Correspondence of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham

The Earl of Chatham to the King, March 7. - Attributes the ap-
pearance of returning reason in the House of Commons to his
Majesty's magnanimity. Preposterous unions of clashing fac-
tions

The Duke of Grafton to the Earl of Chatham, March 13. -

American extraordinaries. Sir Fletcher Norton. Want of

communication in government

The Earl of Shelburne to the Earl of Chatham, March 13.-

American extraordinaries. Extraordinary conduct of Mr.

Charles Townshend

The Earl of Bristol to the Earl of Chatham, March 19.- Debate
in the House of Lords on a provision for the King's brothers

The same to the same, March 23.- Strength of Lord Chatham

in the closet. The King's firmness. Despair of the opposition.

Lord Bute determined to fling his interest into the scale of

government

The Duke of Grafton to the Earl of Chatham, March 29. — Lord
Chatham's balances as paymaster in the Bank of England
The Earl of Bristol to the Earl of Chatham, April 5. Unfavour-
able reports concerning the state of Lord Chatham's health.
Intentions of the chancellor of the exchequer to resign
The Earl of Rochford to the Earl of Chatham, April 6. — Ac-
quaints him, that Wilkes is about to publish at Paris an abusive
attack on his administration, and offers to put a stop to it.
position of the French court

Page

James Boswell, Esq. to the Earl of Chatham, April 8. — Gene-
ral Paoli. Revocation of the proclamation of 1763.
publish his account of Corsica

The Earl of Bristol to the Earl of Chatham, April 11..

in the House of Lords on the Massachusets Bay bill.

sation with the King. The Earl of Bute

The same to the same, April 16.- Interview with the King

William Beckford, Esq. to the Earl of Chatham, April 29.

Disturbances in America. Quartering act. Advises the calling

of the troops from the old provinces

The King to the Earl of Chatham, April 30.- Expresses his as-

surances of Lord Chatham's zeal and attachment, and recom-

mends him to give up his attention to his health alone

The Earl of Shelburne to the Earl of Chatham, May 26. —

Conversation in the House of Lords on the affairs of America.

Lord Talbot's unprovoked attack upon the advisers of the repeal

of the stamp act

The Duke of Grafton to the Earl of Chatham, May 27. — Close

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divisions in the House of Lords. Difficulties of his situation.
Solicits his advice and direction

The Earl of Chatham to the Duke of Grafton, May 27. — Re-

grets that illness prevents his giving the Duke the desired inter-

view

The Duke of Grafton to the Earl of Chatham, May 29.- Re-
grets the declined interview. Has apprised the King of the
embarrassed state of the ministry from want of unanimity and
the prevalence of faction. Sees no prospect of serving the
King with effect, unless Lord Chatham will suggest measures
for bettering the state of things. The King's anxiety for his
counsel and advice

The Earl of Chatham to the Duke of Grafton, May 29.- Repeats
his regret that illness renders business impossible for him. Ad-
vises that the Duke and the Lord President should not leave
their situations

Page

The King to the Earl of Chatham, May 30.- Critical state of

affairs. Anxiety of the Duke of Grafton, lord president, and

lord chancellor. Majority against ministers in the House of

Lords. Coolness of Lord Shelburne. Avowed enmity of

Charles Townshend. General Conway's resolution to retire.

Confidence in Lord Chatham's firmness. Entreats him to see

the Duke of Grafton. Determination not to yield to Faction - 260

The Earl of Chatham to the King, May 30.

The same to the same, May 30.

262

- 263

The King to the Earl of Chatham, May 30.- Confidence in Lord

Chatham's intrepidity to withstand the greatest enemy of the

country, Faction

Compelled to point

Threatened resig-

The same to the same, June 2. · Desires to know whether the

anxiety and hurry of the week had not affected his health

The Earl of Chatham to the King, June 2.

The King to the Earl of Chatham, June 2.

out the unpleasant state of the ministry.

nations. Calls upon Lord Chatham to lay before him a plan.

The lord president and Duke of Grafton find it impracticable to

form a temporary administration

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265

· 265

The Earl of Chatham to the King, June 2.- Implores compas-

sion and pardon for the cruel situation which deprives him of the

possibility of activity

The Duke of Grafton to the Earl of Chatham, June 3.- East

India Company's dividends bill

The Earl of Bristol to the Earl of Chatham, June 10. - Prince

Ferdinand of Brunswick's pension. Lord Holland wishes for

an earldom

The King to the Earl of Chatham, June 13. Wishes to learn

the progress of his health, and when he can see him. Reliance
on his zeal and fortitude

The Earl of Chatham to the King, June 13.

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- 271

- Deplores his inca-

- 272

pability of seeing his Majesty
The King to the Earl of Chatham, June 15.- Regrets the un-
favourable account of his health. Recommends his calling in
Sir Clifton Wintringham to the assistance of Dr. Addington
The Earl of Chatham to the King, June 15.- Expresses his
entire confidence in Dr. Addington, and wishes to pursue his
directions, without the intervention of another physician
The King to the Earl of Chatham, June 20.- Congratulations on
his reported amendment. Favourable appearance in the House
of Lords. The Duke of Grafton's resolution and ability

The Earl of Chatham to the King, June 20.—The reported

amendment unfounded. Congratulations on the appearance in

the House of Lords, and joy at the ability shown by the Duke

of Grafton

The King to the Earl of Chatham, June 25. — Intended resig-
nation of General Conway and the lord president. Mr. Towns-
hend's willingness to remain, if the administration is not patched.
Duke of Grafton unwilling to trace a plan. Calls on Lord
Chatham to do so. Determines to encounter any difficulties
rather than yield to Faction

The Earl of Chatham to the King, June 25. — Deplores his utter
inability, from his state of weakness, to trace out a plan. Only
advises that the two great offices should be arranged in a
manner the best to strengthen the Duke of Grafton

The Earl of Bristol to the Countess of Chatham, July 30.

nounces his resignation of the lord lieutenancy of Ireland.

reasons for so doing

The Duke of Grafton to the Earl of Chatham, July 31.

Conway determines to stand forward in the House of Com-

mons to carry on the King's business. The Duke's reasons for

remaining in his present post

The Countess of Chatham to the Duke of Grafton, September -.

Lord Chatham's continued illness. And desire that the

King would permit him to go into Somersetshire

The Duke of Grafton to the Countess of Chatham, September 10.

The King recommends Lord Chatham to take every step

advisable for the recovery of his health

Lord Camden to the Countess of Chatham, September 25. - Death

of Mr. Charles Townshend. Lord North appointed chancellor

of the exchequer

283

The Earl of Shelburne to the Countess of Chatham, October 9.

Rage

State

General Conway resigns the emoluments of his office.
of parliament, and of the court. Foreign affairs

The Countess of Chatham to the Earl of Shelburne, October.

-No material improvement in the Earl's health. Prohibited

from meddling with all business

The Hon. Thomas Walpole to the Earl of Chatham, October 30.

Complies with Lord Chatham's earnest request to be again in

possession of Hayes

Lord Camden to the Countess of Chatham, October 30.-An-

nounces that Mr. Walpole consents to resign Hayes. His

singular benevolence and good nature in so doing

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- 288

The Earl of Chatham to the Hon. Thomas Walpole, November 1.
- Expressions of warm thanks for his kindness and goodness in

restoring Hayes

- 289

The Earl of Shelburne to the Countess of Chatham, December 13.

Conversation with the Duke of Grafton. Openings from

different parties. The Duke proposes a third secretary for

America

The Earl of Shelburne to the Duke of Grafton, December 13.

On the proposition for dividing the southern department into

The Countess of Chatham to the Earl of Shelburne, December.—

Lord Chatham declines to offer an opinion on the subject of

the Duke of Grafton's proposition

The Earl of Shelburne to the Countess of Chatham, December 22.
Further conversation with the Duke of Grafton. [Lord
Chatham again the possessor of Hayes, note.]

1768.

(Private and secret;