of opinion that it ought to be asked without any previous intimation of it, or feeling the ground beforehand, I have deferred doing more in it till I have further directions, which I was the more inclined to wait for, as Mr. Pitt told me that he and my brother Jemmy are to be with you to-morrow, and you will then have an opportunity of talking over the whole very fully with them, for which purpose I have given to Mr. Pitt the copy of your letter, and desired him to deliver this to you, and if you will send me the result of your opinions I will execute them directly. My wife desires her best and kindest compliments to you which I join, and am, &c., &c.

and to my sister, with GEORGE GRENVILLE.

MR. GRENVILLE-TEMPLE TO MR. GEORGE GRENVILLE.

Thursday, September 28, 1749.

DEAR BROTHER,-I had the pleasure of meeting with so strong an approbation of the step intended, and in so many different lights, that I did not hesitate a moment in sending you the letter which I was forced to trust to hands a little uncertain, the post being gone out; if you received it, as I hope, last night, I imagine I may hear some sort of answer by to-morrow's post, but if the letter has miscarried I send you the inclosed, desiring you to seal it, and deliver it as soon as may be.

With regard to the titles, BUCKINGHAM I cannot depart from on any account, if it can be had, but I do not find my affairs in a state to part with 7007. or 800l. more for the difference of writing TEMPLE as a title, instead of it as a name. I think it is next to impossible that what I ask should be refused; but as nothing is

VOL. I.

G

quite impossible in the political world, I can only say, I am very indifferent about the event as to my own mind, in every light but that of being refused so errand a trifle.

My love to your spouse', and so adieu! Pitt is in raptures at Stowe.

Pray send me the inclosed back if you have delivered the other.

MR. GEORGE GRENVILLE TO MR. GRENVILLE-TEMPLE.

Upper Brook Street, September 28, 1749.

I RECEIVED your letter last night, dear Brother, and in consequence of it, carried the letter inclosed in it to the Duke of Newcastle'. I obeyed your directions, and gave him your letter with very little introduction. As soon as he had read it he expressed to me his desire of doing anything to oblige you, in general terms, but very strongly. I stated to him very shortly the nature of the request, and added some expressions to show that I thought it of no great importance. After this, many things passed between us which it is too long to enter into the particular detail of till I see you, but the conclusion was, that he desired me to assure you that he would use his utmost endeavours that it may succeed according to your desire, that he would represent it to the King in a day or two, and seemed not to doubt

1 Mr. Grenville had been recently married to Miss Elizabeth Wyndham, the daughter of Sir William Wyndham, and granddaughter of Charles, Duke of Somerset.

2 Thomas Holles-Pelham, Duke of Newcastle, at this time Secretary of State.

3 As before stated, for a promotion in the peerage, in favour of Viscountess Cobham, their mother.

of its being complied with; he asked me if he should write to you to-night, or whether I would tell you how earnest he would be in what might contribute to please us, and that he would defer writing to you himself till he could give you the King's answer, which he hoped to do in two or three days. I left this to his choice, and he desired me to make you his excuses to-night, and say that he would write to you very soon.

Upon the whole, I look upon your application as complied with, as far as His Grace can promise. He talked as if he was to ask the King for the title of Earl Cobham, which obliged me to say that the words referring to Lord Cobham in your letter did not intend that, for I thought you was inclined to BUCKINGHAM; he immediately objected that it was already bestowed, which I denied, but said I would leave that to be settled hereafter, if the rest was granted, but that no title should be mentioned.

He then asked me whether you designed to include in this all that are in the former limitation, that is to say, Mr. L', &c. I said that I apprehended your letter did not apply for that, and I could say nothing to it. This is the sum total of our conversation, which was ended with many and the strongest assurances of friendship and regard to us, by which I conclude that you will not meet with much difficulty in the thing, but perhaps you may in the name; however, I would not enter into that, as it seemed premature till the other was settled. Adieu. GEORGE GRENVILLE.

1 Mr. George Lyttelton, who was in remainder through his mother, Christian Temple, to the titles enjoyed by Lord Cobham on failure of issue male of the elder sister, Hester Temple, now Viscountess Cobham.

MR. GRENVILLE-TEMPLE TO MR. GEORGE GRENVILLE.

Stowe, Saturday, September 30, 1749.

MY DEAR GEORGE, I cannot tell you how much pleased every one is here with the manner of His Grace's proceeding, and how much good we promise to our little society from this event, which the more it has been sifted has appeared the more proper and expedient in every light. We all take it for granted the thing is done. I only write this to apprize you more particularly about BUCKINGHAM, which is probably the only difficulty remaining. If you are spoke to upon it, I think it will be proper to mention the instance of Devonshire and Exeter, supposing always, that if the Heralds' Office was to be examined, there are a great many more of the same examples; next, to show the extreme propriety of my having it, on account of the real service it may do me in the borough', and my having the best estate in the county. Was it not for the real service it will do me, I know no difference whatever betwixt one form of letters and another, and I am sure if I had had BUCKINGHAM, and Lord Hobart' had applied for BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, I should not have cared one tittle: however, when this has been insisted upon and explained as far as is prudent and necessary, we will not kick down an excellent pail of milk by a wrong-headed obstinacy, but desire the title of Countess TEMPLE. If I have the King's consent by to-morrow's post, I shall be in town on Tuesday in

1 Of Buckingham.

2 John, Lord Hobart, had been recently created Earl of Buckinghamshire.

order to wait upon the Duke of Newcastle on Wednesday, and pay my duty to the King on Thursday. I take it for granted it is to be done forthwith, which gives the greatest grace to it.

It will be proper to fix something exactly about Hetty', as it will be necessary to know what to call her, and I should think the Heralds' Office would be the proper place to send to even if she determines to go to Court; but I only mention this, leaving it to her to do as she will, and so adieu! with all our compliments to Mrs. Grenville.

I wish you would employ anybody to search for precedents in the Heralds' Office as soon as you hear of the King's consent to the Earldom. I will write to Lyttelton about the limitations, which I think in no light with the expense, but, above all not to fret the King, who dislikes them, especially as Lyttelton has thoughts of applying himself, some time or other, for a Peerage'.

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. GRENVILLE-TEMPLE.

Claremont, September 30, 1749. DEAR SIR,-I had the honour of your letter by Mr. Grenville, and though I very sincerely condole with you the death of poor Lord Cobham, I cannot but take a very sensible part in the situation you are in, so agreeable to your friends and servants, and so material and

upon

1 When her mother was created a countess, her daughter would, of course become, by courtesy, Lady Hester Grenville.

2

Lyttelton succeeded his father in the baronetcy in 1751, and was made a peer by the title of Baron Lyttelton, in November, 1756. Horace Walpole says of him, that "his great ambition was to go to Heaven in a coronet."