THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE. [In the hand-writing of his Secretary.] Bath, Monday, October 5, 1766. LORD CHATHAM still continues unfortunate in not having a hand to present himself to Lord Shelburne. Many respectful compliments and warm acknowledgments, for the honour of his Lordship's very obliging letter. He is most sincerely happy to understand from his Lordship, that the alarm at Bowood has proved unfounded, or at least prevented in the effects, and joins with Lord Shelburne in wishing most anxiously that his Lordship may find, on his return to London, accounts from other parts more satisfactory than when he left it. Vigilance and vigour, on the part of government, are indispensable in the present situation, and the laws must be enforced. The letters written by the secretaries of state to the lords-lieutenants are extremely fit, and will, it is hoped, be productive of good effects. THE EARL OF SHELBURNE TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY DEAR LORD, Hill Street, Wednesday 5 o'clock. [October 8, 1766.] SINCE my return to town, I have seen Lord Buckingham. He declines going to Spain: he did not mention all his reasons, but spoke of his connection with Mr. Grenville, and that his connections in the House of Commons required his presence, they having suffered much while he was in Russia; and, upon the whole, I must do his Lordship the justice to say, his conversation was extremely fair and open, respectful, extremely so, towards the King, and polite towards his ministers. I have the honour to write to your Lordship, by the King's commands, to consult you upon it. It is certainly become highly necessary, in all appearance, that some one should be named. The Spanish ambassador of late has inquired almost daily about it. The Duke of Grafton, General Conway, and myself have, by the King's commands, consulted upon it, before writing to your Lordship, but without being able to hit upon any very proper person who is likely to accept it. Lord Hyde ('), Lord Grantham, and Sir James Gray (2) were the only names that occurred. It is unnecessary to mention Lord Huntingdon or Lord Hillsborough, as they have offices here, which I suppose they would prefer to it. I was in hopes () The hon. Thomas Villiers, in 1756 created Lord Hyde of Hendon, in the county of Wilts. During the reign of George the Second he had been minister at the courts of Dresden, Vienna, and Berlin. In 1748, he was appointed a lord of the admiralty; in 1763, joint postmaster-general; and in 1771, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. In 1776, he was advanced to the earldom of Clarendon, and died in 1786. that if Lord Buckingham had accepted, he and Governor Lyttelton might have kissed hands on Friday; and still, if any one occurs to your Lordship, you may be assured no time shall be lost after knowing your sentiments. There is nothing new; except that addresses are come from London, Norwich, and Gloucestershire, returning thanks for what has been done to prohibit the further exportation of corn. I am, with the greatest esteem and respect, my Lord, Your most faithful and obliged Servant, P.S. We still continue to have accounts of riots northward. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF SHEL BURNE. [In the handwriting of his Secretary.] Bath, Thursday, October 9th, 1766. LORD CHATHAM desires to present many compliments to Lord Shelburne, and is still so unfortunately circumstanced as not to be able to write with his own hand; which he should more particularly wish to do, where the consideration of persons is in question. He thinks the Spanish embassy being again declined, where it was last proposed, has an unfavourable aspect for the King's service, in the hands his Majesty has been pleased to entrust his affairs. He begs Lord Shelburne will be so good as to lay him with all duty at the King's feet, expressing most humbly his extreme concern at not being able to submit to his Majesty's consideration a proper person for this important embassy, who, in the present indisposition to serve abroad, is likely to accept it. Lord Grantham, who would fill the commission with ability, would most probably, at his time of life, decline it. Lord Huntingdon (1), would, in all likelihood, go to Spain, if his Majesty were most graciously pleased to permit him to hold his office here, as the late Lord Albemarle did when he was ambassador in France; and Lord Huntingdon appears extremely proper, every way, for an embassy of such importance. With regard to the riots, Lord Chatham thinks it his duty most humbly to submit his advice, that a special commission for trying rioters, guilty of felony, in order to make one example in each county, appears highly proper, and even absolutely necessary, for the support of any reverence to law and government, and to strike a more immediate awe into offenders. The sooner Mr. Lyttelton kisses hands for Por (1) Francis Hastings, tenth earl of Huntingdon; to whom, on setting out upon his travels, in 1747, Akenside addressed his Ode beginning" The wise and good of every clime." He was appointed groom of the stole in 1761, and continued to hold the office till 1770. His lordship died in 1790. tugal, the better. Lord Shelburne will be so good as to communicate the above to the Duke of Grafton and to General Conway, before his Lordship lays it before the King. THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY DEAR LORD, Grosvenor Square, October 9, 1766. I was yesterday honoured with your note, and am sorry to find by it that your Lordship has not regained the use of your hand; which, by the favourable account I had from Lord Chancellor, I imagined and hoped was totally free from the gout. The King's servants who are in town hope that from Bath they shall be relieved from drawing up any sketch of a Speech, as they are already with more business on their hands than can well be managed, and I believe have no turn for that sort of business, which your Lordship's experience must absolutely afford us. The condition offered to Lord Cardigan was no other than this, that as Lord Northumberland professed he understood and desired that he might hold no office or post with the high honour he was to receive, the King had, on that footing, a design to prefer Lord Northumberland to it, and that the same being intended for Lord Cardigan, his Majesty hoped he would forward his purpose, by laying |