Since writing the above, Lord Rockingham has been with me. His whole language was, as I expected, honourable, just, and sensible. My esteem and confidence in his Lordship's upright intentions grow from every conversation with him. Ever most affectionately yours, CHATHAM. JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY DEAR LORD, Ingress, November 11, 1770. As your Lordship is to see Serjeant Glynn today, it may be proper to inform you of a paragraph in a letter of this morning: "Within a day or two Mr. Beardmore is to put a question to Mr. Serjeant Glynn, Mr. Dunning, and the common serjeant, whether the Lord Mayor ought, by a requisition from the privy council or admiralty, to back the press-warrants; and if he refuses, what they apprehend will be the consequence?" On my return last night, I found intelligence of Lord Mansfield's refusal to be Speaker of the House of Lords; which has occasioned great consternation amongst the ministers ('), both on account of (1) Junius, in a private note to Woodfall, of the 12th of November, says, "Lord Mansfield has thrown ministry into confusion, by suddenly resigning the office of Speaker of the House of Lords." were, the mode and time of his doing this. His words "he would not." Just at the meeting, and after frequent audiences in the closet, the measure does seem strong; in his Lordship it may be timidity.(1) At eleven o'clock on Friday the Duke of Argyle died; by twelve Lord Barrington had a letter from the King, ordering the grey dragoons to Lord Panmure, the Scotch fusileers to Mackay, Mackay's to Urmston of the guards, the government of Limerick to Colonel Hale, and his light dragoons to Colonel Preston. All this without any communication with ministers, or Lord Lieutenant of Ireland! I am, my dear Lord, most respectfully and faithfully, yours, (1) The parliament met on the 13th. On the following day, Junius thus addresses Lord Mansfield: :- "You continue to support an administration which you know is universally odious, and which, on some occasions, you yourself speak of with contempt. You would fain be thought to take no share in government, while, in reality, you are the main spring of the machine. Instead of acting that open, generous part, which becomes your rank and station, you meanly skulk into the closet, and give your sovereign such advice, as you have not spirit to avow or defend. You secretly engross the power, while you decline the title of minister. Are the seals to be for ever in commission, that you may enjoy five thousand pounds a year? I beg pardon, my Lord; your fears have interposed at last, and forced you to resign. The odium of continuing Speaker of the Lords, upon such terms, was too formidable to be resisted."-Vol. ii. p. 179. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. MY DEAR SIR, November 11, 1770. HAPPY to know you got home safe, though a dark night, from the kindest of visits. I am now to thank you a thousand times for your obliging attention in writing. Lord Mansfield's refusal to be Speaker is probably only ill health; but that must give uneasiness at St. James's: to the ministry perhaps not so much; for I consider his Lordship as the King's minister (1), not as their supporter and fellow-labourer. The military line of business is new. Mr. Serjeant Glynn has just left me. I find him a most ingenious, solid, pleasing man, and the spirit of the constitution itself. I never was more taken by a first conversation in my life. By a note just received, poor Mr. Grenville is only rather better. His state is very precarious. Lady Chatham went to him again this morning. Adieu, my dear Sir. Coach at the door and pretty late. Ever most affectionately yours, (1) "Wheel within wheel!" writes Gerard Hamilton to Mr. Calcraft on the 10th; "Lord Mansfield never surely would have kept his intention a secret to the day before the meeting of parliament, if it had not been so understood by the closet." THE EARL OF SHELBURNE TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. Shelburne House, Sunday, MY DEAR LORD, I CAME to town last night, both disappointed and hurt at the delay of measures in the city.(1) I shall not be surprised to find your Lordship much disgusted on the same account. From the soundness of the bottom, however, I have every reason to believe that though delayed, they are not defeated. In this state of things I wish much to wait upon your Lordship, whatever day is most convenient to you. I am ever, my dear Lord, Your most devoted, humble servant, SHELBURNE. THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE. Sunday evening, November 11, 1770. MY DEAR LORD, I AM heartily glad that you arrived in town, because I am always truly glad of the opportunities of exchanging sentiments on the state of this devoted country. As for the various and extensive ill consequences of a delay which infatuation alone (1) A fresh petition and remonstrance to the King was at this time in progress. could produce (the bottom admitted to be sound), they have all fallen upon the delayers, and nothing remains but the smaller or greater degree of diminution of weight and efficacy in whatever steps they take in assertion of rights they defend. Disgusted though your Lordship supposes I may be, at these egregious errors, I will not say I am. My experience would have given me very little, if I had not learned to view without surprise, and with much of pity and of good will, not of contempt, the weaknesses of the well-intentioned, absorbed too often in smaller things, and neglecting and losing the critical moments for the execution of greater. There is also, I perceive, reason to fear a race of frivolous and ill-placed popularity about presswarrants. I am determined to resist this ill-judged attempt to shake the public safety. In this state of things, I shall persevere to do my duty to my country, determined by principle, though unanimated by hope. As to what the city now intends to do, I wish to hear nothing of it; resolved to applaud and defend what I think right, and to disapprove what shall appear to me wrong and untenable. All the rest is to me, my dear Lord, nothing. The sooner I have the pleasure to embrace your Lordship the happier I shall be. My gout is subsided, and I am well enough to take the air. I am ever, my dear Lord, with truest esteem and affection, Your Lordship's most faithful friend and servant, CHATHAM. |