to receive the King's further commands at St. James's.

Nothing can equal the infinite goodness of his Majesty in remembering with such benignity the health of his most dutifully devoted servant, nor equal the sentiments of most profound respect and warmest gratitude with which so gracious a condescension fills his heart.

THE RIGHT HON. HENRY SEYMOUR CONWAY TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

London, September 26, 1766.

I HEREWITH transmit to your Lordship the letter received this day from Sir Andrew Mitchell. (') The King had the despatch with him; and not having read it before the levee and council, which sat till four o'clock, it was not till just now I received it back. I think, on re-perusing it, that the manner of his receiving the proposition is cold and disagreeable; but yet not such as makes the prospect of its success at all desperate, on his part. Sir Andrew has kept Pollock the messenger to send with his next despatches, which we may expect in some days, or a week at farthest: they will probably clear up any doubt as to Mr. Stanley's preparations to pass through Berlin, and I shall

(1) See p. 46.

endeavour to have things so prepared, as no time may be lost when he shall be ready to depart.

The language from Russia is only a repetition of what we heard before. The treaty of commerce is returned with the ratification; but M. Panin still insists on his former terms as the sine quâ non. That, however, is no more than a repetition of former conversations. There is a disagreeable paragraph of his confidential account of the King of Prussia's health. () I am, my Lord, with great respect, your Lordship's

Most humble

and obedient servant,

H. S. CONWAY.

(1) Sir George Macartney, in a letter to Sir Andrew Mitchell, dated St. Petersburgh, Aug. 24-Sept. 4, 1766, says, "This day I exchanged the ratification of the treaty of commerce with this court, and have now the satisfaction to inform you, that this affair is at last happily and finally concluded. I send you a collection of the principal papers that have passed during the course of the negotiation; which will, I believe, sufficiently evince my zeal and activity for the service, and how little I deserved to have an ambassador put over my head, at a court where, I will venture to say, no foreign minister ever stood upon a better footing, or enjoyed a higher reputation. Highly sensible of the undeserved slight put upon me by the nomination of Mr. Stanley, I have desired my recall, in a letter to Mr. Conway by this messenger. I must here inform you, that ten days ago, M. Panin told me, in confidence, that the King of Prussia had frequent fits of the spleen, which for the time totally disordered his understanding; that it was very carefully kept secret, or glossed over by another name, but that nothing was more certain. He added, that if Russia did not keep him in awe, qu'il étoit très capable de faire de grandes sottises.' Notwithstanding this, M. Panin, I am persuaded, will support

THE DUKE OF GRAFTON TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Grosvenor Square, September 26, 1766.

MY DEAR LORD,

At night.

ON coming first into the King's closet, his Majesty entered on the subject of the Prussian affair; not having read the despatch upon it, but only informed in regard to it by the audience he had just given to the secretaries of state. I declined giving any opinion upon it, till I could see the exact terms in which a delicate affair (as it was reported to be) was expressed. I added also some surprise, that it had not come to the King's hands: on which the King went into another room to see if it had been sent from the office since he had got to St. James's. He found it in a box just come, and read it out; when, turning to me, his Majesty asked

him at all events; for hearing it repeated the other day, that Stahremberg and Lacy, dazzled by their present elevation, had said they believed Providence had reserved the recovery of Silesia to illustrate their ministry, he, Panin, answered, By God, if they attempt it, it shall cost them the half of Bohemia.'

"You have already seen, by the copy of my letter to Mr. Conway, what are the sentiments of this court with regard to ours upon the subject of alliance. For my part, I am convinced that M. Panin will never recede from the principle he first set out upon, of including a Turkish war in the casus fœderis. He is irritated against us for our refusal of this condition, more than I venture to express to the office, in so much that he makes no scruple to declare publicly, that, seeing the conduct of our court, he consented to sign the late treaty of commerce at last, merely from personal consideration and friendship to me."

me my thoughts upon it; which I delivered as nearly in these words as I can recollect:-" The expressions of doubt from his Prussian Majesty arise more from the apprehension he either has of some particular notion he may have conceived of a momentary view that Great Britain has in this proposal, or of the despair of an opening advantageous to the common good of Europe, rather than from any determined resolution of declining the offer; of which, on the contrary, his Prussian Majesty seems earnest to know the particulars, and adds, that he is sensible of the mark of confidence that the King intends him."

I added, that on the whole, I could have no doubt but that Mr. Stanley should still attempt the alliance; in which opinion his Majesty concurred entirely. I shall be greatly flattered if your Lordship's opinion should confirm me in mine. · I must not omit observing, that the King, on reading it over, and coming to the words "the quick changes that had happened in our administrations," started, and said "God forbid that there should be any more!" particularly as these words dropped with the greatest quickness and air of sincerity. (1)

(1) In a letter written, at this time, by Sir Andrew Mitchell to Sir George Macartney, there is this passage: "I own myself unable to judge either of the solidity or duration of the present administration, till the meeting of parliament. One thing, however, I feel, as I suppose you do, that the late frequent changes in England have created a degree of diffidence in foreign powers, which renders all negotiation with them difficult and disagreeable."

On opening the whole affair relating to Lord Northumberland, I said that "it must be in his Majesty's breast, whether to reward in that high manner a servant whose merit had recommended him to his Majesty, and whose feelings were strong by the disappointment occasioned by arrangements taken for the ease of his Majesty's government; that I could not but approve of the resolution taken of opening the door for pretensions no wider than a promise obliged it to be, in which I should be glad to give every assistance that his Majesty's determination on that head should lead him to as little trouble as possible." He ordered me then to acquaint Lord Northumberland, that I had left his Majesty in a favourable disposition on the point.

I must observe, that I mentioned to the King a circumstance which was much approved; that as so great a mark of favour was designed for Lord Cardigan, his lordship should be informed, that Lord Northumberland desired it might be, and declared that it was known by the King, that he was to hold in no time an office of court or of ministry with it. By this your Lordship may find one for your disposal and to facilitate the system, in that of the governor of Windsor Castle,

if you should approve it.

All the other letters I shall write according to what was settled between us, and since approved of by the King; who trusts that Lord Chancellor and the Lord President will be acquainted with this whole transaction from your Lordship. I am