir

1) The following paragraph appeared in the newspapers of the 23d:- "Yesterday his serene highness the hereditary Prince set out for Hayes, in a post-chaise, attended only by one gentleman and two domestics, to pay a visit to Mr. Pitt; with whom he had a conference for nearly two hours, and expressed great satisfaction."

partir S. A. R., si ce n'étoit pour être l'objet d'envie de toutes les grandes princesses de l'Europe. Agréez, Monsieur, &c., &c.

EARL TEMPLE TO LADY CHATHAM.

MY DEAR LADY CHATHAM,

W. PITT.

January 25, 1764.

THE day you went out of town, George Grenville signalised himself in the House in a manner hitherto unprecedented. This great minister, after haranguing half an hour with great indecency, fallacy, &c. &c., against putting off the consideration of the breaches of privilege in Wilkes's affair, on account of the absence of a material witness now in Paris, found himself not only unsupported, but deserted by the whole House, and that matter is adjourned till Monday fortnight; by which time I hope the sick man will take up his bed and walk, for which there is every day more and more necessity.

The division yesterday about cider, was 125 to 167. We had four hours debate in our House. The court modestly intended to have voted Wilkes guilty, without hearing him. We obliged them to alter their question; and it is agreed that he may still make his defence, as if no vote was passed yesterday. The Duke of Devonshire supported