and that clause being penned in general words, adapted more especially to other cases, I much doubt whether a Queen Consort is within them.

As to the jointure intended for the Queen, I presume it will be out of the Civil List revenues; and no palace or house of residence can be granted to Her Majesty without a particular Act of Parliament enabling it, for another reason, viz., the restriction in the Civil List Act, primo Annæ.

If the King should upon any occasion be pleased to appoint Her Majesty Regent of the Kingdom, that also will require a particular Act of Parliament for that purpose, as was done 2do Geo. 2di, cap. 27; because otherwise Her Majesty would be obliged to certain qualifications inconsistent with her Royal dignity; which, as I drew that Act, I well remember was the reason of bringing it in. Such particular Acts would fully cure any doubt that might be entertained concerning any grant of lands, tenements, or offices, in the Queen's case.

For these reasons I much wish that this point may be further considered before any expectation or opinion is created by an Act of Naturalization being necessary, or intended; for I fear it might be thought to prejudice the general prerogative of the Crown.

The motives from which this trouble proceeds make me rely on your goodness to excuse it, being always with great truth and esteem, dear Sir, &c., &c.

HARDWICKE.

VOL. I.

D D

THE EARL OF LINCOLN TO EARL TEMPLE.

Thursday morning (October 9, 1761). MY DEAREST LORD,-I did not hear 'till yesterday at four o'clock the step you took in the morning', and my dear Lord, though I lament from the bottom of a heart (that is totally yours) the thing itself, I can but say I feel great comfort and pleasure, since it was to be done, at the very handsome manner you have chose to do it in; so much dignity to yourself; and I can assure you, my dearest Lord, I have the quickest sensation of gratitude, for that part of it that I know myself so infinitely obliged to you for; and what I shall ever remember as long as I live. But my dear friend, things can't remain so; out of disagreeable things happy effects must follow. I fully intended, if I had not received your very obliging letter, to have waited upon you this morning, which, if you will give me leave, I will do at a little after eleven; for I long infinitely to express the thankfulness and the warmth of my heart to you. I am ever, with the greatest truth, my dearest, dearest Lord, most unalterably and affectionately yours,

LINCOLN.

MR. PROWSE TO MR. GRENVILLE.

Gosport, October 16, 1761.

DEAR SIR,-I know not how to express the sense I have of the honour done me by your most obliging letter, nor the distress I feel in declining an offer of one of the highest stations in this country, though attended with every circumstance that can possibly concur to enhance the value of it.

1 His resignation of the Privy Seal.

What I dread, dear Sir, is, that you may think my refusal proceeds either from want of a due sense of the great honour done me, from false notions of popularity, from a love of ease and indolence, from a dread of connections with this or that set of men (where I know there ought to be none), or from any other motive than the true one: not a fear of impairing my health, but being already in such a condition as would make it impossible for me to go through the common and necessary business of the House for one month: for an account of which I must refer to Mr. Dyson.

you

There are indeed other objections I cannot but feel, which I will ingenuously confess, great as they are, the vanity of my heart would get the better of. Suffer me only to observe, that as ill health often proves the greatest blessing in a Christian sense, so it may happen on this occasion to be in a political one.

Your authority, and the friendship you have so long honoured me with, give such weight to your commands, that I should immediately set out for London, were my excuse of any other nature, but in this case it is needless to trouble you farther.

Give me leave only to assure you that I shall always retain the most grateful sense of the high honour done me on this occasion, and that I am with the most perfect and unalterable respect,

Dear Sir, your most obliged, &c., &c.

THOMAS PROwse.

EARL TEMPLE TO MR. WILKES.

Friday night, October 16, 1761.

I AM obliged, my dear Wilkes, to set out early tomorrow morning, and I am sorry I cannot pass half an hour with you to explain a little, and to comment more upon the phenomenon of the times; a public deluded, and the ridiculous instrument of undoing all that for four years together they had so successfully laboured to establish; their idol become the object of their unjust abuse; but virtue and talents are still his in a degree superior to all the rest of the world, his maligners or admirers.

I have only to add to what you know, that when I returned to town, I found the King, upon Mr. Pitt's resignation, had not only acknowledged his great and eminent services in the highest terms and most gracious manner, but insisted likewise on rewarding them, which was finally done in the way the Gazette sets forth, thus confirming by the testimony of the Sovereign all those honours which the public had heaped upon him with such unanimous approbation.

The Duke of Marlborough, Prince Ferdinand, Sir Edward Hawke, &c., &c., did not disdain to receive pecuniary and honorary rewards for their services, perhaps of a very inferior kind to the deserts of Mr. Pitt, and I think he would have been the most insolent, factious, and ungrateful man living to the King, had he waived an offer of this sort, which binds him to nothing, but to love and to honour His Majesty.

The cause of his quitting the Ministry was from a difference of opinion in a capital measure relative to

Spain, as you know; the favourite united with the Minister of numbers', bore down the Minister of measures, and by that means in effect removed him from the King's Council, and deprived him of the means of further serving the public. A time will come, I trust, when these matters will be fully explained to both Houses of Parliament.

He is as much a free man as myself. I think that is pretty sufficient, and what fools must they be who cannot read and understand his resignation, attended with the very broad comment of Jemmy's' and mine. Good night, and believe me most truly yours, &c.

TEMPLE.

MR. JENKINSON TO MR. GRENVILLE.

St. James's, October 22, 1761.

DEAR SIR,-I am sorry it is not in my power to dine with you to day; Lord Harcourt, who has just come to town, has sent me word that he will eat a mutton chop with me, as he is to go very early to the Play with the Queen; but I will wait on you at any time between six and eight this evening, if it is agreeable to you.

I just now read a dispatch from Lord Bristol, which gave me the greatest pleasure: I think I see in it an appearance of good humour and good faith, and an overture made for terminating our disputes with Spain, consistent both with our honour and interest.

I have, &c., &c.

C. JENKINSON.

1 The Duke of Newcastle's great influence over certain members of the House of Commons.

2 James Grenville, who had resigned the Cofferership, and himself, who had resigned the Privy Seal.