likewise granted on the pension list; which, though it should be granted to a Prince highly deserving his Majesty's favour, yet that assembly, and indeed the whole nation in general might think it hard, that services purely British or German should be paid out of their pockets. Having thus submitted to the King my thoughts upon this subject, I have only to add, that I shall, should he think the arguments I have offered against granting this pension, of no weight, do my utmost to prevent this measure from being of disservice to his Majesty's affairs in that kingdom. 1758. I am, &c. BEDFORD. LORD TULLAMORE TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. My Lord, Dublin, July 1. 1758. I beg leave to return your Grace my most sincere thanks, for your kindness in obtaining from his Majesty the honour conferred upon me, and for your goodness in directing me to name the title. If there be no objection, I would chuse to be styled Earl of Charleville in the King's county, and assure your Grace that I am with the highest sense your favour, of TULLAMORE. 1758. promised nobody but your Grace should ever hear of it from me, if you refuse it. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. My Lord, Woburn Abbey, June 30. 1758. Last night Mr. Rigby brought me your Grace's message, importing the King's desire that a pension of 2000l. per annum on the Irish establishment, might be granted to his highness Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, for his life. To which I must answer, that though it is undoubtedly in his Majesty's power to dispose of the redundant money in the treasury of Ireland, yet it is as undoubtedly my duty to submit to his Majesty's wisdom my doubts, if any such occur to me, on the fitness of such a measure. Now, my Lord, in the present case it doth appear to me, that, considering the small sum now in the treasury, in comparison of what there was three years ago, and the little prospect there is of there being any redundancy at the beginning of the next session of Parliament, and likewise that the sum of 67507. has just now been placed on the pension list, of which sum but 12507. is granted to residents in Ireland, it may be attended with great inconvenience to his Majesty's service, and probably with some clamour in the House of Commons, should this additional sum be likewise granted on the pension list; which, though 1758. it should be granted to a Prince highly deserving his Majesty's favour, yet that assembly, and indeed the whole nation in general might think it hard, that services purely British or German should be paid out of their pockets. Having thus submitted to the King my thoughts upon this subject, I have only to add, that I shall, should he think the arguments I have offered against granting this pension, of no weight, do my utmost to prevent this measure from being of disservice to his Majesty's affairs in that kingdom. I am, &c. BEDFORD. LORD TULLAMORE TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. My Lord, Dublin, July 1. 1758. I beg leave to return your Grace my most sincere thanks, for your kindness in obtaining from his Majesty the honour conferred upon me, and for your goodness in directing me to name the title. If there be no objection, I would chuse to be styled Earl of Charleville in the King's county, and assure your Grace that I am with the highest sense of your favour, TULLAMORE. 1758. MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. Chatsworth, July 11. 1758. Vernon says he shall go from hence and be at Woburn to-morrow, and by him I send your Grace a letter my Lord Chancellor Bowes has inclosed to me. I have many other letters from the several peers and pensioners, in answer to mine wrote by your Grace's order, for their several styles and titles; but I shall not trouble you with them, till I have the honour of seeing your Grace a very few days hence. I have received also here, sent me from the Pay Office, another summons from the Duke of Newcastle, desiring to see me, as yesterday, at the Treasury. Had I received it time enough to have obeyed the contents of it, I should nevertheless not have put myself to the same trouble as I did from Mistley, as your Grace did not think that absolutely needful; and I beg leave to take this opportunity of assuring you, that I shall never pay any obedience or attention to that quarter, more than common civility, that I am not positive, most absolutely coincides with your inclinations. I guess it was only to talk with me upon the last job for Prince Ferdinand, but should it be to propose through me a fresh one to your Grace, I shall think myself very happy to have been out of the way. * Mr. Rigby's seat in Essex. DUKE OF Bedford TO LORD ATHENRY.* My Lord, Woburn Abbey, July 21. 1758. I am honoured with your Lordship's letter of the 7th instant, which I own did not a little surprise me; for, had your Lordship given me, when I was in Ireland, the least intimation of your desire of being created an earl, I should most undoubtedly have promised you to mention it to his Majesty, who, I am convinced, would have made no difficulty in granting it. But, indeed, my Lord, I did not conceive, that a baron of so ancient a creation as your lordship, would have changed that title for any one his Majesty could have given you in Ireland. Your lordship is pleased to say, "that the number of earls that are hourly creating puts you under the necessity of requesting that his Majesty would grant to you and your successors the precedence of all earls' children:" now, my Lord, this request is so unprecedented, and I believe so much out of the King's power to grant, was he even inclined to do it, that I must beg your Lordship to excuse my not even mentioning it to him. I must likewise beg leave to observe, that in case you should hereafter desire me to mention you to his Majesty for an earldom, it can be done no otherwise than by coming in junior to those on whom the King has already conferred that dignity. * Thomas twenty-second Lord Athenry, created April 1759, Earl of Louth. 1758. |