go out of town till to-morrow at eight o'clock in the morning. Give me leave to repeat again my thanks for your great confidence in, and goodness to me, this morning. I am, with the greatest respect, Dear Sir,

Your most affectionate, and

most obedient humble servant,

HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Claremont, Tuesday, August 30, 1763.

LATE last night I received an answer from my Lord Hardwicke, that his lordship would be in Grosvenor Square to-morrow in the evening. I propose to be in town early on Thursday morning, to receive your commands, if you have any for me. I could wish that you could contrive to see my Lord Hardwicke yourself alone, before either J or any of us see him. I know it would have a good effect.

My nephew Onslow came hither last night, who had seen the Duke of Grafton yesterday. His Grace is in high spirits upon the present appearances, and talks, and will act, just as we could wish him.

in

I hope every thing passed to your satisfaction your visit yesterday. (') Lord Lincoln went to

(1) "But behold," continues Lord Hardwicke, "the catastrophe of Monday. The King received Mr. Pitt equally gra

Stowe yesterday morning. I hope he will bring his friend to town with him. Indeed, that is absolutely necessary. I am, with the greatest truth and respect, dear Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,
HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

P.S. I this moment hear, that the Duke of Cumberland will be in London this night or to

morrow.

6

ciously; and that audience lasted near two hours. The King began, that he had considered of what had been said, and talked still more strongly of his honour. His Majesty then mentioned Lord Northumberland for the treasury, still proceeding upon the supposition of a change. To this Mr. Pitt hesitated an objection, that certainly Lord Northumberland might be considered, but that he should not have thought of him for the treasury. His Majesty then mentioned Lord Halifax for the treasury. Mr. Pitt said, 'Suppose your Majesty should think fit to give his lordship the paymaster's place?' The King replied, But, Mr. Pitt, I had designed that for poor George Grenville; he is your near relation, and you once loved him.' To this the only answer made was a low bow. And now here comes the bait. Why,' says his Majesty, 'should not Lord Temple have the treasury? You could go on then very well !'—' Sir, the person whom you shall think fit to favour with the chief conduct of your affairs cannot possibly go on without a treasury connected with him; but that alone will do nothing. It cannot be carried on without the great families who have supported the Revolution government, and other great persons of whose abilities and integrity the public have had experience, and who have weight and credit in the nation. I should only deceive your Majesty, if I should leave you in an opinion that I could go on, and your Majesty make a solid administration, on any other foot! Well, Mr. Pitt, I see (or I fear) this won't do. My honour is concerned, and I must support it! Et sic finita est fabula. Vos valete; but I cannot, with a safe conscience, add et plaudite.""

THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Chatsworth, August 30, 1763.

I RECEIVED your letter late last night; which gave me great pleasure. I think myself much obliged to you for the kind manner in which you have communicated to me an event, that I must look upon as a most fortunate one for the King and the country.

Give me leave to assure you, that the step his Majesty has taken, and the mode he has chosen to do it in, are most satisfactory to me; and I flatter myself will be most beneficial to this country. I am just setting out for Derby, and propose being in town to-morrow evening.

I am, with very great regard, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

DEVONSHIRE.

THE EARL OF SHELBURNE (1) TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Tuesday, August 30, 1763.

THOUGH I am at dinner, I cannot help troubling Mr. Pitt with a great many thanks for the honour

(1) William Petty, second earl of Shelburne, and first marquis of Lansdowne. He was born in 1737, and, entering young into the army, distinguished himself at the battles of Campen

of his obliging communication, and felicitating him personally-which I can do very sincerely-on a negotiation being at an end, which carried through the whole of it such shocking marks of insincerity ('), and, if it had taken another turn, must have laid a weight on his shoulders of a most irksome nature, on account of the peculiar circumstances attending it.

I propose myself the honour and pleasure of waiting on you at Hayes, about Saturday morning, to thank you for all your goodness to me, on this

and Minden. In 1760, he was appointed aide-de-camp to George the Third, with the rank of colonel; in 1761, he went into parliament as member for Chipping Wycombe, and, in the same year, took his seat in the house of peers, on succeeding to the title of earl of Shelburne. He supported the peace of 1762; and, in April 1763, was admitted to the privy council, and placed at the head of the board of trade; which situation he resigned, three days after the date of this letter.

(1) Mr. Pitt," continues Lord Hardwicke, "professes himself firmly persuaded, that my Lord Bute was sincere at first, and that the King was in earnest the first day; but that on the intermediate day, Sunday, some strong effort was made, which produced the alteration. He likewise affirms, that if he was examined upon oath, he could not tell upon what this negotiation broke off; whether upon any particular point, or upon the general complexion of the whole. It will certainly be given out, that the reason was the unreasonable extent of Mr. Pitt's plan — a general rout; and that the minority, after having complained so much of proscription, have endeavoured to proscribe the majority. I asked Mr. Pitt the direct question; and he assured me, that although he thought himself obliged to name a great many persons for his own exculpation, yet he did not name above five or six for particular places. I must tell you, that one of these was your humble servant, for the president's place."

as well as other occasions. If you have any commands for me before that, I hope you will be kind enough to let me receive them with as little ceremony as possible. In the mean time, may I add my congratulations on your health not being worse for your last journey?

I am, with the highest consideration and esteem, dear Sir,

Your most faithful and

obliged humble servant,

SHELBURNE.

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Claremont, Wednesday morning, past 9 o'clock, [August 31, 1763.]

I RECEIVED, with the greatest surprise and concern, the honour of your kind letter last night; whereby I found, that the pleasing hopes, which I had flattered myself with, that his Majesty had at last seen the unhappy situation of his affairs, and had determined to put the conduct of them into the hands of those who would serve him and the nation with credit, ability, reputation, and success, and to the satisfaction of this country, and indeed of all the powers of Europe, who are, or ought to be, our best friends and allies, were at once disappointed. In this terrible situation, God knows what will become of this poor country.