THE EARL OF RADNOR (1) TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY LORD, Longford, July 14, 1768. ABOUT eighteen months ago, on an expected promotion of lieutenants in the navy, I recommended Lieutenant Edward Palmer to Sir Edward Hawke, who promised to remember him when the promotion took place; but twelve having lately been promoted and Mr. Palmer forgot, I wrote to Sir Edward and received the enclosed, which I take the liberty to transmit. I must own, as I have steadily and disinterestedly endeavoured to support government, I thought myself entitled to ask such a favour, as the object of it was, in character both public and private, deserving of it. I shall esteem it a favour trust entirely to my own judgment, in a thing which requires much delicacy; or to my skill in a language which other avocations had something impaired. Its prolixity and luxuriances have been pruned by the Doctor's wholesome severity." Dr. Edward Barnard was at this time provost of Eton school, In a canon of Windsor, and rector of Paul's Cray, Kent. memoir of him by George Hardinge, one of his pupils, he is thus described: "In powers of conversation, whether têteà-tête or in a mixed company, I never knew his equal. He was, at all points of companionable entertainment, admirable; but his forte was a picturesque anatomy of character. His narratives, like those of Garrick, brought the figures alive before you, and yet with no theatrical pedantry; in which respect I thought him superior to Garrick." He died in 1781. His (1) William Pleydell Bouverie, first Earl of Radnor. Lordship was, for several years, governor of the Levant or Turkey Company and of the hospital for French Protestants, and a fellow of the Royal Society. He died in 1776. if your Lordship will obtain this promotion for Mr. Palmer, by having his name immediately added to the list. I know it is in your Lordship's power, and by effecting it you will oblige him, who is with great truth and respect, Your Lordship's faithful and RADNOR. LADY CHATHAM TO THE EARL OF RADNOR. [From a copy in her own handwriting.] MY LORD, Hayes, July 16, 1768. LORD CHATHAM continuing still much indisposed and unable to write, begs leave to acknowledge by my hand the honour of your Lordship's letter. He desires me to acquaint your Lordship, that he does not enter into any business, and at the same time to express the insuperable difficulty it would, in any situation, lay him under, to interfere with regard to a promotion in the navy, which Sir Edward Hawke has found necessary to decline. He begs your Lordship will have the goodness to believe it is a real mortification to him to be obliged to excuse himself from obeying your Lordship's commands. I have the honour to be, with great regard, my Lord, &c. HESTER CHATHAM. SIR WILLIAM BEAUCHAMP PROCTER, BART. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM. MY LORD, August 6, 1768. I HOPE to have the honour of your Lordship's assistance at the next election for Middlesex ; which will greatly enlarge my prospect of success, and infinitely oblige Your Lordship's most sincere and most obedient humble servant, W. BEAUCHAMP PROCTER. (') THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO SIR WILLIAM [From a draught in the handwriting of Lady Chatham.] August - 1768. LORD CHATHAM presents his compliments to Sir William B. Procter, and is sorry that the state of his health prevents him from being able to acknowledge himself the honour of his letter. He begs to acquaint Sir William, that he has constantly declined meddling in elections, and therefore hopes (1) In consequence of the death of Mr. Cooke, the colleague of Wilkes, Sir William Beauchamp Procter, the unsuccessful candidate for Middlesex at the general election in March, again offered himself, and was opposed by Serjeant Glynn; who was returned by a majority of 1542 against 1278. that he will be so good as to accept of his excuses on the occasion he has done him the honour to mention. (1) (1) From the beginning of August to the middle of October the state of Lord Chatham's health incapacitated him for all business. The following passages from Mr. Gerard Hamilton's letters to Mr. Calcraft throw no small light on the state of the ministry and of parties during this period :— July 20. Here seems to be for the present a perfect stagnation of politics. The Bedfords declare every where they have the whole in their hands. They abuse the Duke of Grafton, and continue to persecute Shelburne. The King of Sardinia having desired there might be some minister resident at Turin, and George Pitt refusing to go, the appointment of a successor is in Shelburne's department. He recommended Lord Tankerville, but the King refused to adopt his nomination. On Friday last the Duke of Grafton wrote Shelburne word, that the King had destined Lynch for Turin, but he has as yet received no notice from Shelburne of the appointment; whence it is concluded that his Lordship means not to submit, or at least to take one more trial in the closet. This whole transaction is as yet a secret. I have heard, from tolerable authority, that the Bedfords wrote to George Grenville, desiring he would come to town, as they wished to have his advice before they proceeded any further; but that he returned a very cold, unsatisfactory answer, and informed them, that nothing but an application from the King could bring him from the country. The cabinet still continue differing upon every subject on which a difference is possible; so that it does not seem likely things should continue precisely as they are." "July 21. Notwithstanding all his resolutions, Shelburne's temper had got the better of him, and he would have resigned, if the chancellor had not persuaded him to the contrary. The great politician Brown is clear that some negotiation is on foot, and confirms all our other intelligence, that George Grenville is the object of it. The report of the town is, that Lord Bute and the Duke of Grafton have had a violent dispute." "July 22. Lord Bute, it is said, goes abroad the second week in August. It is not yet determined who goes to Turin. The Bedfords have been endeavouring to persuade Lynch, that THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE COUNTESS OF MADAM, СНАТНАМ. Newmarket, October 5, 1768. It would give me the most cordial satisfaction to be able to have the honour of seeing your Ladyship it will be very expensive to him, and is not worth his having; at which piece of chicanery he professes to be outrageous.* I have heard this morning, that Lord North has taken offence at some treatment he has received from the Duke of Grafton. I am thoroughly satisfied, from some information I have lately had, that the court consider Lord Chatham's illness as mere hypocrisy. This distresses them exceedingly, and inclines them to have recourse to George Grenville." 'July 24. Shelburne's employment has been offered to Lord Egmont; first, by two expresses from administration, and afterwards by Rigby, on a visit to him in Somersetshire; but all in vain. He will not accept, and says that though Mr. Grenville is a most disagreeable man to do business with, he is nevertheless the fittest person to be at the head of this country. Upon Egmont's refusal, it was offered to Lord Halifax, who has likewise declined; and I am persuaded Lord Northumberland was tried before either of the other two. The Bedfords, in their conversation at Arthur's, say that George Grenville will take to any body rather than to them. They once had hopes that he would be prevailed on to be secretary of state, in the room of Shelburne. All these circumstances look like an approaching dissolution. My opinion is this, that the Duke of Grafton and the court understand one another; that a change is meant, and that the Bedfords are not in the secret. A packet is arrived from Virginia as well as from Boston. The assembly of that province have sent over a petition to parliament, in which they deny the right of the British legislature to impose In September Mr. Lynch was appointed envoy-extraordinary to the King of Sardinia. |