THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO THE COUNTESS OF СНАТНАМ. [March 2, 1767.] MADAM, I SHOULD make a great many excuses for taking the liberty of troubling your Ladyship with a letter, but that I prefer this method of conveying the King's commands, which I was honoured with this morning to Lord Chatham, rather than to send a letter directed immediately to himself, as your Ladyship will be best able to judge of the proper time of making the communication to his Lordship. His Majesty ordered me to express, in the strongest and the amplest terms, his own steadiness and resolution to support Lord Chatham; that his Majesty wished to infuse his own firmness into the breasts of those who grew apprehensive, and was convinced that, as soon as Lord Chatham's health would allow of his taking that active part he was persuaded his zeal prompted him to, but illness alone prevented, all the clouds which are now hanging over us would be dispersed, and the King had no sort of doubt but he would be able to assist with his advice as effectually as ever. His Majesty said he wished to see Lord Chatham, if it was but for a quarter of an hour; that he would not talk upon business, but only wanted to have the world know that he had attended him, for his own mind was not wavering; that he knew it was the same thing whether he opened the door of the closet at present to the Opposition, or suffered those gentlemen to force it open he was a prisoner and bound, whenever they set their foot within the closet; as for losing questions, that did not intimidate his Majesty he would stand his ground and be the last to yield, although he stood single. It would ill become me to add any thing from myself, after delivering the royal commands. All my wishes are for the speedy recovery of my friend's health, that he may be confirmed in all I have made known to him, by the verbal assurances of the most amiable of masters. I am, with the most unfeigned respect, Madam, Your Ladyship's most obedient and most humble servant, BRISTOL. THE KING TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. LORD CHATHAM, Queen's House, March 3, 1767, 10 m. past 6, p. m. I RECEIVED With great pleasure, on returning from the play last night, the account of your arrival, and am anxious to know how you continue. During your severe confinement I have laid a great share of its duration to the uneasiness you have felt from considering how necessary your presence was for my service, and that of the public. I do not think it fair to detain you longer, but cannot conclude without expressing my reliance that your firmness will be encouraged with redoubled ardour to withstand that evil called connection, after the extraordinary event of Friday ('): as to myself, I own it has that effect on me. GEORGE R. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE KING. [From a draught in Lady Chatham's handwriting.] Tuesday evening. [March 3, 1767.] LORD CHATHAM begs to be permitted to lay himself with all duty and submission at the King's feet, and to pour out a heart overflowing with the most reverential and warm sense of his Majesty's infinite condescension. He entreats most humbly to renew the tender of his devoted services (grieving to think how feeble they are); every hour more and more animated by the truly royal magnanimity of his Majesty, after the unaccountable event of Friday. He is most unhappy still to continue out of a condition to attend his Majesty's most gracious presence. (1) The defeat of the ministry in the House of Commons. See p. 222. THE KING TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. LORD CHATHAM, Queen's House, March 7, 1767, 17 m. past 6, p. m. I CANNOT help taking up my pen to express how contented I am at the favourable appearance of the House of Commons yesterday. The not expressing any uneasiness at the division of the last Friday has greatly contributed to this; which is chiefly owing to that intrepidity which ever attends you. Now you are arrived in town, every difficulty will daily decrease; and though I confess that I do not think I have met with that treatment I had reason to expect from many individuals now strangely united in opposition, without any more honourable reasons than because they are out of place, yet I can never believe but the majority of the nation must feel themselves interested to wish to support my measures, while my ministers steadily assist me in pursuing such as are calculated solely for the benefit of my dominions. I cannot conclude without desiring to learn how you continue, and insisting on your not coming out till you can do it with safety. GEORGE R. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE KING. [From a draught in Lady Chatham's handwriting.] March 7, 1767. LORD CHATHAM most humbly begs leave to lay himself at the King's feet, and wants words to convey to his Majesty his duty, submission, and devotion, and how deeply he is penetrated with the exceeding condescension and transcending goodness of his Majesty. The appearance of returning reason in the House of Commons is solely owing to his Majesty's magnanimity and wisdom, in the present great crisis. The preposterous unions of clashing Factions will not, till things change their nature, outweigh and finally overbear the honest sense of the nation, dutifully attached to a most benignant sovereign, pursuing nothing but the welfare and happiness of his people. In obedience to his Majesty's most gracious commands, Lord Chatham presumes to mention his own health, which mends, though slowly. He counts every hour till he is able to attend his Majesty's gracious presence. |