I

by his Majesty, his minister plenipotentiary. must, however, on this occasion fairly tell you, in confidence, the principal motive that induced me to accept of this honourable commission was, that I hoped to have received my instructions from you. I am disappointed; the public are disappointed they wished and expected to see you once more a minister, to render this country respectable abroad, and quiet at home.

The day of my departure is fixed for the 28th of this month. Your state of health, and the situation of public affairs, have prevented my having the happiness of having any conversation with you. Though I have called often at your door in town, I would not presume to intrude upon you in your retirement; I therefore give you this trouble to desire to know when and where I can have the honour of seeing you with the least inconvenience to yourself. My time is entirely at your disposal, and I am persuaded the first question that will be put to me by the King of Prussia, will be," when did you see Mr. Pitt, my faithful and steady friend ?" &c., &c., &c. In such circumstances, you will pardon the liberty I now take; which affords me the pleasure of assuring you, that I shall ever have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and attachment, Sir,

Your most obliged and

most humble servant,

ANDR. MITchell.

MR. PITT TO SIR ANDREW MITCHELL.

DEAR SIR,

Hayes, Sunday night, April 13, 1766.

I was honoured yesterday with your very obliging letter, and am truly sensible of the kind marks of friendship which it contains. The partial retrospect you are so good as to make is not a little flattering to me; nor is the expectation you had the friendly disposition to form on my subject, less So. I must not allow myself to think the public receive any disappointment, on that score enough for me to be indulged in the vanity of believing that you, my dear Sir, have not been without some degree of regret on the occasion. I will only add, with regard to this matter, that it was all along evident to me, that all expectations of the kind you allude to, never had a real foundation; and had it been my good fortune to have had an opportunity of conversing freely with you, no part of the delusion would have reached you.

I propose being in town to-morrow, and shall, with very particular satisfaction, profit of the leave you are so good as to give me, to propose an hour for the honour and pleasure of seeing you. In the mean time, I will trouble you no farther than to assure you of the invincible and great consideration with which I am, dear Sir,

Your most obedient and

affectionate humble servant,

WILLIAM PITT.

PRINCE CHARLES OF BRUNSWICK TO MR. PITT.

MONSIEUR,

Douvres, ce 12e d'Avril, 1766.

JE profite des derniers momens qui me restent en Angleterre pour vous dire mes adieux, et pour vous prier de me continuer l'honneur de votre souvenir.

Après avoir fait une tournée en France et en Italie, je compte, si aucun accident ne m'arrive, de vous rendre mes devoirs à l'assemblée du Parlement de l'année prochaine, et de vous renouveller alors de bouche les sentimens d'estime et de haute considération, avec lesquelles je serai jusqu'à la fin de mes jours, Monsieur, votre très humble, et très obéissant serviteur.

CHARLES,

PRINCE HÉRÉDITAIRE DE BRUNSWIC.

VISCOUNT TOWNSHEND (1) TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Audley Square, April 21, 1766.

I HAD the honour to call at your door, to thank you for the justice you did me in your sentiments of my intentions towards the militia, when my

(1) The hon. George Townshend. See Vol. I. p. 181. He had succeeded to the peerage, on the death of his father, in 1764.

name was the other day, to my great surprise, thought worthy to be introduced into debate by Mr. Onslow, or Mr. Thomas Townshend. (1)

I ever had too convincing proofs of the aversion of a particular party to this national establishment, to doubt of their overturning it the very first opportunity; and, from what I heard this year of their gracious regulations, and the reluctance for a long time of the treasury to propose the usual estimate, I could not but conclude that, unless some auspicious event again interposed, they would judge this no unfavourable period, either totally to crush it, or give it such a stab as would as fully answer their purpose.

At length, however, after a thorough disavowal of militia, on the part of the chancellor of the exchequer, Mr. Onslow was prevailed on to undertake the estimate; so that from this time it was hoped, that the intentions of abolishing the annual exercise, which I apprehend was the principal kind of regulation the government had in view, was laid aside for this year.

I am anxious, Sir, that my conduct may stand in the clearest light upon a measure, in which I had the honour of seconding you; and as I have ever esteemed it one of the greatest honours of my little trifling page to have been among the advocates of that truly great and constitutional

(1) This debate has not been preserved; but it appears by the Journals of the House of Commons, that 150,000l. were voted, towards defraying the expense of the militia for the year 1766.

establishment, to which the nation owes, in some degree, its high pitch of glory, and from which it may henceforth derive great stability, if it be blest with ministers who shall be wise and honest enough to prefer public and generous principles to party affections and the little jealousies of a court. I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, Your most faithful humble servant,

TOWNSHEND.

EARL TEMPLE TO LADY CHATHAM.

Sunday night, near 11. [May 4, 1766.]

MY DEAR LADY CHATHAM,

My company has but just left me, and I am tired to death. News from court differs much from the intelligence of last night. Lord Northumberland lamented there to Lord Coventry, Mr. Pitt's being gone to Bath; that things would be settled in the wrong way, unless he again made his appearance, &c. Lord Harcourt is gone out of town this evening, and Jenkinson with him, who came to take leave of George Grenville this morning, and is to set out upon a foreign tour at the end of the week. Lord Rockingham and Dowdeswell caressed by the King at court beyond expression. In short, the darkness grows thicker and thicker.