GEORGE PITT, ESQ. (1) TO MR. PITT.

London, October 21, 1761.

DEAR SIR, NOTWITHSTANDING my having been perfectly silent, with regard to my inclination of being sent to Turin, from the time I first troubled you upon that subject, I find, upon coming to town, that it is in my power to have it gratified. My desire, indeed, was known to Mr.Mackenzie; but as I have never had any conversation with, or have taken the least step towards, any man but yourself, I cannot now look upon this event as the bare result of my private wishes. This morning I am to wait upon Lord Bute, for the first time, upon this matter; but as nothing is yet finally settled, I am obliged, by every tie of friendship, respect, and gratitude, as well from my public connexions with you as an Englishman as from any private motives, to entreat your approbation of this measure.

It is unnecessary to say how happy I should be to owe this obligation to you solely, or to assure you, that self-consideration has much the smallest share in this my sincere wish. I have the honour to be, dear Sir, your most obliged, and

most obedient humble servant, GEORGE PITT.

(1) He was at this time member for the county of Dorset. In November, he was appointed envoy extraordinary to the court of Turin, and in 1770, was sent, in the same capacity, to Madrid. In 1776, he was raised to the peerage, by the title of baron Rivers, of Strathfieldsay, and in 1782, appointed a lord of the bed-chamber; which he retained till his death, in 1802.

MR. PITT TO GEORGE PITT, ESQ.

[From a draught in Mr. Pitt's hand-writing.]

MY DEAR SIR,

[October, 1761.]

HAVING been always desirous, from true sentiments of esteem, to find all proper occasions of recommending myself to your regard, I should blush to take the least share of merit towards you from the act of others, in which it is but fair to declare, I have not had directly or indirectly any part. On the contrary, the several names of noble lords I had presumed to suggest as proper for being sent to the court of Turin, remained till the day of my resigning the seals, with whatever weight my unavailing recommendation could add to the circumstances which appeared to me to point them out for his Majesty's service; nor did I ever mention, my dear Sir, your name on this occasion. is true, Lord Bute had mentioned you, and that pretty early; which could not but distress me, after I had suggested others; from which I never could have departed, had I continued to hold the seals.

It

This is the naked and exact truth; which I think it best to give you without dressing, -the circumstance being too delicate for me to leave room for mistakes. Thus, my dear Sir, it was not to me that you owe the satisfaction of your wishes, but to the friendship of Mr. Mackenzie, and the favourable disposition of Lord Bute; and it is just towards

them, and of some consequence to me, that you and the world should rightly understand the matter. I am, with esteem and consideration,

Yours, &c.,

W. PITT.

WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. TO MR. PITT. (1)

Soho Square, November 6, 1761.

You

MY DEAR SIR, THERE does not a man exist who is more heartily and warmly attached to you, than myself. may therefore easily conceive I would not advise any measure that could possibly be of detriment to you, or my country. Men's hopes and fears are strangely agitated at this critical juncture; but all agree universally, that you ought to make your appearance at Guildhall on Monday next with Lord Temple; and, upon the maturest reflection, I am clear you ought not to refuse this favour to those who are so sincerely your friends.

As you cannot say any one prediction of mine has proved false, so I hope you will give me an opportunity of being declared a true prophet in the present case; which will afford great comfort to, my dear Sir,

Your ever faithful and affectionate,
W. BECKFORD.

(1) Endorsed by Lady Chatham : "Mr. Beckford, 1761; to press my lord to appear with Lord Temple: to which he yielded for his friend's sake; but, as he always declared, both then and after, against his better judgment."

THOMAS NUTHALL, ESQ. (1) TO LADY CHATHAM.

Friday, November 12, 1761.

WHEN I wrote my last note to your ladyship, I had heard but little concerning the triumphal entry into the city on Lord Mayor's day. It now comes out, that a party of bruisers, with George Stephenson, the one-eyed fighting coachman, at their head, had been hired to attend the chariot which contained the blazing comet and the new chancellor of the exchequer (2) (which last, it seems, has undertaken to raise the supplies for the next year by a tax upon wild ducks), and to procure shouts and acclamations from the mob.

By the time the procession, which moved but slowly, had got into St. Paul's Church-yard, these fellows had halloed themselves hoarse, and it had been given out that Mr. Pitt was in the chariot, by which means, they had artfully obtained the mob to join them; but, on the east side of St. Paul's Church-yard, some knowing hand stepped up, and

() Mr. Nuthall was an eminent solicitor, who transacted Mr. Pitt's private business from a very early period until his death. In 1765, he was appointed solicitor to the treasury. On returning from Bath, in March 1775, he was attacked by a highwayman on Hounslow Heath; who, on his demands not being complied with, fired into the carriage. Mr. Nuthall returned the fire, and, it is thought, wounded the man, as he rode off precipitately. On arriving at the inn at Hounslow, he wrote a description of the fellow to Sir John Fielding; but had scarcely closed the letter, when he expired.

(2) Lord Barrington.

looking full at the idol, pronounced, with a fine hoarse audible voice, "by G-d, this is not Pitt; this is Bute, and be damned to him;" (I beg pardon of your ladyship for writing such words; but historians ought to tell facts as they happened.) Upon this, the tide took another turn; and the bruisers' lungs being worn out, the shouts from the independent mobility were instantly converted into hisses, accompanied with a few vulgar sayings, as "D-n all Scotch rogues!"-"No Bute!" "No Newcastle salmon!"-" Pitt for ever!"

By the time they reached Cheapside, it was discovered there were some bruisers hired for protectors this gave still greater offence, and then they began to be more outrageous; and on the turn into King Street an attack began on the coachman and footmen behind with dirt, some of which found its way into the chariot, and very much altered the colour of the new chancellor's ruffles (1); for it fixed on him only. Before they arrived at Guildhall, the bruisers were almost bruised to death themselves.

(1) In a letter written about this time to Mr. Mitchell, the "new chancellor" says, "I continue, my dear Mitchell, without application, to advance, or indeed desire; being convinced that I have long been placed too high. When the time comes for my retiring to the situation best adapted to my nature, I hope to fall easily. I promise you that your old friend will not fall in the dirt. If the duty you owe to the best and most amiable master that ever lived since the days of Titus would permit you to leave the station you are now in, it would give me infinite satisfaction. Old friends fall off, and I find new ones are not so easily made as I thought they were, when I was younger.". Mitchell MSS.