was to have his Lordship's employment, and afterwards wrote him a letter that His Majesty had dispensed with his taking it at least at present. His Lordship is angry, and and gone to the country. Even down to Lord Barrington, all Ministers, and under Ministers, are gone into the country for the holidays. The Ministermakers at Arthurs' are gone to Newmarket, and there is such a scarcity of members that I begin to be afraid of walking the streets lest the press-gang for Ministers should seize me and force me into office.

Please to present my respects to Mrs. Grenville. The enclosed print is new: you, perhaps, may understand, though I don't. I have, &c., &c.

H. ERSKINE.

EARL TEMPLE TO MR. GRENVILLE.

(April 4, 1757.)

DEAR BROTHER,-Little did you expect to be called from all the dirt of Wotton to the cleanly and delectable operation of resigning an honourable and lucrative employment, yet such is your hard fate.

Before you can receive this, I shall, like another Damien, be hanged, and drawn, and quartered, after having been kept alive upon the rack for some days. The black funereal Earl of Winchilsea, succeeds me1, accompanied by Lord Hyde, Sir W. Rowley, Admirals Boscawen and Mostyn, Hamilton and Sandys. Sir F. Dashwood has had it offered to him, and Forbes they

Portugal, having succeeded his father as eighth Earl of Kinnoul. He died in 1787.

1 As first Lord of the Admiralty.

2 See Walpole Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 281, note.

meant to have, but the King would not hear of it. Elliot by a kind indulgence may likewise stay, if he pleases. Further than this is not yet settled, at least as we can learn. I am to receive my letter of dismission to-morrow. The D. of N., it is said, remains as you left him. What to-morrow will produce, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, I know not: I only know that all the friends mean to throw up I believe on Thursday, so you may be in town early enough for so delightful a function. How this has come to pass and so forth, you know almost as well as I do; perhaps your brother Egremont has writ you this most terrible news by Saturday's post, and then what I tell you has not even novelty to recommend it. The world is at a gaze, and, when they wake from their astonishment, I fancy the new-fangled nonsense will go to pot. Love to Mrs. Grenville, and, my dear Treasurer of the Navy, good night.

EARL TEMPLE TO MR. GRENVILLE.

Friday, 12 o'clock (April 8, 1757). DEAR BROTHER,-I kept your servant 'till now in order to be the better able to satisfy that curiosity which is as inseparable from a country life as it can possibly be from a town one. My journal is as follows:-On Tuesday Lord Holdernesse came to me with the dreadful tidings, much offended himself at not being let into a word of this matter 'till the day before; the enemy expected this would bring on a general resignation, and the whole upon a personal footing; but we were wiser, to the great surprise and concern of our antagonists : so, behold, on Wednesday night, Lord Holdernesse per

forms, in person, upon the body of Mr. Pitt the same operation as upon mine. Yesterday Jemmy resigned, and, to my great grief, Mr. Potter, who I think has been too precipitate; though I must tell you that on Wednesday Mr. Fox informed Lord Dupplin that he was to kiss hands as Paymaster General next day, which, however, has not happened.

Legge gives up his seals this morning. The Admiralty now in possession are Winchilsea, Rowley, Boscawen, Martyn, Carysfoot, Sandys, Elliot, that is our Elliot, who has declined, and his place to be supplied by Hamilton', if the borough of Petersfield says yea.

Your brother of Egremont is, I believe, destined to be another Pitt. In this state matters now stand. The Duke of D. to continue till the end of the session. Lord Mansfield to hold the Exchequer Seals, as Lord Chief Justice Lee did before2.

Offers without end to the Duke of Newcastle, who not only stands his ground, but I have now the utmost reason to think that his union with us is as good as done, in which case Foxism must go to the devil, which that it may, is the sincere prayer of your most affectionate brother upon this very good day, commonly called Good Friday.

As for your own resignation, it may keep cold till your return. Love to the coachfull. The freedom of the City in a gold box is thought of for Pitt: the clamour very great.

1 William Gerard Hamilton, so well known by the sobriquet of Single Speech, at this time M.P. for Petersfield.

2 It is usual for the Exchequer seals to be committed to the care of the Lord Chief Justice of England, until the new Chancellor is appointed.

VOL. I.

Rapacious Fox has got the reversion of Dodington's Irish place for his life, and his son's. Peerages, it is said, for Digby and Shelburne.

The Duke not gone.

Lord Hardwicke out of town.

the new system, &c., &c.

Anson eager against

MR. GRENVILLE TO THE EARL OF HOLDERNESSE.

Wotton, April 9, 1757.

MY LORD, I beg the favour of your Lordship to represent to His Majesty in the most dutiful and respectful manner my humble request that he will permit me to lay at his feet my commission as Treasurer of the Navy, with which His Majesty was graciously pleased to honour me. The present situation of the public affairs sufficiently explains the reasons of my giving your Lordship this trouble, and makes it unnecessary for me to detain you any longer than to assure you that I have the honour to be, with the greatest regard,

My Lord, &c., &c.

GEORGE GRENVILLE,

THE EARL OF HOLDERNESSE TO MR. GRENVILLE.

Arlington Street, April 11, 1757.

SIR,-Having laid your letter, by which you desire leave to divest yourself of your office of Treasurer of the Navy, before the King, His Majesty has directed me to acquaint you that he is graciously pleased to accept of your Demission. I am, &c., &c.

HOLDERNESSE.

MR. HORACE WALPOLE TO MR. GRENVILLE. Arlington Street, May 13 (1757). DEAR SIR,-I flatter myself that you have goodness enough for me, to excuse the liberty I am now taking.

The ridiculous situation of this country for some months drew from me yesterday the inclosed thoughts", which I beg you will be so good as to run over and return.

As it certainly was my intention, so it has been my endeavour, to offend no man or set of men: it most assuredly was my desire to give no umbrage to you or your friends, and therefore I will beg you freely to tell me if there is the least expression which can be disagreeable to you or them.

The paper is a summary of melancholy truths, but which, as my nature is rather inclined to smile, I have placed in a ridiculous light. If it should not displease your good heart, or should divert Mrs. Grenville for a moment, I should be happy; but I must beg the return of the inclosed copy, as I go out of town early to-morrow. I am, &c., &c. HOR. WALPOLE.

MR. JENKINSON TO MR. GRENVILLE.

London, June 30, 1757.

DEAR SIR,-I cannot deny myself the pleasure of wishing you and Mrs. Grenville joy upon the final con

1 On the death of his nephew, in 1791, he became Earl of Orford; or, as he sometimes styled himself, "Uncle to the late Earl of Orford." He died in 1797.

2 I had stated that these "Thoughts" were probably never printed. They are, however, to be found in the 4to edition of Horace Walpole's Works, vol. i. p. 205, under the title of a Letter from Xo Ho, a Chinese Philosopher at London, to his friend Lien Chi at Pekin."

I have to express my obligations to the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker, who has had the kindness at the last moment before