minution, even of any one person. I say this with a view to the two Charles's ('), both of whom, I have

There was another altercation between Lord Mansfield and Lord Camden, upon the subject of that mis-quotation which I mentioned to you in my last: when I think Lord Camden did better, and Lord Mansfield worse, than upon the former day. One amendment only was proposed by Lord Pomfret of no importance, and which was soon given up. The bill will go back to the House of Commons, with one slight alteration proposed by Lord Dartmouth, at the desire of the ministry, and acquiesced in by the whole House.

"In the House of Commons, Lord Bute's people opposed very faintly the repeal of the cider tax, and in consequence of it, the laying a new duty, to be collected in another manner. Wedderburn made a popular proposition, that a committee should be appointed to review the Excise laws, which was overruled by a great majority. Nothing as yet circulates, with regard to an intended change; the ministry differ, I believe, more than ever among themselves."

"Wednesday, February 19.

"The question of the repeal came on yesterday, and the Lords sat between eleven and twelve hours, which is later than ever was remembered. Lord Coventry began the debate, and spoke very decently, and would I think with use, be a good performer. The Duke of Newcastle, Sandwich, and Halifax were all very indifferent. The Duke of Richmond was about his usual pitch; however, he stuck to Halifax upon the subject of secreting from parliament last session, some papers which he had been directed to communicate: but upon the whole, I think Halifax made a tolerable defence. What Shelburne said was, in my opinion, extremely well, though not directly to the question.

"The best part of the debate was, upon this occasion as upon the former, between Lord Mansfield and Lord Camden; but, in my opinion, Lord Mansfield was far superior. He spoke with much pathetic and real eloquence against the repeal: Lord Camden talked a great deal about liberty and juries; but at the

(1) Charles Yorke and Charles Townshend.

1

reason to think, will support our motion for the repeal. Without their assistance I should not have

same time abused, with great acrimony and some talents, all George Grenville's American regulations, and dwelt long upon the subject of the poor Americans; in many parts, however, of his performance, he was extremely puerile. You will be surprised when I tell you, that Lord Townshend answered one or two particulars of Lord Camden's speech, both with some ability and some humour. The Duke of Grafton acquitted himself rather well than otherwise; but nothing, I think, very remarkable. Lord Lyttelton did not answer my expectation; he kept entirely in generals, had some eloquence and a great deal of fine expression, but it was mere declamation, without an attempt at argument. Lord Temple pointed most part of what he said personally at Lord Camden; who, I observe, avoids upon all occasions studiously the least altercation with his lordship.

4

"This is, in my opinion, the state of the debate. The numbers, without proxies, were, for the repeal 73, and against it 61; but the majority for the repeal, adding the proxies on both sides, was 105 to 71. The Duke of York voted in the minority, but the Duke of Gloucester did not vote at all. The Duke of Bedford spoke a few minutes, and came to the House very ill with the gout; and nothing entertained me more than Lord Bute's coming, in the most marked manner, from the last bench to the first, to inquire after his Grace's health. However inclined the Duke of Bedford might be to meet him in private, he seemed rather ashamed of his acquaintance in public, and gave him, according to my judgment, a very cold reception. Lord Pomfret, contrary to general expectation, voted with the majority; and it is the fashion to say, that the Duke of Gloucester was prevailed upon by Lady Waldegrave not to vote at all." +

* Daughter of Sir Edward Walpole, and widow of the Earl of Waldegrave. She was married to the Duke of Gloucester in the following September.

The following order of the debate is from a memorandum, in the handwriting of Philip Yorke second Earl of Hardwicke:-"1. Earl of Coventry. 2. Duke of Newcastle. 3. Earl of Sandwich. 4. Duke of Grafton. 5. Earl of Halifax. 6. Duke of Richmond. 7. Earl Poulet. 8. Earl of Pomfret. 9. Lord Botetourt. 10. Earl of Suffolk. 11. Lord Chancellor. 12. Lord Lyttelton. 13. Earl of Shelburne. 14. Lord Mansfield. 15. Lord Camden. 16. Vicount Townshend. 17. Earl Temple. 18. Duke of Bedford,"

doubted of success, but with them it will be a decisive day indeed on this most important question, -more and more important every day, every hour. I hope and believe the public will always remember how much they will owe that decision, and consequently their immediate salvation, to Mr. Pitt.

The turn which affairs in the closet have taken confirm the wisdom of your advice, and way of thinking, on that subject. The King has very generously cleared Lord Rockingham of any misrepresentation, and has, indeed, also shown there has been no inconsistency in his own several conversations; by which he has made it not even necessary to return him the compliment of

"Thursday night, February 20.-The bill for the repeal of the Stamp-act went through the committee in the Lords to-day, without any opposition, and was reported: the third reading is fixed for Monday, when there will be a debate, which you will probably be in town time enough to hear; both Houses are adjourned to that day. Every body says that the Duke of Grafton and Conway will resign by the latter end of next week; and I conclude some arrangement or other is adjusted at court, because Lord Bute is going into the country for three weeks, that it may take place in his absence, and that it may appear as if he was not the mover in it. This, if I am not mistaken, has been practised before. It is supposed that the thing wished at court, and now endeavouring at, is to prevail on Mr. Pitt to go into the House of Lords: the universal opinion is, that he will be sent for by the King; upon what grounds, I know not; but I am persuaded that the old ministry are in ignorance and uncertainty, as to their real situation at court." Yours, dear Calcraft, most faithfully,

"W. G. H."

"putting the best construction on his words and actions." More of this I shall have the honour of explaining to you. Unless you still keep to your intention of coming to town to-morrow, I shall certainly transmit you the copy of the evidence to Hayes. If you do come to town, you shall find it on your table in Bond-street; where I shall very soon beg the favour of your permission to assure you in person of the respectful affection with which I am, Sir,

Your most obliged,

GEO. ONSLOW.

GEORGE ONSLOW, ESQ. TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

House of Commons, Wednesday, 4 o'clock,
February 19, 1766.

You must have wondered very much at hearing nothing from me, either of the rest of the evidence, or of the day appointed for the important debate. The truth is, I could not till this moment get the evidence, though I expected it all day yesterday. I have now not been able to get that of yesterday, which was indeed not very essential to the present question, being chiefly produced for facts relative to the Spanish trade.

Friday is fixed for the debate, when we shall be happy to find your health will enable you to do that service to the public you always wish to do, and which your attendance that day will particularly do. Indeed, I do persuade myself, that what you will see that day will greatly tend to your cure. That it may be by some means very speedily effected, is the prayer of every lover of his country, but of none more than him who has the honour to be, dear Sir,

Your truly obliged servant,

GEORGE ONSLOW.

JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.(1) TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

St. James Street, February 19, 1766.

I HAVE had the honour to receive your most obliging letter, and can with difficulty restrain

(1) This characteristic letter was written a few days after Mr. Boswell's arrival in England. In 1765, after making the tour of the continent, he sailed to Corsica, travelled over every part of that island, and obtained the friendship of the illustrious Pascal Paoli, in whose palace he resided during his stay. In 1768, he gave to the world his "Account of Corsica, with a Journal of a Tour to that Island;" of which performance Dr. Johnson thus expresses his opinion-"Your journal is in a very high degree curious and delightful: you express images which operated strongly upon yourself, and you have impressed them with great force upon your readers. I know not whether I could name any narrative, by which curiosity is better excited, or better gratified."