act has so much of the appearance of arbitrary military power, that I did foretell in the House, it would not be submitted to with patience. I am, my dear Lord, your ever faithful and affectionate humble servant, WILLIAM BECKFORD. THE KING TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. LORD CHATHAM, Queen's House, April 30, 1767, 40 m. past 7, p. m. HAWKINS () has acquainted me with what you authorised him to say to me yesterday. I have directed him to carry you a verbal answer; but as I am desirous you should thoroughly be acquainted with my sentiments on the present unfortunate state of your health, as I imagine it may be of use in removing any anxiety that the want of it might occasion. I embrace this opportunity of assuring you, that I am fully persuaded of your zeal and attachment to my service, and that nothing but the weight of your disorder prevents your taking the vigorous part your heart at all times prompts you to. I therefore strongly recommend it to you, the moment this very unfavourable wind changes, to remove for a few days to North-end, to resume the riding on (1) Cæsar Hawkins, Esq., serjeant-surgeon to the King; in 1778 created a baronet. He died in 1786. horseback; and I doubt not that this method, with the knowledge that I desire you will there give up your attention to your health alone, will soon enable you to come out in perfect health. The Duke of Grafton and Lord Bristol know that I have avoided sending to you, lest it should only hurry you, and that through their means and that of Dr. Addington, I have received constant accounts of the progress of your fever. GEORGE R. (1) THE EARL OF SHELBURNE TO THE EARL OF СНАТНАМ. [May 26, 1767.] MY DEAR LORD, I AM vastly sorry to trouble you with any thing like business, while I know you are strongly advised against it. I therefore write to acquaint your Lordship, in as few words as possible, that in a random conversation upon America and the opinions of last year, Lord Talbot rose voluntarily (1) Lord Chesterfield, on the 5th of May, thus writes: "Lord Chatham is still ill, and only goes abroad for an hour a day to take the air in his coach. The King has, to my certain knowledge, sent him repeated messages, desiring him not to be concerned at his confinement, for that he is resolved to support him pour et contre tous." And in another letter he says: "Our political world is in a situation that I never saw in my whole life. Lord Chatham has been so ill these last two months, that he has not been able (some say not willing) to do or hear of any business; and for his sous-ministres, they either cannot, or dare not, do any, without his directions; so that every thing is now at a stand." and unprovoked, no question being before the House, to attack those that had voted against the right of parliament, and to lay at their doors the present rebellion in America.(') His manner was so hostile towards the Chancellor and me, and sought so plainly to draw a line between those I have mentioned and the Duke of Grafton, whom he commended extravagantly, expressing his wishes that he should always remain where he so properly is, that it was impossible that his language was not premeditated, if not a concerted measure. It occasions a vast deal of surprise; and I have therefore thought it wrong to leave your Lordship entirely ignorant of it. Whenever your Lordship desires to be more particularly informed of it, I will attend you at the least notice; which, however, permit me to add, I do not mean to press by this letter, till Dr. Addington gives your Lordship full liberty. I have the honour to be, with truest respect and regard, Your Lordship's faithful and SHELBURNE. (1) "This vermin of court reporters," says Mr. Burke, in his speech on American taxation, "when they are forced into open day upon one point, are sure to burrow in another; but they shall have no refuge; I will make them bolt out of all their holes. They say, that the opposition made in parliament to the stamp act at the time of its passing, encouraged the Americans to their resistance. This assertion is false. In all the papers which have loaded your table; in all the vast crowd of verbal witnesses that appeared at your bar, not the least hint of such a cause of disturbance has ever appeared." THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY LORD, Grosvenor Square, May 27, 1767. THE events that have happened in both houses, and particularly the close numbers of the House of Lords, where the Opposition have been 63 to 65 in two divisions (1), make me, as your Lordship may imagine, most anxious to have some conversation with your Lordship on the subject. I have not (as you will do me the justice to confess) pressed, or shown any improper impatience, in a situation which no one can feel but myself in all its extent. (1) During the debates on the question to be put to the judges, "Whether that part of the act passed by the governor, council, and assembly of Massachuset's Bay, which purports to be a free and general pardon, indemnity, and oblivion to the offenders in the late riots, is warranted by the charter of William and Mary, or null and void." In his letter to the several governors, Lord Shelburne had recommended, that a requisition should be made to the colonial assemblies for compensations to those who had been injured by the late riots. The governor's message was reluctantly, and somewhat contumaciously, taken into consideration by the assembly of Massachuset's Bay; nor did they act upon it, until the inhabitants sent express instructions to their representatives on the subject, and until they received information that the lords of the treasury in England refused to pay the sums of money voted by parliament in 1763, unless the proposed compensation was made. At length, an act to this effect was passed; but, to show the spirit of the colony, it contained a clause of indemnity to the offenders in the riots; who were thus taught to consider themselves, equally with their victims, objects of the care and attention of their legislators. See Stedman's Hist. of the American War, vol. i. p. 50.; and Adolphus, vol. i. p. 260. If I could be allowed but a few minutes to wait on you, it would give me great relief; for the moment is too critical for your Lordship's advice and direction not to be necessary. If, therefore, you can allow me one quarter of an hour to intrude upon you without prejudice to your health, which I rejoice to hear is in a mending way, it will greatly oblige me, who have the honour to remain, with the truest esteem and respect, my dear Lord, Your most obedient humble servant, GRAFTON. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE DUKE OF GRAFTON. [From a draught in the hand-writing of Lady Chatham.] [May 27, 1767.] LORD CHATHAM, still unable to write, begs leave to assure the Duke of Grafton of his best respects, and at the same time to lament that the continuation of his illness reduces him to the painful necessity of most earnestly entreating his Grace to pardon him, if he begs to be allowed to decline the honour of the visit the Duke of Grafton has so kindly proposed. Nothing can be so great an affliction to him as to find himself quite unable for a conversation, which he should otherwise be proud and happy to embrace. |