since I last came in, to do ever}-thing in my power for his
service, His Majesty said. Yes, you \\2id done girat service and
ivould have done more, if they ivould have let you, or trusted
'"ou ;— but whether service in general, or in particular, to the
Ministers, I cannot say ; for the King might very likely mean to
the Ministers, as His Majesty had very often insinuated to me,
the use I might be of to them, from my long experience, and
knowledge of business ; and his concern, that they did not
consult me, so much as he thought they should do.

I have often observed in the King, some apprehension that
the present administration wanted strength, experience, and
precision in business : but I never imagined that His Majesty
would have taken this step without consulting them, or pre-
viously informing them of it ; especially as the King had so
often declared that, after the advances he had made to Mr. Pitt.
he would not send to him to come, before he knew what he
would propose, or he had explained himself in general to his
Ministers.

I do suppose that this sudden resolution must be taken
in concert with my Lord Bute,' and consequently, the Princess

' Grenville Correspondence, iii. 262, and Rockingham, i. 367.



AS TOLD BV THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE St

of Wales, and possibly the Duke of York. In all events, I
should think, Mr. Pitt (if he engages, of which, I think, there is
still a great doubt,) will form his plan upon the declaration he
has made, ' To take the best men without distinction of parties
or cojinections ; ' that he will propose to keep as many of the
present Ministers, as he shall think will be attached to him ;
and particularly the Duke of Grafton, and Gen' Conway ; and
that he will offer others, who perhaps maj- not be disposed to
remain in their employments. For my own part, I shall cer-
tainly not engage in a new administration, and I am persuaded
Mr. Pitt will not make me the offer in any shape.

I have, upon this occasion, repeated my assurances of friend-
ship and regard to my Lord Rockingham ; and I shall certainly
make them good. I had very kind answers from His Lordship ;
that he should be desirous to live in private friendship with me ;
but that, as to publick affairs, he should act as he himself thought
right for him to do, and, (as I understood) without any concert
with anybody ; that he should neither persuade, nor dissuade,
any one man in employment, to remain or go out : and yet he
has sent expresses to the Duke of Portland, Sir George Savile,
Lord Hardwicke, Lord Egmont &c. to come to town.

I could not avoid asking why he did that, if he did not
intend to consult them, or to consider what we should do in
the present circumstance.-^. Don't fear me, I will do nothing
wrong, either for myself, or the publick, for my friends, or the
Whig cause.

I should be glad to have your advice as soon, and as fully,
as you can give it me ; and you may send your letter by express
enclosed to my trusty friend Mr. Potts, at the Post Office.

I had a letter from that honest man, my good friend Mr.
Hewett.' I think he seems a little uneasy, I am sure he shall
never have any reason to be so with me. I beg you would tell
him so, and acquaint him with the contents of this letter, as far

' Probably the M. P. for Notts.

G



82 CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, IJ^S"/

as relates to the sending for Mr. Pitt, and what had passed in
the closet upon it.

I suppose you will not see our good, honest, and sensible
friend, the Duke of Portland. He is now, I understand, at
Chatsworth. I wrote him two lines by Lord Rockingham's
messenger, to shew my regard to him ; and that I was acquainted
that my Lord Rockingham was sending a messenger to him. I
believe he does not know the particulars I am sending you :
but I hope you will take an early opportunity to acquaint him
with them, as well as to send me >our thoughts upon this late
event, and upon what I sent \ou by the Duke of Portland.

Fo. 75 b. Claremont : July 20, 1766.

As I found by the Duke of Portland that he had fully
acquainted you with the substance of my letter of the nth, I
determined not to send it away, but to wait till I could give
some account of Mr. Pitt's arrival, and of what should pass
upon it.

Hitherto His Majesty has not been pleased to say anything
more than that he had sent for Mr. Pitt, either to my Lord
Rockingham, Gen' Conway, the Duke of Richmond or myself ;
nor has the King acquainted an)- of us that he had seen either
Mr. Pitt, or my Lord Temple : — but 1 will give >ou some account
of what has passed before the final resolution is taken, or any
plan proposed or agreed to.

On Friday the 13th inst. Mr, Pitt arrived in town; and
went, as is said, immediately to my Lord Chancellor, who has
been the grand negotiator for settling an administration.

On Saturday Mr. Pitt was a great while with the King at
Richmond, of which not one word transpires.

On Sunday last, Mr. Pitt had a long conversation with Mr.
Conway, by his own appointment. Mr, Pitt was also that
morning with my Lord Lincoln at the Exchequer. I have not
heard one word of what passed there to this hour : but Mr, Pitt



AS TOLD BY THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 83

told Mr. Conway that he had been that morning with my Lord
Lincoln.

Mr. Pitt did not say any thing to Mr. Conway of what had
passed with the King ; or give him any account of his being
sent for, or coming to His Majesty ; he talked as Minister, who
was to settle ever}- thing ; which I suppose he concluded Mr
Conway knew.'

He began by expressing his wishes, Cwhich he had declared
in publick,) that an administration could be formed of the best
and ablest men,— without any regard to parties, distinctions,
or connections : but as he despair'd of being able to bring that
about, the Whig party must be the basis or foundation, and
consequently the present administration ; that he, Mr. Pitt,
could wish to make no alterations at all ; but that that was not
to be avoided ; that he had some friends that he must bring in ;
that he hoped that Mr. Conway had preserved the same good
disposition towards him, (Mr. Pitt,) that he had when Mr. Pitt
saw him last, or, I think the expression was, ' that Mr. Pitt
had carried with him into the country ; ' and that therefore Mr.
Pitt desired to have Mr. Conway's assistance for the conduct of
the House of Commons ; and I think as Secretary of State ;
that Mr. Pitt could not undertake the House of Commons him-
self ; neither would he be Secretary of State.

Mr. Conway made a very proper answer which Mr. Pitt
seemed to approve. Mr. Conway told him that Mr. Pitt knew
how desirous he had been of acting with him, but that things
were very much changed, since that time ; that therefore Mr.
Conway could not give any answer till he knew what was
designed, the plan of administration, and the measures.

Mr. Pitt then proceeded and said he was much concerned ;
that he should think two things necessary, which he feared
would not be agreable to Mr. Conway ; the one, what related
to the Duke of Richmond ; the other, the necessity, he was

' Cf. Walpolc (Uarkcr), ii. 241 sqq.



G 2



84 CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, I765-7

under, of making an offer of the Treasury, to my Lord Temple.
He said my Lord Temple was sent for not by him ; but, in-
sinuated, by the King, as he was ; that is, by my good Lord
Chancellor, the amanuensis of the whole.

He talked of my Lord Bute's friends, and (I think, as
another point, that might not be agreable to Mr. Conway)
Mr. Pitt said, he had no objection to restoring Mr. Stuart
Mackenzie to his office of Privy Seal in Scotland ; ' or to my
Lord Northumberland's having an office of distinction. This
was the substance of that conversation.

Mr. Conway expressed to me his great conflict with him-
self upon the difficulties he was under. That he had lately
suffered a great deal, from the dilemma he had been in,
whether to leave the King's service, and his friends in the ad-
ministration, to go out with the Duke of Grafton for the sake
of Mr. Pitt ; and that he had resolved to remain with the present
Ministers. That the same difficulty now arose, tho' in another
shape : viz. whether he should go out with the present Ministers,
or remain with his friend the Duke of Grafton, upon Mr. Pitt's
coming into the administration. He seemed to think that my
Lord Temple being part of the new administration or not,
might make a great difference in that question. He told me
that the Duke of Grafton had a great dislike to my Lord
Temple ; that His Grace had declined coming to town ; that
he would not come to be jangling about the disposal of em-
ployments : but when Mr. Pitt sent for His Grace, he came to
town immediately, I think, on Wensday last.

Mr. Conway told me the Duke of Grafton was now most
strongly of opinion to come in, and .support Mr, Pitt's adminis-
tration ; even tho' my Lord Temple should be a part of it.
I found Mr. Conway under the same difficulties with regard to
himself, as he was before.

The Duke of Portland, my Lord Albemarle. Lord John

' lie ua> icslnrcd July 176O. See Walpolc (Barker), ii. 25.



AS TOLD BY THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 85

Cavendish and myself, dined with my Lord Rockingham, on
Wensday last. Wc talked full>- over the present situation. I
mentioned Mr. Conway's difficulties, which my Lord Rocking-
ham very properly admitted, as well as that we ought to speak
our opinions freely to General Conway ; and my Lord Rocking-
ham did very properly give his opinion as follows, that our
utmost endeavours should be used to engage the Duke of
Grafton and Mr. Pitt to consent that the Duke of Grafton
should be at the head of the Treasury ; that that would be the
only real security to the party ; (and to be sure, that is much to
be wished ;) if my Lord Rockingham will not remain there himself,
or they won't let him, as since appears to be the case : but that
if neither the Duke of Grafton, nor any known friend, was to be
at the head of the Treasury, and especially if Lord Temple
was to come there, my Lord Rockingham thinks all hopes of
saving the party, by this administration, were at an end. And
that the only thing then to be wished was, that neither Mr.
Conway nor any of our principal friends, should remain in the
administration ; and that seemed to be the general opinion.

On Wensday, we aU saw the King ; His Majesty was
equally silent to us all, and to Mr. Conway, whom he intends to
keep Secretary of State. I took a pretence to go into the closet
to see whether the King, (when it came now so near, and was
probably to begin by my removal) would mention any thing of
it to me, to whom His Majesty had at times talked in confidence
upon those subjects, and particularly with regard to his present
ministers, and Mr. Pitt ;— but not one word ; very civil ; and full
of discourse about my Lady Montrath's will.'

Upon this, I thought I had nothing to do but to return
hither ; where I shall stay 'till Wensday next (my usual day of
coming to town) ; if I am not sent for sooner. I did not go to
court on Thursday but was engaged to dine at Gen' Conway's

' Cf. Walpole, Letters, v. i, on Lady Mounlralh's bequest to the Duchess of
Is'ewcastle.



86 CHANGES IN TIIK MIMSTKV, I765-7

with my Lord Rockingham, the Duke of Richmond, the Duke
of Portland, &c.

I returned hither, in the evening, and at twelve o'clock, at
night, had an account from my good friend, George Onslow, of
my Lord Temple's resolution to return to Stowe, without accept-
ing any employment ; ' of which I had from my friend Lord
Rockingham the enclosed full account - early the next morning ;
which, least it should not be publick enough, is (I suppose by
my Lord Temple's order) inserted, with the reasons, in all the
newspapers. All our friends, and myself as much as any, were
extremely pleased ; and hoped that great good would, and must,
come from it.

You will see - my sense of it by my answer to my Lord
Rockingham, and the letter I wrote to Gen' Conway. I am
sorry to say that Gen' Conway's letter seems to suppose more
difficulties than I at first apprehended. I shall do my part,
however, in endeavouring to get over them.

There dined here this day the Duke of Richmond, the
Duke of Portland, the Marquess of Rockingham, Earl of Albe-
marle, Earl Spencer, Visct. Villiers, Lord John Cavendish, Lord
Grantham, Genl. Conway, Adml. Keppel, Sir Chas. Saunders,
Sir George Savile, Mr. Dowdeswell, Sir Matthew Fetherstone,
Mr. Chas. Townshend — Spanish,^ Mr. On.slow, Duke of New-
castle. You may imagine that nothing passed as to the present
situation of affairs in so large a company. I heard, however,
that most of the company, in their little separate coteries, seemed
strongly for going on with, and supporting Mr. Pitt's adminis-
tration.

I had an opportunit)' of talking privately to some of them,
particularly to my Lord Rockingham, the Duke of Richmond,

' Grenville Correspondence, iii. 266, 272 sqq.
' A reference to the Appendix.

* Not the relebrated Charles, but the son of Colonel W. Townshend. Called
Spanish as secietary to the ambassador at Madrid {IValpoU [Barker], ii. 134 note).



AS TOLD BY THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 87

the Duke of Portland, and Mr. Conway ; and I found some
difference of opinion with regard to the part to be taken
by our friends, and the support to be given to Mr. Pitt's
administration. But as it was not at all then known what that
administration was to be, no resolution was come to, except that
my Lord Rockingham, and some others were to meet Mr.
Conway the next morning ; but I understand there was nothing
more determined at that meeting. We were all to meet on
Wensday the 23rd at court, when we concluded, (as was the
case) we should be more fully informed of what was intended.

Po. 80 b. Claremont : July 25, 1766.

I shall now give you a full account of what passed at court
on Wensday last ' ; and of the situation of things as they now
stand, as far as is come to my knowledge.

We were all at court and were very civilly received at the
levee. Mr. Pitt had been with' the King two hours at the
Queen's house, that morning. My Lord Chancellor went into
the closet first, and stayed a great while there ; but said not one
word to anybody upon his coming out.

Mr. Conway told me, and I conclude my Lord Rockingham
also, that we should hear from the King the dispositions that
were intended ; that he believed there would be no other altera-
tions ; and particularly told me that he thought it was not
designed to remove the Duke of Portland.

The Duke of Richmond went in first, to whom His Majesty
did not say one single word, relating to the administration, or to
His Grace himself

Mr. Conway went in next, alone, stayed a great while with
the King ; and confirmed what he had said to me before.

My Lord Rockingham went next, stayed a great while with
His Majesty, but gave me no further account of what had passed,

' July 23.



88 CIlANtiKS IN THE MIMSTKV, 1 765-7

than that the King had acquainted him with the design'd altera-
tions ; and had expressed himself in the most gracious manner
imaginable to His Lordship.

The Lord of the Bedchamber had acquainted the King from
the beginning with my being there, and with my desire to have
an audience of His Majesty. The King order'd him to send the
Duke of Grafton in ; (who, I understand, had been sent for ;)
His Grace stayed with His Majesty so long, that it was five
o'clock before I could get admittance. And I will now acquaint
you with every circumstance that passed, as far as my memory
will serve me ; as I am desirous every true friend of mine should
be informed of it.

When I came into the King's closet, at five o'clock. His
Majesty said : as I know how well my Lord Rockingham
and you wish me, I will acquaint you with all that has
passed, as I have my Lord Rockingham ; and then the King
proceeded.

After it was over with my Lord Temple, (of which His
Majesty did not give me any account, tho' he would tell me
every thing) the following arrangement has been agreed to ; the
Duke of Grafton to succeed my Lord Rockingham as First Lord
of the Treasury. I think the King said he was sorry for my
Lord Rockingham : but I am sure His Majesty said, I love
my Lord Rockingham : and am ready to give him any otJier
employment now, or whenever he shall desire to have any other
employment.

I told His Majesty that since my Lord Rockingham was not
to remain, I was very glad the Duke of Grafton was to succeed
him. That His Majesty knew how sincerely I had wished, that
he might have Mr. Pitt's service : but it was in conjunctio)i witJi
his present Ministers ; that I had often told the King that the
present Ministers executed their offices, and particularly my
Lord Rockingham, extremel\- well. His Majesty admitted
that I had done so.) I added that they had gained great credit



AS TOLD BY THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 89

in the nation, and particularly in the City, by their conduct and
measures in parliament. And that I was persuaded that Mr.
Pitt would not increase his popularity by removing them, and
also that if Mr. Pitt's principles were, (as I believed they were)
such as he had professed ; and that he would act up to them, I did
not think that he could find any one set of men in this kingdom,
that would enable him so to do, and to serve His Majesty upon
that foot so well, as His Majesty's present Ministers. The King
made no reply but looked civil.

The King then said smilingly, You know lie will have your
employment. I answer'd, And I am ready, Sir, to give it up, if it
is for Your Majesty's service. And as a mark of it, if Mr. Pitt
had thought proper to have taken any other employment for
himself; and Your Majesty had been pleased to continue me
in the office, where I am, I should have humbl)- beg'd Your
Majesty's leave to retire. My age makes me wish it, and the
only inducement I had to return to \'our Majesty's service, was
the hopes of being able to be of some service to Your Majesty,
and use to your present Ministers ; that that was not now the
case ; that I sincerely thought Mr. Pitt had no occasion for my
advice ; and that, if he had, I was sure he would not take it ; and
therefore my remaining in employment could be of no use to
Your Majesty, or the publick ; and the loss of it could not give
me the least uneasiness, as I have the satisfaction of having so
lately received that gracious declaration from Your Majesty,
' That I had done more service to your Royal Family than
anyone had done from the year 17 14 ;' and that Your Majesty
has been graciously pleased to tell me ' Plow satisfied j^ou was
with my conduct, since you was last pleased to re-admit me into
your service.'

These declarations, so much for my own honor and justifi-
cation, I hoped His Majesty would have no objection to then
being known. To which the King vcr\- readily agreed. As
to the manner, Sir, I cannot sa}- it is the most agreable to



90 CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, 1 765-7

me. JV/iere ts that bed of roses zvhtch Mr. Pitt t>romised vie ? '
And there I left it.'

The King then went on, Mr. Pitt will Jiave my Lord
Camden Chancellor ; I told him I could not turn out my Lord
Northington. Mr. Pitt said I don't desire you, Sir ; except my
Ld. Northington will consent to be President, and, said the King,
my Lord Northington has told me that he is always ready to make
me easy ; and he has accepted the President of the Council.

I own this Law disposition surprized me extremely, upon
many accounts, remembering what I had heard often from His
Majesty upon that subject ; and having never heard one word
of it, or of any such design either from Mr. Conway or from
anybody else 'till that moment.

It did occur to me, tho' I did not mention it to the Kine,
that His Majesty might as well have said to Mr. Pitt when he
desired my place, that he could not turn out an old servant, under
the description, that he had often made of me himself, tvithout
my cotisent ; and that the offer of the place, since it was to be
vacated, might, to save appearances, have been made to me ;
which might have been done very safely ; for no consideration
upon earth should have made me accept it.

The King then told me that the Earl of Shelburne was to be
Secretary of State in the room of the Duke of Richmond ; and.
His Majesty added. And he will make a very good one. To which
I replied. My Lord Shelburne, Sir, has very good parts.

I should have observed at first, that His Majesty told me,
that this new administration was to be founded upon the present
administration ; as Mr. Pitt had said to Mr. Conway in his first
conversation.

I then, as it was my duty, in consequence of the charge which

His Majesty had honor'd me with, expressed my hopes, that

upon the death of the Bishop of Salisbury,- His Majesty would

be pleased to carry into execution the scheme which His

. Chatham CorrespoiuUtue^ ii. 40i>. - John Thomas, died July 20, 1766



AS TOLD BY THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE QI

Majesty had approved ; (and, as far as relates to the Bishop of
Oxford,' was mentioned to me first by the King). The scheme
was viz. the Bishop of Oxford to SaHsbury, the Bishop of
St. David's - to Oxford, and Dr. Moss to St. David's. I had got
Dr. Lowth's promise previously to remove to Oxford, tho' the
value was equal or rather less. His Majesty was extremely
pleased with that, as well as with the proposal, that Dr. Moss
should be Bishop of St. David's,^ This shows how much the
King did then approve the scheme. His Majesty seemed to
make some difficulty now ; and said he would consider of it.

I could not avoid representing to the King how much I
should be mortified, if His Majesty, before I was dismissed from
my office, and when I was in possession of his gracious com-
mands to recommend proper persons on all these vacancies,
should alter his very kind intentions to the Bishop of Oxford.
And I added one argument which I hoped might have weight
with His Majesty, that the Dutchess of Newcastle, who has
been the best friend, and best wife to me for forty-five, and I
might have said, forty-nine years,'' had this so much at heart, that
I did not know how the disappointment might affect her health.
But all I could say produced no other answer, than that His
Majesty ivoiild consider of it, with regard to me.

I cannot but look upon this as the most cruel treatment that
ever man met with ; especially after my services to His Majesty's
Royal Family for over fifty years, so lately and so strongly
acknowledged by the King himself to inc.

Whether this be the Act of the new Minister or not is little
material, for I will suppose that His Majesty can have no other
reason for mortifying me in this manner, and departing from
what he intended, but the fear of disobliging Mr. Pitt.

' John Hume, who succeeded to Salisbury, 1766.

* Robert Lowih, who succeeded to Oxford, 1766.

* Dr. Charles Moss became Bishop of Si. David's, 1 766.

* TliL) were married April 3, 1717.



92 CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY, 1 765-7

This, if it should be the case, shows the extensive power and
influence of Mr. Pitt ; which I hope for the sake of the pubHck
he will use with more humanity, and with greater regard to
merit and long services upon other occasions than he has done
upon this.

The King told me that the alterations would be declared
next week. When I deliver the Privy Seal I shall say what I
think my own honor, and my duty to the King, and my country,
require of me.

In these circumstances, I considered what was to be done ;
and as I knew the Archbp. of Canterbury would do everything
in the world, that was friendly to me ; and as His Grace was, by
the King, joined in commission with me, I desired he would wait
upon His Majesty, on Friday last, (which he did) and the
enclosed ' copy of the Archbishop's- letter, sent tome immediatel}-
upon his coming from court, will inform you, that His Majesty
had been pleased, with great chearfulness, and strong ex-
pressions of regard to me, to do what I had proposed, with
relation to the Bishops.

I imagined, however, that Mr. Pitt had been consulted ; and
I since know (and the owning it makes it rather better than
worse) that the King told the Archbishop that His Majest)',
being on the point of taking Mr. Pitt for his Minister, did not
think it would be proper for him to take such a step as this
without previously acquainting his intended Minister with it;
and that he had done so, and was now ready to agree to what
had been proposed. And this was the reason for his not doing
it imvicdiatcly.

I believe I can acquaint )'ou with an anecdote that may give