important occupations. I received it two days ago from Prince Jablonoffsky ('), palatine of Novogorod, as your Lordship will see by the short letter that accompanied it. I cannot help mentioning a circumstance that may not, perhaps, be disagreeable to your Lordship; which is, that I was actually talking with the King of Poland when the messenger delivered me the packet, and upon my informing his Majesty of the contents, he said, "Si je ne regardois pas les secrets pour la goutte comme et l'inclination que j'ai de procurer ses avantages, surtout en Russie, le pays le plus naturellement intéressé à la prospérité du votre. Ayant reconnu la probité et le zèle du Sieur Wroughton, qui vous remettra cette lettre, Monsieur, pour sa patrie; je vous prie de lui obtenir du Roi la survivance de la charge de consul-général, et je vous le recommande très particulièrement. Monsieur, vous m'obligerez par là assurément, mais vous n'ajouterez rien à la considération distinguée avec laquelle je suis, Monsieur, de votre Excellence, la très affectionée, CATERINE." (1) Prince Jablonoffski was born in 1712. In early life he devoted himself chiefly to the sciences, and, for the sake of improvement, made several tours through France and Germany. When the troubles broke out in Poland he resigned his senatorial dignity, left the country, and took up his residence at Leipsig; where he founded a society for the purpose of distributing premiums to the authors of the best answers to questions proposed on various literary subjects. The society still exists. He died in 1777. His principal writings are his Lives of the Twelve great Generals of Poland, and a treatise on Sclavonic poetry. The prince's letter to Lord Chatham, containing his recipe for the cure of the gout, has unfortunately not been preserved. les secrets de faire de l'or, je porterois bien envie au Prince, d'en avoir fourni un remède à un ministre qui fait tant d'honneur au genre humain." I confess I am not sorry to have this occasion of wishing your Lordship more success from this communication of the Prince than his Polish Majesty apprehends, as well as every other blessing that a great and good man can enjoy; assuring your Lordship of the profound respect, attachment, and veneration, with which I have the honour to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. Grosvenor Square, January 8, 1767. MY DEAR LORD, THE inclosed is a copy of a paper delivered into my hands this morning by the chairman and deputy of the East India Company ('), who desired to (1) "East India House, January 6, 1767. "At a Committee of Treasury. "The committee met to consider of the resolution of the general court of proprietors of the 31st of December last, and the reference of the court of directors thereupon on the 2d instant, and what steps it will be proper to take in consequence thereof, which said resolution and reference are in the following words, viz.: come to me. You will perceive that the heads contained under it are what their committee of "At a General Court, 31st December, 1766. "Resolved, nemine contradicente, that it be recommended to the court of directors to treat with the administration upon such points relative to the general state of the affairs of the Company as shall seem to them most requisite and conducive to the extending our commerce, securing our possessions, and perpetuating the prosperity of the Company, and to report their proceedings to this court." "At a Court of Directors, 2d January, 1767. "Ordered, that it be referred to the committee of treasury to give directions for preparing the necessary papers, also to consider of the applications proper to be made to the administration in pursuance of the resolution of the general court of the 31st ultimo, and to report their proceedings thereupon from time to time to this court. "The committee, upon considering the said resolution of the general court, and the consequent reference of the court of directors, are of opinion it is requisite and necessary to treat with the administration on the following points, viz.:— "For a prolongation of the Company's charter, from the year 1780 to the year 1800, or a further term; but to have the whole, sole, and exclusive trade to the East Indies for three years after the said year 1800, in like manner as was provided in the act of the 17th of George the Second. "For an alteration in the inland duty on tea, with a view to prevent smuggling, and thereby to increase the legal consumption. "For allowing a drawback on the exportation of tea of the whole custom paid thereon, being about 247. per cent. upon the gross value at the Company's sales, or at least 207. per cent. thereof. "For an alteration in the duties on calicoes and muslins. "For some method of recruiting the Company's military forces at their settlements in the East Indies, by draughting them off for that purpose whenever they shall be wanted. "For strengthening the hands of the Company, if necessary, for the better and more effectual government of their civil and treasury have judged to be the benefits they may hope to receive from parliament. This communication, they told me, meant nothing farther than a show of that respect which my absence from town had prevented them from giving till now. They added, that their present business was only to acquaint me with the steps taken by the general court, and to offer for my full consideration those objects which they thought the Company most interested to obtain. As they expected no answer from me on these heads, I had only to express to them the satisfaction it gave me to hear them declare, that the advantage to the public in this military servants or others abroad, and for preventing their accepting or receiving presents. "For preventing the commanders of the Company's ships and others from carrying to the East Indies all kinds of warlike stores clandestinely, or without the license of the Company. "For desiring the strong interposition of administration with the court of France, for payment to the Company of the great sums of money they have expended for the maintenance, transport of French prisoners to Europe, and other expenses incurred on those accounts, which, by an account delivered to the right honourable Mr. Secretary Conway, dated the 16th November, 1765, amounted at that time to the sum of 260,6871. 8s. 5d. "Also for their interposition with the court of Spain, with respect to the Manilla ransom, that the Company may be reimbursed the great expenses incurred by that expedition; for which it appears, by a letter from Lord Egremont to the secret committee, dated the 23d January, 1762, the Company is to have a reasonable compensation; which said expenses amounted to, on the 7th August last, the sum of 166,236l. 15s. as per an account that day delivered to the right honourable the Earl of Shelburne." great affair weighed with them higher than the interested views of the passenger proprietor; a consideration from which (as I flattered myself) no menace would make them depart, especially as they who knew the Company's affairs the best must also know how great the expectations must be which the King's servants have formed for the public. I have every reason to desire, whenever the negotiation is to be opened, that it may be in your Lordship's presence: it is of the utmost consequence it should; I mean even in the first overtures. I have the honour to be, my dear Lord, with the truest esteem and respect, Your Lordship's most faithful and most obedient humble servant, GRAFTON. THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY LORD, St. James's Square, January 8, 1767. I THINK myself very much indebted to your Lordship for the honour of your very obliging letter, and the early communication your Lordship was pleased to make to me of Mr. Flood's sentiments, in relation to the measures of government. (') I (1) "Hamilton has this instant been here: 'I have just now been told,' says he, 'that Augustus Harvey has said that Lord |