may be added to the list of those retiring, unless additional strength and ability be acquired. Upon the whole, I earnestly call upon you to lay before me a plan, and also to speak to those you shall propose for responsible offices. You owe this to me, to your country, and also to those who have embarked in administration with you. If after this you again decline taking an active part, I shall then lie under a necessity of taking steps, that nothing but the situation I am left in could have obliged to. GEORGE R. [Enclosure.] THE PRESIDENT and the Duke of Grafton, after the most serious consideration and explicit conversation in the closet, having fully urged the impracticability for them to form, in the critical circumstances of this country, a temporary administration from any collection of individuals which they should think fit to recommend to his Majesty, it becomes now essential for his Majesty, though unwillingly, to ask of the Earl of Chatham, whether he can devise any plan, by which the immediate execution of government can be carried on; for they cannot with honour make any application to any divisions of men, unapprized of his Lordship's ideas thereupon; which, with the resignations in effect made, must leave this country without any government. (1) (1) On the 1st of June Lord Chesterfield writes: "I do not know what to say to you upon public matters. Things THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE KING. [From a draught in Lady Chatham's hand-writing.] [June 2, 1767.] LORD CHATHAM, totally incapable from an increase of illness to use his pen, most humbly begs leave to lay himself with all duty and submission at the King's feet, and with unspeakable affliction again to represent to his Majesty the most unhappy and utter disability which his present state of health as yet continues to lay him under and once more most humbly to implore compassion and pardon from his Majesty, for the cruel situation which still deprives him of the possibility of activity, and of proving to his Majesty the truth of an unfeigned zeal, in the present moment rendered useless. THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. Grosvenor Square, June 3, 1767. THE Duke of Grafton presents his respects to Lord Chatham, and would not have failed to have remain in statu quo, and nothing is done. Great changes are talked of, and I believe will happen soon, perhaps next week: but who is to be changed for whom, I do not know, though every body else does. I am apt to think that it will be a Mosaic ministry, made up de pièces rapportés from different connections." waited on his Lordship this morning at eleven, according to his desire, if his Majesty had not commanded the Duke of Grafton's attendance on him at twelve: besides, the bill to restrain the East India dividends (1) being to be fought in the House of Lords to-day, will require the Duke of Grafton to look over the accounts delivered in. He therefore wishes Lord Chatham would allow him to have the honour of seeing him at the same hour to-morrow morning. The Duke of Grafton had forgot to mention to Lord Chatham that having two proxies, he cannot avail himself of the honour Lord Chatham intended him. He has kept the proxy, and submits to his Lordship whether he would not think proper to put it in the hands of Lord Bristol, or some other person, as it may be of use to-day; and on a signification of Lord Chatham's wish on this head in his answer, the Duke of Grafton will then give (1) The East India Company having proposed, at a general court, an increase of dividend, justifying the measure by the state of their finances, the ministry, considering this a dangerous delusion, calculated to renew the fatal effects of the South Sea scheme, recommended the directors not to augment the interest until their proposals were discussed in parliament. The proprietors, however, slighted the admonition, and decrared a dividend for the ensuing year of twelve and a half per cent. "In consequence of this proceeding," says Mr. Adolphus, "two bills were brought into parliament; one for regulating the qualifications of voters in trading companies, the other for restraining the making of dividends by the East India Company. The latter bill rescinded the recent resolution, and restrained them from making any dividend exceeding ten per cent. This measure occasioned a spirited opposition in both houses, but was finally passed in the Lords, by a majority of fifty-nine against forty-four." orders upon it, without Lord Chatham being at any farther trouble about it. It will give great satisfaction to the Duke of Grafton to hear that Lord Chatham is better in his health. THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY LORD, St. James's Square, June 10, 1767. THE King was this day pleased to acquaint me with his royal intention of granting to Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick a pension of two thousand pounds a year during pleasure, and commanded me forthwith to have it pass through the accustomed forms. I only bowed, and said I should obey; and notwithstanding the clamour I fear it will occasion in Ireland, yet as I recollect your Lordship's early wishes upon this subject, and mean ever to show my inclination to assist in every measure that can facilitate his Majesty's government, I shall be prepared against all the darts that will be levelled at me upon this occasion. I have seen Lord Holland, who is warm in his professions for the present system. He has communicated his own wishes to me, which I will repeat at large whenever I have the honour of seeing your Lordship; but he said at the same time, whether you thought proper to gratify him or not, he should equally wish you success in your undertaking, and desired to be indebted to your Lordship only for an earldom, and would ever acknowledge his obligations publicly and privately to your Lordship, if it was conferred upon him. I am, my dear Lord, Your Lordship's most obliged and most faithful humble servant, BRISTOL. THE KING TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. LORD CHATHAM, Richmond Lodge, June 13, 1767, 30 m. past 10, a. m. THE dry weather that has now continued a week, must undoubtedly have greatly assisted in removing the weakness arising from the long continuance of your late indisposition. I therefore wish to learn how you now find yourself, and whether you do not flatter yourself soon to be in a situation to see me; for I know I can rely upon your zeal for my service, and your fortitude to struggle with any remains of your late disorder, whenever the times shall require your taking an active part. GEORGE R. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE KING. June 13, 1767. LORD CHATHAM begs to be permitted to lay himself with all duty and submission at the King's |