refignation the leaft embarraffing to government in the ordinary functions of office, and at the fame time as a proof of a difpofition to confult the honour of the Houfe of Commons, as it flands pledged by the refolution of the 6th of January. This laft is a preliminary, which, as a friend to the fpirit of the conftitution, I must think myself bound invariably to require. With refpect to myself, I am willing to hope that I have not been miftaken in the conception I formed of your wishes, by fuppofing that it was with Mr Pitt that you were defirous I fhould have a liberal and unreferved intercourfe, and not with the head of an administration, to which I was merely to bring an acceffion of ftrength. But Mr Pitt's meffage places him in another character; and your own good fenfe will readily fuggeft to you, that it was impoffible for me to fuppofe that your expectations extended to a confidential conference with him, as the reprefentative of the prefent adminiftration. If I had done this, I must have fallen in your esteem, (which, I affure you, is a very ferious object to me), as I fhould have fhewn myfelf infenfible of what is due to the Houfe of Commons. expec. I have unreservedly submitted to you my ideas of the extent of your expectations. In conformity with those tations, (Mr Pitt having uniformly declined to fuggeft any expedient on his part), I took the liberty of fuggefting an expedient, which I thought might put us into a fituation, in which the intercourfe you wished might take place with propriety. I fhall be happy to find that my propofitions have met with your approbation; but, in every grant, I hope that my anxiety to merit the partiality you have fhewn me, will intitle me to its continuance. I have the honour to be, &c. T. Grosvenor, Esqi adopted by the House of Commons; namely, the procuring a firm, efficient, extended, united administration, intitled to the confidence of the people, and fuch as may have a tendency to remove the unfortunate divifions and distractions of this country." At a meeting, Feb. 9. the gentlemen of the committee, after the minutes of the former meetings were read, made report of another conference held with Mr Pitt on the fubject of an union of parties; but as the Duke of Portland refufed to treat while Mr Pitt continued in office, the negotiation was fufpended. The prefent ftate of parties in the nation was then very generally canvaffed, and it was refolved that the present meeting fhould continue to be held once a-week, at least, during the fitting of parliament, in order to watch any period that may prefent, of forwarding fuch an union as feems to be abfolutely neceffary at this particular juncture, and to recommend it in their places in parliament. On Saturday, Feb. 14. agreeably to public notice, the electors of Westminfter affembled in Westminster Hall, with a view to agree to addrefs his Majefty upon the prefent ftate of public affairs. About 12 o'clock Mr Fox and his friends came; and after much disorder and confufion, were put into poffeffion of the place where the chair ftood. The riot of contending interefts, the clamour of alternate groans and plaudits, and the inceffant acclamations of Fox on one fide, and Pitt on the other, drowned the attempts of every individual to obtain the notice of the multitude. At this time fome unfeen hand threw a bag of noxious ingredients at Mr Fox, of which it is faid he experienced the ill effects. After a struggle of confiderable length, when neither party could be heard, it was propofed to try their ftrength by a divifion, Mr Fox agreed to it. Sir • A committee was afterwards appointed to investigate this matter, who, upon the teftimony of Mr W. Stock, chymift in Ludgate hill, reported, that the bag contained Capsicum and Euphorbium, which laft is a drug of fo poifonous and fubtile a nature, that a very small quantity reaching the flomach of any perion, might produce the most fatal confequences. A reward of 200 guineas was offered for difcovering any of the perfons concerned in preparing or throwing the bag; but no difcovery has been made. Cecil Cecil Wray led up his party towards the top of the Hall; and Mr Fox, his into Palace Yard; and when out, they were kept out. Mr Fox then, from the win dow of the King's Arms tavern, addreffed his followers, who were faid to be fix times as numerous as thofe who remained in the Hall. Refolutions were afterwards framed by each party, and published in the papers. The following letters paffed between William Hodgson of Coleman-ftreet mer chant, and Lord Grantham, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State. Mr Hodg fon to Lord Grantham. My LORD, Coleman-street, Mar. 18. 1783. Although I have not the pleasure of being perfonally known to your Lordhip, I flatter myself your Lordship will excufe this addrefs, on a fubject where your Lordship's honour and character are much concerned. I am one of the many, who, in confequence of the preliminary articles, ap. plied to your Lordship's office for pafies, purfuant to the regulations agreed upon betwixt the belligerent powers. My surprise and aftonishment were great indeed, when my clerk informed me, that the clerks in your Lordship's office demanded, and took from him, the fum of 301. 14 s. for the neceffary paffes for one fhip. I wrote to Paris, to know if a fimilar demand was made there, and yefterday received a letter from his Excellency Dr Franklin, wherein he affures me, that the paffes were delivered gratis there. His Excellency at the fame time informed me, that 200 of these paffes were counterchanged; by which your Lordship will fee, that the clerks in your Lordship's office have plundered the merchants of this city of the enormous fum of fix thousand guineas. Is this, my Lord, fit and right? I am fure your Lordship's mind must revolt at fuch rapacity in men who are liberally paid for doing the public bufinefs. Your Lordship will be pleafed to confider of the propriety of ordering reftitution to be made. I think it most refpectful to your Lordship, to afford your Lordship the opportunity of making fome arrangement relative thereto. At the fame time, I wish your Lordship fully to understand, that if no redress is offered, I am determined to bring the affair before a court of juftice, to which, fhould I be drove, your Lordship's name fhall not be ufed, unless my counsel think it abfolutely ne. ceffary to the regularity of the proceedings, having great perfonal refpect for your Lordship's character. I fhall do my felf the honour of waiting upon your Lordship, if your Lordship wishes any further explanation, &c.—I am," &c. Lord Grantham's answer. "SIR, Whitehall, Mar. 24. 1783. I have received yours of the 18th inftant, and am obliged to you for the expreffions of perfonal attention to me, which are contained in it. You do me juftice in fuppofing that I fhould be an enemy to any innovation or extortion. I have made inquiry on the subject of your letter, and find that the fees received on the delivery of each pafs, have been the fame with thofe that were taken in fimilar circumftances, in the years 1719, 1748, and 1763, of which the office books furnish repeated proofs. I am very defirous that you should have every fatisfaction on this fubject, and will direct any information to be furnished you, which you may think expedient to call for.- -I am," &c. Mr Hodg fon's reply. "My Lord, I have received the honour of your Lordship's letter of Mar. 24. in anfwer to mine of the 18th. I the trouble your Lordship has been am much obliged to your Lordship for pleafed to take, in caufing inquiry to be made into the books of the office for pre cedents. As your Lordship states an ufage fimilar to the prefent to have prevailed fince the year 1719, I prefume I am to conclude your Lord whip is of opinion, that that ufage will juftify the officers on the prefent occafion. If your Lordship fo reafons, and fo concludes, I am forry for it; because I thip the faireft opportunity of doing your flattered myself I had given your Lordfelf much honour, and of acquiring much reputation, by correcting an abuse of so long ftanding. Extortion, mý Lord, ceafes not to be extortion because it has been practifed for a length of time with impunity, and, in my poor judgement, it is the more neceffary to ftop its further progress; I fhall, therefore, mỳ Lord, be under the neceflity of having recourfe to a court of juftice for a cor rection of this evil.—I am," &c. Mr Hodgson accordingly brought the caufe into the court of king's bench, where it was tried on Friday the 20th of February, before Lord Mansfield and a fpecial Special jury. Mr Hodgson was plaintiff, and Jeremy Sneyd, on the part of the fecretary of ftate, defendant. The caufe being of great confequence to the mercantile intereft, much attention was paid to it by the court, and the matter was ably argued by the counsel on both fides. The defence refted on the authority of cuftom and ancient ufage; but failing in the proof, and the merits of the cafe being clearly stated by the Noble Lord on the bench, to the entire fatisfaction of the jury, a verdict was given for the plaintiff. On Feb. 28. a committee of the common council of the city of London went in proceffion to Berkley Square, and prefented the refolutions of the court to Mr Pitt. Mr Ald. Townshend addreffed Mr Pitt in an elegant speech; to which a moft polite answer was returned. The cavalcade then returned, amidst the acclamations of applauding thousands, to Grocers Hall, where Mr Pitt received the freedom of the city. Upon this occafion, Mr Wilkes, the Chamberlain, made the following speech. lity, and purity of public virtue, which diftinguish you, for the reformation of many and great abufes, as well as the fteady protection of our chartered rights, property, and freedom. The adminiftration of your Noble father gave us fe curity at home, carried the glory of this nation to the utmoft height abroad, and extended the bounds of the empire to countries where the Roman eagle never flew. A late adminiftration undertook an unjuft and wicked war, which dif membered the empire, by depriving us of our most valuable colonies, and has brought us almost to the brink of bankruptcy. To reftore this kingdom to any degree of profperity and greatnefs, demands the utmoft exertions of virtue and ability, with every fupport, both of the Crown and people at large. I hope you will meet with both; and I know how high you stand in the confidence of the public. Much is to be done; but you have youth, capacity, and firmness. It is the characteristic of a true patriot, never to defpair: and we have a wellgrounded hope of your making us again. a great, powerful, happy, and united people, by a steady, uniform, wife, and difinterefted conduct. Your Noble father, Sir, annihilated party; and I hope you will in the end beat down and conquer the hydra of Faction, which now rears its hundred heads against you. I remember his faying, "That for the good of the people he dared to look the proudeft connections of this country in the face." I trust that the fame fpirit animates his fon; and as he has the fame fupport of the Crown and the people, I am firmly perfuaded that the fame fuccefs will follow." To which Mr Pitt returned the following anfwer. "Sia, I give you joy, and I congratulate the city of London on the important acquifition it has this day made. I reckon it, Sir, among the molt fortunate events of my life, that I have the honour of being directed by the unanimous refolution of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, to inrol your name in the archieves of this metropolis, among thofe princes and heroes who have been the benefactors of our country, and the friends of mankind, with the glorious deliverer of this nation, with the hero of Culloden, with the illu ftrious statesman from whom you derive your defcent. The city of London, Sir, with pride and exultation, now behold, revived in the fon, thofe folid virtues, fhining talents, and powerful eloquence, which they long admired in the father, but, above all, that generous love of our country, and its divine conftitution, fuperior to the groveling fordid views of private felf-intereft, or perfonal ambition. You have, Sir, thus early in your mini- Mr Pitt was afterwards entertained fterial career, commanded the esteem and with a moft fumptuous dinner. The admiration of this city and nation, by a city, on this occafion, was one continued noble act of difinterestedness in favour of scene of joy; a general illumination clothe public, for which I believe you fed the evening, in which feveral emble fcarcely could find a precedent, nor Imatical devices were exhibited, which fear will you be imitated by any future difplayed equal ingenuity and tafte. The minifter. illuftrious vifitor's carriage was drawn by the people from Berkley Square to the We look up, Sir, to that fuperior abi "SIR, I beg to return you my best thanks for your very obliging expremions. Nothing can be more encouraging to me, in the difcharge of my public duty, than the countenance of thofe whom, from this day, I may have the honour of calling my fellow-citizens." end end of the proceffion, and back in the evening; when much confufion enfued, many windows were broken for not illuminating, &c. On Saturday, Feb. 7. his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales had a levee, for the first time, at his palace at CarletonHouse, at which a great number of diftinguished perfonages attended; among whom were feveral foreign minifters. The company were received in the apart ment which was formerly the drawing room of the late Princess-Dowager, and were fo exceedingly numerous, that PallMall was crowded with carriages till near five o'clock. His Royal Highness's dress was a fcarlet frock, and filk waistcoat and breeches of the Emperor's eye co lour. He received all the vifitors with great familiarity, but fat all the time on a ftate-chair with a foot-ftool. Soon after the difmiffion of the late miniftry, the London Gazette began to be crowded with addreffes to the King from all parts of Great Britain, and even from fome places in Ireland, expreffing the highet fatisfaction at the late change of miniftry; profeffing the warmeft loyalty to his Majefty's perfon and government; and promising the firmeft fupport in the exercises of his juft prerogatives. A few of the addreffes recommended to his Majefty to appoint an adminiftration formed upon a broad bafis, in whom the parliament can confide. We infert the addreffes of the city of London, the county of Middlefex, the city of Edinburgh, and the second address of the inhabitants of Wolverhampton. Addrefs of the city of London, prefented by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Common Council. "WE, your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the city of London, in Common Council affembled, confider it incumbent on us, at the prefent alarming moment, to approach the Throne with renewed affurances of our most faithful and constant attachment to your Majesty's perfon and government. Your faithful citizens lately beheld, with infinite concern, the progress of a measure, which equally tended to incroach on the rights of your Majefty's crown, to annihilate the chartered rights of the Eaft-India Company, and to raise a new power unknown to this free government, and highly inimical to its fafety. As this dangerous measure was warm ly fupported by your Majefty's late minifters, we heartily rejoice in their difmiffion, and humbly thank your Majefty for exerting your prerogative in a manner fo ialutary and conftitutional. It is impoffible for us to confider that event without fresh admiration of the conftitution handed down by our anceftors; and we truft that in the wellcompounded legislature of this kingdom, there will ever be found fome branch ready to defend the rights and liberties of the people, and to preserve inviolate the faith and honour of parliamentary engagements. SIRE! The prerogatives of your Majesty's high office were annexed thereto for the good of the people; and we beg your Majefty will receive our earnest affurances, that the citizens of London will always fupport the constitutional exercise of them to the utmost of their power. Highly fenfible of your Majefty's paternal care and affection for your people, we pray the Almighty that you may long reign in peace over a free, an happy, and united nation. (Signed) WILLIAM RIX. To which his Majefty returned the following Answer. "I thank you for this dutiful and affectionate addrefs, and for the expreffions of your attachment to my perfon, and your zeal for the excellent conftitution of this country. My faithful Citizens of London may always depend upon my earneft attention to the welfare of all my fubjects, and may affure themselves, that in the exercife of the powers with which I am invefted by the conftitution, I fhall uniformly endeavour to promote the happinefs and profperity of my people." County of Middletex, prefented by G. Byng, one of the reprefentatives. "WE, your Majefty's dutiful and loyal fubjects, freeholders of the county of Middlefex, affure your Majefty of our most cordial attachment to your perfon and government, and our reverence for the conftitution as established at the glorious Revolution. We cannot reflect on the very peculiar fituation of the country at the prefent moment, and the melancholy ftate of the national credit, without representing the neceffity that appears for the moft diligent and active endeavours of those whom your Majefty fhall think proper to intrust with the conduct of the public affairs, to relieve relieve the one and to restore the other; but we must despair of seeing their ut moft exertions attended with the leaft fuccefs, unless they are affifted and promoted by the co-operation of your parliament. Therefore, confidering it as t! beft pledge we can give of our affection and loyalty to your Majefty, we moft humbly implore your Majefty to appoint fuch an adminiftration as may poflefs the confidence of your parliament and the public; that, by the means of their united efforts, fuch meafures may be pursued as may tend effectually to eftablish the glory and happiness of your Majefty's reign, and permanently fecure the true interests of all your dominions." County of Middlesex, prefented by Mr Wilkes, the other representative. "DETERMINED as we are to refift at all times every innovation on any branch of our happy and glorious conftitution, and to continue to us the rights and privileges of Englishmen, ftruggled for and obtained by our ancestors at the price of their blood, permit us to affure your Majefty, that we view with honeft indignation the conduct of your Majefty's late minifters and their adherents, who in combination, under a specious coalition, attempted, To violate the rights of the firft commercial company in the world, granted by charter, and confirmed by the folemn faith of the country, viz. the acts of its legislature; To raise up a new executive power in the ftate, unknown to the conftitution of this country; To deprive, or at least overawe one branch of the legislature from conftitutionally exercising its juft prerogative, for the good of the people. Happily for this country, your Majefty has been pleased to remove from your councils men of fuch turbulent and tyrannical dispositions, for which we beg leave to render your Majesty our humble and hearty thanks; and to affure your Majefty of our inviolable attachment to your Royal perfon and family, and that we will, to the utmost of our power, fupport and defend the juft prerogative of the crown, the freedom of parliament, and the rights and privileges of the people, as effentially neceffary to the welfare of this country. Barnard Turner,' Sheriffs. City of Edinburgh, prefented by Ja. Hunter-Blair, their reprefentative. "WE, your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Lord Provost, Magiftrates, and Council of the City of Edinburgh, think ourselves called upon in the prefent fituation of public affairs, to approach your Majefty's throne with fresh affurances of our attachment to your person, and unremitting zeal for your government. We could not help being greatly alarmed at the attempt lately made to violate the rights of a moft refpectable body of your Majefty's fub jects; to impair the fecurity of every fi milar title founded on charter, or on the moft folemn acts of the legislature; and even to raife up a new executive power in the ftate, which might have been attended with the moft pernicious confequences. With fatisfaction, therefore, we obferve, that a measure so fa tal, though hurried through one branch of the legiflature, has been effectually checked in another; and we are happy in perceiving the effect of that excellent balance in our conftitution, which fecures the whole from any dangerous innovation, to which a part may be in. clined. With gratitude to your Majefty, and with a juft fenfe of your royal wisdom, we learn, that the perfons who urged that dangerous measure are removed from your councils. That it may please Almighty God long to preferve your Majefty as the inftrument of his beneficent providence, in fupporting the juft authority of government, and principles of the conftitu. tion, so neceffary to the safety of your people, is the earneft prayer of, &c. (Signed) JOHN GRIEVE, Provost. Jan. 23. 1784. The addrefs of the inhabitants of Wolverhampton, figned by 161 perfons, having been mentioned in parliament as if unfairly obtained, the inhabitants met a fecond time, and fent up the following, figned by 2485 perfons. "THE mifreprefentations of a defperate faction having marked, with an unmerited obloquy, our loyal addrefs to your Majefty, as not containing the general fentiments of the inhabitants of this town, we feel ourselves again compelled to approach your Royal prefence.-Bold in the fpirit of independence, we stand supe rior to the despicable views of party inte reft, |