DUKE OF BEDFORD TO THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE. Woburn Abbey, Nov. 19. 1756. I am truly sensible of the honour your Grace does me, in communicating to me the orders your Grace has received, as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from his Majesty, for raising a regiment of 1200 men and five companies of invalids of 100 men each, for the security of that kingdom, and for completing the troops there, to the number approved of by parliament. Your Grace's good wishes that I may succeed you in that Lieutenancy are very flattering to me; and though the circumstances of the times render it impossible for me to come to any farther decision than I have already mentioned to Mr. Fox, yet I firmly believe whilst the government of that country continues in your Grace's hands, no inconvenience can possibly occur to the public, especially as you seem to be in readiness to carry his Majesty's present orders for raising new troops there into immediate execution, which, in my humble opinion, ought not to be postponed one minute, as the last draughts made from thence to America must necessarily have weakened the army and reduced it below the standard which the parliament thought necessary to be kept up in this time of danger for their defence. Your Grace's kind assurances of desiring to cultivate a strict friendship with me are very obliging, and I shall always endeavour by a suitable return to convince 1756. 1756. you how I esteem the offer of it, being with great respect and regard, My Lord, &c. P. S. The Duchess of Bedford and I join in wishing your Grace joy of the honour you received yesterday*: I am sorry I was not able to attend the Chapter. MR. FOX TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. My dear Lord, November 20. 1756. I am much concerned lest seeing your name in the newspapers, your Grace should think I have spoke of your intentions, with respect to the Lieutenancy of Ireland, in a manner I was no ways authorised by your Grace to do. But upon my word I have not, and, though it is a saying that we easily believe what we wish, yet so little has fell out according to my desire of late, that my wishing a thing extremely is a reason of itself with me for disbelieving it. I am sure I have that reason in this case, for I do wish your Grace's acceptance ardently; and the conversation I have had regarding it with Lord Granville, Lord Gower, H. R. H. and the Duke of Devonshire, have showed me how much it imports me and my situation for perhaps as * Knight of the Garter. long as I live. I have spoke to no others upon the I have set up my Lord Powerscourt at Stockbridge, and will certainly keep out Dr. Hayes there. It would be of use if your Grace would give me leave to lend the turnpike there one hundred pounds at 4 per cent. in your name. It is a new turnpike for mending the Salisbury road, through Stockbridge and Popham lane, and of course I believe a benefit to your Grace's tenants. 1756. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO MR. FOX. Dear Sir, Woburn Abbey, Nov. 22. 1756. My seeing my own name in the newspapers for the Lieutenancy of Ireland did not give me the least uneasiness, nor any suspicion of your having spoke of my intentions in a manner you was no 1756. way authorised to do. I know at these times people's guesses and coffee-house conversations are put into the papers as authentic intelligence. With regard to my own thoughts upon this subject, they are very much the same as when I saw you last, and I fear it will be impossible for me to accept it unless his Majesty can be prevailed on to give you either some considerable employment, or, by a peerage to Lady Caroline Fox, such marks of his favour as shall take off the unjust proscription that has been laid on you by the new ministers; to speak my real sentiments, I think they must sooner or later be obliged to shake hands with you, unless by your absolutely flying off, you render it impossible for them to do it, and thereby necessarily throw them into the hands of the late chancellor and the Duke of Newcastle. This would be the most fatal of all events for this country, and therefore (excuse the liberty I take) I cannot approve the opposition you intend publicly to make to Dr. Hayes* at Stockbridge, as it can only tend to exasperate men's minds, and to enable those who wish you ill, to represent you to the King as in direct opposition to his measures and ministers, for this reason, as well as that I have ever been determined to have nothing to do with so venal a place as Stockbridge, I must desire that my name be not mentioned there in lending any money to the Turnpike. I think every * George Hay, L.L.D., principal to the Arches Court of Canterbury; made a Commissioner of the Admiralty, December 1756, when he was re-elected. thing depends upon your coolness and firmness at present, and therefore I hope you will take in the manner in which it is really meant, the frankness which I have used in giving you my real sentiments upon the subject of your last letter. I am, dear sir, BEDFORD. 1756. MR. FOX TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. My dear Lord, Holland House, Nov. 23. 1756. I return your Grace a thousand thanks for your kind letter of November 22d, and most particularly for that very obliging part of it relative to my particular situation. But if his Majsety's humour should still remain what it was when last spoke to on my subject, I should be ready to hang myself if the Duke of Bedford denied himself to the King and to the public on my account. The proscription of me, my Lord, proceeds from Leicester House, and yet I am of your Grace's opinion, that sooner or later they are likely to agree with me if I keep the honour and strength that your Grace and other friends have given me; and I do assure your Grace that I shall not fly off so as to lose sight of, much less prevent, such an agreement. I here give your Grace my word that, whenever H. R. Highness, your Grace, and the Duke of Marlborough, or any two of you, tell me that it is |