It was near half an hour after three before the sheriffs got to St. James's. The ministers had left court some time; and if I may be allowed to conjecture from what I saw, the news of the address which is to be presented next Wednesday was not unwelcome, though perhaps unexpected. I am, my Lord, with the most sincere regard, Your Lordship's most humble and obliged servant, JAMES TOWNSHEND. the corporation afterwards caused to be engraven beneath the statue erected to Alderman Beckford's memory in Guildhall: "Most gracious Sovereign, "Will your Majesty be pleased so far to condescend as to permit the Mayor of your loyal city of London to declare in your royal presence, on behalf of his fellow citizens, how much the bare apprehension of your Majesty's displeasure would at all times affect their minds. The declaration of that displeasure has already filled them with inexpressible anxiety and with the deepest affliction. Permit me, Sire, to assure your Majesty, that your Majesty has not in all your dominions any subjects more faithful, more dutiful, or more affectionate to your Majesty's person and family, or more ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in the maintenance of the true honour and dignity of your crown. "We do, therefore, with the greatest humility and submission, most earnestly supplicate your Majesty that you will not dismiss us from your presence, without expressing a more favourable opinion of your faithful citizens, and without some comfort, without some prospect at least of redress. "Permit me, Sire, further to observe, that whoever has already dared, or shall hereafter endeavour by false insinuations and suggestions to alienate your Majesty's affections from your loyal subjects in general, and from the city of London in particular, and to withdraw your confidence in and regard for your people, is an enemy to your Majesty's person and family, a violator of the public peace, and a betrayer of our happy constitution, as it was established at the glorious revolution." THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE LORD MAYOR. (1) MY DEAR LORD, Hayes, May 25, 1770. IN the fulness of the heart the mouth speaks; and the overflowing of mine gives motion to a weak hand, to tell you how truly I respect and love the spirit which your Lordship displayed on Wednesday. The spirit of Old England spoke, that neverto-be-forgotten day. If the heart of the court be hardened, the feelings of the people will be more and more awakened, by every repetition of unrelenting oppression on one part, and of determined and legal exertions on the other. But I forbear going into a dissertation where my mind is big only with admiration, thanks, and affection. Adieu, then, for the present (to call you by the most honourable of titles), true Lord Mayor of London; that is, first magistrate of the first city of the world! I mean to tell you only a plain truth, when I say, your Lordship's mayoralty will be revered, till the constitution is destroyed and forgotten. Believe me ever, with unalterable attachment, my dear Lord, Your most faithful friend, and affectionate humble servant, CHATHAM. Lady Chatham would not pardon me, if I left (1) From the original, obligingly communicated by his son, the present William Beckford, Esq. her out of this expression of the feelings of Hayes. She desires her compliments to your Lordship and Lady Mayoress. THE LORD MAYOR TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY DEAR LORD, Soho Square, May 25, 1770. YOUR Lordship's partiality to an old friend has been often experienced, but on no occasion more so than the present. (') What I spoke in the King's presence was uttered in the language of truth, and with that humility and submission, which becomes a subject speaking to his lawful king: at least I endeavoured to behave properly and decently; but I am inclined to believe I was mistaken, for the language of the court is, that my deportment was impudent, insolent, and unprecedented. God forgive them all! Their wickedness and folly will ruin this country. The common council have this day approved of my conduct in an exemplary manner. We go up to St. James's with a congratulatory address on Wednesday: I trust it will be found to contain no words that are offensive or reproachable. Townshend has just now reported to me the very gracious manner the King was pleased to receive the two (1) This able, fearless, and patriotic magistrate survived the grateful eulogium little more than three weeks. In a note to Mr. Calcraft, of the 15th of June, Lord Chatham writes, "I hear a very alarming account of lord mayor, and am just going to send to London to inquire." He died on the 21st. sheriffs. I am, my dear Lord, and ever shall con tinue, Your ever faithful and affectionate friend, and very obedient servant, WILL. BECKFORD. (') (1) On the 14th of May, at a meeting of the common council of London, held in Guildhall, it was resolved, "That the grateful thanks of this court be presented to the right hon. William Earl of Chatham, for the zeal he has shown in support of those most valuable and sacred privileges, the right of election, and the right of petition; and for his wishes and declaration, that his endeavours shall hereafter be used, that parliaments may be restored to their original purity, by shortening their duration, and introducing a more full and equal representation; an act which will render his name more honoured by posterity, than the memorable successes of the glorious war he conducted." On the 1st of June, a deputation of the corporation waited upon Lord Chatham with the said resolution; to whom his Lordship immediately delivered the following reply: "Gentlemen, "It is not easy for me to give expression to all I feel, on the extraordinary honour done to my public conduct by the City of London: a body so highly respectable on every account; but above all, for their constant assertions of the birthrights of Englishmen, in every great crisis of the constitution. "In our present unhappy situation, my duty shall be, on all proper occasions, to add the zealous endeavours of an individual to those legal exertions of constitutional rights, which, to their everlasting honour, the City of London has made in defence of freedom of election, and freedom of petition, and for obtaining effectual reparation to the electors of Great Britain. "As to one point among the declarations which I am understood to have made, of my wishes for the public, permit me to say there has been some misapprehension; for with all my deference to the sentiments of the City, I am bound to declare, that I cannot recommend triennial parliaments as a remedy against that canker in the constitution, venality in elections; ready to submit my opinion to better judgment, if the wish for that measure shall become prevalent in the kingdom. "Purity of parliament is the corner-stone in the commonwealth: and as one obvious means towards this necessary end is to strengthen and extend the natural relation between the constituents and the elected, I have, in this view, publicly expressed my earnest wishes for a more full and equal representation, by the addition of one knight of THE HONOURABLE COLONEL SIMON FRASER MY LORD, Oporto, June 20, 1770. HAVING heard that Mr. Whitehead, consul at this place, had orders to send your Lordship a pipe of port wine, I have used the freedom to take the commission out of his hands; in which he would not have acquiesced, if he were not assured, that I have it in my power at present to execute it better. He would have sent exceeding good wine, but I have happily got a pipe of the vintage of 1765, made with particular care and without any addition of brandy, which I am assured is singular in its kind, and very happy I shall be if it proves so much so as to vindicate its destination. I beg leave to assure your Lordship, that it is the pride of my life to have been distinguished by the shire in a county, as a farther balance to the mercenary boroughs. I have thrown out this idea with the just diffidence of a private man, when he presumes to suggest any thing new on a high matter. Animated by your approbation, I shall with better hope continue humbly to submit it to the public wisdom, as an object to be most deliberately weighed, accurately examined, and maturely digested. Having many times, when in the service of the Crown, and when retired from it, experienced, with gratitude, the favour of my fellow citizens, I am now particularly fortunate that, with their good liking, I can offer any thing towards upholding this wisely-combined frame of mixed Government against the decays of time, and the deviations incident to all human institutions; and I shall esteem my life honoured indeed, if the City of London can vouchsafe to think that my endeavours have not been wanting to maintain the national honour, to defend the colonies, and extend the commercial greatness of my country, as well as to preserve from violation the law of the land, and the essential rights of the constitution." VOL. III. H H |