and that he had such obligation to my Lord Rockingham
and Gen' Conway, that he would not differ with them.
I then took the liberty to enter fully into my own situa-
tion ; that I had given my opinion according to my conscience
upon the point, which His Majesty had refer'd to me and the
rest of his servants, relating to the person the most proper to
succeed to the Duke of Grafton. I had been of opinion first
for Lord Hardwicke, then for my Lord Egmont,^ but that I
could not concur in advising the Duke of Richmond on
account of his youth and want of sufficient experience ; that
I did it from no sort of prejudice to the Duke of Richmond
or want of real regard and attention to His Grace. This it
was necessary to say, as the King had told me that Lord
Rockingham said that my objection to the Duke of Rich-
mond, he believed, arose from our disputes in Sussex,- which
had lower'd the Duke of Richmond in my opinion. The King
was pleased to take it up very warmly and said to my Lord
Rockingham, ' My Lord, how can you think that one of the
Duke of Newcastle's age, and (I think, His Majesty added) ex-
perience, can be jealous of a boy ? '
I could not forbear representing to His Majesty, the little
regard and confidence which had been shew'd to me, of which
His Majesty himself had often express'd his strong disappro-
bation ; that I should continue, as I had done, to support
' In the margin the Duke adds : ' I am not positive that I mentioned this of my
Ld. Hardwicke and my Ld. Egmonl to the King at that time.'
â– ' Where the Duke was Lord Lieutenant.
AS TOLD BV THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 69
His Majesty's affairs, that I did not mean to quit my employ-
ment, but that if I found the same backwardness, reserve, want
of communication and confidence, to continue, I hoped His
Majesty would allow me to withdraw from the private meetings
of his Ministers, where my presence in those circumstances
could be of no service to His Majesty and the publick and
must be so disagreable to myself.
His Majesty was pleased to answer me in the most gracious
manner, to approve what I had said and the manner in which
I so properly supported viy oivn honor and dignity. And as
a proof that I shall act according to what I have declared to
the King, I attended my Lord Rockingham, Mr. Conway, and
Mr. Dowdeswell all day and night on Thursday, and shall meet
them at my Lord Chancellor's on Monday evening.
My Lord North having finally refused the Vice Treasurer's ^
place, a good deal of discourse passed upon the persons most
proper to have the offer of it. It was generally agreed that Mr.
Stanley '^ might be sounded, but from what I have since heard
I do not believe that there is the least likelyhood that Mr. Stanley
would accept it.
It was understood that my Lord Dartmouth should have the
whole correspondence with America, whether as third Secretary
of State or as First Lord of Trade with the power of Secretary-
of State, was not, I think, determined.
I had forgot one pretty extraordinary circumstance in my
conversation with the King.
In talking to His Majesty of my Lord Rockingham's cool-
n-.ss to me and little inclination to consult me, or even to have
any assistance from me, I mentioned a late incident, that in
coming the other day out of His Majesty's closet, I found Lord
Rockingham and Lord Egmont sitting together ; I began by-
blaming my Lord Egmont for not accepting the Seals ; my
' Of Ireland. Ct. Grenvilh Correspondence, iii. 239.
- Hans Stanley. See GrenvilU and Ckathat,: Correstondence.
yo CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, 1 765-/
Lord Egmont said to me, Why don't you take them yourself?
That will remove all difficulties.^ 1 said that was impossible,
that, to remove every possibility of that kind I had declared
publickly in the House of Lords that I would not ever accept
any Ministerial office of that sort. And I told the King that
my Lord Rockingham said not one word upon it, or made me
the least compliment, which His Lordship might have done
very safely. Yes, said the King, I know it. Lord Egmont
told me of it, and was much surprized at my Lord Rocking-
ham's silence.
I add here copies of my letter to the Duke of Richmond,
His Grace's answer and my answer to him.- I shall shew them
to the King and I am persuaded His Majesty will be very well
pleased with the Duke of Richmond's letter, and that it will be
of service to His Grace with the King.
XL
Fo. 64 b. Newcastle House : June 28, 1766, Saturday morning.
Some occurrences of yesterday sent to Mr. White.
My Lord Albemarle came to see me yesterday morning, at
Mr. Onslow's,-^ and acquainted me that my Lord Rockingham
had received the King's orders, on Wensday last, for appointing
the Duke of York ^ warden of Windsor Forest, which is supposed
to give the influence over Windsor Town ; and also to appoint
His Royal Highness Ranger of Cranborn Chace &c., and to
appoint His Royal Highness, Prince Henry,' who has Beaumont
Lodge, in the neighbourhood, Ranger of Windsor Park. That
His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester'' had got Gen'
Pulteney's regiment, and Col. West was made Aid de-camp :
and that all these appointments were made without any com-
' No doubt said satirically. - A reference to the Appendix.
^ The Duke of Newcastle's nephew. ' Edward Augustus, the King's brother.
' Henry Frederick, another brother. " William Henry, another brother.
AS TOLD BV THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 71
munication with, or the knowledge of, any of the Ministry.'
My Lord Albemarle seemed very much affected with it ; and
said, that, as to himself, he had done at court ; that he should
come seldom thither ; that he had no pretence to come into the
inward rooms, having now nothing to say to the King in the
closet. I asked my Lord Albemarle what my Lord Rockingham
had said to him 7ip07t this ? He said nothing. He told me a
pretty extraordinary conversation which his good brother, the
Admiral,- had had with m}- Lord Talbot, which perhaps may
give some key to what has been lately doing at S. James's,
and to His Lordship's last speech in the House of Lords.
My Lord Talbot, it seems, pretends now to be in love with
the Duke of Grafton. He said to Admiral Keppel : Your
brother (my Lord Albemarle) is entirely attached to my Lord
Rockingham and the Duke of Newcastle, but you cannot be
against Mr. Pitt. The Admiral replied, I ? No ; I have always
been one of Mr. Pitt's best friends.
My Lord Talbot has had many long audiences of the Kino-
of late. My Lord Talbot to be sure, perhaps my Lord Egmont
also, has negotiated these distinctions which are now shewn to
the young princes. I am persuaded that this whole affair, and
the present coolness of the closet, are entirely owing to the
unfortunate step of promising the King to bring the provision,
proposed for the princes' establishment, into parliament, this
winter, and afterwards not doing it, which has been worked up
by the Princess Dowager of Wales.
I went, according to appointment, to Gen' Conway's ; and I
found that it was to be a meeting of consequence indeed. Lord
Rockingham did not come till after one o'clock, so we had not
much time for such a material deliberation. I found the
business was, to consider what it might be proper for us to say
to the King, upon the present state of the administration.
' On the discussion concerning the provision for the King's brothers see Walpole
(Barker), ii. 233. - Lord Albemarle's brother, Admiral Keppel.
72 CHANGES IN THE MINLSTRV, 1765-7
It was proposed by them three, that we should all lay before
the King the necessity of His Majesty's giving some publick
demonstration of his resolution to support his present adminis-
tration. That this should be introduced by, and chiefly founded
upon, an intercepted letter from M. Gross, nephew of the late
M. Gross, Minister here from the Empress of Russia ; wherein
this M. Gross advises Her Imperial Majesty not to conclude, at
present, the treaty now depending with Russia ; as it is generally
thought that the present administration cannot last long, as
they have not the confidence of the King, their master.
This was thought, as it certainly is, a very proper foundation
to speak to the King upon, and to insist with His Majesty that
some demonstration should be given by him to contradict these
reports, or otherwise his affairs, both at home and abroad, must
suffer; and particularly that that demonstration should be given
by immediately removing Mr. Dyson ' and my Lord Eglintoun.-
It was also proposed, chiefly by the Duke of Richmond, that
in case His Majesty should not agree to what should be thus
proposed to him, that the administration should declare that
they could no longer continue in his service.
To the first part I entirel}' agreed — viz. the necessity ol
His Majesty giving some demonstration of his resolution to
support the present administration, founded upon appearances
and particularly upon the intercepted letter above mentioned : '
but I was of opinion, that the threatening the King to leave his
service, in case His Majesty should not comply with what should
be proposed to him that morning, was an affair of too much con-
sequence to be determined in half an hour, and by us four only.
' Jeremiah Dyson, M.P. for Great Yarmouth. On him see /Fai^o/if (Barker), ii. 235,
236 ; Chatham Cotre span deuce, ii. 394 ; and Albemarle's Rockingham, i. 306, 346.
-' Lord of the Bedchamber. GrenviUe Correspondence, iii. 254. Both he and
Dyson were King's Friends, and in Bute's confidence. On the question of his
removal see Walpole (Barker), ii. 236; Bcdjord Correspondence, iii. 338.
' Cf. Rockingham, \. 322.
AS TOLD I!Y THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 7^
Accordingly we all went to court to execute the first part
of the proposal. It was agreed that the two Secretaries of
State should go in first. Afterwards my Lord Rockingham ;
and myself, the last. Accordingly the two Secretaries went in
first, and stayed a great while with the King.
When they came out, Lord Rockingham went in. His
Lordship did not stay with the King above five minutes. The
Secretaries, I believe, enter'd very fully with the King into the
matter. His Majesty was very civil ; but, to us all, very
negative. He wondered that the Secretaries should laj- such a
stress upon a silly letter from M. Gross ; that, as to reports,
which there was no foundation for, no regard ought to be had
to them. That he was very well satisfied with his adminis-
tration ; that he intended to support them, and to remove those
who should act against them /or tJie future : but that he could
not have any regard to what was past ; that Mr. Dyson acted
like an honest man, in telling my Lord Rockingham his opinion ;
that he thought the measures which had been taken were
wrong : but that if Mr. Dyson should, in the course of the
summer, obstruct the measures of the administration at the
Board of Trade, or vote against them next winter in parliament,
he would then turn him out.
His Majesty said but little about Lord Eglintoun ; but was
disposed to remove him, but said particularly, as to Mr. Dyson's
behaviour in the question about the provision for the princes,
that as that affair related to the King himself, he would not
turn him out for that.
My Lord Rockingham stayed but a very little while ; he
talked in the same manner the Secretaries had done, and
received the same answers, and that was pretty near my case.
His Majest)' began with me by acquainting me with the
difference of opinion between his three Ministers ; that my
Lord Rockingham had recommended to him two months ago,
General Honeywood for the government of Hull, when it
74 CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, 1 765-7
should be vacant ; that tho' he had not given my Lord
Rockingham an absolute promise, yet he had said enough to
my Lord Rockingham to give great encouragement to General
Honeywood to hope for it. That now the Duke of Argyle put
in for it, and said he would quit the service if he had not the
government of Hull. That Mr. Conway and the Duke of
Richmond were both for the Duke of Argyle.
His Majesty seemed strongly on the side of my Lord
Rockingham, and, indeed, I encouraged His ^Majesty in it.
The King was mightily pleased with my Lord Granby, who had
been with him, and told him, that he would not recommend
his uncle, my Lord Robert Manners, who was Lieutenant-
Governor of Hull to be Governor, because he would not lay
His Majesty under any difficulty. His Majesty hopes that
General Conway will be able to persuade the Duke of Argyle
to desist.
I then acquainted the King, that I understood his Ministers
had laid before His Majesty the state of the administration,
that I entirely concur'd with them, that it was necessarj- for His
Majest}'s service, that some demonstration should be given of
His Majesty's resolution to support his present administration,
to contradict these reports, and to prevent the ill-effects of these
advices from Foreign Ministers.
His Majesty treated it in the same manner that he had done
with the other Ministers. I stuck a little closer, and as I had a
precedent in point, I made the best use of it I could. I told the
King that I remembered very well, that, in Sir Robert Walpole's
administration, Count Staremberg, the Emperor's Minister, and
M. Chavigny, the French Minister, were in close correspondence
with my Lord Granville, Sir William VVyndham, and Mr.
Pulteney," then in Opposition, that we intercepted all their
letters, and saw all that had passed between them, and the
opposers ; that there were frequent suggestions, in their letters,
' Cl'. Hervc)"s Memoirs 0/ George JI. ii. 250, un ihe iiUcrception of these Idlers.
AS TOLD BV THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 75
that Sir R. Walpole had not the King's affection, but that His
INIajesty was, in his heart, disposed to my Lord Granville ; that
Sir Robert Walpole had constantly made the same use of those
letters, with the late King, as His Majesty's Ministers had now
done of this letter from M. Gross with His Majesty ; viz. to
show the necessity that some demonstration should be given, by
the King, to prove the contrary.
His Majesty made little or no reply to this. I enter'd
particularly into the case of Mr. Dyson, but to no effect.
Upon the whole the King was very civil to me. But I could
plainly discover, that His Majesty was not pleased with my
entering so far into this matter ; which I thought myself both
in conscience and duty bound to do.
What will be the end of all this, I know not ; I think the
Duke of Richmond and Mr. Conway will insist upon some
further eclaircissements with the King. What my Lord
Rockingham will do, I know not. I take His Lordship's view
to be different from the other two. My Lord Rockingham, I
believe, wishes to go out, and flatters himself, that he shall go
out with more eclat than any man ever did ; that he has done
great service to the King, and to the publick ; that he had
shew'd the King that he could carry the repeal of the Stamp
Act, with His Majesty, and m>' Lord Bute ' against him ; that he
could carry the Free Port with 'Sir. Pitt against him ; and had
carried all the regulations, that were proper, relating to the
American trade.
I could add to this, that, if His Lordship had thought proper
to have taken my advice in the beginning, for the total Repeal of
the Stamp Act, and had not amused himself, and flattered others,
with senseless notion of uiodificatioti, of which the King availed
himself in his discourse with me upon that point. His Lordship
had deprived Mr. Pitt of the opportunity that was given him, to
' Walpole {2>zxVf[),\\. 2\\, on the ' childish arrogance and indiscretion " of Lord
Rockinghams vaunt.
7(> CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, 1 765-7
take almost the whole merit, both at home, and in America, of
the Repeal of that Act.
My Lord Rockingham dropt, at our meeting, that, if there
could be any way of getting the Duke of Bedford, and his
friends, without Mr. Grenville,' he thought that would be the
best acquisition we could make. Mr. Conway replied, in that
case there must be great removes amongst our own friends to
make way for them. I must do them all three the justice to say,
that I did not sec the least inclination in any one of them, to
have any management for, or correspondence with, my Lord
Bute or any of his friends.
My Lord Rockingham told me, in private, that Mr. Pitt
would have nothing to do with this administration.
I should have observed, that it was suggested, that His
Majesty might be asked what it was His Majesty wished, or
expected, of his Ministers ; but that, for very obvious reasons,
was dropt.
It was, I think, agreed, that in order to please the King, it
might be proposed to send Mr. Ellis,'^ ambassador to Spain, in
the room of my Lord Rochford, who is appointed ambassador
to France. That it was accordingly mentioned to the King ;
and is to be proposed to Mr. Ellis ; I am sorry for it ; he is not
a very proper person, and the King seem'd very indifferent
about it ; but however it is to be.
By what my Lord Rockingham said to me yesterday, I find,
it is his intention, before he goes, to oblige as many of our
friends as he can ; that is very proper, but it would have been
more effectual, if the resolution had been taken sooner.
We had, last night, a meeting at my Lord Chancellor's, upon
the instructions to be given to the new Governor of Canada,"* and
' Rockingham, i. 349.
â– ^ Welbore Ellis ; he did not become ambassador. Cf. Chesterfield's Letters, iii.
1342.
^ Lieutenam-Cieneral Murray. On the Canndian question see Rockingha'u, i. 351,
356, and Chatham Corrcspoudetut, ii. 434 note.
AS TOLD BY THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE "J"]
altho' they had passed the Council, and the opinion of the
Attorney- and Solicitor-general was had upon them, and the
draught was made in consequence by the Board of Trade, my
Lord Chancellor said so much against the original principle of
authorizing the Governor to constitute Courts of Justice &c.,
which power was given them by the original commission in the
late Ministry's time ; and whether, without the consent of Par-
liament, His Majesty has it in his power, in an}' of his dominions,
to appoint a Roman Catholick to be Justice of Peace &c., that
nothing was determined, when I left them, last night : but I am
apt to think, the instructions will go, as they are agreable, in
the greatest part, to the opinion of the Attorney- and Solicitor-
general. It is much to be lamented, that the Privy Council,
where all these things are settled, has not the assistance of any
one law lord, the Chancellor very seldom attending those
Councils. My Lord Hardwicke takes a very active part at all
our meetings.
I send this account to my friend Mr. White, to be added to
those I formerly sent. I leave it open for the Duke of Portland's
perusal ; and hope soon to have His Grace's thoughts, and Mr.
White's, upon this paper.
XH
Eo. 71 b. Claremont : July ii," 1766.
Dear Sir, — As I am desirous that you should be constantly
informed of everything, as far, as it comes to my knowledge, relat-
ing to the situation of the administration, and of publick affairs,
and of mj' own situation, in particular ; I must now acquaint you
that my Lord Chancellor, (who you will have seen by my last
account was very much dissatisfied with the administration, and
indeed, he had shewed it, often, both at our meetings, and in private
' Cf. letters of this date from Walpole to Sir Horace Mann (iv. ) ; and Lord
Hardwicke to Lord Rockingham, in Hockingham, i. 363.
78 CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, 1 765-7
to me,) waited upon the King, last night, full of complaints and
dissatisfaction. You will see the account of what passed in his
audience in the copies of the two letters ^ I now send you, from
the Duke of Richmond, and my Lord Rockingham.
I was sent for up to town b}- m}- Lord Rockingham, and the
Duke of Richmond. The Duke of Richmond, my Lord Rock-
ingham, my Lord Dartmouth, Gen' Conway and myself, met at
Mr. Conway's house,^ on Wensday morning last, and we there
determined to wait upon the King, to learn His Majesty's
thoughts and intentions ; His ^Majesty having said to his
Ministers, that he must consider, what was to be done ; and
whether this step of my Lord Chancellor had been concerted, or
not. with His Majest}', or anybody else.
I found that it was my Lord Rockingham's opinion, that it
this should appear to be no more than a flight in the Chancellor,
and that the King would give the seals to Mr. Yorke, and make
some proper removals to demonstrate his real intention to
support the present administration, that everything might go
on with ease and success ; and that the additional strength of
having Mr. Yorke Chancellor, and in the House of Lords, would
make a very good alteration in favor of the present adminis-
tration. We all went that day to court : but we soon found
that the King had taken his part ; so far, at least, as to send for
Mr. Pitt ; and from thence we supposed to form such an admi-
nistration as Mr. Pitt should advise : — but what that administra-
tion was to be, or from whom this advice came, was not known
to any of us, when I left my Lord Rockingham late on Wensday
night last.
The Ministers think that they know that my Lord Bute saw
the King at Richmond on Monday last ; and that the Duke of
York was sent for to come to town, (as he did) from Bath. This
' A reference to the Appendix. Cf. IValpoU (Barker), ii. 237 ; Walpole's Letters,
iv. 510, on the Chancellor, ' who can smell a storm and has probaV)ly bargained for
beginning it.' -' July 9. See Rockingham, i. 362.
AS TOLD BY THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 79
may be conjecture, but you will see the inference, that is drawn
from it.
My Lord Rockingham went accordingly to the King first ;
and told His Majesty that, as he had been pleased to say, he
must consider what was to be done, my Lord Rockingham
desired to know His Majesty's thoughts. The King said, that
upon consideration, he had sent for Mr. Pitt} My Lord Rock-
ingham neither made any objection, nor reason'd upon it : but
hoped he had served His Majesty faithfully, and agreably to
what he had declared to the King, upon his first coming into
His Majesty's service, a year ago. He explained the several
measures, which had been taken by His Majesty's Ministers this
session of Parliament ; and how they had all succeeded. And
he had now the satisfaction to acquaint His Majesty, that, by
the last accounts from America, the Repeal of the Stamp Act
had had all the good effect, that could be proposed ; had been
received with the utmost duty, and gratitude ; and that every-
thing was quiet in America and no one mark left of disobedience,
or discontent. The King replied he was perfectly satisfied with
him.
The Secretaries were longer with His Majesty. The King
expressed great satisfaction with Mr. Conway ; and hoped that
whatever administration he should have, he should have Mr.
Conway's service ; meaning in the place where he was. The
King was very civil to them all, and said he was ver>' well
satisfied with their services.^ As soon as I came into the closet,
His Majesty gave me an account of what had passed with the
Chancellor ; and I found that what the Chancellor had said of
the weakness, and insufficiency of this administration, had made
an impression upon him, and I think His Majesty had a mind to
' Chatham Correspondence, ii. 434; Walpole, Letters, iv. 510; (Barker) ii. 239.
On the negotiations with Pitt see also the ' History of the Late Minority ' in Almonds
Political Regisiir, i. 312, also Almon's Anecdotes of the Earl of Chatham, ii. 21 sqq.
- Cf. IVal/ole (Barker), ii. 239, 240, who states that the King was harsh to New-
castle, and to Richmond not tolerably civil.
8o CHANGES IN THE >nNISTRY, 1 765-7
infer, from all i^e had said to him, of the necessity of his giving
some demonstration of his intention, and inclination, to support
his present administration, that we ourselves thought the admi-
nistration weak. And the King then said, / have sent for Mr
Pitt : but, said His Majest}-, I know nothing more ; I believe
he will come ; that was, to obey the King's orders, to come to
him. — His Majesty enter'd into no particulars, talked very
civilly of all his Ministers : but I see the intention is (that is,
Mr. Pitt's intention) to keep Mr. Conway Secretary of State.
The King was ver}' gracious to me ; was pleased to say, no
man in England had done so much service to his family as I
had ; — and, said His Majesty, from the year 17 14.
Upon my making a proper reply, and expressing my desire