that a little abuse is all the harm they can do it; and that, both the bill and its advocates can stand. To-day it is to be read a second time, and will be, I hear, thoroughly debated; I mean as much as such a question will admit of.

I hope you are not the worse for your fatigue, on Tuesday. The seeing you are not so to-day, will give infinite pleasure to your friends in the House of Commons, and particularly to him who has the honour to be, most respectfully, dear Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, GEO. ONSLOW.

VISCOUNT BARRINGTON TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Cavendish Square, March 22, 1766.

You may possibly recollect, that not long after you had resigned the seals, you desired me (not as chancellor of the exchequer, but as an old friend and acquaintance) to assist you in providing for a gentleman, whose name I have forgotten, but who married a dowager Lady Aylmer. This person had received great damage in his property when the rebels were in Scotland; he had done good service, and had good claims, as appeared by authentic vouchers which he had left with you when you were secretary of state, but which were unfortunately and unaccountably lost. You there

fore wished him some provision through me. I never was able to offer him any thing but the collectorship of Guadeloupe; which he, for good reasons, declined. I then promised you, that if hereafter I could ever offer him any thing worth his acceptance I would do it; a circumstance I have never forgotten, though my remembrance was of no use till this moment.

I have just received an account, that the commissary of stores at Gibraltar is dead. The employment is a clear four hundred a year or more to the principal, residing in England, and it is in the recommendation of the war-office. Allow me to inquire whether your protégé be alive, and willing to accept it with your permission?

I make this offer in consequence of my promise, and of the honour you did me when you mentioned the thing to me: but I make it, as you asked my assistance, without the least political consideration; as privately loving and honouring you, but putting all considerations of every other kind entirely out of the question. I must however do myself the justice to add, that if this employment be given to a man who has your good wishes, the disposal will make me as happy as it does him. I am, with most affectionate respect,

Dear Sir,

Your most faithful and

most obedient servant,

BARRINGTON.

VISCOUNT BARRINGTON TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Cavendish Square, March 28, 1766.

I HAVE received two most obliging notes from Hayes, expressing much more acknowledgment than I deserve, for remembering and obeying your commands concerning Mr. Fisher. (') I need not remind you, that right actions bear their own reward, and lose their value when they have any other object; but your kind and friendly acceptance of my endeavours to serve a worthy man recommended by you, produces additionally the most real satisfaction and pleasure. The generosity of your mind always inclines you to allow greater merit than can be claimed. If, therefore, you will not agree that I am already amply rewarded, the most pleasing and effectual means of expressing further acknowledgment can never be wanting, while any person who has your good wishes may be assisted by me.

I am, with the most affectionate respect, dear Sir, Your most faithful and

most obedient servant,

BARRINGTON.

(1) Robert Fisher, Esq.

He married the widow of Sir

Gerald Aylmer. She was the daughter of admiral Sir John Norris, who died in 1749, after having seen nearly sixty years of active and honourable service.

THOMAS NUTHALL, ESQ. TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Tuesday morning [March-, 1766.]

REST and quiet are so necessary to the establishment of your health, that I could not prevail upon myself to break in upon them, although I should have been very glad to have inquired of you, in person, after the state of it, had it been proper.

I saw Mr. Walpole this morning; who desired me to tell you, that Lord John Cavendish ('), Mr. Townshend, father (2) and son (3), and

(1) Lord John Cavendish was the fourth son of William, third duke of Devonshire. At this time, he was member for Knaresborough, and one of the lords of the treasury. In 1782, he was, for a few months, chancellor of the exchequer; and again, in the following year. He died, unmarried, in 1796.

(2) The hon. Thomas Townshend, second son of the second viscount Townshend; at this time member for the university of Cambridge, which he represented in six successive parliaments. Early in life, he entered into the secretary of state's office, under his father, whom he accompanied in his journeys to Germany, with George the First and Second. In 1727, he succeeded to one of the tellerships of the exchequer; and, in 1739, was appointed chief secretary to the Duke of Devonshire, lord-lieutenant of Ireland; but did not proceed thither, in consequence of the death of his wife. He was one of the most elegant scholars of his age. He died, in his seventy-ninth year, in May 1780.

(3) Mr. Thomas Townshend, was at this time member for Whitchurch, and one of the lords of the treasury. In 1782, he was appointed one of the principal secretaries of state; which he resigned in April 1783, but was re-appointed in December, and held the situation till 1789. In 1783, he was created baron Sydney, and, in 1789, was further advanced to the dignity of viscount Sydney. He died in 1800. Mr. Gibbon, in a letter

Mr. Fitzherbert, dined with him at Hayes yesterday; that they expressed themselves with great regard towards you, and said that they foresaw alterations must be, and hoped these would be moderate, and made as little disgustful as might be, and particularly as respecting the Duke of Newcastle: Lord John said, he hoped, as he was to be laid aside, it might be on a bed of roses, not on a bed of thorns. Mr. Walpole thinks he sees a good disposition in the old Whigs of his acquaintance towards such measures as you may think necessary. I am, Sir,

Your ever faithful and

obedient servant,

T. NUTHALL.

66

to Mr. Holroyd, written in February 1772, relates the following amusing anecdote: To-day the House of Commons was employed in a very odd way. Tommy Townshend moved, that the sermon of Dr. Nowell, who preached before the House on the 30th of January (id est, before the Speaker and four members), should be burnt by the common hangman, as containing arbitrary, Tory high-flown doctrines. The House was nearly agreeing to the motion, till they recollected that they had already thanked the preacher for his excellent discourse, and ordered it to be printed. Nowell's bookseller is much obliged to the right honourable Tommy Townshend." It appears however, by the Journals, that the thanks to the Doctor were ordered to be expunged therefrom; and on the 2d of March, Mr. Frederick Montagu moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the observance of that day altogether; which was rejected by 125 to 97.