by their junction with either of the two predomi- 1757. nant parties which may happen to be discontented, to embarrass matters to such a degree as to render it exceeding difficult, if not impossible, to carry on affairs here to his Majesty's satisfaction and the advantage of the public; and it was upon the thorough belief of this maxim, which experience has proved to me to be a true one, that I immediately upon my receiving my commission for this lieutenancy from the King, declared that I was determined during my administration here not to give myself up to any faction here, but to recommend to his Majesty's favour, and to support all those indifferently, who should do their utmost to carry on with smoothness the King's business. I must now, sir, through your channel, lay myself at his Majesty's feet, and most humbly beseech him to determine in his royal wisdom whether he shall still think proper to continue the administration of this kingdom in my hands, most humbly submitting myself to his gracions determination, in which I shall most willingly acquiesce, be it either for my quitting or keeping this government. If for the former, I shall think myself happy in being discharged from so great a load, to which I may be possibly unequal, but which I was willing to attempt, because it was represented to me as what his Majesty desired and thought might be for his service. If, on the other hand, his Majesty should think proper to command my services here, I must beg 1757. that he will be graciously pleased to permit me to carry on his government here without making myself subservient to any faction, which I know can only tend to his disservice and my dishonour; and therefore I must most humbly presume to hope that in case I shall find myself obliged to take any vigorous measures for quelling the spirit of faction so prevalent in this nation, such as removing the undeserving from civil employments and pensions, and rewarding the deserving, I may have such countenance and support from his Majesty as will make the people here look up to their Governor, and enable him to set right those defects which faction has too much brought in here, even in the very essence of government. I do most solemnly declare, that neither ambition nor thirst of power are the motives which induce me to make this my humble request to his Majesty for his entire countenance and support whilst I continue in this government; but a thorough persuasion that I cannot without it effect that which it is as well my duty as my inclination to do. This present Parliament has sat so long, and the nation has during that period been under so many different governors, and such dissonant plans of policy, that I think it may be easily accounted for how they both come to be rent into such violent parties and factions as now exist amongst them; and I fear by means of this, and the method heretofore used by former lieutenants of governing solely by a particular faction, the prerogative of the Crown has greatly suffered of late years, and there appears but too great a disposition at present in that part of the House of Commons which now sets up for popularity to wound it still farther, and there are daily threats thrown out of attacking it in the most material part, by attempting an alteration in Poyning's Law. The method which has of late years been exorbitantly used by the House of Commons in loading the money bill by resolutions of their own, without the previous consent of or address to his Majesty, ought undoubtedly to be put a stop to, and the method observed in England to be followed as near as the different circumstances of each country will admit, and no money should be voted here for particular services but with the consent and approbation of the Crown. For a proof of this I need only refer you to the votes of the 11th instant, by which it appears that a sum of above 69007. is charged upon the money bill, and I fear a great deal of it without due consideration, to serve private ends. I fear I have already been too long in this despatch, which I would have avoided could I have done it consistently with the duty I owe to his Majesty, before whom I thought it incumbent on me to lay the whole state of matters at this critical juncture; and I flatter myself that in case I shall appear to his Majesty to have been wanting in my duty to him by transmitting these improper and indecent resolutions of the House of Commons, he will be graciously pleased to impute it to the only cause 1757. 1757. which can ever make me wanting in duty to him, -an error in judgment. I am, &c. BEDFORD. Mr. Pitt's answer to this letter, conveying his Majesty's entire approbation of the Duke's conduct, will be found in the Chatham Correspondence, vol. i. p. 284. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. My Lord, Dublin Castle, November 18. 1757. I have informed Mr. Secretary Pitt very fully in my despatch of yesterday's date of every thing material that has passed since my last letters to your Grace and him of the 13th instant, to which letter I beg leave to refer you. The Attorney-General has just brought up the money bill, and I have ordered a council to be summoned for this evening, in order that it may be immediately transmitted to England. Your Grace will see by the letter I refer you to how great difficulties I am forced to struggle with, and how great uneasiness I have suffered in finding myself obliged to transmit purely and simply to his Majesty the very extraordinary and indecent resolutions the Commons came to on the 1st instant. But indeed, my Lord, had I not complied, the money bill would undoubtedly have been lost. I herewith enclose to your Grace a paper which shows to a demonstration how greatly the Commons have erred in their calculations of the increase of pensions from the 23rd of March, 1755, to the 25th of March 1757, upon which false foundation they have framed their resolutions, and which, though known to every one in the House, was not sufficient to prevail on them to reconsider their resolutions, though it was strongly suggested by me to all the principal members that they ought to do it, and not send a wilful misrepresentation to his Majesty. I flatter myself that the necessity I was under of giving way to this factious disposition of the House of Commons in order to obtain the money bill, will be a just excuse for me with his Majesty for sending over to him such false and indecent resolutions, without having previously given my disapprobation of them. Your Grace will be pleased to observe how much the money bill is loaded by a charge of above 6900l., great part of which I fear has been granted without due consideration, and I apprehend in subsequent parliaments the like practice will be continued, unless some method could be found out to make the previous consent of the Crown necessary, or that nothing of this sort should be done but by address to the King. I have wrote so fully to Mr. Pitt upon all other matters which do not immediately concern the revenue, and I have so little time to finish my letters, that I will trouble your Grace no farther at 1757. |