THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. MY DEAR SIR, November 11, 1770. HAPPY to know you got home safe, though a dark night, from the kindest of visits. I am now to thank you a thousand times for your obliging attention in writing. Lord Mansfield's refusal to be Speaker is probably only ill health; but that must give uneasiness at St. James's: to the ministry perhaps not so much; for I consider his Lordship as the King's minister (1), not as their supporter and fellow-labourer. The military line of business is new. Mr. Serjeant Glynn has just left me. I find him a most ingenious, solid, pleasing man, and the spirit of the constitution itself. I never was more taken by a first conversation in my life. By a note just received, poor Mr. Grenville is only rather better. His state is very precarious. Lady Chatham went to him again this morning. Adieu, my dear Sir. Coach at the door and pretty late. Ever most affectionately yours, CHATHAM. (1) "Wheel within wheel!" writes Gerard Hamilton to Mr. Calcraft on the 10th; "Lord Mansfield never surely would have kept his intention a secret to the day before the meeting of parliament, if it had not been so understood by the closet.” THE EARL OF SHELBURNE TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. Shelburne House, Sunday, MY DEAR LORD, I CAME to town last night, both disappointed and hurt at the delay of measures in the city.(') I shall not be surprised to find your Lordship much disgusted on the same account. From the soundness of the bottom, however, I have every reason to believe that though delayed, they are not defeated. In this state of things I wish much to wait upon your Lordship, whatever day is most convenient to you. I am ever, my dear Lord, Your most devoted, humble servant, SHELBURNE. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE. Sunday evening, November 11, 1770. MY DEAR LORD, I AM heartily glad that you arrived in town, because I am always truly glad of the opportunities of exchanging sentiments on the state of this devoted country. As for the various and extensive ill consequences of a delay which infatuation alone (1) A fresh petition and remonstrance to the King was at this time in progress. could produce (the bottom admitted to be sound), they have all fallen upon the delayers, and nothing remains but the smaller or greater degree of diminution of weight and efficacy in whatever steps they take in assertion of rights they defend. Dis gusted though your Lordship supposes I may be, at these egregious errors, I will not say I am. My experience would have given me very little, if I had not learned to view without surprise, and with much of pity and of good will, not of contempt, the weaknesses of the well-intentioned, absorbed too often in smaller things, and neglecting and losing the critical moments for the execution of greater. There is also, I perceive, reason to fear a race of frivolous and ill-placed popularity about presswarrants. I am determined to resist this ill-judged attempt to shake the public safety. In this state of things, I shall persevere to do my duty to my country, determined by principle, though unanimated by hope. As to what the city now intends to do, I wish to hear nothing of it; resolved to applaud and defend what I think right, and to disapprove what shall appear to me wrong and untenable. All the rest is to me, my dear Lord, nothing. The sooner I have the pleasure to embrace your Lordship the happier I shall be. My gout is subsided, and I am well enough to take the air. I am ever, my dear Lord, with truest esteem and affection, Your Lordship's most faithful friend and servant, CHATHAM. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. Hayes, Tuesday night, November 13, 1770. MY DEAR SIR, THE favour of your kind note reached me at Lord Temple's, whither I was just returned from Bolton Street, after assisting in some family duties there; and a most sad assembly it was. (1) Nothing (1) The death of Mr. George Grenville had taken place on the morning of this day. In addition to Mr. Burke's character of him which will be found in Vol. I. p. 106., the following sketch, from a work published in 1789, and entitled "Extra-Official State Papers, by William Knox, Esq., late Under-secretary of State," may not be unacceptable: "Mr. Grenville, under a manner rather austere and forbidding, covered a heart as feeling and tender as any man ever possessed. He liked office as well for its emoluments as its power; but in his attention to himself, he never failed to pay regard to the situations and circumstances of his friends; though to neither would he warp the public interest or service in the smallest degree; rigid in his opinions of public justice and integrity, and firm, to inflexibility, in the construction of his mind, he reprobated every suggestion of the political expediency of overlooking frauds or evasions in the payment or collection of the revenue, or of waste and extravagance in its expenditure. But although he would not bend any measure out of the strict line of rectitude to gain popularity, he was far from being indifferent to the good or ill opinion of the public. Inheriting but a small patrimonial fortune, he had early accustomed himself to a strict appropriation of his income, and an exact economy in its expenditure, as the only sure ground on which to build a reputation for public and private integrity, and to support a dignified independency; and it was the unvaried practice of his life in all situations, as he has often told me, to live upon his own private fortune, and save the emoluments of whatever office he possessed; on which account, he added, the being in can be be more friendly and obliging than your attentions to Lady Chatham and myself. She is, thank God, as well as her strength permits her to be, after being up the greatest part of the night, in such a scene. Lord Temple is deeply affected; but I have the pleasure to tell you he seems otherwise well. It is a great satisfaction to me to understand you purposed going to the House, and supporting Mr. Dowdeswell (') in the operation of the day; and I cannot enough express how truly I feel the kind motive you are so good as to mention towards your determination. I hope the day will have passed tolerably well, though I confess I have my doubts, considering how nice the line is which appears to me proper in the present conjuncture. I am ever, with truest esteem and affection, My dear Sir, most faithfully yours, CHATHAM. or out makes no difference in my establishment or manner of life; every thing goes on at home in the same way the only difference is, that my children's fortunes would be increased by my being in, beyond what they would be if I remained out, and that is being as little dependant upon office as any man who was not born to a great estate can possibly be.'" (1) On this day, Mr. Dowdeswell opposed the address upon the King's speech at the opening of the session, but did not move any amendment; and no division took place. |