Having hinted to Sir Grey Cooper, who took an active part in managing the business of the House of Commons, that I would have no objection to second the address when the House met in November 1781, I was much gratified to receive the following communication from Lord North himself, in answer to that suggestion. SIR, Bushy Park, Nov. 13. 1781. I cannot sufficiently express how much I feel myself obliged to you for the letter you wrote to Sir Grey Cooper, offering to second the address. I had already written to a mover and a seconder, or I should have availed myself of your very kind and friendly offer. But although this circumstance prevents me from having recourse to you, either as mover or seconder, I hope that we shall have your assistance in support of the address. The difficulties in which we are involved by the present situation of public affairs, added to the abilities, activity and violence of our opposers, will render it necessary for his Majesty's servants to call for the support of all their friends. On your zeal and friendly attachment I know we may depend, and I feel great satisfaction in that conviction; and I hope and trust that nothing will prevent you from giving us your countenance and support. I have the honour to be, with great truth and respect, Sir, your most faithful humble servant, NORTH. The only anecdote of Lord North, in which I was personally interested, which I can recollect at this distance of time, is the following: Dining one day with that minister, at his official house in Downing Street, I happened to remark, that it seemed conveniently situated for carrying on public business. "It is so, (he said), but you are not probably aware of its great advantages in times of popular commotion, of which I have very recently had experience. The street is narrow at its entrance, and consequently can be easily defended, and it has no other outlet. The house, though large behind, yet presents but a small front, having there only three windows on a floor; and in case of necessity, there is an easy access behind, for receiving military aid from the Horse-Guards, where troops are always stationed." The frightful events, which had taken place not long before, in consequence of Lord George Gordon's anti-catholic mobs *, gave rise to these observations. The following anecdote will give some idea of Lord North's happiness of allusion, and playfulness of mind. He was often lulled into a profound sleep, by the somniferous oratory of some of the parliamentary speakers. Sir Grey Cooper, (one of the Secretaries of the Treasury), meanwhile took notes of the principal arguments of his opponents, which, by glancing his eye over the paper, Lord North was enabled immediately to answer. On a naval question, a member thought proper to give an historical detail of the origin and progress of ship-building, which he deduced from Noah's ark, and in regular order brought down to the Spanish Armada. Sir Grey inadvertently awoke his Lordship at this period; who asked, to what era the honourable gentleman had arrived? Being told, "to the reign of Queen Elizabeth," he instantly replied, "Dear Sir Grey, why did you not let me sleep a century or two more?" II. THE EARL OF SANDWICH. Among the distinguished characters with whom my father had travelled during his visit to the Continent, the Earl of Sandwich was one for whom he had entertained a particular regard. I therefore felt a species of hereditary respect for • These mobs took place in May and June 1780. him, and when I became a member of the House, was anxious to give him every support in my power. I found, however, with much regret, that though he possessed considerable abilities, he had no turn for business. He appeared to me a gay and dissipated character, well calculated for shining at a Court, but not fit for presiding at the head of a public board, on the energy and exertions of which the prosperity of the Navy of England depended. I was convinced, indeed, that it was necessary for the public interest to have him removed from that situation. Upon mentioning this to a friend of mine, Mr Bamber Gascoigne, member for Liverpool, and adding, "That the changing one member of an administration would be no great loss to it, more especially if he was not a very efficient minister;" he replied, "Be assured that you are quite mistaken; for it is a general rule, that an administration is like a set of nine pins. If you knock down one, the others are very apt to follow in succession." I particularly regretted being obliged to set myself against Lord Sandwich, having received from him the following letter, conceived in very flattering terms, requesting my attendance on the inquiry going forward into the noble Lord's conduct in the naval department. Letter from the Earl of Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty, to John Sinclair, Esq. M.P. SIR, The civilities I have received from you, encourage me to solicit the favour of your attendance during the course of the naval inquiry, which will probably come on without delay. As I wish to preserve your good opinion, I can do nothing so proper, as begging of you to attend impartially to the examination of my conduct, since I have had the honour of serving his Majesty in the naval department. I am, with great regard, your most obedient and most humble servant, Admiralty, Jan. 20. 1782. John Sinclair, Esq. SANDWICH. MY LORD, Copy of the Answer. I have the honour of receiving your Lordship's letter; and I since understand, that a motion for an inquiry into the naval department, is to be made in the House on Thursday next. I certainly shall attend that inquiry, and flatter myself, that there is nothing which can appear from it, sufficient to alter the favourable idea I would wish to entertain of the conduct of the Earl of Sandwich. I have the honour to be, &c. JOHN SINCLAIR. III. LORD VISCOUNT STORMONT. This Minister was nephew to that celebrated Judge, the Earl of Mansfield, and was himself a person of considerable talents. He had shewn me attention during an excursion I had made to Paris, where he was then our Ambassador, and I was anxious to repay those civilities, if an opportunity presented itself. When war was declared against France, he returned to England, and was appointed Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, a situation for which he was considered to be peculiarly qualified, from his great experience in diplomatic concerns. It was most unfortunate that Lord Stormont and his brother Ministers continued to cherish the idea of conquering America, long after every rational hope of success was at an end, both from the frequent defeats we had experienced there, and the powerful aid given to the new Republic by France, by Spain, and by Holland. Our Ministers, however, still resolved to consider the Americans as rebels, and refused treating them as independent states, which virtually they had become, by the acknowledgment of the principal powers of Eu rope. This led to an occurrence, with which I happened to be particularly connected, and which might have produced very important results, if our Ministers had acted on different principles. Mr Laurens, one of the most distinguished natives of America, had been sent by Congress to Europe, with full powers, in conjunction with the American Ministers then at Paris, to negociate a treaty of peace with England. In his way to France he was captured by a British frigate, and sent to Portsmouth, whence he was conveyed to London, where he remained on his parole. He was particularly well acquainted with my friend Mr Oswald, (who was afterwards employed by the British Government to negociate the treaty with America in Paris), and thus Mr Laurens and I became extremely intimate. We were thence led to talk over, with perfect freedom, the means of adjusting terms of peace between the two countries. I was convinced that there was an opening for settling the unfortunate contest, and wished to have a full discussion with Mr. Laurens on the subject. I sent him a note, therefore, requesting his company to dinner, and his answer I have accidentally preserved. "Mr Laurens presents his compliments, and would with great pleasure wait on Mr Sinclair on Friday next, to dine, but Mr Sinclair's note found him in the very act of preparing to go out of town to-morrow morning. He will, however, be in London on Saturday or Sunday next, and will have the honour of paying his respects in a day or two after. Norfolk Street, 9th May 1784." We met soon after, when he told me, that though being at large, and under no personal restraint, he could find little difficulty in going to Paris, yet that nothing would induce him to break his parole. He authorised me, however, to inform the British Government, that if they would consent to his going to Paris, he would ascertain on what terms a peace could be |