THE EARL OF SHELBURNE TO THE COUNTESS OF MADAM, CHATHAM. Bowood Park, Monday, October 9, 1767. I CANNOT be so near Bath, without desiring to know how your Ladyship and Lord Chatham do. I did indeed wish somehow to have communicated to your Ladyship from London, an event of a personal nature. It is General Conway's resigning the emoluments of his office as secretary of state, on account of certain delicacies he felt for what passed last summer in regard to Lord Rockingham.(1) It has been some time in agitation, but was not communicated to me, till General Conway mentioned it, at the moment the Duke of Grafton was gone in to the King to acquaint his Majesty finally of his resolution. I must own, when it was first told me, I felt it an agreeable opening for me to do the same; and that I might by that means be freed from various delicacies, and some uneasiness in a situation in which Lord Chatham placed me, and which without his approbation I did not think myself at liberty to desert. Upon weighing it, however, I must own I saw as many objections, (1) (1)" You will not dislike to hear, shall you?" writes Walpole to Mr. Montagu, "that Mr. Conway does not take the appoint ment of secretary of state. If it grows the fashion to give up above 5,000l. a year, this ministry will last for ever; for I do not think the opposition will struggle for places without salaries. If my Lord Ligonier does not go to heaven, or Sir Robert Rich to the devil soon, our general will run considerably in debt; but he had better be too poor than too rich." and what concluded me to defer such a step was, that I thought it wrong to do a thing, which however rightly intended, might have the air of experiment, without Lord Chatham's example or con currence. I know not how to make your Ladyship sufficient excuses for troubling you upon any subject of business; I am afraid it is not a sufficient one to it is an ease to my own mind, to acquaint your Ladyship of it, that if Lord Chatham should chance to hear of it, you might have the goodness to acquaint him of the motives of my conduct. say As for the course of public affairs, what regards parliament I conceive may, with common management, be carried through without difficulty. As for the court, Lord Chatham knows my opinion, as it has been unvaried since I first waited upon him at North-end. As to foreign affairs, there are many accounts which certainly do not flatter the almost universal wish of peace; particularly what has very lately passed between the Spaniards and Portuguese in South America; but if there should any certainty come of any such great event as a war, I shall presume to acquaint your Ladyship of it, without troubling you with too many particulars. In the mean time, I have every reason to believe nothing can so effectually keep it off, as the report of Lord Chatham's health. I have the honour to be both your Ladyship's and my Lord's most obliged and faithful humble servant, SHELBURNE. THE COUNTESS OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE. [From a draught in her own handwriting.] MY LORD, [Bath, October, 1767.] I BEG your Lordship will accept of a thousand acknowledgments from my Lord and myself, for your great goodness to us in the honour of your most obliging attention and kind concern for my Lord's health. I wish I could yet say that there was any material change in the state of it; but we are forbid to expect that, until my Lord can have a fit of the gout, which we are flattered will fix and bring the desired relief. t; He continues under the prohibition of meddling with all business whatever, till after that event so that I trust your Lordship will pardon me, as you have before been so good to do, for wishing not to communicate business of any sort to him. At the same time, allow me to assure your Lordship in general, how infinitely sensible my Lord is at all times to the honour of every mark of your Lordship's attention and friendship. Permit me to add for myself, the sense I have of all your Lordship's goodness. We wish impatiently to be able to fix the day for our journey to Hayes; which as yet we have not the power to do. I have the honour, to be, &c. HESTER CHATHAM. THE HONOURABLE THOMAS WALPOLE TO THE London, October 30, 1767. MY LORD, I HAVE this evening seen Lord Camden, who expressed to me your Lordship's earnest request to be again in possession of Hayes, as of the utmost consequence to your future health and happiness. I can no longer resist such affecting motives for restoring it to your Lordship; who I desire will consider yourself as master of Hayes from this moment, and receive my ardent wishes, that any' present distress may be fully conducive to your Lordship's re-establishment, as I doubt not it will be of inviolable respect and attachment with which I have the honour to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient, most humble servant, THOMAS WAlpole. LORD CAMDEN TO THE COUNTESS OF CHATHAM. MADAM, Lincoln's Inn Fields, October 30, 1767. I TAKE it for granted that my Lord Chatham has received Mr. Walpole's letter of last post, resigning Hayes and putting his Lordship into possession. My part in this business has been extremely pain prove ful, having been witness to the distress of both instrumental parties. If this sacrifice shall to the recovery of Lord Chatham's health, Mr. Walpole will be well paid; and I am afraid that nothing short of that will make him completely happy. It is impossible to describe as it deserves the pangs he felt at parting with this favourite place; but his humanity and regard to Lord Chatham got the better of all his partiality; the consideration of whose melancholy case prevailed beyond the power of persuasion, force, or interest. I do assure your Ladyship I have never been more affected with any scene I have been witness to than what I felt upon this occasion, and am most sensibly touched with Mr. Walpole's singular benevolence and good nature. The applause of the world and his own conscience will be his reward. I had the honour of seeing his Majesty this morning, and I beg your Ladyship would inform Lord Chatham, that his sentiments towards his Lordship are as kind and gracious as even myself can wish. He desires his Lordship would repose himself in an entire confidence that he will not be called upon, till his own perfect recovery shall bring him forth, and that in the mean time his Majesty wishes he would pursue his own course for the recovery of his health; admit all visits, and see all persons that may contribute to his ease, pleasure, or amusement. This I am commissioned and even commanded to say from his Majesty; who |