upon public and great things (if great any longer belongs to the affairs of so distracted a country), what remains for one so strangely circumstanced as I am, to say to a friend? You fully know how I was frustrated in my views for the public good; and the repetition of any part of so unaccountable a story could have neither utility nor entertainment. All I can say is this, that I move in the sphere only of measures. Quarrels at court, or family reconciliations, shall never vary my fixed judgment of things. Those who, with me, have stood by the cause of liberty and the national honour, upon true Revolution-principles, will never find me against them, till they fall off, and do not act up to those principles. This letter will probably find you amidst additional perplexities of court and city, from the late melancholy but long foreseen event. (') Many, no doubt, are the speculations upon the consequences of it; but I am too far off from the scene, and you are too near to it, and too clearsighted, for me to hazard any of mine. I propose going to Bath in about a week; for which place I was on my way last Saturday, when I was stopped by the melancholy news of the At (1) The death of the Duke of Cumberland. On the 31st of October, having appointed to assist that evening at a council, the Duke came to town from Windsor, and went to court. eight in the evening, being then at his house in Upper Grosvenorstreet, just as the Duke of Newcastle and the Lord Chancellor came to the council, he was suddenly seized with a shivering fit; upon which, he said to the Earl of Albemarle, "'tis all over," and sank lifeless into his Lordship's arms. He was privately interred, but with military honours, in Westminster Abbey. event, which broke the hereditary Prince's journey thither. Wherever I am, I beg you will be assured, that you have there a very sincere friend and servant, who does justice to the steady spirit with which you stand for a shaken country, feels all the value of the friendship with which you honour him, and has a particular satisfaction in assuring you, with how true esteem and perfect consideration I am always, my dear Sir, &c., W. PITT. MR. PITT TO LADY CHATHAM. Bath, Sunday, one o'clock, My dearest love knows my diary as far as Wells. It continued quite prosperous as far as Bath, where I arrived in the face of day. I passed a much better night for my fatigue, and I am better this morning; foot much swelled, hand less weak, and easier. Thank the Almighty, that I am able to send you such an account as your kind thoughts will repose on with comfort. Brother James much better, but shattered and pale enough from having dispersed the gout, by bathing. I have the pleasure to tell you, that his mind is just in the reasonable posture that I could wish. Would to Heaven, he could impart some of his right spirit somewhere else! The great of this world seem not to have forgotten the Somersetshire hermit, if the mighty names of Newcastle, Norfolk, Bedford, Rockingham &c., are flattering to the pride of man. I was interrupted here by a kind visit from Mr. Collibee, the mayor; a less sounding name, but an honest and steady friend. How I shall sustain these honours, I know not; but while I am relating them to my love, the spirits flow, and the hand obeys. I must however check my own career, and despatch the servant before another interruption. Heaven bless and protect the noble mother and the promising little flock! For this time, adieu, and think with some comfortable hope of the health of Your ever loving husband, W. PITT.(1) MR. PITT TO LADY CHATHAM. Bath, Monday night, November 18, 1765. THANK Heaven that I am able to hold a pen, and tell my love the feats I have this day performed. I have visited the fair down of Claverton, with all its piny forests, and have drunk one glass of water as I returned, sitting in my coach of state, in Stall (1) In her reply to this letter, written on the same evening, from Burton Pynsent, Lady Chatham says: "Nine o'clock come, the duties of our Sunday evening done, and the little ones retired to bed, I musing by the fire, comes in my dearest love's letter. What a charm did it immediately spread over my whole mind, and with what delight and gratitude to the Almighty did I read that my prayers had been answered! The honours paid to the dear Hermit are natural. Superstition leads a few, and true devotion the other part." street. Hitherto all goes prosperously with my bodily concerns; so that I have no pain worth mentioning, but that of being separated from my kind love, and not seeing five little faces, which form round her a group, which sums all delight all which my heart can taste. It is, indeed, a pleasure to think that I am writing what will give my dearest life pleasure, and help to make the hours of separation more easy and comfortable. It rains civilities upon me here, from various quarters; and, to my own sense of things, only renders my situation more unaccountable, not to say ridiculous. But no more of this, "Who sees not Providence all kind and wise, Alike in what it grants, and what denies!" The Hoods are pretty well. The Captain and Mr. James Grenville, as also Mr. Mayor, are all that I have opened my doors to. Many I find are enough disposed to take a view of me; whether from mere curiosity to see a strange new creature, viz., a leader whom nobody follows, or any other reason why, I do not conjecture. (') I must now, my life, draw to a conclusion; for my hand ad (1) "I do not wonder," writes Lady Chatham, in answer, “at the shower of civilities that continually rains upon you. All are proud of their acquaintance with Virtue, and eager to solicit the being acknowledged; but to follow her is above their view, unless they could find Interest to guide them who but seldom travels that path. So much for the leader without followers, who must be flattered something, I think, with the tribute he receives; and to know that whenever it may please Providence to order that he should be the dispenser of the goods of this world, all, in the general sense, would march after his banner." monishes me not to be too bold. Kisses upon kisses to the little children. Your ever loving husband, W. PITT. THE HON. THOMAS WALPOLE TO MR. NUTHALL. DEAR NUTHALL, Paris, November 21, 1765. THE day I left London I should have received a letter from the great man, which reached me here, and whereof you have inclosed a copy ('), and my answer, to be forwarded to him; which I hope you will like: at all events, it must go, such as it is. You may imagine how happy I am with every part of so kind and honourable a testimony of my conduct, and how grieved at finding myself deprived by this journey of making the speediest and most effectual use of what I consider as a public declaration of his disposition. I have communicated that particular paragraph to Lord Rockingham, and advised him to talk immediately to Lord Camden upon it; and I am impatient to know, whether the understanding of the ministry continues to be clouded as I left it. With regard to Hayes, I have agreed to his proposal, and we are both hands and I am satisfied. in your I am, dear Nuthall, Your most affectionate servant, THOMAS WAlpole. (1) See p. 328. |