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call at North-end on my return that evening to this place. Whilst I have sixty-five present and thirty proxies in the House of Lords ready to stand by me, besides a majority of 151 since that, in the House of Commons, against 84, though the secretary of state and the chancellor of the exchequer were in the minority, I think the game easy, if you either come out or will admit very few people. GEORGE R.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE KING.

[From an imperfect draught in Lord Chatham's hand-writing.] North End, May 30, 1767.

SIR,

PENETRATED and overwhelmed with your Majesty's letter and the boundless extent of your royal goodness, totally incapable as illness renders me, I obey your Majesty's commands, and shall beg to see the Duke of Grafton to-morrow morning, though hopeless that I can add weight to your Majesty's gracious wishes. Illness and affliction deprive me of the power of adding more, than to implore your Majesty to look with indulgence on this imperfect tribute of duty and devotion.

I am, with the most profound respect, Sir, your Majesty's

Most dutiful and devoted servant,

CHATHAM.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE KING.

May 30, 1767.

LORD CHATHAM most humbly begs leave to lay himself with all duty at the King's feet, and fearing lest he may not have rightly apprehended his Majesty's most gracious commands, humbly entreats his Majesty to permit him to say, that, seeing the Duke of Grafton to-morrow morning, he understands it not to be his Majesty's pleasure, that he should attend his Majesty any part of the day to-morrow. He is unhappily obliged to confess, that the honour and weight of such an audience would have been more than he could sustain, in his present extreme weakness of nerves and spirits. He begs to pour forth again the deepest sense of his Majesty's boundless condescension and goodness, and to implore that, in compassion for his state, his Majesty would be pleased to grant him some further time for recovery.

THE KING TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

LORD CHATHAM,

Richmond Lodge, May 30, 1767, 35 m. past 8, p. m.

YOUR letter has given me the greatest pleasure: though I was certain no indisposition could abate your dutiful attachment to my person, or your

natural intrepidity to withstand the greatest enemy of this poor country-faction, I already look on all difficulties as overcome; for the Duke of Grafton, who came to me just after I had received it, on my acquainting him you would see him to-morrow, required no other encouragement to continue in his present situation. He instantly, with that warmth of heart he is most thoroughly possessed of, said his duty towards me could never be lessened, nor his reliance on you; that a short conversation with you would, he was certain, remove any anxiety the want of your advice might have caused.

I think it but justice to him to mention with what becoming dignity and force he vindicated you when aspersed by Lord Sandwich about ten days ago, when the whole House joined in his applause. Continue the warmth of zeal your letter so clearly expresses, and with a due exertion of punishments as well as rewards, faction will be mastered. I cannot conclude without adding, that, though numbers have been so near, every party in opposition appear down, and do not flatter themselves they shall succeed.

As I was going to seal up this letter I received your second letter, filled with the same alacrity to carry on my affairs as the first. Your seeing the Duke of Grafton will thoroughly answer every purpose I can desire: though I shall be glad when I can see you, yet your health is of too much consequence for me to wish you to come till you can

do it with safety. The letting the Duke of Grafton or the Chancellor see you when necessary will, with less fatigue to you, equally give stability and infuse resolution into my administration.

GEORGE R.

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THE KING TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

LORD CHATHAM,

Richmond Lodge, June 2, 1767, 10 m. past 10, a. m.

My sole purpose in writing is the desire of knowing whether the anxiety and hurry of the last week has not affected your health. I should have sent yesterday had I not thought a day of rest necessary, previous to your being able to give

an answer.

If you have not suffered, which I flatter myself, I think with reason I may congratulate you on its being a good proof you are gaining ground.

GEORGE R.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE KING.

[From a draught in Lady Chatham's hand-witing.]

SIR,

June 2, 1767.

FINDING it impossible by any words to express my deep sense of your Majesty's infinite goodness

and humanity, I can only implore your Majesty will deign to receive the inadequate tribute of a heart penetrated and overwhelmed.

I grieve to be obliged to say, in answer to your Majesty's most benevolent commands, that the impressions upon my health from the late efforts have been unfavourable; but, if possible, I will endeavour to see the Duke of Grafton again.

THE KING TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

LORD CHATHAM,

Queen's House, June 2, 1767.

THOUGH I as much as possible avoid writing to you, on account of your indisposition, I find myself, more than at any other period, necessitated to make use of that method of pointing out to you the present very unpleasant state of affairs. The Lord President and the Duke of Grafton have separately stated to me the purport of the enclosed paper; but lest they should vary in the manner of expressing themselves, have jointly drawn this up.

The resignations pointed at are the Lord President and lieutenant-general Conway; besides the Duke of Grafton finding it impossible to bring himself to undertake the forming a temporary administration; so that the present one will infallibly fall into pieces in less than ten days, unless you point out the proper persons to fill up the vacancies that may arise. Indeed, Mr. Townshend

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