THE EARL OF BUTE TO MR. GRENVILLE. Wednesday, near 12, November (11), 1761. DEAR GEORGE,-I have but just received the Duke of Newcastle's answer, the words are these: Lord Hardwicke is now here, and though he and I see no reason to alter the opinion we gave, we have not any thought of putting a negative upon that which shall be advised by the gentlemen who are to meet to-morrow at Mr. Grenville's1. I have added my brother, believing you would wish him with you, but don't confine yourself to this list; it occurs to me that Mr. Stanley may take it ill if Lord Villiers is sent to and not him, but of that you are the best judge. I am, dear George, with great affection, yours, &c. BUTE. THE EARL OF BUTE TO MR. GRENVILLE. (November 12, 1761) Thursday night2. DEAR GEORGE,-I am extremely concerned that in an affair of such delicacy the whole must be cast upon the King; not but I see through this, and observe very plainly that I shall be presently reported to have taken on me to resist the opinions of the whole Cabinet, and when this comes into the House of Lords (as it certainly must if the paper is given), I shall be feebly sup 1 Probably to discuss the terms of the Address proposed to be moved in reply to the King's Speech. 2 This letter appears to be in anticipation of a demand for papers relative to Spain, to be made on the following day in the House of Commons, on moving the Address. Although much was said about the Spanish question, yet no definite motion was made, and the Address passed without a negative. ported, perhaps not at all. In this case I wish extremely to gain time, and therefore submit to your better judgment and experience in these matters, whether those who talk of an intention to move for papers may not be answered, that whenever that motion is made, and the reasons given for it, the propriety of an Address for such a paper or papers will be considered. This will give us the opportunity I wish, to bring us nearer together. I do own I look on this demand for papers in the light of procuring materials in order to try the cause between the King and his late Secretary, and therefore if the précis of Wall should be granted, I have no conception of not carrying it through, with a spirited Address in justification of the King's measure, though couched in terms neither to give Spain umbrage or to encourage their insolence; this is all I have to trouble you with on this subject, heartily lamenting that in our first consultation the King is to feel the same differences of opinion he has been pestered with so long. I will be early at Court, and I am, my dear George, with the greatest regard, &c., &c. BUTE. COUNTESS TEMPLE TO EARL TEMPLE. November 19, 1761. MY DEAREST LORD,—I am very glad to hear you come back on Monday, for you have had disagreeable weather. I shall go to the Coronation at Covent Garden that night, so if you like to go, I shall keep I shall keep a place for you. I can send you no news; there has been many things wrote upon that inexhaustible subject the late resigna VOL. I. E E tion since you left us; the great man's letter and his friend in the City's answer' is put into verse ridiculously enough. I have taken some verses out of Owen's Weekly Chronicle, which, I am sure, you can't have seen. 'No letters more full or expressive can be, Than once so respectable W. P. The first stands for Wisdom, War, Wonder, and Wit, THE EARL OF BUTE TO MR. GRENVILLE. (December 10, 1761) 45m past 11. DEAR GEORGE,-Millions of Congratulations upon your very great, very able, and manly performance2: this will do, my dear friend, and shows you to the world in the light I want, and as you deserve. Could you call on me for half an hour? I am a little out of order, and I shall take the air, and I much wish to see you before go. I am ever, my dear George, most affectionately yours, &c. I BUTE. THE EARL OF BUTE TO MR. GRENVILLE. Saturday, near 12 (January 9, 1762). DEAR GEORGE,-I have this minute received your letter, and I can only say that if it depends on me to give the Dean of Exeter effectual assistance, your wishes 3 1 Mr. Pitt's letter to Beckford. Horace Walpole says that the versification was done by Francis, a clergyman attached to Lord Holland. 2 His speech the day before in the House of Commons on the German War. 3 Dr. Charles Lyttelton, Dean of Exeter; upon Mr. Grenville's recommendation he was made Bishop of Carlisle. will be answered: your recommendation must have great weight with me, and in this case the very respectable character of the Dean, and the regard I have for his family, would plead strongly with me, though you had been silent; but my former disputes with the Duke of Newcastle on Church dignities, and the humour his Grace is in at present, makes it unsafe for me to promise, who am used to look upon my word once given as a serious thing: I had my eye on the Dean of Exeter, very early in this reign, merely from the favourable description I had received of him, and was at that time forced to give way to a person of a different character; following, for the safety of Government, a maxim I abhor, that of doing amiss, that good may come of it. There is no part of my situation arising from the King's partiality to me that I prize more than ecclesiastical patronage, not for the sake of making friends or forming party, but from conviction that a proper choice of the clergy, especially of those in the higher preferments, is rendering to my King and country a most essential service: how far the retrospect of these fifteen months past affords me matter of comfort in this particular, I leave you to judge: I have at this instant a dozen letters before me on Hayter's' death, and yet could I decide, few, very few indeed, would demand an answer. Adieu, my dear George. Believe me, with the greatest regard, most affectionately yours, &c. BUTE. 1 Dr. Osbaldiston, the Bishop of Carlisle, succeeded Hayter in the See of London. THE EARL OF BUTE TO MR. GRENVILLE. Past 4 (January 11, 1762). LORD BUTE'S compliments attend Mr. Grenville; he had not an opportunity of telling him that he mentioned the Dean of Exeter to the Duke of Newcastle, who seemed pretty well satisfied, and owned Lord Hardwicke would be pleased with it, so that he is now at liberty to assure him that he will propose him to-morrow for one of the Sees that shall become vacant. MR. JENKINSON TO MR. GRENVILLE. St. James's, April 10, 1762. DEAR SIR,-When my servant returned yesterday I was surprised to hear that you was getting into your coach to go out of town. It gave me, however, pleasure in this respect, that it was a proof your health was better than it had been for two or three days before. I meant to have called on you that morning, but was prevented by a mail and messenger that arrived. The despatches from Petersburg carry a bad aspect with them in two respects. 1st, It appears that the Emperor' is totally Prussian, and is absolutely in the power of the Court of Berlin, so that we shall have no more influence with him than what will arise from our connection with His Prussian Majesty, and in proportion as we are 1 Peter the Third had succeeded to the throne on the death of his aunt, the Empress Elizabeth, who died on the 5th of January. After a reign of about six months, he was dethroned and murdered. His wife became Empress under the name of Catherine the Second. |