and loved the noble virtues of the son ('), reveres the illustrious father, and dedicates to his whole house increasing respect and attachment. I remain Your Grace's affectionate

and humble servant,

CHATHAM.

THE DUKE OF RUTLAND TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

Belvoir Castle, November 19, 1770.

THE severe distress attending my unfortunate situation has prevented, has indeed disabled me from sooner returning those sincere thanks which have been long due from me to your Lordship, for your most affectionate letter.

Nothing could have given me so great a consolation, in my many painful reflections on the private virtues of an amiable son, as to receive so illustrious

(1) Junius, in a note to a collection of his letters published after the decease of the Marquis of Granby, says, -"The death of Lord Granby was lamented by Junius. He undoubtedly owed some compensations to the public, and seemed determined to acquit himself of them. In private life he was unquestionably that good man, who, for the interest of his country, ought to have been a great one. Bonum virum felicè dixeris; magnum libenter. I speak of him now without partiality: I never spoke of him with resentment. His mistakes in public conduct did not arise from want of sentiment or want of judgment, but in general from the difficulty of saying No to the bad people who surrounded him."-Vol. i. p. 105.

a testimonial of his public virtues from the hand and heart of Lord Chatham; who always judges the best and feels the warmest, for the public service and safety.

What I should beg leave to offer to your Lordship, my poor assistance towards forwarding your noble endeavours for the good of this country, will, I fear, come far short of what it might have done before my great loss; but such as is in my power to give, your Lordship will have, and with it my warmest wishes.

It is a great addition to my sorrow, that I am so soon, in my turn, to enter on the melancholy task of condoling with your Lordship. I heartily sympathise with you and with the public, in the very great loss which your Lordship's family, and which this kingdom, has sustained by the death of Mr. Grenville.

My sincerest wish is, that success, happiness, and uninterrupted health may attend your Lordship, and enable you to pursue your noble and virtuous plan; by which alone we may expect protection from confusion and from ruin. I have the honour to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most sincere

and obliged humble servant,

RUTLAND.

THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ.

Saturday, past one o'clock, November 10, 1770.

MY DEAR SIR,

I SEND you a thousand sincere thanks for your kind solicitude about me and mine. The account of last night is such as, for the first time, seems to Lady Chatham and myself a ground of some solid hope. Dr. Addington's judgment, that a fever suppressed is Mr. Grenville's case, was yesterday happily verified by the appearance of a considerable eruption on the face; the pulse kept up sufficient for nature, aided by Dr. Addington's plan, to throw off the evil. Lady Chatham is gone to town today, full of hope: pray God, the evening account may confirm and increase this happy gleam!

Lord Mayor (') has just left me; the object of his visit was the press-warrant. His Lordship's discourse was candid and manly. I frankly declared the fullest opinion against striking at this necessary means of public safety, be the popularity of it what it may. He answered with good sense and discretion; adding the most obliging expressions towards me. What resolution his Lordship will finally take, he very properly reserved to himself.

(1) Brass Crosby, Esq. Many severe reflections had been thrown out against his predecessor, Alderman Trecothick, for backing press-warrants in the city.

Since writing the above, Lord Rockingham has been with me. His whole language was, as I expected, honourable, just, and sensible. My esteem and confidence in his Lordship's upright intentions grow from every conversation with him.

Ever most affectionately yours,

CHATHAM,

JOHN CALCRAFT, ESQ. TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY DEAR LORD,

Ingress, November 11, 1770.

As your Lordship is to see Serjeant Glynn to

day, it may be proper to inform you of a para

graph in a letter of this morning :- "Within a day or two Mr. Beardmore is to put a question to Mr. Serjeant Glynn, Mr. Dunning, and the common serjeant, whether the Lord Mayor ought, by a requisition from the privy council or admiralty, to back the press-warrants; and if he refuses, what they apprehend will be the consequence?"

On my return last night, I found intelligence of Lord Mansfield's refusal to be Speaker of the House of Lords; which has occasioned great consternation amongst the ministers ('), both on account of

(1) Junius, in a private note to Woodfall, of the 12th of November, says, "Lord Mansfield has thrown ministry into confusion, by suddenly resigning the office of Speaker of the House of Lords."

were,

the mode and time of his doing this. His words "he would not." Just at the meeting, and after frequent audiences in the closet, the measure does seem strong; in his Lordship it may be timidity.(1)

At eleven o'clock on Friday the Duke of Argyle died; by twelve Lord Barrington had a letter from the King, ordering the grey dragoons to Lord Panmure, the Scotch fusileers to Mackay, Mackay's to Urmston of the guards, the government of Limerick to Colonel Hale, and his light dragoons to Colonel Preston. All this without any communication with ministers, or Lord Lieutenant of Ireland!

I am, my dear Lord,

most respectfully and faithfully, yours,

J. CALCRAFT.

(1) The parliament met on the 13th. On the following day, Junius thus addresses Lord Mansfield: "You continue to support an administration which you know is universally odious, and which, on some occasions, you yourself speak of with contempt. You would fain be thought to take no share in government, while, in reality, you are the main spring of the machine. Instead of acting that open, generous part, which becomes your rank and station, you meanly skulk into the closet, and give your sovereign such advice, as you have not spirit to avow or defend. You secretly engross the power, while you decline the title of minister. Are the seals to be for ever in commission, that you may enjoy five thousand pounds a year? I beg pardon, my Lord; your fears have interposed at last, and forced you to resign. The odium of continuing Speaker of the Lords, upon such terms, was too formidable to be resisted."-Vol. ii. p. 179.