it that the ministers have declared war against Boston, and instructions to the military commanders are preparing accordingly. I do most truly lament that there is not the least chance of a Buckinghamshire remonstrance. I am always, with the utmost respect, your Lordship's most obliged and affectionate humble servant, J. CALCRAFT. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. MY DEAR SIR, Hayes, Sunday, July 15, 1770. The enclosure in your letter is a most melancholy piece of information. I had no idea of it. This poor country seems doomed to the worst species of ruin; that wrought by her own hands, by oppressing, as foolishly as cruelly, the source of our greatness, the devoted colonies. How pregnant is error! and what a fatal progeny one false step in policy, the stamp duty, has brought forth! I truly lament with you the no spirit in Buckinghamshire, and I dare say you can weep with me the inexcusable weakness of our noble friend in favour of a tool of the court at Scarborough. I am ever, with truest esteem, my dear Sir, Your very affectionate and obliged humble servant, CHATHAM THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. Hayes, Friday night, July 28, 1770. DEAR SIR, SETTING out, together with Pitt, for Somersetshire to-morrow morning, I cannot go away without apprising you by this line, of my youthful excursion. I propose being out upon this party about three weeks, and think of taking Eastbury in my return. I mention this circumstance, the rather as you talked of being in Dorsetshire soon, and am not quite without hope that our purposes may coincide. I was in town on Wednesday last, saw Lord Rockingham, and learnt nothing more than what I knew before; namely, that the Marquis is an honest and honourable man, but that "moderation, moderation!" is the burden of the song among the body. For myself, I am resolved to be in earnest for the public, and shall be a scarecrow of violence to the gentle warblers of the grove, the moderate Whigs and temperate statesmen. Adieu, my dear Sir, and believe me, with unalterable esteem and affection, most faithfully yours, CHATHAM. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE COUNTESS OF CHATHAM. Burton Pynsent, August 3, 1770. I AM to thank my Love a million of times for the most interesting packet I ever received. You describe, in words which are only yours, sentiments which are equally mine, and which every beauty I see at delightful Burton quickens with a most ardent wish that we could have shared them together. Shall I begin to speak of my inimitable correspondents, or of my delightful little companion? Nothing can equal the letters you sent me, or the boy you so kindly spared me. Pray tell all at Athens, professors, and scholars, how truly charmed I am with their performances, in their several manners, and let my dear James know that I send him a thousand bravos. They may all rest satisfied that Pitt is every thing that can please he is a sweet, idle boy; he is a sensible, conversable, discreet man; sense or nonsense, verse or prose, Homer, mouse, taste, all shine alike, and draw perpetual applauses from papa and Mr. Wilson. I dismiss my fellow-traveller on Tuesday next for Cornwall, where he is ardent to go, and hope to receive him back safe and sound at Eastbury about that day se'nnight. We expect Mr. Grenville and Mr. James on Sunday or Monday. Don't I go on gallantly? When I shall get home at this rate I know not; but sure I am, that my thoughts are at Hayes some part of every hour in every day. I write this just returned from our hills, not having to-morrow morning my own. Supper enters. Good night. Your ever loving husband, CHATHAM. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE. Hayes, Saturday night, September 29, 1770. MY DEAR LORD, It is with extreme pleasure that I learn, by the kind favour of your Lordship's letter, that you are arrived in England; if this wretched island is still to be called by a once respected name. I was counting the hours till I could be assured of your return towards these parts; which, from the information at Shelburne House, I understood was to be about this time. I trust I need not say, that to see your Lordship is at all times a truly sincere and sensible satisfaction to me. In the present melancholy and most perilous moment, the friends of the public and of each other cannot meet too soon. The dangers from abroad are great; but to men, even those will never supersede the fixed determination to pursue inflexibly reparation for our rights at home, and security against the like future violations. I wait anxiously to learn the result of the meeting at York. I trust it will aim right; but nothing, I expect, will hit the mark full but the city of London, where the constitution is not yet called faction, and where the modern dictionary does not yet enough prevail to proscribe the word re monstrance. I will expect your Lordship at Hayes, according to your most kind intention. I have no sort of en gagement that can stand in the way during the whole week, except a little law business on Wednesday morning. I will therefore only beg your Lordship to consult your own convenience; and be assured, that to embrace Lord Shelburne there is no difference of days, but the earlier or the later. I have the honour to be, with the truest esteem, my dear Lord, Your Lordship's most faithful and affectionate friend and humble servant, CHATHAM. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE. MY DEAR LORD, Hayes, Wednesday morning. [October 4, 1770.] I AM just going to London to visit my nephew, Mr. Pitt, on the late melancholy event of Sir Richard Lyttelton's death. (') This allows me only a moment to return your your Lordship a thousand thanks for the honour of your most obliging letter, with the enclosures. I have cast a hasty eye over the sketch of the remonstrance, and will fully consider it before I have the pleasure of (1) Sir Richard died on the 1st of October at Chelsea. In the following year, his nephew, Mr. Thomas Pitt, afterwards Lord Camelford, caused an obelisk to be erected to his memory in Boconnoe Park. See Vol. I. p. 180. |