vinced the repeal of the Boston Charter Act would not alone bring the Colonies into any propositions; that the Declaratory Act, though but waste paper, was what galled them; that he should not like nominally to be drove to repealing it. If, therefore, any step was to be taken at this hour, he would wish it might be one which would (not) require any further concessions; and he therefore wished all the Acts might be repealed subsequent to 1763; that he would fairly own the taking any step at this juncture might either be conducive to hurrying France into a treaty with the rebels, or it might make the Colonies less inclined to treat with that insidious nation; that he could not decide which seemed most probable.

February 24. 1778.

THE more I think of the conduct of the Advocate of Scotland*, the more I am incensed against him. More favours have been heaped on the shoulders of that man than ever were bestowed on any Scotch lawyer; and he seems studiously to embrace an opportunity to create difficulty. But men of talents, when not accompanied by integrity, are pests instead of blessings; and true wisdom ought to crush them rather than nourish them.

March 3. 1778.

I THINK Lord G. Germaine's defection a most favourable event. He has so many enemies that he would have been a heavy load when the failure of Burgoyne came to be canvassed in Parliament; yet I never would have recommended his removal. Now he will save us all trouble. The laying it on my bequeathing the government of

* Mr. Henry Dundas, afterwards Lord Melville. The King appears to have taken offence at his support of a motion by Mr. Powys (February 23. 1778) to insert a clause in one of Lord North's conciliatory Bills repealing the Massachusetts Charter Act. The speech of Mr. Dundas on that occasion, though not reported, is mentioned. See Almon's Parliamentary Register, 1778, p. 394.

Charlemont to Carleton is quite absurd, and shows the malevolence of his mind. Carleton was wrong in permitting his pen to convey such asperity to a Secretary of State, and therefore has been removed from the government of Canada. But his meritorious defence of Quebec made him a proper object of military reward; and as such I could not provide for any other General till I had paid the debt his services had a right to claim.

(No date, but supposed to be March 15. 1778.) On a subject which has for many months engrossed my thoughts I cannot have the smallest difficulty instantly to answer the letter I have just received from you. My sole wish is to keep you at the head of the Treasury, and as my confidential Minister. That end obtained, I am willing, through your channel, to accept any description of persons that will come avowedly to the support of your administration, and as such do not object to Lord Shelburne and Mr. Barré, whom personally, perhaps, I dislike as much as Alderman Wilkes; and I cannot give you a stronger proof of my desire to forward your wishes than taking this unpleasant step. But I declare in the strongest and most solemn manner that (though) I do not object to your addressing yourself to Lord Chatham, yet that you must acquaint him that I shall never address myself to him but through you; and on a clear explanation that he is to step forth to support an administration wherein you are First Lord of the Treasury; and that I cannot consent to have any conversation with him till the Ministry is formed; that if he comes into this, I will, as he supports you, receive him with open arms. I leave the whole arrangement to you, provided Lord Suffolk, Lord Weymouth and my two able lawyers are satisfied as to their situations; but choose Ellis for Secretary at War in preference to Barré, who in that event will get a more lucrative employment, but will not be so near my person. Having said this, I will only add, to put before your eye my most inmost thoughts, that no advantage to this country, nor personal danger to myself, can ever make me address

myself to Lord Chatham, or to any other branch of Op position. Honestly I would rather lose the Crown I now wear than bear the ignominy of possessing it under their shackles. I might write volumes if I would state the feelings of my mind; but I have honestly, fairly, and affectionately told you the whole of my mind, and what I will never depart from. Should Lord Chatham wish to see me before he gives an answer, I shall most certainly refuse it. I have had enough of personal negotiation; and neither my dignity nor my feelings will ever let me again submit to it.

I

Men of less principle and honesty than I pretend to may look on public measures and opinions as a game. always act from conviction; but I am shocked at the base arts all these men have used, therefore cannot go toward them: if they come to your assistance, I will accept them.

You have now full power to act, but I do not expect Lord Chatham and his crew will come to your assistance; but if they do not, I trust the rest of the arrangement will greatly strengthen, and will give efficacy to, administration.

Thurlow as Chancellor, Yorke as Secretary of State, will be efficient men. Numbers we have already. Lord Dartmouth as Steward, and Lord Weymouth as Privy Seal, will please them both. I am certain Lord Weymouth's conduct on the last vacancy of the Seals gives him a right to this change, if agreeable to him.

March 16. 1778.

You can want no further explanation of the language held to Mr. Eden the last evening. It is (so) totally contrary to the only ground on which I could have accepted the service of that perfidious man, that I need not enter on it. Lord Chatham as dictator, as planning a new administration, I appeal to my letters of yesterday if I did not clearly speak out upon. If Lord Chatham agrees to support your administration, or, you like the expressions better, the "fundamentals of the present ad

if

ministration," and with Lord North at the head of the Treasury, Lords Suffolk, Gower, and Weymouth in great offices to their own inclination, Lord Sandwich in the Admiralty, Thurlow Chancellor, and Wedderburn as Chief Justice, I will not object to see that great man when Lord Shelburne and Dunning, with Barré, are placed already in office; but I solemnly declare that nothing shall bring me to treat personally with Lord Chatham. If I saw Lord Chatham, he would insist on as total a change as Lord Shelburne yesterday threw out.

March 17. 1778.

Lord AMHERST advises an immediate retreat from Philadelphia to New York, and if the Americans be resolved, on the arrival of the Commissioners, to join France, he advises the evacuation of New York and Rhode Island, and the troops to be employed against the West India Islands.

March 17. 1778. (Second letter of that date.)

No consideration in life shall make me stoop to Opposition. I am still ready to accept any part of them that will come to the assistance of my present efficient Ministers; but, whilst any ten men in the kingdom will stand by me, I will not give myself up into bondage. I will rather risk my Crown than do what I think personally disgraceful. It is impossible that the nation should not stand by me. If they will not, they shall have another King, for I never will put my hand to what will make me miserable to the last hour of my life. Therefore let Thurlow instantly know that I will appoint him Chancellor, and the Solicitor-General that if he does not choose to be Attorney-General, we will treat with the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas to resign.

March 18. 1778.

I AM highly incensed at the language held by Lord Shelburne last night to Eden, and approve of that of the latter. I am fairly worn down. But all proposals and answers must in future go through you, for I will not change the administration; but, if I can with honour, let you make acquisitions.

March 18. 1778. (Second letter of that date.)

I AM extremely indifferent whether Lord Granby goes or does not go with the abject message of the Rockingham party to Hayes. I will certainly send none to that place.

March 22. 1778.

YOUR now always recurring to a total change of the administration, obliges me to ask you one clear question. If I will not, by your advice, take the step which I look on as disgraceful to myself and destruction to my country, are you resolved, agreeable to the example of the Duke of Grafton, at the hour of danger to desert me?

March 23. 1778.

I CANNOT return the messenger without expressing my satisfaction at your determination not to desert at this hour, which indeed I always thought your sense of honour must prevent.

March 27. 1778.

By Lord Buckingham's two letters, I see that he is become quite Irish in his opinions. Be on your guard not