who signed the request to the lord mayor: then 't is imagined my lord mayor and the sheriffs will rise in their places to say they are parties equally; which is to bring the attack upon them. The alarm at court is beyond imagination. If our friends stand firm, they own all is over with them. Every temptation is, or will be, forthwith held out to Lord Rockingham. There is their only hope. I wish your Lordship could contrive to see Lord Granby

being the confidential keeper of the King's intention, he assured me that he never intended to exceed the allowance which was made by parliament; and therefore, my Lords, at a time when there are no marks of personal dissipation in the King; at a time when there are no marks of any considerable sums having been expended to procure the secrets of our enemies; that a request of an inquiry into the expenditure of the civil list should be refused, is to me most extraordinary. Does the King of England want to build a palace equal to his rank and dignity? Does he want to encourage the polite and useful arts? Does he mean to reward the hardy veteran, who has defended his quarrel in many a rough campaign, whose salary does not equal that of some of your servants? Or does he mean, by drawing the purse-strings of his subjects, to spread corruption through the people, to procure a parliament, like a packed jury, ready to acquit his ministers at all adventures? I do not say, my Lords, that corruption lies here, or that corruption lies there; but if any gentleman in England were to ask me, whether I thought both houses of parliament were bribed, I should laugh in his face, and say, "Sir, it is not so." My Lords, from all that has been said, I think it must appear, that an inquiry into the state and expenditure of the civil list revenue is expedient, proper, and just; a refusal of it at this time will only add ridicule to disgrace, and folly to enormity.' The motion was negatived."

to-morrow, and talk over with him the state of the

times and the remonstrance.

tionately, yours, &c.

I am, most affec

J. CALCRAFT. (')

"An

(1) The following is from the Annual Register: event which took place at this time, as it renewed all the heat and debate within doors, so it added new force to the ill humour and discontent without. This was the address, remonstrance, and petition of the livery and corporation of London, in common-hall assembled, to the King; praying for the dissolution of parliament, and the removal of evil ministers; a piece as remarkable for the freedom and boldness of the sentiments which it conveyed, as for the extraordinary terms in which they were expressed. Among other passages in this remonstrance, it was asserted, that the only judge removable at the pleasure of the crown had been dismissed from his high office for defending in parliament the laws and the constitution: that, under the same secret and malign influence, which through each successive administration had defeated every good, and suggested every bad, intention, the majority of the House of Commons had deprived the people of their dearest rights: that the decision on the Middlesex election was a deed more ruinous in its consequences than the levying of ship-money by Charles the First, or the dispensing power assumed by James the Second; a deed which must vitiate all the proceedings of this parliament; for the acts of the legislature itself can no more be valid without a legal House of Commons than without a legal prince upon the throne that representatives of the people are essential to the making of laws; and there is a time when it is morally demonstrable that men cease to be representatives. That time is now arrived the present House of Commons do not represent the people." It was said, in the answer, that "the contents of the remonstrance could not but be considered as disrespectful to majesty, injurious to the parliament, and irreconcileable to the principles of the constitution." The remonstrance was delivered by the Lord Mayor, who was attended by the sheriffs and other city officers in their formalities, together with a few of the aldermen, and a great body of the common-council."

:

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ.

Hayes, Tuesday night, March 13, 1770.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

NOTHING can appear to me more absurd, or even ridiculous, than the high tone which the court mean to take upon the petition and remonstrance of the city, according to your intelligence; for the communication of which I beg you will receive a thousand thanks. I propose to be in town about eleven to-morrow morning, and shall be extremely obliged to you if you will be so good as to let Lord Granby know that I shall be proud and happy to have the honour of seeing his Lordship at twelve to-morrow, if it be convenient to him.

I cannot close this hasty note without saying again, how ridiculous and contemptible, in my sense, all the counterfeited firmness is of real despair, convicted guilt, and conscious weakness and incapacity. I rest assured that all temptation will be vain in the quarter you mention; and so I shall lay my head upon the safe pillow of well-grounded confidence, and sleep undisturbed with the doubts of any material defection. If here and there an individual should be found base enough or silly enough to turn tail in this great moment, a good riddance, say I, of such miserable company! Such defections, should any happen, will, in effect,

strengthen rather than weaken the real friends and

true votaries of liberty. You may think your friend full confident; but I trust I shall not be disproved by the event, and in the moment these sensations are truly pleasing to me. Adieu till to

morrow. My dear Sir,

Most affectionately yours,

CHATHAM.

JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Sackville Street, Saturday, March 17, 1770,

MY DEAR LORD,

3 o'clock.

THE fright at court continues, and they are not only puzzled, but undetermined what to do with the remonstrance, now 't is got to parliament. (') The only resolution taken is, to be most temperate, and avoid either expulsion or commitment (2); seeing the lord mayor and sheriffs court it. The attack

(1) On the motion of Sir Thomas Clavering, and after a division of 271 to 108, a copy of the city address, remonstrance, and petition, was, on the 15th of March, ordered to be laid before the House.

(2) On the preceding day, Sir Thomas Clavering moved in the House of Commons, "That to deny the legality of the present parliament, and to assert that the proceedings thereof are not valid, is highly unwarrantable, and has a manifest tendency to disturb the peace of the kingdom, by withdrawing his Majesty's subjects from their obedience to the laws of the realm." After a debate, which lasted till two in the morning, it was agreed to by 284 against 127.

of Lovel is laid aside too, as the lord mayor, &c. would rise and take the blame from him. The attorney-general is the great adviser, and has been the promoter, of their attack on the city. The ministers dread a resolution of the common-hall against the advisers of the strong words in his Majesty's answer. I am, &c.

J. CALCRAFT.

JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO EARL TEMPLE.

Sunday, 20 minutes past 9, March 18, 1770.

MY DEAR LORD,

JUST as your Lordship left me a friend (1) came in, who says he hears a strong report that they disagree amongst themselves, see the difficulties they may be involved in, and have resolved not to proceed upon the remonstrance to-morrow. Lord Chatham's proposal about Westminster (2) adds to their alarm. The greatest person requires cordials. We should not be the less upon our guard for this rumour. Yours, &c.

J CALCRAFT.

(1) Query, was not this "friend" Sir Philip Francis? See p. 4.44.

(2) JUNIUS, in a private letter to Mr. Woodfall, dated, Sunday, March 18, says, "Lord Chatham is determined to go to the hall to support the Westminster remonstrance. I have no doubt that we shall conquer them at last."