day at the dinner. I think it is the very greatest blow yet given. A seat is already found and fixed for Wedderburn; but it is a great secret, and more offers than one have been made him. Beckford and Trecothick proposed to him the freedom of the city in a gold box, and Lord George Cavendish the toast which you will read.(1) In short,

Colonel Barré, Alderman Trecothick, Mr. Henry Cavendish, Mr. B. Crosby, Mr. Standert, Captain Phipps, Mr. Wedderburn, Mr. Cornwall, Admiral Keppel, Mr. Manger, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Dowdeswell, Sir W. Codrington, Lord G. Cavendish, Mr. R. Fuller, Mr. Byng, Mr. Whateley, Sir G. Colebroke, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Scudamore, Mr. Sawbridge, and Mr. J. Townshend."

*

(1) The toasts were: "1. The King and Constitution. 2. The Right of Electors. 3. The Law of the Land. 4. The immortal Memory of Lord Chief Justice Holt. 5. The Minority of One Hundred and Fifty-four. 6. The Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds-Mr. Wedderburu. 7. Mr. Cavendish's Creed I do, from my soul, detest and abjure, as unconstitutional and illegal, that damnable doctrine and position, that a resolution of the House of Commons can make, alter, suspend, abrogate, or annihilate, the Law of the Land.' 8. The first edition of Dr. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England.+ 9. Perseverance in the principles and plan of this Meeting. 10. The City of London. 11. The independent Freeholders of Middlesex. 12. May all personal, party, and national distinctions be lost in the public good. 13. Freedom of Debate within doors, and freedom of Election without. 14. May the people of Great Britain always entertain a just sense of the conduct of the House of Commons. 15. The

* This toast formed part of Mr. Henry Cavendish's speech on the preceding night, in the House of Commons.

In the course of the debate, Mr. George Grenville had quoted a passage from the Commentaries, which contradicted the doctrine maintained by the Dr. Blackstone in the House of Commons.

the most essential service is done him, and the whole meeting appeared to be that of brothers, united in one great constitutional cause. The minority is at least two hundred, or two hundred and twenty.

Ever yours affectionately,

TEMPLE.

EARL TEMPLE TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Stowe, July 11, 1769.

I AM exceedingly happy, my dear Lord, to receive under your own hand a convincing testimony, that you now enjoy that state of convalescence which I have so earnestly wished, and was so fully convinced would take place. Your reception at St. James's, where I am glad you have been, turns out exactly such as I should have expected-full of the highest marks of regard to your Lordship; full of condescension, and of all those sentiments of grace and goodness which his

misrepresented body of the Law. 16. May future administrations not be so remarkable for incapacity as the present. 17. May political arithmeticians be reduced to ciphers. 18. The toast-master, Sir Edward Astley; and may every public officer discharge his duty as well as our toast-master. 19. Our friends who could not attend yesterday. 20. The Peers who are friends to the liberties of the Commons. 21. To our next happy meeting."

Majesty can so well express. I think that you cannot but be happy at the result of this expedition.(1) I congratulate you upon it accordingly. Your most affectionate and devoted

TEMPLE.

EARL TEMPLE TO THE COUNTESS OF CHATHAM.

Stowe, September 14, 1769.

MY DEAR LADY CHATHAM,

I DEFERRED answering your last kind letter till I could recommend my epistle by something more than warm expressions of friendship and goodwill. I can now give you a not unwelcome account of the agreeable and triumphant manner in which the day of our remonstrance and petition passed at Aylesbury. The particulars I am told you will learn from the papers, and the ardent eagerness which was expressed for the union of the three brothers, and the applause with which my assurances that it did exist in the highest degree was received, did indeed give me inexpressible delight.

(1) Horace Walpole, in a letter to General Conway of the 7th, says, "You desired me to write, if I knew any thing particular. How particular would content you? Come, would the apparition of my Lord Chatham satisfy you? Don't be frightened, it was not his ghost. He, he himself, in propriâ personâ, walked into the King's levee this morning, and was in the closet twenty minutes after the levee."

In short, all things passed inexpressibly well, and I hear the holy flame has catched in Dorsetshire; where I suppose I shall find it ready to blaze by the time I get there, which will be by the end of next week.

George Grenville was not at the meeting, but his son (') was; and I assured all the company at a ten-penny ordinary where I dined, that the father approved and wished exceedingly success, though he thought he could more effectually serve the cause in the House of Commons, by not taking part in the remonstrance and petition. As I know my Lord Chatham's whole heart goes with this business, I am the more rejoiced that I can send so good an account, and now conclude with kindest loves and compliments. Ever yours,

TEMPLE.

JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Shooter's Hill, November 25, 1769.

MY DEAR LORD,

I HAVE just seen Lord Granby in town. If he keeps his resolution, and I trust he will, your Lordship will see him to-morrow. (2) He has been

(1) George Grenville Nugent Temple, grandfather of the present Duke of Buckingham, at this time in his seventeenth year. In 1779, he succeeded his uncle, as Earl Temple.

(2) The following is from a memorandum in Mr. Calcraft's handwriting, headed, "Minutes of a Conversation with Lord

with the Chancellor, who opened to him, and pressed his going to a council on Monday, said to be for American business. Lord Granby seems determined to follow the Chancellor, and will go there as he does, unless better advised in the interim. We both understood the Chancellor did not attend councils; and fearing neither of our friends are the best politicians, I cannot help harbouring doubts but they may get entangled at this council, for no pains will be spared; therefore I trouble your Lordship that they may be put on their guard. Nothing has been said as yet by court or minister to Lord Granby on any other subject but that of his father.

Enclosed is the proposed draught of the Kentish petition, on which I shall be proud to receive your Lordship's sentiments. Lord Romney is against any petition to the King about parliament, and does not choose a fresh election at Maidstone.

Granby," and dated, Ingress, November 6, 1769:-"Lord Granby said, he never knew why Lord Chatham resigned; wished to know Mr. ***. His retiring now would look like skulking to Junius, or he saw himself unfit for the command of the army. Looks to Lord Chatham, but not cordial with Earl Temple or George Grenville. Has not received a line from any soul, or the least intelligence, since he left town. Will advise the King to send for Lord Chatham; and will advise a dissolution, as the only measure to quiet people's minds, now they are so inflamed. Sees his situation, and that his character depends on his appearance, and taking a round, firm part. The best of the lay is another consideration, and Lord Chancellor will stagger him."