rather to an awkwardness that I had been long acquainted with, than to insincerity and meanness. I had afterwards, indeed, juster grounds for suspecting him, when I heard from the Dean of Christchurch, that in their last convocation, he said it might possibly not be till Easter. After I had been at Durham near five months, I thought it prudent to inform myself of his intentions: I wrote to him last week, and told him, if he was yet come to any determination, it would be very convenient to let me know it. I have just now received his answer, in which I am told that he is still uncertain not only as to the time, but as to the event itself. That it certainly cannot be before the end of the summer, because a house, which he is repairing at Ealing, will not be finished before that time. In this handsome manner has he concluded the drama of the resignation, which from the first opening has lasted three years. Indeed, my Lord, when I consider what materials some bishops are made of, I flatter myself that I should not dishonour the bench, if your Grace should think me so far worthy of your protection. Should I be so fortunate as to obtain one of the inferior bishoprics, my prebend in the Church, with my wife's fortune, would enable me to maintain the dignity. In case of such an event, if it should be thought proper at any time after to send me to Christchurch, I shall be ready to gratify the wishes of many of my friends by being as useful as I can 1764. 1764. in that station. The Crown will then gain the presentation to my prebend, which is worth 700 pounds a year. Whatever preferment I may chance to rise to, I shall not set a higher value on any of its emoluments than on the ability it may possibly give me of being useful to some of your Grace's friends. Many years are passed since your Grace first honoured me with the offer of your protection. I have always been careful of teazing you with solicitation. I hope, therefore, you will acquit me of forwardness. My four children are about me while I am writing, - when I look at them, I acquit myself. It is, I confess, very unfortunate that the unsteadiness (not to give it a worse appellation) of the Bishop of Rochester should have deprived you of that preferment, which the Crown designed for you, and which would have been so agreeable to You know that my opinion was, that you should take something in hand, -the deanery of Peterborough, which was then vacant; as I have you. ever found at court, that a person who has something to give in exchange, stands a better chance for speedy preferment than one who has nothing to demit in favour of another. You will always find me very desirous of serving you, whenever a proper opportunity shall offer, though I cannot presume to say what the King's intentions may be about any future vacancies of bishoprics. 1764. St. James's, Feb. 1. 1765. Note of some of the most material Circumstances that passed in the Conversation, last winter, between Mr. Grenville, the Duke of Richmond, and Mr. Conway. At the first outset, Mr. Grenville informed the Duke of Richmond that he had never desired the meeting for explanation through the channel of Mr. Walpole, as had been represented. In the next place he desired to know, whether the conversation that should arise was to be considered in a public or private light, and consequently not to be revealed, except in such particulars as both parties should agree to. This was answered, that it was to be considered as private conversation, and consequently inviolably secret, but that Mr. Conway should be at liberty to say, that though he declared himself not to be in a systematical opposition to Government at that time, yet he laid in his 1765. claim to preserve his private and friendly connec tions with the Duke of Grafton.* This précis was taken immediately on my return to Bedford House, according to the best of my memory of a conversation I had with Mr. Grenville in the Council Chamber. IN THE HANDWRITING OF THE KING. My Lord, 45 m. past 11. A. M. Having learnt from Lord Sandwich, yesterday, that you was able on Tuesday to attend both the Council and the House of Lords, I wish you would call on me at two this day, if you think that, with the assistance of your green silk, it will do you no harm; if you are in the least doubtful of that, I would defer seeing you for a few days. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO THE DUKE OF MARLBO ROUGH. Bedford House, May 19. 1765. You must doubtless have heard, my dear Lord, of the riots and tumults we have had here; Walpole says: "The meeting ended fruitlessly, as we had foreseen. Conway was naturally cold, and Grenville far from being master of ingratiating persuasion."-Memoirs of George III., vol. i. p. 344. The dismissal of Conway was a great blunder; but the precedents for such an exercise of the prerogative satisfied Mr. Grenville, who was too ready confound precedents with to justice. I hope all that is now partly subsided, though I am These were the riots committed by the Spitalfields weavers from resentment at the failure of the Bill in the Lords, increasing the duties on the importation of Italian silks. The Duke, with the strong feeling which he always showed against restrictions on trade, opposed the Bill, and indeed spoke against it, though he was the only peer that did so. He was assaulted by the mob on returning from the House of Lords, and narrowly escaped with his life. A few days after 1765. |
