evince my own disposition to him, to the Earl of Tyrone,' and to all their connections; that as I had no commands from the King, but such as were for the general good, nor any purpose to serve for myself or my family, I meant not to govern by any faction or party, but would rely on the support of those who had the national interest at heart, and should seek to distinguish those who were eminent for their integrity and their abilities; and therefore I would hope to have him my friend.

This is, as nearly as I can recollect, what passed between us; but he will explain himself more fully to your lordship. I shall not presume to add my own wishes or opinions more minutely at present; you, my Lord, can secure him to government by your weight. I shall be convinced whatever turns out will be for the best. I have the honour of being, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obliged, most

devoted, and most humble servant,

BRISTOL.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO HENRY FLOOD, ESQ.

Bath, Friday, January 1, 1767.

LORD CHATHAM, who is just returned to Bath, presents his compliments to Mr. Flood, and will be very glad of the honour of seeing him to-morrow evening, at seven o'clock, if that hour be convenient to Mr. Flood.

HENRY FLOOD, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

Saturday Evening. [January 3, 1767.]

EVER since I had the honour to pay my respects to your Lordship at Bath, I have continued to labour under a severe feverish disorder, which at that time lay so heavy on me, that I am conscious I was wholly incapable of explaining myself with any degree of exactness or propriety. I wished to have acquainted your Lordship with the sentiments of some gentlemen, who have done me more honour than I deserve in permitting me to do so, and to whom, therefore, I think myself responsible; on which consideration alone I presumed to trouble your Lordship with any such explanation. But as I am sensible that, in the state in which I then was, I must have been wholly unequal to so delicate a task, I think it my duty to express my sense of it to your Lordship, inasmuch as I should not wish, by so imperfect a detail, to be the possible instrument of the smallest misconception either as to men or things, with respect to any person, and least of all, with respect to that person for whom I have the highest reverence. I have the honour to be, my Lord, &c. &c.

HENRY FLOOD.(1)

(1) That the result of this meeting was not entirely satisfactory to Mr. Flood still further appears from the following passage in a letter addressed to him by Lord Charlemont, on the 13th:

THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES TOWNSHEND TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

Downing Street, January 1, 1767.

I DID not trouble your Lordship with any letter upon the conclusion of the last general court, because there was nothing, neither in the passages of that meeting nor in the result of it, material enough to require a particular communication: the result your Lordship must have heard before you left London; and it was difficult to form any probable expectation of any man's future conduct from the part which he took in a day circumstanced as that was; for the same reasons, I have not judged it necessary to write to your Lordship since, being very apprehensive of becoming in any degree answerable for events, which turn upon so great a

"Your interview with the Patagonian has turned out pretty much as I expected. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, or for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven, than for a politician to lay aside disguise, or for a minister here to think as we would wish, with regard to our affairs. A great deal was, no doubt, to be expected from his peculiar character; but that characters, even the highest, almost always vary with a change in situation, the difference between this and your former conference is, I think, an incontestible proof. Indeed, my dearest Flood, we must depend upon ourselves alone. Firmness, as you well observe, may gain, or the want of it lose, every thing. I am, however, extremely glad that you have seen and conversed with him, and highly approve of every thing you said: his being made acquainted with what I am proud to call our way of thinking may be of the greatest advantage."

variety of persons, influenced and changed every hour by such a succession of views, passions, and interests, and in which a man of any experience in life must see the danger of authorising any sanguine ideas whatever.

But, my Lord, in the general court of yesterday a motion was made to empower the directors to treat with administration, and it passed without a division, in a fuller court than the last: it was moved by Mr. Franks, a person of excellent character and a great proprietor, supported by Sir James Hodges and Mr. Wedderburn, Mr. Walpole, and others; opposed by Mr. M'Intosh, Mr. Dempster, and Mr. Johnston. I enclose a copy of the motion ('), and also of another made by Sir James Hodges (2), and soon after withdrawn by him,

(1) "That it is the opinion of this court, to empower the directors to treat with administration upon all such points in the general state of the affairs of the Company as they shall judge to be most requisite and conducive to the extending their commerce, securing their possessions, and perpetuating the prosperity of the Company, in order to endeavour to bring about an amicable conclusion." - N. B. Mr. Walpole moved to insert recommend instead of empowered; which was carried, upon the distinction that the directors had the power, by the constitution of the Company, though they might not care to exert it without a recommendation. The word amicable was left out, at Mr. Wedderburn's motion, because it might be construed to imply a past disagreement; and some words were added, ordering the directors to report the issue of whatever negotiations should pass.

(2) "That it is the opinion of this court, that the chairman and deputy chairman be desired to wait on administration, and acquaint them that the court of proprietors, conscious of having done every thing in their power for the honour of the Com

upon Mr. Walpole's objections. The sense of the court, and the argument of the whole day, was that the directors should treat upon all points taken together for the accomplishment of an agreement upon the ground of reciprocal advantage; and no persons were so explicit or so warm in supporting the doctrine and the measure, in this sense, as Sir James Hodges and Mr. Wedderburn.

A doubt having been expressed in the former court, and left unanswered, whether, if they should empower the directors, administration would concur, the same thing was thrown out again yesterday; upon which the chairman rose, and said, that he had reason to believe that if the court should think proper to empower the directors to treat, the administration would hear and receive them :

pany and the benefit of this country, after having for many years encountered difficulties almost insurmountable, at an immense expense to themselves, and at the same time conveyed through an uninterrupted channel one of the best streams of supply to the public revenue (whilst they have been contented with small dividends, very inadequate to their risk), cannot help being impressed with much concern, that their right to the first opening dawn of advantage, from which they hoped to receive adequate amends, should admit of a doubt; and, though they have nothing to fear from inquiry, do nevertheless think it their indispensable duty to wait on administration by a recommendation, in order to endeavour to settle on principles of equity and moderation such matters as may effectually secure their rights and possessions, and promote the extension of their commerce, for the mutual benefit of the public and the Company; whose interests, they apprehend, always have been, and must continue, reciprocal."