week, it would much accelerate business.

I have

the honour to be, with great truth and regard, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient
and most humble servant,

ROCKINGHAM.

THE MARQUIS OF ROCKINGHAM TO THE EARL OF

MY LORD,

СНАТНАМ.

Grosvenor Square, Tuesday night,

November 20, 1770.

THE House of Lords was summoned for Thursday on notice given by the Duke of Richmond, that a motion would be made. I have now enclosed to your Lordship a copy of the proposed motion. The observation your Lordship made on one part, in regard to extending the date so far back as when O'Reilly was sent to the West Indies, has been waved; but by the addition made to that part of the motion, it now stands as requiring information of what fleets and forces were sent between the shorter period, and also calls for the state of the Spanish force in the West Indies, according to the accounts received up to September the 12th, 1770; so that O'Reilly's force will appear from what the account of the troops, &c. now there will show.

It may also in debate be equally argued on,

that a great force went with O'Reilly, though in fact it is to be remembered, that he was sent to take possession and garrison a new Spanish settlement; as Louisiana had been ceded by the French to the Spaniards. In general, the ideas are, that confining the debate to what may have passed in the course of the last twelve months or thereabouts, will render the debate more pointed and, perhaps, more forcible.

There are various reports to-day, in regard to the account which the last messenger has brought. Many think that his accounts are favourable in the present moment; but as it does not as yet appear to me that there is any positive declaration that the account is favourable, I am rather inclined still to believe, that at most it is but an evasive answer. I have the honour to be, with great truth and regard, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient

and most humble servant,

ROCKINGHAM.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ.

Hayes, Wednesday, November 21, 1770.

I AM too anxious, my dear Sir, about a report I hear of your having the gout, not to beg a word of information. It is most sincerely wished here that the account may be favourable. In case it

shall prove to be true gout, allow an old practitioner like myself to beg of you to submit, and give it its full time. I know this caution and earnest request is not unnecessary to your zeal for attending the public, and accompanying your friends; but you may ruin your future health by an untimely effort; therefore, I beg, again and again, that you will sit quiet at Ingress.

The motions to-morrow are for papers with regard to Falkland's Island, and the Spanish force in the West Indies. Potter's answer is said to be favourable. I believe it is only evasive, and a farther snare.

Ever very affectionately yours,

CHATHAM.

JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY DEAR LORD,

Ingress, November 21, 1770.

So many days should not have passed without most anxious inquiries after my friends at Hayes, had not a pretty severe attack of gout in the stomach confined me to my room since Saturday; though now I am so much better as to propose an airing, with every hope of being able to attend tomorrow's business in parliament.

66

War, inevitable war," says a well-informed correspondent; "Lord Mansfield is frightened to

death, and now proclaims every where, that Norton
only is fit to be lord chancellor. Lord Barrington
is heart-broken at his nonsensical speech (') in
parliament; the army affronted, and Hervey full
of resentment, at being hung out in the envious
colours his Lordship chose for him."

Lord Howe has orders to proceed to the Me-
diterranean with all despatch. I have received a
most affectionate letter from Lord Temple, which
gives very great satisfaction to me; not only from
the love and respect I bear his Lordship, but be-
cause it portends, as I sincerely hope, future good.
I hear Lord Mansfield maintained his old doctrine in
the court of King's Bench yesterday (2), that juries

(1) Junius, under the signature of "Testes," in a letter to
the printer of the Public Advertiser of the 19th, gives the fol-
lowing account of Lord Barrington's speech: "A few days
ago I was in a large public company, where there happened
some curious conversation. The secretary-at-war was pleased
to express himself with unusual simplicity and candour. He as-
sured us that, after having carefully considered the subject,
he did not know a single general officer (out of near a hundred
now in the service) who was in any shape qualified to command
the army; and for fear we should not believe him, repeated and
enforced his assertion five several times. You will allow, Sir,
that at the eve of a foreign war, this is pretty comfortable in-
telligence for the nation, especially as it comes from authority.
He gave us some consolation, however, by assuring us that he
and General Hervey would take excellent care of the army; and
compared himself (not unhappily) to an old woman curing an
ague, with the assistance of Dr. Radcliff.”—Vol. iii. p. 278.

(2) In the case of the King against Woodfall, for publishing
Junius's letter to the King.

were not judges of the criminality or innocence of the fact. I am, with the warmest attachment, Your Lordship's

most faithful and affectionate
friend and servant,

JNO. CALCRAFT.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ.

At dinner, Wednesday, November 21, 1770.

I RECEIVE, my dear Sir, this moment your most obliging letter, bringing the unwelcome confirmation of the report of gout; and in the stomach too. My monitory letter will have reached you before this, and, I hope, will have persuaded you to change your purpose for to-morrow. Indeed, the effort so soon is too hazardous: my earnest request to you to sit quiet at home a little longer would easily have had all the hands at table to it.

The force in India, according to the repartition, is greatly short of what it should be with such a revenue, and not a balance to the seapoys, should they revolt. War, I conclude, inevitable; and Lord Mansfield quite incurable of his political leprosy. Adieu, in haste, from, dear Sir,

Your ever affectionate

friend and servant,

END OF THE THIRD VOLUME.

MAR 1 0 1920

CHATHAM.