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I have the honour to be, with the greatest consideration and regard,

Most respectfully yours,

SHELBURNE.

MR. PITT TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE.

Hayes, Monday night. [February 24, 1766.]

MY DEAR LORD,

HIGHLY sensible of the honour of your Lordship's very friendly attention in taking the trouble to apprize me of a conversation (certainly meant to be communicated), I beg to assure you of my best acknowledgments, and will, in answer, obey your obliging commands not to enter into much observation upon the matter. I shall confine myself, then, just to say, that Lord Rockingham's plan appears to me to be such as can never bring things to a satisfactory conclusion; his tone being that of a minister, master of the court and of the public, making openings to men who are seekers of offices and candidates for ministry. What his Lordship added of the King not being given up blindfold, since the Duke of Cumberland's death, is either totally unintelligible, or if it does really contain any meaning, there is one man who will very shortly set out for Bath after the American affair is over.

two in the morning; when, upon a division of 275 against 167, leave was given to bring in a bill to repeal the American stamp act. See Vol. II. p. 390.

In one word, my dear Lord, I shall never set my foot in the closet, but in the hope of rendering the King's personal situation not unhappy, as well as his business not unprosperous; nor will I owe my coming thither to any court cabal or ministerial connexion. The King's pleasure and gracious commands alone shall be a call to me: I am deaf to every other thing. I will not say more, for I feel I should say too much. The sum of things is, that I am fitter for a lonely hill in Somersetshire, than for the affairs of state. I will at present add no more to your trouble than to say, that I think I perceive your Lordship's sense of this very ministerial discourse without your directly expressing it. A thousand warm thanks for your kind attention to my gout my foot is more uneasy to-day, but no other part attacked. I am, with truest esteem and respect, your Lordship's,

Most faithful friend,

WILLIAM PITT.

MR. PITT TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE.

Harley Street, July 13, 1766.

IF

MY DEAR LORD,

If you are surprised at receiving a letter from me with this date, I am not less so at being here to write it. I am come by the King's most gracious orders to town, and have attended his

Majesty once at Richmond Lodge. As yet, all stands till Lord Temple comes to town, and his answer to accept or decline the Treasury be final; in the mean time, is it taking too great a liberty to entreat your Lordship to come to town? Having already occasioned you more than one troublesome journey, I am ashamed to renew such a request; but the friendship with which your Lordship has so often encouraged me to trouble you, tells me you will pardon my earnest desires to see you, and to receive your lights and confidential opinions in the present crisis. Hoping you will grant this very free request and pardon the freedom, I will add no more than to assure you of the respectful and warm sentiments with which I am ever, my dear Lord,

Your most obedient and

affectionate humble servant,

WILLIAM PITT.

MR. PITT TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE.

North-end, near Hampstead, Tuesday evening. [July 22, 1766.]

MY DEAR LORD,

AN unseasonable illness, a fever, has obliged me to leave town somewhat suddenly. I have been blooded to day, and am under other remedies, which I hope will have their effect. In the mean time, I am just able to write this line to express my warm

sense of your friendship and confidence, together with a most anxious impatience to be in a condition to see your Lordship, and confer with you upon the present crisis; being ever, with truest esteem and respect, my dear Lord's most faithful friend, And humble servant,

WILLIAM PITT.

MR. PITT TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE.

Wednesday, 3 o'clock. [July 23, 1766.]

MR DEAR LORD,

BEING obliged, from my present state of health, to get back to the air of North-end to dinner, I can only have the honour to transmit his Majesty's most gracious commands to your Lordship to attend him to-morrow, at twelve, at the Queen's house, by this hasty line, instead of waiting on you in person, to express my joy at the choice the King has made of a secretary of state, every way so advantageous for his Majesty's service, as well as flattering to all my wishes, public and private. Lord Northington, president of the council; Lord Camden, the great seal; your humble servant, privy seal. As yet these arrangements are in the King's intentions only. Colonel Barré, vice-treasurer. The fever still continuing in a small degree, together with some fatigue, forbids me to add more. Words

cannot convey my sense of the royal goodness. I am ever, with affectionate respect, my dear Lord's Most faithful friend,

and humble servant,

WILLIAM PITT. (')

THE RIGHT HON. HENRY SEYMOUR CONWAY TO

SIR,

MR. PITT.

Pall Mall, July 29, 1766.

I HAVE this moment seen Mr. Stanley, who seeing in my note that he was to kiss hands to-morrow as ambassador to the court of Russia, asked me if it was not ambassador plenipotentiary; to which, as I had not distinctly understood what was his Majesty's pleasure on that head, I could not give an answer. You will be so good, Sir, as to inform me, whether that is as Mr. Stanley understands it?

Mr. Stanley says he is to be publicly accredited to the King of Prussia; a circumstance I did not before understand, and must beg leave to submit to your consideration, whether, in the present situation of things, considering the terms we stand upon with the House of Austria, the disposition of the present Emperor, the overtures lately made by M. de Seilern (2), and the strong declaration,

(1) For the Earl of Shelburne's reply, see Vol. II. p. 451. (2) Austrian ambassador at the court of London.

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