were granted. Mr. Charles Townshend talked a great deal on the occasion, in answer to what Mr. George Grenville had thrown out; namely, that he thought the East India Company had a right to their territorial revenues, but at the same time declared, he had no idea of their private bargains; that parliament was the proper judge, and that it was the duty of every member to make as good a bargain as possible for the public. Charles seemed to put the whole stress of the negotiation on the quantum to be given by the Company, for the prolongation of the term of their charter, and regulations and concessions to be made by the legislature, which would amazingly increase the trade and profit of the Company: in short, he uttered so many kind and comfortable words for their consolation, that the stock rose the next and the succeeding day six per centum.

Mr. Conway was not so decisive as I could have wished; although he has a good head, and honest heart. He declared the salvation of this country depended on a proper determination of this affair; that it was a subject of a nice and delicate nature; and that he was unwilling to have the right determined by a vote of parliament. He threw out, that any man who should oppose this plan would be an enemy to this country; which drew on an altercation between him and Mr. O'Bourke.

By perusing the several papers on the table, it will appear, that all the revenues, a few ancient districts only excepted, in Bengal and the coast of

Coromandel, are clearly acquired by conquest; the treaties declaring, that such grants were to be made for assistance given. I have many things to say on this subject, when I shall have the happiness of seeing you. The demolition of Pondicherry, without an order from the King, was a daring attack on the prerogative, and calculated to put a large sum of money into the hands of the Company and their servants. Friday se'nnight is the day appointed for taking this matter into consideration: let me entreat for your thoughts, and directions what steps to take and what motion to make. We had a great debate yesterday on the army. George Grenville proposed saddling America with 400,000l. per annum, for the support of the troops, quoted acts of parliament and journals, but was so miserably mistaken in law and policy, that he was little attended to. He was indeed very spirity in his abuse of your Lordship and your friend W. B. However, I believe he got nothing by the contest: if possible, he was more fell and rancorous than usual. (') Adieu.

Your Lordship's ever faithful

and affectionate humble servant,

W. BECKFORD.

(1) "A few days since," writes Lord Charlemont to Mr. Flood, on the 29th, "a motion was made by George Grenville, that America should, like Ireland, support an establishment of its own. In the course of the debate, Charles Townshend, who was attacked upon the usual topic of inconsistency, endeavoured, according to his laudable custom, to get himself out of the present scrape, and to defend himself against his present antagonists,

THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

St. James's Square, January 29, 1767.

I ALWAYS receive the honour of your Lordship's letters with great pleasure; but it would be difficult for me to write with what satisfaction I saw your Lordship's handwriting upon that of the 26th instant, which reached me last night. I went into the closet this morning; and when I told his Majesty I had heard from your Lordship and presented your letter to him, the King, with an eagerness that could proceed only from a gracious impatience to be particularly informed of your health, took the letter, and when he looked upon it, hastily said, "It is all with his own hand, and very steadily written: I am truly pleased he is so much better." When the King read that part which expressed so feelingly and so delicately the royal goodness that inspired his servants with redoubled ardour, I could perceive the impression it made; for I watched his countenance, and I was again commanded to assure your Lordship of the pleasure the King had in the prospect of your speedy

without the least regard to his connections. He declared himself still a firm advocate for the stamp act; laughed most unmercifully at the idea, absurd as he termed it, of any difference between internal and external taxation; and even descended to the common-place topics of peerages, pensions, and reversions. Is not this amazing? No! not from him: the division, however, was of thirty-three only."

recovery, and to desire you would not be too impatient, lest your over-anxiety should either retard your cure, or make you accelerate your journey before you were able to go through it.

As your Lordship has so friendlily and so conspicuously distinguished our family, I must acquaint you with the death of the Bishop of Cloyne('); and as I had before obtained your consent for naming my brother, Mr. Frederick Hervey, to the King for the first vacancy upon the bench, I carried the lords justices' formal notification of this event to his Majesty; and before the King had got through the letter, consequently before I could move his Majesty in favour of my brother, the King, in the most agreeable, engaging, and gracious manner, said, Remember, you are engaged to me for the first bishopric: I desire my recommendation may take place, and that your brother should be the new bishop ;" and upon my saying, that his Majesty enhanced my obligation by his gracious manner of conferring this great favour, he kindly added, "I am as well pleased as yourself with his being a bishop." I find it is impossible not to be penetrated with such a disposition and such a manner. I am, my dear Lord,

66

Your Lordship's most obliged,

most affectionately devoted, and
most humble servant,

(1) The right rev. Dr. Robert Johnson.

BRISTOL.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF

SHELBURNE.

MY DEAR LORD,

Bath, January 31, 1767.

THOUGH I have not yet any very good account to give of my condition, I flatter myself your Lordship will not be sorry to see, under my hand, that my pains are abated, and that I begin to be lifted into a coach for a little motion and air. I trust that the waters will give me strength enough in about ten days to perform the journey to town; where I hope to be by the 12th or 13th of next month. My absence from London, in the present crisis, is afflicting to me beyond expression; but lamentations are vain, and it is best to look forward.

To say a word, then, upon the transcendent object which possesses my mind, the East India business, I hear that Mr. Townshend has declared in the House, that a proposal from the Company was upon the point of being made. After this declaration, and during the pendency of a transaction with the Company, so avowed, I am clearly of opinion, that a question for deciding the right would not be duly supported: it is therefore become necessary to delay going into the consideration in the committee till the proposal is made; after that, and when the proposal is before the House, the whole matter will be under the con