agreeable as it may be to me, for many private considerations; and have the honour to be always, with the most perfect esteem and respect, Dear Sir, Your most faithful and obedient servant, GRAFTON. THE RIGHT HON. HENRY SEYMOUR CONWAY TO MR. PITT. Pall-Mall, July 21, 1766. SIR, I HAD the favour of a note, by your desire, as I understand, informing me of some circumstances of the plan proposed by you in the settlements soon to take place. After thanking you, Sir, for this confidential communication, I cannot but express my very great satisfaction in the important, and, I am sure I may say, judicious arrangement made for the Treasury, and the great and unexpected pleasure the Duke of Grafton's consent to it gave me, as I am persuaded it will universally do; without making any reflexion on what concerns Lord Rockingham in this disposition: and I am sure I may with great assurance say, that since it could not be the latter, nothing could, in my opinion, be better calculated to please and conciliate those in general with whom I have lately acted; nor add more to the general disposition I think and much hope there is amongst them, to concur in the support of that system, with and under you; in the forming of which, you have declared so favourable and flattering a disposition towards them. I cannot but say, at the same time, that I am the happier in this prospect, because human feelings will always more or less intervene; and because, in my own somewhat delicate situation, I am happy in every thing that tends to give ease and strength and union to that plan which I have long wished for, and which I shall have a particular happiness in seeing supported (for their honour as well as for the sake of certain feelings of my own, which you will I hope think excusable) by those in general, whose principles I have the honour to concur with you in approving. I intended this trouble to be much shorter, and meant it principally to ask you, Sir, how far I am at liberty to mention the particulars communicated to me; which I have hitherto kept most secret, though many of my friends tease me, in consequence of the goodness you honoured me with on Sunday se'nnight, to know what I hear or learn, and the rather as I have now heard the same circumstances from another quarter; and getting out by that means, I may be accused of an affected concealment towards some who are so much inte rested and with many I have seen little proofs of attention and confidence soon get the better of interest, and the want of it hurt more than much greater injuries. I speak this as it affects my present situation of connection with several who expect it from me. I am extremely glad to hear from Mr. Ranby, whom I saw this morning, so good an account of your amendment. I have been these two last days in the country, or should have certainly inquired after it more immediately, and nothing but the fear of being troublesome would have prevented my attempting to wait upon you; which I shall be happy to do whenever it may not be inconveinent, and when I have that honour, shall give you as little trouble as possible; but if in receiving your commands on any subject I could be thought in the least useful, should at the same time be happy if it depended upon me to give you the smallest information my situation might furnish that was worth your attention. I am, Sir, with the greatest truth and respect, Your most obedient and faithful servant, H. S. CONWAY. THE KING TO MR. PITT. MR. PITT, Richmond Lodge, 40 m. past ten, a. m, July 22, 1766. I AM glad you find yourself so much recovered as to be able to come to me to-morrow, I desire, therefore, you will attend me at the Queen's-house, at eleven in the forenoon. GEORGE R. THE RIGHT HON. CHARLES TOWNSHEND TO SIR, MR. PITT. Grosvernor Square, July 22, 1766. HAVING learned, from your message of this morning, that you have been obliged, by circumstances of public convenience, to contract the time which you before desired me to take, in giving my answer upon the subject of our last conversation, I should be sorry to oppose any wishes of mine to a consideration of so superior a nature. At the same time, it is with the utmost regret I now find myself under the necessity of determining upon a point of this nature, without any communication with Lord Townshend and others with whom I act in friendship. When I had the honour of being appointed to the office which I now hold, (') I refused acceptance, until I had first obtained, from the best authority, the fullest assurance that it had been proposed to me with his Majesty's entire approbation: upon the same principle, I am now ready to change it, if it be his Majesty's pleasure, and I should think myself both an ungrateful servant and a bad citizen, if, in such an hour as this, I should decline, from motives of interest or love of ease, resulting from the most lucrative office, to (1) Mr. Townshend was at this time paymaster-general. take whatever station, his Majesty shall command me, in an administration, formed with his perfect approbation. It is doing me, I fear, too much. honour to think I can be of much service to the public in any station, but in this I refer myself to the will of his Majesty, and would not be governed by my own sense or my own preferences. I am, with great personal respect, and the highest consideration, Sir, Your most obedient, and most humble servant, C. TOWNSHEnd. THE KING TO MR. PITT. MR. PITT, Richmond Lodge, 5 m. past eight, p. m., I AM glad your fever has not prevented your proceeding this day, and that you are enabled to lay before me to-morrow, the final arrangement of the Treasury. I shall therefore, be ready to receive you at the Queen's house at eleven. GEORGE R. |