to ease and health in reversion, and support myself as I can. Mr. Pelham's illness fills me with infinite concern. I hope this will find Mrs. Grenville perfectly well of her cold. I desire my humblest compliments to her, my very affectionate remembrance to Lord Temple: I don't trouble him with the repetition of my pains and miseries. I am, &c., &c. W. PITT.

MR. PITT TO SIR GEORGE LYTTELTON AND THE GRENVILLE BROTHERS.

March 7, 1754.

MY DEAREST FRIENDS,-The shock of Mr. Pelham's death has affected me so powerfully, as not to leave me in a proper condition to write. I am sensibly touched with his loss, as of a man, upon the whole, of a most amiable composition: his loss as a minister is utterly irreparable, in such circumstances as constitute the present dangerous conjuncture for this country, both at home and abroad. But as I am unable to write long, as well as that generals, in the present exigency, are unavailing, and can, at best, unburden an oppressed mind, I will contract my thoughts to the consideration of the distressful state of things, looking forward for the resources that may be left for this country, instead of wandering into regrets, which a full heart is apt to do.

I will offer to the consideration of my friends but two things: the object to be wished for, the public; and the means; which the object itself seems to suggest; for the pursuit of it, my own object for the public, is, to support the King in quiet as long as he may have to live; and to strengthen the hands of the Princess of

Wales, as much as may be, in order to maintain her power in the Government, in case of the misfortune of the King's demise. The means, as I said, suggest themselves an union of all those in action who are really already united in their wishes as to the object: this might easily be effected, but it is my opinion, it will certainly not be done.

As to the nomination of a Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Fox 'in point of party, seniority in the Corps, and I think ability for Treasury and House of Commons business, stands, upon the whole, first of any.

Doctor Lee if his health permits is Papabilis, and in some views very desirable. Te Quinte Catule, my dear George Grenville, would be my nomination.

A fourth idea I will mention, which if practicable, and worth the person's while, might have great strength and efficiency for Government in it, and be perfectly adapted to the main future contingent object, could it be tempered so as to reconcile the Whigs to it: I mean to secularise, if I may use the expression, the Solicitor General3, and make him Chancellor of the Exchequer. I

1 Henry Fox, afterwards Lord Holland. He was at this time Secretary at War.

2 Dr. Lee was Treasurer of the Household to the Princess of Wales. He was afterwards Dean of the Arches, and a Judge of the Prerogative Court. He died in December, 1758. Horace Walpole mentions Lee at this time, as "an unexceptionable man, sensible, of good character, the ostensible favourite of the Princess, and obnoxious to no set of men for though he changed ridiculously quick on the Prince's death, yet as everybody changed with him, it offended nobody; and what is a better reason for promoting him now, it would offend nobody to turn him out again."

3 It is now well known that the operation proposed by Mr. Pitt would have been by no means agreeable to the subject of it, for of all men who had arrived at a certain eminence in the law, Murray at least was one who had resolved to rise by his profession alone. He loved

call this an idea only; but I think it not visionary, were it accompanied by proper temperaments. I write these thoughts for Lord Temple, his brothers' and Sir George

his profession, and had pursued it with more than the usual ardour and success of his persevering countrymen. Lord Campbell says, that "from a high feeling that his destiny called him to reform the jurisprudence of his country, he sincerely and ardently desired to be placed on the Bench, and the special object of his ambition was, to be Chief Justice of England, with a peerage. . . All impartial observers declare that he invariably refused to go out of his profession for any promotion."-Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chief Justices, vol. ii. p. 380. Only two years later, with what determination did Murray, when Attorney General, resist the splendid offers of the Duke of Newcastle, who, to suit the purposes of the moment, and to retain his services in the House of Commons, tempted him with almost unlimited terms: the Duchy of Lancaster for life; tellerships and reversions; a pension of six thousand a year, &c: but Murray was not to be bought: he meant to rise by his profession: he was Attorney General, and he would succeed to the vacant Chief Justiceship. If he were not to be Chief Justice, he would not remain Attorney, and he would not accept the former without the peerage in addition. Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, who did not desire the rivalship of Murray in the House of Peers, encouraged the hesitation of the Duke of Newcastle; but Murray was determined, and the result is well known. How little likely is it, therefore, that even when only Solicitor General he should have consented to Mr. Pitt's idea of secularization. It is interesting to specu late upon Mr. Pitt's motives for this proposition. It would not have removed Murray from the House of Commons, and therefore he would still have remained a rival orator. Did Mr. Pitt shadow forth a peerage and the Treasury for himself, or was it to prevent the ascendancy of Fox? The Duke of Newcastle might remain Secretary of State: Fox, Murray, Dr. Lee, or George Grenville, might be Chancellor of the Exchequer, but who was to be First Lord of the Treasury? It is evident from the correspondence between Pitt, the Duke of Newcastle, and Lord Hardwicke, that the former was bitterly disappointed at the ministerial arrangements which were subsequently made, and in which he was not included, nor even consulted. He remained only Paymaster of the Forces. The cause assigned in reply to his complaints was, the continued disinclination of the King to admit Pitt to any office which should require his personal communication with the sovereign; but that in some measure to soothe his disappointment, several of his friends, such as Mr. George Grenville, Sir George Lyttelton, Mr. Legge, &c., had been promoted to offices in the Administration.

Lyttelton's consideration only, or rather as a communication of my first thoughts, upon an emergency that has too much importance and delicacy, as well as danger in it, to whoever delivers their opinion freely, to be imparted any farther.

I am utterly unable to travel, nor can guess when I shall be able: this situation is most unfortunate. I am overpowered with gout, rather than relieved, but expect to be better for it. My dear friends over-rate infinitely the importance of my health, were it established : something I might weigh in such a scale as the present, but you, who have health to act, cannot fail to weigh much, if united in views.

I will join you the first moment I am able, for letters. cannot exchange one's thoughts upon matters so complicated, extensive, and delicate.

I don't a little wonder I have had no express from another quarter.

I repeat again, that what I have said are the breakings of first thoughts, to be confined to you four; and the looseness, and want of form in them, to be, I trust, excused in consideration of the state of mind and body of Your ever most affectionate,

W. PITT.

As nothing is so delicate and dangerous, as every word uttered upon the present unexplained state of things, I mean unexplained, as to the King's inclinations towards Mr. Fox, and his real desire to have his own act of Regency as it is called, maintained in the hands of the Princess; too much caution, reserve, and silence cannot be observed towards any who come to fish or sound your dispositions, without authority to make direct propositions. If eyes are really turned

towards any connection of men, as a resource against dangers apprehended, that set of men cannot, though willing, answer the expectation without countenance, and additional consideration and weight added to them, by marks of Royal favour, one of the connection put into the Cabinet, and called to a real participation of councils and business. How our little connection has stood at all, under all depression and discountenance, or has an existence in the eyes of the public, I don't understand that it should continue to do so, without an attribution of some new strength and consideration, arising from a real share in Government, I have difficulty to believe.

I am, however, resolved to listen to no suggestions of certain feelings, however founded, but to go as straight as my poor judgment will direct me, to the sole object of public good.

I don't think quitting of offices at all advisable, for public or private accounts: but as to answering any further purposes in the House of Commons, that must depend on the King's will and pleasure to enable us so to do.

MR. PITT TO EARL TEMPLE.

(March 7, 1754.)

MY DEAR LORD,-I return my answer to Jemmy's and Sir George's dispatch directed to you, and accompany it with this line to give you my apprehensions of Sir George's want of discretion and address, in such soundings as will be, and have been, made upon him, with regard to the disposition of his friends.