Lord Chatham is extremely sorry that the embassy to Spain still remains unsettled. Sir James Gray would undoubtedly execute the commission with very sufficient ability; if, therefore, he is willing to go, it seems most advisable, upon the whole, to think of him for that embassy, if it be his Majesty's pleasure. Nor, indeed, can this important matter admit of further delay.

If, in the settling this mission, circumstances should allow of it, Lord Chatham would be happy, could he be permitted to recommend the secretary to the embassy; which he has extremely at heart to obtain for Lord Cardross. (') He is a young nobleman of great talents, learning, and accomplishments, and son of the Earl of Buchan, an

(1) David Stewart Erskine. In the following year, he succeeded his father as Earl of Buchan; see Vol. II. p. 426. Though duly gazetted, Lord Cardross declined to proceed with Sir James Gray to Madrid, on the score of his being a person of inferior rank. Boswell relates, that in discussing the question with Sir Archibald Macdonald, Dr. Johnson observed, that perhaps in point of interest the young lord did wrong, but in point of dignity he did well. Sir Alexander insisted that he was wrong, and said that Lord Chatham intended it as an advantageous thing to him. "Why, Sir," said Johnson, "Lord Chatham might think it an advantageous thing for him to make him a vintner, and get him all the Portugal trade; but he would have demeaned himself strangely, had he accepted of such a situation: Sir, had he gone secretary while his inferior was ambassador, he would have been a traitor to his rank and family." Upon this Mr. Croker neatly observes : — . "If this principle were to be admitted, the young nobility would be excluded from all the professions; for the superiors in the profession would frequently be their inferiors in personal rank. Would Johnson have dissuaded Lord Cardross from entering on

intimate friend of Lord Chatham, from the time they were students together at Utrecht. (1)

THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Grosvenor Square, October 14, 1766.

MY DEAR LORD,

LORD CARDIGAN was with me this morning, to relate what had passed between the King and his Lordship, on the late occasion, as well as fairly to lay open to me the feelings of his mind upon it, and the conduct which he thought himself bound to follow. He said that he knew not whether his office was disposed of, but if his Majesty understood him right, his expressions in the closet went to this," that he hoped to be honoured with both or neither." I do not repeat the other circumstances that preceded, as your Lordship knows the whole of them. Lord Cardigan's language seemed, therefore, to convey to me, though I would not invite the words from him, that he found it impossible not to quit the office he held. Every ex

the military profession, because at his outset he must have been commanded by a person inferior in personal rank? This, if ever it was a subject of real doubt, is now better understood; and young men of the highest rank think it no degradation to enter into the junior ranks of the military, naval, and diplomatic and official professions." — Life, vol. iii. p. 211.

(1) It appears, by this passage, that Lord Chatham received part of his education at Utrecht; a circumstance which is not alluded to by any of his biographers.

pression was personally kind and polite to myself; and he added, that no intention of his arose from any desire of showing a peevishness of disposition; of which even the appearance would hurt him at this time above all others, when the men he most honoured and regarded were in the administration.

I expressed my concern, that his Lordship had not allowed me to have any conversation with him. before Lord Northumberland had kissed hands; to which his answer was, that he felt also great regret on that head, "but that now the matter seemed past all remedy." My reply was, to desire his leave to communicate the whole of so delicate an affair to your Lordship, praying Lord Cardigan to rest quiet till I should have your answer. I added farther, that though the affair was much entangled, I did not see it without remedy, but in one point only. Finding that his Lordship conceived what I meant to allude to, I went on by saying, that the difficulty should be none in fact to any one of judgment, and that if his Lordship should follow the Duke of Northumberland, he would have the satisfaction of receiving that honour (provided it pleased the King to confer it on him) on a footing that at least made up for the trifling punctilio of the pas. For this circumstance he seemed to be quite satisfied, and I hope I have not gone too far in any thing I have said; which I should not have ventured upon, but that the moment seemed to call for some decision; and from what I had col

lected from your Lordship's notes, I judged my language was conformable to what you would have wished it to be.

The whole of this transaction appeared so delicate, as well on account of the promise which Lord Cardigan conceived would not have come conditionally to be fulfilled, as also on my side, from the unfortunate mention of it at first by me, and the effect it might have, that I would not defer laying it before your Lordship. I shall follow implicitly your directions in it. If it is to be opened again in the closet, would it not be more respectful to ascribe it to delicacies of my own for having suggested a condition where (it is possible) his Majesty did not mean there should be any? As your answer guides my conduct, I shall entreat your Lordship to be as particular as the hand of a secretary will allow you to make it, and I am not without hopes to receive it in time for the King's levee on Friday.

I was misunderstood by your Lordship in regard to General Conway, if you thought I meant that he would decline his present post. If he is honoured with some military one, enough to show that he has not quitted that line, his mind will be easy, and he will go on with his civil business with alacrity; which, from a thorough knowledge of him, I know will never be the case without it. I have the honour to be, my dear Lord,

Your most faithful, humble servant,

GRAFTON.

THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Grosvenor Square, October 17, 1766.

MY DEAR LORD,

THE Duke of Montagu (') this day kissed his Majesty's hand, with every sense of the high honour he received, as well as of the manner it was granted; which, I may say, was more conformable to the intention of each party, as the conversation I had with that lord was not necessary to be brought up as an inducement to the promotion. My phrase will appear dark to any one but your Lordship, who knows the circumstances.

On thinking over the House of Commons, it appears that the ability among the leaders will be at least divided, if not drawn up against the wellwishers to administration; though the numbers of the voters will be clear. Those who have undertaken the weighty affairs of government are in duty called upon to facilitate, by honourable means, its success. If the discontented are not in some measure broke into, I do see a strong phalanx of able personages, who will give full employment, by the business they will raise up. Among those, whom I should wish, and Mr. Conway also wishes, to see to support him, is Mr. Burke, the readiest man upon all points perhaps in the whole House.

(1) The Earl of Cardigan was this day raised to the dignities of marquis and duke, by the titles of Marquis of Monthermer, and Duke of Montagu.