h^.
■^\^^y
W^^fl^^fl^^O^-^- ^\ ^
mm^j^u^
^^..
'v
^fimU'k.^'sf^^
^^-./i-v^ii
i ^%.
^-^ . ^ - - ^ __ ^^ - ^ - -^ *
^^^%^
^%ii;-
:
1^ ^^^
■ /»^:^^^
.* . ' M.wim
^3^:.-?;:
nl
i^
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
> '^^^:^^'.
$
^A^
■^!ST^'^>
^^.V
■^^i'
'??^'^^®
m^^H^S^2^f.
,^h{
^2 ^-^^'os S;^,^ ^;;^5i^;
*^^M!/i|i
-^^^
^^ii^^M^^^M
^«k»*^
■■y^^mmm
Ifijj^^
'f^Cr _ ^-
.A l^sf^
M
1
- i
Pl^a^'
'^*i^«l^,
^?>Si;
'«?«?«
"^^Affl^^^i^lrCMm^^
&^..rfy:i;s:i^^
THE
DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE
OF
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE.
VOL. I.
LONDON :
R, CLAV, PniNTEn, imFAlJ STREET Hll.f..
TF
LoiLdon:Kicliard.BeiitleY, 1859,
THK
DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE
or THE
RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE :
CONTAINING
ORIGINAL LETTERS
OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED STATESMEN OF HIS DAY.
F.DITET) BY THE
REV. LEVESON VERNON HARCOURT.
IN TWO VOLUMES.— VOL. i.
LONDON:
RICHARD RENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,
IJublisIjtr in ©rVimug to ^^r Utajcstg.
1860.
DA
50C>
P E E F A C E ,
To publish letters which are marked " private and
confidential," seems at first sight to be a breach of
that confidence on which the writers insisted ; but,
on furtlier consideration, it must be seen that the
secrecy wliich they desired had reference only to their
contemporaries. Their object was to prevent the
entanglement of parties, and the crossing of designs
which were then contemplated in the transactions of
the day. For that very reason, after the lapse of
half a century, when all the actors have passed away
from the stage on which they played their parts, those
documents not only become innocuous, but have a
great interest for those who agree with the poet, that
" The proper study of mankind is man ; " for they are
revelations of the interior workings of that state
machinery on the right regulation of which the
welfare of millions depends. They bring to hght
those little traits of character which are of more value
83S158
11 PREFACE.
in estimating the worth of pubUc men tlmn volunies
of official papers and debates in Parlianu-nl. The
petty jealousies and the covetous iniibitious wliieli
disfigure some, are like so many beacons to wai'n
rising statesmen from risking their characters on
the same rocks; and, on tiie contrary, tlic disinte-
rested motives by whicli others were actuated in
taking or resigning office, and the conscientious ful-
filment of their duties as ])ublic servants, secure
so much approbation, when exhibited in these con-
fidential details, that they nuist be great encourage-
ment to others to follow their example.
Mr. Rose, a selection from whose private papers is
here submitted to the public by the desire of his
grandsons, belongs to this class. It seems to have
been the guiding rule of his political life, " Nil
conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa :" accordingly he
was an unswerving follower of Mr. Pitt, for he never
saw anything culpable in the smallest degree in the
policy of his leader, with two exceptions mentioned
in his autobiography ; and therefore, though during
the life of Mr. Pitt he was anxious that his Govern-
ment should be strengthened bv anv members of
the Opposition, with the exception of Lord Sidmouth,
PREFACE. iii
to wliorii he imputed, untruly perhaps, treachery to
his friend, vet, after his death, he would have nothino-
to do with those who pursued a diffierent policy.
I have therefore thought it my duty, as his
Editor, to take the ime which he would have wished
me to take if he had been alive, and to vindi-
cate the character of the 2;reat Statesman to whom
he was so much attached, from the unjust attacks
of those who have never forgiven him the lony;
exclusion of their party from office. The pens of his
opponents have been dipped in gall, overflowing in
ebullitions of ill-will, misrepresentations, imfounded
conclusions, and false reports ; and, the writers being
men of mark and of talent, very erroneous impressions
have been made on the public mind, which must be
disabused; and to this task I have addressed myself,
with no wish to provoke hostility, but with a strong
desire that the truth should be known.
I have only to add my acknowledgments to the
Duke of Sutherland for his kindness in sending me
the only letters which are not derived from Mr. Rose's
own correspondence.
L. V. H.
London, December \st, 1859.
CONTENTS.
INTEODUCTIOK
Preliminary observations, 1 ; Mr. Eose's Correspondence, 2 ; his
intimacy with Mr. Pitt, 2 ; Pitt's devotion to public affairs, 3 ;
Lord Grenville, 4 ; Canniiig, 4 ; letter of Lord Glastonbury
to Pitt, 4 ; early history of Mr. Eose, 6 ; Miss Eose's sketch
of her father, 8 ; Mr. Eose, a midshipman, 9 ; edits the Jour-
nals of Parliament, 10 ; Lord Marchmont's friendship for him,
11 ; is made Secretary for Tax Office, &c., 1 1 ; made Secretary
to the Treasury, 12 ; the Galloway Stewarts, 13 ; Lord Shel-
burne, 14; surliness of Lord Thurlow, 14; Mr. Eose meets
Mr. Pitt in Paris, 1 5 ; progress of his political career, 1 6.
CHAPTEE I.
Mr. Eose's account of his early life, 17 ; sketch of the Earl of
Marchmont, 18 ; Lord Bolingbroke, 19 ; his " Essay on a
Patriot King," 19 ; Lord Marchmont's kindness to Mr. Eose,
20 ; Mr. Eose loses his uncle, 21 ; Alexander Strahan, 22 ;
progress of my political life, 23 ; am appointed Secretary to
the Treasury, 24 ; character of Lord Shelburne, 25 ; I obtam
the reversion of the office of Clerk of the Parliaments, 26 ;
junction of jS^orth and Fox, 27 ; suspicious conduct of Lord
Shelburne, 28 ; my last \'isit to him, 30 ; go abroad, 31 ;
Mr. Pitt's proposal to me, 32 ; my attachment to him, 32 ;
few points of difference, 32 ; Parliamentary Eeform, 33 ; Pitt
presses me to vote with him on it, 34 ; my letter to Mr. Pitt
on the subject, 36 ; the Slave Trade, 37 ; Paris in 1782, 41 ;
vi CONTENTS.
the French Court smilo upon Lafayette, 42 ; my 8er\'aiit, Ami
Eamel, 42 ; retivrn to England, 42 ; 'Mr. Fox's India Bill, 43 ;
triumphant in the Commons, 42 ; the King's conduct respect-
ing it, 46 ; immense cflbrts to overthrow the bill in the Lords,
47 ; success of these cflbrts, 48 ; a note of the King's on tht;
change of Ministry, 50 ; editorial observations, 51 ; Lcttijrs
from Lord Percy, 52 ; siege of GibralUxr, 53 ; Lord Corn-
wallis, 54 ; Lord Percy complains of neglect, 58 ; promises to
come up and vote against the India Bill, 59 ; letters fi-om the
King on the elections, HI, 02.
CHAPTER II.
Treaty with France, 64 ; letter from the Manpiis of Stafford to
Mr. Pitt on Foreign xiffairs, 04 ; conduct uf France, 05 ; Mr.
Pitt to the Manpiis of Statlbrd, 67 ; relations of Russia and
France, 67 ; narrow escape from war with France, 08 ; Mr.
Eose summoned by Mr. Pitt^ 69 ; political career of Mr. Eden,
70; Commercial Treaty with France, 71; letters of Mr.
Eden to Mr. Eose, dwelling on his own merits, and soliciting
an Irish Peerage, 72 — 81 ; Sir George Eose, 81 ; Sir Hugh
Eose, 82 ; letters of Mr. "Wood, Principal of St. John's, Cam-
bridge, 82 ; letter of Mv. Pitt to Marquis of Stafford, on the
state of Foreign Affairs, 84 ; the King's illness, 86 ; Mr. Pitt'.s
interview with him, 86 ; the Prince of "Wales, 87 ; Pitt's
interview with liini, 87 ; state of affairs during the King's
illness, 88 ; Mr. Fox, 89 ; Ministerial difficulties, 90 ; Mr.
Pitt visits the King, 90 ; meeting of Parliament, 91 ; Mr. Pitt's
consideration for the King, 91; Mr. Pitt to the Marquis of
Stafford, on the King's illness, 92 ; Mr. Pitt to Eiirl Gower, 93 ;
the King's recovery, 93 ; Miss Eose's recollections of the
King's illness, 94 ; nature of the King's insanity, 94 ; obser-
vations of the King during his ilLuess, 95 ; conduct of Lord
Thurlow,9 5 ; Lord GrenviUe, 96 ; letter to Mr. Pitt from
the King, 97 ; the King's cordial approbation of ^Mr. Pitt's
conduct, 98 ; Mr. Pitt to Mr. Eose, on Lord Thurlow's dis-
missal, 98 ; reckless extravagance of the Prince, 100 ; expenses
of Carlton House, 100 ; the Prince's debts, 104.
CONTENTS. Ml
CHAPTEE III.
Trafficking in Chiu'ch Preferment, 107 ; our East India trade,
100 ; Treaty of Gralutz between Russia and Turkey, 110
affairs of Eussia, 111; prosperous state of the revenue. 111
jobbery, 112 ; Mr. Pitt appointed Warden of the Cinque Ports
113 ; state of France, 114 ; Mr. Pitt to the Marquis of Stafford
on j)rospects abroad, 115 ; Pitt's views on the advisability of
alloAving the French to settle their o^vii affairs in 1792, 115 ;
Lord Macartney, 117; negotiation with the Chinese, 119;
Letters from Lord Macartney, previous to his leaving for China,
and on his voyage there, 120 ; Captain Mackintosh to ]VIr.
Eose, stating his con'V'ictions that the Chinese Embassy was a
failure, and giving his views of the causes of failure, 124 ;
surrender of Valenciennes, 127 ; check at Dunkirk, 128 ;
taking of Toulon, 129 ; death of General O'Hara, 132 ; out-
break of the war with France, 133 ; the war justly chargeable
on France, 133 ; French animosity to England, 134 ; arrest of
Lord Gower in Paris, 136 ; impudent conduct of Chauvelin, 137 ;
Chauvelin's labours with Mr. Fox, 138 ; declaration of war by
France, 138; Lord Brougham's charge against Pitt, 140;
defence of Mr. Pitt, 141 ; union projected between Pitt and
Fox, 142 ; defeated through the pride of Fox, 143; Mr. Fox
blames the Government for not going to war sooner, 144 ;
inconsistency of Mr. Fox, 144; contract between Wliig and
Tory pohcy, 145; anarchical state of France, 146; overtures
for peace, 147 ; criticism of Lord Jolin Eussell, 148 ; Pitt's
objects in the war, 149; obstinacy of the Convention, 150;
the National Convention, and the London Corresponding
Society, 151 ; conduct of Mr. Fox, 152 ; alienation of liis
party, 152 ; Lord Mahnesbury's opinion of Fox's policy, 153 ;
Fox's pleasure at the triumph of France over England, 153 ;
dangerous state of public feeling, 154; Mr. Fox, 155 ; vindi-
cation of Mr. Pitt from the imputation of Lord John EusseU,
156 ; M. Chauvelin, 157 ; war declared by France against
Hungary and Bohemia, 160 ; French violation of treaties, 161 ;
Count Kobentzal, 162; M. de NoaiUes, 162; haughty con-
viii CONTENTS.
duct of France, 164; Lord John Kus-sell's mode of aettlinj^
the war, 165; fallacy of his views, 165; Holland, 167;
Jacobin negotiations for the overthrow of the British constitu-
tion, 168 ; Dumouriez's picture of France after the HHh of
August, 170 ; Lord John Russell's attacks upon Mr. Titt, 175 :
Mr. Fox's patriotic doctrine quoted against himself, 177 ; French
Liberty, 179 ; Lord John Kussell cliarges England with being
the aggressor in the war, 180 ; the Didce of Brunswick's pro-
clamation, 181 ; proposal of the Duke of Brunswick, 181 ;
Debate on the Cimada question, 182 ; Lord .John Russell's
false charge of an intention to partition France, 183; the
Duke of Brunswick's declaration to the contrary, 184; con-
clusion of the defence of Mr. Pitt, 186; Lord Jolin Russell
at Aberdeen, — an unconscious defence of Mr. Pitt, 186-7 ;
Lord Malmesbury sent to negotiate at Lille, 1 88 ; Ix)rd Gren-
ville diflers with Mr. Pitt, 188 ; fixed determination of the
French Government to continue the war with England, 1 88 ;
Pitt's anxiety for peace, 189 ; conversation between the King
and Mr. Rose, on the subject of the war, 189 ; proves Pitt's
desire of peace, 190 ; the King averse to treat without know-
ledge of alhes, 191 ; ^Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose, 192 ; negotiations
with the Opposition, 193 ; Mr. Rose's dissatisfaction regarding
them, 193; details of the new cabinet, 193; the Duke of
Portland, 194 ; Mr. Rose's confidence in Pitt, 195 ; unfiivour-
able turn of affairs abroad, 196 ; letter from the Duke of
Brunswick to the Didie of York, announcing his retirement
from the command of the army, 197 ; dissensions amongst
the allies, 198 ; letter of Mr. Pitt to !Mr. Rose, announcing an
intention to attack the IDuke of Northimiberland, 200 ; Sir
R. Cotton, 201 ; reversion of Clerk of the Parhaments, 202 ;
granted to Mr. Rose's son, 203 ; high price of corn, 203 ;
measures to ascertain amount of com in the country, 204 ; Mr.
Valentine Jones, 205 ; enormous expenditure in the West
Indies, 206 ; letter of Lady Chatham, Mr. Pitt's mother, to
:Mr. Rose, touching on Mr. Pitt's health, 208 ; Mr. Sheridan,
209 ; the Convoy Bill, 209 ; subscription for carrying on the
war, 210 ; the King's subscription, 211 ; Miss Rose's dislike
to Addington, 211; her influence over her father, 211 ;
CONTENTS. IX
extract from Miss Rose's Diary, 212 ; Mr. Pitt's health, cause
of duel between Mr. Pitt aud Tierney, Nicholas Vansittart,
212 ; conversation at the Speaker's dinner, insinuations
of Mr. Addington, 213 ; Pitt's confidence in Addington,
214.
CHAPTER IV.
Battle of the Nile, 215; the French report it a victory for
them, 216 ; Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton ; Nelson's
personal vanity; Lady Hamilton compliments liini, 217;
alienates him from his wife; Separation from her; 218;
Lord Holland's malignant insinuation ; cold reception of
Nelson at Court, 219 ; Nelson at Naples, 220 ; Prince Ca-
raccioli, 221 ; Sir William and Lady Hamilton, 223 ; Lord
Nelson's attachment to Lady Hamilton, not criminal ; Lord
St. Vincent's opinion, 223 ; Lady Hamilton's extravagance,
224 ; letter to Lord Nelson from Sir William Hamilton, 225 ;
success of Sidney Smith, at Acre, Sir* Sidney Smith's pom-
pous announcements, 225 ; death of Captain Wilmott, 226 ;
approximation of Russia and Austria, 226 ; honesty of Car-
dinal RufFo, 227 ; letter of the King of Naples to Cardinal
Rufltb, 231 ; state of Naples, 232 ; the King's instructions,
235 ; letters of Sir William Hamilton to Cardinal Ruffo, 236 ;
Mr. Rose's efforts to assist Lady Hamilton, 239 ; liis advice to
her, 240 ; characteristic letter of Lady Hamilton to Mr. Rose,
240 ; her opinions of Lord Grenville and Mr. Pitt, 241 ; Lady
Hamilton's mother, Mrs. Cadogan, to Mr. Rose, 243 ; death of
Nelson, 243 ; illness of Lady Hamilton, 243 ; defends herself
against the charge of showing Nelson's letters, 244 ; accuses her-
self of being the cause of Nelson's death, 244 ; Captain Hardy,
245 ; last wishes of Nelson, 246 ; Mr. Rose promises to urge
them upon Mr. Pitt, 246 ; efforts to assist Lady Hamilton, 248 ;
unsuccessful, 249 ; her distress, imprisonment, escape, finds an
asylum in France, 249 ; Mr. Rose to Lady Hamilton, on the
state of Pitt's health, including discussion of her affairs, 250 ;
Mr. Rose urges Lady Hanulton's claims upon Mr. Canning, 252 ;
trusts that provision "svill be made for Nelson's adopted daughtei-.
X CONTENTS.
253 ; the delay in doiiig justice to ^Nelson's adopted daughter,
pleaded as a reason for nut doing it, 254 ; letter to Lord Aber-
corn, stating Lady Itaiuilton's case, 254; L;xdy Hamilton's
claims stated, 257 ; Mr. Lavie to Mr. Eosc, 2G0 ; reply, 2G1 ;
letters of Canning respecting Lady Hamilton, 2G3 ; caution of
Lord Grenville, 203 ; inaccurate statements of Lady Hamilton,
26G ; 'Mr. liose's letter to Lady Hiunilton, 2G8 ; correspon-
dence between Mr. Canning and Mr. Rose, on the suliject of
Lady Hamilton, 2G8 ; memorial to the Prince Kegent, 270 ;
Lady Hamilton's life at Cidixis, 272.
inAriKi; v.
Vacancy in the office of Lord Privy Seal of Scotland, 274 ; Loixl
Auckland's disappointment, 274 ; Mr. Kose, in forwarding
Lord Auckland's claims, suggests his o\\'n, 275 ; Pitt's reply,
27G ; scarcity of the year 1800, 280 ; Lord Holland's sarca.stic
obsen-ation on Mr. Addington, 281 ; early meeting of Parlia-
ment, 282 ; high price of wheat, 282 ; measures deWsed for
allaying the panic, 282 ; the distillers urged not to work from
grain, 284 ; mode of selling corn, 284 ; middlemen, 284 ; Mr.
Addington influences members against Catholic Emancipation;
jSIi-. Addington at the (Queen's House, 286 ; notes by ^[r.
Pose, and letters from February to May, 1801, relative to
the proposal for Mr. Pitt's resigning office, 288 ; Pitt
to the King, 288 ; the King's reply, 289 ; the King sends
for !Mr. Addington, 290 ; ^Ir. Rose's opinion of !Mr. Ad-
dington, 292 ; Canning's marked manner to the Speaker, 293 ;
apprehension in the city at Pitt's expected resignation, 293 ;
Lord Auckland complains of ill-treatment, Mr. Pitt's re-
joinder, 294, Lord Chatham, Attorney-General, Bishop
of Lincobi, fall in the funds, Canning canvasses for
people to go out of office, 295 ; constitution of the new
Ministry, 29G ; call on the Speaker, Lord Chatham retains
office, 29G ; Lord Loughborough retires, 297 ; attend the
lev6e, the King expresses his marked approbation of Mr.
Pitt's conduct, 297 ; Mr. Pelham, Vansittart, Mr. Yorke,
the loan of 27,000,000/., 298; Lord St Vincent accepts
CONTENTS. XI
the Admii-alty, Lord Hobart, interview with Lord Lough-
borough, 299 ; the King requests Lord Loughborough's
opinion whether lie (the King) could grant Catholic Eman-
cipation consistently with his coronation oath, 299 ; Lord
Loughborough's reply, 300 ; the King's dread of Catholic
Emancipation, Lord Clare, Lord Castlereagh, 301 ; the
Prince of Wales favours Catholic Emancipation, position
of principal politicians with regard to it, 302 ; Adtlington's
intrigues, 303 ; conversation between the Chancellor and Mr.
Dundas, 304 ; Mr. Pitt supposed to be urged on by Lord
Grenville, 305 ; conversation of Lord Loughborough -oath
the Kmg, 306 ; Sir WHUam Grant, ]\Ir. Perceval, 307 ; IMi".
Vansittart goes to Denmark, 308 ; the budget, 308 ; conver-
sation with Mr. Pitt, Pitt's agitation, regrets that he did
not prepare the King's mind for Catholic Emancipation,
309 ; the King's ilhiess, 310 ; Lord Eldon, 310 ; becomes
Lord Chancellor, 310 ; the Prince of Wales sends for Mi\
Pitt, Mr. Pitt consents to advise subject to conditions,
derangement of the King, 311 ; Dr. Willis, Lord Gran-
ville Leveson, Lord Eldon, 312 ; Lord Eldon complains of
Mr. Addington's treatment of him, 313 ; Lord Eldon's
conversation with the King, Mr. Pitt, 314; Dr. Willis's
account of the King, 315 ; state of the Administration, 316 ;
Mr. Pitt and the Prince of Wales, advice of the Bishop
of Lincoln, 317 ; Mr. Addington's intrigues, the King's
health, 318; the Loan Bill, delicate position of affairs con-
sequent on the King's illness, 319 ; the Eegency Bill, 8ir
Robert Peel, want of confidence in Addington, Pitt's confi-
dence in the fair conduct of Opposition, 320 ; Mr. Sheridan
and Fox justify this confidence, Mr. Pitt's speech, 321 ;
improvement in the King's health, Mr. Canning, 322 ; Bishop
of Lincobi, Buonaparte attributes the King's changing his
Ministers to derangement, 323.
XU CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
Tlie King's state not so tavoiuable, Mr. Fox takes the oath.s,
324 ; details of the King's illness, 325 ; details of the
Kegency Bill, negotiations with tlie Prince of Wak-s, 326 ;
the King's conij>lete recovery, 327 ; Ins conversation with
Dr. "Willis Lord Chatham, Lord Moira, 328; the Duke of
York, the Duke of Cumberland's conduct on the occasion
of tho King's illness, 330; Home Tooke, 331; Mr. Pitt,
Lord St. Vincent, Lord Eldon, 331 ; Mr. Addington's inter-
view witli the I\ing after tho King's illness, 332 ; the King's
opinion of Fox an<l Sheridan's conduct during liis illness, 332 ;
tlie Chancellor's interview with the King, 333 ; influence used
with Mr. Pitt to resign, 334 ; martiid-law in Irdaml, 335 ;
augmented allowance to the Princess Charlotte, 33.3 ; the
King's kindness to Mr. Pitt, 336 ; pension to Lady Louisa
Paget, the King and Princesses at cards, 336 ; the King's
attack in 1788-89, and 1801 compared, 336 ; the King's ex-
penses, a wish to retain Pitt as a friend if not as a Minister,
337 ; Mr. Pitt's fixed resolution not to accept a public
grant, 338 ; the King speaks to Lord Grenville on Mr.
Pitt's afiaii-s, 338 ; Mr. Kose y^uits the Treasury, 339 ; meets
the Prince of TN^ales at Mrs. Malenlin's, the Great Seal
given to Lord Eldon, tho drawing-room, 339 ; accounts from
Copenhagen, private conversation with Lord Eldon, 340 ;
coarse conduct of Lord Thurlow, Mr. Addington in Downing-
street, 341 ; state of Denmark, Addington wishes to make
Mr. Rose a Privy Councillor, 342 ; Mr. Rose declines to
receive the honour through Addington's intervention, 343 ;
the King sees the Duke of York on military matters, 344 ;
death of the Emperor Paul at St. Petersburgh, 344 ; battle of
Copenhagen, 345 ; conduct of Sir Hyde Parker discussed, 345 ;
the King's illness threatens to return thi-ough over-fatigue, 346 ;
line of conduct pursued by the Prince of "Wales, 346 ; details of
the battle of Copenhagen, 347 ; recall of Sir Hyde Parker, 348 ;
conversation with Lord Loughborough on his recent interview
with the King, 349 ; bill for preventing seditious meetings.
CONTENTS. Xlll
350 ; Mr. Eose offers his house at Cuffnells for the King's
use, during his journey to Weymouth, 351 ; Mr. Eose whites
to Mr. Addington to decline the honour of being made a
Privy Councillor, 352 ; the King's visit to Weymouth, the
King hurt that no congratulatory address has been offered
to liim on his recovery, 353 ; the King's annoyance at being
separated from the Queen, 354 ; the King takes an aversion
to Dr. Willis, 355 ; extraordinary conduct of Mr. Addington,
356 ; wavering conduct of Mr. Tierney, illness of Mr. Eose,
357.
CHAPTEE VII.
Correspondence on Mr. Pitt's retirement from office, in 1801,
358 ; the Bishop of Lincoln on the Catholic Eelief Bill, 359 ;
letters on the retirement of Mr. Pitt, 360 ; letter from Mrs.
Stapleton, a friend of Pitt's mother, to Mr. Eose, expressing Lady
Chatham's anxiety to be furnished with all particulars touch-
ing her son's resignation, 363 ; letter from Lord Auckland, in
which he states that he is " stunned, grieved, and aggrieved,"
365 ; Mr. Eose's reply, 365 ; letters on the offer of Privy
Councillor to Mr. Eose, 367 ; Mr. Eose wavers, 369 ; desires
an appointment for his son, 370 ; the King's visit to Wey-
mouth, 370 ; letter from Dr. WiUis to Mr. Eose on the
subject of the King's visit to Cuffnells, 371 ; characteristic
letter of Lord Eldon to Mr. Eose, 372 ; Church preferment,
376 ; close of Pitt's first Administration, 377 ; Lord Malmes-
bur/s account of the close of this Administration, 377 ;
charges Pitt with want of respect to the King, 377 ; Pitt's
conduct considered, 378 ; Lord Brougham's remarks on it,
379 ; his views discussed, 379 ; Lord Brougham's tribute to
the King, 380 ; Perceval and his party, 380 ; Lord
Brougham's statement that the King hated the Prince of
Wales considered, 380 ; character of the Prince of Wales,
381 ; unfilial conduct of the Prince of Wales, 382 ; Fox and
his followers, 383 ; the treatment of the King by the Prince
of Wales and the Duke of Kent contrasted, 384 ; the Prince
of Wales's complaint to Lord Malmesbury, 384 ; Lord Malmes-
XIV CONTENTS.
bury's reply, 384 ; the Princess C'luirlutte's ediuation, 385 ;
the Prince of AValcs piiblislios tho Kinj^'s i)rivatc correspnnd-
eiice, 385 ; insincerity of the Prince, 38G ; the King's reasons
for refusing Catholic Emancii)ation, 387 ; the agitation of this
question the cause of the Kiiig's illness, 389 ; convoi-sations of
Sir George Rose "with the King, 390 ; eharge of pride against
Mr. Pitt considered, 391 ; Mr. Pitt's position with respect
to Catholic Emancipation considercfl, 393 ; Mr. Pitt relents,
394 ; Pitt's attachment to the King, 396 ; unjust sunnises
of the Marquis of Buckingham, 396 ; conduct of the Gron-
villes, 397 ; the King's views of his duties, 398 ; hostile
conduct of Lord Auckland, 400 ; Mr. Rose declines Lord
Auckland's further acquaintance, 400.
CHAPTER VIII.
Negotiations respectmg the jiayment of Mr. Pitt's debts, 402 ;
!Mr Pitt's habits and ta.ste.s, 403 ; princely offer of George III.,
403 ; Dilfioulties of ^[r. Pitt, 404 ; the Cambridge Commemo-
ration, 405 ; Pitt's creditors become claniorou.s, 405 ; various
modes of paj-ing his debts suggested, 406 ; Mr. Dundas, 407 ;
Lord Camden to Mr. Rose, 408 ; Mr. Pitt's debts, 408 ; efforts of
his friends, 409 ; plan of Lord Camden, 409 ; sale of HoUwood
proposed, 410 ; Mr. Rose to Lord Camden on the subject of
Pitt's debts, 411 ; some merchants of London offer to rai.se
100,000^. to pay Mr. Pitt's debts, 412; the P.ishop of
Lincoln to Mr. Rose on the same subject, 415 ; Lord Camden
to Mr. Rose on the same, 418 ; the Bishop of Lincoln to Mr.
Rose on the same, 420 ; the Bishop of Lincoln sees Mr. Pitt
on the subject, 422 ; his conversation with Pitt, 424 ; Pitf s
promise not to agitate the Catholic question, 426 ; good
harvest, 427 ; the Catholic question, 428 ; contributors
towards the pajTiient of ]\[r. Pitt's debts, 428 ; signature
the preliminaries of peace, 430 ; ^Iv. Pitt to ;Mr. Rose on the
subject of an official situation for Mr. Rose's son, 430 ; acts
of treachery towards Mr. Pitt, 431 ; anxiety of Mr. Pitt's
friends respecting them, 432 ; wish ]\fr. Pitt to withdraw his
advice from Mr. Addington, 433 ; Addington's desire to kick
away the ladder, 434 ; the Bishop of Lincoln's injimctions to
CONTENTS. XV
Mr. Eose to watch the debates for any symptoms of the
above, 434; Mr. Eose urges upon Mr. Pitt that there is a
systematic plan to injure him with the King and the public,
435 ; Mr. Eose acquiesces in Mr. Pitt's wish that he should
become a Privy Coimcillor, 437 ; writes to him on the subject
of a post for his son, 439; Mr. Addington to Mr. Pitt, announc-
ing that the I^ing makes Eose and Long Privy Coimcillors,
440 ; Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Eose, 441 ; Mr. Pitt goes to
Cambridge, to Buckden, to Hollwood, 441 ; the Bishop of
Lincoln remonstrates with Mi*. Pitt on his support of Adding- ■
ton, 442 ; the distilleries' bill, 442 ; the Catholic question,
442 ; Pitt's uneasiness about the state of affairs, 444 ; expec-
tation of a fresh convulsion m Paris, 444.
CHAPTEE IX.
The civil list, 44-5 ; meeting to celebrate Mr. Pitt's birth-day,
447 ; Mr. Pitt's health, 447 ; Election at Southampton, 448 ;
the elections, 448 ; the Bishop of Lincoln's dissatisfaction
with Pitt's line of conduct, 449 ; state of affairs at home,
450 ; the Bishop of Lincoln seconds Mr. Eose's intention to
make a statement in the House of Commons hostile to the
Ministry, 450 ; Lord Grenville, 452 ; Mr. Canning's desire to
regulate his conduct in accordance with Mr. Pitt's ■\yishes,
453 ; Mr. Pitt goes to Bath for his health, 455 ; his conduct,
on the opening of Parliament, 45 G ; Mr. Canning on Lord
Grenville's position towards Mr. Pitt, 456 ; the navy esti-
mates, 457 ; Mr. Canning wishes Pitt's opinion, 458 ; Fox's
conduct towards the Addmgton Ministry, 459 ; state of
our relations with France, 460 ; Mr. Canning to Mr. Eose
on the naval estimates, and on the conduct to be pursued
towards the Addmgton Administration, 462 ; Lord HaAvkes-
bury, Mr. Fox, Mr. Canning, and others on the naval
estimates' bill, 464 ; successful speech of Mr. Sturge's,
465 ; Mr. Canning to Mr. Eose, on the attitude of affairs,
465.
CHAPTEE X.
Mr. Eose's Diary continued, 470 ; Mr. Eose's wish for the
return of Mr. Pitt to ofl&ce, 470 ; Pitt's diilioult position,
XVI CONTENTS.
471 ; Addington's dissatisfaction with Pitt, 471 ; French
proceedinga in Switzerland, 473 ; the First Consul's treat-
ment of Switzerland, 474 ; French projects against the Spanish
Settlements, in America, 475 ; the Italian Republic, 47G ;
Malta, 476 ; Elba, 477 ; French interference in Switzerland.
478 ; our interference against France, 481 ; comparative
state of our navy, from 1793 to 1801, 481 ; uur means of
going to war in 1801, 482 ; imbecility of Ministers, 483 ;
Pitt approves of Mr. Addington's conduct respecting Switzer-
land, 485 ; Mr. Pitt announces his intention of being present
at the opening of the session, 486 ; changes his intention,
487 ; Mr. Pitt exliibits his reluctance to resume office, 488 ;
Mr. Canning visits Mr. Pitt at Bath, 489 ; Lord Hawkcsbury
seeks IMr. Pitt's advice, 489 ; Mr. Pitt declines to give it,
490 ; plan agitated by influential persons to induce Mr.
Addington to resign, 490 ; Lord Grenville's confidence in
Mr. Pitt, 491 ; Pitt prepared to resume office, 492 ; his plan
of action, 493 ; aggrandisement of France, 495 ; general
desire to see Mr. Pitt resume office, 496 ; war expected with
France, 496 ; Lord Bathurst, 497 ; indiscretion of Mr. Can-
ning, 497 ; apathy of the House of Commons, 498 ; able
speech of Lord Grenville, 499 ; Pitt's return to office the
only safe course, 500 ; protection of the Government by Mr.
Fox, 501 ; objections of Mr. Ryder, 501 ; Fox's contradictor}'
sentiments, 503 ; Pitt's embarrassing position, 504 ; pointed
observations in the Courier on Mr. Fox's conduct, 506 ; Fox's
ardent Avish to keep Pitt out of office, 508 ; Count Woron-
zoff's opinion of the Addington Ministrj', 509; anecdote of
Lord Chatham, 509 ; elaborate and -v-inilent attack on Mr. Pitt
in the Times, 509 ; debate on the vote for seamen, 510 ;
Pitfs vexation at the attack in the Times, 511 ; regards it as
sanctioned by Mr. Addington, 512 ; Addington departs from
Pitt's policy, 513 ; the Prince of Wales's income, 514 ; Lord
Castlereagh's conversation with Pitt, 515 ; Mr. Addington
seeks an inter\dew -with 'Mi. Pitt, 516 ; Mr. Dundas's peerage,
517 ; another libel on Mr. Pitt, 518.
DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE
or
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE.
INTEODUCTION.
The Right Honourable George Rose has always
been numbered amongst the celebrated statesmen and
political writers of the conclusion of the last century
and the commencement of the present.^ From the time
when he entered upon the serious business of life, he
was exclusively employed in public offices of great im-
portance, which brought him into contact with many of
the most distinguished men of the age; and their letters
are included in the correspondence which is now intro-
duced as a biographical contribution to the history of
that period. Much belonging to the same epoch has
been already published in the shape of Memoirs,
Diaries, and Correspondence, but they convey for the
most part only the fleeting impressions of the hour,
and are sometimes marvellously disfigured by political
^ His portrait is included iu the series of " Portraits of the most
eminent persons now living, or lately deceased, in great Britain or
Ireland," published by Cadell and Davies, in 1812.
VOL. I. B
2 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
passions and ignorant mistakes. If, therefore, "vve rely
upon any of these taken alone, the truth conies to
us as much distorted, as if we were looking through
the multiform refractions of ill-made glass. They
are indeed all useful in their way; for the' history
of mankind is but half written, when it is composed
of State papers and Parliamentary debates ; but it is
only by comparing these revelations of the inner life
of statesmen, by eliminating some errors and correcting
others, that we can arrive at an accurate notion of the
character of those Avho move the mechanism of nations.
From the important posts which Mr. Rose occupied,
his correspondence and diaries are especially useful for
this purpose. He saw so much of the secret springs
which give motion to the wheels of Government, and
was admitted so far into the intimacy of the great actors
upon the public stage, that he could tell of much which
was invisible to the outside spectators. But especially
does his intimacy with Mr. Pitt, and the confidential
terms on which they lived, from the commencement of
that great mniister's first administration to the end of
his life, give au original interest to their correspon-
dence. It is an interest, however, of a very peculiar
nature ; it is not that which arises from curious dis-
coveries, large views, striking reflections, literary
criticisms, piquant anecdotes, whispered slanders, or
speculations even in politics; but it is an interest
entirely owing to the light which it throws on the
character of Mr. Pitt, and the tone of his mind
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 3
throughout the long series of letters which are now
first presented to the public. ■
Whether in office, or out of office, Mr. Pitt was so
entirely devoted to public affairs, that nothing seemed
to have any attraction for him, which was not in some
degree connected with them. As long as he supported
the Addington administration, he studied the mea-
sures which were brought forward, almost as much
as if he was to bear the responsibility ; and wdien
he grew discontented with them, and ceased to be
consulted, he still took the greatest pains to arrive
at the facts which would either justify or condemn
the conduct of the Government. His statesman-like
caution in writing is very remarkable. He never
expatiates upon passing events ; he never reveals his
intentions even to his most intimate friend ; he
never trusts his opinions to the perfidies of the
Post-office; but is always contriving the most con-
venient means of personal intercourse, when any
measm-e is to be discussed. It may be thought that
this habit would detract much from the interest of
these letters ; but everything which furnishes an addi-
tional lineament to the picture of such a man is
w^orthy of notice. This principle is recognised even
by the unfriendly pen of the Duke of Buckingham,
who, wishing to damage the character of Pitt by
an inference drawn from Lord Sidmouth's destruc-
tion of all documents in his possession, remarks how
strange it was " that this immense mass of letters
B 2
4 DIARIES AND CORIIESPONDENCE 01'
should have been consigned to the flames, Avlicn every
other correspondent of that ilhistrions man has pre-
served them Avith the greatest care and veneration." '
Moreover, it is worth while to take the widest possible
survey of his private correspondence, in order to bring
out more fully this very amiable feature in his character,
that when he is unbosoming himself in the most con-
fidential communications with his dearest friend, not
a word of ill-nature escapes him. He never abuses
any one ; he never depreciates his adversaries, and,
though in conversation he is reported to have said of
Lord Grenville, who had irritated him, " I will teach
that proud man that I can do without him," yet
nothing of that kind aj)pcars in his letters. Mr.
Canning went so far as to regret his having so much
of the milk of human kindness, that he never would
punish those who had betrayed him.^ Mr. Rose's
share of the correspondence is characterised by the
same good qualities which liOrd Glastonbury, a cousin
of Lord Grenville, and therefore in office, ascribes to a
pamphlet written by him on the subject of finance in
the following letter :
Lord Glastonbury to Mr. Pitt.
" My dear Sir,
" It is impossible for me not to read with the
fullest attention and the most anxious curiosity any
^ Duke of Buckiugbam's Memoirs, vol. iii. p. 142.
' Lord Malraesbnry's Diary, iv. 26.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 5
work on the trade and manufactures of the country,
and much more so a publication which comes forth
under the sanction of your pen. I cannot, there-
fore, omit troubling you with a few lines to express
my warmest thanks for the perusal of the pam-
phlet you had the goodness to send me last week.
It is a work which, in sound argument, good sense,
perspicuity of statement, and elegance of language,
I will venture to say, is to be equalled by few,
surpassed by none. Though frequently alarmed, I
have at no period of this awful contest despaired of
our final success. But this statement has increased
my confidence ; for who was sanguine enough last
year to be assured that the unprecedented weight of
taxes which it was judged wise and expedient to
impose, would not affect the produce of the old funds ?
I am persuaded that our remaining resources will
suffice to carry us through this storm, in which the
trade, commerce, and manufactures of the world are
staked against the plunder of it. But the former have
this advantage ; they are better applied, and will prove
more permanent than the latter. My chief anxiety
arises from the depression of the landed gentleman
with a small property, who resides on his estate.
This useful and necessary class of men suffer most,
and will be annihilated by the weight of taxes.
" I am, my dear Sir,
" With a very sincere regard and esteem,
" Your most faithful and obliged Servant,
" Glastonbury.
" Conduit Street, 12th March, 1799."
6 DIARIES AND CUKKESPONDENCE OF
[Mr. Rose left behind him injiterials ditt'ercnt in
character for three distinct periods of his Ufe. For
the first, which reaches up to the commencement of
Mr. Pitt's first administration, there is a short auto-
biography, but no correspondence ; for the second,
which ends with his own retirement from office on
Mr. Pitt's resignation, there is a copious correspon-
dence, but neither autobiography nor diary ; for
the third there are both diaries and correspondence.
In most autobiographies the domestic life of the writer
occupies a large space. They contain minute details of
his parentage, his early habits, and education. Of all
this, very little is said by Mr. Rose. He was pre-
eminently a man of business, and he hurries fonvard
to the period when he began to be employed in the
service of the State. Thus, though he was a Tory all
his life, he thinks it not worth while to tell how much
his father suffered in that cause, nor how he Avas
thrown into prison in 1745, for too much complicity
with the leaders of that rebellion, which, however,
accounts sufficiently for his being himself so ill pro-
vided for in early life, and for his uncle's taking
charge of him ; and though he travelled abroad, yet
he records no adventures, no remarks, no incident,
except that he met with j\lr. Pitt at Paris.
With respect to his marriage, which must have
been the most interesting passage in his life, not
political, he makes no mention either of the fact,
person, or date. Indeed we only collect the circum-
THE BIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 7
stance from an incidental reference to his wife. As the
whole narrative consists of reminiscences penned at a
late period of his life, all dates and numbers seem to
have been forgotten, and the blanks were never filled
up. His daughter, however, with true feminine instinct,
and predilection for the interesting minutiae of private
life, has supplied many valuable particulars, which were
wholly omitted in the autobiography. Unfortunately
she adopted the habit of writing more with her pencil
than her pen, and therefore much is now illegible
which might have conveyed useful knowledge.
During the second period of his life, Mr. Rose's
time and attention were too much absorbed by the
manifold duties of his office to allow him sufficient
leisure for writing a diary, or taking nuich notice
of what was passing aromid him. Nor indeed was
he at any time addicted to pleasantries, anecdotes,
or gossip ; but when he was out of office, or held
a post of less anxious nature, he recorded in a diary,
till the year 1811, every event that occurred in
the political world, with the single exception of the
year 1805, respecting which almost a complete silence
is observed. Whether this was owing to ill health, of
which he w^as beginning to complain, or .to some
slight coolness which had sprung up between him
and Mr. Pitt, with reference to the formation of
the administration, or the policy of the war, of
which some traces are perceptible, we have not
sufficient evidence to determine. He savs so little
8 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
about himself that it may be convenient to intro-
duce here the dates of the principal eveuts of his
political life.
In 1772, he was keeper of the Records at West-
minster ; in 1776, he was Secretary to the Board of
Taxes ; in 1782, Secretary to the Treasury, which
office he vacated in the spring of 17S3, but was
re-appointed by JMr. Pitt in December; in 1784, he
was returned by the Duke of Northumberland as
Member of Parliament for Launceston, in Cornwall ;
in 1788, he vacated his seat by being made Clerk of
Parliaments, but was returned for Lymington, and in
1790 for Christ Church; in ISOl, on the resignation
of Mr. Pitt, he vacated the Secretaryship to the
Treasury; in 1804, when Mr. Pitt came again into
office, he was appointed Joint Paymaster-General of
the Forces and Vice-President of the Board of Trade,
till January, 180G, when Mr. Pitt died."
In 1807, under the Duke of Portland, he was
appointed Treasurer of the Navy and Vice-President of
the Board of Trade. Miss Rose's sketch of her father's
life, which is here subjoined, will be the most fitting
introduction to his own autobiography, and will show
how much he has omitted of his early history. — Ed.]
" Mr. Rose was the second son of his father by his
second wife. When little more than four years of age,
he was adopted by his mother's brother, at that time
living at Hampstead, and educated by him. He
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 9
was for a short time at Westminster School, but
at an early age was sent by his uncle to sea, under
the friendly care of Captain Mackenzie, of the Navy,
and served for three or four years as a younker and
midshipman. During this time, neither the risks nor
hardships of the service disinclined him to it, though
he had a considerable share of both. He always
spoke of his first years in the Navy with pleasure,
and continued his predilection for it through life.
" He must have entered the naval service at a very
early age. His first voyage was to the AVest Indies ;
and in May, 1758, he served in the Channel as a
midshipman, and steered one of the boats from which
the troops commanded by Charles, Duke of Marl-
borough, were landed in Cancale Bay; and in 1759
lie was again in the West Indies, and was twice
severely wounded during the naval campaign there.
From the efiects of one of these wounds he continued
to suffer to a late period of his life..
" It has been stated that he received the appoint-
ment of purser to the ship, but, in fact, it appears that
Captain Mackenzie was his own purser. Mr. Rose
kept his book, wdiicli is signed in a boy's handwriting.
The pay was given by favour, probably, and the whole
was under the captain's control; but his uncle was
discouraged in his hope of advancing him, and on the
peace of 1763, he quitted the service.
" He was then in his nineteenth year, and his
own master. His uncle, his only relation in England,
10 DIARIES AND COJIRESPONDENCE OF
was dead, and tlic small b(.'(|iicst he expected to
inherit from him (about 5,000/.), he was deprived
of, under circumstances so painful, that lie scarcely
ever alluded to them further than to state that, when
he returned, he learnt that no will of his uncle's had
been found, and that no trace remained of his i)ro-
perty. Young as he then was, he had gained the
regard of his uncle's respectable friends ; he also
obtained an introduction into the best literary society
of that day, and through private friendship was
appointed a clerk in the Record Ollicc.
" When it was determined by the House of Lords,
about the year 1707, to print their Journals and the
Rolls of Parliament, a person competent to the work
was sought for, and Mr. Rose was found well ([uali-
fied for the undertaking. An office was formed for
the purpose under his direction, which, when he
became Clerk of Parliaments, was absorbed into that
department, — Mr. Rose having resigned the emolu-
ments, amounting to about 500/. a-year for his life,
for a pension of 300/. on ]\Irs. Rose.
" While this work was in progress, the active intel-
ligence of his mind, which led him to pursue with
energy every duty which he undertook, attracted the
notice of the peers who composed the committee for
directing it; especially of the last Earl of March-
mont; and the foundation was then laid of that
confidential and affectionate friendship which led him
within a very few years afterwards to name Mr. Rose
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 11
his sole executor for his EngUsh property ; a friend-
ship which increased with years, and was marked at
Lord Marchmont's death by a renewal of that trust,
conveying to him, besides a pecuniary legacy, his
books and papers.
" While du'ecting the printing of EoUs and
Journals, Mr. Rose had been appointed, on the
death of Mr. Morley, joint keeper of the Records
with Mr, Farrer, at whose death he became the sole
principal of that ofhce.
"About the year 1777, Mr. Rose was appointed
Secretary of the Tax Office, on the resignation of
Mr. Chamberlayne, and was frequently consulted,
during the latter part of the administration of Lord
North, on business connected with that department.
" When Lord John Cavendish became Chancellor
of the Exchequer, he advised on general financial regu-
lations with Mr. Rose, who then suggested to him
the measure for the consolidation of the Customs,
which he had afterwards, under Mr. Pitt's admini-
tration, the satisfaction of seeing perfected.
" During that time. Lord Shelburne requested Mr.
Rose to call on him, to give him some information
respecting the revenue. He did so. At the close of
the conversation, Lord Shelburne asked him what
were his future views. Mr. Rose replied, to obtain
the reversion of the office of Clerk of Parliaments,
which he had been led to look forward to, after the
present possessor, in consequence of his employ-
12 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENX'E OF
ment iu the service of the House of Lords, and
as Clerk Assistant, if the Patent, wliich liad been
closed in compliance with an atldress to tiie King,
ever should be opened again. Lord Shelburne
replied, ' Good God, Mr. Rose, have yon not more
ambition ? '
" When Lord Shelburne l)ecame First Lord of the
Treasury, he desired Lord Thurlow, with whom Mr.
Rose then lived in habits of private friendship, to
offer him the situation of Secretary to the Treasury.
His first impulse was to refuse it, and not to abandon
a moderate but permanent oftice for a very precarious
one, which might embark him in party politics. He
was strongly urged to take the time offered him hy
Lord Shelburne for consideration. At the end of a
week, the advice of his friends, and probably the
temptation of the field being opened to him for those
improvements in the management of the revenue
which he had contemplated from the time he was
employed in a financial department, determined him
to accept the situation offered to him, on one con-
dition only, — that he should not, while holding it, sit
in Parliament.
" Lord Stafford also urged his acceptance of Lord
Shelburne's offer. Pie was Lord Thiu'low's friend ; but
I have strong reason to believe that Lord Stafford,
then Lord Gower, took a strong interest in my
father's fortunes on private considerations, apart from
bis knowledge of his ability in the general business
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 13
of the House of Lords. I always remember traces of
it. By Lady Gower, tliougli she never visited my
mother (indeed, she visited very few)^ and by all her
family, he was treated as a familiar associate ; and by
her favourite brother, Mr. Stewart, as his attached
and intimate friend. His wdfe told me, when I was
thirteen years old, that her husband informed her
when he married her, that she must be intimate with
Mrs. Rose, as he felt sure she w^ould like her, for Mr.
Rose w^as his earliest friend. She said, w^hen I asked
her where the early intimacy had been formed, she
could not tell, it had often puzzled her. I then
asked where my grandmother and her chikben were,
and who protected them w^hen my grandfather was
imprisoned in London, in 1745 ? She replied, 'The
Galloway Stewarts.' She had once before told me
that the name of Stewart, borne by my uncle and
brother, w^as derived from the Galloway Stewarts.
This gave me light, and explained the intimacy wdth
Lord Galloway and his family, though it fell off from
Lord Galloway, whom my father did not like.
" Li one respect, my father had no cause to regret
his compliance. Lord Shelburne fulfilled his expecta-
tions as far as the short period of his administration
and the difficulties he had to encounter permitted, in
the department he belonged to ; but he resigned his
employment under him wdtli satisfaction, though he
left it, when Lord Shelburne resigned the seals,
without any remuneration for having given up a
14 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
permanent office. At that time, in addition to the
small salaries from the Record and Jonrnal Offices,
he had a moderate piivate fortnne, vested in the pre-
carious security of a West Indian property, and the
remote prospect of succeeding to the offices of Clerk
Assistant of the House of Lords, and Clerk of Par-
liaments, after the lives of .Mr. Strutt and Mr. iVshlcy
Cowper. The Patent had been opened, in conse-
(pience of an address to the King from the House
of Lords, moved by the Earl of ]\Iarchmont, for the
nomination of Mr. Strutt and Mr. Rose in succession,
on the ground of j\Ir. Rose's former and continued
services to the House.
" There was then what was called a six weeks' inter-
regnum, during which nothing was done but what
was absolutely needful, only the King's special act,
as in the case of Dr. ^Moore's nomination to the
Archbishopric of Canterbury.
" Lord Shelburne never took any concern in my
father's object, nor supported his friends in the House
of Lords, on the address, &c. It was done entirely by
the peers, who attended to the particular business in
that house, independent of politics, — Lord Stafford,
Lord North, &c. This was known to the King, and
approved by him. When Lord Shelburne resigned.
Lord Stafford wished to give up the privy seal, but
declared he would keep it to complete my father's
patent, then in progress. Lord Thurlow, in one of
his sulky moods, held it back, until the King asked
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 15
him ' if he had not a patent for the Parhament office
for his signature.' This, the King told himself.
" Immediately after quitting the office of Secretary
to the Treasury, Mr. Rose went abroad with Lord
Thurlow, and returning in the autumn of 1783,
through Paris, he there met Mr. Pitt, whom he had
previously known when he was Chancellor of the
Exchequer in Lord Shelburne's administration, and
of whom he at once formed a true estimation. At
Paris they became more fully acquainted Avith each
other. They returned to England impressed with the
same views of the important occurrences of the time,
too well remembered to require a more particular
mention here.
"When Mr. Pitt became Prime Minister in 1784,
Mr. Rose was again appointed Secretary to the
Treasury, which office he held during the whole
of ]\Ir. Pitt's administration, and his objections to
sitting in Parliament being removed by his knowledge
of jMr. Pitt's character and his perfect reliance on
him, he was, in the general election in 1784, returned
member for Launceston. Mr. Pitt's sense of the
sacrifice Mr. Rose had made in resigning the office of
Secretary to the Treasury, was met by his appointing
him, unsolicited, to the first situation for fife which
fell to his disposal, the Mastership of the Pleas in
the Court of Exchequer ; which place he afterwards
allowed him to resign in favour of his youngest
son. ]\Iy father was brought into Parliament, in
16 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
1784, by the private friendship of the Diiko of
Northumberland, grandfather of the present Duke.
" In 1788 he succeeded, on the death of j\Ir. Ashley
Cowper, to the office of Clerk of Parliaments, — Mr.
Strutt having died during Mr. Cowper's life, in conse-
quence of the effects of a fall. This succession vacated
the seat for Launceston, and for the short nmainder
of that Parliament he sat for the borough of Lyming-
ton. At the general election in 1795 he was returned
one of the members for Christ Church, which borough
he continued to represent for the remainder of his
life.
"When Mr. Pitt resigned the seals, in 1801, Mr.
Rose quitted the office of Secretary to the Treasury,
and was at Mr. Pitt's request named by the King
of the Privy Council, and by his Majesty's command
one of the members of the Board of Trade. When
Mr. Pitt resumed office in 1804, Mr. Rose was
appointed one of the Joint Paymasters of the Army
and Vice-President of the Board of Trade, which
offices he rpsigned on Mr. Pitt's death. Under the
Duke of Portland's administration he was appointed
Treasurer of the Navy, a post he continued to hold
until his death, in 1818."
THE KTGITT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 17
CHAPTER I.
REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS, ARISING PROM THE EXPERIENCE OP A
LONG LIFE, THE GREATEST PART OF WHICH HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE
ACTIVE SERVICE OF THE PUBLIC — WITH THESE PERHAPS MAT BE
INTERSPERSED STATEMENTS OF, OR ALLUSIONS TO, CIRCUMSTANCES
AS THEY MAY OCCUR TO MY RECOLLECTION, WITHOUT REGARD TO
DATES OR TO PARTICULAR PERIODS.
Ciiffiiells, September \lth, 1817, in mi/ IMh i/ear.
As this paper is intended for tlie information of my
son, and of those who may follow him, I begin it
naturally with some account of myself, to show how
I attained my present situation in the world. I was
born in 1744. I am descended paternally from the
family of Rose of Kilravoe, in the comity of Nairn,
in Scotland ; maternally from the family of Rose of
Westerclune.
A brother of my mother,' who was very respectably
settled in England, took me from my parents, when
four years old, and gave me as good an education as
possible.
At an early age I entered in the Naval Service,
under Captain Jas. Mackenzie, who treated me like a
1 This brother was maternally descended from Archbishop Sharp's
daughter, who was with him when he was murdered.
VOL. I. - C
18 DIARIES AND COKRESl'ONDKNCK OF
parent, and with whom I hved for some time at his
own table. Losing, however, all prospect of proniotion
in the only desirable line in the Navy, I (piitted it
permanently in 1 7(5:2.
In the beginning of 1 H')'-), I a|)|)lied myself to the
study of Records, ami in 17()7, when the House of
Lords decided to print their early proceedings, ;ill the
Record otticers were ordered to attend the committee
appointed for that })nr[)ose ; amongst whom I appearetl
for ^Ir. Morley, who was then keej)er of the Records
in the receipt of the Exchecpier, preserved in the
chapter-house at Westminster.
Of that committee the late Earl of Marchmont was
in the chair, to whom I was an al)solute stranger. It
was upon luy attendance there that my ac(piaintance
with him connnenced, which formed to a verv great
extent the comfort, as well as led to the advantages,
of ray future Hfe. Here, therefore, I think it right
to make some mention of him. He was a man of
most distinguished talents and learning ; he had
read more deeply in the classics, history and in civil
law, than any man I ever knew, — combining the
three branches. He entered public life at an early
age, having been chosen for the town of Berwick,
and soon made a considerable figure in the House
of Commons in opposition to Sir liobert Walpole;
which party he led after the secession of Mr. Pulteney.
When his seat became vacant on his succession to
the peerage on the death of his father, Sir Robert
said to Mr. JMorley (who lived on terms of great
private familiarity with him) that he was relieved
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE HOSE. 19
from tlie most troublesome opponent he had in the
house.
TJic Earl had lived in habits of the closest inti-
macy with Lord Bolingbroke, both in England and
in Erance. This afforded opportunities, in frequently
repeated conversations, for his lordship's stating to
me everything interesting which passed in the reign
of Queen Anne and George the First, as familiarly
as if the occurrences had taken place in his own time ;
some of these will probably be stated hereafter.
I will here, however, in justice to the memory of
my invaluable friend, say that on religious points
there was no union of sentiinents between these two
men. On the other hand, it appears by a letter of
Lord Bolingbroke's, dated in 1740, from Angeville,
that he had actually written some essays dedicated to
the Earl of Marchmont, of a very different tendency
from his former w^orks. These essays, on his death,
fell into the hands of Mr. Mallet, his executor, who
had at the latter end of his hfe acquired a decided
influence over him,^ and they did not appear among
' This influence was acquired by constant attention, and prin-
cipally by exposing to his lordship the breach of engagement of
Mr. Pope, in allowing Lord B.'s Essay on a Patiiot King to be printed.
His lordship had printed six copies of it himself, which he gave
to Lord Chesterfield, Sir Wm. Wyndham, Mr. Littleton, Mr. Pope,
Lord Marchmont, and to Lord Cornbury, at whose instjance he
wrote it. Mr. Pope lent his copy to Mr. Allen, of Bath ; who was so
delighted with it that he had an impression of 500 taken oft",
but locked them up securely in a warehouse, not to see the light
till Lord Bolingbroke's permission sl.ould be obtained. On the dis-
covery, Lord Marchmont (then living in Lonl Bolingbroke's house
at Battersea) sent Mr. Gravenkoi) for the whole caigo, who carried
c 2
20 ])IA1UES AM) CORKESPON'DENCE Ol'
his lordsliip's \vorks published l)y MalK-t ; nor have
they been seen or heard of since. From w henee it must
naturally be conjectured that they were destroyed by
the latter, for \vhat reason cannot now be known ;
possibly, to conceal from the world the change, such
as it was, in his lordship's sentiments in the latter end
of his life, and to avoid the discredit to his former
works. In which respect he might have been in-
fluenced either bv refjard for the nol)le Viscount's
%,■ c
consistency, or by a desire not to im|)air the ])ec>iniary
advantage he expected from the jjublication of his
lordship's works.'
Besides Lord l^olingbroke, Lord Marchmont lived
in the most intimate habits with Lord Cliesti-rtield,
Lord Cobham, Lord Stair, Sarah Duchess of Marl-
borough, Mr. Littleton, Lord Corubury, Mr. Pope, and
other eminent {)ersons. And his memory being ])er-
fect, to his death, made his society most interesting,
them out in a waggou, and the books were burnt on the lawn in the
presence of Lord Bolingbroke.
' The letter to Lord Marchmont, here referred to, ha.s a note
appended to it by Sir (5eorge Rose, the editor of the " Marchmont
Papers," who takes a very different view of its contents from his
father. He justly remarks, that "as tlie posthumous disclosure of
Lord Bolingbroke's inveterate hostility to Christianity lava open to
the view as well the bitterness as the extent of it, so the manner of
that disclosure precludes any doubt of the earnestness of his desire
to give the utmost efficiency and publicity to that hostility, as soon
as it could safely be done ; that i.s, as soon as death should shield
him against responsibility to man." Sir George saw plainly enough
that, when he promises, in those essays, to " vindicate religion
against divinity and God against man," he was retracting all that he
had occasionally said in favour of Christianity ; he was upholding
the religion of Theism against the doctrines of the Bible, and the
God of nature against the revelation of God to man. — Ed.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 21
as he was in the habit, with me, of constantly narrat-
ing anecdotes, and mentioning what had passed in the
former parts of his time.
It was to tliis highly distinguished nobleman I owe
my introduction into life, and consequently to every-
thing that has since followed. It was to him entirely
(then an absolute stranger, as already observed) I was
indebted for my being employed in the publication of
the Lords' Records, in April, 17G7.
In the year 1772, Mr. Morley died, at a very
advanced age; and a recommendation in my favour
to succeed him Vv^as sent by the Committee of Lords,
to Lord North, who put aside an appointment he had
intended, and gave the office to me. At my own
request, however, Mr. Farley, who had been for a very
long time chief clerk in it, was joined with me, but
he dying a few years afterwards, I became sole
keeper of the Records, in which situation I still
remain.
In the interval between my quitting the navy and
my employment by the House of Lords, I lost my
uncle, who died without a will, in a tit of apoplexy.
He had been my great stay in affection as well as in
pecuniary support. By his death, under these circum-
stances (the particulars not worth detailing here), I
was left in a most unprotected state. With a good
education, however, and living in the best society,
the advantages of which I have largely experienced,
I was nearly domesticated in the house of one friend,
whose name T mention on account of the very peculiar
benefits I derived from his kindness. This was Mr.
22 DIAKIES AND COJUlEtsPONJJKNCE UF
Alexander Stralian, who entered into tlie world with
a large fortune, which he greatly impaired by the
South Sea scheme in the year 1720. The remains
of it he principally sunk in annuities, IVom whence
he derived a considerable income, and was enabled
to live well. AVhcn I was introduced to him, he
was at a very advanced aj^e, and was never out of
his house, except when he changed his residence from
one house for another he had at Knightsbridge,
during the summer. At his table (a regular one every
day, and which I frecpiented whenever 1 had no other
engagement) I met almost every man and woman
of letters of the time: ^Ir. Hume, Dr. .lohnsoii,
Mr. Mallet, Dr. Armstrong, Mr. Scott, who had
been preceptor to the King, Mr. Richmond Webb,
Mrs. jSlacanlay, Mrs. Lennox, praised by Dr. Johnson,
and others.
The life of Mr. Strahan closed almost immediately
after my being employed by the House of Lords; to
Mhich duty 1 devoted myself so entirely, that it woidd
in any event have taken me much from that society
by which I had greatly protited.
I continued in the execution of the duty entrusted
to me so completely to the satisfaction of the Lords,
that the House presented an address to the King,
laying before him a report of their Committee,
recommending me in strong terms to his Majesty.
When that report was presented by the Chancellor,
Lord Bathurst, his Majesty expressed himself very
graciously respecting me, so as to lead to a hope of my
being considered when the patent of the Clerk of the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 23
Parliaments being opened, should afford an opportunity
for it.
In the year 1777, on Mr. George Chamberlayne's
resignation of the Secretaryship of the Tax-Office,
upon his becoming a Roman Catholic, Lord North
appointed me his successor, without any solicitation
whatever on my part. The offer was made in the most
gratifying manner, through the brother, Mr. Edward
Chamberlayne, then a clerk in the Treasury. In
that situation I remained till July, 178.2.
In April, 17S:2, Lord North was removed from the
head of the Treasury, and was succeeded by Lord Rock-
mgham, — Lord Shelburne, and Mr. Fox being Secre-
taries of State. In the July following, Lord Rocking-
ham died. During his short administration. Lord John
Cavendish, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, consulted
me on everything. He had been advised (as he told
me) by various friends to apply to me for assistance.
On the death of Lord Rockingham, there was a
struggle for the Treasury between the Duke of Port-
land and Lord Shelburne, the former eagerly sup-
])orted by Mr. Eox ; but the latter prevailed ; on which
Mr. Eox and his political friends resigned, amongst
whom was Lord John Cavendish. I was one of the
very first to whom his Lordshij) made the communi-
cation, lamenting earnestly that I would not permit
Lord Rockingham and himself to propose anything
for me while it was in their power.
After leaving Lord John, I went to Lord Thurlow,
the Chancellor, on a pressing message desiring to see
me; when he at once asked me abruptly if I would be
24 DIARIES AND COURKSrONDKNCK OF
Secretary of the Treasury ; wliicli was lollowccl by a
question from me, 'Arc you to be Tirst Lord?' to
which he rephed with an oath, ' No ; but Shclburne
is.' A conversation followed, in which I expressed
great surprise at the j)roposal, and at its being made
through him. Me accounted for it, by Lord Shclburne
thinking if it had been made ]>y himself I should have
refused it, and that probably his lordship (Thurlow)
might prevail with me to accept it. I, however, stated
a strong objection to it, and under that impression
left the Chancellor. On my reaching home, 1 learnt
from J\Irs. Rose that Mrs. Strachey had been with her,
and mentioned that she was looking out in West-
minster for a house, as her husband, a very old friend
of mine, understood he was to contimie one of the
Secretaries of the Treasury, in which otticc lie was
placed by Lord Rockingham.
After several days' deliberation, I was prevailed
ujjon to accept the offer, with a considerable disin-
clination on my part. I made no bargain or condition
of any sort for the event of retiring, though I gave up
the valuable situation, a permanent one, of Secretary
of Taxes, worth then more than £900 a year, with a
certain prospect of improving, besides a small office in
the Exchequer that required only a few days' attendance
in the year, to take the very precarious one, under an
unsettled Government, of Secretary to the Treasury.
A stranger to Lord Shclburne, and in utter igno-
rance of the line of politics he meant to })ursue, 1
made it an express condition that 1 would not come
into Parliament.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 25
On the opening of the session, however, it was found
that Mr. Orde (my colleague, afterwards Lord Bolton)
was under great difficulty in getting in ; and Lord
Shelburne, without any communication with me, pre-
vailed on Sir Richard Worsley to vacate his seat for
Newport, in the Isle of Wight, that I might be chosen
for that place. In the course of the summer and
autumn I had experienced very uncomfortable feelings
from the temper and disposition of Lord Shelburne ;
sometimes passionate or unreasonable, occasionally
betraying suspicions of others entirely groundless, and
at other times offensively flattering. I have frequently
been puzzled to decide which part of his conduct was
least to be tolerated.
This proceeding to force me into Parliament occa-
sioned much heat on both sides ; but I maintained
my resolution, and Mr. Pepper Arden, the Solicitor-
General, was chosen for Newport.
Having made no conditions whatever on giving up
my former employments, I thought it an act of justice
to myself to secure what was evidently intended for
me by the House of Lords and the King. Till now I
had been contented to wait for events respecting the
Parliament office, as I had not before a political or
private enemy to impede my access to it. Sure how-
ever, although not in the House of Commons, of now
becoming an object of resentment, I was naturally
desirous of protecting myself against suffering by
that ; and I was indeed urged most strongly by Lord
Marchmont, who expressed his determination to bring
the matter under the ronsidrratiou of the House. The
26 IJIARIES AMJ C()KUi:si'UM>i:NCE OF
first step was to open the means ot" granting the ottice
in rcvcision. In a subsequent year tlierc was a very
long and strict investigation by a Committee of Lords,
respecting the whole euniluct of matters in tlie Tarlia-
ment office, when it was proved tliat great abuses liad
been committed by the Clerk of the Parliaments, in the
sale of employments undei- him, and in diverting
allowances made by the piililie to prixate objects.
This induced an address to the King, to recpiest his
Majesty would not in future grant the otiiee in n'version.
This obstruction was removed by Lord .M.ii'ehmont
moving an address, which was carried unanimously,
praying the King would grant the otiiee in the man-
ner hcret(jfore accustomed, not doubting that his
Maiestv would consent.
Within two days after, the patent granting the
office of Clerk of the Parliaments was made out in
favour of Mr. Samuel Strutt, the Clerk Assistant of
the House of Lords, and to myself in reversion, after
the death of Mr. Ashley Cowper, then more than
eighty years of age. Thus was secured to me the suc-
cession to the office on the death of Mr. Strutt, and
the situation of Clerk Assistant (if I should choose to
take it) on Mr. Strutt becoming Clerk of the Parlia-
ments. Li the proceeding for opening the patent Lord
Shelburne had no share: he was not even in the House
when Lord Marchniont moved the address: Lord
ThurJow, the Chancellor, had given it all the counte-
nance in his power, and Lord Shelburne consented.
In the interval between the ai)pointment of Lord
Shelburne to the Treasury in July, and the meeting
THE IIIGIIT HON. GEOKGE ROSE. 27
of Parliament in the winter, his Lordship made every
exertion in his power to gain strength in the House of
Commons ; the King, at his instance, having written
earnestly to Lord North and to some others, who it
w^as thought might be influenced thereby, to support
the administration. It was, however, found soon after
the commencement of the session, how ineffectual those
exertions were. Lord Shelburne had entered upon
office without previously ascertaining what support
he could rely on, or might have reasonable prospect
of receiving; and it soon appeared how formidable
an opposition he had to encounter. A coalition was
formed between Lord North and Mr. Fox, uniting
the two great parties who had long acted under these
eminent leaders : — the principal agent in which was
Mr. Eden, afterwards Lord Auckland, wdio made
much use of Mr. North, the eldest son of his father, in
bringing the two principals together.
This junction was made manifest by the vote on the
Peace, which was carried by a majority of seventeen.
The numbers being 190 to 207. The person who
moved the censure upon it was the Earl of Surrey, who,
(luring the short administration of Lord Shelburne,
had obtained everything he asked ; professing the
most determined attachment to his lordship, and living
much at his table. During that period, very little in-
teresting to myself occurred, except the alternate
violence and flattery of Lord Shelburne, before alluded
to ; which made my situation so thoroughly unpleasant
to me, that I felt the certain removal from office as a
relief. There were other qualities in his lordship that
28 DIARIES AND CORKESPONDKNCE OF
were uncomfortable to nie ; a suspicion of almost every
one he had intercourse with, a want of sincerity, and
a habit of listening to every tale-bearer who would
give him intelligence or news of any sort.
Under these circumstances, I parted from him with
feelings of no pleasant nature, and I believe he had no
regret at the separation, lie took not the least notice
of the unprovided state in which I was left, from having
made no conditions for myself when I came to the
Treasury. It was the first instance of a gentleman
giving up an income to take the Secretaryship of the
Treasury, without something being secured to him on
his retiring or being removed, or being given to him
previous to his removal It is true I had the reversion
of the place of Clerk of the Parliaments, but there was
a life in it before me very nearly as good as my own,
for Mr. Strutt was only two years older than myself,
and the grant had no relation whatever to my accept-
ance of the Secretaryship of the Treasiu-y. So far,
therefore, as Lord Shelburne was concerned, I was
left completely upon the pavement ; of which, how-
ever, I made no complaint to any one, nor remonstrance
to his lordshi}), though my case was strengthened by
my having reduced the income of the Secretary greatly.
The income had arisen from fees on every instru-
ment that was issued from, or passed through, the
office ; an unpleasant and objectionable source, which
hiduced nie to propose that all the fees received in
the dej)artmeut should be carried to a fund, from
M"hich the secretaries and clerks should be paid.
I settled the income of the Secretaries, with the
approbation of the Board, at £3,000 a year in peace
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 29
and war, at which it remained till the year 17 ,
when Mr. Pitt, thmking that too low for the increased
expense of living, and utterly insufhcient for maintain-
ing the appearance necessary to the situation, and the
unavoidable charges of it, added £1 ,000 a year. When
the minute was made for that addition, I wrote under
it, that being in possession of a valuable sinecure
office, I would not avail myself of the increased
salary ; and I never took a shilling of it.
Previously to the removal of Lord Slielburne from
the Treasury, an arrangement was made in the office
which occasioned five vacancies. Two of these he filled
himself, by Mr. Alcock and Mr. Cipriani ; one he gave
to Mr. Pitt, who appointed a gentleman who soon ex-
changed the place for another situation; the fourth he
conferred on Mr. Orde (my colleague), who appointed
Mr. Joseph Smith, afterwards ]\[r. Pitt's private
secretary. The fifth he gave to me, and I appointed
Mr. Chinnery, a sort of secretary to Lord Thurlow^
the Chancellor, who was likely to be turned adrift on
his lordship going out of office, with little hope of
receiving support from his father, who was a Avriting-
master.
An intimation was conveyed to me by Mr. James
Grenville that I might remain in the Treasury if I
wished it, which he was authorized to suggest by Mr.
Frederic Montague, one of the new lords : but I
declined it, although I felt that I was at full liberty, not
having been in Parliament, nor having mixed in Lord
Shelburne's politics in any manner; having certainly
no obligations of any kind whatever to his lordship.
30 DIARIES AND CORllKSroXDENCI-: OF
I went out of otficc vvitli Lord Shclhiinu- on tcriii!*
of civility and good corrt'spondence, tlioutjii not with
cordiality ; but an incident occurred a week or two
afterwards which occasioned a Hnal and determined
separation. iJeforc the Island of St. Christopher wjis
taken in the war, Mr. Gauunin (brother-in-law to
the Duke of Graffon bv havini' married the Duki 's
sister, and to tiio Duke of Cliandos by the Duke
having married Mr. Gammin's sister) was Collector
of the Customs there. After the capture of the island
Mr. Gammin was made Secretary of Excise. On the
peace Mr. Gammin had the option of the two em-
ployments; he chose the latter; on which I recjuested
Lord Shelburne to give the Collectorship of St.
Christopher's to Mr. Diver, a brother of Mrs. Rose's,
who was Collector of Dominica, not quite so good in
point of income, and the society inferior. In this
Lord Shelburne acquiesced ; but on the coming in
of the new government, Mr. Gammin had iutluence
enough to obtain his former ottice at St. Christopher's
with the consent of Lord Shelburne, retaining also
the secretaryship of excise, and Mr, Diver was
not restored to Dominica, which his lordshij) had
given to Mr. Grove, the brother of one of his agents
in the citv.
On this transaction 1 had an interview with his lord-
ship, in which I stated to him in very plain and
intelligible expressions the sense I had of his conduct,
and my determination never to be in a room with him
again while in existence. From Lord Shelburne's in
Berkeley Square I went to ^Iv. Pitt, then staying with
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 31
his brother, Lord Chatham, in Savile Row, and
explained to him all that had passed on this private
subject, telling him at the same time the determina-
tion I had taken to separate for ever from Lord Shel-
burne ; adding that it would be most painful to me
if that sliould be the occasion of a separation from
hiin also, but, distressing as such an alternative would
be, I must encounter that rather than have any inter-
course whatever in future with Lord Shelburne. Mr.
Pitt expressed great regret at the communication, but
entered on nothing confidential.
During the nine months of the administration I
had not nuich intercourse with Mr. Pitt except at the
Board, and sometimes at dinner at Lord Shelburne's ;
but such as I had was remarkably pleasant and
satisfactory. *
Finding myself quite at liberty, after the change of
administration, I made a tour on the Continent with
Lord Thurlow, from whom the Great Seal was taken.
We started in the month of July, 1782, and went by
Calais, through Lisle, to Spa ; whence after some
stay, to Aix-la-Chapelle, crossed the Rhine to Dussel-
dorff, and up the banks to all the places on the side
of that river to Frankfoi't, from thence to Strasburgh,
and followed the river to Basle. From Basle through
Switzerland to Geneva, and from thence through
Lyons to Paris. About ten days after my arrival
at the latter place I received a letter from Mr. Pitt
at Rheims, desiring 1 would stay at Paris till he
could get to me, which he said he would do as soon as
possible.
32 DTARTKS AND CORUKSl'ON DKNCK OF
On our incctiiig, tlie conversation was quite conti-
dential. In tlie course of it I found he was as little
disposed to future connexion with Lord Shelburiie
as myself, and he manifested an earnest desire for a
permanent and close intimacy with nie. 1 explained
to him, that, out of Parliament, 1 could be but little
useful to him in politics. lie, however, expressed sn
much anxiety on the subject as to induce me to a
most cheerful ami cordial assent ; having hesitated
only from a consciousness of my own insignificance as
to any essential service 1 could render him, and I gave
him my hand with a warm and consenting heart. From
that moment I considered myself as inalienable from
Mr. Pitt, and on that feeling I acted most sacredly to
the last hour of his invaluable life ; never for a single
moment entertaining even a thought of separating
from him, excejjt in one instance. Nor do I recollect
differing from him on more than two points. I
may as well mention them here, though out of the
order of time, because they are immediately connected
with the ground on which I professed and maintained
ray attachment to him.
The first was on his plan for Parliamentary Reform.
When that question was first agitated, I sat for Laun-
ceston, a seat of the Duke of Northumberland's, who
told me he was sure I should vote with Mr. Pitt, and
that I could not do otherwise. If, therefore, I had
any delicacy towards his grace (which might have
been embarrassing), this conduct of his set me perfectly
free. I naturally gave such an important matter the
fullest and most deliberate consideration, havins; before
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 33
often weighed it in my mind as a speculative point on
which I was not hkely to be called upon to act. The
result of my deepest reflection was that, if the question
of Reform should be carried, it could not fail to be
attended with the most direful consequences. It is
not necessary here to enter on all that occurred to me
on the subject.
Mr. Pitt's plan was for a limited alteration, to sup-
press what were called the rotten boroughs, allowing
compensation to those who had the influence in them ;
adding to the county members, and giving members
to all towns in which there were three hundred tax-
able houses. In that, the reformers of all descriptions
concurred, notwithstanding the avowed dislike of
many of them to the insufiiciency of the measure ;
but who concurred in it under a persuasion that if
any change could be eff'ected, it would not stop at
the first inroad, but that the door being once opened,
the Reform might be carried to the extremest length.
[Mr. Pitt had proposed another kind of Reform, in
the interval between Lord Shelburne's Administration
and his own in 1783, in favour of which he brought
forward certain resolutions which were designed to
secure purity of election, and gave the first impetus to
the question which is still agitating Parhament.
I. That it was the opinion of the House, that it
was highly necessary to take measures for the future
prevention of bribery and expense at elections.
2. That for the future, when the majority of voters
VOL. I. . D
34 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
for any borough should be convicted of gross nnd
notorious corruption, before a select committee of that
House, appointed to try the merits of any election, such
borough should be disfranchised ; and the minority of
votes not so convicted, should be entitled to vote for
the county in which such borough is situated.
3. That an addition of Knicrhts of the Shire and of
representatives of the Metropolis, should be added to
the state of the representation.
He also proposed Reform in the system of fees and
patronage out of perquisites, the abuse of which had
arisen to an almost incredible height. Lord North,
it is said, cost the country £1,300 in one year for sta-
tionery ; one item being £340 for whip-cord.
In pursuance of the same principle, two years
afterwards Mr. Pitt introduced the bill to which Mr.
Rose objected. It transferred the franchise of thirty-
six boroughs to counties and unrepresented towns ;
but a clause for giving pecuniary compensation to
the disfranchised boroughs, was the cause of its re-
jection. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose's Diary resumed.
This great question had been discussed out of doors
for a long time, particularly in I\Iiddlcsex and York-
shire. The general topic was, that taxation and repre-
sentation should be inseparable, on which ground Mr.
Pitt's plan was altogether unsatisfactory. In truth.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 35
nothing could come up to the principle short of the
Duke of Richmond's suggestion of an universal right
of votino;, because the lowest and meanest inhabitants
of the country paid taxes in some shape or other,
if they burnt a rush-light and used soap for washing
their linen.
Under the strongest conviction that if a breach
should once be made in the representation, all the
talents and weight of Mr. Pitt and other moderate
reformers would not be able to prevent, in a short
time, its being widened to a ruinous extent, I deter-
mined against an acquiescence in Mr. Pitt's plan,
which he pressed with enthusiasm, not only in the
House of Commons but in private, with such friends
as he thought he could influence. It was quite natural
that he should urge me in a very particular manner ;
not from any importance that could be attached to
my vote individually, but that a person in my con-
fidential post, taking a diff'erent line from him on
a question of such infinite magnitude, might lead to
a doubt of his sincerity.
Mr. Pitt could not be insensible to that, and he
pressed the question upon me with great earnestness,
frequently when alone, during some weeks, never refer-
ing to the eflect that might be produced personally to
himself. I felt that most forcibly, however, and in the
last conversation on the subject, I told him he ought to
be aware that from my conduct his zeal at least would
be questioned ; that the only remedy for which would
be my retiring, assuring him at the same time that my
attachment to him would not be abated thereby ; to
D 2
36 DIARIES AND CORRESPOXDENX'E OF
which he would not listen. On my going homo after
that conversation, I urged him earnestly to aihjw me
to retire, which he answered very positively in the
negative, and there ended our personal discussions on
that distressing question.
I subjoin my letter to Mr. Titt, on my declining,
after repeated solicitations, to vote with him, on his
motion for Parliamentary Reform.
"My Dear Sir,
" I find it so painful, as well as diiKcult, to explain
myself to you in convei-sation on the subject of AVed-
nesday's cpicstion, that I incline rather to attempt it in
this manner. In doing so I avoid all professions of
sincerity and attachment, because I am sure if your
observation of my conduct does not impress you favour-
ably on these points, nothing I can say will. Having
never, however had a political connexion but with
you, and looking to no other possible one, I shall be
the more readily believed in declaring that in the line
I am about to take on the present occasion, I act upon
the advice of no man living, nor do I follow any one's
opinion. In so nice a matter I must be governed by
my own feelings, were I even at liberty to consult
others upon it.
" I will not trouble you with a repetition of the
pain I have felt in differing with you in this only
instance, which has been increased in proportion
as I have observed your exertions to prevail with
your friends to agree with you in supporting the
measm-e. Every proof of your uncommon anxiety on
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 37
the subject, lias added to my mortification ; and I do
lament, from the bottom of my heart, that I cannot
endeavom' to promote the success of it as cordially as I
am persuaded I shall wish to do every other attempt of
yours to do good to the country. I have considered the
heads of the bill very attentively, and I do assure you
most solemnly that I could not give my consent for
leave to bring one in upon the ground of them, with-
out doing a violence to my feelings, which I know you
too well to believe you would wish me to do. At the
same time, however averse I am from neutrality, I
feel so anxious a concern that your sincerity should
not be questioned, from the circumstance of one in my
situation taking an opposite part to you, that I have
determined not to vote against the question, although
I think I could state reasons for my conduct in such
a case, incapable as I am of expressing myself in pub-
lic, as would prevent mahgnity itself, from imputing
insincerity to you on my account."
I need hardly add that at the distance of no very
long period, as his judgment ripened and he derived
advantage from experience, he came over decidedly to
my opinion, and acted upon it.
The other point I have alluded to was the Slave
Trade, — more painful in respect to feeling than the
first. This trade, most highly objectionable as it was
when considered as it ought to be with reference to
general principles of humanity, had been carried on
and encouraged by Parliament for more than a cen-
tury. So lately as during the ministry of the late
Mr. Pitt (afterwards Earl of Chatham) an Act of
38 DIARIES AND COEHESPONDEN'CE OF
Parliament was passed, the prcaaible of which ran
thus : " Whereas the trade to and from Africa is
very advantageous to Great Britain, and necessary for
the supplying the plantations and colonies thereunto
belonging, with a sufficient number of negroes, at
reasonable prices/'
This consideration for the West India colonists and
others Avho were deeply interested in the question ; who
had expended large fortunes in the cultivation of lands
there, or who had made heavy advances to the pro-
prietors, could not be allowed to preponderate against
the feelings of humanity; but it entitled those persons to
expect that their interest would be attended to as far
as might be found consistent with tlie principles which
it was pretty generally intended should be acted u})on.
It was with that view that I suggested to I\Ir.
Wilberforce, on his first bringing forward the subject,
the means of obtaining the abolition in a manner the
least likely to be resisted by the African traders and
the powerful body of the West India planters and mer-
chants, and at the same time the most beneficial to the
poor negroes. My proposal was, to impose a duty on
the importation of slaves into the islands, increasing
annually till it should reach such an amount as would
be prohibitory ; and in any event that the importations
should finally be closed at the end of a period to be
fixed, perhaps ten or twelve years. During that period
a considerable reveime would be raised, which might
be applied in bounties to the mothers, in proportion
to the number of children they should rear to the age
of five years. This would operate as an inducement
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE EOSE. 39
to tlie care of infants, to the almost universal neglect
of which was justly attributed the decrease of slaves
on the plantations. At the end of a term to be fixed,
I suggested that freedom should be given to the good
nursing mothers, and some provision for the remainder
of their lives, out of the fund to be raised in the man-*^
ner alluded to ; and if that should be insufficient, then
by grants from the public.
I argued that a sudden and immediate abolition
would probably be the occasion of much blood being
spilt on the African coast, as the slaves are brought
there from very remote countries, sometimes twelve,
eighteen, and twenty months on their journey ; and if
on their arrival no market should be found for them,
they must inevitably be put to death, as the owners
would not be at the trouble and expense of carrying
them home again. The event proved that I was right
as to the continuance of the trade by this country for
many years, while the discussion was going on from
session to session, at the end of which time the aboli-
tion was incomplete even in England ; and much more
so with other nations, who, profiting by our com-
petition having ceased, supplied their own colonies
plentifully, and cheaper than before.
Laws of the utmost severity have hitherto not
produced the complete effect, and the public has been
put to an enormous charge in purchasing captured
cargoes of negroes on their passage to the West Indies,
infinitely to a greater amount than the sum that would
have been necessary for premiums to the mothers for
taking care of their children. Spain and Portugal are
40 DIAEIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
%till carrying on the trade to a great extent (in 1817)
and France to a limited one.
It is not my intention to pursue the subject
further. I have introduced it solely for the purpose of
showing the ground on which I acted. I thought we
x had no right to interpose in the manner we were doing,
and that we had no means of enforcing the assumjition
we attempted. I had not the satisfaction in this
instance, which I had in the other in reference to
Parliamentary Reform, of Mr. Pitt coming round to
my opinion ; he persevered in the course adopted by
Mr. "Wilberforce of innnediate suj)pression of the trade
in slaves. This drew from me the subjoined letter: —
" My dear Sir,
" I have had more tlian a common degree of
anxiety to continue to make the same sacrifice to you
in the Bill respecting the Slave Trade that I did on
another occasion by persevering in my resolution of
not saying a word or giving a vote on the subject ; but
the provisions of the Bill, as it came from the Com-
mittee, render it, according to the best judgment that
I can form, so severely mischievous, that I should do
a violence to myself, you woidd not, I am persuaded,
desire to have inflicted on me, if I were not to attempt
to state my reasons very shortly against the measure.
" It is not possible for me to have a clearer opinion
on any point than on this, independently of any private
interest whatever. But it would be uncandid if I were
to pretend that the immediate hazard or certain gradual
destruction, according to the strong impression on my
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 41
mind, of the property of myself and all my nearest
connexions is a matter of indifierence to me.
" I remain, with the truest attachment," &c.
I return now to the narrative from which I have
digressed.
During my stay at Paris very little occurred
worthy of notice ; but I was struck with surprise at
the freedom of the conversation, on general liberty,
even within the walls of the King's palace. On a
Sunday morning, while we were waiting in an outer
room to see the King pass in state to the chapel at
Versailles, where several of the great officers were,
there was a discussion almost as free as I have heard in
tlie House of Commons, in which Monsieur Chauvelin^
was the loudest, who was in some employment about
the person of the King, for he dropped on his knee and
gave his majesty a cambric handkerchief, as he went
through the room.
My surprise, however, abated, on a little reflection
as to the conduct of the Court. When France took
part with the United States of America to weaken the
power of Great Britain, the King was prevailed with
to issue a proclamation, in which he stated, in sub-
stance, that the people in British America were not in
possession of that degree of freedom which all mankind
Avere entitled to by nature. Weak man ! To suppose
his own subjects would not apply the sentiment to
themselves ! The young men of rank who were sent
to America to assist in the Revolution there, returned
with enthusiastic notions of general freedom, very dif-
^ He was first Valet de Chambre.
42 DIARIES AXD CORRESPONDENCE OE
ferent from those formerly prevailing ; and the Queen
actually went to meet the greatest of all mischievous
and conceited coxcombs, Mons'. dc la Fayette, on his
approach to Paris, and took him into her carriage.
A few days before I cpiitted Paris, I discovered,
by the information of Mr. AValpole's servant, that the
man I had taken to travel with me was under a very
strong suspicion of having robbed and murdered his
former master. The character I had with him from
Mr. Woodly, through his sister, Mrs. Bankes, was an
unexceptionable one, and as he had acquitted himself
in a remarkably useful manner through the whole tour,
which was so near the close, I determined to take
no notice of the information. I brought him home,
and then discharged him. It had been my intention
to have kept him in my service ; he was a P'renchman,
of the name of Ami Kamel, and I believe he after-
wards fimired in the Revolution.
On my return to England, in October, 1783, I
found j\Irs. Hose in a furnished house at Portswood,
near Southampton, rented of Mr. Lintot. I went
there in a day or two after my arrival in England.
I travelled post to Winchester, where my phaeton met
me. It was on a Sunday, and as the horses did not
get there till after me, I set oJBF on foot, with orders
to the coachman to follow me when the horses
should have had their bait and sufficient rest. At
Compton, a little village two miles on the road, I
was overtaken by a shower, which made me seek
shelter in a small public house, the extreme neatness
of which I could not help contrasting with the dirt
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 43
and inconvenience of the houses by the roads on the
Continent. The parlour, in which the family were
going to sit down to dinner, was as clean and neat as
possible ; and on the table were a nice piece of roasted
beef and a plum pudding, — articles I had not seen
for a long time.
I found Mrs. Rose quite well ; the two boys were
at school; George, at the College at Winchester;
William, at Mr. Richards's, a private seminary there.
I remained quietly with them till the meeting of Par-
liament, soon after the opening of which I repaired
to town at the pressing instance of Mr. Pitt, but not
till after the second reading of the celebrated India
Bill. The history of this measure, of such infinite
importance in its consequences, I had, till I received
the summons, learnt only from newspapers.
Mr. Fox having, by his union with Lord North,
formed, as was generally believed, an exceedingly
strong government, was desirous of making it a perma-
nent one. In order to that he resorted to the measure
above-mentioned. There had been for a long time
well-founded complaints of abuses and incapacity in
the management of the affairs of the East India Com-
pany. For the avowed purpose of finding a remedy for
these, but for the real object of establishing his own
power permanently, he framed this famous Bill. Under
the provisions of it, a supreme Board was instituted,
at the head of which Lord Pitzwilliam was named,
and in the members of this Board, the whole patronage
of India was placed. Not only the appointments, civil
and military of every description, governors, com-
4i4i DIARIES AND CORRESPOXDEXCE OF
manders- in-chief, councillors at tlic several inferior
Boards, judges, collectors of the revenues, and all the
immensely valuable em})loyments in the different
settlements at Bengal, Madras, and Bombay ; but
also the writerships at home which were to lead to
those employments. In the military line these Com-
missioners were invested with as extensive an autho-
rity, from the nomination of officers of the highest
rank to the appointment of cadets who were to
go out for the junior commissions. So far for direct
patronage ; but, in addition to that, the Commissioners
were to control and direct the whole commerce of the
country ; and, of course, to bestow on their mercan-
tile friends, with whom they might connect many of
their political and private adherents, the profitable
purchases and sales of the Com])any.
In this patronage, divided amongst four-and-twenty
private individuals, not nearly so extensive as intended,
now to be concentrated in one person, the President
(for he would, as in other political Boards, have had the
influence exclusively), no danger had been appre-
hended ; but these Commissioners were not to be
removable by the Crown ; they were to be established
for a term of years. The King might change his
ministers, but he could not shake the Commissioners ;
they were unalterably fixed for five years, within
which period there would be a general election; on
which occasion the exercise of their widely-extended
influence would have enabled them to exert themselves
with great eS'ect. It was quite evident to the most
common observers that this patronage, taking in the
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 45
whole scope of it, would operate much more power-
fully than the patronage of the Crown could possibly
do, curtailed and cut down as the latter was by various
recent laws and proceedings of the Treasury. It might
fairly, therefore, be considered, without exaggeration,
that Mr. Tox was by this measure taking to himself
a much larger share of power than the King possessed
or the Minister could exercise. It was a bold one,
and the produce of a daring spirit. He was encouraged
in it by the opinions of some of his devoted followers,
but warned by others of the risk he was about to
incur. Amongst the latter was the Chief Justice, Lord
Mansfield. Relying upon a strong support, he deter- .
mined to proceed, and the Bill went through the
House of Commons with triumphant majorities.
I had thought, from the first formation of the coali-
tion, that Mr. Pitt was extinguished nearly for life as
a politician, and wished to see him at the bar again,
under a conviction that his transcendent abilities would
soon raise him to great eminence in his profession. In
this opinion I was strongly confirmed by what oc-
curred on the Indian Bill ; I mean as to the exclusion
of Mr. Pitt from high office.
The bill had not, however, been in the House of
Lords more than a day or two before matters assumed
a different appearance. The King felt how deeply his
authority would be wounded, and how entirely he
should be placed in the hands and under the dominion
of Mr. Pox, from which he had suffered severely during
the recess, principally in matters respecting the Prince
of Wales. The whole correspondence on that point, his
46 DIARIES AND CORRESPOyDEyCE OF
Majesty put into the hands of ^Ir. Pitt, who showed
it to me, consisting of letters from the King, the Duke
of Portland, Lord North, and Mr. Fox. Those from
his Majesty to the Duke and ]\lr. Fox were eloquent,
dignified, and admirably well -reasoned ; to Lord
North, they were equal to the others in those respects,
while they were also deeply affecting. The King remon-
strated with his Lordship on his putting him, bound,
into the hands of Mr. Fox, after all that had passed.
He reminded him of the steady support he had given
him for twelve years, through the whole of his admi-
nistration, till his lordship had himself desired to
retire, from the impossibility he found of carrying on
the Government; and, in a very gentleman-like way,
called to his recollection the protection and reward he
secured to him on his going out of office; alluding to
the circumstance of the Duke of Richmond and Lord
Shelburnc pressing urgently for some punishment on
Lord North when he went out of office; instead
of which the King insisted peremptorily on a reward
for his Lordship's long services, by a grant of the
Cinque Ports for his life, with an income of 4,000/.
a-year; which he held before during pleasure, with
the military salary of 1,200/., or something there-
about.
The feeling which led to that correspondence was
awakened and very naturally greatly strengthened by
the certain consequences which could not fail to attend
his jMajesty being put, completely fettered, into the
hands of Mr. Fox. This induced him to adopt any
course that could afford a chance of his being extri-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 47
cated from the perilous situation in which, unhappily,
he was placed. The King, therefore, certainly conveyed
to some peers about his person, and to others over
whom he had or was supposed to have some influence,
that he wished the Bill might not be passed. How far
his Majesty, in this, acted upon his own judgment, or
was encouraged to it by the advice of Lord Temple,
who had access to the Closet, and spoke the opinions
of others, could not, I think, be ascertained by any
one; but it can hardly be doubted that there was
a mixture of both.
The eflPect produced by this intimation from the
King soon became manifest; and on some inquiries
made by myself, chiefl}^ through Lord Stafford, with
whom I had long been in habits of intimacy, it
appeared to me to be very well worth while to try
what could be done by active exertions. Lord Staf-
ford encouraged this with animation, at his advanced
. time of life. He had no acquaintance with Mr. Pitt,
never having been in a room with him, but he was
impressed with a behef that the country could be
saved from the impending danger only by him. He
applied himself, therefore, with uncommon zeal to the
undertaking, keeping an open table for the purpose ;
and the Duke of Bridgewater, who never before went
across a room for the attainment of any political
object, exerted himself in a most extraordinary manner,
by seeing every one he thought he could influence or
make sensible of the threatened mischief. At night
we used, at Lord Stafford's house, or at dinner, to
talk over the occurrences of the day.
48 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
The effect of these very earnest endeavours was the
loss of the Indian Bill in the House of Lords, on the
15th of December, by a majority of eight; the num-
bers were 79 to 87.
The debate lasted to a late hour. Now long before
the conclusion of it I went into Wai^horn's coffee-
house for some refreshment, and met Mr. Adam and
Mr. St. John comin2r out. In the dark thev did not
observe me, and I heard the former say to the latter,
" I wish I were as sure of the kinc^dom of heaveu
as I am of our carrying the Bill this evening." I
returned into the house, and on the steps of the
throne I witnessed the eff'ect of thg division on
the countenances of those gentlemen. The Earl of
IVIarchmont was the first peer who went below the
bar ; on seeing which Mr. Adam made an audible
exclamation.
The resignation of the Ministers followed the rejec-
tion of the bill ; and a loud cry was instantly raised
by them against the means that had been resorted
to for obtaining the rejection, as unconstitutional
on the part of the Khig to interfere in a measure
depending in either House of Parliament. It was
urged with great violence that his Majesty had done
this with the Lords of his Bedchamber, and others,
by which the question was carried ; and it was im-
puted in particular to Earl Temple, that he had been
very instrumental in this proceeding ; which he and
his friends defended as perfectly constitutional, even
if the King had acted on such advice as was alleged ;
because a peer, as an hereditary councillor of the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 49
crown, had a right to approach tlic throne to suggest
opinions on extraordinary occasions.
Measures of attack and defence were resorted to
with great vehemence on both sides ; the one charging
the Ministers with a deUberate plan to destroy the
very essence of the Constitution, by transferring to a
party the power and influence which belonged only to
the sovereign, by which they would be enabled to
maintain themselves in office, however offensive their
conduct might be to the King, to Parliament, or to
the people. This ground, as before stated, was well
founded. If the Bill had been carried Mr. Fox's power
would have been established. He boasted, indeed,
during the debates on the India bill, that he owed the
consequence he had to the support of a number of
great families and interests, and not to the crown.
On the other hand, the Ministers alleged that
Mr. Pitt and his friends availed themselves of the dis-
like the King had to them, for their conduct during
their short administration, (principally respecting the
Prince of Wales,) to persuade his Majesty, by secret
advice, to take steps for their removal, which they
worked up with great industry.
The resignation of the Ministers having taken place,
the formation of a new Administration became, of
course, indispensibly necessary : in that there was
great difficulty. All those who held office under the
late Government were unavoidably excluded; so were
Lord Shelburne and his immediate friends, with whom
there had been no direct communication from the time
of his Lordship's retirement.
VOL. I. E
50 DT.VEIES AND COT?EESPONDENCE OP
These difficulties led j\Ir. Pitt, wlio was strnfrclinff
under thcni, nlniost to despair. Jiord Staiiord, per-
sonally almost a stranger to liiin, had tohl nic he
thought Mr. Pitt was the only man who could extri-
cate the country from its perilous situation ; and he
would therefore take oflice, if it should he thought
his doing so would give strength to a (jovernment to
be formed ; or he would give ids best support to it
without taking oliice, — much preferring the latter, for
his own convenience. ^Vhile these endeavours bv
Mr. Pitt and his friends were going on, the King
remained in a state of the utmost anxictv. \\'hile
the success of forming the new administration con-
tinued somewhat doubtful, his Majesty wrote the
following note to ^Ir. Pitt : —
" On the edge of a precipice, every ray of hope
affords some comfort. I have the utmost confidence
that Lord Gower,' JiOrd Thurlow, the Duke of Rich-
mond, and i\lr. Pitt, will be able to fill up the several
' As Lord Gower licre stands first on the list of (lie King's friends on
wlioin he relied for the construction of a new cabinet, and as some of his
letters will be introduced, it may be necessary to state a icw circum-
stances which marked his accession to office. He was very much opposed
to Fos.'s East India J; ill, and when it was rejected, and the \Vbigs
resigned, he offered his services to Mr. Pitt, with whom he had no per-
sonal acquaintance before, in any situation in whicli he could be useful.
Trom his character and position he was appointed President of the
Council ; but he was so much above the ordiuary meanness of pride, that
in the following year he willingly descended from that high otfice to the
inferior post of Lord Privy Seal, in order to acconnnodate Lord Camden,
who having been Lord Chancellor, thought it derogatory to accept any
but the highest office in the Council. Two years afterwards he was made
a Marquis, and was much consulted by Mr. Pitt. His intimacy with
Mr, Eose has been already shown. — Ed.
THE RIGHT HOX. GEOEGE ROSE. 51
offices ; if that however fails, voii know mv deter-
iiinatioii. One o'clock will be quite agreeable to me."
[In the brief sketch of Mr. Rose's life, by his
daughter, it may be observed that he is said to have
owed his seat in the House of Commons, for the
borough of Launceston, to the private friendship of
the Duke of Northumberland, the grandfather of the
present duke, and of his successor also. Of the first
Duke's friendship there is no other evidence ; but
with the second he seems to have been on terms of
great intimacy as long as he remained Lord Percy.
His letters to Mr. Rose were very numerous, and
some extracts from the earliest of them are here given,
which describe a season of remarkable severity and
very unfavourable to health. A few of the others
show his dissatisfaction with the Government, on
account of the neglect with which he had been treated,
and which certainly seems inexplicable, in the absence
of all evidence as to the motives. His admiration of
Mr. Pitt was great, and his determination to support
him in the general election of 1784, was probably in-
fluenced by this feeling. In return for which, he
seems to have thought himself at liberty to ask for
various favours, some of Avhich, it will be seen, were
instantly granted, but not all ; and hence arose the
quarrel between him and Mr. Rose, which ended in
E 2
52 DIAEIES AND COKRESrONDEN'CE OF
llic lattei" declining to be his nominee for Laun-
cestoii. As it is of sonic importance to correct tlie
mistakes of preceding historians, and to shew what
erroneous conchisions may be drawn by those who are
not admitted behind tlie curtain, to view the working
of the macliinerv, it is wortli wliile to notice, that
Mr. Grenville writes tluis to tlie Marquis of Buck-
in crham : —
" Onr cousin of Northumberland, has, I think, de-
cidedly joined the independent party." — Ed.]
Lord Percy to Mr. Rosk.
" Stanwick, .June LHli, 1782.
"Dear Sir,
"I Avish I had any information to send you from
hence that could amuse you ; but, except that our
grounds are drowned "with rain and chilled with cold,
and that "within this fortnight the hills to the west of
us were covered with snow, I think we have nothing
extraordinary. The season is more unhealthy in this
neighbourhood than ever was known, owing to the
nnseasonablc weather, No family is exempt from
illness, whether rich or poor. A great number of the
lower people here have died. Two clci'gymen, with
wdiom I conversed the other day, cssin-e me that they
have buried more persons wdthin this last fortnight than
ihoy have done for three years before. My family
amongst the rest has not been free from sickness.
" Your's sincerely,
" Percy."
THE E,IG-HT HOX. GEORGE ROSE, 53
Lord Percy to Mr. 1\ose.
" My dear Sir, " Stanwick, Sept. 28th, 1782.
" You Avill easily conceive my astonishment at
that part of ^our letter, which mentions the intention
of appointing Lord Faulconberg our Cnsios Rotuloruiu.
What encouragement is there for any man of rank to
exert himself in the service of his Kino; and country,
when the only reward he is likely to meet with is total
neglect and inattention, and constantly to have the
mortification of seeing every person, without either
weight, consecpience, or merit, preferred before him in
every instance, both civil and military ? I may with-
out vanity assert, that there is not an officer in the
army who has done his duty, in the line of his pro-
fession, witli more zeal and attention than myself;
and, in consequence of that, it is now fourteen years
since I have received the smallest mark of approba-
tion from his Maiestv or his Ministers. You may
depend upon it I shall mention nothing of this matter
till I hear from you again. I beg you will be assured
that I ever am, with the greatest truth,
" Yours most sincerely,
" Percy."
Lord Percy to Mr. Rose.
u r)j,,^j^ g,jj "Stanwick, Oct. 6th, 1782.
" i\Iany thanks to you for your kind attention in
sending me any news which occurs ; and particularly
for your last good accounts from Gibraltar. I do trust
that something will be done by Government for its
gallant governor. The army want a spur ; and now
54 DIAEIES AND CORHESPONDENCE OF
is the time for Lord S. to ingratiate hiniselt eftcc-
tually witli his okl profession. I protest 1 liave
neither private views nor private friendship to gratify,
in urging some mark of approbation for General
Elhot, for I have not the happiness to have any par-
ticular intimacy with him ^ hut I wish well to my
profession, and, after the shameful prostitution we
have seen of military honours, I want merit for once
to be rewarded ; that the army may recover the spirit
which they have almost quite lost ; and may hope,
for the future, that their services will meet with some
encouragement and reward. As for myself, the event
of every day confirms me still more and more in my
idea of quitting the public service. With respect to
the appointment of Lord F. the aii'air is now over,
and I shall not give myself the trouble to think any
more about it. I am very willing to believe Lord S.
could not prevent it ; indeed, I am sure of it, as you
say so. Adieu, dear Sir, and be assured 1 ever am,
with the greatest truth,
" Your most sincere friend,
" Percy."
LoKD Percy to j\Ir. Rose.
" Stanwick, Oct. 31st, 1782.
" By the by, I see the papers announce an inten-
tion of sending Lord Cornwallis out to Command-in-
Chief in Lidia. I believe I have often told you my
opinion of his Lordship, He is a worthy, honest,
brave man; but more than all that is necessarv to
make a good general. I know him well; and I
THE RIGHT JIO^. GEORGE ROSE. 55
thought, since his last business in America, everybody
else had known him also. One thing I will venture
to foretell (and I beg you will remember it), that if
this step is determined upon, he will lose his reputa-
tion — and we, our territories in that part of the world.
He is as fit to Command-in- Chief as I am to be Prime
Minister.
" I ever am, with the greatest truth,
" Yours most sincerely,
"Percy."
Lord Percy to Mr. Rose.
" Dear Sir, " ^*^^^^^^' ^''- ''^' '''''■
" I never thought that the pleasure of your ac-
quaintance could ever have been of any disadvantage
to me, but really the millions of applications I have,
under the idea that you, or I, or both of us, are omni-
potent, make me almost think the contrary. In short,
it is ridiculous to conceive the number of letters, con-
taining the most extravagant requests, which I receive
by every post, founded on my intimacy with you, and
the certainty that if I would solicit, and you would
only speak, even the most absurd and preposterous
demands would be complied with. Amongst this
variety, I endeavour to select only such, to trouble
you with, as I really think deserve to be noticed ; and
am ashamed of the continual trouble I give you on
this head.
The occasion of my waiting to you at present,
is in consequence of a letter which I have received
from the Rev. Mr. Nicholls, at Leicester. He is one
56 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OE
of the unlbrtunale American sufferers, who have lost
everything for their loyalty and attachment to this
country. He is the child of misfortunes ; liaving
begun life Avith the prospect of an ample inheritance,
in the island of Barbadoes, uhich was totally destroyed
by the great lire at Bridgetown. Since this tin:e lie
has been struggling with adversity."
[In the conclusion of the next letter Lord Percy
renews his complaints of neglect ; but at this time was
so far from being discontented with the political state
of the country that he was very much opposed to the
schemes of the Reformers. Thoudi ]Mr. Pitt was the
person who had been propounding an extensive mea-
sure of Parliamentary Reform, the sentiments of both
afterwards diverged in op})osite directions. — Ed.]
Lord Percy to Mr. Rose.
,, -r, o " Stanwick, Dec. 21st, 1782.
" Dear Sir,
" With regard to my resignation, I can only say
that fom'teen vears' unnoticed services have almost
wearied me out. Especially as during that time,
except for the three last years, I have paid an atten-
tion to my duty unequalled by any officer of the same
rank in the army. And, to add still to my mortifi-
cation, I am the only officer, who served in my rank
from the commencement of the American war, to
whom some particular mark of approbation has not
been given. This, you nuist own, is not exactly the
light in which a mihtary man likes to be held out
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 57
to his brother officers. Not feehng conscious that I
deserve less than others who have served witli nie,
some of whom are even my juniors, I confess I am
not quite satisfied witli such treatment. However,
as I shall soon be in town, I shall at present take no
immediate steps. Our Yorkshire meeting have drawn
up a moderate petition to Parliament, in order, if
possible, to take in the moderate men. I wish their
resolutions had been as decent. As for myself, not
wishina: any alteration in our most excellent Constitu-
tion, I cannot approve of their proceedings, even
though I am convinced that if they are carried into
execution it will be the means of flinging the greatest
w^eight into the aristocratical scale that ever was yet
done. However, I hope I am too good a patriot ever
to wish my own advantage to the prejudice of the
public in general.
*' I ever am, dear Sir,
" Your most sincere and much obliged friend,
" Percy."
Lord Percy to Mr. Rose.
" Stanwick, Jan. 25tli, 1783.
"Dear Sir,
" You know I never had much hopes of success
with respect to Johnston's business. The event will
prove whether I judged right or not. To tell you the
truth I have been so long used to the unmeaning
professions of ^Ministers, that I am rather become a
sceptic as to their sincerity. The great comfort, how-
ever, is that I do not want them ; for, being always
58 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
determined to live within my income, I trust I shall
be ever independent. It is true, indeed, in the
younger part of my life I was foolish enough to pant
after military fame and reputation ; but having
hved to see the first honours of the ])rofession pro-
stitntefl to party purposes, and that whilst abilities
and faithful services lay neglected, the loss of armies
and empires met with the greatest rewards, I am,
thank God, now most perfectly cured of my folly, and
only wonder at my former blindness. 1 have, how-
ever, the comfort to reflect that I have acted my part
in my profession like a good citizen and zealous
servant.
" Yours, most sincerely,
" Percy."
Lord Percy to ]\Ir. Rose.
" Stanwick, Nov. 26th, 17^3.
"Dear Sir,
"The last post brought me your letter of the
22d, for which I return many thanks. I see with
horror for this country the fatal effects that INIr. Fox's
Bill will produce if it is carried ; but surely you your-
self must own that neither any party, nor my country
itself, has any right again to expect exertions from me.
When I went to America in 1774, I sacrificed for its
sake every domestic ease and comfort that a mortal
could enjoy ; I devoted my poor abilities and my life
to its service, and the only return I have ever met, is
the most perfect indifference and neglect. Xay, you
yourself know many instances in which I mav almost
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 59
say I have been treated with insult. All this surely
ought to have taught me philosophy enough, to look
with the most perfect indifference on every occurrence
that may happen.
" I lament the blindness of the public, who prefer
the tinselled show of oratory to the more substantial
good qualities of the head and heart ; but as it is out
of my power to correct that blindness, I can only
lament and despise their ignorance. I will, however,
make one effort more (as far as lies in my power) to
save them from destruction ; thoroughly convinced,
at the same time, that I shall meet with no thanks for
any inconvenience I may put myself to on the occasion.
If, therefore, the Bill should pass the House of
Commons — and you Avill be kind enough to give me
timely notice when it is expected to be debated in the
House of Lords, I will set out for London to attend
it, notwithstanding the inconvenience of travelling 500
miles at this time of the year (for I shall return the
moment the business is decided). You will please
to remember that the post is three days in coming
down here, and that it comes to Stanwick only on the
general post days, and that I shall be three days hi
going up. Adieu, dear Sir, and be assured I ever am,
" Yours most sincerely,
" Percy."
Lord Perct to Mr. Rosl;.
" Dear Sir " stanwick, Dec. 25th, 1783.
" I have this instant received your letter, and
cannot say 1 am grieved at the contents of it, for I
GO DIArtlES AND COrtRESPOXDENXE OF
am really angry. You knew \vliat my opinion was
from the bcGrinninc; of this business : — that it should
not be undertaken at all unless they were certain of
being able to go through witli it ; and, in that case,
that it should have been done directly, and a disso-
lution take })lace immediately. I am sure no House
of Connnons can be more against them than the
present one, with which I can easily foresee that it will
be impossible for them to go on. The only thing that
can now be done is to form something like the follow-
ing arrangement : — Mr. Pitt should be Minister and
Secretary of State, Lord Gower first Lord of the
Treasury, Thomas Pitt Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Lord Stormont President of the Council, and Sir
Joseph Yorke Secretary for the Foreign Affairs. —
Depend upon it the high opinion in which he is held
abroad, added to the perfect knowledge he must have
of the political interests of the different powers in
Europe, will greatly outbalance any slowness in nego-
tiation which he may have acquired by his long
residence in Holland. It is absolutely necessary to
widen the bottom as much as possible; and, after all,
if there is not energy enough in Government to put
an eficctual stop to illegal and improper violence,
wherever it is found, and at all risks, no admini-
stration will be able to go on long. One hint I nuist
give you in case of a dissolution ; that is, that ^Ir.
Drummond, the late Archbishop's son, is the most
.popular man in York ; and if he is with you, and will
stand, nobody can possibly oppose him to effect in
that city. I am not at all sorry for the long joui'ney
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 61
I liRve taken. The Bill was of siicli a nature that it
became every man, Avho wished well to this country,
to stand forward in opposition to it, exclusive of every
party motive whatever.
" I shall be much obliged to you if yon will write
now and then, for T cannot help, I own, being very
anxions about the final issue of all this bustle.
" Yours, most sincerely,
''Percy."
[The great interest which the King felt in the elec-
tion, on the issne of which the existence of Mr. Pitt's
newly-formed administration depended, is shown by
the minute information he collected about the politics
of the candidates, and the care he took to have the
most exact intelligence concerning the returns and
the probabilities of success. In supplying him with
this information, Mr. Rose seems to have been most
assiduous. — Ed.]
The King to Mr. Rose.
" Queen's House, April 5, 1784,
" 52 mill, past 7, a.m.
''The comparative statement Mr. Rose has sent
is very satisfactory. I desire he will continue it, as
also the sending the list of returns as they arrive. I
can correct his list, and make it still more favourable.
j\Ir. Pnltney, brought in by the D. of Rutland for
Bramber, certainly should have stood amongst the
Pros., and also Mr. Richard Howard, brother to Lord
62 DIAKIES ANT) CORHESPON'DENCE OF
Effingham, the new member for Steyning (by mis-
take called Pnltney, by the post-master). T have
reason to believe Mr. Penton, the meml)er for
Winchester, may at least l)e called hopeful ; and, by
his declaration at Cirencester, Mr. Black well.
"G. R."
TiiK KiNP, TO Mr. Rose.
" Quecn'.s House, April 4, 17.'^4,
" 20 min. past 9, a.m.
" I am much much pleased with the punctuality
and expedition shown by Mr. Rose in transmitting
the list of members returned, which seem on the
whole more favourable than even the most zealous
expected. I am sorry to hear Sir Richard Simmonds
will probably be defeated at Hereford.
" The reason of my writing this morning is from
a desire of knowing how the election at Cambridge
has terminated, though I trust, ]\Ir. Pitt must prove
successful. " G. R."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 63
CHAPTER 11.
1786—1789.
CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR. EDEN, AFTERWARDS LORD AUCKLAND,
RELATIVE TO HIS EXPECTED PEERAGE — THE KING'S ILLNESS— THE
PRINCE OF WALES'S DEBTS.
[The subject of Mr. Pitt's next letter is the commer-
cial treaty with France, Avhich Mr. Eden, afterwards
Lord Auckland, was authorised to conclude. It was
the first service he had rendered to Mr. Pitt, and
laid the foundation for his employment in other mis-
sions, which enabled him to display his diplomatic
skill, and contributed to build up his fortunes, the
progress of which the ensuing correspondence ex-
plains. — En.]
Mr. Pitt to the Marquis op Stafford. .
" HoUwood, Sunday, Aug. 27tli, 178G.
" My dear Lord,
" 'J^he papers which accompany this letter will
show your Lordship the state of the Erench nego-
tiation ; and, as it seems drawing to a point, I
am anxious to know your Lordship's sentiments
upon it. On the different occasions in which this
has been under consideration, I tliink we have been
all agreed that the concessions in favour of Erance
were such as we might very safely make; and we
Gl< DIARIES AND CORIIESPONDEXCE OE
certainly shall procure a most ample equivalent by
the admission of our manufactures on the terras
proposed. I flatter myself, therefore, that there
will be no objection to empowering Mr. Eden to
sign, if he and the French Ministers agree in the
manner we may expect from his last dispatch. Indeed
the advantage to be gained l)y this country seems to
me so great that I cannot help feeling impatient to
secure it.
"Colonel Cathcart has arrived from the ^Mauritius,
to which place he had been deputed by the Government
of Bengal, and has brought with him a provisional
treaty concluded with the French Governor-General
on the point of dispute which had arisen in India.
It seems to be a subject which will still require much
discussion, but, in the mean time, everything bears
the appearance of its being amicably settled.
" I am, with the greatest respect and esteem,
" j\Iy dear Lord,
"Your Lordship's most obedient and faithful servant,
"W. Pjtt."
The Marquis of Stafford to Mr. PiTr.
" aIy dear Sir,
" I have despatched the messenger back as
soon as it was possible, considering the voluminous
papers that were to be read by the Chancellor and
me, especially as a public day here took place the day
after the messenger's arrival on the night preceding.
I am extremely sorry to find that though the affiurs
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 65
of Holland are now more likely to come to a point
than when I quitted London, yet that point is not of
the most eligible sort — an amicable adjustment of the
business. France seems to me to drive her friends
in that country to an imaccountable extremity, unless
she foresees at a distance some additional aid to her
eftbrts there. I am sorry to find that we are at
last forced to take that disagreeable step of hiring
troops upon the Continent, which will eventually em-
bark us further than we at first intended, and will, I
am afraid, be an unpopular measure in this country.
France could certainly have prevailed upon Holland
to have made submission to Prussia for the insult
offered to that monarch's sister, which would pro-
bably have been sufficient in the outset of that busi-
ness. She must, therefore, have had some reasons for
not advising that measure. May it not be to draw
off the Prussian forces from the side of Silesia to
favour the Emperor, if he chooses the opportunity ;
or to use the Emperor's forces that are drawn to the
Netherlands, if the Brabantine troubles should subside?
"These may be foolish conjectures at a distance,
and I must own that having thought originally that
it would have been unpardonable in this country
to allow France to avail herself of the powers and
faculties of that Republic against England in a future
war, and stand by indifferent spectators, so I at
present see vestigia nulla retrorsum; and if 1. W. F.
must go, he must go, though 1 wish our assistance to
the Republic could have been restrained to pecuniary
aids."
VOL. r. F
66 DL^RIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
[The uneasiness occasioned by the infornuition sent
by Mr. Eden (our Minister at the Hague), in August,
1787, though not so alarming as that wliich arrived
in the following month, was sulKcient to call for some
demonstration iu favour of the established order of
things at the Hague; and Mr. Pitt having determined
to make it, sought for the approbation of his col-
leagues. It was a constant feature of his policy to
preserve or restore the balance of power in Europe,
to hire foreign mercenaries to be placed under our own
command, or to subsidize one power against another.
The germ of this policy was developed in both ways on
this occasion, when the fermentation of revolutionary
principles threatened the subversion of all constituted
authorities, and even the republic of Holland was not
republican enough. A timely demonstration of resist-
ance, it was hoped, might deter Erance from lending
her aid to the malcontents. It will be seen that the
event justified the calculation, and the danger was
staved off for a time by the interposition of a Prussian
army. But Lord Stafford was doubtless right in his
anticipation, that the employment of foreign levies
would be unpopular in this country. The measure has
always been viewed with considerable jealousy, however
great might be the necessity and the advantage.— Ed.]
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. G7
]\Ir. Pitf to the Marquis or STAFroRD.
,,-»,- T " Downins? Street, Aug. 24th, 1787.
" My dear Lord, '= > & >
" I have postponed troubling you on the subject
of what is passing on the Continent, because it seemed
each day likely that the situation would draw more to
a point. The last communications from Prussia, and
what is now going on in Holland, seem to have that
effect. The despatches sent herewith will explain
fully to your Lordship the actual situation. The ob-
ject which you long ago wished for, of Prussia being
completely embarked, appears now to be fully attained.
We seem, therefore, to have no choice left but to en-
courage that power to proceed, by showing a readiness
to give our support, if necessary. At the same time
I have little doubt that by making our conduct
towards Prance temperate as well as firm, we may
avoid extremities and bring the business to a better
issue than could have been expected.
"As the King of Prussia's marching will probably be
followed by the assembly of a French army, it seems
impossible for us to do less than to endeavour to secure
German troops, though I hope we shall have no occa-
sion to use them. The measures taken in Holland seem
also to require farther pecuniary assistance to enable
our friends to meet them ; and what is spent in this
way, for the purpose of prevention, will in the end, I
hope, be good economy. I regret much the distance
of your Lordship and the Chancellor ; but I trust you
will approve of the steps we have recommended
F 2
(J8 DIARIES AND COKKKSPOXDENCE UE
imtlcr (Mrciiinstiuirt's wliidi would iml well adiiiif ul'
delay.
" Believe me, Mv dear TiOrd,
" Most siuccrelv and tailhl'ullv vonrs,
" W. I'lTT."
" Marquis of Staflbrd."
[The t'ollov\iMg Iclter was written in e()iise'(|Ueiiei'
of some information received from Paris, wliich pre-
pared Mr. Pitt for a notification made to the Enjijlish
Court, at a later horn* on the same day, hy the Court
of France, threatening to take part with the Dutch
democrats against the Stadtholder. Mr. Pitt rej)lie(l
that, in that case, Enghind would take part with the
Stadtlujldor. Warlike preparations were made on
both sides, and hostilities seemed tu he imminent,
when the danger was averted by the King of Prussia
throwing his sword into the scale of his brothcr-iu-
law. The Duke of Brunswick was sent with an
army to his assistance, and soon overran the Unitetl
Provinces, and brought them back to their alle-
giance. France was glad enough to back out of such
a hopeless quarrel; and in November disavowed the
intentions which in September she had announced.
The oidy light which this letter throws upon the
transaction is the perfect confidence in the sound-
ness of Mr. Rose's judgment, which Pitt must have
felt when he summoned him instantly to his aid on a
THE IIIGIIT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 69
political subject of great importance, with vvliicli, as
Secretary to the Treasury, he had nothing whatever
to do. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
,. -r^ T) \ Secret. 1
"Dear Rose, *- -*
" Despatches came late last night from Eden,
which look very serious. As much will have to be
done in a short time, I do not scruple to beg you to
come up as soon as possible, but occasioning as little
observation as you can.
" Ever yours,
" W. P."
" HoUwood, Sept. 16th, 1787. 9 a.m."
[The early information which Mr. Eden seems to
have comnumicated to the Government on this occa-
sion was, no doubt, one of those services for which,
in the t\\o next letters, he claims a reward which
most persons in these days will think more than
commensurate with the duties performed. He was
a shrewd, ambitious politician, with a very inflated
opinion, not only of his importance to the Govern-
ment, but of his merits in the eyes of the world
at large. A remarkable confirmation of AValpole's
satirical axiom, that every man in the British Legis-
lature had his price; for Pitt thought him worth
purchashig. And, though he had previously been
engaged in active o})position to him up to the
70 DIARIES AND COKRESPONDENX'E OF
session of 17^5, vvlieu he censured the I\Iinister's
plans, and denied the accuracy of liis statements,
yet he evinced so nnich insight into matters of
finance and trade, tliat no pains were spared to
secure his co-operation. He endeavoured to bargain
for the office of Speaker, but to that Pitt could
not consent. It Avas then ])roposed to create a
new place for him, as Superintendent of the col-
lection of the Revenue ; but that scheme was
also abandoned. At last it was resolved to send
him to Paris, in January, 178G, not as an ambas-
sador, though he seems in his argument to assume
that dignity (for the Duke of Dorset was the
ambassador), but as an envoy to negotiate a com-
mercial treaty with France, which he accomplished
very satisfactorily in September 178G, and more
completely in January 17S7. It was in that capa-
city he was remaining at Paris, and being more
expert than the ambassador in diplomacy, supplied
Mr. Pitt with useful information. He did not
succeed immediately in the object which he had so
much at heart, but probably strengthened his claims
by similar services, first at I\Iadrid, and afterwards at
the Hague ; for in the following year he obtained an
Irish peerage, and, in 1793, the reward which he
most of all coveted, and for which he argued with
so much dexterity, — an EngHsh peerage. But the
third letter shows the truth of the proverb, that
" Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." When
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 71
he entered on the scene of his labours in Spain/ he
could no longer contain his illdiumour at the delay,
and it was necessary to^ pacify him with the Irish
peerage, though it was only like throwing a tub to
the whale.
The Duke of Buckingham gives some additional
particulars of his claims upon Pitt, in chronicling these
transactions. The commercial treaty with France,
curiously enough, was negotiated by Mr. Eden, who had
held the office of Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, under the
coalition, and who w^as the first person to break away
from that heterogeneous confederacy, and ally him-
self with Mr. Pitt. His defection w^as the more memo-
rable from the fact that the coalition is said to have
orisrinated with him. At all events he divides the
credit of the project with Mr. Burke. Distinguished by
his zeal and activity, he was soon afterwards raised to
the peerage under the title of Baron Auckland. — Ed.]
Mr. Eden to Mr. Rose.
"Paris, January 27tb, 1788.
" My dear Sir,
"I am deeply and cordially sensible of the
kindnes's with which you invite me to tell you
freely what mark of a})probation of my public ser-
vice I alluded to in my late letter to jMr. Pitt. I
will profit by it to unbosom myself in confidence
upon the subject. If I had had any settled and
specific ideas respecting it, I would have expressed
72 DIARIES AND COKllESPONDENCK OF
them long ago ; but 1 have only general or cunliibcil
notions.
" There is not, 1 believe, any party or description of
political observers in Europe, who do not think and
say that my situation here has eventually been instru-
mental in obtaining great and brilliant advantages for
England. T fairly and honestly give the j)rincipal
merit to Mr. Pitt's government, and in truth to his
personal communications and exertions; but I fairly
and justly feel at the same time, that the predicament
in Avhich it j)laccs me, however subordinate in point
of deserts, is at the moment not inconsiderable in the
eyes of Europe. I feel also that his credit will receive
no diminution by my being ostensibly distingiiished
as the instrument selected l)y him (such was the
wise and just policy of his father with regard to
those whom he employed) ; and I at least have the
merit of having exerted a most indefatigable zeal and
integrity in his service, with an activity and perse-
verance which those only can conceive who have been
witnesses of it, and to whose despatches and testi-
mony to every court in Europe I am willing to refer.
"Lastly, I feel that if the moment is lost, it may
be irrecoverably lost. Still, however, you will rei)ly,
' What is it you seek ? ' and there is ray embarrass-
ment. Perhaps I ought to answer, I can only regret
that the pretension is not seen by Government in the
same light as it is seen by me ; and even by some
who profess political enmity to me, but who tell me,
generously and without scruple, to make the best use
of the crisis in which I lind myself. If govei-mnent
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 73
had the same sentiment respecting me, ins.tead of my
being sent to be buried (perhaps in all senses), in a
distant part of the globe, ideas would have occurred
which I am unable to form, because I have not suffi-
cient information. Still you ask me, ' What are my
own ideas ? ' and I am unable to answer you. Shall
I say an English peerage? I feci that I have no
chance of obtaining it, if I were to look towards it,
and if I were sure that I ought to look towards it.
At the same time I must assert that my pretensions in
point of services are at least equal to any of the pro-
fessional pretensions which in my experience have led
to peerages. In point of family I have no difficulty ;
for mine has been opulent and respectable upon the
same spot above three hundred years, and is inter-
married also into all the first families. But I am
sensible that it is bad policy for the country to mul-
tiply peers who have not fortunes, nor the prospect of
fortunes, to maintain the dignity. Shall I say an
Irish peerage ? — Certainly, if I thought it expedient to
accept it, I should not think it too much to ask. I
have pretensions in Ireland, exclusive of all other
claims. I framed and established their National
Bank ; I moved the Habeas Corpus, &c. &c. &c. &c. ;
and I have the friendship and almost the attachment
of all the leading people of that country.
" The ancient seat of my family, and still in th^r
possession, is Auckland ; and Lord Auckland, of Ire-
land, would sound better as ambassador to his Catholic
Majesty, than plain Monsieur. But this would give
all the inconveniences of the peerage to my son,
71 DIARIES AND CUliltESPONDENCE 01'
without any of the advantages ; and tlie only benefit
of it woukl be that it atlbrds me some security
for provision against events, instead of leaving me
without any. Shall I say the Red Ribbon ? To
tell you the truth, — though I am in a career where
every minister, even in the second and third order,
even poor Saxony, Denmark, ^^'irtemberg, &c., except
the Duke of Dorset and myself, is covered with stars
and decorations, and still more in Spain than here, —
I look forwards to passing fifteen or twenty years
of my life at Reckenham, and such gcw-gaws will
make a laughable appearance in my shrubbery. Nor
could this commonest of all the orders, ever have
been an object to me unless it had come in some
particular mode and moment calculated to give credit
to it. Rv the bv, in constitutinpr the Irish order,
it would in many points of view have been useful
if two had been appropriated to the foreign ambas-
sadors, and would have given to Ireland an ostensible
as w^ll as a real connexion with foreign politics.
"Last of all, there remained merely the finding and
grabbing some respectable otfice for life ; and I dis-
covered long ago, that such a speculation was not to
be encouraged. Here then we come to the point from
which we set out. I feel that I am losing a moment
most important to me, and I should have hoped, not
unacceptable to Mr. Pitt ; but I can only say so, and
I can say nothing further ; ' si quid novisti rectius
istis candid us imperii.'
" There is nothing new here. I inclose an impudent
piece of sedition, as an ('chaniiUon of the liberty of
the French press.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. iO
" I happened yesterday at dinner to meet a Comte
de Chateauvieux, a most respectable Swiss, who talked
of your son wdth all the aft'ection and cordiality that
you could have done, and told us many little anecdotes
respecting the young man's character and conduct at
Geneva, which do great credit to him.
" I am, my dear Sir,
" Ever most sincerely yours,
" William Eden."
Mk. Eden to Mr. Rose.
[Frivate.^
''Paris, Feb. 21st, 1788.
" My dear Sill, —
" I wdll not abuse your friendship and indulgence
by writing more than seems necessary in reply to
your last. It must be unpleasant to you, and trouble-
some to Mr. Pitt, and I need not add that it is
painful to me to prolong our present discussion. You
tell me, however, ' that I ought to communicate freely
as the only chance of enabling those who wish well to
me to do good.' I feel the force of this, and in
truth I have no reserves as to any part of the subject
in question. It is fair, and reasonable, and honourable,
(in every sense of the word) that I should seek to
elevate myself and my family upon the groinid of public
services, as far as all candid observers may think
those services entitled to recompense from the King
and from the public ; and I certainly am at the crisis
where, if I receive no mark of approbation, I nnist
7n DIAllIES AND CORRESPONDKNCE OF
Jiever expect to receive' any. Fur f am now (|uittiny;
the French mission, and am entering into a rlistinct
and distant career, in the course of which the impres-
sion of what has passed will grachially he superseded
by new events, and will l)e weakened, ohliterated, and
in effect forgotten.
" It is not an answer to this to tell nie that at
the close of my embassies I shall ])c entitled to the
usual retirement. If T live to that day 1 feel that
such a retirement would be a just expectation, even
if \ had no other pretensions than other and)as-
sadors have had (and have), who have gone through
the same career inoffensively and ineiHciently. Tn
short, I consider it as the prospect of a retreat at
Avhich \ may possibly never arrive; but which the
justice of my sovereign and the general sense of
maidvind would of course open to any person who
had tilled offices of such responsibility as I have
done and shall have done. Turninir, therefore, from
that prospect as a distant and unconnected specu-
lation, I consider myself as ha\ing two years ago
undertaken a public enterprise of great importance,
risk, and difficulty. It is known that under Mr. Pitt's
instructions I accomplished it most successfully. It
is also known to have been followed by several other
services equally signal and successful, and of essential
consequence; and though I was only the fortunate
instrument in able hands, Mr. Pitt is too classical in
his sentiments to throw^ aside with disregard the
weapon which he used in the field of his victories,
and to let it rust and waste forgotten in a corner.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 77
"Here then I place my pretensions; and I cousider
the present moment as the properest, and indeed the
only one, for urging them. Under this impression
1 ' comnnmicate freely ' the hope entertained by me,
that my arrival at the Court of i\Iadrid may be pre-
ceded or accompanied by some ostensible testimony
that my conduct and exertions in the French mission
have been honoured with approbation. I rest that
hope on the reasonings which I have stated. Yet 1
might add, that such a testimony, exclusive of its
importance to me personally, would be ministerially
useful at the high-minded Court to which I am going ;
that it w^ould become farther useful if I am to pursue
this line of foreign service, and that it is an under-
rating of the foreign politics of the last two years if the
epoch is to pass undistinguished by any mark of favour.
" Your letter has fairly discussed aU the modes which
occur. You state, and I cannot dispute it, that at
present Mr. Pitt has no means of giving an office for
life. Ought I to seek for my son the second reversion
of a Tellership? Would it be worth seeking (subject, of
course, to the resignation of the pension) — would it be
attainable ? Upon the chapter of ribbons, I am sure
you feel with me, that a mere red ribbon is not what
I ought to have or accept. It was honourable to the
late Sir Thos. Wroughton, at the Court of Stockholm,
and to Sir Horace Mann, at Florence. It was even
a decoration to my friend and predecessor. Lord
Grantham, because he supported it with his peerage,
and such exterior circumstances are not indifferent in
a foreign Court. But if I were to take it without any
78 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
other distinction, it certainlv wonld be considered as
a pendant or companion to the Duke of Dorset's blue
ribbon, and would not add credit.
" Next, you remark (and I feel the justice of it), that
as none of the ribbons of the order of St. Patrick were
originally reserved for Englishmen, it would not easily
be practicable now to give one, and, at all events, not
without the peerage. Thus we seem to be reduced to
the single consideration of the peerage, and I acknow-
ledge, on the first view of it, that if I should not live to
see my son established in life, it might become an
incundjrancc to him. But the question is whether,
subject to tliat objection, this pursuit of the peerage is
not preferable to relinquishing all pursuits whatever ;
for we agree that there are no other opened to me.
Reduced to this point, and I feel that 1 am reduced to
it, I incline to think that I ought to seek the English
peerage ; or even, in the supposition of its not being
given, the Irish one. I have thouglit much and coolly
upon the subject. After a residence of two years in a
Court so constituted as that of France, it is possible
that my English ideas on such a point may be
erroneous. But proceeding as I am from this Court
to a considerable embassy, I feel it better to have
even the Irish peerage (under the presumption of not
obtaining the other), than to go without any mark of
the King's favour. Though in some respects it might
prove inconvenient to my family, in others it would
be advantageous, and at all events honourable.
" Having now stated explicitly and unreservedly all
that occurs, I leave it in your hands. I have not yet
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 79
mentioned the subject to any other person, not even
to the Archbishop of Canterbury, because, whatever
may be the result, 1 should be sorry to give a colour to
the surmise that I shall feel myself treated by Mr.
Pitt otherwise than with justice, friendship, and even
favour. Such a surmise would be grating and injurious
to me, wliatever may be the event. I shall now, how-
ever, in conseciuence of your suggestion, write in
confidence to the Archbishop, and state to him the
substance of what has passed between us ; and if any-
thing should arise respecting me, on which Mr. Pitt
might have the goodness, either through you or per-
sonally, to confer with the Archbishop, his affection and
judgment will furnish the best aid that I can have.
" As I take leave on Tuesday next, and shall go
from Pai'is in about three weeks, you will allow me to
conclude by recommending this letter to an early
attention.
" I am, dear Sir,
Most sincerely yours,
Wm. Eden."
Mr. Eden to Mr. Kose.
" St. Ildefonso, Sept. 25th, 1788.
" Mt dear Sir,
" I wrote fully to you a few days ago, by a ser-
vant whom I had occasion to dispatch to England, and
who will probably arrive about the first of October.
I have already requested that what was there said
may be considered as addressed to the owner of Holl-
wood ; and this saves the pain of writing to him, in
80 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCi: Ol-
consequence of the I'rieiully letter wliieli arrived this
clay from you at the same time with tlic news of
certain promotions.
" In writing thus l)y the post, though on nuitters
merely private, some obscurity of expression must
be adopted. Certainly the person who tVels himself
so sincerely sensible of your kindness would have
reason to complain, not only ol a want of IVieudshij)
in the owner of llollwood, but he nuLdit carry his
complaints beyond that want. It is not easy to forget
by what authority he was informed in September,
178G, of its ' being the first object of anxiety to com-
municate some distinguishing mark of royal approba-
tion' for services which, in i)()iiit both of brilliancv
and solidity, were afterwards multi})lied tenfold, and
which remain not only unacknowledged, but eftectively
de})reciated in the eyes of the world, by ostensible
marks of attention to all who act(Ml subordinate parts
in the several businesses. Neither is it easy to forget
by what authority ' those services were formally and
repeatedly acknowledged as essential, both politically
and conunercially.' Nor, lastly, let it escape recollec-
tion, that when the English peerage (for the Irish is
utterly out of the question) was talked of, it was an-
swered, ' that whatever might be the wish, there were
insurmountable objections which prevented any from
being given to any person.'
"In short, it is not possible for your friend to suppose
tliat those for whom he continues to feel both respect
and aflection, and to whose fair conduct he committed
his whole public existence, implicitly and imreservedly.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 81
are capable of acting" towards liim iinlvinclly, unjustly,
and ungenerously. He must, however, presume that
there is elsewhere an ill-will of a superior influence
Avhich prevails against him ; and under that construc-
tion, all that is left for him to request is, that he may
be withdrawn to privacy as speedily and with as little
eclat as possible. When it is asked whether in the
meantime, and even before that termination, it would
be agreeable to him to have the security fixed, though
upon the 4i per cents.; there can be no doubt that
that security should have been fixed long ago in some
shape or other, and for life ; nor is it easy to persuade
one who knows something of the nature and resources
of Government, that means were wanting, even with-
out having recourse to pensions. But that point your
friend never urged ; it was superseded by higher pre-
tensions, which have now been treated as ' the baseless
fabric of a vision.'
" His amusement for some weeks to come will be
to receive from those who foretold, near three years
ago, what now happens to him, such paragraphs as the
inclosed.
" Believe me, my dear Sir,
" Ever most sincerely yours."
[Mr. Eden's praise of young Rose (afterwards Sir
George Rose, and for many years representative of
our Com-t at Berlin), on the Report of the Count de
Chateauvieux, in the first of his letters, may very fitly
VOL. I. G
82 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OE
be accompanied by an earlier testimony in liis favour
from the principal of St. John's, while he ^vas an
undergraduate at Cambridge, not only on account of
the services which he himself performed for his country,
but still more because he was the father of one who
has attained so much distinction botli at Constanti-
nople and in Central India, Sir Hugh Rose. The
parentage of an eminent man is not a matter of indif-
ference to his countrymen — Nee imheUem feroces
progenerant aquilcs columhcun. — Ej).]
Mr. Woou, Principal of St. John's, CAMBUiutiE,
TO Mr. Rose.
"St. John's, June, 29th, 1701.
" Dear Sir,
" I will give you i ly opinion of Mr. G. Rose
with gj-eat pleasure, and from the plainness with
which I give it, judge of my sincerity. I think his
abilities very considerable ; at our examinations he
has always been ranked in the first class, though I am
convinced he has never given his mind fully to mathe-
matics, or paid that attention to them he will to any
subject which accords more with his hiclination. I am
in doubt whether he will make a good speaker. He
does not want quickness of conception, but he seems
not to have the art of arranG:iiiQ; his ideas to the
greatest advantage. I think I can perceive that in
any sudden emergency he will judge at once what line
of conduct he ought to pursue, and act with firmness
upon that judgment. In his conduct, he has been
THE RIGHT. HON. GEORGE ROSE. 38
much more manly than young men of his age usually
are, and I have never heard him spoken of in this
respect but with approbation. His goodness of heart
(in that I cannot be deceived) is such as I should wish
in my most intimate friend. At present he intends
to read those subjects which will prepare him for the
Senate House Examination, and I trust he will perse-
vere in this resolution.
" I am, dear Sir,
" Your most obedient humble servant,
*' James Wood."
" Dear Sir, " St. John's, Dec. 4tb, 1791.
" From every account I have heard of your son's
Act, it appears that he has exceeded not only his own
modest expectations, but the expectations of all his
friends. I have just called upon the Moderator who
presided at the disputation. I am happy to add his
testimony in your son's favour. You will easily con-
ceive that 1 am greatly pleased with the credit he has
gained on this occasion, but I am much more so to be
convinced that, so far from wanting abilities, he is
possessed of great powers of mind. The preparation
for this exercise was short. He had a Latin disser-
tation to write upon one "of the subjects, and I know
he had not taken the least trouble or thought about
the questions he had to defend, before he received the
exercise from the Moderator. Your worthy friend,
the Bishop of Lincoln, will be able to tell you pretty
exactly how he kept this act, if you inform him that
the mark in the Moderator's book is (A).
g2
84 DIAEIES AND C01lIlESP0yDE^'CE OF
" Mr. Rose has never sho\\ii any fondness for nia-
tlicmatical studies, and he liad, I l)cUeve, for some
time given up all thoughts of prosecuting them. His
friend, the Bishop of Lincoln, has prevailed upon him
to resume them ; and from the proticiency he made
in a few days, I will venture to affirm that he will
make himself master of any subject which lie seriously
undertakes,
" I am, Sir,
" \\'ith the greatest respect,
" Your obliged humble servant,
" James Wood."
[It is a remarkable proof how much the sagacity of
even the most experienced statesmen may be at fault,
when we find that within a year of the time when the
revolutionary volcano exploded in France, Mr. Pitt
viewed with so much complacency, as the next letter
to Lord Stafford expresses, the state of our foreign
relations, and the little apprehension he had of any
danger from the seething materials of that aggressive
spirit which was so soon to boil over in a violent
eruption. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to the Marquis of Stafford.
« Hollwood, Saturday, Sept. 6th, 17S8.
" My dear Lord,
" When your Lordship left town the business
respecting Sir James Harris's proposed peerage was
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 85
left in suspense. The conclusion, lioAA'ever, of the
provisional treaty at Loo, on which the alliance since
concluded was founded, has considerably strength-
ened his former claim to distinction, and so rnanv
circumstances have concurred to make him extremely
anxious for its not being deferred, that notwithstand-
ing the awkwardness of having Sir Joseph Yorke the
companion of his honours, I have been induced to
renew the request, even with that condition coupled
with it, and both are to be gratified.
" Our accounts from India of the Chev'' de Con-
way's return from Trincomale, without having done
anything, and of all being quiet in that quarter, are
very satisfactory. The state of France, whatever else
it may produce, seems to promise us more than ever
a considerable respite from any dangerous projects,
and there seems scarce any thing for us to regret on
our own account in the condition of foreign countries,
except the danger that the King of Sweden may
suffer too severely for his kindness. I conclude you
are returned by this time to Trentham. I hope Lady
Stafford has found benefit by Scarborough, and that
both she and your Lordship are perfectly well. My
holidays have not yet commenced, so I am obliged to
give up the prospect of my northern excursion, and
with it the pleasure of accepting your obliging invi-
tation.
" I am, my dear Lord,
" With the greatest regard and esteem,
" Faithfully and sincerely yours,
" W. Pitt."
86 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
[In the years 17SS and 17S9 two events occurred
of great domestic importance (of which, however, no
great notice is taken in this correspondence), the King's
ilbiess, and tlic })aynicnt of the Prince of ^^'ales's
debts by a grant of Parliament. With respect to the
former, Mr. Rose has preserved a few curious parti-
culars of the conduct of some of the great actors on
the political stage at that crisis, in which Mr. Pitt's
straiglitforward character shows to great advantage.
In Gifford's " Life of Pitt " it is stated, that the
first symptoms of the King's illness appeared on the
12th of June, and, on the 24th of that month, the
derangement of his mind was very visible at the
levee. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose's Diary resumed.
Early in October, the King was taken suddenly ill
with spasms in his stomach, and suflfered much for a
few days.
On the 10th, his Majesty was at the levee, in order
to discountenance the reports, which were circulated
industriously, of his being in danger ; particularly as
there w^ere speculations on the circumstance of Sir G.
Baker's attendance. After which he continued unwell,
and incapable of reading papers of business. No dis-
patches were sent to Windsor, nor even warrants to
sign, for several days, when five or six warrants were
sent, which were the last. Mr. Pitt saw him at Kew,
and was with him three hours and fortv minutes, both
on their legs the whole time.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 87
His Majesty went to Windsor on Saturday the 25tli
of October, and on the 5th of November he showed
strong symptoms of a disordered understanding.
The first decided manifestations Avere at dinner, on
addressing himself to the Duke of York, relative to a
murder. Between the 5th and the Oth, the King was
thought in great danger of dying, the fever very high ;
but on James's powders being administered, that was
got under, leaving the delirium, which continued with
little alteration durino; the remainder of the month.
He was never violent or outrageous ; wandering in
his discourse exceedingly, but talking coherently on
the subjects to which he wandered, with intervals
quite rational though of short duration.
On the 6th, the Chancellor went to Windsor, and
dined and supped with the Prince of Wales. The
avowed purpose of their meeting was to consider the
mode of treating his Majesty, as he had been some-
Avhat ungovernable during the night.
On the 12th, Mr. Pitt saw his Royal Highness, and
had much conversation with him, chiefly on general
subjects ; but Mr. Pitt stated that on the meeting of
the two Houses at the time to which they were pro-
rogued, in the week following, he meant to propose an
adjournment for a fortnight, to which his Royal High-
ness replied, ' No objection could arise to that from any
one.' He expressed a wish to have further conversa-
tion with Mr. Pitt before the Houses should meet,
Mr. Pitt went again to Windsor on the 15th, with
the Duke of Richmond, and saw the Prince of Wales,
but the conversation was quite general.
88 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
On the 17tli, Mr. Pitt went again to Windsor for
the purpose of stating exactly to his Ivoyal IJiglniess
what he intended doing on the meeting of tiie House of
Commons; but his Royal Highness dechned seeing
him.
During this time there had been uuieh conversa-
tion between his Roval llidiness and Mr. Sheridan,
chiefly tlirougli third persons ; but one evening Mr.
Sheridan, i\lr. Payne,' and Mrs. Fitzher])crt went to
the Prince at Bagshot.
On the 23d iMr. Pitt went to Windsor for tlie
purpose of eftecting Dr. Addington's- seeing the King,
and, on the 24th, received a letter from Lady Cour-
toun,'' acquainting him that the Queen won hi take
measures first, if the Duke of jMontagu, Lord Ayles-
bury and himself would make it their joint request,
which was done accordingly;* and, on the 25th,
Mr. Pitt went to Windsor to arrange the matter, and
it was settled that Dr. Addington should see the Kino:
the next day. On the same day (the 25th) the Prince
of Whales sent to know if ]\Ir. Pitt had anything to
propose to him, which was answered respectfull\ in
the negative. On the 25th, the Chancellor also was
at Windsor, and kept late there, in company most of
the time with the physicians, without coming to any
precise point. On his return to town at night,
^ Captaiu, afterwards Admiral Payne.
^ Lord Sidmouth's father, who had been the late great Earl of
Chatham's physician.
^ Wife of Lord Courtoun, the Queen's chamberlain, and also her
private friend.
^ Mr. Fox arrived on the 24th, in nine days, from Bologna.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 89
lie came to ]\Ir. Pitt's, in Downing-Street, wliere I
was.
On the :26tb, at night, or rather at half-past one
in the morning of the 27th, Mr. Pitt was waked with
a letter from the Chancellor, summoning the Cabinet
to meet at Windsor, by command of the Prince, on
that day (the 2Gth). The servant who ought to have
carried the letter at nine in the evening, neglected it,
and the one who came with it at the before-mentioned
late ]iour, being asked whether the Chancellor was
then up, replied, Yes, and that Mr. Fox was with
him ; a fact which his Lordship had not noticed.
The next day when the Cabinet met at Windsor,'
the members were long in deliberation, principally
about moving the King to Kew. Previous to their
meeting, the Chancellor had been with the Prince of
Wales ; and when all the rest of the confidential ser-
vants of the Crown went to Salt Hill to dinner, his
Lordship returned to the Prince's apartments, where
he had refreshments provided for him, the Prince
sitting with him, having previously dined. Most of
the Cabinet slept at Salt Hill. Mr. Pitt returned to
town late on the 29th. He did not dine with the
Master of the Rolls, but was at a Cabinet again at
Lord Carmarthen's office at eight in the evening.
In the course of that meeting many inquiries were
made by the Lords as to whether any one knew if
Mr. Pox had seen the Prince of Wales, or held any
^ Mr. Fox came straight from Saint Anne's Hill to the Chancellor's,
and found that the Prince of Wales and Mr. Sheridan had been a
long while with him.
90 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
communication witli him, or if any one present knew
anything about liiiu ; — of all wliich tlie Chancellor,
amongst others, professed perfect ignorance. He even
asked if anybody knew the cohjur of Mr. Fox's chaise,
in order to form a guess from them whether it had been
seen on the road to AVindsor. Mr. Pitt desired to
ascertain the opinions of the mend)ers of the Cabinet
respecting the propriety or expediency of joining the
opposition, if it should be in their choice, under any
circumstances whatever. lie put the question directly
to the Chancellor, who said he considered it an
abstract question, and could not answer it distinctly.
]\Ir. Pitt said it was a ])lain question, — Would his
Lordship join with the opposite party under any
circumstances? to which he would giye no answer.
Other members, by their silence, more than any-
thing else, left an impression on Mr. Pitt's mind that
they were impressed with an idea that a junction of
some sort might be expedient for the country, but
his own determination was fixed beyond all possibility
of being shaken — not to entertain the idea of a junc-
tion at all. No determination taken yet, though the
subject was much discussed, whether on the meeting
of the Houses on the 4th of next month, any proposi-
tion should be made for seating a Government.
On the 2Stli and 29th, Mr. Pitt saw the King at
Windsor. His Majesty uncommonly kind in his
manner ; had great pleasure in seeing him ; talked of
matters which he had discussed with him in theii- last
meeting before his ^Majesty Avas ill, but wandered
incessantly from one subject to another.
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE EOSE. 91
On the 29tli, his TMajesty came from Windsor to
Kew in his coach with three equerries.
On the 30th, the Chancellor saw his Majesty,
by his Lordship's own desire, hut left him very
suddenly.
Becemher \sf. — The Cabinet dined at the Marquis
of Stafford's, for the purpose of further deliberating
whether to proceed to the consideration of settling
a temporary Government or not on the 4th, — when the
Houses met, pursuant to their adjournment.
[During all this time, and the next three months,
Mr. Pitt kept steadily in view the personal interests of
the King. For this purpose all the restrictions on the
exercise of the Regent's authority were introduced into
the Bill proposed to Parliament, so that, in the event
of the King recovering, he might not find the whole
system of his Government overthrown by the rashness
of unprincipled men. And for the same reason Mr.
Pitt resisted the proposal to form a junction with
the Whig party. For though it might have ensured
him a longer continuance in office, and he knew,
if he rejected it, the first exercise of the Regent's
power would be to turn him out, yet he would
not expose his sovereign to the pain, on his reco-
very, of seeing a coalition between his friends and
enemies, so contrary to all his feelings.
Notwithstanding the slight symptoms which heralded
the approaching disease, the King appeared in public
92 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
and moved about till the month of November; and it
was not till the fifth, that it assumed an alarminu;
appearance. As soon as Mr. Pitt received the intel-
ligence, he inmiediately imparted it to Lord Stafford
in the following letter, and in another, four months
afterwards, addressed to his son Lord Gower, requested
liim to move the address of congratulation in the House
of Commons, on the King's recovery. — Ed.^
Mr. Pitt to the ^Iarquis of Stafford.
'[Secref.]
" Grosvenor Square, Nov. 6th, 1788, 6 p.m.
" My dear Lord,
" I write from Lord Carmarthen's, having just
had an account from Windsor, by which I learn that the
King's disorder, which has for some days given us much
uneasiness, has within a few hours taken so serious a
tuni, that I think myself obliged to lose no time in
apprising your Lordsliip of it.
" The accounts are sent under considerable alarm,
and therefore do not state the symptoms very pre-
cisely ; but, from what I learn, there is too much reason
to fear that they proceed from a fever which has
settled on the brain, and which may produce imme-
diate danger to His Majesty's life. You will easily
conceive the pain I suffer, in being obliged to send
your Lordship this intelligence ; but as you may
probably think it right, under such circumstances,
to be on the spot as soon as possible, I thought
THE EIGHT HOX. GEOEGE EOSE. 93
no time should be lost in letting you know the
situation.
" I am, with great regard, my dear Lord,
" Your obedient and faithful Servant,
- W. Pitt."
" Marquis of Stafford."
Mr. Pitt to Earl Gower.
" Downing Street, Friday, March 6th, 1789.
" My dear Lord,
" Under the peculiar circumstances of the speech
that is to be made on Tuesday by the Commissioners
appointed to hold the Parliament, which will announce
the happy event of his Majesty's recovery, I cannot
help expressing a wish, that your Lordship would un-
dertake to move the Address to be proposed in the
House of Commons. The nature of the occasion will,
I hope, justify my troubling you with this request,
and it will afford me on every account particular satis-
faction, that the first step previous to our entering
again on public business should be brought forward
with so much advantage. I shall be extremely happy
if your Lordship will permit me to take an early
opportunity of communicating to you the particulars
of the Speech. I have the honour to be,
" My dear Lord,
'' Your Lordship's most obedient and faithful Servant,
" W. Pitt."
"Earl Gower."
94 DIARIES AXD CORRESPONDEXCE OF
[Miss Rose has iJicscrvcd the following particulars
of the occurrences of that interesting period not
mentioned by her father. — Ed.]
1788. The King stopped at Kew on his way from
Windsor to London ; ate a pear, got his shoes and
stockings wet, and did not change them .... Some-
times he talked rationally, which continued through
every return of his illnesses. Dr. Baillie told us, that
in the last, there was no sign of failure of intellect;
that he always thought and reasoned correctly, though
on certain points under erroneous impressions; and
that if once the diseased impression was removed, the
mind would act with its former power.
Sir William Grant, the Master of the Rolls, repeated
the same thing, giving two instances. He said, the
King's insanity was on two points ; one that all
marriages would soon be dissolved by xVct of Parlia-
ment ; the other that his Hanoverian dominion was
restored, and that he was shortly to go there.
The physicians attended in rotation. Dr. Halifax
had been some time absent, and returned to his
attendance, when the Commissioners made their usual
visit. To engage the King in conversation, some one
said, " Dr. Halifax is returned ; he has lately been in
Dorsetshire." The King inquired for many residents
there, remembering the members of their families as
agreeing or not agreeing with Dr. Halifax's report.
At last he mentioned the family of the Deputy Judge
Advocate. The King said, " When I go to Hanover,
Mr. must go with me." " V>hy so, Sir ? "
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 95
" Because the Deputy Judge Advocate must "be Avith
iiie to correspond with the Judge Advocate, who
cannot leave England, and he nmst have a direct
official correspondence with me."
No one present was aware of that but himself. If
Hanover had been restored during his life and insanity,
his reasoning would have been erroneously true. The
other instance was, on being asked if he would like to
hear news, he replied, " any common occurrences,
marriages, deaths, &c. &c." (he always avoided the
subject of politics or official concerns, except as to Han-
over). Amongst the news of the day was the almost
sudden death of the Marchioness of Buckingham. He
said, " He was very sorry for it, she was a very good
woman, though a Roman Catholic." He expressed
great regret for the Marquis, saying, "that he believed
if she had lived till the marriages were dissolved, he
would have desired to renew his. By-the-by," he added,
" I do not think many of my friends would do so."
Lord Eklon, in his " Recollections," states that he
did not believe Lord ThurloAv had any communication
with the opposition at the time of the Regency ! ! ! He
must have known it from those he afterwards lived
with. He subsequently states that he did not know
the cause of his dismissal from office; though he proves
at least the expediency of it, stating that Lord Tluu--
low said that he could not blame Mr. Pitt, as he
would have done the same by Mr. Pitt if he could.
Assuredly Lord Thurlow, whatever was his motive,
provoked it, but worked less on Mr. Pitt's temper
than on Lord Grenville's, who was then leader on the
96 DIARIES AND CORRESPOXDENCE 01-
side of Government, in the House of Lords. Lord
Thiirlow continually impeded, and at last treated liim
with insolence. Lord Grenvillc was speaking; Luni
Tliurlow rose from the Woolsack, and addressed the
House, " Is it your Lordships' pleasure to adjourn ? "
Lord Grenville continued to speak, merely ■waving
his hand. Lord Thurlow repeated the question,
aud Lord Grenville his sign of hearing and disregard-
ing it, without noticing it in words. ]\[y brother
William, then reading Clerk, came to us as soon as
the House adjourned, and described the scene. We
learned from my father that Lord Grenville went from
the House of Lords to Mr. Pitt, and told him, that if
Lord Thurlow continued Chancellor, he must resign
his office. Mr. Pitt acquainted the King with the
whole, aud he at once acceded to the dismissal. Next
day the King came in from AVindsor full of the sur-
render of Seringapatam, and lode gaily through the
Park.
j\[r. Pitt, quite convinced that if Pox had carried
the Lidia Bill, he would have the Government en-
tirely in his own hands, and the King be a cypher,
had resolved to make no sacrifice of principle to
obtain a share of power, but, to use the phrase
I then heard, "to take his blue bag, and return to
the bar."
[After the Regency Bill had passed through the
Commons, and was still under debate in the House of
Lords, the arduous contest was terminated by the
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 97
Kinsf's recovery, and ^Ir. Pitt was rewarded for his
fidelity by receiving tlie following letter from his
Majesty. — Ed.]
The King to Mr. Pitt.
"Kew, Feb. 23d, 178f).
" It is with infinite satisfaction I renew my corre-
spondence with Mr. Pitt by acquainting him with my
having seen the Prince of Wales, and my second son ;
care was taken that the conversation should be general
and cordial ; they seemed perfectly satisfied. I chose
the meeting should be in the Queen's apartment, that
all parties might have that caution which, at the
present hour, could but be judicious. I desire Mr.
Pitt will confer with the Lord Chancellor, that any
steps which may be necessary for raising the annual
supplies, or any measures that the interests of the
nation may require, should not be unnecessarily de-
layed, for I feel the warmest gratitude for the support
and anxiety shewn by the nation at large during my
tedious illness, which I should ill requite if I did not
wash to prevent any further delay in those public
measures which it may be necessary to bring forward
this year, though I must decline entering into a
pressure of business, and indeed for the rest of my
life, shall expect others to fulfil the duties of their
employments, and only keep that superintending eye
which can be effected without labour or fatigue. I
am anxious to see Mr. Pitt any hour that may suit
him to-morrow morning, as his constant attachment
VOL. I. II
98 DIARIES AND COKRESrONDEN'CE OF
to my interest and that of the pnbhc, which are
inseparable, must ever place him in the most advan-
taiTCOus linrlit.
-G. U."
[The reader will doubtless have observed that the
Chancellor had reduced himself to a very unfavour-
able predicament, by the trimming policy which he
desired to ado[)t. It is not surprising, therefore, that
Mr. Pitt's friends should have jumped to a conclusion
adverse to him, with tlie precipitancy of partisans,
who are apt to overrun the intentions of their leaders.
It is impossible not to admire the considerate and
judicious tone of this remonstrance, showing, as it
does, the great forbearance with which Mr. Pitt
endured the weaknesses of his adherents. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Priory, Sunday, 1 P.M., Nov. 8th, 1789.
" Dear Rose,
You will stare a good deal at the circumstance
which makes me write this letter, and which you will
perceive must not be taken notice of to any one else,
but which I think it as well to mention to you with-
out delay. A person, on whom I can entirely rely,
told me yesterday that the Chancellor had said to him
very lately, that he understood he should probably soon
receive a letter from ]\Ir. Grenville to give up the seals,
for that Mr. Rose had said before a person, who he
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 99
must have known would repeat it, that we had made
up our minds to it and would go on very well with-
out him. You will easily imagine what degree of
credit I give to this absurd story; but strange as it is,
it is very capable of making an impression on his
mind. The chief thing I wish is, that you would
recollect whether in any company, where you thought
yourself safe, you have used any warm expression about
him, as might very naturally happen, which could
afterwards be exaggerated or perverted into something
that may have laid the foundation for this suggestion.
As to your having said anything like what is repre-
sented, I do not entertain a moment's idea of it ; and
my object is to trace, if possible, where so mischievous
a suggestion has originated, and to consider whether it
may be worth while to convey some contradiction of it
to the Chancellor. This I can easily do if the circum-
stances make it prudent ; but if you recollect any
expression on which this idea can have been engrafted,
and which any one can have been base enough to repeat
and to give such a colour to, it will be best to say
nothing at all about it.
" Yours most sincerely,
u Yi, Pitt."
" P. S. — For a reason, which I will explain to you
when we meet, I wish you could let me know pretty
nearly what are the profits which Cowper has from his
office of Clerk Assistant, compared with yours, and on
what the profits depend."
H J
r>
100 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDEyCE OF
[Under the Duke of Portland's administration in
1787, Mr. Fox being one of the Secretaries of State,
the Prince of Wales came of age, and it was proposed
to apply to Parliament for an allowance of 100,000/.
a-year; but we learn from a letter of Mr. Pitzpatrick,
tliat the King disapproved of it, and said, that he could
not think of burthcning the public, but was ready
to give 50,000/. a-year from the Civil List, which
he thought sufficient (the Prince had 12,000/. a-year
besides from the Duchy of Cornwall, and Parliament
was asked to grant 30,000/. to pay his debts) ; and
that he found, that notwithstanding all the profes-
sions of the ministers for economy, they were ready
to sacrifice the public interests to the wishes of an
ill-advised young man. These Whigs had certainly a
right to be called a liberal administration.
During the next three years this prodigal sou so
wasted his substance in riotous living, that he con-
tracted debts bevond his income to the amount of
more than 100,000/., besides 50,000/. laid out on
Carlton House. The following document is intro-
duced only to show that Mr. Pitt's government resisted
the reckless extravagance of the Prince. — Ed.]
[1789.] The Chancellor of the Exchecpicr ac-
quaints the Board that he had received a letter from
Lord Southampton, enclosing, by the command of his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, several papers
and estimates respecting the expenses at Carlton
House. That not being certain, from the nature and
THE RIGHT. HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 101
terms of tlie communication, whether it was intended
to be laid officially before the Board, or to be sub-
mitted in the first instance to his Majesty, he had
requested Lord Southampton to signify to hira his
Royal Highness's commands on this point. That in
consequence of Lord Southampton's answer, he thinks
it his duty to lay these papers before the Board.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer also commu-
nicates the estimates received from his Royal High-
ness's officers on the 14th May, 1787; the copy
of the report made to Mr. Lyte by Sir Wm.
Chambers, Mr. Couse, and Mr. Craig, on the 20th
July, 1787, and a memorandum delivered by Mr.
Holland, 14th March, 1789.
Read these several papers, and also the resolu-
tions of the House of Commons of the 24th May,
1787, 10th of December, 1787, and the 15th of
June, 1789.
The Board observes that the Resolution of the
House of Commons of the 24th of May, 1 787,
humbly desires His Majesty to be graciously pleased
to direct the sum of 20,000/. to be issued on account
of the works at Carlton House, as soon as an esti-
mate should be formed, with suficient accuracy, of the
whole expense for completing the same in a proper
manner.
That previous to this resolution an estimate of
the works at Carlton House appears to have been
delivered by his Royal Highness's officers on the 14th
of May, 1787, stating the sum of 49,700/. for the
expense of those works ; and at the same time an
102 DIARIES AXD CORRESPOXDEXCE OF
estimate for tlie furniture, stating that as several of
the apartments and rooms are not built, formed, or
iinislied, and as a great part of the furniture is in
an unfinished state, it is impossible to ascertain or
describe exactly what will be wanted ; ])ut from as
exact an account as can be ascertained, the sum of
5,500/. will be necessary.
The estimate of 49,700/. for the works at Carlton
House, appears to have been referred to the exami-
nation of Sir William Chambers, Mr. Couse and Mr.
Craig, and to have been reported upon by them on
the 20th July, 1787.
That, on the 17th August, 1787, the sum of
10,000/. was issued for the works at Carlton House,
under the King's warrant ; and a farther sum of
10,000/. for the same purpose, and in the same
manner, on the 23rd of November following.
That a further sum of 10,000/. was issued for the
same purpose, and in the same manner, on the 5th
September, 1788.
On the 10th December, 1787, the House resolved
that a sum not exceeding 20,000/. be granted to his
IMajesty, to make good the like sum which has been
issued by his ]\I;ijesty's order, in pursuance of the
address of this House for carrying on and completing
the works at Carlton House.
That on the 14th March, 17S9, an application
was made to the Treasury by i\lr. Holland, referring
to botli the estimates above mentioned, but observing
that the estimate for the furniture was not likely to
prove sufficient, referring also to the resolution of the
THE RIGHT. HON. GEORGE ROSE. 103
House of Commons of the 24tli May, 1787, and
stating that Mr. Holland was informed that payments
had been made since that time to the amount of
30,000/.
That in consequence of this application, the further
sum of 15,000/. was issued under the King's warrant,
on the 1st May, 1789; and on the 29th May, 1789,
a further sum of 10,200/., being the remainder to
complete the sum of 55,200/.
That an account of these several sums issued in
1788, and 1789, Avas laid before the House of
Commons; and on the 15th June, 1789, it was
resolved, that a sum not exceeding 35,200/. should
be granted to his Majesty, to make good the like sum
which had been issued by his Majesty's orders, in pur-
suance of an address of the House of Commons, for
carrying on and completing the works at Carlton
House.
The Board observes that the account. No. 2,
transmitted by Lord Southampton to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, states a sum of 56,950/. as the
estimated expense "of furniture and decorations
" ordered for the state apartments, to replace some of
" that which was intended at the time of the appli-
" cation to Parhament in 1787, and to furnish other
" apartments not then projected, together with an
" estimate of the expense thereof."
Under these circumstances it does not appear to
the Board that this additional estimate of 56,950/.
comes within the intention of the resolution of the
House of Commons of the 24th May, 1787, and the
101 DIARIES AND COIIIIESPONDEXCE OF
Board does not tliink itself authorised to direct a
Avarrant to be prepared for the issue of any further
sum out of the Civil List in ])ursuance of the said
resolution. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is
desired humbly to submit the foregoing minute to
his Majesty.
[It must be admitted, that the leaders of both
the great political parties were very indulgent to
the royal spendthrift; for the House of Commons
offered no opposition to grants which auiounled in
the course of three years to 101,000/. for the pay-
ment of his debts, and 5'), 200/. for Carlton House,
although the King had, in the meantime, added
10,000/. a-year to his income, out of the Civil List,
and exacted from him a promise that for the future
his expenditure should not exceed his income. But it
must be remembered that the finances of the country,
under the management of Mr. Pitt, were then in a
very flourishing condition, and that both the leaders
were men who could not be verv sensitive on such
subjects, since both of them afterwards incurred a
large amount of debts, which were discharged either
by their friends, or by the nation ; but there was this
difTerence between them — Mr. Fox's debts were con-
tracted by gambling ; Mr. Pitt's by inattention to his
pecuniary concerns ; all his thought being occupied
not only with great schemes of policy, but by atten-
tion to the minutest details of administration, in
THE UIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 105
the management of these, he depended very much
upon the assistance of his friend, Mr. Rose ; and
his letters show that the least things appertaining
to the conduct of affairs were not exempted from
his care. The following concerns the payment of the
Prince's debts : — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" HoUwood, Sunday, July 14th, 178.9.
" Half- past 4 p.m.
"Dear Rose,
" I do not think there would be much objection
to authorising Mr. Coutts to issue the money to any
persons whom the Prince shall direct, provided it is
once arranged beforehand amongst his officers, in what
proportions it is to be applied to his debts. The
only person with whom I have had communication is
Mr. Anstruther. He has, I believe, seen the principal
creditors, and formed a plan, according to which the
sum of 40,000/. would answer the present purpose.
Most likely as large a sum as 3,000/. would have to be
allotted to the Brighthelrastone creditors, and Captain
Payne may be as good a channel as any other. But
it might lead to great confusion to settle anything with
Captain Payne, except in concert with Mr. Anstruther.
The only thing, therefore, which occurs to me in the
first place, is, that you should see Mr. Anstruther first,
and afterwards Captain Payne Avithhim. If you find
from them that it is arranged to Mr. Anstruther's
satisfaction, I should see no objection to making any
alteration in the letter to Coutts which may be neces-
106 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
sary. I have, to save time, written to Mr. Anstruthcr
to desire him to call upon you before eleven to-morrow.
If it prove necessary to alter the authority given to
Coutts, the best mode will be to withdraw your
original letter and send him a new one.
" I have marked words which I imagine would
answer the purpose, but I shall like any others as well.
You will, of course, mention to Mr. Anstruthcr all that
I have here said.
" Yours sincerely,
"W. Pitt."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 107
CHAPTER III.
1790—1798.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR "WITH FRANCE IN 1793 — WHIG CALUMNIES
AGAINST 3IR, PITT's GOVERNMENT, ETC.
[The trafficking in Clmrch prefei^ment, and the exer-
cise of patronage from interested motives, merely for
the sake of obtaining some return for it from those
who sought the favour, without the smahcst reference
to the w^orthiness or fitness of the persons recom-
mended, several instances of which occur in the follow-
ing correspondence, painfully remind us that we are
engaged in the history of the eighteenth century.
—Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Downing Street,
" Monday Evening, April 5th, 1790.
"Dear Rose.
" I have made up my mind to offer the Deanery
of Canterbury to Dean Butler ; and you wdll be so
good as to inform him of it, contriving at the same
time to make sure of the return we wish, as far as you
can -^xSk]. propriety .
" I have got your's respecting Southampton ; and
am very glad the point is likely to be settled by a
108 DIARIES AND CORRESrOXDENCE OF
meeting, the result of which will at all events, I think,
set us quite at ease. I found everything at Cam-
bridge very favourable both for Euston and myself.
" Yours sincerely,
" W. Pitt."
[The next series of letters, in the years 1790, 1791,
and 1792, are on matters of business, the allusions in
which it is not worth while to disentangle from their
obscurity, and therefore most of them are omitted ;
they have little or no other interest, except as they serve
to show the character of the communications which
})assed between the two friends. It is a remarkable
feature in this correspondence, that while the revolu-
tionary mania in Paris was disclosing its horrors and
crimes more and more, we look in vain to these letters
for any intimation of what was going on. There is
not a symptom of alarm or indignation, or even
astonishment; both writers seem to l)c wholly intent
upon the interior administration of the country, in a
calm and undisturbed atmosphere. A few, however,
of these letters of business are given, because they
illustrate the nature of Mr. Pitt's administration,
which was not a government by departments, except
so far as those who presided in them attended to the
ordinary routine : but it is evident that Mr. Pitt him-
self transacted much of the business of the Foreisrn,
Colonial, and War Offices, and of the Commissariat
also ; not only as to the appointment of the inferior
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE HOSE. 109
commissaries, but even as to the contracts for pro-
visioning the army. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Stowe, Sunday, Juue 10th, 1790.
" Dear Rose.
" I forgot before I left town to mention to you
that I wish much to employ Scott, the East India
Director, to converse conficlentially with a certain Mr.
Vander Meulen, who has been sent over from Holland
for the purpose of trying whether any plan can be
formed for a commercial arrangement of mutual benefit,
between our Company and the Dutch. Vander Meulen
has no ostensible commission, and the matter would
at present be considered as entirely private. I think
Scott, from his being so conversant with the details
of Indian commerce, is fitter than any one else
for such a discussion, and I imagine he would have
no objection to being so employed ; bat I understand
he is at Bath, or at least was very lately. If you find
he is still there, I wish you would write to him, stating
the business, and desiring to know when he will be in
town. It is material that, if possible, it should be within
a week from this day. I mean to stay here to-morrow,
but shall certainly be in town by five on Tuesday, and
shall be very glad if you can dine with me.
" Yours sincerely,
" W. Pitt."
[In order to explain the latter part of the fohowing
letter, it is necessary to remark, that peace between
110 DIARIES AND COIUIESPONDEN'CE OF
Russia and the Porte was coiicliuled at Gralutz, on
lltli of August, by the mediation of Prussia and the
threats of Enghuid, whose forces were augmented to
enforce her remonstrance. By this treaty Russia
ac([uired the fortress of Oczakow, and all the country
between the Bog and the Dniester, with the only con-
dition that the navigation of the last named river
should be left free. Better terms for Turkey might
have been obtained, had not Mr. J'itt been thwarted
by Mr. Adair, who was sent to St. Petersburg by
Mr. Fox, for that very purpose. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rosk.
" Downing Street, August 10th, 1791.
" Dear Rosk,
" I have an application to present to a living, on
the ground of the right coming to the Crown, in conse-
quence of its having been disposed of simonically by
the patron. I recollect an application of the same
sort, which you brought me some months ago, respect-
ing another living, which I think I complied with ;
but some previous incpiiry was made to ascertain that
there was sutticient ground to proceed upon. If you
recollect in what manner the inquiry was made, pray
let me know that I may put this in the same train.
[Secret.]
" We have an account from St. Petersburg of the
Empress's answer, which contains assurances of not
obstructing the navigation of the Dniester, and Avhich
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. Ill
modification (slender as it is^ our ministers "vvill have
accepted, and there the business will end ; not very
creditably, bnt better so than worse.
" The Gralutz Congress is resumed, and in a fair way
of terminating very well. The consequence is, that I
hope we shall very soon begin to disarm, and shall
be able so to manage it as to have no additional bill
to pay. In the mean time our revenue still continues
to rise ; and, including the present week, we are already
] 78,000/. gainers in this quarter. So much for news.
" I knoAv of nothing that need disturb yourhohdays
at present, and I rather hope in about a fortnight or
three weeks to call on you in my way westward, if you
continue at Cufi'nels.
■ . '* Yours sincerely,
;.._::.:. .; .o " W. P."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Downing Street, Tuesday, Aug. 30th, 1791.
" Dear Rose,
" I shall leave town the end of this week, in
my way westward ; and mean to have the pleasure of
calling on you in the course of my journey. If I find
the Speaker is at liberty, I must stop at Woodley
for a couple of days, and in that case shall not be with
you till Monday ; otherwise I perhaps may by Satur-
day, supposing you have no engagement to interfere
with it. If you have pray let me know, and I will
take my chance as I return. I enclose you a letter
from a Captahi Smyth, concerning whom you may
perhaps be able to give some information, and whose
112 Ui.VllIES AND CUllUESPONDENCE OF
style is rather suspicious. Return his letter that I
may order some answer to be given him. Do yon
know of any person wlio has strong pretensions, and
would be fit for collector in the province of Uj)per
Canada, and any other who would make a good
consul at Tripoli? I have an application for the
former from a Mr. Antrobus, a Cambridge consti-
tuent, whicli T am rather inclined to attend to.
" Yours sincerely,
" W. Pitt."
[The following letter is given as a specimen of the
spuit of jobbing by which ministers were formerly
pestered in the administration of civil as well as of
ecclesiastical patronage, and the ridiculous length to
which it w as sometimes carried. 1 lappily, in these days
of severe responsibility and competitive examination,
such things are no longer possible. — Ed.]
"Burton Pjnsent, Sept. 10th, 1791.
" De.\r Rose,
" Since I wrote to Long yesterday I have seen a
Mr. Metcalfe, whom, I kno\\ not why, Sir J. Holly-
wood chose to employ instead of a messenger, to bring
a letter applying for the Receivership of Kent, either
for himself (I mean Sir John) or his son, a child of
five years old.
" The latter request is ridiculous. I told i\Ir. Met-
calfe I could say nothing at present to the lirst. I
gave much the same answer, though rather more dis-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 113
coiiraging, to a Mr. Retford, the present deputy, who
came with a recommendation to Sir Charles Farnaby.
Gipps, of Canterbury, has also written to me for him-
self, and the Duke of Dorset, with a different sugges-
tion. I enclose the Duke's letter, and my answer
both to him and Gipps, that you may see how the
business stands. Be so good to forward the two last
letters. I think the whole must stand over for con-
sideration, and it will be material to know what Sir
E. Knatchbull says, from whom I have hitherto heard
nothing. Is Bamber Gascoigne at last dead or alive ?
My last account from Long prevented my writing to
the Duke of Beaufort and the Duchess of Rutland.
I shall go from hence on Wednesday, and probably
to Weymouth Thursday or Friday.
" Yours sincerely,
" W. Pitt."
[Mr. Pitt was appointed Warden of the Cinque
Ports in 1791. The King insisted upon his taking it ;
declared he would receive no other recommendation
to the office, and signified his resolution to that effect
to the other chief ministers, lie was anxious to make
provision for a man w^io, during the seven years of
his premiership, had not only not asked, but had
refused to take anything for himself. The simplicity
with which he relates the fact to his friend is verv
observable, and how immediately he passes from it to
a matter of business. The reduction of taxes shows
the increasing prosperity of the country. — Ed.]
VOL. I. I
ill diaries and cokrespondenck 0(*
Mr. Pitt to j\Ir. Rose.
" Dear Rose, " Burton Pyiisent, Aug. 7th, 1792.
" I have had a letter from the King making the
offer in the handsomest way possible, and liave ac-
cepted. The advertisement is very right except that,
with a view to effect, it would be better to enumerate
the taxes repealed.
" Ever yours,
" W. P."
[The next is an important letter, because it shows
so clearly what Mr. Pitt's political views were at a
time when the crimes of France liarl alarmed all sane
politicians. Bound as we were by treaties to protect
Holland, not revolutionized Holland, but Holland
under her old established form of government, some
demonstration was necessary to produce the desired
effect ; but, if that should prove successful, Mr. Pitt's
next object was to produce a general pacification of
the European powers by persuading them to abstain
from meddling with France ; to leave her to arrange
her domestic concerns, and to work out her social
system in any way she liked. Lord Stafford seems to
have been more in favour of stronger measures. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to the Marquis of Stafford.
" My dear Lord, "Downing street, Nov. 13th, 1792.
" The strange and unfortunate events which have
followed one another so rapidly on the Continent, are
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 115
in many views matter of serious and anxious con-
sideration.
" That Avhicli presses the most relates to the situa-
tion of Holland, as your Lordship will find from the
enclosed despatch from Lord iVuckland, and as must
indeed be the case in consequence of the events in
Flanders. However unfortunate it would he to find
this country in any shape committed, it seems abso-
lutely impossible to hesitate as to supporting our ally
in case of necessity, and the explicit declaration of
our sentiments is the most likely way to prevent the
case occrn'ring. We have therefore thought it best
to send without delay instructions to Lord Auckland
to present a memorial to the States, of which I enclose
a copy. I likewise enclose a copy of instructions to
Sir Morton Eden, at Berlin, and those to Vienna are
nearly to the same eff'ect. These are necessarily in very
general terms, as, in the ignorance of the designs of
Austria and Prussia, and in the uncertainty as to what
events every day may produce, it seems impossible to
decide definitively at present on the line which we
ought to pursue, except as far as relates to Holland.
" Perhaps some opening may arise which may enable
us to contribute to the termination of the war between
different powers in Europe, leaving France (which I
believe is the best way) to arrange its own internal
affairs as it can. The whole situation, however, be-
comes so delicate and critical, that I have thought it
right to request the presence of all the members of
the Cabinet who can, without too much inconvenience,
give their attendance. It Avill certainly be a great
1 2
110 DIARIES AND CORIIESPONDENCE OF
satisfaction if your Lordship should be of that mmil)cr.
At all events, I uish to apprise you as well as I can
of what is passing, and shall be happy to receive your
sentiments upon it either personally or by letter.
" I am, with the greatest regard,
"My dear Lord,
" Faithfully and sincerely yours,
"W. Pitt.
" Mai-qiiia of Staflbrd."
The ]\L\rquis of Staffouu to Mu. Pitt.
" My dkar Sir,
" it is difficult, I believe, for the best informed
of his Majesty's servants to give a decided opinion as
to what this country ought to do in this alarming crisis
of Europe. Such mystery has accompanied the nego-
tiations and transactions of the Austrian and Priissi:m
cabinets, that I wonder not that vou have dealt in
general language; at the same time procrastination
(unless the adverse armies were in winter quarters)
may give opportunities to embarrass the present unto-
ward situation of affairs still more.
" Uninformed as I have been for these four months
respecting the connexions, the jealousies, «S:c. of the
Courts of Europe during this unprecedented state,
it is impossible for me to enter en detail. I wish
our interference respecting Holland, and our adherin"-
to the faith of treaties, may produce the desired effect ;
and France indeed can have no just reason to attack
Holland, even upon her own avowed system of politics,
if she has any system.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 117
" These times require such attention and cu'cumspec-
tion at home, that every pohtical question must be now
doubly embarrassing. I wish you may not find it
necessary at the meeting of Parhament, by some means
to strengthen the hands of the executive government,
for the seditious are going great lengths ; and, if
possible, the principiis ohda is the wisest doctrine.
" I trust and believe that the King's Ministers have
done the best that could be done in the present posture
of affairs. I know how very desirous you gentlemen of
finance are to avoid giving the least alarm to the
funds ; otherwise not being unprepared for events
might give confidence, and have some effect on our
allies the French, who, more cautious I understand, are
equipping a fleet to recover their West India Islands.
I mean to be in town the middle of December ; you
will scarce have got your answers from the respective
Courts to whom you have written, before that time.
" I am, my dear Sir,
" &c. &c.
" Stafford."
[The subjoined letter from Captain IMackintosh,
who accompanied the expedition when Mr. Pitt sent
an embassy to Pekin, throws all the blame of its
failure upon Lord M;icartney. It would be inijust,
therefore, to that nobleman to withhold two letters of
his which point to a very different conclusion ; not
that they contain anything relative to the embassy
itself, for they are both of an earlier date ; but, from the
evidence they give of the character of the man, the
118 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCK ()[
triitli of the charge ai)pcars to be utterly iiuprobablc.
They arc the letters of a man without foolish pride,
self-couccit, or any dipositiou to douiineer, or to give
needless provocation. The spirit of self-sacrifice
and the luindjle-niindcd anxiety which he showed
to do his duty to his country, and to those wMio
appointed hitn, are wholly inconsistent with the frame
of mind which would otlcr unwarrantable insults to
the Emperor or liis mandarins. Captain Mackintosh
took too mercantile a view of the case; he expected
great advantages to accrue to this country from facili-
tating commerce with China — advantages which still
are doubtful, though the road to them has since been
opened by coercion — and to obtain them he would
have sacrificed the honour and character of Great
Britam. It is evident that he did not understand the
Chinese Government — that Government of which the
proverb is eminently true, that if you give it an inch
of concession, it will take an ell. There would have
been no end to the oppressions and humiliations to
which the English would have been forced to submit,
if Lord Macartney had consented to perform the de-
grading ceremonies required of him; and the French
missionary. Hue, has shown how much may be done
by invariably asserting the dignity of his nation, and
not swerving a hair's breadth to the right hand or to
the left from the strict line of equity by which Euro-
pean dealings should be guided. If Lord Elgin has
been more successful than Lord Macartney was, it is
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 119
not because lie was more flexible, but because he was
armed with sufficient power to administer a whole-
some correction to the vanity of the Celestial Empire,
and to assert international rio-hts with a determination
not to be trifled with. — Ed.] '
Lord Macartney to Mr. Rose.
" Dear Sir " Lion, Spithead, Sunday, Sept. 23rd, 1792.
"I AM to acknowledge the honour of your letter,
covering Mr. Pitt's speech, which you were so good as
to send me by Sir Andrew Douglas. I have been
highly gratified by both. The speech I had already
seen, but I have perused it again more at leisure, and
together with your tract, which had particularly en-
gaged my attention in the winter, it has given to my
mind a degree of information and satisfaction which I
do not recollect to have experienced before, on any
political subject ; independently of the composition,
which, however masterly, is, I know, with tlie authors
of those writings, only a secondary consideration. The
view of the present, and the prospect of the future
afi*orded by them, are so clear and pleasing, that
merely as a well-wisher to the public prosperity, I
ought to hope for its continuing to be long entrusted
to the same hands which have brought it to the pitch
at which we now see it. My private feelings of the
very handsome and liberal proceeding of Mr. Pitt in
' Recent events fully confirm this view of the subject. Mr.
Bruce's mission failed because he was not accompanied by a suffi-
cient force to make himself respected by the most perfidious of
mankind. — En.
120 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the whole course of the business of the embassy, k-iul
nic Hkewisc to form the same ardent wishes ; and the
assurances you are pleased to give nie of his cordiality
towards nic, and of the entire contidencc he is so good
as to place in me, arc not only peculiarly grateful to
my mind, but give fresh alacrity to all my undertakings
in the public service ; and he may firmly depend both
upon my personal attachment to him, and upon my
most zealous and honest exertions in whatever station
he may think fit to place me. Accept, at the same
time, my dear Sir, my best thanks for the kind dispo-
sition you have testified in my favour, and for the
opportunity you have lately afforded me of cordial
and confidential conversation at your own house ; and
since 1 wish to consider it as fixing an intimacy and
friendship which I shall, at all times and from all
places, endeavour to cultivate, equally from i)ublic
motives aud private regard, I beg you to believe
me, with every sentiment of respect and esteem,
" Dear Sir,
" Very sincerely yours,
" Macartney.
" P.S. Sir Erasmus Gower says he thinks we shall
sail to-morrow. We have been settled on board these
three days."
Lord Macartney to Mr. Rose.
" Dear Sir, " Lion, at Sea, April 14th, 1793
" As my despatches to Mr. Dundas, which no
doubt you have seen, contained everything worth
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 121
mentioning that lias occurred since our leaving Eng-
land, I did not mean to trouble you with a letter
before my arrival at Pekin ; but having some days
since met a French ship in her way from Manilla to
the Isle of France, I thought you might not dislike to
hear from me the latest news of that part of the world.
Though the Spaniards there are a good deal discon-
tented with their own Government, yet they entertain
a strong abhorrence to the late subversion in France,
and have manifested it on every occasion to the
people of that country, wherever they come among
them. The ship we spoke with, which is called the
' La Fayette,' but is immediately to have another name
(Petion, Marat, or Robespierre, I suppose), sailed with
two others, a few months since, from the Isles of
France and Bourbon to Manilla, where they sold their
cargoes, amounting to the value of C0,000 to 80,000
dollars, through the medium of a French agent, resi-
dent there, and had agreed to take sugars in return,
which are now equally excellent and plentiful at that
place ; but their countryman, having got their affairs
entirely into his hands, it seems, played the rogue with
them, and refused either to supply the sugars, or to
refund the money. The Government connived at his
conduct, and denied them justice, so that the three
ships have been obliged to come away empty ; the conse-
(pience of which is a very serious loss to the navigators
and owners. They talked very loudly on the subject,
and of complaining at home, and returning to redress
themselves. * The place,' said the captain, ' we could
easily take ; or I wish,' addressing himself to one of
122 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
our people, ' I wish you would take it again from
them, which would be the same thing for us.' They
represented the island of Luconia as a most valuable
possession, and which, in any other than S[)anish
hands, wcndd in a short tunc i)ecomc one of the most
opulent and important settlements in the East, abun-
dantly producing sugar, cotton, rice, indigo, wheat,
and cattle of every kind. Nevertheless, from ill policy,
prejudice, or ignorance, all foreign trade was, till
lately, prohibited to this island ; an island possessing,
as above mentioned, such ample materials for being
enriched by it. The port of Manilhi is at present
only open for a limited time, which expires in Sep-
tember next. The })e(jple, indeed, have written home
in the strongest manner for a prolongation of the
term, but they comi)lain much of being neglected,
net having had any ship direct from old Spain these
three years past, nor any letters or news from thence,
but through the channel of the Acapulco galleons.
" I understand that the Isles of Trance and Bour-
bon are in a state of considerable improvement, and
that their attempts to cultivate the clove, nutmeg, and
cmnamon, have been attended with success, and pro-
mise great advantage. j\Iost of the French whom we
have met in our passage are strong partisans of the
late subversion at home. This happens to be the
passion uppermost at present ; but with regard to
England, there is little doubt of their entertaining at
bottom as much envy and animosity as ever.
" I know not how your affairs are likely to turn out
with Spain, nor what order of things may arise from
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 123
the present anarchy in Prance, but I am disposed to
flatter myself that the connexion between those two
nations (which, in truth, was only a connexion be-
tween their two Courts) is now almost entirely at an
end, and that the advantages which Spain might
derive by renewing her ancient friendship with Eng-
land, she might repay us with large interest, and, at
the same time, suffer no real prejudice herself. But I
fear you will think me travelling very fast at this dis-
tance from the source of proper information ; I shall,
however, beg leave to add to you what I hinted to Mr.
Dundas, in a private letter, that if, after we have exe-
cuted our present instructions, it should then be found,
from the circumstances of things, that either my ser-
vices, or those of the ship and people who are with
me, could be employed with any prospect of utihty to
the public, either on the North-west coast of America,
or in the South Seas, in giving assistance, making
observations, or obtaining intelligence, I should readily
obey any commands that might be laid on me. This
I mentioned without the smallest idea of offering new
projects, or proposing new undertakings, and merely
to show my attachment to Government and my zeal
for its success. In this light I trust it will be under-
stood, and that you will do justice to my public senti-
ments, as well as to those private ones of esteem and
regard with which
" I have the honour to be, dear Sir,
" Your most faithful
" And affectionate humble servant,
" Macartney.
12 i DIARIES AND CORHESPONDENCE OF
"P.S. 1 ilattcr myself you will excuse my usmg
Colonel Benson's hand on this occasion, as I am at
present disabli;d by the gout, wliich, ibr the first time,
has very unseasonably and very painfully attacked my
right wrist.'
Captain Mackintosh to Mu. Rose.
"April, 170."..
" Dear Sir,
" Motives of prudence, as well as a conviction
that the failure of the Chinese Embassy was beyond
any present remedy, have induced inc hitherto to
be silent respecting the causes of its not succeeding.
But, weighty as these considerations have been in my
mind, I really feel myself now compelled, by a strong
sense of duty to my country, my employers, and the
]\linisters, to state, for the information of the latter,
what fell immediately under my own observation
in the course of that business. How reluctantly I do
this, you, Sir, will easily believe, from the readiness
with which I undertook to be the bearer of ^Ir. Pitt's
wishes to Lord Macartney, respecting his going on the
mission, and the partial opinion I entertained of his
lordship, whose kindness to me was almost uninter-
rupted, and who even offered unequivocal and
considerable proofs of his hberality.
" I premise this, to impress on you my real induce-
ment for this communication, which are, most sincerely,
no other than a love of truth and an anxious wish
that the mistakes committed on the late occasion may,
THE UIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 125
if possible, be prevented in a future one. I am led
to make it now, from understanding that another
mission to China is proposed, and, in a certain degree,
acceded to ; which, however it may answer the
purposes of individuals, I cannot think is the best
adapted to obtain any important national benefit. I
therefore send you, herewith, a plain narrative, by
attending to which, it wdll be seen that, instead of
giving readily in to the sober and orderly manners
of the Chinese, we did nothing but tease, irritate,
and provoke the Ministers and Mandarins, and that
at two different times the Emperor was actually
insulted in person. If we had conducted ourselves
properly, we might have remained at Pekin till this
time ; and I have no hesitation in declaring my most
sincere and firm belief that all the principal objects we
had in view might have been obtained, wdiich may
fairly be inferred from the following circumstance.
" The favourite Calao, and Minister of the Emperor,
was afflicted with a disorder that the medical men of
China had not been able to cure, and our physician
was requested to attend and prescribe for him. On
that very evening, several persons came to our apart-
ments, and repeatedly said to the interpreter. Cure
him, (meaning the Minister) and get into his good
graces, and, (with strong asseverations) if you want
a Frovince, you will get it.
" I have further to observe, that in the arrangements
now thought of, I am recommended to a flattering and
a very lucrative appointment; but if it be adopted hi
its present form I certainly shall withdraw my claim,
120 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
determined not to be an instrument in tlie hands
of any men, to carry on a measure of wliicli T
disapprove. j\Iy princii)les would prevent me, in any
situation, from embarking in the business as concerted ;
and my circumstances lead me to no temptation to act
contrarv to these, if my feelins^s did not restrain me.
Having premised so much, I have only to add. that
I am particularly anxious that this disclosure, made
under the strong impression of private friendship and
of public trust, be comnumicated oidy to those more
materially interested, — I mean Mr. l^itt and Mr.
Dundas, — and to them, under a solemn pledge of
secrecy ; for to speak in tli. language of a seaman,
Lord Macartney carries too much weight of metal for
me ; and unpleasant conse(piences might arise from my
being rendered an object of resentment, not only to all
those who composed the Embassy, but to every other
adherent and dependent on his Lordship and Sir
George Staunton.
" Whenever you may think it a proper time to
communicate this information, I should wish to be
present to give further explanation, or answer any
questions that may occur.
" I liave the honour to be, dear Sir,
" Your obliged and very obedient servant,
" W. Mackintosfi.
•' George Rose, Esq."
the right hon. george rose. 127
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Downing Street, Jiily 31st, 1793.
" Dear Rose,
" I enclose you two letters from Brook Watson,
which accompanied the account of the surrender of
Valenciennes. The terms are still more satisfactory
than those at Mayence, as the French deliver up their
arms. Our loss is very slight ; but I am afraid
from what I hear, the Lord D , who is mentioned
to be wounded, is a relation of Mrs. Rose. I
ventured to open Brook's letters, thinking they might
contain something material to be attended to, and
I will take care that he shall have directions about the
bat and forage money.
" The account of the supplies of forage is, on the
whole, satisfactory, as I take for granted, after
October we shall have no great difficulty in procuring
further quantities of oats ; but I mean to see the
comptroller and Scott on the subject to-morrow.
The banks seem likely to give us some time in
discharging the Exchequer Bills.
" Yours sincerely,
" W. Pitt.
" I have kept Watson's official letters."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Downing Street, Sept. 13th, 1Y93.
" Dear Rose,
" Before I received your letter respecting the
Southampton livings, I had had one from Sir H.
Martin, recommending the schoolmaster, which 1
128 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
forwarded to the Chancellor, and he told nic yesterday
that he would <^ive him the living applied for. lie
did not return me Sir H. Martin's letter, but I take
it for granted the person and the living in (piestion
are the same you mention.
" I hardly think it worth making a second applica-
tion for the other living ; but, under the circumstances
you mention, the recommendation of the Corporation
seems likely to succeed. You will have seen the
accounts of our disappointment before Dunkirk. It
is certamly a severe check, but I trust only a
temporary one ; and it ought only to have the effect
of increasing, if possible, our exertions. By the
last accounts the Prince of Cobourg was on the point
of making the attack on the covered way at Quesnoy.
After that event is decided his army will probably
draw towards the Duke of York's. In the meantime,
General Beanlieu's success is a Grreat circumstance.
" Yours ever,
" W. Pitt."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Dear Rose, " Downing street, Sept. leth, 1793.
" The enclosed letter to you came last night,
and was brought to me. It would be hardly worth
forwarding, but for what it mentions about the bread,
which puzzles me, as I never heard of his applying for
anything but biscuit ; and, on the most diligent
search, no trace of any apphcation for bread can be
found, nor would such a supply answer any pur-
pose. I rather imagine he uses the term bread, as
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 129
synonymous with biscuit ; if so, part is sent, and
the rest going as quick as possible. I shall write to
Mr. AVatson on the subject to-night. The Dutch
have been driven from Menin with, I am afraid, a
good deal of confusion, and our army obliged, in
consequence, to fall back to Thurout ; but I am
in hopes will make a stand there, and be joined
by Beaulieu. The enclosed Gazette confirms in the
most satisfactory manner all the particulars from
Toulon. - .
" Yours ever,
"W, Pitt.''
Mr. Pitt to ]\Ik. Rose.
" Dear Hose, " l^owniug street, Sept. 23rcl, 1793.
" If any thing should arise to make you wish to
stay beyond to-morrow se'n night, you need have no
scruple in doing so, as I must be here, and no in-
convenience will arise from a short interval between
Long's going and your arrival. I have fixed, at Sir
C. Grey's recommendation, on a Mr. Jeftray as
Commissary General for the AVest Indies ; we want
besides, a Commissary of accounts, two assistant
Commissaries at 20^. per day, and three more at 106\
I have consulted with the comptrollers, and do not
find much prospect of filling their places iVom the
half-pay list, which consists of but few, and those
chiefly superannuated. Does any body occur to you ?
" I believe the Chancellor has determined to give
Mr. Meares the living.
*' The accounts from the interior of Prance are
VOL. I. • K
130 DIARIES AND CORIlESPONDE>X'E OF
excellent, and we arc prcjKiring very fast to make a
good use of Toulon.
" Yours ever,
" W. Pitt."
[With all this multifarious business occupying Mr.
Pitt's time and thoughts, it is no wonder that the
trivial impcrtincncies of some of his correspondents,
and tlic importunities of others, did not meet some-
times Avith that attention which in theii* self-com-
placency they thonght their due. But as most people
resent the appearance of being slighted or neglected,
this was the source of much dissatisfaction and un-
popularity, as the following letter from Lord Bulkely
to the Marquis of Buckingham, shows.
" I left Percy in town, and I set Rose and Steele
to coax him a little ; for the old grievance sticks by
him, and he wants much persuasion to efface the
memory of it. Sir Hugh is here, and complains
much of never havino; had one letter answered since
Pitt has been in power. I am afraid more rats will
run in consequence of Pitt's inattention to these trifles,
than on anv other account whatsoever. Indeed, I
heard as much in town. Rose and Steele may laugh
at such details, but they are necessary, and the con-
stituent will not believe the member's assiduity, unless
he sees real or ostensible evidence. I gave my 100/.
to the AVestminster election in consequence of a letter
l^UE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 131
from Rose. I could ill spare it; but finding others
were dosed in the same manner, I gulped in the
grievance."^
If a private Secretary had been invented then, this
inconvenience might have been avoided.^
The unfortunate event alluded to in the following
letter, was a gallant, but ill-managed exploit at Toulon.
When it was in our possession the French had opened
a battery to cannonade the town, and it was neces-
sary to destroy it. Our troops got possession of this
battery and the height on which it was placed, but,
flushed with victory, they rushed on the flying enemy
with disordered impetuosity. The French general
rallied and reinforced his troops, and drove back the
broken ranks of his assailants. The English com-
mander, O'Hara, arrived at the redoubt too late to
remedy the disaster, and while he was endeavouring to
organize the retreat, received a wound from a bullet
which disabled him, and he was taken prisoner. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Wimbledon, Wednesday, Dec. 25th, 1793.
"Dear Rose,
"Your account of what you have written to
Chamberlayne is perfectly satisfactory, and also the
enclosure from Mr. Reid respecting the Scotch remit-
1 Duke of Buckingham's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 116.
2 In a letter which Lord Grenville sent to Lord Wellesley, in
1804, he speaks of the bad habit which Pitt had contracted, of
never writing to any one.
k2
132 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
tancc. You will sec that we liave already gained
considerably in this week's revenue. The letter from
]Mr. Ilalyburton seems to be a sensible one. I am
sorry to say that the account of General O'llara
has proved true. Yon will sec the particulars in a
Gazette Extraordinary, which wc thoujrht it best to
publish inuncdiatcly, that the public might know
exactly what has passed.
"On the whole, the event, though unfortunate, is
far from uncreditable, and 1 think there is still a
very good chance of all proving right in that ((uarter.
" I liave not vet had time to look at vour notes,
liaving had a good deal of ditfcrent sorts of business
on my hands, but I hope to accomplish it to-morrow.
I have not, however, received any fresh papers from
Chinncry.
" It will be necessary to make some incpiiry as to
the deputy recommended by the Duchess of ]\Ian-
chester, as I suspect the Duke thinks he has a right
to recommend ; and another Duchess will then have
something to say upon it.
" Ever yours most sincerely,
" W. Pitt.
"I missed Mr. Gurton every time he called.
"Where can I send to him ?"
[Mr. Rose collected together a great number of
remarkable facts, bearing upon the relations between
England and France before the breaking out of the
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 133
war in 1793, showing that Mr. Pitt wished to avoid
going to war until it was forced upon him by the
progress of events. These facts seem to have been
designed for the heads of an argument, which may
have formed the substance of a speech in the House
of Commons, though not embodied in any written
form ; but since a great deal of undeserved obloquy
has been heaped upon the Minister of that day, by
his Whig opponents, it is worth while to notice the
succession of events, which are indicated rather than
detailed by Mr. Rose. Nobody could doubt Mr. Pitt's
pacific views in 1792, when he repealed taxes, and
reduced the naval establishment, especially the number
of seamen, to 16,000, although France had 80,000;
and although the year before, a Prench frigate had
violated the treaty of commerce by a positive aggres-
sion. When, in April, France declared war against
Austria, measures were taken to ensure the neutrality
of Great Britain ; and Mr. Pitt made a formal avowal
to a deputation from the city, that she would not
meddle with the affairs of France. The proclamation
against seditious writing was made a grievance ; but
it was only aimed at those who were in correspon-
dence with the French Revolutionists, who proclaimed
open war against all the higher ranks of society. On
December 15th, the National Convention avowed
itself faithful to the principles of the sovereignty of
the people, which does not permit them to acknow-
ledge any institution that militates against it, and
131 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
instructs the French generals, into whatever country
they may go, to proclaim this same sovereignty, and
the abolition of all constituted authorities : and also
declares that the French will treat as an enemy that
nation, which, refusing liberty and e(|uality, should
choose to preserve its Prince and privileged orders.
The executive council in commenting upon this,
strengthened the language, and concluded thus : —
" The general interest of restoring peace to Furope,
can be obtained only by the annihilation of the despots
and their satellites. All conspires in inducing us to
treat snch a people according to the rigour of war
and concpiest." This is applied })articularly to Eng-
land, and Holland, and especially to the church of
the former. In like manner, during the previous
month, the National Convention had declared that
France was ready to assist every state, which was
willing to rebel against its own Government. That
we were enumerated amongst the threatened nations
was decisively proved by the rejection of Barrillon's
proposal to exclude Great Britain, and confine the
decree to countries in actual hostility with France.
On the 31st of December, the very day on which
Lord Grenville signed his note stating the terms
on which a rupture might be avoided, Monge, the
Minister of War, in a circular letter to the seaport
towns, said : — " We will make a descent on that
island; we will hurl thither 50,000 caps of liberty;
we will plant there the sacred tree, and stretch out
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 135
our arms to our brother republicans. The tyranny of
their Government shall soon be destroyed." Equally
violent and hostile language was used by other
members of the Convention ; but if such a dispatch
had been issued by Count Walewski or any other
Minister of Napoleon III., at the present time, the most
factious radical in the House of Commons would have
been clamorous for war. Chaussard, who was sent by the
Council to execute their decrees in the Austrian Nether-
lands, about the same time announced their object in
these unequivocal terms : — "A war ad internecionem is
declared between the Republic and all monarcliies."
On January 3rd, in the following year, instructions
were dispatched to Genet for forming, with America,
an offensive alHance against England; and on the
13th, the very day on which an evasive answer was
given by the Executive Council to the conciliatory offers
of Lord Grenville, orders were issued to commission
thirty ships of the line and twenty frigates, in addition
to the twenty-two of the line and thirty-two frigates
already employed, and forty-five more of both were to
be built ; while the armament on our side, at which
they took so much offence, only raised the total amount
of British seamen to 25,000, Avhich is not more than
sufficient to man eighteen sail of the line, with frigates.
Another subject of complaint, in singular contrast
with the existing state of things, was the Alien Bill,
which applied to all foreigners, though it was only
taken up by Erance. The objection was principally
130 DIARIES AND COUUESrONDENCi: OF
foimdcd on the 4tli article of the Treaty of Comincrce.
But the French had viohitcd that artich^ much more,
by a very rigorous decree, inflicting fine and im-
prisonment on all strangers resident in France, who
neglected to make a certain declaration within eiti;ht
days : and Lord Clower, our ambassador, had been
arrested on his way from Paris till orders arrived for
his liberation. \ct im complaint was made by us,
because the step was declared to ])c necessary for
internal trnnqnilHty. But the rule which they pleaded
in their own favoiu', they were not wdling to allow to
others. It was necessary to the traufjuillity of Kng-
land to prohibit the circulation of assignats, not only
to save her inhabitants from the ruin of an incon-
vertible currency, but to preserve them also from the
corruption which the bullion purchased by French
Agents was employed to effect. It was a measure of
domestic self-defence, which the French Government
had no riijht to meddle with at all ; but thev seemed
bent upon quarrelling with our internal legislation.
They complained of the bills which forbade the expor-
tation of arms and of wheat, although they themselves
had previously forbidden the exportation of both the
one and the other from France. The singular fact,
that they had been buying up all the wheat they could
get in England, at a much higher price than they had
to pay for it elsewhere, produced a strong conviction,
that, knowino; how much a scarcitv of corn had con-
tributed to their own revolution, they were desirous
THE EIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 137
that a similar discontent should effect similar commo-
tions in England. Certain it is, that they neglected
no means in tlieir power to stir up rebellion in this
country. Chauvelin, an impudent republican who had
been the ambassador from Louis the IGth, was now
the agent of the Executive Council to foment dis-
turbances, by sowing disloyalty throughout the land
with the aid of English Jacobins and revolutionists.
But so great was Mr. Pitt's love of peace, w'hich was
quite necessary to the success of his most cherished
plans, that he held conferences with this man, and with
another unacknowledged agent, Maret, in the hope
that war might yet be averted; for our ambassador
was withdrawn from Paris after the death of the King,
to whom he was accredited, and the Secretary of
Legation also, in consequence of the murder of some
Englishmen in the massacres of September, and there
was then no settled Government to which credentials
could be addressed. The changes of rulers were like
the changes in a kaleidoscope ; at least the variety
was as great, though all the symmetry was wanting.
But all negotiation was useless. It was evident,
that while Mr. Pitt was extremely anxious to preserve
peace. Prance was determined on war, which was
definitively showm by Le Brun's paper, considered as
an ultimatum, and delivered to Lord Grenville on the
13th of January; and, indeed, the Convention had
solemnly decreed that they would acknowledge no
kingly government.
138 DIAllIES AND CORTIESPONDENTE OF
Chaiivcliu, who had persuaded the Convention to
let him stay in London without credentials, because
it would not be prudent for France to lose the fruit of
his labours with Mr. l*ox, and some of the o})position,
and thc'iv .suLscrjNe/it services — had now proved himself,
with their assistance, so dangerous an incendiary that
it was necessarv to check the mischief he was doin^:
by sending him away ; with a notification, however,
that the Government would still listen to terms of
accoramodntion. This step, his friend Mr, Fox chose
to consider an act of aggression upon France. Unfor-
tunately however for his argument, it appears that
Lord Grenville's order to Chauvelin to leave the
kin2:dom was dated Januarv 24th: while, in a letter
written by Dumouriez from Paris on January 23d, it
is stated, that orders had been already given for his
return. Now, it will be observed, that up to this
time, not the smallest inclination to go to war can be
discovered on the part of Great Britain ; the object
kept uniforndy in view was an honourable peace. But
what was the next event in this great drama ?
In the beginning of February,' France formally
declared war ; which was announced by the King in
the speech from the throne, and preparations were
then made accordingly. It was, however, no more
than might be reasonably expected from the doctrines
propounded by one of the leaders in that revolutionary
delirium. Brissot said, " War is now become ucces-
^ Giflford says the first j Alison, the third. ,
THE RIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 139
saiy. France is bound to undertake it, to maintain
her honour, — it is to be regarded as a public blessing ;
the only evil you have to apprehend is, that it should
not arrive : — it is no longer with governments that
we must treat, but with their snbjects." He proposes,
therefore, to get the start of those nations who are
hostilely disposed, because " he who is anticipated is
already half vanquished."
In the face of all this mass of evidence, which
after all is far short of what might be adduced,
is it not most lamentable, that the three Whig
historians of that time should be so blinded by party
prejudices, as to lose the perception of truth in their
narrative of the facts ? Of these. Lord Holland *
leads the way with a mild misrepresentation, which
looks more like ignorance than malice. He says, "that ^
it was neither wise nor just to involve Europe in a
war, from feelings of commiseration for Louis the
16th, who was not under the protection of our laws.
But it was a moment of passion, and England has
paid severely for indulging it." Compassion doubtless
was felt from one end of the kingdom to the other ;
but to suppose that it influenced Mr. Pitt's conduct,
is to betray great ignorance of his character. No one
could more regret the want of wisdom and justice
that ruled the hour ; but folly and injustice held their
throne on the other side of the channel.
The next assailant was that venerable statesman, in
whose matured wisdom the lees of his Whig educa-
14iO JHARIES AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF
lion have not so wliolly subsided as to leave it calm
and pure ; and, therefore, the fermenting spirit will
sometimes explode in vehement vituperation without
sufficient regard to truth : and so he pours forth these
groundless cahunnies against the object of Whig anti-
pathy. " The very worst offence of which a Minister
can be guilty, is the abandonment of his own principles
for place, and counselling his sovereign and his country,
not according to his conscience, but according to what
being most palatable to them, is most beneticial to
the man himself. ^Ir. Pitt joining the war party in
1793 is the most striking and most fatal instance of
this offence. His thoughts were all turned to peace,
but he preferred flinging his country into a contest,
which he and his great antagonist, by uniting their
forces, must have prevented ; but then he must also
have shared with ^Ir. Fox the power which he was
determined to enjoy alone and supreme."' This
Lord Brougham calls "a flagrant political crime."
Even if this accusation had been true, such a coalition
was plainly impossible. It could not have outlived
the ridicule of being represented like the two Kings
of Brentford smelling at the same nosegay. The
constitution of our Government required that one
should be premier, and the other subordinate.
Superior talent has sometimes submitted to own
another head of the Cabinet, on the condition of being
' Historical Sketches of Statesmen in the Time of George III.
By Lord Brougham. — p. C2.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE, 141
leader in liis own liouse; but it is ridiculous to suppose
that the leaders of t\A^o rival parties could ever work
too-ether lono: in the same chamber of Parliament. It
is true, that Mr. Pitt had refused to submit to this in-
feriority when office was offered to him in the Coalition
Administration. What does Lord Brougham himself
say upon that subject ? " Mr. Pitt, though a man of
vast talents as well as spotless reputation, was not
permitted, without a sacrifice of personal honour, to be
the ally of ^Ir. Pox in serving their common country."^
If then Mr. Pox was wrong in imposing this condition
when the IMinister was young in office, and scarcely
the leader of a party, how could any man in his senses
expect that Mr. Pitt would voluntarily descend from
his throne of power and popularity, to lay himself
at the feet of Mr. Pox, especially when there was no
rational prospect, that, even by this self sacrifice, he
could purchase the success of his favourite policy?
Por this is the acknowledgment of the same high
authority when, spurning the trammels of party, he
paid homage only to truth. " There is not," he says,
" much reason to suppose that, had the parties changed
positions in 1792, the Whigs would, as a matter of
course, have been against tlie war. How little disposed
they showed themselves after Mr. Pitt's death to make
sacrifices for the great object of pacification !"^
But the accusation is not true in any part. It is not
true that Mr. Pitt joined the war party from selfish
1 Historical Sketches, p. 189. ^ 7^/^/, 300.
112 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
motives, for it has been shown that he had no option ;
that he was dragged into tlie vortex, not only against
his will, but in spite of repeated struggles to avoid it ;
and that he actually went to the extremest limits of
forbearance that })rudcnce could tolerate, for national
amitv with France in that crisis of wliich Lord Holland
dreamed, would have been " concord with Belial ; "
and to shew good feelings towards her new institutions
would have been to encouraf!:e instabilitv, bloodthirsti-
ness, impiety, and the subversion of all social order.
It is not true, therefore, that any union between Mr.
Pitt and Mr. Fox could have prevented the war; and it
is wonderful how a statesman so well versed in public
affinrs as Lord Broughaui, could have entertained
such an opinion for a single moment. I^astly, it is
not true, that Mr. Pitt would not share power with
Mr. Fox, because he wanted to enjoy it alone. Lord
Holland shews the contrary. He says, " Mr. Fox
about this time had a very secret interview with Mr.
Pitt, in which the latter proposed a coalition of parties
with mauy conditions, somewhat unpalatable, though
NOT utterly inadmissible, or in the least dishonourable,
except the exclusion of men, and particularly of
Sheridan, to which ]\Ir. Fox would not listen. He
would not sacrifice him to the popular clamour
founded on the immorality of Sheridan's private cha-
racter." '
Nothing can be more strangely improbable than
1 ]\Iemoirs of the Whig Party, p. 31.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 143
that Sheridan's private character should have pre-
vented an aUiance to which Mr. Pox was admitted
as a principal ; for if the former was more than " a
gnat," the latter was not less than " a camel" of
immorality. But, in point of fact, we know from a
different quarter what the real obstacle was. In Lord
Malmesbury's diary this statement occurs : — " June,
1792. Dined at Lord Loughborough's with Pox;
he doubted Pitt's sincerity, and suspected he had no
other view than to weaken their party and strengthen
his own. He contended that it was impossible ever
to suppose Pitt would admit him to an equal share of
power, and that whatever might be his own feeling,
or readiness to give way, he could not, for the sake of
the honour and pride of the party, come in on any
other terms. Pitt must have the Treasury; and he
on his part had friends in the House of Commons he
must attend to. He spoke with acrimony of Pitt,
and repeatedly said, that the pride of the party must
be saved. He held out on the imjwssidilii?/ of Ms
acting under Pitt"
It is now tolerably clear which of the two great
antagonists was guilty of " the flagrant political crime"
of sacrificing his country to the interests of his party,
and refused to share power, when it was offered to
him, because he "was determined to enjoy it alone
and supreme."' Lord Brougham justly observes, that
" he (Mr. Pox) constantly modified his principles
1 Historical Sketches, p. 62.
Ill' iJiAKiES ANJJ CUKKESPOMJENCK OF
according to his own sitnation and circumstances as a
party chief, making the ambition of the man and tlie
interests of his followers the governing rule of his
conduct."' It only remains to show, from Mr. Fox's
own confession, how nmch the noble lord was right
when he surmised that, if the Whigs had been in power,
their policy would have been the same. Mr. Fox
declared in Parliament, that "the Decree of the I'Jth
of November he considered as an insult, and the
explanation of the Fxecutive Council as no adc([uatc
satisfaction. It was said, we nmsthavc security; and
he was ready to admit that neither a disavowal by the
Executive Council of France, nor a tacit re})eal by the
Convention, on the intimation of an unacknowledged
agent, of a decree which they might renew the day
after they had repealed it, would be a sufficient secu-
rity, if the invasion of the Netherlands was "vvhat now
alarmed us ; and that it ought to alarm us, if the
result was to make that country an appendage to
France. There could be no doubt, wc ought to
have interposed to prevent it in the very first
instance."
So that our fault ^vas not in going to war, but in
not havino; crone to war sooner. HavinsT- thus routed
the enemies of Mr. Pitt with their own Aveapons,
so far as his two principal opponents are concerned,
we may well smile at the warlike aspirations of Lord
John Russell, who sounds the alarm after this fashion :
' Historical Sketches, pp. 179 — 199.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 14^5
"It will be my business, if I should be able to
continue tins work, to point out the utter want of
foresight by which the conduct of Mv. Pitt was
marked, when he led the people of England into a
crusade against the people of France." It might, per-
haps, without injustice, be denominated a crusade
against anarchy, and there was certainly a dash of
chivalrous feeling in the hearts of the war party. This
is a fault which was never charged upon the Whigs, and
therefore Mr. Burke abandoned them. Mr. Pox might
be pardoned for not foreseeing the events, which by
his own admission would have altered his opinion, and
which Mr. Pitt did foresee ; but how any man, look-
ing at the facts of history, can impute want of fore-
sight to that Minister, would be quite incomprehen-
sible, were there not proofs enough that writers who are
afflicted with Whiggery labour under an incapability
of discerning truth. As in physics, there is a condi-
tion of the sight called colour blindness, which dis-
ables individuals from distinnfuishing certain colours,
so that red appears blue, or vice versa, — so party
blindness falsifies the aspect of truth, and incapacitates
some persons from discerning its real hue. Herein
lies the cause of the inconsistencies and fallacies which
disfigure their writings. Thus Lord John Russell, in
his anxiety to censure Mr. Pitt, states that at the com-
mencement of the Revolution, "the fear of French
principles, horror at French crimes, and disgust at
French excesses, were constantly put forth as incentives
VOL, I. L
116 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
to war." If he had said in justification of the war,
he wouUl have spoken tlie truth. But wliy that term,
"incentives?" It is plainly an insinuation that Mr.
Pitt was pugnacious, and wanted to stir \i\) a reluctant
people to engage in the war. lie nught have learned
better from his great ally, who, though equally bent
upon assaulting the leader of the Tories, had vi-t the
candour to Jillow that all Mr. Pitt's thoughts were
ever turned towards peace, and that he not only pro-
fessed, but undoubtedly felt an ardent love of peace ; '
and that was shown by his repeated eflbrts to termi-
nate the war, as soon as a reasonable prospect of
success appeared. At lirst negociation was impossible ;
for during the chaos and anarchy that reigned in
France for some time after she had declared war, and
insulted, as Marshal St. Cyr acknowledges, not only all
kings, but every^ existing government, there was no
ruling power thei-e in which any confidence could be
reposed ; none on the stability of which, from month
to month, any reliance could be placed.' As soon as
a somewhat more settled form of government gave the
^ Historical Sketches, &c. by Lord Brougham, vol. i. book 2,
§ 193.
- " Mr. Pitt said, with great truth, At present (under Robespierre),
there is no security for the continuance of peace, even if it were
signed, for a single hour ; every successive faction which has risen
to the head of afF;iirs in France, has perished the moment that it
attempted to imprint moderation on the external or internal
measures of the Revolution. It is a contest for the security, the
tranquillity, and the very existence of Great Britain, connected with
that of every established government, and every country in Europe."
— Alison s HUt. vol. ii. p. 449,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 147
slightest hope that treaties might be effected and
respected, several attempts were made by Mr. Pitt to
brill s: about a negociation.
TJie first overtures for peace froQi the British
Government were made through Mr. Wickham, in
Switzerland, in 1796, but failed, because France in-
sisted on keeping all the conc[uered territories which
had been annexed to it by a decree of its own legis-
lature — Savoy, Flanders, both Dutch and Austrian,
&c. The second attempt was made by overtures
from Great Britain in the same year, through the
Danish Ambassador ; but they were flatly refused by
France, on the ground of their not being made by
a direct communication to the Directory ; although
Lord Grenville's uote requested a passport for an
ambassador, to go to Paris to negociate. A third
attempt was made in September of the same year, by
a direct application, and at the end of October Lord
Malmesbury went to Paris; but the terms were
refused by France, without any counterproject being
offered, and he was ordered to quit Paris. The terms
were, that Great Britain should resign all her con-
quests ; France to restore the Netherlands, to evacuate
Italy, and to make peace with Germany. Lastly,
another attempt at iiegociation was made in June,.
1797, in consequence of the preliminaries being signed
at Leoben between France and the Emperor, and the
plenipotentiaries met at Lisle. The terms offered on our
side were most liberal ; — to surrender all oui* conquests
l2
148 DIARIES AND COKRESPONDENCE OF
from France, and to claim iiotli'mj^ in return ; but
France required tlie cession of all that we had conquered
from Spain and Ilolhmd l)esides; and, hy insisting upon
this as a preliminary, the treaty was broken ott". And
who Avas it in England that opposed this peace ?
AVho was it that put forth arguments as incentives to
war? It was Mr. Fox, who objected to the Ministers
getting out of a contest, which, at the same time, he
styles most unjust and most inq)olitic, by a peace qntl"
conque ; and would not acquiesce in their making such
a peace as could be justified only upon consideration
of the condition in which tluy had brought us.'
But as Fox was thus blind to the fact, which
has been incontestal)ly proved, that the war was
not unjust, and that the Ministers did not bring us
into it, and that it was not their own policy, but
a policy to which they were reluctantly obliged to
submit, — so Lord John Russell is equally unable to see
the natural consequences of the war ; and the sagacity
of Mr. Pitt's foresight is favourably contrasted with
the retrospective blindness of his critic. -He asks with
the most naive simplicity, how^ war could extirpate
French principles, or arrest French crimes? As if Mr.
Pitt or any one else ever contemplated the possibility
of extirpating the one, or arresting the other in
France. And yet, if they had really wished it, it
would not have been unreasonable to expect that war,
by diminishing the power of the criminals, who were a
» Mr. Fox to Lord Holland, Hist. Sket. vol. iii. p. 133.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 149
small minority of the nation, might have encouraged the
more sober-minded majority to resist their detestable
proceedings. In all probability, if the abuse of power
by the higher classes had not deprived them of sym-
pathy, and left the bulk of the people in a profound
indifference to political changes, the offer of foreign aid
might have roused them from their apathy, and the
successive factions that waded through blood to power
might have been checked in their career; their principles
might have been repudiated, and their crimes arrested.
But Mr. Pitt had no such object in view, which,
indeed, his incautious censor himself elsewhere con-
fesses. By his own acknowledgment, " Mr. Pitt
was ready to admit that we had nothing to do with
the internal government of Prance, provided its
rulers were disposed and able to maintain friendly
relations with foreign governments. He sought to
confine Prance within her ancient limits^ to oblige
her to respect established treaties, and to renounce
her conquests ; he treated Robespierre and Carnot
as he would have treated any other Prench rulers,
whose ambition was to be resisted, and whose inter-
ference in the affairs of other nations was to be
checked and prevented."^ This statement is fully
borne out by the historian of those times : " The
basis of the alliance with Russia was, that the Prench
should be left entirely at liberty to arrange their
government and their internal concerns for themselves,
» Page 33. ^
150 DIARIES AND CORIIESPOXDENCE OF
and that the efforts of the allies should be limited to
prevent their interfering with other states, or extend-
ing their conquests or propagandism beyond their own
frontier." ' But they did interfere with other states, and
extended not only their conquests, but their propa-
gandism beyond their own frontiers. The Convention
infringed the treaty of Munster by opening the navi-
gation of the Scheldt, and violated the rights of nations
by a decree, that the Austrians should be pursued into
the Dutch territories; and with what fjital effects the
spirit of propngandism stalked abroad beyond the
frontiers, the same historian thus describes : — " Ad-
dressing herself to the discontented multitude in every
state, paralyzing the national strength by a division of
its population, and taking advantage of that division
to overthrow its independence, Prance succeeded in
establishing her dominion over more than one half of
Europe. Experience proved that the freedom which
the Jacobin agents insitUously offc-red to the deluded
population of other states, was neither more nor less
than an entire subjection to the agents of PVance, and
the peril incurred was even greater in peace than
in war. The continuance of amicable relations was
favourable to the secret propagation of the revolu-
tionary mania, and she made more rapid strides to-
Avards universal dominion during one year of pacific
encroachment, than in six years of hostihties."-
■ These were the consequences which Mr. Vitt fojrsair,
' Alison's Hist., vol. iii. p. 88, ^ /^,-^ yo] ^j p. 619.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 151
and from whicli lie wisely determined to save his
own country, when he accepted the challenge to battle
thrown out bv France. War was the cordon sanitaire
by which he saved it from the contagion of her Jaco-
binical principles, and from participation in her de-
strnctive crimes. That the danger which reconciled
Mr. Pitt to the abandonment of his pacific policy was
real and alarming, is abundantly proved by the lan-
guage used in the National Convention, when compli-
mentary addresses were sent to them by the London
Corresponding Society, and forty others of the same
stamp. In November, 1792, they were convinced that
England was labouring in the throes of a similar
revolution to their own; and the President, Gregorie, is
reported to have said, that " the respectable islanders,
who were once their masters in the social arts, had
become their disciples; and, treacling in their steps,
would soon strike a blow that should resound to the
extremity of Asia." AVliat then but that party pre-
judice, which clouds the clearest understanding, could
induce Lord John Russell to assert, that " there never
was a more unfounded fear than that which induced
the great majority of the nation to dread the over-
throw of their constitution by a small minority ena-
moured of Prench principles ;" an assertion practically
refuted by the example of Prance itself, where the
horrors of the revolution were perpetrated by a
minority of the population ; and contradicted, accord-
ing to his own confession, not only by the great
152 PIARIES AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF
majority of the nation, who were certainly better
judges of their own danger than one who has had no
opportunity of feeling the fevered pulse of those
times, hut also by the great majority of his own
party. It is a singularly startling confession, and one
for wliich his friends will not thank him. '• Thu.s,"
says he, '* while Mr. Fox gave to his friends the most
PATRIOTIC (which means republican and revolutionary)
counsels, the great AVhig party, which he led, broke
off into two divisions ; he was left almost alone, his
popularity was gone, and his name hehl up to detesta-
tion : he was purely and simjily a A\'liig." What a
severe satire upon liis party ! lie then, who is purely
and sim})ly a AVhig, is a person whose name is held
up to detestation for his principles ; who is renounced
and denounced by his dearest friends.
The Duke of Portland, at the head of forty peers
and a hundred and seven commoners, yielded to this
necessity at last,' though he was long restrained from
adopting such a course by personal partiality for the
man. Sir Gilbert Elhot stated to him, in the strongest
manner, the conduct of Fox ; that it was founded on
the worst of principles — on those on which the French
Revolution was founded; that it went to overthrow
the country ; that it was essential, for the honour of
the party, to separate from him ; and that it was im-
possible for them not to express publicly their entire
disapprobation of Fox's conduct and principles. And
^ Lord Malmesbury's Diary, vol. ii. p. 482.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 153
Lord Malraesbury says,' " It grieves me to separate
from him ; it grieves me still more to see how com-
pletely he has set the whole comitry against him. If
he is sincere, he is dangerous, acting upon principle ;
if insincere, he is dangerous, acting without prin-
ciple." ^ And he was very anxious to save his party
from partaking of all the odium and disgrace which
Fox had brought upon himself by his conduct;^ These
partisans were evidently not of the right sort to please
Lord John; they had not learned sufficiently from
Fox's patriotic counsels, to hate the government of
their country, and to rejoice in the successes of the
Republic.
This is no prejudiced picture of that type and
model of a pure and simple Whig; it is his own
description of his feelings, for thus he writes to Mr.
Grey : " The truth is, I am gone something farther in
hate to the English Government than perhaps you and
the rest of my friends are, and certainly farther than
can with prudence be avowed. The triumph of the
French Government over the English does, in fact,
afford me a degree oi pleasure which it is very difficult
to disguise."* The isolation of Mr. Fox may be
thought to favour the assertion, that the fear of the
Constitution being overthrown by the small minority
of those who were enamoured of French Jacobinism,
' Lord Malmesbury's Diary, vol, ii. p. 416. * jm p^ gQO.
^ Ibid. p. 486. ■* Memoirs and Correspondence of C. J. Fox,
vol. iii. p. 349.
154 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
was quite unfounded. But it is to be remembered,
that those who deserted him were only the sensible,
well-educated men in Parliament. ]^ut, again, no
other confutation is needed than Lord John's own
confession ; for he admits that, at a later period, some
violent men appear to have meditated a revolution,
but " the conspiracies were abortive" (why?), "be-
cause their designs were shallow, and their plans
immature." Ihit what if their designs had been
deeper laid, and their plans more matured? *' the
insignificance of the party " would not have prevented
them from deluging the land with blood. The fact is,
the party was not insignificant. How could it be so
when the King was fired at in the park, and the mob
had almost succeeded in drao:u;in2; him from hi.s car-
riage? when the cry of " No king — no nobles" was
heard in the streets? when 2,000 people, at the
Crown and Anchor tavern, drank the toast, for which
the Duke of Norfolk was most justly deprived of his
Lord Lieutenancy, " The people — the sovereign " ?
when conventions were formed in various parts of the
country to coerce the Parliament, and demagogues
were agitating the principal manufacturing towns, to
oro;anise a National Convention, in imitation of that
in France? And what if Mr. Fox himself contra-
dicted this rash assertion of unfounded fear?
Li 1796 he thus writes to his nephew: "At present
I think that we ought to go further towards agreeing
with the democratic or popular party than at any
THE EIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 155
former period .... we as a party can do nothing ;
and the contest must be between the Court and the
democrats. These last, without our assistance, will be
too weak to resist the Court : or, if thev are strons
enough, will go probably to greater excesses, and
bring on the only state of things which can make a
man doubt whether the despotism of monarchy is the
worst of all evils." ^ Thus, with his eyes open to the
probable consequences, he proposed to assist the demo-
crats to do what he deprecated, rather than submit to a
constitutional monarchy. And such were the patriotic
counsels which he gave to his friends. But this is not
all. In another letter he says, " The country seems
divided between the majority who are subdued by
fears, or corrupted by hopes ; and the minority, who
are waiting sulkily for opportunities for violent reme-
dies." And again, " It is a duty to brave all calumny
that will be thrown upon us, on account of tlie coun-
tenance which we shall be represented as giving to
the Corresponding Society, and others who are sup-
posed to wish the overthrow of the monarchy. My
view of things is, I own, very gloomy, and I am con-
vinced that in a very few years this Government will
become completely absolute'; or that confusion Avill
arise of a nature almost as much to be deprecated as
despotism itself .... I cannot disguise from myself
that there are but too many who wish for this."^
In the face of this evidence— unexceptionable evi-
1 Vol. iii. p. 135. 2 p_ 164^ and 70.
150 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
dciice, since it is furnished hy ^Ir. lox himself—
Lord Jolni Russell -will do well to abstain from rakintr
up the almost forgotten embers of AVhig incendiarism,
which only serves to throw a stronger light upon the
superior wisdom of Mr. Pitt.
Since this vindication of Mr. Pitt from the imputa-
tions of Lord John Russell was penned, he, with the
usual recklessness of his dauntless sj)irit, has actually
attempted to redeem his pledge by repeating the same
charges nearly in the same words, and with as little
success. Still, as it occupies a considerable portion of
his second volume of the " Life of Fox," it is a duty
to expose once more the weakness of the attack.
Some apology is due to the reader for repeating
several passages which have been already given ; but
when a man in the high position of Lord John
Russell, deliberately endeavours to deceive mankind
by repeating the old fallacies more insidiously and
elaborately dressed up, apparently on the principle
that water indents the stone, — not by any native force,
but by the incessant repetition of its drops ; — and when
his settled purpose is to damage the character of a more
exalted statesman than himself; to drag him before
the bar of his country, and to impeach him of high
crimes and misdemeanours ; — the interests of justice
require us to meet the enemy with the same weapons
which have foiled him before, and, without expecting
the reader to bear in mind all that has been already
adduced, to lay before him again the strongest points
THE UIGHT HON. GEOKGE EOSE. 157
of evidence, — whether they have been used before or
not, — in order to exhibit the light of truth in more
striking contrast with the haziness of Whig sophistry.
Well, then ; Lord John now renews his impotent
attempt to prove Mr. Pitt guilty of needlessly involv-
ing his country in war at the time of the French
Revolution ; and in this second attack we may fairly
conclude that he has exhausted his armoury, and used
every argument which party zeal could suggest to
favour his attempt.
It will be my business to show that he had much
better have let it alone. Being, however, a cunning
fencer, he makes many desperate lunges at his
adversary whenever he thinks he can wound him.
They are easily parried, but being constantly almost
the same, the defence must partake of the monotony
of the assault ; and as there is little diversity in the
arguments except in outward form, there must neces-
sarily be much repetition in the confutation of them.
After first explaining the position of Mr. Pitt and his
government at that period, with remarkable imparti-
ality and perspicuity, he seems to bethink himself that
it is time to disparage him, in order to magnify his
rival, Mr. Fox ; for which purpose he proceeds to
weave a web of sophistry, some of the salient points
of which it is necessary to disentangle. He makes
common cause with M. Chauvelin, the French Emis-
sary, who had the assurance to ask our Government to
recognise the justice and necessity of the war which
158 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF
France had declared against Austria, after various out-
rages for which no repr.ration had been made, on the
plea that she had sheltered the emigrants, and that
England had not suffered other powers to lend the
smallest assistance to rebellious subjects.
Had, then, France so soon forgotten the no small
assistance which she had lent to Hritish rebels in
America ? But he also pointed out the marks of a
conspiracy against free states which threatened uni-
versal war, and England was called upon to stop the
progress of that confederacy, which threatened the
peace and happiness of Europe. Who could believe
that this proposition came from a Government that
had recently promised its assistance to all nations
who wished to overthrow monarchy ? Lord Gren-
ville Avas not moved by these impudent suggestions
to depart from the pacific policy of Mr. Pitt — the
policy of non-intervention ; — that policy on which
Lord John now so strenuously insists. Nevertheless,
in Lord Grenville, he imputes it to a secret wish for
the success of a design to conquer and despoil France.
And from this imputation he could only have escaped
by making war upon the allies.
On this prmciple England has had a narrow escape
from a declaration of war against Austria in the late
Italian campaign ; for the distinction which he pr<j-
ceeds to draw would have exactly reduced us to that
dilemma. " It is one thing," says he, " to decline to
interfere in the internal afi'airs of another countrA- ; it
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 159
is a totally clifFerent thing not to interfere with an
external war which is intended to effect the conquest
and share the spoils of one of the great members of
the European confederacy. The first is a due homage
to the independence of another nation ; the second is
a culpable indifference to the peace of Europe, and
the treaties upon which that peace was founded."'
But Austria intended to effect the conquest of Pied-
mont, and actually invaded that member of the Euro-
pean Confederacy, and had set at nought the Treaty
of 1815. Therefore, on his own showing, our Mmister
at War displayed a culpable indifi'erence to the peace
of Europe, and the treaties upon which that peace was
founded, by not interfering against Austria. But in
the war of the Revolution the truth is exactly the
reverse of the representation of it by Lord John : for
which nation was it that not only intended to conquer
and despoil her neighbours, but had actually com-
menced that conquest and spoliation by a war wholly
unprovoked ? It was Erance. True it is that, in 1791,
Russia and Sweden had proposed an invasion of France
to the German Powers in favour of the King ; but, at
the interview which took place at Pilnitz, the King of
Prussia betrayed violent signs of disapprobation, and
the views of Leopold were too pacific to adopt so bold
and hostile a measure.^
Nevertheless, Erance declared war against the King
1 Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 298.
• ■ ■ » Annual Register for 1792, p. 389.
IGO DL\RIES AND CORllESPONDENCE OF
of Iliingaiy and Bolicmia in the followinji; year ; and
since it would have been " culpable inditterence " in
Prussia to take no part in resisting that unjust aggres-
sion, she joined the Enaperor in his attempt to liberate
Prance from the dangerous turbulence of anarchy. The
allies had suflficient causes of complaint, as most people
will think, in the confiscation of the feudal property
of the German Princes, the opening of the Scheldt,
the seizure of Avignon, and the coiujuest of Savoy.
But Lord J. llusscll is so determined to see every-
thing from a French point of view, that although Mr.
Pox had laid down this rule, that the justifiable
grounds of war are injury, insult, and danger,' all of
which were combined in these measures, and others
which he overlooks ; yet, he sets them down as mere
pretexts," — nay, even the declaration that the allies
intended to restore the King of France to libertv, that
he might confer a constitution upon his subjects, is
asserted to have been only a pretext ; ' — the real motive
being the conquest and spoliation of Prance, — a wild
assertion, which will be noticed again before I have
done with him. At present, it is enough to say that,
so far from wishing to share in the spoils of Prance,
the alhes declared, in their proclamation, that in the
just war which they had imdertaken they entertained
no views of personal aggrandisement, which they ex-
pressly renounced. And what nation was it that
threatened the peace of Europe, and violated the
1 Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 336. ' Ibid. p. 231. 3 /^/^ p, 030.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 161
treaties upon which that peace was founded ? It was
France, which had alarmed Europe by seizing upon her
neighbours' territories without the smallest pretence
of right : Savoy and Avignon, and Basle on the south,
and Belgium on the north; for Belgium was in-
vaded some time before the Austrian declaration of
war. It was France that had violated the treaty by
which the navigation of the Scheldt was closed against
foreign nations, — a treaty, made with the sanction of
England, between the two Governments of the countries
through which that river flows.
Nor was this all. She had violated the treaty of
Westphaha, which, with several subsequent treaties,
guaranteed to the German Princes in Alsace and
Eranche Compte many political rights and ecclesiastical
privileges which the Constituent Assembly had annulled.
Surely, then, the best friends of Lord John will scarcely
refrain from a smile when, from these premises, he
infers that a fair and honest neutrality was not the
policy of the Cabinet of England, and taunts the
Government with looking on Avith complacency on the
invasion of France, and being restless and menacing
when Flanders was conquered. He may imploringly
stretch out his hands to them, and say, " Risum
teneatis, amici ;" ])ut it w^ould be all in vain. There
is something too ludicrous in his unhappy attempt to
shift upon the policy of Mr. Pitt the blame Avhich sits
so heavily on the shoulders of France. It is not that he
is enamourcd with the French Revolution, like his hero,
VOL. I. M
1(32 DIARIES AN1> CORKESFONUENCE OE
Mr. Fox ; he does not, like that statesiuun, admire it as
" the most stupendous and glorious edifice of liberty
which had been erected on the foundation of iiuman
integrity in any time or country." On the contrary, he
goes so far as to admit that the French were the
aggressors against the institutions of Europe, and that
the panic in England was increased by the insane
provocations of the Convention. But, unfortunately,
he had given a pledge to bring in Mr. Pitt guilty of
the war, and he could not redeem it without })lunging
into various absurdities, and building up his indict-
ment upon the quicksands of sophistry. Thus, for
instance, he says : " In the preceding spring, Austria
and Prussia had maintained a large bodv of armed
Frenchmen on the frontiers of France with the avowed
intention of overthrowing the Constitution to which
the King of the French had pledged his faith." '
Nothing can be further from the truth than this asser-
tion. In March, Count Kobentzel assured M. Naailles,
that his Court was far from wishing to intermeddle in
the interior concerns of France, and that it by no
means intended to support the interests of the Emi-
grants.' A short time before, the Emperor had insisted
that the Emigrants should make no attempt to disturb
the public trancjuillity.^ Notwithstanding these pacific
explanations, France declared war on April 20th ; and
it happens that we know, from the best authority, what
1 Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 300.
= Annual Register for 1792, p. 281. » Ibid. p. 277.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 163
was the real motive ; not the flimsy pretext advanced
by M. Noailles, but " it was the aboHtion of royalty,"
said Biissot, in a pamphlet,' " which I had in view in
causing war to be declared." No wonder, then, wdien
they were thus compelled to stand on their defence,
and felt the imminent danger of their positions, if the
German powers resolved to unite, not against the King
of France, nor against any constitution of which he
approved, but against the wild beasts who were thirst-
ing for their blood, the enemies of society, whose cry
was, " Havoc, and let slip the dogs of war." These
were the principles of self-defence which the Allies
declared on entering France. But how could that
justify the principles of universal aggression proclaimed
by the bandits opposed to them, and the premium
which they offered to rebellion in every nation they
could reach ? What then could induce Lord John to ask
so strange a question as this : " Who could wonder that
the French should proclaim their principles as loudly
as the Allies had proclaimed theirs, and should offer
the assistance of their arms to all nations which should
accept theii" principles ? "- The same remarkable igno-
rance of the true posture of the respective parties is
shown in " the real cure of the evil " which he, with
singular infelicity, suggests. He says, " If Austria and
Prussia had been called upon to renounce all inter-
ference in the internal affairs of France, the Conven-
tion might, on such a pledge being given, be called
upon to repeal its decree of November. The hostility
* Annual Register for 1792, p. 273. ^ Life of Fox, vol, ii. p. 300.
M 3
lQ4i DIAIUES AND COllKESPONDENCE OF
of England might well have been proclaimed the
penalty of that power which should refuse to comply
with such an impartial decision."
This passage must have been penned in utter igno-
rance or forgetfulness of the events which j)recedcd
the war. Germany had distinctly explained that if
France would not interfere with her neighbours, they
would not interfere with her. Nothing could be more
impartial than the terms proposed; and since France
rejected them, England was, by Solomon's own de-
cision, justitied in iuHicting the penalty of joining
the Allies. But even if Solomon's cure had been
attempted, anil .Mr. Pitt iiad offered his mediation,
the result would have very much resembled that of the
cures proposed by other quacks ; we have reason to
know, that it must have failed. M. Thersaint, a zealous
supporter of Brissot, stated in a semi-otticial report,
January 1st, 1793, that one of Mr. Pitt's plans was to
bring the Republic to a peace with its enemies by his
mediation. He was, however, haughtily told, that
"he deceived himself, for that France would receive
laws only from herself. It is fit he should know you
are not afraid of kings, and that if you allow them
still to exist, as such, you will at least have no treaties
with them, or only those which are ratified by their
nations. The first cannon fired at sea would impose
upon them the duty of emancipating Holland, Spain,
and America."'
Let us next examine another specimen of states-
^ Annual Register for 1793, p. 182.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 165
mansliip. " There can be little doubt that if instead
of waiting till the end of December, Mr. Pitt had by
that time obtained the co-operation of Russia ; if
this concert had been notified at Paris, and if part of
the Low Countries had been ceded to Prance, or the
whole of Belgium erected into an independent state,
as was done forty years afterwards, peace might have
been restored to Europe. Possibly the life of Louis
XVL might have been spared."^ What a strange
hallucination does this writer labour under ! he assumes
what is directly contrary to the truth ; that France
was then under the government of reasonable and
moderate men, who would be contented with equitable
terms. But let us look into the particulars upon
which this "little doubt" reposes. Mr. Pitt knew
perfectly well from what had occurred at Pilnitz, that
he would not have the co-operation of Russia; the
Czar and he entertained the most opposite views upon
the subject : the one was for interference, the other
was against it. The communication of December 27th,
conveying Mr. Pitt's views, was only the reply to an
inquiry without any hope of consent ; and there were
two other Courts to be consulted, one of which had
only just lost the Netherlands, the cession of which is
so coolly proposed. But this had occurred only three
or four weeks before ; for the citadel of Antwerp sur-
rendered on the 8th, and Lord John must be sufficiently
acquainted with diplomatic delays, and Austrian im-
practicability, to be quite sure how impossible it was
1 Life of Fox,' vol. ii. p. 303.
KK) DLVRIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
to brino; things to sucli a conclusion in so sliort a time
before the invention of electric telegraphs.
But why was Austria to surrender the Netherlands
so easily without any coni})cnsation ? On the principle
of uti possidetis .'' But it was so recent an acquisition
by France that it could scarcely be looked upon as a
possession ; nay, the French then^selves did not look
upon it in that light ; tiiey declared that it was only
a temporary occupation till peace was restored, and
that they did not covet Belgium ; they only desired
that its liberty and independence might be secured.
Might then the Belgians have chosen to live under the
Emperor again ? No. Tiicy could not have become an
independent state, as they became forty years after-
wards, by accepting a monarchy. That was not French
liberty. Tlicv who were so iealous of interference
with their own Government, insisted upon dictating
to others what theirs should be. But were all the
four Courts to crouch under the heel of France,
and sanction all her usurpations ? Was she to
be allowed to oust the German Princes from Lor-
raine and Alsace, and to retain Avignon and Nice,
and Basle, and Savoy on the same principle of
nti possidetis ? of all which, according to the policy
professed by Lord John, " no one would have any
right to complain. There is " little doubt," there-
fore, that peace would not then have been restored to
Europe ; and any interference to save the life of
Louis would have been treated with the same scorn
as the remonstrances of the King of Spain.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 167
Lord John's statement with regard to Holland is
equally destitute of truth. He says, she was dragged
by England most reluctantly into the war. ^ She
desired, indeed, most earnestly, to be neutral ; but
her neutrality was most unscrupulously violated by
Prance, who forced the passage of the river Scheldt
in defiance of her protest, and ordered her generals to
pursue the routed Austrians into the Dutch territory,
if they retired there.^ And though the French Govern-
ment gave the most positive assurance that its con-
quest should not be attempted, so long as that .country
should confine itself within the bounds of a strict
neutrality, yet, three weeks antecedent to that promise
being given, it had resolved upon an invasion of the
United Provinces, which was solely delayed for a time,
that it might afterwards be undertaken with the
greater safety ; and accordingly it was included in the
declaration of war made against England in the fol-
lowing year. In his anxiety to make out how much
more folly there was on this side of the Channel than
on the other. Lord John proceeds to say, that " a fear
crept upon persons of property, that the democratic
principles of Prance might take root in England ; and
it was thought, that by turning the thoughts of the
people to foreign war this danger might be averted. . . .
This view of the question shows very little trust in the
attachment of the people of England to their own
• Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 304.
. " Annual Register for 1793, p. 165.
168 DIARIES AND COKTIESPONDEXCE OP
institutions, and very little disposition to do justice to
the Frencli nation. . . . Vet that the war was a war of
panic I do not mean to deny." ' That is to say, the war
was an unjust war, and the panic was irrational fear.
But when there wore about thirty clubs in London,
the object of which was to disseminate seditious prin-
ciples, besides twenty-two towns in which one or more
corresponding societies were establislu'd for the same
piu'pose ; when it was shown in Parliament that in
every town, and in almost every village in the king-
dom their emissaries had found means to distribute
gratuitously among the lower classes publications of a
very dangerous tendency ; that, under the specious
mask of Reform, they had propagated the most destruc-
tive doctrines, sparing no pains to excite discontent in
the minds of the populace ; that they recommended to
imitation the revolutionary example of France, for at-
taining their objects ; that the time had now arrived for
the people to redress themselves; and had held out to
the lower classes the strong temptation of an agrarian
law ; that they had secretly negotiated with the
Jacobins of France for the subversion of the British
constitution ; when to their machinations were imputed
the most alarminsr of the riots which had broken out
under various false pretences; — was it not unavoid-
able, was it not reasonable, that the public mind
should feel a considerable degree of agitation, oppressed
with anxious forebodings, and dreadful apprehensions
' Life of Fox, vol. iv. p. 304.
THE RiaHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 169
of some political convulsion already in preparation
and ready to explode ? '
Mr. Pitt stated, that when the Convention received
the addresses sent to them by several EngUsh societies,
too contemptible in the opinion of some even for
notice, they always considered such addresses declara-
tory of the sentiments of the English nation, and he
quoted the letter of Monge, the minister of the French
Marine, in which he said, " The King of England and
his Parliament mean to make war upon us -} will the
English republicans suffer it ? Already their freemen
show^ their discontent, and their repugnance to bear
arms against their brethren in France. Well, we will
fly to their succour ; we will make a descent upon
their island . . . then will the tyranny of their govern-
ment be soon destroyed."*' Was there not a cause
then, not for a panic, wdiich is a foolish fear, but for
rational alarm, not only amongst the landed gentry,
but amongst all owners of property, and lovers of
order? And what could have averted some dreadful
catastrophe if they had not combined to show these
traitors, who scrnpled not to say, that the attainment
1 Annual Register for 1792, p. 247.
2 He inferred this from the increase of our forces by sea and land,
which was only a prudent precaution of self-defence against the
known and avowed hostility of the Convention, who gladly made
use of the inference as one of tbe pretexts for declaring war. It is
to be feared there are those now in France, who, if they were at the
head of affairs, would pursue the same line of conduct ; but happily
for the peace of Europe, the destinies of that country are not now
under the sway of a tyrannical and dishonest republic.
^ State Papers, Annual Register, p. 264.
170 DL\RIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
of their objects would be wortli the expense of blood,
that there was a large majority against them, deter-
mined to frustrate their designs? Whenever a fatal
epidemic breaks out, wise men will not sit down
with folilcd arms to await their destiny ; they will
hasten to adopt remedies, to organize sanitary precau-
tions, and to remove, as far as they can, all j)redis-
posing causes ; but if they succeed, and because they
succeed in arresting its progress, will any sane man
argue that, therefore, there was no danger? It was
because the majority of Englishmen were attached to
their institutions, that it was necessary to use strong
measures to prevent a turbulent and unscrupulous
minority from disturbing the peace of the country. Yes,
— it was well for England that her gentry were at last
" thoroughly frightened," and roused to stand upon
their defence. Lord John would have had them re-
semble the lamb described by Pope, —
" Pleas'd to the last he crops the floVry food,
And hcks the hand just rais'd to shed his blood."
With respect to doing justice to the French nation,
he will scarcely deny, that if any one is likely to do
justice to them, it would be a countryman of their
own, a general employed by the Convention — the
general who won the battle of Jemappes, and con-
quered the Netherlands for them. What then is the
picture which Dumouriez gives of them at that time,
after the lOth of August ? He says, " All the depart-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 171
ments (but more especially the wretched city of Paris)
were delivered up to pillage, to denunciations, proscrip-
tions, and massacres. No Frenchman, the assassins
and their accomplices excepted, had either his life or
his property in security. Bands of pretended federates
ran through, and laid waste, the departments ; and of
the seven hundred individuals who composed this
despotical and anarchical body, four or five hundred
groaned and decreed, and decreed and groaned, ex-
posed to the exterminating sword of the Marats and
Robespierres . . . The decree of the 19th of Novem-
ber has provoked all nations, by holding out to them
onr aid, provided they will consent to disorganize
themselves .... During the last month all the decrees
have been marked by the most insatiable avarice, by
the blindest pride, and more especially by the desire of
maintainhig power by calling to the most important
posts of the state no other than daring, incapable, and
criminal men, by driving away or murdering men of
enlightened and high character ; and by supporting a
phantom of a republic which their errors in admini-
stration and in policy, as well as their crimes, had ren-
dered impracticable We see throughout the
tyranny which flatters the wicked, because the wicked
alone can support the tyranny ; and in its pride and
its ignorance this Convention orders the conquest and
disorganization of the whole universe. . . . And what
has it done to maintain the war which it has pro-
voked against all the powers of Europe ? '
* State Papers, Annual Register, p. 306. ,^
172 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENf'E OF
The only way of " showing fi disposition to do
justice " to these persons, would be by sentencing
them to be hanged ; and tlie proclamation of the
Duke of l^runswick was, after all, not so nuich to
be blamed, in making them responsible for the safety
of the K'm<j: under the penalty <»f losing their own
heads. And here anotlier gross misrepresentation
has to be noticed. Lord John savs, " If the AUies
had reached Paris, if they had liberated Louis, if
they had hung the majority of the Convention " (as
they deserved), " and shot thousands of mayors, nuigi-
strates and j)easantry, according to their own declared
intentions, how would such proceedings have tran-
quillized France?" If they had liberated Louis and
enabled him to take up his residence in some frontier
town, which was their declared wish, where he could
negotiate in safety with his subjects, France would
have been tranquillized, as far as the Allies were
concerned ; for they would have gained their object.
Their proclamations had distinctly stated that this was
the only object of the invasion, and they disavowed,
as already observed, all desire to intermeddle with the
interior concerns of France. The imputation of san-
guinary intentions is wholly incorrect : it was only in
case of open resistance that punishment was to be in-
flicted, which is entirely suppressed in the accusation.
War without giving quarter is very shocking, but
by no means unusual ; and that was the whole amount
of the threatened severities, threatened for the sake of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 173
iiitimidatioii, but not carried into" execution ; and even
the Convention would have kept their heads, richly as
they deserved to lose them, if Louis had been left
uninjured. They, as well as the mayors, and magi-
strates, in the provincial towns, were made responsible
for any crimes which they might and ought to have
prevented ; so that a great deal of virtuous indignation
has been thrown away upon imaginary crimes. But
all this misrepresentation was not without an object.
Lord John wanted it to assist him in his vitupera-
tion of Mr. Pitt, and give some colour to his next
assault upon that minister. " The tacit consent and
secret favour given to this invasion of France was a
serious mistake" on Pitt's part. As long as the favour
was secret, it is difficult to see how any statesman-
ship was concerned in it. Lord John probably
concurs with Mr. Fox in condemning it as " a horrid
and profligate scheme to ruin the liberty of the world."
But most Englishmen, no doubt, viewed it with secret
favour, in which I presume to think there was no
harm at all. I should much wonder if it were other-
wise : but why is " the tacit consent" of the Govern-
ment to be reprobated? What would he have had
them do ? Go to war with Austria and Prussia if they
persisted in the invasion, and so find themselves in the
ridiculous position of being engaged in war with both
the opposed parties at ouce ? With the Allies because
they would not take our advice ; and with France,
because we withdrew our ambassador from Paris after
171 DIAKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the 1 0th of August, and would not accredit anotlicr
to a goveiiiuiciit so unstal)le, tliat Brissot, who in the
lieight of his popularity was the author of the war,
was fjuillotiued with twentv of his adherents before
that year was closed.
As our connexion with the Allies had notliiiig
to do witli the war which Mr. Pitt declared; so our
separation from them would not have prevented
it. Even Mr. Fox with all his dcmocratical sym-
pathies, if he had heen in otlice, would not have
gone the length of entering into an alliance with
France, and yielding everything that she demanded.
Lord John Russell says, that " his course would
evidently have been an armed negotiation ! " A strange
oversight for any one to make who has read the liis-
tory of those times. Why it was the very fact of our
having assumed the attitude of armed negotiation,
which was one of the pretences for the declaration of
war. Unarmed negotiation, if it means anything,
implies a menace that if the negotiation fails the
negotiator is ready to have recourse to arms. This
course therefore Mr. Fox could not take, unless he
had made up his mind to go to war in case of failure ;
for he had said in the debate on the peace with
Russia, " I cannot conceive any case in which a great
and wise nation having committed itself by a menace,
can withdraw that menace without disgrace ; . . . with-
out seriously meaning to enforce it.' Again, " he would
> Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. :206.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 175
liave taken ample security for the independence of
Holland." — ^What security could he have had when
dealhig with persons of such bad faith, that at the
very time when they were promising to respect its
neutrality, they had issued orders to invade its ter-
ritory ? — And " he would have guaranteed France
against another invasion." As if Austria and Prussia
were provinces of England, bound to make war or
peace at her dictation. This is a specimen of that
spirit, which in other persons would be called pre-
sumptuousness, but which is a well-known cha-
racteristic of the noble Lord ; and what glory may
we not expect to accrue to this country in her foreign
relations under the conduct of a minister who has
so much confidence in her political omnipotence, that
he fully relies upon it as a means by w^hich that
success might have been achieved which Mr. Pitt failed
to obtain.
Again, Mr. Pitt declined to expose England to the
humiliation which Spain experienced, of preferring a
request which was sure to be scornfully rejected ; but
that too was another " serious error." Mr. Fox would
have suceeded ; and so would Lord John Russell ; but
how ? He w^ould have advised our King to say to the
French Ambassador, in May, 1792, that "he would
not allow any interference in the internal government
of France, nor any conquest by France under whatever
pretext it might be covered. He would probably have
saved the King of France's life, and prevented a war in
170 UiAKiES AND COKKESPONUENCE OF
Europe."' Can LordJohn be really serious in making
this statement, or is it a secret satire upon (lij)lomacy
to show with how httlc wisdom he thinks mankind
may be governed ? Of course, the AlHes would have
answered ; " We have not the sHghtcst intention or
tliontjht ol" interterin" with the internal {Government
of France: " nor had thev till two months afterwards,
and then only for the personal saf<'ty and liberation
of Louis, who tliDUgh not yet in prison, was not at
liberty to go where he pleased. But they would have
added ; " \Ve entirely object to your otl'ensivc language.
You talk of not allowing us to do this or that ! We
cannot allow you to speak to us in that peremptory
way." On the other hand, the French would have
equally objected to such dictatorial style, and might
sav as the Hebrew said to Moses, when he inter-
posed, and asked, "Why smitest thou thy brother?
^^llo made thee a prince and a judge over us ? "
As to their conquests, they would easily have con-
trived to delude our credulous Minister, and to pacify
him with smooth words till interference would be
useless, all the while laut;hin2r at him in their sleeves,
from the knowledge that they had actually then
130,000 men ready to pounce upon the Netherlands,
which were only guarded by 10,000 Austrians, and
which they had already poisoned with discontent.
After this, the conquest behig once accoi.i[)lished,
according to Lord John's own doctrine, and that of
' Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 346. .
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 177
Mr. Fox, " the only wise coiu'se that remained would
be to make peace with events which had been com-
pleted, and accept a state of affairs, against which no
providence had guarded." '
And again, the enemy " stands upon the ground
of conquest, and we must agree to treat with him
with regard to his present posture." ^ It is true
that the first attempt was not successful, but the
second was, and France extended her frontiers on
every side. She was obtaining that preponderance in
Europe by appropriating to herself the territories of
her neighbours on every side, by which the balance
of power was destroyed; and therefore, on the autho-
rity of j\Ir. Fox himself, when he was in a patriotic
mood, there was no alternative for the British Govern-
ment but war : for even he did not counsel the indig-
nity of submission, when there had been danger of a
rupture with France, from her designing to assist the
malcontents in Holland, to subvert their government.
He maintained the soundness of " the political maxim,
that Great Britain ought to look to the situation of
affairs on the Continent, and take such measures as
should tend best to preserve the balance of power in
Europe : upon that maxim he had founded all his
political conduct .... there are but few and short
steps between the maintenance of that balance, and the
insecurity of our national independence ; the balance
of power can only be overthrown by the prepon-
'- Life of Fox. vol. ii. p. 299.- ^ Ibid. p. 303.
t
VOL. I. N
178 DIARIES AND COllRESPOXDEXCE OF
derance of one great state ... a great preponderant
state would threaten the independence of all its neigh-
bours, and Great Britain would only have a choice
between submission and war."' Oh ai sic omnia!
Happily for us, our foreign minister acts better
than he writes. He acts upon the political maxim
of Mr. Fox, though he condennis it in Mr. Pitt.
But it would have been better for his reputation as
a statesman, if he had abstained from a sentimental
lamentation about " the blood that flowed, and the
treasures that were expended in the two wars ; and
about kings and nations engaging in a contest which
the event proved to be unnecessary."- Surely if Mr.
Fox was right, nothing could more strongly demon-
strate the wisdom of his maxim, than the event of
those two wars. The preponderance of one great state
was taken away, and that balance of power was
restored Avhich it has been the constant aim of the Euro-
pean nations in general, whether in peace or war, to
maintain unimpaired. The event proved them to be
necessary. After all, however, it appears that this lofty
arbitration to be imposed upon the contending parties,
by which the life of Louis might have been saved and
war prevented, was not the right mode of proceeding ;
for Mr. Pitt " committed the mistake of thinking that
England could remain an unconcerned spectator of a
war against all liberty on one side, and all monarchy
on the other." ^
1 Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 202. => Ibid. p. 231. ^ Ibid. p. 34G.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 179
A¥hat ! after labouring so much to prove that
Mr. Pitt was guilty of involving his country in war,
is he now to be condemned for his neutralitv? If
it was a mistake to suppose that England could be
an unconcerned spectator of the war, it was necessary
to side with one party or the other. For the futility
of any other interference was manifest enough ; and
Lord Grenville stated with good reason, that though
England was ready to concur in the re-establishment
of peace, amongst the powers of Europe, by such means
as were proper to produce that effect, yet the interven-
tion of her counsels or good offices would be of no use
unless they were desired by all parties " interested." '
Since then to remain unconcerned spectators of the
war, was either a great mistake or an impossibility,
nothing remained for us to do, but to side with one
party or the other ; and we may conclude that if it
had been our good fortune to have had Lord John
Russell at the head of our councils instead of Mr.
Pitt, he as a Whig would, Brennus-like, have thrown
his sword into the scale of liberty and France.
But the dilemma is most inaccurately stated. It
is true that on one side the war was against all
monarchy, — for so it had been proclaimed in the Con-
vention — but it is not true, that on the other side
it was against all liberty. Here truth is sacrificed to
antithesis. The Allies made no war against British
liberty, or Swiss liberty, or American liberty ; or even
^ State Papers, Annual Register, 1792, p. 264.
N 2
180 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
against liberty in France to reconstruct any govern-
ment tlicy liked, under a monarch. They might have
adopted the English model without one word of
remonstrance from the Allies.
It was onlv a war against the French interpreta-
tion of liberty — liberty to commit crimes — to molest
others — to impose their own laws and opinions
upon their neighbours — to unhinge society, and to
subvert governments by promoting rel)ellion and en-
couraging insurrection. No Englishman, except a
disciple of Mr. Fox, could hesitate as to which side
should be supported by those who could not be un-
concerned spectators of the war. But Mr. Fox had
said that it was a horrid league to effect the ruin of
the liberty of man ; and that was enough for Lord
John Russell. It is not worth while to expose all the
extravagant misrepresentations and sophisms of the
great Whig orator, who might assert many things in
the House of Commons, which he would not have com-
mitted to writing, although Lord John usually adopts
his sentiments as the oracles of the idol which he
worships. Nor indeed is it desirable to pursue the
wearisome work of laying bare the fallacies of his
disciple much farther. But there is one more floun-
dering accusation of ^h\ Pitt, which must not pass
unnoticed ; — " He made his country clearly the aggres-
sor in the war."^ Now, how does Lord John attempt
to prove this ? The argument upon which he seems
^ Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. .347.
THE EIGHT HON. GEOHGE ROSE. 181
most to rely is, that our government had not com-
Diitted the folly of offering to guarantee France against
a renewal of the Duke of Brunswick's march, and the
execution of the majority of the Convention as traitors
and murderers. -
It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader again,
that the Duke's threat of vengeance was only intended
to make the Republicans responsible for the life of the
King, as long as such interference could save him ;
but when it was too late, nothing was ever said about
punishing his murderers. Indeed, the Convention
themselves took very good care in the course of the
following year to save him that trouble. During the
truce in September, before the retreat of the Prussians
from the French territory, the Duke of Brunswick liad
thus expressed his objects to General Thouvenot :
" We know that we have no right to prevent a nation
from giving itself laws, and from tracing out its
internal government : we do not wish it. AVe are only
interested for the fate of the King. Assure us that a
place will be assigned him in the new order of things,
under any denomination whatever, and his jNIajesty
the King of Prussia will return to his own states
and become your ally."^ Could any arbitration have
proposed more moderate terms than these? But it
was useless to negotiate with the men Avho then mis-
governed France. At the time, however, when the pro-
bability of war was discussed in Parliament, the Allies
' Annual Register for 1793, p. 51.
182 DIAKIES AND COllRESFONDENXE OF
were no longer on French ground ; the French army
had invaded Germany, and the Alhes liad much more
reason to ask for a guarantee against another invasion.
But one of the most extraordinary assumptions of lliis
strange expositor of statesmanship is, that we could
have demanded in favour of the Allies the evacuation
of the conquered territories without their being parties
to the treaty, and consenting to the counter stipula-
tions to which France would be entitled. The only
other argument, if argument it can be called, by which
he tries to bolster up his false reasoning, is derived
from "the temper in which the Government viewed
the failure of the attemi)t to divide France and to
crush democracy." Mr. Pitt certainly could not wish
well to those principles which he described as breaking
all the bonds of legislation that connected civil societv,
established in opposition to every law human or divine,
and presumptuously relying on the authority of wild
and delusive theories.' It is no wonder, therefore, that
Lord Grenville expressed his disapointment that the
attempt to make head against those democratical prin-
ciples which threatened to desolate all Europe had
failed; but on this subject we may say to Lord John,
in the language of Cicero : " Ilabes quod accusatori
est maxime optandum, confitentem sereum, sed tanien
ita confitentem, se in ea parte fuisse, qua te," Mr. Fox ; "
for he also had a share in it.
In the debate on the Canada question that gentle-
^ Annual Regis+cr for 1793, p. 262. - Orat. pro Ligurio.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 183
raaii had complained of the uiikindness of Mr. Burke
in imputing to him democratical or repubUcan senti-
ments. In fact, however much Lord John may take it
under his protection, Mr. Fox had no affection for the
democracy then reigning in Prance. But with respect
to dividing France, nothing can be more unfortunate
than his bhnd attachment to that charsre. He reiterates
it in every form of words ; he harps upon that string
for ever, without perceiving the falseness of the note
which it utters. He talks perpetually about " sharing
in the spoils of France," the " division of France," the
" partition of France," the " dismemberment of
France," ' till one is almost disposed to exclaim wdth
the Latin orator, " Qi.iousque tandem, Catilina, abutere
patientia nostra"^ (Catiline was a Whig) ; for there is
not a shadow of foundation for the charge, in any
speech, in any docnmcnt, in any state paper, from first
to last. Jiord Grenville had said in a private letter,
not meant for the public ear, not in his public capa-
city, but confidentially to his brother, that he was
glad " we were not tempted to join in the glorious
enterprise of the Allies by the hope of sharing the
spoils in the division of France;" alluding, of course,
to the prospect of gaining possession of some of the
French Colonies. From this vague and careless ex-
pression the whole accusation is inferred ; imput-
' Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 272.
2 " How long, O Catiline, vvill you continue to exhaust our
patience ? "
184 DIARIES AND COllKESPONDENCE OF
ing views to the Allies which they distinctly denied.
Both Courts declared in their manifesto, on August 4,
that they entertained no views of personal aggrandize-
ment, which they expressly renounced.
The Duke of Brunswick declared before he invaded
France, that they had no intention to enrich themselves
by making conquests ; and the Prince of Cobourg pro-
claimed that he did not come upon the French ter-
ritory to make conquests, but to give to France her
constitutional King, and the constitution which she
had formed for herself, and might rectify as she pleased,
if it was imperfect. In the prosecution of the war, it
may be said that Valenciennes was taken, and that
the Emperor claimed it as his own. But what "was
this compared with the number of large territories
which the French had previously taken possession of —
the Duchies of Deux Fonts, and Luxembourg, Treves,
and the Netherlands ? Will any one contend that the
right of invasion was all on one side ; that it was
innocent in the Democracy of France, and criminal
in the German Empire? That the one might exercise
the severest tyranny (for at Deux Fonts, the clergy,
the nobles, and the judges were banished), while the
other was quietly to submit and be precluded from
the most moderate retaliation, like the servant in
Terence, who remonstrated with his master on the
inequality of their position : " Tu verberas ; Ego vapulo
tantum ? " ^
' " You are the beater, I am only the beatee."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 185
So far were the Allies in the first instance from
wishing to appropriate anything to themselves, that
after their first successes, they issued a proclamation
on the 20th July, not banishing the magistrates, as
the French had done at Deux Fonts, but reinstating
their predecessors in the offices which they held
before the Revolution, and re-establishing the ancient
laws.^ They disclaimed conquest as long as they had
reason to hope that the largest part of the popula-
tion favoured their views ; but after the death of
Louis, when they encountered unmixed hostility, they
naturally took the course which all nations adopt
in war. The object of each party is to cripple the
other as much as possible, by making conquests,
which, according to their importance, and the relative
position of the combatants, may either be retained
at the conclusion of the war, like Malta and Gib-
raltar, and the Cape, or surrendered for equivalent
advantages. Thus, the peace of Amiens was pur-
chased, by the surrender of many conquests by
England. We may well, therefore, " be lost in amaze-
ment at the effrontery " which could, in the first place,
indite such maudlin sentiment as this, of which a
schoolboy would be ashamed : " When Ave find an
Emperor of Germany appropriating a fortress, and a
King of Great Britain conquering an island, we are
lost in amazement at the effrontery which could cover
a scheme of plunder with the cloak of religion and
^ State Palmers, Annual Regiater for 1793, p. 310.
186 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
humanity ;" ' and in tlic next })lacc, could nuy one on
such flimsy pretences accuse Mr. Pitt of being the
aggressor in this war? In IS 14, the nations of
Europe, taught by bitter experience, and " the insane
provocations " of Napoleon 1., entered with heart and
soul into that coalition wliich " the wisdom and fore-
sight of Mr. Pitt" luul projected long before, and
effected the objects which he had in view. Tiicy
marched upon Paris, and restored the constitutional
King, and took from France her plunder and the
dominions which she had unjustly usurped. J3ul
there Avas no partition, no division, no dismember-
ment, no sharing in the spoils of her })roper terri-
tory, and the kingdom was preserved in its original
integrity, as one of the first-rate powers of Europe.
And now, causa finita est, — the pleadings are over;
and to the shade of Pitt, if he could be supposed
to care for the opinion of posterity, we may safely
predict that this will be the verdict of mankind,
" Solventur risu tabula3, tu missus abibis." That is
to say, the lawyers will laugh as they fold up their
briefs, and you may depart unharmed by this impeach-
ment.
Lord John Russell, however, is a much more reason-
able person when he throws off the shackles of party,
and allows himself to take a common sense view of
international law. In his speech at Aberdeen, on the
state of Italy, he is reported to have made these just
' Life of Fox, vol. ii. p. 378.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE ROSE. 187
remarks : " I think with regard to this matter of state
and nations regulating their own government, it is not
very different from that of a man regulating his own
house. But at the same time it is possible, that a
man may manage his house in such a way as to be
a great nuisance to his neighbours : for instance, he
may start a pyrotechnic manufactory in his house,
and amuse himself with sending up sky-rockets into
the air every evening, in order to see the effect. This
would not seem to be agreeable, because other house-
holders might conceive that their houses might be set
on fire. Instead of wishing to encourage the gentleman
to do whatever he pleases in his own house, the Lord
Provost might be called on to interfere with that gen-
tleman, because he was likely to set fire to the houses
of his neighbours. But has a ytliing of that sort
occurred in Italy ?" Of course not, and therefore it is
difficult to see why it was introduced, unless it is to be
looked at as a palinodia which his conscience compelled
him to offer as an atonement to the manes of Mr. Pitt ;
for it is a full justification of that minister's interference
with France, even if he had been the aggressor, only
the argument is much stronger in this case ; — because
Prance had not only been indulging in pyrotechnic
displays, but had set fire to her own house, and had
declared her intention of involving those of her neigh-
bours in the same conflagration. And they might well
be startled by the truth of that saying, " Tua res agitur
paries cum proximus ardet." In the spirit of good
188 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF
sense he quite agrees witli Mr. I'itt, in tliinking all
nations should be allowed to have the sort of govern-
ment which they prefer, provided they do not interfere
toith their neighbours, as the French undoubtedly
did.
If furtlier proof be required of Mr. Pitt's devotion
to pacific policy, as soon as a dimiiuition of danger
appeared to warrant a hope of success, we have it in
the despatch of Lord Grenville, declaring the minister's
anxiety to make it evident to the world that the negotia-
tion in 1796 failed from the hostile determination of
those who governed France, and from their resolution
to admit of no terms of peace which were consistent
with the safety, interests, and honour of the other
powers of Europe.' And again, in the following
year, when Lord Malmesbury was sent to Lisle to
renew the negotiation, " Lord Grenville was decidedly
opposed to this step," and long argued it with Pitt ;
but the latter remained firm, repeatedly declaring, that
it was his duty, as an English Minister and a Christian,
to use every effort to stop so bloody and wasting a
war. He said he would stifle every feeling of pride to
the utmost to produce the desired result.^ ^Vhy, then,
was this result not obtained ? Because, as we learn
from the negotiator, " there was a fixed determination
on the part of the French Government to continue
the war with England." ' Of the five Directors then
' Lord Malmesbury's Diaries, &c., vol. iii. p. 301.
2 Ibid. p. 369. 3 ii^ij^ p 518.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 189
ruling in Prance, two, Barthelemi and Carnot, were
moderate men, who would probably have listened to
reason, and on that account were obnoxious to the
other three, who were violent haters of England, and
who succeeded in turning their colleagues out of
office. The just conclusion, from all the correspond-
ence is, that Pitt was not only sincere in his overtures
for peace, but anxiously eager to obtain it on almost any
conditions, short of dishonour.' Even this exception
seems scarcely to have had due weight with the minister
in the estimate of his royal master ; as appears from a
conversation between the King and Mr. George Rose,
mentioned by the latter in a letter to his father. He
says: —
" I hunted yesterday with the harriers, and had an
hour and a half's conversation with the owner of
them. Nothing can exceed his eagerness for the
result of Lord Malmesbury's mission, respecting
which, and a variety of subjects, his conversation was
as unreserved as possible. We were nearly all the
time tete-a-tete. I went out again to-day, in hopes of
renewing the conversation, on account of the news of
Lord Malmesbury's arrival. After having told me the
circumstances you mention, and that nothing could be
inferred from what had passed, he seemed inclined to
think the negotiation would fail; as, if the French
were really desirous of peace, they would have made
some opening, and not observed such extreme circum-
' Lord Malmesbury's Diaries, vol. iii. jx 598.
190 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
spcction, and waited to catch from Lord M. wliat he
may have to oflPer. lie stated tliat the hitch to be
apprehended, perha])s foreseen, is respecting our
alhes; and, going into the (juestion, considered it
precisely in the same point of view in which it struck
us, and dwelt forcibly, though temperately, on the
precipitation which forced on the negotiation without
a previous concert with the Emperor, when nothing
rendered haste more necessary than it was some weeks
back; and added, that thongh we felt strongly the
necessity of pleasing Parliament, foreigners wore not
obliged to feci it equally with us, or be expected to
miderstand it. All this rendered a })erfect under-
standing the more indispensable. He doubted, ex-
tremely, whether the Em})cror woidd agree to send
any one to treat for him ; and said, we must expect a
good scolding from the Empress of Russia, to whom
the Emperor has complained of us. He added that
in one respect they gave us a right to insist upon
bringing our allies iuto the negotiation, as they said
they must consult theirs. He is extremely glad the
business is in Lord M.'s hands, and not in those of a
friend of ours (meaning Mr. Pitt), who, he says,
W'Ould have begun by yielding up everything."
In an undated letter from the King, which, how-
ever, must plainly be referred to this same year, 179G,
he expresses the same feeling on this subject more
strongly in a postscript : —
'' The paper received this morning from Mr. P.
would require much more time for inspection, before
THE RIGHT HON. GEOE.GE ROSE. 191
any opinion was given on its purport, than the press
of the moment will admit. As it seems to allude to
a decision of Council being made on the question in
the course of this day, and I am desirous Mr. P.
should communicate to them my view of the suhject,
previous to their forming any formal opinion, I therefore
request that my suggestions may be canvassed, without
attending to the irregular mode in which they are
stated, as it was impossible to arrange them properly
when placed so rapidly on paper.
*' I think this country has taken every humiliating
step for seeking peace that the warmest advocates for
this object could suggest."
It will be seen that this is a very sufficient refuta-
tion of the injurious and unjust suspicion, entertained
by Lord Holland, that Mr. Pitt " would have sacri-
ficed his opinion (with regard to the Roman Catholics)
rather than his power, if he had not foreseen the
necessity of making a peace humiliating to his pride."'
The former part of the King's letter may possibly
have referred to a proposition for strengthening the
administration, by admitting into it some of the oppo-
sition ; for Mr. Fox himself seems to have had a lucid
interval at that period, though not indeed quite free
from his usual obliquity of political vision. He told
the House of Commons that the Directory was com-
posed of very reasonable men, who would be quite
ready to make peace upon any reasonable terms. We
^ Memoirs of the Whig Party, vol. i. p. 171.
192 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENX'E OF
have seen, that in this, as well as in most of liis otiicr
opinions, he was entirely mistaken. However, lie
seemed to rejoice in the design of offering peace, and
anticipated, in the event of its rejection, a unanimous
support of the war. Mr. Pitt, therefore, not calcu-
lating upon the brittlencss of his loyalty, seems, in the
following letter, to have liad hopes of his supjjort ;
though, like a prudent general, he mustered all his
forces, in case he should have to encounter war within
the House, as well as on the Continent. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Do^Yniug Street, Dec. 2Gt]i, 1794.
" Dear Rose,
" It seems indispensably necessary that we should,
in our address on Thursday, renew in the strongest
manner the assurances of support, and express a
decided opinion on the merits of the case. The enemy
has given us, in aU respects, such unanswerable ground
that one hardly knows where there can be a difference
of opinion : but the moment is so important, that I
am more than usually anxious for as full an attendance
as possible. I hope you will be able to muster some
recruits, both from Hampshire, and on the road ; and
whoever comes, will, I am sure, pass his holidays more
pleasantly afterwards in consequence. No news from
our fleets. I am submittiuGj to the confinement of a
London fireside, in order to get rid by Thursday of a
cold, which, if it continued, would place me rather
hors de combat.
"Ever yours, W. P."
THE EIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 193
[Tliat some advances were made to the opposition
at this time, may be inferred from an expression in
one of Fox's letters : '' Tiiere is a great unwillingness
in our friends to liave anything like a junction with
the Pitts and Grenvilles." ' There might be an un-
willingness to change sides altogether, but there was
no reluctance to disavow Fox's policy, for in the Com-
mons he was left in a minority of 37 to 212, and in
the Peers of 8 to 86. Two years previously, as has
been already mentioned, a large body of his party
deserted him, on account of his sympathy with the
Jacobins of France, and the dangerous state of the
country ; and their leaders were admitted into the
Cabinet. This, however, gave much dissatisfaction to
Mr. Rose, who unburthened his mind upon the subject
to the Bishop of Lincoln, in the subjoined letter. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose to the Bishop of Lincoln.
" I directed a letter to you on the subject of the
new arrangement of the Government one day last
week to Buckden. Since writing, I learn that Lord
Spencer is to be the Privy Seal. The Cabinet there-
fore will stand thus : —
lie. Pitt.
Duke of Portland.
Lord Grenville.
Earl Fitzwilliam.
Mr. Dundas,
Lord Chancellor.
Lord Chatham.
Lord Spencer.
Lord Amlierst.
Lord Mansfield.
Duke of Richmond.
Mr. Wyndham.
Lord Hawkesbury.
1
Vol.
iii. p.
222,
VOL. I.
19'i DIARIES AND CORRESPONDE>'CE Ok'
This is not what I think ought to have been pro-
posed by the one or submitted to by the otlier. It
has not now the appearance of taking in two or three
men of considerable weight or talents who were
actinj? with Mr. Pitt, and bv whose means he wished
to sivc additional efficiency to his administration ; but
of a junction of parties on a footing of mutual interest,
or of sharing powxT to preserve a continuance of it.
" I have my fears that this measure will convert an
effectual support into a weak assistance, or what is
worse, into embarrassments in the deliberations of the
Cabinet. The only considerable talents gained are
Wyndham's, and I conceive him to be an imprac-
ticable man. These are the considerations which dis-
turb me most. There are others from which much
future inconvenience may arise. Numbers of Mr.
Pitt's friends, who would have liked marks of favour
or of honour, remained perfectly contented and satis-
fied without them, aware of the difficulties in the way
of then- obtaining them ; almost every one of wdiom
will feel mortitication and Q-row uneasv when they see
the Duke of Portland's adherents carrying their point.
His Grace, and those who come in with him, may be
honourable, fair men, but he is an atrocious jobber.
My next apprehension is, that ]\lr. Wyndham, who will
lead that set, w^ill induce Mr. Pitt, or strengthen him
in his determination, to pursue the war in Flanders
and on the Northern Frontier offe)isivcli/, by sending
farther numerous and powerful reinforcements from
this country, when the Emperor and the King of
Prussia are relaxing in their co-operation. The
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 195
number of lives, and the amount of finance expended in
expeditions must render the Government unpopular,
and disincline the nation to a war, the continuance
of which I still think is indispensably necessary to
our existence, and the tranquilhty of all civil society.
"We cannot carry on operations on such an ex-
tended scale as I allude to, without increasing the
capital of our debt next year four or five-and-twenty
millions, if we borrow in the Three Per Cents. Such
an enormous expense, and consecjuent taxes to the
amount of a million, without a hope of attaining any-
thing effectual, except in sanguine minds, is to me
extremely uncomfortable.
" I have great confidence in Mr. Pitt. His full
information on points which I know only superficially,
and, above all, his superior judgment, sometimes
encourage me even under the most unpromising ap-
pearances ; but on this occasion I cannot raise my
hopes much. I stated to him in conversation a few
days ago what occurred to me respecting the carrying
on the war offensively on the Continent ; but on the
Cabinet arrangements it would have been useless, as
they were settled. From the very bottom of my heart
I hope I may be mistaken as to the consequences of
both; I wish for that, and pray for it on the strongest
of all possible grounds — strong personal attachment
and affection, and a conviction that his continuing to
direct the councils of this country is absolutely neces-
sary to our existence. There is not a personal motive
which can influence my mind on the subject. I feel
some relief in thus opening it to you, to whom alone
o 2
19() DIARIES AND CORHESPON'DENCE OF
1 can express myself witli the freedom 1 have liercin
(lone.
" Mr. Pitt will learn from Lord Cornwallis the true
state of matters in Flanders and on the Rhine; and
we nnist trust he will decide for the best now.
Respecting the next campaign, there will bo time and
opportunities for deliberation.
" You will, I am very certain, consider this commu-
nication as sacredly secret ; part of it may be useful.
" I am,
r;. R.
" Old Palace Yard, July 14th, 1794."
[While these changes were going on in tlie adminis-
tration of aftairs in Great Britain, the fortune of war
was turning against our arms. The allies, on whose
assistance we had relied, preferred their own private
quarrels to the public good. The jealousies that have
always disunited the Courts of Ikrlin and Viennn,
rendered all concerted plans of the campaign abortive ;
and the best and honestest general amongst them, the
Duke of Brunswick, retired in disgust from the com-
mand of the Prussian army. But he thought it
necessary to explain his conduct to the Duke of York
in the following letter ; and it is much to the credit
of that prince, that the Duke of Brunswick seems to
have held him in such high estimation. — Ed.]
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 197
From the Duke of Brunswick to the
Duke of York.^
" Sir,
Your Royal Highness inspires me with the most
lively gratitude for deigning to interest yourself in niv
withdrawal from the army of the King. Nothing but
circumstances as harassing as they are uncommon,
such as those in which I find myself involved, could
have induced me to take a step so afflicting to myself.
" It has been infinitely flattering to me to have
sometimes found occasion to approach your Royal
Highness and to admire the talents which place you in
the rank of the great men of the age. Europe has need
of such, in a struggle where near 400,000 armed men
and eighty vessels of the line, assisted by an intestine
war, have not yet been able to check the confederation
of crime which tyrannizes over France. I consider
myself very happy that you have deigned to remark my
zeal for the public good. What a misfortune it is that
internal and external dissensions have often paralysed
' "Monsieur,
" Votre Altesse Royale m'inspire la plus vive reconnoissance eu
daignaut prendre part a ma retraite de I'armee du Roi. II u'y a que
des circonstaucea aussi facheuses que peu commuues, coinme celles
dans lesquellts je me suis trouve enveloppe, qui ayent pu me cou-
seiller une demarche aussi affligeante pour moi.
"II m'a ete infiniment flatteur d'avoir trouve quelquefois Tocca-
sion d'approcher Votre Altesse Royale et d'admirer en Elle les talens
qui vont la mettre au rang des grands horames du Siecle. L'Europe
en a besoin dans une lutte oti pres de quatre cent mille hommcs
armes, et quatre vingt Vaisseaux de Ligne, secourus par une guerre
intestine, n'ont pas encore pu mettre un frcin a cette federation de
crimes qui tyrannise la France. Je m'estime tros heureux de ce
198 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the movements of armies at periods when the greatest
activity was reqnired. If after tlie surrender of
Mayence we couhl liave fallen upon Ilouchard and
beaten him, we might have prevented the march of
the reinforcement towards the army of the north, and
consequently the check before Dunkirk.
" Saar-Louis ill-provisioned, and at that time almost
without protection from bombs, woukl probably have
fallen in a fortnight. Then Alsace would have found
itself turned by the t?aar ; the taking of the lines of
the Lantrc would have been followed by solid advan-
tages, and if the enemy's army of the Rhine had by
all these means been separated from that of the
IMoselle, and we could have gained the bridge of
Bouc(iuenom, Pfalzbourg would have been threatened,
and Landau would probably have fallen. Pardon me
for imparting to you my regrets : I feel all the useless-
ness of complaints, but they give me a momentary
comfort. Permit me here to add, once more, that if
you have any power over my successor, conjure him to
employ all his credit to prevent the too great sub-
division of the array into separate detachments. Every
qu'EUe a daigne remarquer mon zele pour le bien. Quel malheur que
des dissentions internes, ct extemes, ont souvent paralyse les mouve-
mens des armees, dans des epoques oti la plus grande activite auroit
ete nccessaire.
" Si apres la reddition de Mayence Ton fut tombe sur Houchard,
qu'on I'eut pousse et battu, Ton prevenoit la marche du reufort vei-s
I'armce du Nord, et par consequent I'ecliec de Dunkerque.
" Saar-Louis raal approvisionn^ et alors presque sans abri contre les
bombes, auroit tombe vraisemblablement dans quinze jours. Deslors
I'Alsace se trouveroit tournee par la Saar ; la prise des lignes de la
Lantre aurait eu des suites solides, et si I'armee ennemie du Rhin
eut ete par tons ces moyens separee de celle de la Moselle, et que
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 199
where feeble, it is thus reduced to act upon the defen-
sive ; a species of warfare which it is necessary to avoid
with the enemy opposed to us. I reckon upon depart-
ing hence on the 27th or 2Sth, according to the date
of M. de Moellendorf s arrival, and when I shall have
had time to put him in possession of all the details.
I cannot say how much it costs me to separate from
your Royal Highness, and to quit an army which
has inspired me with the highest degree of esteem,
admiration, and attachment. Nothing equals, nor
ever will equal, the very sincere attachment and high
consideration with which I have the honour to be,
"Sir,
'' Your Royal Highness's
" Most humble and most obedient servant,
" Charles Duke of Brunswick.
"Mayence, 24tli January, 1794."
Ton eut gagnc le pont de Boucquenom, Pfalzboiirg etoit menace et
Landau seroit tombe vraisemblablement. — Pardonnez que je vous
communique mes regi-ets. Je sens toute I'inutilitc des plaintes, elles
soulagent cependant un moment. Permettez que j'ajoute encore ici
que si Elle a quelque pouvoir sur mon successeur, qu' Elle le conjure
d'emj^loyer tout son credit pour prevenir la trop grande subdivision
de I'armee en divers Detachemens. Faible partout, Ton est reduit a la
defensive, ce qui est un genre de guerre qu'il est nccessaire d'cviter
avec I'enuemi qui nous est oppose. Je compte partir d'ici le 27
ou le 28, selon le jour que M. de Moellendorf arrivera, et que j'aurai
eu le tems de lui remettre tout ce qui rcgarde nos details. II m'en
coute infiniment de m eloigner de votre altesse Eoyale, et de quitter
une armee qui m'a inspire le plus haut degi-e d'estime, d' admiration
et d'attachement.
" Ricn n'egale et n'egalera jamais rattacbcment tres sincere et la
haute consideration avec laquelle j'ai I'honneur d'etre,
"Monsieur,
"De votre Altesse Royale
" Le tres humble et tres obcissant Serviteur,
" Charles Due de Bkunsvic."
" a Mayence, ce 24 Janvier, 1794."
200 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
[Mr. Pitt's attempts to conciliate the Duke of North-
umberland, by acceding to his demands, totally failed,
and his dissatisfaction continued to increase, till at last,
notwithstanding liis previously expressed contented-
ness with the constitution of the Government, he
joined the revolutionary party, and open hostilities
broke out between him and the minister, who shortly
afterwards insisted upon his joining the militia or
resigning his command. — Ed.]
AIh. J^itt to Mr. Rose.
"Downing street, Sept. loth, 1795.
" Dear Rose,
"I have no scruple about attacking the Duke of
Northumberland at Launceston, or anywhere else
where there is a chance of doing it with eflfect ; and I
think Cull's good intentions should be encouraged as
much as possible. Saltash, I believe, must now wail
till we meet. It is suggested to me that on the new
right the Butler interest is far from decisive, and
that government might with proper management do
a great deal.
" The Duke of Leeds has written to his agent to
do everything in favour of Gregor. 1 have just now-
written to Lord Hawkesbury to see what can be
done respecting Lady Bute. You once mentioned an
arrangement respecting the office in Bahama, which
would open one here for :\Ir. Sturges, of Windsor. I
wish you would send me the name. If this will
answer, it must supersede Mr. Chrystie's application.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 201
I shall stay in this neighbourhood another week at
least, and probably a little longer if the King returns
as is expected.
" Before that time I hope you will be perfectly
recovered from your accident, and be able to return to
town, as I should be glad of a day or two with you
before I set out. I am very sorry for the awkwardness
respecting Rolle, which is certainly unpleasant, though
he seems to make it more serious than he need.
" Yours sincerely,
" W, Pitt.
" I forgot to return Sir R. Cotton's letter sooner. I
had, before it came, engaged myself in favour of ]\Ir.
Seabright, who I believe has much the best interest,
and is more to be depended upon than Sir Corbett,
whom I do not take to be as steady as his relation, Sir
R. Cotton."
[Careless as Mr. Pitt was about his own affairs, his
anxiety to make some provision for his friend, or at
least for his family, is evinced in the two following
letters; the conclusion of the second is, as usual, full of
matters of business ; but in the first we see him intent
on recreation, which is very unusual. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
„ ^ -r, "Dowuing street, Friday, Sept. lltb, 1795.
" Dear Rose,
"I have had an opportunity of conversing with
the Chancellor respecting the reversion of Clerk of
202 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Parliaiiunts, and, as far as he is personally concerned
I have the satisfaction of finding that he has no wish
or object whatever respecting it ; bnt he seemed
desirous of ascertaining, more fully than he could then
by recollection, the state of what had passed at diffe-
rent times in the House of Lords, which might affect
the propriety or the mode of granting the otlicc.
He will probably himself trace it in the Journals, but
it may perhaps be useful if you can furnish me with a
note of reference to any passages that are material.
Our intended party for Southampton is now fixed for
Monday se'nnight, the 21st. As it is not impossible
that there may be some difficulty at such a tirne in
procuring lodgings, I should be nmch obliged to you
if you could, without inconvenience, contrive to ensure
that point for me, either at the hotel, or, if that is
full, anywhere in the town ; and I undertook to make
the same request for Dundas, who will bring Lady
Jane and his daughter with him. We have accounts
from Paris, that most of the sections there have
accepted the Constitution, but rejected the proposal
for re-electing two-thirds of the present Convention,
which is a very fortunate event.
" Yours ever,
" W. P."
]\Ir. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Walmer Castle,
"Sunday, Oct. 10th, 1795, 1 P.M.
" Dear Rose,
" The Chancellor is perfectly satisfied with the
reversion being granted to your son in the usual
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 203
form, and without any new limitation ; and I have
just written to the King, to propose it in the manner
you suggest ; and so as I think to avoid any chance
of difficulty. I Avish you would send me, with the
papers about the register, a copy of your notes on the
other taxes in question, to which I hope you will have
been enabled to add an account of the value of dif-
ferent articles of manufactured cotton goods, and some
estimate of the amount of funds on the Receipt Tax.
" I shall also Avish much to know the produce of
the Consolidated Fund. Mornington has signed the
warrants, Avhich I have given to be forwarded to
ToAvnshend.
" Yours ever,
" W. Pitt."
[The observations alluded to in the following letter
do not appear, but they are noticed in Mr. Pitt's
ansAver. They seem to have contemplated a measure
which has recently been the subject of much discus-
sion, — the expediency of obtaining some agricultural
statistics, either by compulsion or otherwise. — Ed.]
The Marquis of Stafford to Mr, Pitt.
" My dear Sir,
"I have received, as Gustos rotulorum for the
County of Stafford, a letter from the Duke of Portland,
conveying his Majesty's commands to convene the
Magistrates, to take into consideration subjects of
inquiry concerning the present high price of corn.
201 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDEN'CE OF
I shall not fail to carry these comuiands into cxecn-
tion, bnt I hope you will excuse my enclosing some
observations on this measure. If they prove useless,
you will have the trouble of throwing them into the
fire; but I shall have the satisfaction that this gives
me an opportunity of assuring you, with how much
regard, I am,
" Your faithful and obedient servant,
" Stafford."
JMii. Pitt to tui: Marquis or Stafford.
" Downing Street, Nov. 6th, 1795.
" My dear Lord,
" I think myself very much obhged to you for the
suggestions which you have had the goodness to send
mc, relative to measures for ascertaining the stock of
corn in the countr\-. I feel very strongly tlie diffi-
culty of obtaining accurate information without some
compulsory power, but I have at the same time great
doubts whether the alarm and dissatisfaction wliich
would be produced by having recourse to those means
would not outweigh the advantage to be obtained by
them ; and, as far as I have hitherto had any oppor-
tunity of judging, I am inclined to think this would
be the general impression. AVe must, therefore, I
believe, be contented with such general information
as magistrates can furnish from their observation and
inquiry, which, though far from precise, may lead to
some tolerable ground of comparison with the ordinnry
produce.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 205
"We arc still without any direct accounts of a
recent date from France, or any particulars of the late
operations in Germany.
" Believe me to be, with sincere regard and esteem,
" My dear Lord,
" Your Lordship's most faithful
" And obedient servant,
" W. Pitt.
"Marqiiis of Stafford, &c."
[The following letter, addressed to Mr. Valentine
Jones (in the year 1797), then in the West Lidies,
shows what severe but well-merited rebukes Mr.
Rose inflicted upon persons in the service of Govern-
ment who WTre guilty of too great profusion in the
expenditure of which they had the charge. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose to Mr. Valentine Jones.
" Sir,
" In my public letter to the Commander-in-
Chief and yourself of this date, I have communicated
the opinion of the Board respecting your bills, which
have lately appeared, and those of which there are
threatening symptoms ; for not having even the com-
mon advice of them, we can only conjecture what
are to come, but I cannot let the packet sail with-
out expressing my deep and sincere regret at your
conduct, as well as the disappointment ofc what I
thought well-founded expectations, arising from the
experience we had of you in the situations ofCommis-
206 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
sary at Barbadoes, and Commissary of Accounts on the
Staft'. I am not disposed to doubt but that the'
enormous sums for which you liave drawn have been
laid out, or tliat you will be able to produce j)robably
regular vouchers for them hereafter to the auditors ;
but that such expenditure can have been necessary
appears to me impossible. I should entertain that
opinion strongly if no services had been carried on in
the West Indies previously to your })resent appoint-
ment ; but when the expenses during Mr, .lelirey's
time, when the most active operations were in progress,
are compared with yours, it puts your want of economy
in the strongest possible point of view. The situations
you have held gave you a full opportunity of knowing
how the services were carried on. AVc are so entirely
in the dark relative to the expenditure under you that
I cannot even guess from what source the great out-
goings have arisen. The amount may be larger than in
the period before alluded to. There were then, I think,
about 20,000 men victualled ; but there can be no
increased numbers to account for the immense ditfe-
rence. Mr. Jefirey, too, was supposed to have left Avith
you a considerable store of provisions, rum, and other
articles necessary for the use of the troops. Serious as
the immediate mischief is, attendant on the almost
insurmountable difficulties you have involved us in at
present, we have still some formidable ones to appre-
hend, as it will not be easy to get rid of the system of
extravagance ; hut it must be done, otherwise we shall
be subject in times of peace to hearing demands from
the islands altogether unheard of in former times.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 207
" As far as I am enabled to judge at present, the
whole charge of the department of the Commissary-
General, the Quartermaster-General, the Barrack-
master-General, and the Hospital, did not amount
to 1,000,000/. steding, for the period preceding
your arrival in the AVest Indies. Compare this with
yours ! I had heard nothing of the circumstances
you allude to in your private letter to me, except
froDi the correspondent to whom you communicated
them. If you had performed your duty in the way I
hoped and trusted you would have done, no one
could have hurt you ; but, in any event, the parties
you alluded to cannot benefit by your suspension or
removal.
[The following letter from Lady Chatham is here
introduced, not only because it brings us into some
acquaintance with the mother of so eminent a man as
Mr. Pitt, to whose early training it is probable he
was under considerable obhgations ; but also because,
being written at the end of 1798, it gives a distinct
contradiction, in the happy account which she had
received of his health, to a report which Mr. Adding-
ton seems to have joined in circulating with respect
to some derangement of his mind. It would indeed
have been a very singular coincidence, if the minister
and the monarch had been subject to that calamity at
the same time. — Ed.
208 UIARIES AND COilRESPONDEN'CE OF
Lady CnATnAM to Mu. Rose.
"Burton Pynsent.Dec. 8tli, 1798.
"Sir,
" I am most sincerely obliged to you for tlie
great pleasure I received from the perfectly liaj)i)y
account of my dear son's health, after so long an
exertion of his strength. I flatter myself he felt
much satisfaction in the success that has attended
his speech.
" Now, sir, I must desire you will accept my best
thanks for the kind trouble which you have been so
good as to take in giving me the true state of the wild
and indecent behaviour of Croft. There certainly can
l)e no excuse for him, and he has undone himself.
What extravagance i)rovoked him to such conduct
there is no suessin";. lie has children l)v his first
wife, who \Aas a servant of mine, and a very honest,
good woman. AVhat power he has to take care of
his familv I know not ; but I am inclined to imagine
it verv little. The onlv thincj that he can be allowed
to have must be of a totally private sort. If there
should be any chance, so far, I should be glad for the
sake of those belonging to him. However, I have no
w^ish, if there is the smallest objection to what I have
named.
" The weather is so horridly bad, in consequence of
the continued fog, that one can neither see, nor feel at
all comfortable. I hope in God the effects will be
escaped by those I am interested for.
" I am really ashamed of having troubled you so
TUE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 209
long, and will therefore add only that I beg you to
believe me, Sir,
" Your obhged and most humble servant,
"H. Chatuam."
[Mr. Sheridan had stated in the House of Com-
mons, that the Ministers were unpopular in America ;
and, with the violent democrats of that country, it is
probable enough that they were ; but the following
letter from their Ambassador shows that it was not
the feehng of her statesmen. — Ed.]
Mr. Rufus King to Mr. Rose.
[Private.]
" Great Cumberland Place, 23d June, 1798.
" Dear Sir,
" Accept my acknowledgments for your letter of
yesterday. I am very glad that it has been thought
advisable to introduce the alterations which have been
made in the Convoy Bill ; the effect, I am persuaded,
must be alike advantao-eous to both countries. It
will be my duty, which I shall experience great satis-
faction in performing, to represent this subject in its
true light to the American Government, which must
see therein the same sincere desire on the part of
Great Britain that itself feels, to increase and confirm
the friendship and intercourse that at present so
happily subsists between the two countries.
" You will not doubt the pleasure it has given me
to be assured of the friendly sentiments that I have
VOL. I. P
210 DIARIES AND CORIIESPONDENCE OF
always flattered myself you entertained for my country,
whose origin, language, laws, and manners are so
many titles to the friendship of England.
"With perfect esteem and respect, 1 ha\e tiie
honour to be,
*' Dear Sir,
" Your obedient and faithful servant,
" RuFCs King.
" George Rose, Esq. &c. &c."
[Tlic two next letters relate to tiie King's subscrip-
tion for carrying on the war. Lords Ronmcy, Ehloii,
and Kenyon, Messrs. Pitt, Duiidas^ and Addington,
subscril)(.'(l on that occasion 2,()0U/. each, in hcu of
their legal assessments ; Lord Bridport and Admiral
Colpoys, 1,000/. each. The King subscribed one-
third of hi^ privy purse, or 20,000/. annually. — Ed. J
Mk. PiiT TO Mk. Rose.
" Wimbledon,
"Thursday, half-pa.st 8 p.m., Jan. 25th, 1708.
** Dear Rose,
"The mode of payment certainly ought to be by
instalments. I have just now received a letter from
the King, authorizing me to take all the steps neces-
sary, and as I think a minute of the Board is the
only way of stating the case publicly, I wiH return to
town to-morrow mornino;, and wish vou to fix a
Board at half-past twelve. You will of course be
enabled to sav all vou wish to Mr. Kemble.
" Y'ours ever,
"W. P."
the right hon. george rose. 211
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Wimbledon,
i - " Friday, 10 a.m., Jan. 26th, 1798.
" Dear Rose,
" On consideration, I have thought it best simply
to write a letter to the Bank, announcing the King's
subscription, and to give up the idea of a minute of
the Treasiuy, which coukl not, I think, be so framed
as not to appear a studied, and. laboured apology.
You will probably have time to countermand the
Board, and if not can explain to them the circum-
stances. Give my letter to Car the w to be entered,
before it is sent to the Bank. Pray bring Abbott's
paper with you to-morrow.
" Yours ever,
"W. P.
" Bring also the abstract of the payment in the
different classes of the civil Ijst, compared with the
amount some years back, and with the estimate given
in to Parhament under Burke's bill.
" Some business will keep me here to-day, but you
will be sure to find me at Hollwood to-morrow."
[Miss Rose, who was a clever and strong-minded
woman, took a great disHke to Mr. Addington, and
no doubt exercised a considerable influence over her
father's mind, already predisposed to dislike any suc-
cessor to Mr. Pitt, and to institute disadvantageous
comparisons between them. Notwithstanding, how-
p 2
212 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
ever, the accusations so strongly urged against him, it
will be seen in the end that the alienation produced
by them was only temj)orary. — Ed.]
EXTRACT FROM MISS ROSE'S DIARY.
In the autumn of 1709, my father was ill, and I
went to London with my aunt Frances, to stay with
him. Mr. Pitt, whose health had for some time been
failing, was persuaded by Mr. Aildington, then
Speaker, to go to his house in the country rather than
to IIt)llwood, under the plea that he would have more
rest from intru.sion of guests and from business. I
had no liking for Mr. Addington. I thought him
shallow, and mistrusted him from his conduct when
S[)eaker ; which, in fact, was the cause of the duel
between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Tic-rney. Not only by his
conduct in the House of Commons, for which the
opposition blamed him (Ilendon saying he had said
stronger things, and had taken stronger things, and
would do so again), but from his knowledge of what
was passing afterwards, and not taking any means of
preventing the duel. Dui-ing the time I was in
London I found that a new set of people were about
my father. Nicholas Vansittart, and Dr. Beck, who
afterwards was his assistant financier, dined with
him. I thought them shallow ; very important about
trifles and little matters, and very assiduous in getting
information from my father. I remember when I
returned to Cuff'nells 1 told my mother that there
were strange birds getting about my father, and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 213
pecking his brains ; that I did not understand what
was going on, and did not like it.
The spring before, Mr. Pitt, whose health was
then failing, w^as suffering great depression of spirits,
arising, as I afterwards believed, from suppressed gout.
He Avas advised to rest his mind as much as pos-
sible, and did not go for some time to the House of
Commons.
For a time, except when the Bishop of Lincoln was
in London, he saw only my father and Lord Melville.
In the spring of 1800, we dined at the Speaker's. My
father had that morning returned from Hollwood ; and
at dinner. Lord Bathurst,and other friends of Mr. Pitt's,
talked of the place, and of the changes Mr. Pitt w'as
making. He was always amusing himself with some
w^ork there. My father spoke of his having removed a
plantation of willows, wdiich his friends then present had
disapproved of when made. I sat next to the Speaker,
at the side of the table, he sitting at the bottom ; Lord
Bathurst sat on my right hand. The Speaker, in an
under but distinct tone, said to Lord Bathurst, across
me, " I do not think there could be a clearer proof of
the aberration of Pitt's mind last year than his having
made that plantation." Lord Bathurst made no reply ;
and I suspected at the time, from his manner, that he
did not distinctly hear what Addington had said.
A few days before this diary begins, my father,
who we had seen was annoyed, as he was occasionally
w^hen he could not fix Mr. Pitt's attention on business
particularly under his management in the House of
Commons, spoke of it at that time as particularly
2 < DTVRIES A>iD CORRESPONDENCE OF
inconvenient, as it related to some matters that must
be brought into the House of Commons soon, and he
said, " I will go to the Speaker to-morrow, and get
him to remind Mr. Pitt that it must soon come before
the House." I believed he had a false confidence in
the man, and said hastily, " And do you think the
Speaker is really attached to Mr. Pitt ? '"' — " Yes, cer-
tainly." — " Ida )wt," I replied. Then, on bis question-
ing my reason for this opinion, T told him of the speech
I heard Mr. Addington make to Lord Bathurst. My
father was the more astonished, as he said, as he had
before done to us, when such reports were afloat the
preceding year, that there was not the slightest mental
failure in Mr. Pitt, nothing but depression of spirits —
overwork on a slic-ht constitution. Before this con-
versation, my father had said to the Speaker that he
would call on him. Going to his house, he overtook
Mr. Hatsell, the Clerk of the House of Commons, who
said if he was going in, he should not be able to see
the Speaker before he went out, and that it would pre-
vent his going out of town, as he wished to do, next
day. My father then gave way to him, desiring him
to tell the Speaker he would call on him on Monday.
In the meantime the change took place, and my father
wrote to Addington, that the matter on which he
wished to spe.ik to him no longer existed.
THE RIGHT HO^. GEORGE ROSE. 215
CHAPTER IV.
■ 1798-9.
FIRST INTELLIGENCE OF THE VICTORY OF THE NILE — LORD NELSON'S
PROCEEDINGS IN THE BAT OF NAPLES IN 1799 — GROUNDS OF LADY
HAMILTON'S CLAIMS — MR. ROSE's EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPENSATION
FOR HER, FROM 1804 to 1813.
[The following letter from Mr. Pitt, amidst many
matters of ordinary bnsiness, contains the first intima-
tion that reached this country of the glorious victory
achieved by Lord Nelson at Aboukir, on the 1st of
August, 1798, over the fleet which conveyed General
Buonaparte to the shores of Egypt ; and it gives us a
curious specimen of the system of averting discontent
from the people of Prance by falsifying the events of
the war. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Walmer Castle, Friday, Aug. 10th, 1798.
"Dear Rose,
'* I return the draft of the wari'ant appointing the
Conmiissioners ior the sale of the Land-tax, and think
it in general perfectly right, but have put two queries
in the margin, which you can easily answer. Tn the
216 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
meantime, send tlie warrant to the King, witliout
waiting to hear from nie again. I think I shall pro-
bably be in town for a few days about the 20th, but
shall hardly meet you on the 23d, as I have a scheme
(which I mean to say nothing of) of running down
for a week at that time to Somersetshire. On mv
return from thence, T hope we shall be able finally to
arrange both the bills for the contribution and the
warehousing. I am at present strongly prejudiced
against a total repeal of the act of last year, and 1
know that Lowndes has always a rage for putting
everything into one act of Parliament ; whereas,
nine times out of ten, and particularly I should think
in the present case, the provision would be nuule
much better by reference. I have received French
newspapers of the 7th and Sth, containing vague
reports of an action between Nelson and Buonaparte,
and some pretending that the latter had been
victorious. They serve only to confirm the belief
that something has hap])ened, but it may still be
some time before wc have any authentic account,
though they probably will not be long able to disguise
entirely the result, even in France.
" Yours ever,
" W. P.
" I enclose an application from Mr. Dornford to be
a Commissioner, which, however, ought not to be
attended to, unless approved by the Tax Office. Pray
inquire, and let me know whether any thing has been
done respecting the late Lord Montagu's estate. I
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 217
have an application on behalf of Lady Mostyn,
desiring that no grant may be made of it till she has
time to present a memorial to the Treasury, stating
her claim, and I want to return some ansAver."
[But the glory of the victory of the Nile was dearly
purchased by the loss of honour which flowed indirectly
from circumstances connected with it, and which
sadly tarnished the lustre of Lord Nelson's name.
The facts are thus briefly stated by Lord Holland :
" When, distracted at having missed the French fleet,
he came to Palermo, he obtained, chiefly through the
influence of Lady Hamilton (the wife of the ambas-
sador), whom he had not seen since 1795, the stores
and provisions which enabled him to put to sea again,
and to overtake the enemy in the Bay of Aboukir. He
returned therefore to Naples overflowing wnth grati-
tude for the service which she had rendered him." '
Unfortunately, Lord Nelson's personal vanity came
powerfully in aid of his gratitude, and completed a
most infatuated attachment to Lady Hamilton ; for he
is said to have pressed her to sing the most fulsome
couplets to his honour, and to have acknowledged
with the utmost naivete that his preference of her
society to Lady Nelson's arose from the warm praises
she bestowed upon him ; after which the congratula-
^ Redding, in his "Fifty Years' Recollections," says that Nelson
was Lady Hamilton's dupe ; she persuaded him that she had obtained
the victualling of his fleet. It was her husband, who made her his
agent with the Queen (vol, iii. p. 103).
218 DIARIES AND CORRESPOyDEXfE OF
tions of his wife were, he said, cold, flat, and insi{)id.
She thus alienated his affections entirely from his wife,
ill estrangement led to a total separation when he
returned to England, although he acknowledged that
his wife had committed no fault. His biographer says,
" Further than this there is no reason to believe that
this most unfortunate attachment was criminal ; but
this was criminahty enough, and it brought with it
its punishment." Dishonoiu" was the punishment of
both, and the remark of the Roman moralist was
signally veriticd : —
" Raro antecedcntem scelestum
Deseruit pede poina claudo."
It was not, however, at a slow pace that retribution
overtook these offenders. On his return to Naples,
Nelson dishonoured his character and sullied his
glory l)y listening to the violent counsels of a
woman whose passionate zeal for her friends over-
leaped all the boundaries not only of discretion,
but of justice. He became her accomplice in perfidy
and murder. These seem to be hard terms to use
of a man of whom in other respects England is so
justly proud. But they are the terms used by Lord
Holland, and not unwarranted by impartial history,
as we shall presently see, on describing George the
Third's reception of Nelson at Court, after his return
from the Mediterranean ; a reception which must
have been peculiarly galling to Nelson, to whom
worldly distinction was all in all. Ho had yet to
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 219
learn that England expects every man to do his duty
in morals as well as in battle. The passage in whicli
the charge is made is curious, because it brings before
us in so broad a light the character of the writer,
sneering at a morality with which he had no sympathy,
and blinded to the most obvious truth by a Jacobinical
hatred of royalty.
" It is certain," says Lord Holland, " that her
(Lady Hamilton's) baneful ascendancy over Nelson's
mind was the chief cause of his indefensible conduct
at Naples, and that neither he nor she was ever
disavowed or discountenanced by our Court for that
conduct. He never w^as a favomnte at St. James's;
his amour with Lady Hamilton, if amour it was,
shocked the King's morality, and though the perfidies
and murders to wdiich it led were perpetrated in the
cause of royalty, they could not wash away the
original sin of indecorum in the eye of his Majesty
Nelson's reception at Court after the victory of
Aboukir was singularly cold and repulsive." '
The malignity of the insinuation that perfidy and
murder in the cause of royalty would have been a
recommendation to the monarch's favour if they had
not been more than counterbalanced by the scandal
of a doubtful intrigue, can only be ascribed to the
blindest hatred. But that Lord Holland should be
equally blind to the inconsistency of his own state-
ments is more extraordinary. He first asserts that
1 Memoirs of the Whig Party, vol. ii. p. 5?).
220 DIARIES AND cohrespondence of
neither Nelson nor Lady Hamilton were discounte-
nanced by the Court for their conduct, and then
proceeds to show, tliat though the King could not
disavow acts which were not disavowed by his
Ministers, yet that he did in the most marked way
discountenance the doer of them. And there can be
no doubt in the mind of any reasonable man, that
it was " for that conduct" Nelson was so dis-
countenanced ; though the adultery, to whicii appear-
ances attributed it, could not fail to increase the
feeling of disgust in one who understood the value
of Christian morality even to public men, so nuich
better than Lord Holland did. This sad episode in
Nelson's life cannot be more fitly related than in the
words of his impartial biographer.
" The castles of Uovo and Nuovo were chiefly
defended by Neapolitan revolutionists, the powerful
men amongst them having sought shelter there. They
were strong places, and, if they were taken, the
reduction of Fort St. Elmo, which commands Naples,
would be greatly expedited. Cardinal Ruffo proposed
to the garrison to capitulate, on condition that their
persons and properties should be guaranteed. This
capitulation was accepted. It was signed by the
Cardinal, by the Prussian and Turkish commanders,
and by Captain Toote, commander of the British
forces. Thirty-six hours afterwards. Nelson arrived,
and annulled the treaty, declaring that he would grant
rebels no other terms than those of unconditional sub-
mission. The Cardinal objected to this ; nor could all
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 221
the arguments of Nelson, Sir AVilliam Hamilton, and
Lady Hamilton, who took an active part in the con-
ference, convince him that a treaty of such a nature,
solemnly concluded, could honourably be set aside.
He retired at last, silenced by Nelson's authority, but
not convinced. Captain Foote was sent out of the
bay, and the garrisons, taken from the castles under
the pretence of carrying the treaty into effect, were
delivered over as rebels to the vengeance of the
Sicilian Court." ^
Prince Caraccioli, at the head of the Marine, after
a service of forty years, had escaped before the capitu-
lation, and went to Sicily, but was permitted t^*
return to Naples to save his estates from confiscation.
Por a few days he was compelled by the French to
serve on board their fleet,^ for which he was hanged
by Nelson, after a two hours' trial by a court of
Neapolitan officers, presided over by a personal
enemy ; and Lady Hamilton not only was on board
the ship, but present at the execution.
In that part of the correspondence which bears
upon these transactions, there is, first, a copy of a
proclamation issued to the army by the Neapolitan
Government, not very well or clearly written, but
probably forwarded to Mr. Rose in justification of
1 Southey's "Life of Nelson," vol. ii. p. 18.
- Captain Troubridge says in one of his letters to Lord Nelson,
" I am assured by all the sailors that Caraccioli is not a Jacobin, but
has been forced to act as he does." — Clarke and McArthur's '^ Life of
Lord Nelson" p. 543. ,• j
222 DLVRIES AND COKllESrONDENCE Ol*
Nelson's conduct. It need not bu added, that in
this respect, too, it entirely fails ; lor whatever
authurit}'- that Government might have given to him, it
could not authorize him to In-eak the laws of honour
and rectitude. It ordered that lie sliouhl he con-
sulted, and tluit regard shouhl he paid to his o})inion
in those mihtarv arrangements which would secure a
victory over the rel)els ; but the Commander-in-chief
of the NeapoUtans was the Prince lluyal, who seems to
have delegated his entire power to Cardinal Ruffo, for
he does not api)ear at all in the correspondence. To
him there might have been an appeal from Cardinal
fvulVo's decision, but none to Nelson.
Secondly, there are some letters written by Sir
William Hamilton, who had been thirty-live years
ambassador at that coml, but written, no doubt, at
the instigation of his wife, whose eager friendship
for the Queen would sufi'er no obstacles to stand
in her way, no considerations of right or wrong, in
serving the interests of the royal cause.
Thirdly, there is a series of letters written by that
strong-minded woman after her return to England,
in ISOO, in which her utter inability to appreciate
the delicacy of her position in the eyes of the world,
her fervid admiration of the Admiral, her perse-
verance in urging a suit which everybody combined
to reject, her persistence in making inadmissible
statements, and at last, her indignation and brokeu-
heartedness, stand out in strong relief.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 223
This correspondence is extended, at wide intervals
of time, from IS 02 till near the close of her life,
when her setting sun was clouded by imprisonment,
exile, and dependence on the charity of her friends ;
one of whom, no doubt, was Mr. Rose, who was at
all times her steadfast advocate. Previous, however,
to entering upon this subject, a letter from Sir W.
Hamilton to Lord Nelson of an earlier date may
here be fitly introduced ; partly because it notices
a similar foible in the character of another eminent
officer, after another great success against Buonaparte,
Avhich finally defeated his project of conquest in Syria ;
and partly because it furnishes evidence that attach-
ment to Nelson was claimed bv Sir W. as the common
property of both, — of the husband and the wife.
In the " Recollections of the Life of Dr. Scott, Lord
Nelson's Chaplain," it is said, with regard to his un-
fortunate admiration of Lady Hamilton, that neither
Dr. Scott, nor any of his most intimate friends,
believed in its criminality. Lord St. Vincent used to
call them a pair of sentimental fools ; and it is a fact
that Lady Hamilton never was a mother. It has
been thought by some who witnessed Nelson's inti-
macy with royalty at Naples, that Horatia Nelson
might lay claim to a far more illustrious origin than
has been supposed. This solution, if a true one,
accounts equally well for the miserable state of mind
which Lord Nelson's letters written from Naples
betray. It may be feared that this misery was the
221 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
consequeuce of guilt ; but if so, such uneasiness was
the conscientious compunction of an habitually upright
mind.'
Lady Hamilton, writing to Dr. Scott, September
7tli, 180G, speaks of " our virtuous Nelson," and
" we have innocency on our side," and, " you know
the great and virtuous affection he had for me." He
might be virtuous towards her, but if she could apply
that term to one whom she knew to be guilty of
adultery with another, she could not have much
principle for her own defence. At Lord Nelson's
death, Lady Hamilton had at least 1,400/. a vear,
besides the little estate at Merton ; but her vanity and
extravagance found this no competence. Her affairs
were put into the hands of a financier, who advised
her to go into retirement for two or three years ; but
she soon returned, and committed wilder extravagances
than ever, and was again a suppliant for relief to the
friends whose advice she had disregarded. The
financier declared that all attempts to serve a person
of her character must be in vain. She died abroad
in great poverty.
Mr. Rose, who considered that every one belonging
to Lord Nelson was a legacy to himself, did every-
thing in his power to fix the attention of Government
' Whoever the mother might be, there seems to be no doubt that
Mrs. Horatia Nelson Ward was Lord Nelson's daughter, from the
letters which he wrote as a father to his child, and his sending her
in one of them his parental blessing. These letters were pubhshed
by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 225
upon Dr. Scott as a man closely connected Avitli Lord
Nelson's memory; but all his representations were
attended with no more eflfect than the petitions which
he drew up for Lady Hamilton, to be presented to
successive Ministers. — Ed.]
Letter to Lord Nelson from Sir William Hamil-
ton, Ambassador at the Court of Naples.
"Palermo, 12 o'clock,
" Monday, 27th May, 1799.
" My dear Lord,
"I hope the felucca that sailed from hence
yesterday at noon has brought your Lordship Ball's
despatches that were sent to me by express from
Messina. Your letters of the 25th, to Emma and me,
arrived this morning at eight o'clock, and the Queen
and Acton are informed of their contents. I think
there can be little doubt but that the French fleet
have got into Toulon, and we rejoice in the hope of
seeing you here again very soon.
" Yesterday afternoon I received a letter by the post
from Signor Raymond!, our Vice-consul at Syracuse,
with an account in Italian, signed Sidney Smith, of
his success against Buonaparte at Acre, brought by
a Russian polacca, with a copy of the instructions
given to Mr. Geo. Nicholson, one of his midshipmen,
to carry 250 Erencli prisoners from Acre to Toulon,
with Uberty to touch in any friendly island or port for
refreshments. I send your Lordship a copy of those
instructions, in Sir Sidney's usual pompous style —
VOL. I. Q
220 DIAllIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OE
* Great Cross of tliu Military Order of tlie Sword,
Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty to the Ottoman
Porte, and Commander of the Royal Pleet in the
Levant Seas.' We grieve for the loss of poor Captain
Wilmot, of the /llliance, who was killed, as your Lord-
ship will see, the Stli of April, by a musket shot, — for
I send you an English translation of Sir Sidney
Smith's account, which was sent to me in Italian from
Syracuse. Upon the whole, this is very good news,
and ]^uonapartc seems to be in a bad way ; but your
Lordship will comprehend the good and bad of Sir
Sidney's operations much better than I can.
'■ 1 enclose two letters from Graham to Sir Chas.
Stuart, as your Lordship talks of sending soon to
-Minorca, a letter from Mr. Wyndham for Captain
Lewis, and one from Lamb to Captain 1 lardy. Land) is
very attentive, and comes daily for orders from my lady.
" We have had here three davs' fjrala and illumina-
tions, the Empress of Germany having been brought
to bed of an Arch-duke. I see that Constantine, the
Grand Duke of Russia, is at Vienna, so that the
Courts of Vienna and St. Petersburg draw well to-
gether. Adieu, my very dear Lord ; take care of
your health above all. Captain Ball must surely have
joined you before this letter can reach you.
" Ever your Lordship's
" Most attached and obliged humble servant,
" (Signed) Wm. Hamilton.
" P. S. — I can assure vou that neither Enmia nor I
4/
knew how much we loved you until this separation,
THE RIGHT HON. GEOIIGE HOSE. 227
and we are convinced that your Lordship feels the
same as we do.
" The boatman that brings your Lordship this packet
says he has no passport from your Lordship, and the
three passports yom- Lordship left have been sent for
by the King or Queen, so pray send us two or three
more in blank."
[The translations from the Italian correspondence
which follow, and the instructions given by the King
to bis troops, are indispensable to the judgment that
ought to be formed of Nelson's conduct. It is quite
clear that, before the arrival of the British Admiral,
Cardinal RufFo wielded all the authority of the King,
for the Prince Royal, who was joined with him in the
command, never appears in these transactions ; and
though the King reserved to himself the power of
extending his clemency to the rebel leaders, yet he
specially excepts the case of those who should sur-
render by capitulation. But he was a weak man, and
Nelson, who could not bear the idea of those whom he
called Jacobins escaping condign punishment, easily
persuaded him to retract this equitable provision, and
to annul all that his own Commander-in-chief had
done ; but the Cardinal was found to be so intractable
that it was judged expedient to send him back to
Sicily, without venturing however to disgrace him for
his honesty. — Ed.]
Q 2
228 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
General Acton to Cardinal Ruffo.
" Your Eminence,
"The King, tiiuling it iiulispensablc for his
royal service that your Excellency should repair in-
stantly to this capital, that liis Majesty may be
minutely informed by you of every event that lias
happened, to enable his ^lajesty to make important
provisions for the good government of the affairs of
tliis city and kingdom; — has therefore resolved and
couinianded, that you should immediately embark on
board one of the men-of-war that shall be selected for
this purpose by the Admiral of the British S(piadron,
Lord Nelson ; and be conveyed immediately here for
the above-mentioned object ; His Majesty having
already given to the aforesaid English Admiral his
royal commands concerning the persons ^vho, during
your Eminence's absence, will assume the military
command and regulate all civil affairs.
> "EM" SlOXOK,
" II Re trovando essere indispensibile pel suo Real Serrigio che
\. E, si porti subito in questa Capitale per far che Sua Maesta
rimanga minutamcnte iuformata dalla stessa voce dell V. E. di alcuni
fatti che sono avvenuti e che posse quindi la Maesta sua dare alcune
importantissime provedenze relative al buon Governo degU aflari di
cotesta Citta e Regno, ha percib risoluto o commanda che Ella
immediatemente s'embarchi sopra uno de' Legni da Guerra che sarii
a tal uopo destinata dal Ammiraglio della Squadra Brittanica, Lord
Nelson ; e si trasferisca subito qui all accennato oggetto ; avendo gia
S. M. dato le sovrane dispozioni all stesso Ammiraglio Inglese circa
le persone che dui*ante il tempo che 1' E. V. ne stara lontana, debbono
assumere il Commando Jtlilitare, ed interiormente regolar gli Aflfari
CiviU.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 229
" In the royal name I command speedy obedience,
the corresponding orders being ah-eady given to the
above-mentioned Admiral.
" Yom' Eminence,
" John Acton.
"Palermo, June 27th, 1799.
« To the Cardinal Ruffo." *
General Acton to the Duke of Solandra.^
" Your Excellency,
" The King, having decided that Cardinal Ruffo
should be conducted here by one of the men-of-war
to be chosen for this purpose by the Admiral of the
British Squadron, Lord Nelson, has deigned to
command, that your Excellency, in concert with
General Gamba, if this latter be not occupied or
prevented, and Col. Baron Tschudy, be charged to
execute the said removal, with all the caution that the
" Nel Real nome lo participo a V. E. nel pronto adempimento,
prevedendola di essersene gia dati gli avisi corrispondenti al mento-
vato Ammiraglio.
"Palermo, 27 Giugno, 1799.
" Em" Signor,
" Giovanni Acton.
" Signor Cardinale RufFo."
' Signor Duca della Solandra.
" ECCELLENTISSIMO SiGNOR,
" II Re avendo So\Tamente risoluto che il Cardinale Ruflfo sia
arrestato e condotto qui sopra uno dei Legui di Guerra che a tal uopo
sara destinata dal Ammiraglio della Squadra Brittanica, Lord Nelson,
si e degnata commandare che V. E. di concerto col Gcnerale Gamba
si costui non si trovi arrestato ni empidito, e col Col. Barons
Tschudy, sia charichi di eseguire un tal arresto con tutti quelli cauteli
230 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
circumstnnces demand, and to consign the aforesaid
Cardinal to the above-mentioned Admiral, to whom
his Majesty has already given the corresponding orders,
that the same should be embarked and removed liere.
In t'!? royal name, T urge ujion your Excelleney the
pronipf and exact accomplishment of this desire.
" John Acton.
"Palermo, 27th June, 1799."
[General Acton's letters to Generals Gamba and
Tschudy were in the same words as in those to the
Duke of Sohndra. — Ed.]
Copy of a Letter rRo:M TIis Majesty the King to
Cardinal Ruffo.
" Palermo, June 27th, 1799.
" I have heard with inexpressible consolation of the
arrival, after dinner, of my frigate from Naples, and
also, of the happy arrival there of the very worthy
and faithful Admiral, Lord Nelson. I have read
che le circonstanze richiedono, e che quindi consegni il referito
Cardinale al mentorato Amniiraglio, al quale ha gia S. M. date gli
avvisi corrispondeuti, I'orche il medesimo sia imbarcarto e qui tras-
portato. lo partecipo nel Real nome a V. S. pel pronto e esatto
adempimento di sua parte.
"Giovanni Acton."
"Palermo, 27 Giugno, 1799."
Copia (Tuna lettera di S. M. il Re al Cardinale Ruffo.
" Palermo, 27 Giugno, 1 799.
" Ho inteso con inesprimabile consolazione, I'arrivo deUa mia
frigata da Napoli, e dalla medesima che vi e felicimente arrivato colla
sua squadra il ben degno e fedele Ammiraglio Lord Nelson. Ho letto
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 231
the declaration which he, in form of observations,
has despatched to you, which could not be more
wise, reasonable, and adapted to the end, and truly
evangelical.
" I do not doubt that you immediately conformed to
it, and acted in consequence on his advice. Otherwise
that would be which is impossible, after the many
proofs of fidelity and attachment given me in the past.
" May the Lord preserve you, as with all my heart
I desire.
" Perdinando B.
" To the Vicar-Geueral, Cardinal Euflfo."
[The original in the King's own handwriting.
—Ed.]
EXTRACTS FROM THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE TROOPS
OF HIS MAJESTY, ORDERED TO REPAIR TO THE BAY
OF NAPLES.i
" The circumstances of Naples requiring the prompt
expedition to that place of a force of infantry, with
la Dichiarazione che egli in forma di osservazioni vi ha spedito, che
non pub essere piu savia, ragionata, ed adatta all' efletto, e verameute
evangelica.
" Non dubito che immediatemente vi ci sarete conformato ed
avete agito in consequenza all' istante. Altremente sarebbe cib che
non e possibile mai dopo tante ripruove per lo passato datemi di
fidelta ed attaccamento.
" II Signer vi consei-vi come di tutto cuore io ve lo desidero.
"Ferdinando B.
" Al Vicario Generale, Cardinale Ruflfo."
1 Istruzioni per le Triippe di S. M. deslinate a portarsi nel Cratere
di Napoli.
"Richiedendo le circonstanze di Napoli la pronta spedizione a
quella volta di una Forza di Liuea all' effetto di secondare gli sforzi
232 DIARIES AND COUllESPONDEXCE OF
the design of aiding the inhabitants of that capital,
devoted to the defence of religion and the crown,
and to assist the operations of the Vicar-General,
Cardinal Ruffo, — Admiral Lord Nelson has thought
proper, on nintual advice, and in concert, to make
arrangements to act, conjointly and elKciently, with
the renowned 15ritish force under his connnand, to
re-establish ))eacc in this kingdom by the recovery
of the capital, and to liberate this people from the
yoke of anarchy and rebellion.
1st. The declarations and memorials of mnnerous
subjects in Naples and its environs, who pant to break
the yoke imposed on them by the most infamous
treachery, have caused in reply permission to be
given to the true royalists, on the appearance of the
Squadron in the Gulf of Naples, to be ready all to
take arms, and then make use of them at the signal
that shall be given by Admiral Lord Nelson, either
contemporaneously with, or innnediately after the
intimation that will be made bv a flag of truce for
degli abitanti in quclla cajiitale dediti alia difcsa delta religioue e
coroua, ed a coadjuvare le operazioni del Vicario Generale Cardinale-
Ruffo : Ha stimato rAmmiraglio Lord Nelson, suli' avviso passato-
gliene, e con concerto, di disporre I'occorrente per concorrere efiBca-
cemente con le rispettabili forzi Brittaniche sotto il sue comando,
a ripristinare la quiete in quel regno, merce il riaquisto della
capitate, ed a liberare quei popoli dal giogo dell' anarchia e rebellioue.
" 1" Le dichiarazioni e suppliche di numerosi sudditi che anelauo
in Napoli e sue adjucouze, di scuotere il giogo imposto loro dal pia
infame tradimento, hanno prodotto in replica la preveuzione ai
buoni Realisti di dover essi al comparire della squadra nel Golfo di
Napoli, trovarsi disposti a preudere tutti le armi, e fame poi uso al
segno che verra loro dato dall' Ammiraglio Lord Nelson, o contem-
poraneamente o in segnito delle intimazione che si fara fare da un
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 23.3
the surrender and submission of that capital to the
royal army. For this reason several boats will convey
trusty persons to meet the Squadron, as it approaches
the islands.
" 2d. Advices are in consequence despatched to
Cardinal Ruffo, of the determination taken by the
aforesaid Squadron to present itself before Naples, and
to procure the possession of it to the royal arms, in
order to accelerate his advance to the capital, with fill
the force that he thinks proper to lead there.
" 3d. The forces of the Cardinal will alone be
permitted to enter the capital, in the number and
selection which he may think fit to make from the
appointed corps, in addition to the troops of the line.
" 4th. All the military and political operations shall
be agreed upon by the Prince Royal and Admiral Lord
Nelson. The opinion of this latter always to have
a preponderance, on account of the respect due to his
experience, as well as to the forces under his command,
Pai'lamentario i^er la resa e sottomissione alle reali armi di qiiella
capitate. Si porteranno a questo efietto varj battelli con persone
fidate all' incontro della squadra, nell' avvicinarsi di questa alle
isole.
" 2°- Si sono spediti in consequenza avvisi al Cardinale Ruffo della
determinazione presa di preseutarsi la .s(|^uadra predetta avanti
Napoli, e di procurarne il possesso alle reali armi, affinche acccleri
esso il suo avviciuameuto alia capitate con tutte le forze che credera
di dovervi portare.
" 3°- Le sole forze del Cardinale potranno introdursi nella capitate
in quel numero, e con l;i scelta che egli stimera di fare dei corpi
destinati, in supplemento delle trnpi^e de linea.
" 4"- Tutte le operazioni militari e politiclie, sarauno concertate
tra il Principe Reale, e 1 'Ammiraglio Lord Nelson. II parere di
quest' ultimo sara sempre di preponderanza per in riguardi dovuti
alia di Ini esperienza come alle forze da esso dipendcnti, c che
234 DIARIES AND CORRESPOyDENCE OF
which will determine the operations ; and also because
we are so deeply indebted to him for the zeal and
attachment of which he has given so many proofs.
Therefore, should the attack take place, the employ-
ment of the royal forces, and all other means tending
to obtain the surrender of Naples, shall be thus
decided.
" .jth. The summons to the rebels to surrender,
and any invitation or declaration to the people, and
to the en'ing or misled, shall, for the base and rule of
the expression or promises, agree with whatever has
been specified in the law given by his ^lajesty to
Cardinal Ruffo on the 2d\]\ of April last, as •well
with respect to the principal criminals generally, as
with rciiard to the clemencv to be shown them, the
which is and always shall be the right of his Majesty.
The spirit of these new declarations shall therefore
approximate as much as possible to the sense of the
aforesaid general law.
" 6th. Therefore, in the military capitulation which
decidono dell' operazione ; e per quauto altresi devesi al medesimo
per lo zelo, ed attaccamento, de quei ha dato tante ripruove. Oude
se avrauuo luogo gli attacchi, si decidera con questo metodo I'im-
piego delle reali forze, ed ogni altro mezzo tcndento ad ottenere la
resa di Napoli.
" 5°- Le intimazioni ai ribelli per arrendersi, e ogui qualimque
invito, o dichiarazione ai popoli, ed ai traviati o sedotti, dovranno
per la base e norma nelle espressioni o promesse, riferrissi a quanto
viene fissato per legge data da S. M. al Cardinale Ruftb nel 29
Aprile p°. ; tanto per i rei priucipali in geuerale, che per la clemenza
da usarsi, la quale e, e sara sempre propria di S. M. Si dovrji
pertanto approssimare il piu che sara praticabile, lo spirito di queste
nuove dichiarazione al senso della citata legge generale.
" e"- Nella capitolazione militare perb, che occorresse farsi con i
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 285
may take place with the enemy that occupy St. Elmo,
the power of stipulating for their departure may be
extended to several rebels, even the leaders, according
to circumstances, if the general good, the promptitude
of the operation, and reasons of weight make it
advisable. The same measures will serve also for
Capua and Gaeta, if it shall happen that this same
operation embraces the question of the surrender of
those places.
" 7th. When Naples shall be entirely surrendered
and subdued, the Vicar-General shall at once take
possession of the entire government of the kingdom ;
and to this intent mil receive from the Prince Roval
the King's new ratification of this his commission
and charge, with all the particular determinations that
the circumstance requires, and any rules that the
importance of the time and special considerations
indispensably demand.
" 9th. As it .is the desire of his Majesty that the
forts of Naples shall be speedily evacuated by the
nemici clie occupauo S. Elmo, potra estendersi secondo le circou-
stanze la facolta di stipulare la parteuza a varj ribelli anche capi, se
il bene pubblico, la prontezza dell' operazioue, e ragioni di peso cosi
facessero opinare. Tale misura potra servire benanche per Capua,
e Gaeta, se accadera di intimarsene la resa nel complesso di questa
stessa operazione.
" 1°- Quando Napoli sara resa totalmente, e somniessa, il Vicario
Generale prendera per era il possesso dell' iutiero governo del regno,
ed a quell' effetto recevera dal Real Principe il nuovo confermo
del Re di questa sua commissione, ed incarico, con tutte le partico-
lari determinazioni che la circonstauza esige, e con alcune norma
che il momento, e speciali considerazioui richiedono indispeusa-
bilmente.
" 9"- Siccome e mente di S. M. che con prontezza siano evacuati i
castelli di Napoli dal nemico e ribelli di adoprare oltre la forza, altre
23G DLiRIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
enemy and rebels, the Prince Royal is authorized to
pursue this design at any cost, and, should it be neces-
sary, to employ any other means besides force.
" 10th. The acts of clemency concerning the noted
offenders, and the pardoning of the same, are reserved
for the King, excepting those stipulated in the articles
of capitulation.
" Palermo, June 10th, 1799."
Sir Willi.\m Hamilton to Cardinal Ruffo.
"Onbotird the Foudroyant, in the Gulf of Naples,
'•June 24th, 179!».
" My Lord Nelson begs luc to inform your Emi-
nence that he has received from Captain Foote, com-
mander of the frigate Sea-horse, a copy of the capitu-
lation which your Eminence has judged it expedient
to make with the otficers in command of the castles of
St. Elmo, Castello Nuovo, and Castello del Uovo ; that
he disapproves entirely of these, and that he is quite
resolved not to remain neuter with the respectable
force which he has the honour to command ; that he
has detached to meet your Eminence the Captains
Troubridge and Ball, commanding his JNIajesty's
vessels Cullodeii and Alexander. These Captains
are fully informed of Lord Nelson's sentiments, and
will have the honour to explain them to your Emi-
qualunque mezzo, che sia necessario, viene autorizzato il Real Prin-
cipe, a conseguire quell' intento ad ogni costo.
" 10°- Gli atti di clemenza che possono riguai'dare i rei cono-
.sciuti, e laggraziare i medesimi, sono riseivati al Re, eccettuandosi
quanto si e detto all' articolo della capitolazione."
TEE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE RO«E. 237 •
nence. j\Iy Lord hopes that the Cardinal Ruftb will
agree with him, and that to-morrow at the break of
dav he will be able to act in concert with your
Eminence. The object of each cannot but be the
same ; that is to say, to reduce the common enemy,
and to make the rebellious subjects of his Sicilian
Majesty submit to his clemency."
Sir William Hamilton to Cardinal Ruffo.
" June 25th, 1799.
" My Lord Nelson begs me to take up my pen again,
and to acquaint your Eminence, w^hom he understands
to speak of the Chev'- Micheroux, in the present negotia-
tions of your Eminence for the service of his Sicilian
Majesty, that he is quite determined to have nothing
to do with any one, be he who he may, except your
Eminence, with whom alone he wishes to consult and
act. My Lord Nelson also begs me to assure your
Eminence, that with respect to the Russian troops, he
will always keep in view the honour of his Majesty
the Emperor of all the Russias, as well as that of the
King his own sovereign."
The Same to the Same.
"June 27th, 1799.
" My Lord Nelson begs me to say to your Eminence,
that he has no doubt you will agree with him, that, for
the service of his Sicilian Majesty, it is necessary that
the Castle of St Elmo sliould be reduced as soon as
possible. My Lord proposes, then, with the appro-
2;iy DIARIES AND COKUESPONDENC'E OF
bation ot' your Eminence, to send the body of marines,
about 1,200 men, together witli the Russian corps
attached to the army of your Eminence, to attack the
said castle. My Lord would desire that during tiiis
attack, your Eminence would place two or three hun-
dred men in the castles of Uovo and Nuovo, and to
keep the gates of these forts closed during the opera-
tions. My Lord would also desire your Eminence
to order a body of troops, with the re([uisite artillery,
to hold themselves in readiness to aid in the attack
contided to the lilnglish and Russian troops. My
Lord submits to the judgment of your Eminence,
whether it would not be expedient to publish an edict
to prevent the French garrison of St. Llmo being
provided daily with victuals and refreshments, as it is
said they are at present. My Lord begs me to add,
that if your Eminence judges it expedient to send
Caraccioli and the rest of the other rebels to him,
according to his proposal yesterday, he will dispose of
them."
The Same to the Same.
"June 28th, 1799.
" My Lord Nelson desires me to inform your
Eminence, that, in consequence of an order which he
has just received from his Sicilian Majesty, who
entirely disapproves of the capitulation made with his
rebellious subjects in the castles of Uovo and Nuovo,
he is about to seize and make sure of those who
have left them, and are on board the vessels in this
port, submitting it to the opinion of your Eminence
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 231)
whether it would not be advisable to publish at first
in Naples the reason of this transaction, and at the
same time to warn the rebels w^ho have escaped to
Naples from the said castles, that they must submit
to the clemency of his Sicilian Majesty within the
space of twenty-foui' hours, under pain of death."
[The first subjoined letter from Mr. Rose to Lady
Hamilton shows that he had not only suggested the
application to Mr. Addington, but had supplied her
with the form of it. But it is remarkable throughout
this correspondence how constantly his own conscious-
ness of the impropriety of her position struggles against
his earnest desire to assist her ; not for her own sake,
but solely on account of his friend Lord Nelson, to
whom he considered it an act of justice to comply
with his requests. AVliile, therefore, he endeavours
to aid her views, he never fails to throw cold water
upon her hopes, and to predict failure. After Lord
Nelson's death he took up her cause more Avarmly,
but with the same conviction that there was still no
chance of success. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose to Lady Hamilton.
"Madam, "March 9th, 1804.
" Li proposing to you to write the enclosed letter
to Mr. Addington, I entreat I may not raise a hope
in your mind that your doing so will be likely to pro-
duce any good to you. I have, in conformity with
210 UIAlllES AND t'UllUE.sPuNl>ENCE Ul-
the principle I Lave invariably ailhcred to, been
anxious from the first mention of your case to me,
to prevent yom* forming an expectation of success
from any application you might make to the Minister,
lest I should in the remotest possible degree con-
tribute to add disappointment to misfortune. But
I think in your situation the attemi)t is worth nuiking.
You will at least arrive at a certainty, for I am per-
suaded if it does not succeed now, it never can ; and
this sort of application will, I think, afford you as
good a chance of success as you can have. I sincerely
and heartily wish you had a better than I can ven-
ture to hope for.
" If you can prevail with either the peer or the knight
you mentioned to me to put your letter into Mr.
Addington's hands, or to enclose it to him, 1 should
strongly recommend your doing so. But on uo account
mention my name, or allude to me, as I am quite sure
that would not be useful to you ; and when you have
copied the letter to Mr. A., I must beg you will put
it in the fire.
"If anything requires explanation, I will liiive
the honour of waiting on you any morning you
please, between eleven and twelve o'clock."
Lady Hamilton to ^Ir. Rose.'
"My dear Sir '• Clarges street, Nov. 4th.
" You will excuse me for writing to you on the
subject that I do, but my wish that Lord Nelson
' It is difficult to fix the date of the following letter. Welbore
Ellis, if Lord Meudip is meant, died in 1802; but Mr. Pitt was
THE RIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 241
may be made happy, and his brother-in-law, Mr.
Bolton, placed in a situation that he would do justice
to, makes me take the liberty of asking, could you
not put in a good word for the place vacant now by
Welbore Ellis's death ? I know your power, and incli-
nation, and your wish to oblige Lord Nelson ; and
really it would be only justice in Mr. Pitt to do some-
thing for the family of a man who is doing all he can
for his country. But this I know : Lord Nelson has
the greatest reliance on your friendship for him, which
makes me take the liberty of now writing to you. I
hope you will call on me when you come to town, and
I promise you not to bore you with my own claims ;
for if those that have power will not do me justice, I
must be quiet ; and, in revenge to them, I can say, —
if ever I am a minister's wife again, with the power I
had then, why I will again do the same for my
country as I did before ; and I did more than any
ambassador ever did, though their pockets were
filled with secret-service money, and poor Sir William
and myself never got even a pat on the back. But,
indeed, the cold-hearted Grenville was in then. I
at that time out of office, and could not give away places undei'
Government. Lady Hamilton alludes to the death of Sir W. Hamil-
ton, which took place in 1803. It was not till the following year that
Mr. Pitt returned to office ; and since Nelson — who died in 1805
— was stiU living, the date cannot be sooner or later than 1804.
But who then is the Welbore Ellis mentioned ? There was a
Welbore Ellis Agar, who was a commissioner of customs. If he died
in 1804, he was the person named, and his the office wanted for
Mr. Bolton. It would seem, from a subsequent letter, that Lady
Hamilton had already urged her claims upon Mr. AdtUngton during
his administration, to no purpose. Her "sad story" made no
impression upon him.
VOL. I, R
212 DIARIES ANT) COllUlvSl'ONDKNCK OF
know if I could tell my sloi y to Mr. Pitt lie would
do rae justice ; but I never am to l)c so happy as to
be in company with that great man : — I call hiiu the
Nelson of ministers. But I will not tire vou with mv
sad storj/. I shall be content to see Mr. Bolton
placed ; for that will make a worthy family happy,
and render Nelson jNlr. Pitt's and your grateful friend
for ever. Believe me, with more than T can express
of gratitude,
" Emma Hamilton."
[It is something in favour of Lady Hamilton, that
her first anxietv after the intelli<i:ence of Nelson's
death was not for herself, but for the family of his
sister. But the utter prostration of body and mind
which it brought on was more what might be ex-
pected from a deeply affectionate Avife than from a
" confidante and friend." It appears that she wa.s
obliged to get her mother to write for her; and three
Aveeks afterwards Avas still confined to her l)ed. From
the letter Avhich she then Avrote it seems that the
accusation Avas already current against her, Avhieh, at a
later period, became a more serious charge, of publish-
ing Lord Nelson's confidential communications. — Ed.]
I\Irs. Cadogan, Lady Hamilton's jMotiikr, to
Mr. Rose.
"9th November, 1805.
"Lady Hamilton's most Avretched state of mind
prevents her imploring her dear good Mr. Rose to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 243
solicit Mr. Pitt to consider the family of our great
and glorious Nelson, who so gallantly died for his
country, leaving behind his favourite sister, with a
large family unprovided for. Her Ladyship is confi-
dent you will exert every nerve for these good people
as a mark of vour true and real attachment to our
lamented hero. Mr. Bolton was ever much esteemed by
his brother-in-law ; and, had it pleased the Almighty
to have spared Lord Nelson to his family, he
meant to have made them independent. They at
this moment surround her ladyship's bed, bewailing
their sad loss and miserable state. Ladv Hamilton,
whose situation is beyond description, only prays that
you, good sir, will do all you can for this worthy
family ; it will be the STcatest relief to her mind.
This is written by the mother of the most to be
pitied Lady Hamilton, who begs leave to subscribe
herself Mr. Rose's
" Most obedient and very humble servant,
" Mary Cadogan.
" P.S. — If Mr. Rose would condescend to acknow-
ledge this it would be a comfort to her just now."
Lady Hamilton to Mr. Rose.
" Clarges Street, Nov. 29th, 1806.
"I write from my bed, where I have been ever
since the fatal sixth of this month, and only rose to
be removed from JNIerton here. I could not write to
R 2
2'M DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
yon, my clear sir, before, but }our note recjuires that
I should justify myself.
" Believe me, then, when I assure you I do not see
any one but the family of my dear Nelson. His
letters are in tlie bed with me ; and only to the
presoit Earl did I ever read one, and then only a
part. It is true he is leaky, but I believe would not
w iiUnjz;ly tell anything ; but I have been told some-
thing like some of my letters have been printed in
some pai)er. I never now read a paper, and my
health and spirits are so bad 1 cannot enter into a
war with vile editors. Of this be assured, no one
shall ever see a letter of my glorious and dear
departed Nelson. It is true I have a journal from
him ever since he came up to Naples to get provisions
for our troops in Toulon, when he was in the
Agamemnon ; but his letters are sacred, and .shall
remain so. My dear sir, my heart is broken. Life
to me now is not worth having ; I lived but for
him. His glory I gloried in; it was my pride that
he should go forth ; and this fatal and last time he
went I persuaded hiui to it. But I cannot go
on ; — my heart and head are gone ; — only, believe
me, what you write to me shall ever be attended
to. Could you know me you would not think I
had such bad policy as to publish any thing at
this moment. My mind is not a common one ; and
Laving lived as a confidante and friend with such
men as Sir William Hamilton, and dearest, glorious
Nelson, I feel myself superior to vain tattling
woman. Excuse me, but I am ill and nervous,
THE HIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 245
and hurt that tliose I value should thiuk meanly
of me.
"When you come to town, pray call on me. I do
not know if I shall live in England, as I promised the
Queen of Naples to go back to her in case of acci-
dents. You will not be able to read this scrawl, but
I am very, very ill. Mr. Bolton feels all your kind-
ness to him, and firmly relies on you. All the family
are with me, and very kind. ^\\q Earl you know ; but
a man must have great courage to accept the honour
of calling himself by that name.
" Write me a line to say you have got this, and
that you believe
" Your grateful
" Emma Hamilton.
*' You shall see what pictures T have got, and have
any copied."
[After the battle of Trafalgar and the return of the
fleet. Captain Hardy lost no time, as soon as he could
leave his ship, in repairing to Mr. Rose, as the person
in office most attached to his friend Lord Nelson, and
most likely to carry into execution his dying bequest
as to Lady Hamilton's interests. And he judged
rightly ; for he took up her cause with an ardour of
zeal which made him almost overlook all other con-
siderations, as if it were a sacred duty to give effect
to his friend's testamentary desires. This, however, was
not his first communication to her ; for it appears from
lier preceding letter that he had reason to suspect
21G DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
her of having availed herself of private letters to
serve her own purposes. The letter in which that
charge was intimated is missing. Mr. Rose's view of
the subject is the same which he maintained through-
out the correspondence. — Ed.]
^Ir. Rose to Lauy ILvmilton.
" Cuffnclls, Dec. 9th, 1805.
•' Madam,
" Cai)tain Hardy had the goodness to take the
trouble (at much inconvenience to himself) to come
over here immediately after the Victory anchored at
Spithead, to tell me what passed in the last moments
of the life of my late most invaluable friend ; respect-
ing whom I shall at no time attempt to express my
feelings. I learn from him that Lord Nelson, almost
with his latest breath, manifested a confidence that I
would do all in my power to make effectual the wish
he had more than once stated to mc respecting you ;
the Captain, at the same time, connnunicating to mc
the entry made in his lordship's pocket-book, just
before he went into the action in which he immor-
talized his name, recommending a remuneration to
you for the actual and important services rendered by
you to the country when the fleet under his com-
mand was in Sicily on his first return from Egypt.
I cannot, therefore, delay telling you I shall take the
very earliest opportunity of a personal communication
with Mr. Pitt to enforce that solemn request upon
him ; and, I am sure, his respect for the memory of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 217
one of the greatest men that ever Hved, and his sense
of what is right to be done in such a case, will incline
him to listen attentively, and I hope favourably, to
the claim made for you ; of which, however, I never
heard anything till after he went out of office in 1801.
When I last had the honour of seeing you, somewhat
more than two years ago, in Mr. Addington's admini-
stration, I su2:2:ested the lenoth of time that had
elapsed subsequent to the performance of the service
as an obstacle. That difficulty is certainly not less-
ened ; but, considering when the solemn and earnest
recommendation was made, and the strong attestation
of the importance of your interposition, I am not
without a hope of success. I am anxious, however,
to guard you against entertaining a sanguine expec-
tation on the subject, that 1 may not have the self-
reproach of occasioning a disappointment to you.
My application must be to ^Ir. Pitt, but the reward
(to which I think you entitled both on principle
and policy) must, I conceive, be from the foreign
Secretary of State, on account of the nature of the
service. I can promise nothing but zeal; how far
that, acting on the conviction of my mind of the
justice of your pretensions, is likely to be effec-
tual, you shall know in a few days, at the latest,
after I shall see Mr. Pitt, either at Bath or in
London.
"I trouble you with no particulars about Mr.
Bolton, as I have written to himself. The earnest
manner in which Mr. Pitt wrote and spoke to me
about him repeatedly, will insure to him my best
248 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
attention. He knows from me Mr. Pitt's positive
engagement to provide for him.
" I am, Madam,
" &c. &c. &c.
"G. Rose/'
[After the death of Mr. Pitt, in 1S06, ^[r. Rose
wrote to Lady Hamilton, to apologize for not having
obtained from liim any decision upon her case, and
signified his intention to resign, and consecpicntly his
loss of power to assist her, but encouraged her to rely
on Lord Nelson's will. Li another letter, a few months
afterwards, he cautioned her not to be sanguine. In
the following year, after two applications to Mr.
Caiming in her favour, the language of discourage-
ment is still stronger. Out of tenderness to her
feelings, the only objection which he represents to her
to be insurmountable is, the length of time which
had elapsed since the service to be rewarded was
performed ; the application was too late ; but it was
not too late for something to be done for the child
Horatia, whom Nelson had adopted. And so, in
writing to Lord Abercorn on the same subject in 1808,
he acknowledged the utter fruitlessness of his efforts
in behalf of Lady Hamilton, but still hoped for his
assistance in getting a pension for the child. He must
have seen from the first the impossibility of obtaining
any public grant of money for the lady ; but he relied
on the Foreign Minister consenting to give something
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 2i9
out of the secret-service money, to reward her services ;
and therefore, when Mr. Lavie, one of Lady Hamilton's
trustees, to whom she had sent the memorial of her
claims drawn up by Mr. Rose, consulted him as to
the best mode of proceeding with it, he suggested as
a last resource, the possibility of obtaining from the
person who was Foreign Minister at that time a certifi-
cate that it was a service which he would have rewarded
if application had been then made to him. A drowning
man will catch at a straw ; but the hope of obtaining any
assistance from the lofty principles of Lord Grenville,
who was then in office, — the cold-hearted Grenville,
as Lady H. called Jiim, because he had no sympathy
with her impassioned warmth of feeling, — was a straw
beyond her reach. He did not share in Mr. Rose's
veneration and attachment to Lord Nelson. At length,
in the year 1813, she lost even Mr. Rose's support,
as well as Mr. Canning's, by some false statements
which she introduced into a memorial prepared by
herself for the Prince Regent ; and having escaped
from prison for debt by the assistance of Lord Ellen-
borough, she hastened to find an asylum from her
creditors in France, before new writs could be issued
against her, and there still invoked the assistance
of Nelson's friends in behalf of the little Horatia. —
Ed.]
250 DIARIES AND CORllKSPOyDEN'Cl': OF
Mr. Rose to Lady Hamilton.
" Madam,
** Deeply as I am affected hy the recent loss I
have sustained in the death of Mr. Pitt, I cannot omit
to express to you my sincere and deep regret that I
had not a })ossiblc o})portunity of fultilling tlie engage-
ment whicli the veneration I have for the memory of
Lord Nelson induced me to make to you, in my letter
from Ciiflnells, after I had seen Captain Hardy.
" I had no alarm about Mr. Pitt's health till it was
decided he should leave Hath ; but on my seeing him
at Putney Heath, 1 found him so ill as to preclude
my talking to him on any business whatever; Sir
AValter Parquhar had indeed positively prohibited any
one from doing so.
" I shall certainly not remain in office ; and respect-
ing the arrangements that may take place in conse-
([uence of ^Ir. Pitt's death I am utterly ignorant ;
but if it shall haj)pcn that any representation of mine
to those who may fill the departments of Government
can have the remotest chance of being useful to you,
it shall not be wanting. I am persuaded, however,
that Lord Nelson's last and solemn appeal to his
country for justice to be done to your claim, will be
the best possible support to it.
"I will have the honour of waiting on you some
morning in the course of the next week.
" I have the honour to be. Madam,
" Your faithful, and most obedient, humble servant,
" George Rose.
« Old Palace Yard, Jan. 27th, 1806."
THE RIGHT HON. GEOHGE ROSE. 251
Mr. Rose to Lady HA:yiiLTOx\,
., -n ^r . .. .. "July 3d, 1806.
" Dear Madam,
" I have made arrangements for to-morrow that
would render it really mconvenient to me to wait on
you while you are in town. I would, however, break
in upon these to call in Clarges Street, if I could
have a chance of being useful to you; but I am
certain I cannot. AVhat I have repeatedly suggested
I am more and more confirmed in, that the difficulty
in afi'ording you relief is increased to a great extent
by the length of time that has elapsed since your
claim arose, in which period there have been three
administrations. If you cannot obtain attention to it
now, I am sure you had better think no more of it.
I do not say this from indifference in the subject,
but from an anxiety that you should not continue to
entertain a hope that must (if you do not imme-
diately obtain relief) end in disappointment. Lord
Nelson's codicil, I think, afibrds a ground for making
a last attempt."
Mr. Rose to Lady Hamilton.
^ , ^ " Old Palace Yard, June 4tb, 1807.
" Dear Madam,
" I have had a full conversation with ]\Ir.
Canning on the subject of your application. After
reading your papers, he Hstened to my statement very
patiently. The result was his promising to consider
all the circumstances attentively ; and that, if upon
full consideration of them, he should think anything
252 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
can be done, he would talk with the Duke of roitland
on the subject, both as to the amount and the mode.
" Let me again caution you most earnestly against
raising your expectations ; that it" I cannot do you
good, at least that I may not be the occasion of a dis-
appointment to you. I aui the more anxious about
that, because the difticulty (from delay) is, I am afraid,
almost insurmountable.
^Ir. Rose to Lady Hamiiton.
" Dear Madam,
" It has not been owing to any want of attention
on my part that you have not heard from me much
earlier ; the real truth is, that Mr. Canning has Ixien so
entirely occupied with urgent business, that although
I put your paper into his hand on his first coming
into office, I could not think myself justified in press-
ing him to any determination u})on them ; nor could
I have done so on any private concern whatever,
while matters of the highest importance to the public
were depending. I availed myself, however, of an
interval, which I was very glad to do before I left
London, to talk with him fully a few days ago on the
whole subject of your memorial ; and I must in justice
to him say, that I am persuaded the respect he has for
the memory of the incomparable man who recom-
mended you and the child to the justice and liberality
of his country, would induce him to make that recom-
mendation available to you both if he could do so ;
but, on the fullest and most attentive consideration of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 253
all circumstances, lie thinks he cannot do that. I
have so invariably endeavoured to prepare you not to
expect success in your application, that I trust you
will not feel much disappointment at this communica-
tion, however you may regret it. There are always
people, who have no responsibility upon themselves,
ready enough to say to persons who consult them,
there should be no difficulty in points of a mere
embarrassing nature ; but I should not act fairly if I
did not say that (feeling, as I do, so warm and strong
an attachment to the memory of Lord Nelson), I
think Mr. Canning could not now do what I thought
might very properly have been done eighteen months
or still much longer ago. I make this communication
with deep and sincere regret ; but it is better to state
the whole plainly to you, than to mislead you, or to
throw blame on another, taking credit for favourable
intentions on my own part.
" The reward recommended by Lord Nelson for
yourself, on the score of public services, seems to be
now quite desperate. Tlie only hope I can venture to
hold out the remotest prospect of to you is, that Mr.
Canning may possibly on some favourable opportunity
propose to the Duke of Portland to recommend to
the King a small pension to the child. He wishes, I
verily believe sincerely, to do that ; but the carrying
this into execution must depend on contingencies he
cannot control, and if it should never be done, you
must not reproach him or me even in your own mind
for a moment ; for I am not authorized by him to give
you the slightest encouragement. My anxiety, how-
251 DIARIES AND COllRESrONDENX'E OF
ever, to show how eagerly I wish to fulfil the dying
request of the man I most sincerely loved, and to
whom the country is most deeply indebted, has not, 1
hope, induced me to say too nmeh.
" T send herewith the j)npers you })ut into my
liands, by a careful servant, as 1 know they are of
value to vou.
" I am, dear Madam,
"Your most obedient and vi-rv humble servant,
" G. U.
"Old Palace Yard, August 21st, 1807."
Mi{. llosK TO Lord Abkrcokn.
" Old Palace Yard, April 9th, 1808.
" My Lord,
" I am afraid two or three weeks have elapsed
since 1 promised Lady Hamilton to state to yoirt*
Lordship what has passed, within my knowledge,
respecting any remuneration or ])rovision for her in
consequence of her claims on the public, from a com-
pliance with which I have been prevented only by an
uncommon pressure of business, in which I have lately
been unceasingly occupied.
" The first mention of those claims was made to me
by Lord Nelson on his return from the West Lidies,
in the summer of ISOo, when he requested me with
e^reat earnestness to submit the consideration of them
to Mr. Pitt, accompanied by strong assurances that it
was through her interposition exclusively he obtained
provisions and water for the English ships at Syracuse,
in the summer of 179S ; by which he was enabled to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 255
return to Egypt in quest of the enemy's fleet ; — to
wliicli, therefore, the success of his brilUant action of
the Nile was owing, as he must otherwise have gone
down to Gibraltar to refit, and the enemy would have
escaped.
" A few Aveeks subsequent to that interview with his
Lordship, in London, he was again appointed to the
Mediterranean command ; and, previous to his sailing
for that station, I met him at Portsmouth at his
earnest request, — Mr. Canning, who was then in my
neighbourhood, in Ilampstead, accompanying me, —
when his Lordship repeated his entreaties that I would
recommend Lady Hamilton's case to Mr. Pitt's early
consideration ; an opportunity for which occurred a
few days afterwards, on Mr. Pitt coming to me at
Cuffnells. He listened favourably to my representation,
without making any sort of engagement, but finished
the conversation by saying he would discuss the subject
conclusively with me when we met in London.
" The next circumstance that I recollect was Sir
Thomas Hardy, Lord Nelson's captain, arriving at
Spithead in the Victory, in November or December,
with the corpse of the incomparable hero. He left
the ship as soon as she anchored at Spithead, in
an open boat, and came to Lymington, nearly thirty
miles, and from thence to me at Cuft'nells, to com-
municate to me Lord Nelson's dying sentiments in
support of Lady Hamilton's claims. His Lordship's
recommendation of them, on his going into the action,
is, I believe, proved as a part of his will. I am sure it
has been printed.
25G DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
" Strongly impressed by these circumstances, I
wrote immediately to her Ladyship, assuring her of
my best exertions to obtain from Mr. Pitt an early
decision on her case ; under a persuasion I did not
venture to convey to her, tliat it would have been
a favourable one; but, unhappily, his last illness had
made too rapid a progress before I saw him to permit
me to mention any subject of business to him when
we met.
" From the time of Mr. I'itt's death to the forma-
tion of the present Govern tncnt, I know only of one
application, and tlia in Mr. Addington's time ; but
on the appointment of Mr. Canning to be Foreign
Secretary, I stated to him fully all that had passed
within my knowledge from the tirst mention of the
subject to me, accompanied with as earnest entreaties
as 1 could use, that he would give a siun of 6,000/. or
7,000/., out of foreign secret-service, to lier Ladyship ;
conceiving that to be a nuich more ])ropcr mode of
rewarding her, and likely to be attended with consider-
ably less ditticulty ; but with a perfectly good disjjosi-
tion on his part, that effort failed : a very faint hope,
however, having been afforded that a moderate pension
might at some time possibly be procured for the child
who Uves with her, and who was recommended also
by Lord Nelson in his last moments.
" These are the circumstances of Lady Hamilton's
case according to my knowledge. Whenever it has
been mentioned, I have uniforudy expressed as strong
an opinion in favour of it as I have invariably felt ; but
I have cautiously avoided raising an expectation in her
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 257
mind on the subject, that I might not have the self-
reproach of adding disappointment to misfortune. If
I ever gave her the faintest hope, it must have
been when I wrote to her after Captain Hardy's
arrival in December, 1805 ; but I wish her to com-
municate to you any letters of mine, if she has kept
them.
" My anxiety to contribute to fulfilling the dying
wish of Lord Nelson is unabated ; and if your Lord-
ship shall think my calling on you can afford the
remotest chance of that, I shall cheerfully obey your
commands on the subject."
Memorial of Lady Hamilton s claims, drawn iqj by
Mr. Bose in his own hand-writing, and forwarded
to Mr. Lavie, one of her Trustees. Referred to in
Mr. Lavie' s letter which follows.
" The ground on which I found my claim for some
remuneration from Government is a positive and most
important service I rendered to my country in obtain-
ing orders from the Court of Naples for the British
fleet to be victnalled and watered at Syracuse, in the
summer of 1798, contrary to direct instructions which
had been before given to furnish them with nothing.
If I had not prevailed in that respect, which was
attended with very great difficulty, and could have
been effected only by the influence I had with the
Queen, the British fleet must have gone down to
Gibraltar for provisions and water ; in which case the
VOL. I. s
258 DIARIES AND COllKESPONDENCE OF
French fleet, that was destroyed at Aboukir, must
inevitably have escaped.
" This is a plain statement, most incontrovertibly
true. It has been attested by Lord Nelson repeatedly
under his hand and in frequent conversations ; am-
firmed by a solemn declaration almost in the hour of
death, lie requested to see Mr. Rose on the subject
previous to his leaving Portsmouth the last time, and
urged him strongly to recommend my case to the
favourable consideration of Mr. Pitt. Mr. Rose has
indeed admitted to me that his Lordship's expressions
of anxiety for some remuneration to me were amongst
the last words he uttered when he was taking leave of
him on board the Ticiort/. Mr. Pitt's death having
happened before Mr. Rose could have any personal
connnunication with him, in consequence of Lord
Nelson's request, I have derived no benefit from that ;
and I have been unsuccessful in every exertion I have
used since with subsequent Governments.
" This want of success has been more unfortunate
for me, as I have incurred very heavy expenses in
completing what Lord Nelson had left unfinished
at Merton, and have found it impossible to sell the
place. From these circumstances I have been reduced
to a situation the most painfid and distressing that
can be conceived ; and should have been actually con-
fined in prison, if a few friends, from attachment
to the memory of Lord Nelson, had not interfered to
prevent it, under whose kind protection alone I am
enabled now to exist.
" My case is plain and simple. 1 rendered a
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 259
service of the utmost importance to my country,
attested in tlie clearest and most undeniable manner
possible; and T have received no reward, although
justice was claimed for me by the hero who lost his
life in the performance of his duty to that country, in
one of the most brilliant victories that was ever accom-
plished, after a series of former services unexampled
almost in the history of the world.
" If I had bargained for a reward beforehand, there
can be no doubt but that it would have been given to
me, and liberally ; I hoped then not to want it. I do
now stand in the utmost need of it, and surely it will
not be refused to me. I accompany this paper with
a copy of what Lord Nelson wrote in the solemn
moments which preceded the action in which he fell ;
and I am still not without a hope that the dying,
earnest, entreaty of such a man, in favour of a child
he had adopted and was devotedly fond of, will be
complied with, as well as my own application.
" The letters I have received on different occasions
on this subject will show that the justness and fairness
of my claims have been repeatedly admitted by those
who were competent judges of the matter.
" I anxiously implore that my claims may not be
rejected without consideration, and that my forbear-
ing to urge them earlier may not be objected to me ;
because in the lifetime of Sir W. Hamilton I should not
have thought of even mentioning them, nor, indeed, after
his death, if I had been left in a less comparatively
destitute state. Allow me further to add, that if any
reference is necessary you will have the goodness to
s 2
260 DIARIES AND CORRESrOXDEyCE OF
make it, and not leave me in my unprotected situation
to press my application other than to yourself; — not
entertaining, however, the slightest doubt of the just-
ness and })erfect fairness of any department to which
you may refer my pretensions. If to the Naval one,
w^here they can be well judged of, I sliould hope for
a due attention."
Mk. Lavie to Mr. Rose.
[Frivafe-I
" Sir,
" Lady IlamiUon has lianded me a most excel-
lent paper, of wliicli myself and the rest of lier
trustees will immediately avail ourselves ; but we
have some doubt whether any, and which department
of Government should be applied to previous to going
to Parliament. Lady IL gave me, some time ago, a
copy of a memorial to the King (not in council),
but I cannot learn that it was ever presented.
" I believe I could get half the City of London to
sign a recommendatory paper if it would be any use.
" You may rely that any communications you may
be pleased to make to me shall be held sacred. Lady
Hamilton and the little Horatia are to stay at West-
end till Tuesday, and I wish, if possible, to get the
above matter arranged before she leaves us.
" I have the honour to be,
" Your very obedient servant,
" Germain Lavie.
"Frederick's Place, 1st April, 1809.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 261
" ^^Jany years since, I had frequently the honour of
meeting you at my good friend Mr. Pott's, from whom
1 derived all my little legal knowledge."
Mr. Rose to G. La vie, Esq.
"Old Palace Yard, April 2d, 1809.
"Sir,
" I wish I knew how to give any advice likely to
be useful on the subject of your letter. I promised
Lord Nelson, on my last parting from him, to endea-
vour to give furtherance to his recommendation of
the case of Lady Hamilton ; conceiving it, from his
Lordship's statement, to be entitled to favourable
consideration.
" I have kept that promise faithfully, and regret
very sincerely my want of success. I certainly used
my best endeavours in trying the ground, and seeing
no prospect of doing her Ladyship any good, I avoided,
carefully, raising any expectations in her mind by a
fresh declaration that I could do no more. Under-
standing, however, that she had a hope her case,
especially considering the late severe and afflicting
pressure upon her, might be listened to if brought
forward from another quarter, — I did not feel myself
at liberty to dissuade her from the attempt, however
discouraging the prospect appears to be.
" If a reward should be thought of for Lady
Llamilton, for the actual service rendered to this
country, as certified by Lord Nelson, it should natur-
ally come from the foreign secret-service fund. Li
262 UIAKIES AND COURESPONDENCE OF
that event the ap|)hcatioii should be to Mr. Canning,
who is not indisposed to do what would be strictly
and correctly conformable to his duty ; but after such
a lapse of time, and different persons havinic tilled
the office he holds, he very reasonably objected to
taking upon himself the responsibility of giving the
reward.
" On the part of Lady Hamilton it may I believe
with truth be urged, that she asked none at the time
from a hope of not wanting it ; — but that she now
does.
" In that view of the ."^ubjcct, the only ray of hope
(which I wish not to encourage) that could be enter-
tained would be by prevailing with tlie noble lord
who was Secretary of State when the service was
performed, to certify, that if ap})lication had been
made to him at the time he should have thought
himself justified in rewarding it. Without that I do
not see how even an attempt can be made ; for no
application can be received in Parliament without the
King's consent, siguitied by the Chancellor of the Ex-
che(juer, for which there does not seem to be any
claim in this case.
" If you should have occasion to come to town to-
morrow, and will take the trouble of calling here, 1
will state to you anything further that may occur to
me. You will be sure of finding mc at home, as I am
at present confined to the house, and shall be for at
least a few days. From one to three I am engaged
in public business. At any other hour I shall be able
to see you.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 263
" P.S. — Lord Grenvillc was Foreign Secretary of
State, and Lord Spencer First Lord of the Admiralty,
when Lord Nelson's victory of Aboukir was obtained."
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
[Private^
" Claremont, July 24th, 1800.
"Dear Rose,
" Yon must have thought it very extraordinary
that I did not take any notice to you, w^hen last
we met, of your letter of the 14th respecting Lady
Hamilton ; but I had so far misunderstood the private
note which accompanied it, as to imagine that you
had left me at liberty (or rather desired me) to put off
reading your letter till a moment of leisure ; and that
moment did not arrive till yesterday, when I came
here for a couple of days of rest, and brought a heap
of private unanswered letters with me.
"I am sorry to find in your letter a promise to
Lady H. which I shall have obliged you to break,
that you would call upon her at Richmond in your
way out of town, with a final answer.
" I do assure you that I should be very sincerely
disposed to gratify your anxious wdshes in behalf of
Lady H. if I could do so. But Lord Grenville's
letter, as you yom-self seem aware, does not help me
at all ; on the contrary, it is w^orded with the coldest
caution, and w^ould, I think, leave it quite open to
him, and is intended to leave it open to him, to say
that though Lady Hamilton's services deserved reward,
2GI- UIAKIES AND CORKESrONDEN'CE OF
yet tlic Foreign S. S. Fund was not the proper fund
out of which tliat reward shoukl come.
" I confess I am myself of tliis opinion. 1 do
think that a pension miglit be well bestowed on Lady
H. But I do not think that, even at the time, the
influence of a Foreign Minister's wife with the Court
where her husband resides, is a fit subject for com-
pensation by secret-service money. There is still,
however, another consideration more embarrassing,
particularly in the times in which we are acting. The
S. S. fund is, by e\})ress designation, for secret ser-
vices — services that cannot be explained or avowed.
Now here is a service published not only in Lady IL's
memorials, and known to every person whom she has
solicited, but printed in extracts of a will registered in
Doctors' Commons, and accessible to all mankind.
\\ hat reason upon earth is there, it will be said, that if
this service is rcnumerated at all, it should be renume-
rated sccreth/ ? or how can it be rcnumerated secretli/
in fact? AV'oidd not every one whom Lady IL has
solicited, and every member of opposition high and
low, know that Ladv IL had received the reward
of those services, and received it from a fund not
brought to account ? — and why not bring to account
a matter so notorious ? Do you not see the multitude
of inconvenient questions to which this transaction
would give rise ? Do you not see that by disclosing,
as it does of course, the manner in which a j)art of
this fund is applied, and a diiFerence of opinion existing
(as there certainly would) as to the propriety of such
an application, we should risk an inference being drawn
THE IlIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 265
that much more was probably disposed of in a maimer
equally objectionable, and of which Parliament might
have cognizance with quite as little inconvenience to
the State ?
" A dear opinion of Lord G.'s in favour of the
measure would have saved some of these difficulties —
not all ; for I should then have been only paying a
debt incurred and acknowledged by a predecessor,
but accidentally left unsettled.
" I really feel as nuich pain in stating these diffi-
culties to you as you can do in the result of them.
But I wish above all things to show you that I have
given a fair consideration to the subject; and rather
to take your judgment upon them than to give my
own.
" Beheve me, dear Rose,
" Ever most sincerely yours,
" Geo. Canning.
" I return the paper."
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
"Gloucester Lodge, Feb. 17th, 1813.
" My dear Sir,
" I have received a letter from Lady Hamilton
(^widow of Sir William), accompanying a copy of a
petition which she has presented, or intends to present,
to the Prince Regent, for a compensation for her losses
and services. I think her richly entitled to some
such compensation, and shall be happy if any unex-
ceptionable mode of granting it can be devised.
2G6 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
" But the reason of my troubling you is, that in the
course of her narrative she refers to you and vie
johitly as having given assurances to Lord Nelson of
Mr. Pitt's determination to take her claims into con-
sideration, on the evening when we dined on board
the Victory, previous to Lord N.'s sailing for Cadiz.
"Now what assurances yon may have been then
authorized to give, I of course cannot undertake to
say; but very sure 1 am that / had no autliority to
say anything upon tlie subject. I very much doubt
whether I at that time knew anvthinG: of the existence
of sucli a claim, wliich, if 1 mistake not, was first
brought under my notice by you, when I was at the
Foreign Office, and when, as you know, I would gladly
have done anything that I couUl do to show my sense
of Lady H.'s services, but found (what appeared to
me) insuperable difficulties in the way.
"I wrote to Lady \\. (returning the copy of tiic
petition) to point out the inaccuracy of this reference
to me, in respect to the assurances given to Lord
Nelson ; which I do, not as meaning to disclaim the
opinion that she is entitled to remuneration, but
because an inaccurate statement, in point of fact,
however immaterial to the merits of the case, might
prejudice her application.
" Her claim is not the weaker or the stronger for
any assurances which either of us may have given ;
but it would be very awkward for her case that I
should be asked if I gave such assurances, and to be
obliged to answer (as I must do to such a question)
in the negative. Whether your assurances to Lord N.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 267
were given that day in my hearing, or not, 1 really
cannot take upon myself to say. You had much
conversation with him before me, and a good deal
apart from me, and I believe alone with him, while
we were on board the Victory. Be that as it may,
I have no recollection of the circumstance, and cer-
tainly could not vouch for it if appealed to.
" I very sincerely hope that the P. Rt. may be able
to comply with the prayer of the petition in some
shape or other.
" Yours very truly,
" Geo. Canning.
" I return your pamphlet, with many thanks for the
loan of it ; and very many for your criticisms, which
were of use to me in more instances than one, — in
one particularly.
" I trouble you in return with a small pamphlet
(of no very splendid form) in which you will find
some mention of Mr. Pitt, I hope not unpleasing to
you. It is full of false points ; but in general so
obvious as to correct themselves. It is hardly worth
your keeping, but you are welcome to keep it."
Mr. Rose to Lady PIamilton.
"Feb. 18th, 1813.
•' Dear Madam,
" I had a letter from Mr. Canning last night,
wherein he mentions vour havino- communicated to
him a petition to the Prince Regent, 'in which you
refer to him and mc jointly as having given assurances
268 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
to Lord Nelson of Mr. Pitt's determination to take
your claims into consideration,' on the evening when
he and I dined on board the Viclori/, previous to Lord
Nelson sailing for Cadiz. It is incumbent on me,
therefore, to state to you, that Mr. Canning was not a
party to the conversation between Lord Nelson and
me respecting you, and could not have heard a syllable
of it, as he was not near us at the time. It is not
merely to state that, however, that I now trouble you,
but to apprise you that your recollection is not correct
as to what I told you [)assed between me and Lord
Nelson at the time alluded to. His Lordship urged
me with great earnestness to press your claim on
Mr. Pitt, and I gave him strong assurances that I
would do so ; and, generally, that I would endeavour
to be useful to you.
" Mr. Pitt's death soon after that, prevented my
interposition being productive of any benefit to you ;
but I am persuaded you will do me the justice to
admit that I endeavoured to give every support to
your claim while I thought there was the remotest
hope of its being entertained. I did not know you
were now bringing it forward again, till I received
Mr. Canning's letters."
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
" Gloucester Lodge, Feb. 20th, 1813.
"My dear Sir,
" I return the papers which you were so good as
to send me yesterday. They contain a very clear
account of your part in Lady II. 's business, and satisfy
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 269
me that my recollection was correct as to the only
knowledge I ever had of it.
" I think it may be right that you should see what
her impressions are upon the subject ; and therefore I
transmit to you a letter which I have this moment
received from her in reply to that from me, the
substance of which I stated to you in my former note.
" I am, dear Sir,
" Very sincerely yours,
" Geo. Canning."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Canning.
« Old Palace Yard, Feb. 21st, 1813.
" My dear Sir,
" I thank you for the perusal of Lady Hamilton's
letter, which I herewith return.
" As her Ladyship certainly never saw Lord Nelson
after our visit to him on board the Victory, the com-
munication from him of what passed there must have
been in writing, and now in her possession, to which
she can refer.
''As far as she can have a chance of deriving
advantage from the anxiety of Lord Nelson for atten-
tion to her claims, my acknowledgment of his urgency
to rae on the subject will be available to her. The
hurry in which, perhaps, he wrote to her may have
occasioned his expressing himself so as to have been
misunderstood; but she never said anything like it
to me.
" The statement of her pretensions that I sent to
you was drawn by me, which, at the time I wrote it,
270 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
she approved of cntiicly \ and you will luive seen that
in all that passed there was not a syllal)le that liad
a tendency towards authority having been given hy
Mr. Pitt of any sort."
Lady Hamilton to Mr. Rose.
" 150, Bond Street, March 4th, 1813.
" Dear Sir,
" I have been, and am, so ill w ith an.\ietv that 1
have scarce strength to write. But I had written to
you long since, and had enclosed \ou a copy of my
narrative to H. R. II. the Prince Regent, and to his
Ministers. I now send you one, and also a letter
I sent to Lord Sidmouth ; for a kind friend of mine
has told me that the reason my claims have not been
remunerated was owing to a most iidlunous falsehood
raised against mine honour and that of the brave and
virtuous Nelson, which is false, and it shall be made
known ; for I will a})peal to a generous public, who
will not let a woman who has served her country with
the zeal I have, be left to starve and insult. You, sir,
who have been ever kind, and ever will be, will, I am
sure, read the letter to Lord Sidmouth, and tell me if
you approve of it. I am so fatigued with anxiety,
and also with my situation about my pecuniary affairs,
that I can only say I am
" Yoiu" truly grateful
"E. Hamilton.
"P.S. — Mr. Canning has a short memory, as 1 have
Nelson's letter on the visit to the Vic fori/, the 14th of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 271
September. If you could write me a Ime to say when
you could call for lialf-an-liour, Sunday excepted,
I will be at home, as I wish to ask your advice.
The Prince Regent is my friend, and wishes well to
my cause."
Mr. Rose to Lady Hamilton.
" Dear Madam, "Old Palace Yard, March. 6th, 1813.
"I return the copies of your memorial to the
Prince Regent, and of your letter to Lord Sidmouth ;
in doing which it is impossible for me to avoid express-
ing my very deep regret at your having referred to
Mr. Canning and myself for assurances having been
given by us to Lord Nelson, on board the Victory,
* that the promises made by Mr. Pitt in your favour
should be fully reahzed,' because the accuracy of that
cannot be supported by either of us.
" Li a letter I wrote to you about a fortnight ago,
I reminded you of what did pass in my last interview
with Lord Nelson, on the eve of his saihng for Cadiz ;
and I must lament that your statement was not con-
formable to that.
" It happens that Sunday, about two o'clock, woidd
be the most convenient time for me to wait on you ;
but as you exclude that day, I will endeavour to be
with you on Monday, at half-past one.
Lady Hamilton to Mr. Rose.
" Hotel Dessin, Calais, July 4th,
" We arrived here safe, my dear sir, after three
days' sickness at sea, as for precaution we embarked
272 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
at the Tower. ]\Ir. Smith got me the discharge from
Lord Ellenborough.
I then begged ^Ir. Smitli to witlidraw his bail, for I
would have died in prison sooner than that good man
should have suffered for me ; and I managed so well
with Iloratia alone, that I was at Calais before any
new writs could be issued out against me. I feel
so much better from change of climate, food, air,
large rooms, and liberfi/, that there is a chance I may
live to see my dear Iloratia brought up. I am
looking out for a lodging. I have an excellent French
woman, who is very good at everything; for Iloratia
and myself, and my old dame, who is coming, will
be my establishment. Near me is an English lady,
who has resided here for twenty-five years; who has
a day school, but not for eating nor sleeping. At eight
in the morning I take Iloratia ; fetch her at one ; at
three we dine; she goes till five, and then in the even-
ing we walk. She learns everything : piano, harp, lan-
guages grammatically. She knows French and Italian
well, but she will still improve. Not any girls but
those of the first families go there. Last evening we
walked two miles to Q.fete chamjitfre pour les bourgeois.
Everybody is pleased with Iloratia. The General and
his good old wife are very good to us ; but our little
world of happiness is in ourselves. If, my dear sir,
Lord Sidmouth would do something for dear Iloratia,
so that I can be enabled to give her an education, and
also for her dress, it would ease me, and make me very
happy. Surely he owes this to Nelson. For God's sake
do try for me, for you do not know how limited I am.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 273
I have left everything to be sold for the creditors,
who do not deserve anything ; for I have been the
victim of artful, mercenary wretches, and my too
great liberality and open heart has been the dupe of
villains. To you, sir, I trust, for my dearest Horatia,
to exert yourself for her, and that will be an easy
passport for me."
VOL. I.
274j diaries and correspondence of
CHArTEll V.
1800 AND 1801.
CORRESPONDENCE |BETWEEN MR. PnT, MR. ROSE, AND MR. ADDINGTON —
MR. rose's notes ON TELE SCARCITY OK GRALN IN 1800 — HIS DIARY
FROM 28th op JANUARY TO 28TH FEBRUARY, 1801.
[To connect the sul)ject of Lady Hamilton's claims
in an unbroken series, it has been necessary to pass
over several years. Wc now, therefore, return to ISOO.
The sinecure otHce of Lord Privv Seal of Scotland
having become vacant by the death of Mr. Stuart
Mackenzie, Lord Auckland seems to have applied
for it, or something else. His disappointment, when
it was given to I\Ir. Dundas (who retained also his
own ofHce), was perhaps the grievance to which he
afterwards alluded. Mr. Rose thought he had a
better right to it, or at least some e([uivalent, after
sixteen years of hard labour at the Treasury, which he
began to find too much for him. But he merely
suggested his claim, and bided his time. Another
opportunity occurred when Lord Sidney died, a few
months after. He was Chief-Justice in Eyre, and his
son, on succeeding to the peerage, gave up his place
at the Treasury ; but Mr. Pitt had determined before-
THE KIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 275
hand who should succeed them. The first office was
given to Mr. Grenville, and the second to Lord Gran-
ville Leveson Gower. Mr. Rose was satisfied that
what was best for Mr. Pitt was best for him, and
continued to discharge his arduous duties with as
much zeal as ever. — Ed.] - .
I ;■»■..■, .1. '•' ' , ' • ^ .
Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt.
' "■ ' ■ ■" "April 8th, 1800.
" My dear Sir,
" The enclosed, from Lord Auckland, was evi-
dently intended for you to see ; under the uncertainty
therefore of your being in town to-day I send it to
you. I shall say nothing about myself respecting the
possible openings w^hich may occur in consequence of
the event alluded to therein ; meaning now, as I
always have, to leave the consideration of my claims
to you who alone can judge of them. My health con-
tinues better than I had a right to hope, but I feel, in
more respects than one, the effect of a continuance of
more than sixteen years in my present situation. I
should really have not said even so much as this if I
had not been desired to call to your recollection the
situation of another. If I had had such an intention,
I should have written to you on Tuesday. In any
event, I shall always remain, what I have long very
truly professed myself,
" My dear Sir,
" Most entirely yours,
*' George Rose."
T 2
276 ULiRlES AND CORllESPONDENXE OE
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Hollwood, Tuesilay, April Sth, 1800.
" Dear Rose,
" Till I received your letter this luomiiig I really
was not aware that you entertained at present any
personal wish of the nature you refer to. I shall be
very glad to have an opportunity of conversing with
you upon it, with a view to such future occasions as
may arise. On the present, though I am not yet able
to fi.\ precisely the particulars of the arrangement to
be proposed, I had long ago settled the general outline
of it, in the expectation of the event which has now
taken place, of Stuart Mackenzie's death.
" ^^"^t]\ respect to Lord Auckland, I should have
been truly glad (as you know) to have the means of
giving him such an accession of income as he Avould
have from the othce of Treasurer of the Navy ; ' but
my object must be a move in the House of Commons,
and for that the Post-oftice would not be available.
" Ever sincerely yours,
" W. Pitt."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt.
"April 8th, 1800
" My dear Sir,
" I have felt a real anxiety to remain in my
situation as long as there was a chance of mv being:
useful in it 3 but the truth is I am wearing out,
[^ Mr. Duudas was Treasurer of the Navy, aud continued to hold
that office till the Government was broken up in the following
yeai'.— Ed.]
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 277
which I have lately had symptoins of. I shall, how-
ever, most certamly not think of leaving it at a thne,
or in a manner, that can by the remotest possibility
put you to the slightest inconvenience. I have forborne
to mention to you anything respecting my views or
wishes, from a most unaffected reluctance to be trouble-
some to you about myself, and from a persuasion that
you would think of me at a proper season. If I have
pretensions of any sort you know them. I never had
a political connexion except with you, and I never
can with any other. I was perfectly serious in saying
that I should have been silent now, had I not been de-
sired by Lord A. to bring him to your notice. And
I am not less so in assuring you that I have a full
confidence in your doing with respect to me what
shall appear to you to be right.
" Ever entirely yours,
" George Rose."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt.
"July 1st, 1800.
" I need not say that I have at no time been
urgent about myself. I should be ashamed of
even calling your attention to my case for a single
moment, at a time like the present, for any other pur-
pose than merely to say, that, if in the arrangement
consequent on the death of Lord Sydney, an open-
ing should occur which you might think not unfit
for me, I should be perfectly satisfied to continue in
my present situation, without one shilling additional
278 DL\RIES AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF
income, till yoii can find a successor entirely to your
satisfaction, for which I should cheerfullv wait your
utmost leisiu'c."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Downing Street, Sept. 22d, 1800.
" Dear Rose,
" I found your letter on niv arrival in town this
morning, and do not see any reason for your shorten-
ing your holidays before the time you propose. Our
first business when we meet must be to prepare our
budget, for which 1 hope you will have the materials
collected. It is not absolutely impossible that nego-
tiation before the end of the year may make ^our
labours unnecessary; but that prospect is as yet
very uncertain, and I think on the whole dis-
couracrmn;.
" Yours ever,
" W. P."
[The following letters show the intimate terms on
which Mr. Pitt, Mr. Addingtoji, and :\rr. Rose lived
at the close of this year, and the sort of hope which
the former entertained of a peace being concluded
through Lord Malmesbury's negotiation at Lisle. It
appears clearly, that though Mr.Pitt was prepared for
war, he desired peace. — Ed.]
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 279
Mr. Pitt to Mii. Rose.
" Dear Rose, " Woodley,i Friday, Oct. 24tli.
" As I should not see either Ryder or Hawkes-
bury, I think it would not answer my purpose to go
to Hollwood. You would not perhaps think it much
additional ti'ouble, when you find yourself either on
horseback or in a post-chaise, to come to me here on
Sunday, instead of going to Hollwood, and it will be a
great accommodation to me if you can do so. But if
your coming and remaining Monday would be any
inconvenience to business, let me know, and I will
still go either to Hollwood or to town. The Speaker
desires me to tell you that he shall be very happy to
see you, and depends upon your considering this as a
sufficient invitation.
" Yours ever,
'' W. P."
Mr. Addington to Mr. Rose.
" My dear Sir, " Woodley, Oct. 24th, ISOO.
" I have great pleasure in hoping that you may
he induced by a letter which Mr. Pitt is now writing,
to come to Woodley on Sunday, and I trust you will
remain here as long a time as you can spare from
your business in town. If Mr. Pitt should make no
further progress till you see him, I am sure you will
think that his health is evidently and materially im-
proved.
" I am ever, my dear Sir, sincerely yours,
. " Henry Addington."
1 Mr. Addington's house in Berkshire. , '
280 DIARIES A3sD CORRESPONDENCE OF
]\Ir. Pitt to Mr. "Rose.
" Woodley, Satui'day, Oct. 25th, 1800.
" Dear Rose,
" You will have found bv mv letter of yesterdav
evening that 1 hud anticipated your kind suggestion
of coming licre, and I am very glad to tind you can
do so without inconvenience. We shall expect you
to-morrow, and I hope you will stay Monday. Pray
bring with you (if you can get it) an account of all
the corn and flour imported in each month since the
beginning of the year, and all the ditierent papers and
accounts which in any way relate to corn.
" Yours ever,
" W. P.
" The market here at Reading has been very abun-
dant to-day, and fallen 7.v. per quarter, which I hope
augurs well for the London market on Monday."
[The year ISOO, though marked by no great political
event, obtained a disastrous celebrity as a year of
scarcity. At the commencement of harvest the rain
descended in torrents, the lowlands were deluged with
water, the crops were spoiled, the price of wheat rose
to more than 120 shillings a quarter, and people
resorted to all sorts of devices to economise the con-
sumption of bread. Potatoes, potato-flour, and rice,
were the ordinary substitutes, and an Act of Par-
liament forbade the bakers to sell any but wdiole
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 281
meal bread. In support of that measure a fact was
announced, wliich, though then received with ignorant
increduhtv, has since been admitted and confirmed.
Lord Holland sarcastically observes in his Memoirs,'
•' Mr. Addington gravely informed the world, from his
father's notes, that bran was more nutritive than
grain." The statement is inaccurate, but the sneer
might have been spared. Mr. Addington was on that
subject in advance of his age. It is now well known
that bran contains more of the muscle-producing
ingredient of food than fine flour. This was the Brown-
bread Act, repealed in the following year mider pecu-
liar circumstances, which will be noticed in their
place. On the part of the Treasury, Mr. Rose was
anxious to alleviate the general distress, by persuading
the starch-makers and distillers to refrain from making
use of grain in their respective trades, and to consent
to a Bill ])eing introduced into Parliament for their
regulation. The following paper shows what steps he
took for that i)urpose. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose's Notes on the Scarcity of Corn in 1800.
Wednesdcuj, October St/i. — Came to town from
Cuffnells. Dined with Mr. Pitt alone ; and after
much conversation with him on the state of th(^
interior, prevailed with him to incline to an early
meeting of Parliament.
T/mrsdai/, dt//.. — Dined with the Chancellor at
1 Vol. i. p. 121.
282 DLVRIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Hampstead ; satisfied him that it is highly desirable
Parliament should meet ; that if no effectual measure
can be taken for relief of the country, with respect
to a supply of corn, or to lessen the price, that the
country may at least see the subject has not been
neglected.
Friday, 10///. — Lord Grcnville concurred in the
expediency of the early meeting of Parliament, and
the Cabinet decided on the measure.
.Mr. Alderman Shaw came to me on the state of
provisions ; suggested the expediency of giving the
bounties according to the actual prices of wheat and
Hour, instead of according to the average prices, as
under the Act of the last session ; stated the prices of
wheat having been raised from 105v., as set by the
Essex farmers, to 122.v. by a principal factor, and
alluded to Mr. C. S.
^Ir. Garratt came to me, and })roposed an actual
survev of all the grain in the kingdom. Stated Mr.
Peacock having his warehouses full of flour, and his
refusing to sell a sack.
Mr. Wrench, a deputy in the city, and a dealer in
corn, came to me and suggested that it would be
highly expedient to compel the factors in Mark Lane
to open to the market at the beginning of the day the
whole quantities of grain they have to sell, as great
advantage is taken by them in producing samples of
small quantities to draw on buyers. He suggested
also the expediency of preventing the same persons
being factors and dealers. He spoke of the bounty in
the same manner that Mr. Alderman Shaw had done.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 283
Saw Mr. Suter, a starch-maker, and proposed to
him to call a nieeting of the trade, to propose then*
stopping the use of wheat in their manufactory ;
which he expressed himself willing to do, but was
sure the others would not. binding the wheat must
be a month in steep to make starch, gave orders to
the Commissioners of Excise to direct their officers to
give notice to the starch-makers, that on the day of
Parliament meeting (11th of November), a Bill would
be moved for to prohibit their using grain, with a
commencement from that day ; that they would there-
fore steep any more wheat at their own risk : which
must produce the desired effect.
Saturday, Wth. — Mr. Bon well came at my desire,
and promised to convene all the distillers, for the
purpose of proposing to them to refrain from working
from grain on Monday next.
Understanding there is a considerable quantity of
rice in the country (especially in the capital), and that
orders had been actually received for purchasing the
whole for Holland, where it is selling at 40^., the
price now here 355. per quarter ; wrote to the Com-
missioners of the Customs to direct them not to allow
any of the article to be cleared out for exportation.
Sitmlai/, \2fh. — Went to Mr. Scott, at Plaistow
(in my way to Eden Farm), who satisfied me he had
no intent in raising the prices of the wheat last
Monday, as his profit arises solely from a commission
of Qd. per quarter on the wheat, as he sells only
foreign ; he also recommends a consideration of the
alterations of the bounty.
281 DIARIES AND CORllESPONDENCE OF
Monday, 13M. — ^Ir. Bonwcll rctunicd to inc to
tell me two of the dustillers, Mr. Jiiish and Messrs
Smith iiiid Co., of lircntford, positively refused to
concur in not working from grain, and that therefore
the rest of the trade must also work in their own
defence, or they will lose their customers. On incjuiry
I learnt that the distillers steep their malt a fortnight
before they can use it. I tlierefore directed the (yom-
• missioners of Excise to give notice to every distiller
in and near London, before one o'clock to-morrow,
that a Bill would be moved the first day of the session,
to restrain them, which would narrow their working
to a fortnight. Mr. Bonwell, thereupon, told me he
was sure the whole, except the two before-mentioned,
would concur in signing an undertaking not to work.
Monday Evcniny, October 13///. — Desirous of in-
formation on several points respecting the corn trade,
I went u}) to jNIr. Charles Scott's house, in Gower
Street, from whom I learnt the following particulars,
and obtained the opinions here stated : — Of the corn
sold in Mark Lane, of English growth, nine-tenths
belongs to individual farmers, from the harvest-time
till the sunnncr months ; thenceforward, })robably
about five-sixths ; the remainder to middlemen. The
whole is sold bv factors on commission.
The number of farmers for whom the sales arc
made are incalculable; many hundreds, even thousands,
dispersed throughout the country, without knowledge
of or intercourse with each other ; sometimes the pro-
perty of fifty farmers is in one vessel.
We cannot state the number of middlemen who
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 285
are dealers ; in most sea-port towns there are several,
and a few in inland ones, unconnected entirely witli
each other, and a constant jealousy amongst them.
Of persons usually selling corn in Mark Lane, there
are about twenty strictly corn-factors, and about
fifteen who are also dealers or jobbers ; besides the
haymen, about fifteen in number, who sell the Kentish
wheat.
Mr. Scott himself sells about one-fourth of the
foreign wheat ; no English.
Another house sells about one-eighth of the English.
Mr. Scott thinks it would be highly inexpedient
to compel factors to state to the purchasers in the
market, in the beginning of the day, the whole
quantities each has to sell ; but is of opinion it may
be very proper to prevent a factor being likewise a
dealer.
Tuesday, Oct. 14M. — Mr. Bonweli showed me au
undertaking signed by every distiller in and near
London, to forbear working till the sense of Parlia-
ment shall be known.
Wrote to the Commissary-General in the Medi-
terranean, approving of the contract for bread in
Minorca; and urging him strongly to get all the
wheat and flour he can there for the supply of the
troops.
Gave directions to Mr. Harrison to draw bills for
the starch, distilling, and rice ; the latter with an
indemnity.
[Mr. Rose's Diary for 1801 contains an account of
the change of the Administration when Mr. Pitt
286 DIARIES AND COltllESPONDENCE OE
resigned ; of a brief illness of the King, prodnced
by it ; of the formation and weakness of the succeed-
ing cabinet ; of the writer's aversion to it, and other
things alluded to in the letters of the same period,
the most remarkable of which is Mr. Pitt's determi-
nation to receive no grant from Parliament, because
he had failed to secure the prosperity of the nation.
—Ed.]
Mk. Kusse's Diary resumed.
From 28th of January to 11th June, 1801.
On AVednesday, the 2Sth of January, Mr. Pitt first
had distinct and clear proof of the Speaker taking an
eager and anxious part in influencing persons against
the measure of Catholic Emancipation.
On Friday the ;30th, the Speaker was at tiic
Queen's house for four hours !
The means taken, as above alluded to, of commit-
ting persons on the question before discussion, having
been made certain, Mr. Pitt wrote his first letter to
the King, on the 1st of February. The correspond-
ence concluded on the 4th.'
On Thursday, the 5th of February, at 5 p.m.
' It must have been on Wechiesday, the 4th, that the Speaker
finally agreed to accept the propositions made to him. Mr. Pitt,
however, gave him assurances the preceding day, Tuesday, the 3d,
of the most cordial support throughout, on which day the Speaker
■was to have dined in Downing Street ; but the House sitting till
half-past six or seven o'clock, he did not get there till between seven
and eight, when he found Mr. Pitt by himself. [Anecdote from Mr.
Carthew, who went in to them at ten o'clock.]
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 287
Mr. P. sent me the letters above-named, enclosed
in the one to his brother, which was the first inti-
mation I had of the subject, or of the remotest
probability of the agitation of anything that could
even lead to serious consequences. I returned the
whole before I went to dinner, to be forwarded by
a messenger to the Earl of Chatham.
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Downing Street, Thursday, Feb. 5th, 1801.
" Three quarters past four.
" Dear Rose.'
" I have been occupied till this moment, and on
sending, found you were gone to the House. I should
be very glad to see you any time in the evening ; but
as what I wish is to communicate to you some papers
which I also want to send to my brother by a mes-
senger to-day, I think the shortest way is to enclose
them to you in the meantime, and beg you to return
them as soon as you have read them. You will
recollect what I said to you some days since on
the Catholic question, though you will hardly have
expected so rapid a result. As I wish you to know
at once the whole of my real sentiments, I have
thought it best to enclose with the other papers the
1 [Mr. Rose was the first person to whom the imi^ortant decision
of Mr. Pitt's intended resignation was imparted, nothing having
been previously known, except that some difficulty had arisen about
the Eoman Catholic question ; for Cabinet secrets always contrive
to ooze out, notwithstanding the secrecy to which the members
are bound. The following letters were the fii'st intimation of
what had passed between Mr. Pitt and the King. — Ed.]
288 DIARIES AND CORIIESPON'DEN'CE OF
letter which I have but just had time to finish, aiul
am going to send with them to my brother.
" Ever sincerely yours,
" W. P.
" Take care not to read these papers where any-
body can overlook you. Dnndas dines with me, but
1 shall be at leisure any time in the evening."
Notes hi/ Mr. Rose, and Letters, from February
to May, ISOl, relative to the proposal for Mr.
Pitt's resu/ning office.
The papers sent to me by Mr. Pitt, were a long letter
from him to the King, dated the 1st of February, stat-
ing his deep and sincere regret, knowing his Majesty's
sentiments on the subject, to find himself under an
absolute necessity of submitting to him that he felt a
strong opinion, in concurrence with a majority of the
Cabinet, that it would be expedient to repeal the laws
which exclude Catholics from Parliament and offices,
and Dissenters from the latter ; that new guards were
already provided by the union ; that the ground of
exclusion no longer exists ; that the principles of the
Catholics cease to be dangerous, as they disclaim the
obnoxious tenets, epecially by the new test in Ireland ;
that a denial of the power of absolution may be
insisted upon, and would be as secure as the sacra-
mental test ; that it would not be difficult to have a
new test against the dissenters, pointed at Jacobinical
principles, which might be extended to their ministers
THE RIGKT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 289
and teachers, and would afford a new security against
tiieir active exertions ; that the popish clergy would be
secured by making them dependent on the State for
a part of their provision, &c. &c ; that these reasons
operated so powerfully on his mind as to render it
impossible for him to remain in office if he should be"
expected to give up his opinion ; but that rather than
disturb his Majesty on a point on which he had too
much reason to fear his Majesty had a decided reluc-
tance, he would, if his Majesty continued to desire it,
endeavour, as far as could depend on him, to keep the
matter from being agitated, and if agitated, he would
quiet it if possible, or effect its being postponed till the
country should be extricated from its present critical
situation, provided his Majesty would engage to avoid
expressing his opinion so as to influence others in
their conduct ; adding expressions of duty, grati-
tude, &c. &c.
Answer from the King, dated 2d February,
lamenting in animated language the fixed opinion
expressed by Mr. Pitt, but stating in the most explicit
terms his determined resolution not to acquiesce in
the alteration of the laws respecting the Catholics
and the Dissenters ; conceiving himself bound by his
coronation oath to support them, confirmed by his
having received the sacrament thereupon ; and that as
he had never been in the habit of concealing his
sentiments on important occasions, he would enter
into no engagement to act otherwise now ; still trust-
ing, however, that Mr. Pitt would not quit him while
he lived.
VOL. I. U
290 DIAKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Mr. Pitt's reply of tlu; 3cl, urged tlic impossi-
bility of his continuing in his Majesty's service,
knowing that his Majesty would influence the con-
duct of others on the Catholic question ; j)rofcssing
at the same time a continuation of his determined
attachment and gratitnde to his Majesty ; but re-
questing he \vo\d(l endeavour to make a new arrange-
ment as soon as he conveniently could, assuriuiij him
of sup])ort, and his best assistance to the new Ciovern-
ment.
To this the King, in his letter of the 4th, answered,
that he deeply regretted the necessity he was reduced
to, of parting with Mr. Pitt ; that he would endea-
vour to make a new arrangement as soon as possible,
and trusted that j\lr. Pitt woidd not press him in a
manner to compel him to do that too hastily.
These four letters were enclosed by Mr. Pitt in
another to Lord Chatham, telhuG; him he had not sent
for him to town, as it coidd have answered no end ;
that his retiring must take place as soon as the new
arrangement could be made ; that the King had (as
he conjectured and hoped he would) applied to the
Speaker, who had accepted ; that it was his deter-
mined purpose to give his best and most active
support to the new administration, and earnestly
entreated his brother to continue in office.
On the evening of February the 5th, at eleven
o'clock, I received the following note from Mr. Pitt,
desiring to see me before he went to rest.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 291
"February 5th, 1801.
" Dear Rose.
" I have been kept till this instant. If you can
come conveniently to yourself any time before twelve,
I shall feel a satisfaction in seeing you to-night.
" Yours ever,
" Thursday, three quarters past ten." W . r ,
On going to him, he stated all that had passed,
and satisfied me that the bringing the business to
the point, as put in the correspondence, was, on
his part, absolutely unavoidable. Mr. Pitt assured
me that the Speaker taking upon him to form a new
Administration, was with his concurrence and upon
his advice, and that he therefore wished most anxiously
all his private and personal friends to remain in office ;
suggesting that it could not be expected I should
continue in my present situation of labour, &c. ; to
which I replied in the plainest and strongest terms in
Avhich I could express myself, that under such an
injunction, I should not hesitate, in any other situa-
tion, to remain in office ; but that after the unbounded
confidence I had possessed with him, it was utterly
inconsistent with my feelings to act in an official
situation with another, coming in on his resignation ;
that it was of course my fixed and irrevocable deter-
mination to withdraw; but that I would assist him as
usual in the budget, and would carry through the
Tax Bills, or any other immediate business, in order
to avoid the new Administration being put to any
serious inconvenience, till a proper successor should
TJ 2
292 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
be found for rae ; that on the best consideration T
could give the subject on the sudden, however, it
appeared to me the Speaker liad done ill in catching
eagerly at the Prime Minister's station, which he
evidently must have done, by the dates of the letters
of his correspondence, so early as the 4th of February,
for that was comnuinicated to Lord Chatham on the
5th ; that I thought he should have thrown himself
at the King's feet, with the liveliest expressions of
duty, zeal, and affection, and assured liim of the abso-
lute impossibility of his undertaking the Government
with the remotest chance of being able to carry it on,
and conj»n-ed him therefore to find means of going on
with Mr. Pitt, as the only resource against every
calamity that can be dreaded by a nation.
If the Speaker was really with the King long on
the afternoon of the 30th of January, it is still more
unaccountable, because the first communication that
could have a tendency to lead to a change in the
Administration was on the 31st of Januarv, late at
night, and could not be received by the King till
Sunday morning, the 1st of February.
Februari/ 13///. — I am strongly confirmed in all
this on reflection, and from a variety of circumstances
have a clear conviction in my mind that there was
from the beginning an eagerness in Mr. A. to catch
at the situation, without regard to his friend, or
recollecting that he owed his political existence
to him.
On Saturday, the 7th, all the Privy Counsellors
in the House of Commons, and the Treasury, dined
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 293
with the Speaker, where nothing remarkable passed.
Mr. Canning's manner to the Speaker very marked,
— which the latter took notice of to me when I saw
him, on Tuesday, the 11th. In the evening, the
whole went to the Chancellor's, where also the con-
versation was quite general. Mr. Pitt carried me
home from the Chancellor's, and on the way I state
to him, as pointedly as I could, my opinions and
feelings respecting the Speaker's conduct in not de-
ploring to the King any change, and declaring the
dereliction of duty he should be guilty of if he were
to take the conduct of the Government, which no one
but Mr. Pitt could carry on. Late at night (half-
past eleven), Mr. Goldsmid came to tell me that on the
account of Mr. Pitt's resignation being heard in the
city, great confusion follov/ed, a fall of 5/. per cent,
in the funds, and no market for Exchequer Bills. As
this appeared in the course of the conversation with
Mr. Goldsmid to have arisen in a great degree from
an apprehension that Mr. P. was going out of office
instantly, I thought it expedient to say to him that
there was no intention of that sort, and that Mr. Pitt
would certainly open the budget, and provide com-
pletely for the ways and means of the year, before he
quitted his situation ; which Mr. G. seemed to think
would quiet people's minds sufficiently for the purpose
in view,
Mr. Wilberforce came in at the same time. The
only thing particular that passed in this conversation
was an allusion from him of the intriguing inter-
ference of a neighbour of his and mine.'
^ Lord Auckland.
294 DIARIES AND CORRESI'ONDEN'CE OF
Sunday, Feb mar u S//i. — On reflecting uponwliat had
passed witli Mr. Goldsmid last night, it occurred to
me that the best mode of making the communication
in the city respecting the change of Administration
would be through the Governor of the Bank, both on
account of liis public situation and his invari;d)l('
attachment and character. With }>lv. Pitt's appro-
bation, therefore, 1 saw hiuj, and after explaining to
him the circumstances, I sent him to Mr. Pitt to
receive the proper authority for the conmumication he
should nuike to-morrow.
Mr. P. this day mentioned to me his having
received a letter from Lord Auckland, on Saturday,
the 31st of last month, complaining of his having
been treated unkindlv and not with due attention, in
having no conununication nuule to him respecting the
question about Catholic Emancipation, — with which
he had the misfortune to difter entirely with him ; —
at which time no determination of the Cabinet ha<l
been taken, and of course could not be communicated
to any one. Mr. Pitt therefore answered his letter
the same day, and observed that however widely
they might difter on the question itself, the difterence
of opinion would be much more wide as to which of
them had the most right to complain of want of
kindness and fairness. To that letter his Lordship
made no reply, or took any notice whatever till this
morning, remaining silent eight days under the
cutting reproach before stated; during all which
time he never attempted any intercourse with me.
If he had been conscious of innocence in the whole
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 295
transaction, he would naturally either have instantly
written to Mr. Pitt, or have come to me to talk of the
best mode of clearing up Mr. Pitt's misconceptions.
On my coming home, I found Lord A.'s letter,
No. 5, and immediately wrote the answer, No. G.
The Attorney-General has agreed to be Speaker.
Lord Chatham's answer received; laments the
result ; could have done no good if he had been in
town ; thinks that under the unfortunate circum-
stance of his brother's retiring, the King could not
have done better than send for the Speaker, and
states his reasons ; declines any answer to his brother's
entreaties for his remaining in office, but says he will
be in town in Sifeio days. The inference I draw from
that is, that he will keep his office. Lord Grenville
said to the Bishop of Lincoln he thought Lord Chatham
should not remain in office.
Monday, February Qth. — The communication made
through Mr. Newland, by direction of Mr. Thorn-
ton, Governor of the Bank, to the city, or rather to
the Stock Exchange, of the change of Administration,
but that Mr. Pitt would open the budget, &;c. Stocks
fell one quarter per cent. only.
Mr. Canning canvassing for persons to go out of
office. The two Elhs's (George and Charles) express
their determination to oppose the new Government.
Prevailed with Lord Granville Leveson. Lord Gower
will probably go on different grounds. • ..
Division taken that the Speaker should quit the
chair immediately, and that he should send a letter
for that purpose to-morrow.
296 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Wrote to Mr. Staj)lcton nn account of Mv. PKt's
resignation.
Tuesdai/, Fehruarij 10///. — Mr. Pitt told nic Lord
Hawkcsbnrv wonld be Foreiurn Sccretarv, and Lord
Hobart AV'ar Sccretarv; the Chancellor to resign ; Lord
Eldon to have the Great Seal, Sir Uidinrd Ardeii to
be Chief-Justice of the Common Picas, Sir W . Grant
to be Master of the Rolls, Mr. Law to be Attorney-
General, and Mr. Percival to be Solicitor-(ieneral.
Called on the Speaker on the subject of Sir Richard
Worslcy's seat offered to mc ; he entered into the sub-
ject of the intended arrangements, stated those above,
and added that Mr. Charles Vorke is to be Secre-
tary-at-War, and Mr. N. Vansittart to succeed me;
expressed strong regret at my cjnitting, and said some-
thing, in a voice much agitated, that I understood to
convey he was not sure whether in my situation he
should do the same ; which led to my writing to him,
No. 7. He told me Lord Chatham had agreed to
continue, in terms extremely flattering to him, the
substance of which he repeated. At this time Mr. Pitt
had received no answer from his brother. He expressed
great resentment at Canning's conduct, and said no-
body Avould follow his example in quitting, except
Lord Granville Leveson. I told him Lord Gowcr
would quit, whose motive probably is resentment to
the King, for what passed respecting the Stafford-
shire Militia. On the whole, the Speaker seemed con-
fident that he should form a strong and an efficient
Government.
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 297
The Chancellor' sent to request to speak with me
in his room ; but I was prevented getting to him till
within a quarter of four, my conversation with him
therefore was very short, — full of kindness on his
part — and in the course of it he told ine his retiring
was in consequence of a suggestion from the Speaker,
that his doing so would enable him to make an
arrangement in the law department (alluding to the
one mentioned to me that morning by Mr. Pitt) that
would greatly strengthen his administration. I agreed
to go to him in the evening, if I could ; but dining
with Mr. Pitt, and talking about the budget till past
ten o'clock, it was too late to go to his Lordship.
Wednesday, Fehruary Wth. — Saw Mr. Addington
in the morning, at his request, when he expressed
himself strongly as entering into my feelings on the
ground of my retiring.
At the levee the King appeared perfectly composed
and collected when speaking to Mr. Pitt ; and after-
wards, in a conversation of some length with me,
expressed his warmest and most imqualified appro-
bation of Mr. Pitt as to all he had done, and was now
doing, particularly with regard to what has lately
passed ; concluding with saying, that his whole conduct
was infinitely more honom^able on retiring than that
of any of his predecessors, dwelling on the word any,
and added, beyond all comparison so, and that he
possessed his highest esteem and good opinion.
Lord Chatham dined with his brother, and made
^ Lord Rosslyn, then Lord Loughborough.
298 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the first communication to him of liis intention to
remain.
Thtirsdat/, February Vlth. — Mr. \\ hite' stated that
the late Attorney-General complained of his having
been prevailed with to take the chair without the
remotest intimation of any other law arrangement,
except the one in consequence of his being made
Speaker ; adtling, that if he should be removed from
the chair, he would never form another political con-
nexion ; evidently hurt beyond measure at the
uncandid treatment he conceived he had met with.
Mr. Pelham, after having declined to take any em-
])loyment, tells his friends he is to have an ollice,
probablv a cabinet one.
J\Ir. Vansittart certainly to succeed me ; Mr. Loni;
(who told me that he thought he should quit) is to
remain in for some time at least.
j\lr. William Elliot^ declared liis intention to Mr.
Pitt to resign the Admiralty.
Mr. Yorke^ assured me he was firmly attached to
Mr. Pitt, and that no consideration could have induced
him to take office, but the impcrioua necemty of the
times, and being assured it would be agreeal)le to Mr.
Pitt.
In the evening, a meeting at Mr. Pitt's, to settle the
mode of bidding for the loan of 27,000,000/., includ-
ing Ireland ; six Sets present, which again prevented
my going to the Chancellor.
^ The Solicitor to the Treasury.
* Afterwards Lord St. Germains, whose eldest brother married
Lady Harriet Pitt.
^ Lord Hardwicke's brother.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 299
Friday, the Fast-day, February 13//^. — Lord St.
Vincent came to town in consequence of the overture
to him, and professed a perfect wiUingness to accept
the Admiralty; but suggested some embarrassment
from his being committed on the question respecting
the Test Act, as far as relates to Dissenters ; but Mr.
Pitt replied he was not bound by his acceptance of
the office to any particular line in Parliament, and he
left him with a determination to take the situation.
I met Lord Hobart' in the street after chm'ch, who
told me he did not think himself at liberty to refuse
the employment offered him in difficult times like the
present, but that he did not accept till he was assured
by Mr. Pitt it would be agreeable to him. He added,
he had hoped " that Mr. Pitt would not have forced
the Catholic question to a point at the present
moment ;" to which I did not feel myself at liberty to
reply; but that impression, if not removed by a dis-
closure of the real state of the matter, will be preju-
dicial to Mr. Pitt.
Li the evening I went up to the Chancellor as he
had desired, and from him I had a most interesting
narrative of all the circumstances bearing upon the
question of admitting the Catholics to the indulgences
they are in pursuit of. His Lordship began Avith the
period of Lord Fitzwilliam's short administration in
Ireland ; at which time the King (without any prelude,
or anything whatever having passed between his
Majesty and the Chancellor on the subject) Avrote a
letter to him, putting three questions abruptly, and
' Afterwards Lord Buckingliainshire.
300 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the Chancellor added, "rather unfairly;" meaning
the taking him by surj)rise, and applying to liini
separately.
1st. Whether he could consistently witli his coro-
nation oath consent to a law freeing the Catholics
and tlic Dissenters from the disabilities and restric-
tions they are under?
2d. Could he do so consistently with the Act of
Union with Scotland?
3d. W hat would be the conduct of the Chancellor
respecting his putting the Great Seal to the l)ill, if it
should pass in Ireland ?
To the ft rsf his Lordship answered, he did not con-
ceive his Majesty was in any degree fettered by his
coronation oath, in giving the royal assent to a
measure which shoidd have the previous apj)robation
of both Houses of Parliament, as that could only be
a le(/ishitiL'e Act, in concurrence with the other
branches of the Legislature ; and not touching even on
the words of the oath, which was devised as a security
against any act of the King in his executive c^iViCxiy , at
a time too, when the Sovereign on the throne was of
a religion different from the established Church of
these kingdoms.
To the second he answered, he was clearly of opinion
that the Act of Union was no bar to such legislative
interference, though the words respecting the point aic
strong ; as a proof of that he instanced the Toleration
Act, and the act which put an end to the election of
the clergy in Scotland, and restored the patronage to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 301
the proprietors ; adding other reasons in support of
that opinion.
To the third he answered, if any bill from Irehmd
shoidd be brought to him of a tendency so mischievous
in his opinion as to render it unfit for him to put the
Great Seal to it, he should think it his duty to resign
it into his Majesty's hands immediately.
The Chancellor told me that about this time his
Majesty said to him, " he had amongst his Ministers
some most valuable men, but he did not like the
mixture of Scotch metaphysics;" which his Lordship
applied to Mr. Dundas.
With the Chancellor's answers his Majesty appeared
to be very much dissatisfied, from which his Lordship
was persuaded the King had entertained a hope that
he should have been supported by his opinion in his
fixed aversion to the measure respecting the Catholics.
Nothing more, however, passed on the subject till
the month of October last, when Lord Westmoreland
showed the King a letter from Lord Clare, telhng him
the question was about to be agitated again, which
very much disturbed his Majesty ; and about that
time a paper was given in to the Cabinet, by Lord
Castlereagh, containing three propositions for discus-
sion, in order that the Irish Government might be
prepared to take such a line as the Cabinet should
decide on.
1st. A provision for the Catholic clergy, and of course,
if that should be decided in their favour, to include
the Dissenting clergy also.
302 DIARIES AND CORllESPONDENCE OF
2d. The fidmission ot" the Ciitliolics to Parlia-
ment, &c.
'k\. Some aiTaiigemcnt about tithes.
Oil the opening of tlie discussion, the Chancellor
asked Lord Castlereagh,' if any engagement had been
made, or encouragement held out, to the Catholics, or
to any leading men amongst them, at the time of the
Union, to expect any new indulgence ; to which ho
answered, none whatever ; nor even that any sugges-
tion of the sort would be brought under consideration.
The Prince of Wales had conveyed to ^Ir. Pitt, very
distinctly, liis opinion in favour of the measure ; he
had, indeed, avowed that on former occasions, and
Lord Moira was known to be zealous for it.
From this time, discussions took place in the Cabinet,
from time to time, but loosely, and in the most friendly
manner possible, during which if ajipcarcd that the
members were as under : —
Fob the Question. Against it.
Mr. Pitt. The ChauceUor.
Lord Grenvillo — strongly. Duko of Portland.
IMi". Dundas — strongly. Lord Westmoreland.
Mr. Windham — strongly. Lord Liverpool — absent, but
Lord Spencer — very moderately vehement by letter.
so. Lord Chatham — absent, but un-
Lord Camden — in no office, but derstood to be against.
decided.
Li the course of these discussions, the Chancellor
asked Mr. Pitt, privately, whether he thought it would
be judicious to propose a measure of this sort, to
which the King was notoriously so averse, and on
' Afterwards Marquis of Londonderry.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 303
which the whole bench of bishops would be against
him ; probably many lords from opinion, others from
an incUnation to follow the King ; most Hkely, Lord
Chatham, as well as others of the Cabinet, with many
of his most confidential friends, such as the Speaker,
the Master of the Rolls, &c.
Occasional meetings on the subject went on, or it
was sometimes brought forward after other business
was disposed of; Mr. Pitt from time to time proposing
modifications, or a test which should secure the Church
and the Constitution against any attempts of either the
Cathohcs or Dissenters, till Wednesday, the 2Sth of
January ; on which day, at the levee, the King said to
Mr. Dundas, he understood the question was agitating
amongst the Ministers ; that nothing could be more
disagreeable or painful to him, and that he should
consider the person who supported the question as
his worst enemy ; and repeated that so loud as to be
heard l\y two or three persons standing near, which
led to a cabinet being assembled the next day, when a
general wish was expressed that Lord Grenville would
prepare a paper, stating what would satisfy the majority
of the Cabinet, as a proposition to be made to Parlia-
ment, which his Lordship positively declined ; and Mr.
Pitt undertook to prepare the test for the Catholics
and Dissenters. He accordingly sent a draught thereof
to the Chancellor, on Friday, the 30th, the day, or
rather evening, on which, as before observed, Mr.
Addington was seen twice with the King. On
the 31st, at night, Mr. Pitt MTote his first letter to
the King, the heads of which are in No. 1 . This
30i DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
was done witliout any opinion of the cabinet ministers
actually and finally expressed,— certainly witliout
ani/ minute of the Cabinet. The reference, there-
fore, in the letter was to a decision of tlie Cabinet,
not formally taken, though their o})inions were
ascertained ; and the letter was written without the
knowledge of some of the members, probably of any
of the minority of it. Tlie Chancellor was himself
utterly imiorant of it, and there was no further
meeting on the subject; but at the levee, on Wednes-
day, the 4th of February, the Ciiancellor talked to Mr.
Dundas of the foolish reports that had been in circu-
lation for some days,— at the time utterly without
foundation, — of changes in the Administration ; on
which Mr. Dundas replied. " AVhat will you say if I
tell you tliat Mr. Pitt, Lord Grenville, and myself,
will be under the necessity of withdrawing?" On
his repeating that seriously, the Chancellor was thun-
derstruck, and instead of going in to the King as he
had intended, he let the Duke of Portland go in,
and remained in conversation with Mr. Dundas, who
explained to him the substance of the correspondence
between his Majesty and Mr. Pitt, and the inevitable
consequence of that. This appeared the more extraor-
dinary to the Chancellor, because (as before observed)
nothing that passed in the Cabinet led to an imagina-
tion of the consideration of the question being brought
to a point suddenly, or prematurely. On the commu-
nication of the correspondence afterwards to the Chan-
cellor by the King, his Lordship was struck with what
he conceived to be the peremptory manner in which
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 305
Mr. Pitt expressed himself in his last letter, as to his
resignation, when the King appeared to him to have
consented not to take any steps to counteract what
might be a measure of his Ministers ; althougli he
would not engage to conceal his opinions, which he
had not been in the habit of doing. And his Lordship
urged that as a proof of some agency acting upon Mr.
Pitt between the first and second letters. He did not,
indeed, hesitate to say to me, that he thought -Mr.
Pitt was impelled by Lord Grenville and Mr. Dundas.
Lord Spencer had been extremely moderate on the
point from the beginning; Mr. Windham eager
upon it.
On the whole, from what passed with the Chancellor,
as well as from what INIr. Pitt said to me on the 28tli
or 29th of January (when I showed him a note from
Lord Auckland, respecting the Parliament being to
meet on the 2d of Pebruary), I am very strongly
inclined to believe that ]\Ir. Pitt had not, in the first
instance, an intention of pressing the Catholic ques-
tion on the King immediately ; and in the second,
that he would have been satisfied with his Majesty's
assurances of forbearance (if he had thought them
tlistinct and clear), with perhaps some explanation.
Possibly he did not act solely on his own judgment.
The Chancellor told me further, that when he went
in to the King, after the levee, on Wednesday, the
11th, the King expressed himself about Mr. Pitt in
the same terms I have already observed he did to me,
and asked his Lordship if he did not think he might
rely on Mr. Pitt continuing to act in the same hononr-
VOL I. X
306 DIARIES AND CORllESPONDENCE UF
able manner he was now doing, and support the new-
Government strenuously; observing, at the same time,
how different the case had been with former ministers
who had retired, instancing Lord North in j)articular,
but imputed that to the gaming debt of George North
to Mr. Fox. To all which the Chancellor replied he
had the same confidence in Mr. Pitt's honour that
his Majesty had, and felt witli jjcrfect certainty that he
would support the new Administration to the utmost
extent of his power and talents ; but how long that
might contiiuie no one could safely predict, it not
depending upon Mr. Pitt himself ; that others might
act upon him in a way he coidd by no caution guard
against ; that he had seen repeated instances of this
in the course of his Majesty's reign ; that circum-
stances might arise from a variety of causes which
might lead to differences of a serious nature, and im-
portant in their consequences ; differences of opinion,
jealousies, &c. ; and that in the particular case referred
to by his Majesty, Lord North's conduct was really
not owing to the anecdote alluded to by his Majesty
(which, however, was currently reported at the time),
but to the constant solicitation and persuasion of
friends ; and that such, from disappointment, resent-
ment, or fair opinion, might be found to practise upon
Mr. Pitt.
The Chancellor then explained to his Majesty that
his retiring from the public service was not a thing
of his seeking, but one he had no choice about ; that
it was suggested to him broadly by Mr. Addington,
on Sunday, the 8th. That Mr. Addington, in the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 307
coiu'se of conversation on that day, told the Chancellor
that he thought his Government would do extremely
well, and that the way would be considerably smoothed
by his conciliating different parties, and that several
individuals were firmly attached to him. That the
Chancellor's retiring would enable an arrangement to
be made in the law, which w^ould very greatly
strengthen the new Government, by securing the
eminent assistance of Sir William Grant, who, by
being placed at the Rolls (hi the room of Sir R.
Arden, to be made Chief-Justice of the Common
Pleas), would have leisure to attend to the House
of Commons ; and by opening the Attorney- General-
ship for ]\Ir. Law, with Percival as Solicitor- General ;
under which statement his Lordship told the King
he acquiesced, adding, that he was ready to retire to
the remotest corner of Scotland if it would conduce to
his Majesty's service. The King, drawing back a
little, and under some apparent surprise, expressed
himself with great kindness to the Chancellor, and
asked him if he had any wish in which he could be
gratified ; to w^hicli the Chancellor answered he had
not. And the King replied something must be thought
of for him. The King, in this interview with the
Chancellor, told him Mr. Addington had proposed
Mr. Bragge as Speaker, but that he had objected to it.
The Chancellor here told me he would not accept an
earldom, — without dropping a hint whether he would
take anything else if offered.
Fi'om this day, Friday, February 13th, nothing very
interesting occurred till Wednesday, February 18th,
x2
308 DIARIES AND COKKESPONDENCE OE
except the intimation to me from Mr. Pitt, on Monday,
the l()th, that Mr. Vansittart set off tliat day on a
mission to Denmark (on a ho})e which lie thought
would fail), and would not return for three or four
weeks, which must necessarily keep me so long in
office; on which I asked what objection there would
be to Mr. Riley Adilington's succeeding me, instead
of Mr. Long ; i)ut Mr. Pitt earnestly pressed me not
to put the new Treasury to any distress.
Mr. Pitt opened the budget with a loan of
25,500,000/. for England, and 1,500,000/. for Ire-
land, accompanied by English ta.\es for 1,790,000/.
And after a full and clear statement from him, every
thing was so satisfactory that not one word was said by
the Opposition ; the whole passed off with unanimity,
which never happened before in seventeen years of
his administration. In the evening I went to him at
his desire, and we were alone more than three hours,
in an extremely interesting conversation ; in the course
of which he was, beyond all comparison, more affected
than I had seen him since the change first bm'st upon
me, but nothing particularly leading to any new dis-
closure occiUTcd. The most remarkable thing that fell
from him was a suggestion that on revolving in his
mind all that had passed, it did not occur to him that
he could have acted in any respect otherwise than he
had done, or that he had anything to blame himself
for, except not having earher endeavoured to reconcile
the King to the measure about the Catholics, or to
prevail with his Majesty not to take an active part on
the subject. I took occasion to press again as strongly
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 309
as possible my opinion of Mr, Addington's conduct in
catching at the Government suddenly and eagerly, in-
stead of throwing himself at the King's feet and implor-
ing him not to attempt to form a new Administration,
and least of all to think of him, who felt himself utterly
unequal to the undertaking. Mr. Pitt admitted to
me that Mr. Addington had been with the King for
some hours on Friday, the 30th of January, of course
previous to the first of the correspondence which led
in three davs to the change of the Administration, but
subsequent to what passed at the levee (on the 28th
January) with Mr. Dundas ; there was, however, no
actual admission on the part of Mr. Pitt that he
thought with me on the subject, but there were evi-
dent demonstrations of it, and there w^ere painful
workings in his mind, plainly discernible ; most of
the time tears in his eyes, and much agitated.
Lord Lewisham the head of the Board of Control.
Friday, February 2Wi. — A council at the Queen's
house; at which Lord Hawkesbury, as Secretary of
State, Lord St. Vincent, as first Lord of the Admiralty,
and Mr. Yorke, as Secretary at War, were sworn
into their offices, as Privy Councillors.
Saturday, %\st. — At dinner at the new Speaker's,
with Mr. Pitt, Mr. Dundas, &c. &c.
Mr. Pelham, after having first refused the Secre-
taryship of State, and accepted the Board of Control,
— having refused the latter, is now out of humour at
not having the former.
The King so unwell as to induce several persons to
make inquiries after his healtli. I did not, howevei-,
310 DIARIES AND CORHESrONDEN'CE OF
hear a syllable that led mc to conjecture anything
affecting his I\Iajesty's mind ; but on this day, pro-
bably, the symptoms first showed themselves. At
dinner I asked Mr. John Villiers' whether it was right
to do so, and he answered decidedly in the negative ;
that the complaint was nothing more than a hoarseness
consequent upon a cold, and tiiat he had played at
cards with his Majesty for two hours on the preceding
evening, Friday.
Sinidai/, Fehruarif 22d. — With Mr. Pitt the greatest
part of the morning, on various arrangements of no
importance, previous to winding up matters, and dis-
posing of various employments, particularly Mr. Jekyll
and Mr. Carthew.^
No mention of the King's illness, nor (Hd I hear a
word of it during the whole day.
A long conversation with Lord Eldon respecting
his acceptance of the Great Seal,'^ in the course of
which he stated to me all that passed on the subject ;
the first proposal to him on Sunday the 8th of this
month ; his determination not to accept it but on
Mr. Pitt's earnest entreaty, and engagement that he
would be Chancellor if he (Mr. Pitt) should ever
come into office again ; pension to him (4,000/. a-year),
to be secured immediately. Warmest assurances of
friendship from his Lordship to myself.
In the evening at the Speaker's ; nothing remarkable
occurred there.
' Afterwards Earl of Clarendon.
- Mr. Pitt's private secretary.
» See Lord Eldon 's Life, by Twiss, vol. i. pp. 367, 368.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 311
Monday, Fchnmnj ^Scl — On this day Mr. Pitt
attended the Prince of Wales by his command.
His Royal Highness said he sent for him as his
father's actnal Minister on the present distressing
occasion. Mr. Pitt replied, that being de facto in the
situation of Minister, he should have no hesitation in
giving him the best advice and opinions in his power ;
but very respectfully, though firmly, stated to his Royal
Highness that he would do so only on the express
condition that his Royal Highness would forbear to
advise with those who had for a long time acted in
direct opposition to his Majesty's Government. The
Prince acquiesced as to the persons immediately
alluded to by Mr. Pitt ; but added, he should think
himself at liberty to advise occasionally with Lord
Moira, which he had long been in the habit of
doing. ''
Went with Mr. John Smyth,^ of Heath, to make
inquiry after the health of the King. Conversation
with him on the way, as to my opinion of the whole
of Mr. Addington's conduct throughout this unfortu-
nate convulsion. Under the Piazza at St. James's,
met Lord Essex, who told us the King was entirely
deranged. AVent up into the levee room, where
persons were writing their names. Lord Chester-
field spoke with great apparent feeling about the
situation of his Majesty, but declared he knew no
particulars of the state he was in ; no bulletin had
^ An intimate friend of Mr. Rose's,' and a very independent Member
of Parliament.
312 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
then been brought from the Queen's house respecting
the King's health.
On my return to Downing Street, Mr. Pitt tokl me
there were certainly synii)toms of derangement in his
Majesty, and that Dr. Willis was attending him ; hut
there were hopes that all woukl be right again soon ;
and that JMr. Addington saw his Majesty yesterday,
and found liim wandering on some points.
Lord Granville Leveson ' told me he met Mr.
Tierny yesterday, who dropped hints of the King's
situation, and assured him there would be unequi-
vocal ])roofs of it manifested beyond all doubt very
soon. (A tolerable proof that some one or more of
the servants have already been tampered with again.)
This day, or to-morrow at the latest, Lord Eldon
having to resign the Chief Secretaryship of the
Common Pleas, it occurred to me that he might be
taking steps for that purpose, such as would be
irrevocable, which would necessarily leave him in an
unpleasant situation if the King's malady should
unhappily continue upon him ; I was therefore induced
to convey to him by Mr. White the account of what
there was too great reason to dread was the appre-
hensions about the King's derangement.
Tuesday, Fehrv.ary 2'^th. — Lord Eldon came tn
me in the morning, and sat with me an hour. He
told me the account conveyed to him from me through
Mr. White,- was the only intimation he had received
1 The Marquis of Stafford's second son, afterwards Lord Granville.
^ Mr. White, Solicitor of the Treasury, an intimate private friend
of Mr. Rose, and of Lord Eldon.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 313
of the state the King is supposed to be in ; on which he
expressed himself with a strong feeHng of resentment
and indignation at Mr. Addington, from whom he
conceived he ouo;ht to have heard it immediately after
he knew it himself, thinking, very justly, that to him
(Lord Eldon) as the King's Chancellor, the earliest
possible communication should have been made. Mr.
Addington saw the King on Sunday, and told Mr. Pitt
he found his mind much deranged on some subjects,
but apparently collected on others ; after which he was
at a cabinet where Lord Eldon w.as, without letting fall
a syllable to his Lordship on the subject. In conse-
quence of this silence, Lord Eldon had written in the
morning to Mr. Addington, with an intention of remon-
strating with him on his conduct, who appointed him at
a quarter before eleven. Lord Eldon did not, however,
reach New Palace Yard till seven minutes before eleven,
when he was told j\Ir. Addington was gone out on
horseback ! Such treatment naturally produced an
unpleasant effect. His Lordship accounted for it to a
certain extent by the language he had held to Mr.
Addington when he agreed to take the seals, viz.
that he w^as induced to accept them only in obedience
to the King's command, and at the advice and earnest
recommendation of Mr. Pitt, and that he would hold
them no longer than he could continue to do so in
perfect friendship with the latter. After a long dis-
cussion of the state of matters, Lord Eldon assured
me that no consideration whatever should induce him
to take the seals from the King's hand till his mind
should be as sound as his own.
31 i DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Lord Eldon told mc he was with tlic King alone
for more than two hours on Friday, during the whole
of which time he was as rational and collected as he
had ever seen him. That he talked to his Lordship of
his last malady, stating many particulars that occurred
to liiin during the continuance of it, and especially
dwelt on his feelings during some lucid intervals. The
King also quoted to Lord Eldon the questions which his
Lordship, as a member of the Privy Council, had asked
his physicians ; that he took down Blackstone's Com-
mentaries, and showed him a passage in them respect-
ing the point (the Catholic question) which had so
long and so anxiously agitated his mind.
Mr. Pitt told me at noon, that from the accounts
he had received of the King, he really entertained
hopes of a tolerably speedy recovery ; and that he
should abstain from going to the House, to avoid
questions that might be distressing or painful.
About one o'clock, went with George to the Queen's
house. The news there was, in substance, that the
Kino; was not worse than vesterdav.
On my return, near the parade, I met the Chan-
cellor walking ; turned back with him, and went as
far as the top of the park. He told me he had heard
from Dr. Willis, at eleven o'clock last night, that the
symptoms were favourable ; that he had left the
cabinet (Lord Grenville did not attend it, but Lord
Eldon and Mr. A. met at it,) to go to the Queen's
house, to get the commission (which he had sent to
the Queen's house last night) signed by his Majesty,
for the royal assent to the Bill for repealing the Act
THE RIG^IIT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 315
Avhich prohibited the use of any except brown
bread.
About two o'clock the Chancellor came to me at
the Treasury, and told me he had sent the commission
in to the King by Dr. Willis, who brought it back
signed, and told him there would be no difficulty in
obtaining the royal signature to a dozen papers
respecting which no detailed statements were neces-
sary. That he (Dr. Willis) had allowed the King to
see the Queen and the Duke of Cumberland, but
no other of the royal family; that he should not,
however, hesitate about allowing such of them to have
access to his Majesty as he could see without being
deeply affected at the interview. That he could not
pronounce anything favourable about his Majesty's
recovery with certainty ; but that his hopes were very
good, and thought it not improbable but that con-
siderable amendment might appear in a week or ten
days
The Chancellor said to me, in the morning as we
walked up the park, that, in the event of the King's
malady lasting, it would be found useful that we are
actually prepared with a measure for settling the
Government and the care of his Majesty's person ; as
the Bill for the Regency, which passed the House of
Commons, and nearly went through the House of
Lords, in 1789, would be found to answer now in all
its provisions, and would save much discussion and
avoid serious inconvenience. [Which observation I
had made to my son half-an-hour before, and nearly
on the same spot.] The Chancellor, at the same time,
316 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
coiulemnecl in strong terms Mr. Fox's indiscretion in
committing himself on the former occasion respecting
the devolving of the government on the Prince of
Wales.
At this period the Administration was left in a sin-
gnlar sitnation. Of those who were to (piit : —
Of the Cabinet .—
Lord Greuville, out ; and Lord Hiiwkesbury, Foreign Secretary.
Lord Speucer, out ; Lord St. Vincent, First Lord of the
Admiralty.
Mr. Windham, uut; Mr. Yorke, Secretary at War.
Mr. Dundas, ///, Secrctai-y of State ; Lord Hobart to succeed.
Lord Loughborough, in. Chancellor ; Lord Eldon to succeed.
Mr. Pitt, ill, Fii-st Lord of the Treasury ; Mr. Addington to
succeed.
honh of the Treasury : —
Lord Granville Leveson, in; Lord George Thynne to succeed.
Mr. Hiley Addington, ///; Mr. Nathaniel Bond to siicceed.
Sprretaries to the Treasury : —
Mr. Rose, in; Mr. N. Vansittart to succeed.
Mr. Long, in; Mr. Hiley Addington to succeed.
Lords of the Admiralty : —
Lord Arden, Admiral Gambier, Admiral Young, Admiral
Mason, out; Mr. Garthstone, Sir Thomas Troubridge,
Captain Markham, Mr. Adams, have succeeded.
Lord Arden appointed Master of the Mint, in room of Lord
Hawkesbury.
Lord Coruwallis, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in ; was to have
been succeeded by Lord Hardwick.
Lord Castlereagh, Secretary for Ireland, /;/; was to have been
succeeded by Mr. Abbott.'
In the Law : —
Lord Eldon, Chief- Justice of Common Pleas, in; Sir Richard
Arden to succeed.
' Mr. Abbott, aftenvards Speaker, and created Lord Colchester.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE ROSE. 317
Sir Richard Arclen, Master of the Rolls, in; Sir WilUam
Grant to succeed.
Sir John Mitford/ Attorney-General, out ; chosen Speaker ;
succeeded by Mr. Law.
Sir William Grant, Solicitor-General, ocU; succeeded by
Mr. Percival.
Wednesday, Feb. 2Wt. — Mr. Pitt saw the Prince
of Wales again this day ; his Royal Highness having in
the interval seen the Chancellor, the Duke of Portland,
and Lord Spencer, &c., who took an ojjposite line from
Mr. Pitt in the last regency ; and it was explained
that they would not now create any difficulty in
passing the Bill with nearly similar provisions, if un-
happily the necessity should arise.
The Bishop of Lincoln told me he had last night a
long and interesting conversation with Mr. Pitt ; in
which he stated very fully and forcibly the public
opinion respecting the mode of Mr. Addington's
getting into office, imputing it broadly and plainly
to intrigue, — rather more strongly than I have con-
ceived it myself. The Bishop expressed an earnest
hope that Mr. Pitt would not commit himself to any
determination against not returning to office except
on condition of support from the throne on the
Catholic question ; more especially to guard himself
against being drawn into such a declaration by Mr.
Pox in the House of Commons, either on Monday
next, on the consideration of the state of the nation,
or on any future day. ]\Ir. Pitt made no promise to
the Bishop on the subject ; but appeared not to dis-
approve of the caution recommended.
' Afterwai'ds Lord Redesdale, and Chancellor in Ireland.
318 DIAKIES AND COllRESPONDENXE OF
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Westmoreland) told me
this morning that the King was somewhat deranged
on Thnrsdav last.
Lord Bruce,' last night at the opera, told Miss
Jennings that Mr. Addington had for some time past
had the most easy and constant access to the King at
all hours, which gives additional sanction to the idea
of his iutrii'uinj^.
This brings to my recollection, that when the
bishopric of St. David's was lately vacant, the King
told Mr. Pitt that Dr. Huntingford (Warden of Win-
chester) woidd be the best man who could be thought
of to fill the see, for learning and every other quality ;
which his Majesty could have heard from no one but
Mr. Addington, who then possessed the King's mind
with the impression to carry his point, lest he should
fail with Mr. Pitt.
Thursdaij, February '2(jf/i. — The King's health, as
reported by the physicians, the same as before, but
the private accounts more favourable. A good deal
of fever, which is thought fortunate, and other symp-
toms which are stated to have preceded recovery in
the former case, in 1789.
Discussion with Mr. Pitt how long the Regency
could be deferred, if unlia})})ily his Majesty's recovery
should not be speedy. Prepare for the consent to the
Loan Bill, which will pass the House of Lords about
Monday next. The Chancellor thinks his Majesty's
nand may be obtained to it, as on the 24th to the
' The Marquis of Aylesbury's son.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 319
Bread Bill. I suggested the importance and deli-
cacy of such a mcasui'e, as it will be argued that if
his Majesty's signature may be obtained to a Commis-
sion to assent to a bill which has passed both houses,
it may equally be obtained to dissent to many which
cannot be supported. The delicacy of this point in-
creased by the Chancellor not seeing the King sign
the instrument, which was given for his signature to
Dr. Willis ; the executive government therefore, pro
tanto, in the hands of that gentleman. Great diffi-
culty in this case ; as no regency can be established
without previous examination of physicians, &c. Diffi-
culty also in conununications with foreign Courts in
the King's name on points of the highest national
importance. No such correspondence during the
last derangement, — no despatch of any consequence
having been sent during the period of the King's
illness. Difficulty also in the remaining Ministers
resigning, and the new ones accepting, which Mr.
Pitt admitted. He expressed a strong opinion that
the Regent, if appointed, should call into his service
Mr. Addington ; that his Majesty, on his recovery,
might find in his service the person he meant before
his illness to place in it. Which opinion I combated
earnestly, under a conviction of its being a mistaken
one, and being impressed with the firm behef that Mr.
Pitt's friends and the public would not bear such an
arrangement. In the middle of this discussion we
were interrupted, and Mr. Pitt went to Wimbledon to
dinner.
Notice by Mr. Nicholl of a motion in tlie House of
320 DIARIES AND COIIKESPONDENCE OF
Commons to-morrow respecting the present state of
the conntry.
Friday, Februari/ 27///.— Sent Mr. Pitt a printed
copy of the Regency Bill which })asscd the Mouse of
Commons, and was rejected in the House of Lords,
in February 19th, 17S9, on the King's recovery, with
MS. alterations in the margin of the amendments
made by the Lords, that he might have leisure to
consider the points before his return to town. Not
unlikely but Mr. Nicholl's notice has reference to tlie
execution of the royal authority iu various respects
at this moment ; despatches to foreign ministers,
decisions on important national concerns and in-
terests.
Sir Robert Peel told me he had been urged by many
independent men to state in the House of Commons
the necessity of Mr. Pitt remaining in a responsible
situation, and not abandoning the country ; referred
plainly to the total want of contidence in Mr. Adding-
ton, and stated that to be general in and out of
Parliament.
Was with Mr. Pitt some time before he went to
the House. He had a firm persuasion that the Oppo-
sition would act with decorum, and would not create
the smallest embarrassment till the situation of the
King should be so decided as to render it evident
whether a Regency will be necessary or not. He
thought it not likely that they would adopt any mea-
sures plainly ruinous or seriously mischievous to the
country, from a disinchnation to destroy that Govei-n-
ment which is the object of their ambition. On which
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 321
I observed that I thouglit that very likely to depend
upon the probability they conceived there was of their
obtaining their object. That if they should once
completely despair of it, some of them were of a dis-
position (especially then- leader) to do the utmost
mischief the V could. Mr. Pitt then said Mr. Fox had
decided not to take his seat to-day, although he had
before intended it, lest it should be attributed to his
meaning to countenance Mr. Nicholl's motion. On
going into the House of Commons with Mr. Pitt we
found Mr. Sheridan on his legs, moving the adjourn-
ment of the House to Monday, to get rid of Mr.
Nicholl's motion, stating the utter impropriety of any
discussion of public matters in the present uncertain
state of the King's health. Mr. Pitt gave him great
credit for his conduct. Urged very strongly that no
man with a heart, or who had the slightest feelings of
humanity or of gratitude, duty, or affection for a be-
loved sovereign, would even allude to his situation at
present, in the uncertain state he is in. He assured
the House, at the same time, that before it became
necessary to take any step of importance in public
business, the state of his Majesty's health should be
investigated, if unhappily, his Majesty should not be
able to give the proper directions.
Mr. Addington was in the house for the first time
since his re-election. Lord Hawkesbury declined taking
his seat, from a doubt as to his eligibility, on account
of the disqualifying clause respecting the third Secre-
tary of State, or Secretary for the Colonies, in the
Act of 1782, commonly called Burke's Act.
VOL. I. T '
322 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Mrs. Gooclenoiigh (sister to Mr. A.) told Miss Jen-
nings that the King had an attack somewhat similar
to the present in 1795, from which he recovered in
abont a Aveek.
The Dnke of Kent met ^Ir. Pitt coming in from
Wimbledon, and told him the hopes of the King's
recovery were more encouraging. I lis ]\Iajesty not
yet so ill as to be put under any personal constraint.
Saturdai/, February 28M. — Tlu' pul)lic account of
the King's health .somewhat more encouraging than
yesterday, and the private one very considerably so.
An abatement of the fever and of the symptoms of
derangement, with a reasonable degree of perspiration.
On the whole, it seems probable that in the course of
the ensuing week his Majesty's recovery may be sufli-
ciently advanced for him at least to sign papers, and
so avoid resorting to the painful and distressing mea-
sure of a regency, as on an attentive investigation of
the state of the money it seems quite clear we can go
on, provided the Loan Bill (which will be read a third
time on Monday next in the House of Lords) shall
receive the royal assent by the 10th March, or
thereabouts.
Mr. Addington frequently with Mr. Pitt during
the last three days.
I met Mr. Canning in the park, who expressed an
anxious hope that if a necessity should arise for a
regency, Mr. Pitt would not in that event think
himself called upon to recommend (if it should depend
on him) the Administration being placed in the hands
of Mr. Addington.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 323
Wrote in the morning to the Bishop of Lincohi,
urging his coming to town, under an impression that
practices would be attempted to induce Mr. Pitt to
prevail with the Prince of Wales (in the event of a
regency) to take Mr. Addington as his Minister. And
believing that great advantage might be derived from
one so intimately connected with Mr. Pitt being
always near him ; but in the afternoon I wrote again,
saying that I did not think the necessity for the
Bishop's coming so m'gent, as the King's health
happily promised so much better.
Sunday, March \st. — The bulletins of the King's
health very favourable, for the first time ; and the
private accounts extremely so.
Lord G , in walking with me from early
service at the Chapel Royal, told me he had been
assured that Buonaparte, on hearing of the King's
determination to make the change in the Adminis-
tration, attributed it to derangement.
y2
324 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
CHArTER VI.
1801.
MR. rose's diary FROM IST MARCH, TO llTH JUNE, 1801.
Monday y March M. — The bulletins at the Queen's
house much less favourable ; stating an increase of
the fever yesterday in the afternoon. The private
account attributes that to the medicines given to his
Majesty.
Mr. Grey' put off his motion for the state of the
nation (on a suggestion from !Mr. Rydei-, in the
absence of Mr. Pitt) to AVednesday, the 11th.
Letter from the Bishop of Lincoln that he had
received the second I wrote on Saturdav, but not the
first. Wrote to the Secretary of the Post-office
about it.
Mr. Fox took the oaths and his seat this day.
Tuesday, March M. — The public account of the
King's health extremely favourable this morning;
that his Majesty had had a good deal of rest. Less
fever, and better in all respects.
Mr. Pitt desired to see me as soon as he came
down-stairs, to tell me that the King had been so ill
* Afterwards Lord Grey.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 325
in the early part of tlie afternoon of yesterday as to
occasion the most serious alarms, that even his life was
thought in danger from the violent turn the disorder
was taking ; that his person had undergone a visible
change; and, on the whole, the physicians were in
great despondency and alarm; but that about five
o'clock in the afternoon the disorder was at a crisis,
when his Majesty fell into a sleep, which was con-
sidered as the thing to lead to the best hope ; that
he continued in it for two hours, and after lying
awake a short time, he fell asleep again, and did not
stir till about four o'clock in the morning, when he
awoke quite tranquil ; asked what bed he was in
(being sensible of its not being the one he usually
slept in), and how long he had been ill. On being
told eight days, he said he felt himself much better
than he had been. At the crisis, his pulse was at
136; this morning at eight it was only 84. On
the whole, the alteration for the better appeared to
be most extraordinary. The King was thought so
well, that the Queen and Princesses took an airing in
their carriages. This account was brought to Mr.
Pitt while in bed, before eight o'clock, by Mr. Ad-
dington.
Mr. Pitt then told me he had wished for an oppor-
tunity to explain to me more particularly what had
passed between him and the Prince of Wales at those
interviews he had had with his Royal Highness, which
was, in substance, that he had expressed a willingness
to submit his advice to his Royal Highness whenever
326 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
he should condescend to desire it ; but that it must
be on the express condition, that if unliap})ily there
shouhl be a necessity for a regency, that liis Royal
Highness shoukl accjuiesce in the arrangement as
settled in 1789; that the Prince seemed to be struck
at that being put to him so distinctly, and perlia})s a
little averse to the uncpialitied tones used (as if Mr.
Pitt was conscious of his manner of stating his deter-
mination having been severe), and that his Royal
Highness asked iiow some of those now acting with
Mr. Pitt would feel on the subject who had taken a
very different line on the former occasion, to which
Mr. Pitt replied he thought every one concerned in it,
without excepting his Royal Highness, could not
do better than accord with what was most evidently
the clear sense of the Legislature, expressed so as
not to be mistaken ; the Prince then expressed un-
easiness at some of the restrictions as likelv to be
found extremely inconvenient. Nothing, however,
passed conclusive between them as to any arrange-
ment of an administration. The interview ended with
the Prince saying that he must take time to consider
all that JNIr. Pitt had said ; his whole demeanour per-
fectly decorous and proper, as well with Mr. Pitt as at
the Queen's house, when he was there. Mr. Fox has
certainly not been Avith his Royal Highness, and i\Ir.
Pitt thinks he has not seen Mr. Sheridan.
Mr. Addington came to Mr. Pitt late in the day,
when I was with him, and said the accounts from the
Queen's house continued as favourable as possible.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 327
The call of the House was deferred for a fortnight.
Mr. Fox ill the House.
Wednesday, March 4<th. — Account of the King's
health favourable — as improving.
Thursdai/, March ^th. — The same account of the
King's health as yesterday — continued improvement.
On considering this day how long we could go on
without the royal assent to any bill, it appeared that
by the utmost management that could be used we
might contrive to find money till the 24th. Of course,
the Loan Bill must be passed on the 23d. In order,
however, to secure that, we agreed that a Regency
Bill must be ready before that day, even in the event
of his Majesty going on in a progressive state of
recovery, unless he should be quite tvell before the
12th, because that is the latest day to which an exa-
mination of the physicians can be deferred (whether
by the Privy Council or by the House of Commons) :
in which case a bill could be brought in on the 14th,
to pass by the 23d, as above mentioned; and that only
on a supposition of the bill being allowed to go on
without delay being created by opposition in any one
of its stages ; of course that it will not be safe to defer
the inquiry of the physicians to the 12th, unless it can
be ascertained that no delay will be created, in order to
which Mr. Pitt agreed, the best mode would be to have
an intercourse with Mr. Fox, either by letter or through
some person who can communicate directly with him ;
first waiting upon the Prince of Wales again, to know
whether his Royal Highness will acquiesce in the pro-
visions of the last Regency Bill, with perhaps a modi-
328 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
fication in the restrictions as to peerages, confining
that to one year, or till a certain period after the com-
mencement of the next session of Parliament.
Friday, March (Sth. — The public account of the
King's health remarkably good. "Although the fever
has not entirely subsided, his Majesty is considerably
better;" but the private account still more en-
couraging, liis Majesty this morning perfectly com-
posed, and so well as to see the Queen for half an
hour, during all which time perfectly rational ; but once
or twice a little hurried, of which he was sensible, and
checked himself. He asked Dr. Willis the state of
business in the House of Commons, and expressed
himself perfectly satisfied with it, and the train
matters were in ; he desired the doctor would write
to Mr. Addington to inform him how well he is, witli
directions to him to communicate the same to Mr.
Pitt and Lord Eldon, which is a decisive proof of the
accuracy of his Majesty's recollection of the state of
the Administration when he was taken ill. The King
was awake a considerable part of the night, but quite
tranquil during the whole time, and this day ate his
dinner with his usual appetite.
Lord Chatham told the Bishop of Lincoln he had
not made up his mind decidedly on the Catholic
question ; but that the inclination of his opinion was
against the question, and of course favourable to his
Majesty's view of the subject.
Lord Moira, in the House of Lords, suggests the
expediency of sitting de die i?i diem, to be ready to
take any steps that the urgency of affairs might require.
THE UiaHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 329
evidently pointing at a regency — while the King is
rapidly recovering.
Mr. Pitt seems to admit more than he has at all
heretofore done, during the last four weeks, the possi-
bility of its being right that he should remain in, or
rather return to, his situation ; in which possible case
it would become necessary to dispose honourably and
advantageously of Mr. Addington.
Saturday, March 1th. — The physicians* note respect-
ing the King's health still more encouraging than
yesterday. Mr. Pitt told me the King was in his
mind quite right, though a little fever remained;
that his Majesty last night played at piquet with the
Queen for half an hour, and saw the Dukes of Kent
and Cumberland. The conduct of the Duke of Cla-
rence, as stated by Lord Auckland, respecting the
detention of the fleet, and by Mr. Harris respecting
the head of the admiralty !
Sunday, March Sth. — The King's health continues
improving.
Monday, March ^th. — The King stated by the
physicians to be in the way of speedy recovery.
While I was in the porter's lodge at the Queen's
house this morning, reading the bulletin, the Prince
of Wales passed the door and went towards the apart-
ments in the house, soon after which he was seen
going into Mr. Addington's gateway, in New Palace
Yard.
The King sent Dr. Thomas Willis this day to Mr.
Pitt, to desire he would come to him, finding himself
well enough to talk with him, and wishing to see him
330 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
before any one else ; but Mr. Pitt, conceiving Mr.
Addiiigton ought first to attend his Majesty, entreated
that he might do so, and decHned it himself.
Mr. Pitt told me the King saw the Duke of York
last Friday, and is to see the Prince of Wales
to-day.
About three o'clock, Admiral Payne called at the
Treasury, and waited some time in my room, while I
was at the Board ; evidently with a desire to talk
with me. He told me the Prince of Wales had not
seen the King yet, which his Royal Highness felt
painfully; that the Duke of Cumberland had last
Monday sent to the Duke of York to apprize him of
the King's situation, when his Majesty's life was
thought to be in great danger, but that no intimation
of it was conveyed to the Prince, about which he
remonstrated with the Duke of Cumberland, who jus-
tified himself by saying he made the conununicatiou
to the Duke of York, as he was in his Majesty's con-
fidence, which the Prince thought an aggravation.
The Admiral assured me the Prince had had nothing
to do with any cabals which might have been going
forward, and had seen nobodv but Mr. Pitt and ^Ir.
Addington ; he added that the Duke of Cumberiand's
conduct had on the whole been most extraordinary ;
that he had complained loudly to the Prince of the
Chancellor having obtained the King's signature to
the commission, on the 24th of last month, to the
Bread Bill, for which he said his Lordship deserved a
rope and a hatchet.
In the House of Lords I saw the Chancellor
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 331
respecting the third reading of the Loan Bill, who
told me the King was perfectly rational and well; that
he had inquired very particularly about the state of
public business, and about his Lordship's health ; and,
among other things, spoke of his having signed the
commission for the passing of the Bread Bill, express-
ing at the same time some uneasiness lest he should
not have written his name well.
Tuesday, March 10///. — The King approaching fast
to recovery.
Question in the House of Commons respecting the
examination of witnesses as to Mr. Home Tooke
being a priest. Mr. Pitt not in the House. Mr.
Fox took part in the debate for the first time since his
return to Parliament. Great irregularity and con-
fusion. Specimen of what may be expected under
the new Government. Mr. Pitt dined with me to
meet Lord St. Vincent and Lord Eldon. Admiral
Payne came early before dinner, and told me the
Prince of Wales had still not seen the King, but
expected to be admitted in the afternoon. The Duke
of Cumberland had been with the Prince (accompanied
by the Duke of Kent) yesterday, for the first time
since the King's illness.
Wednesday, March Wth. — The King so entirely
recovered as to want nothing but the recovery of his
strength ; and notice Avas given at the Queen's house
that there would be no more bulletins after this day.
On coming away from thence I met Doctor John
Willis at the door of the porter's lodge, and exchanged
only a few words with him; he just said he was almost
332 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
worn out, lie had gone tliroiigh too miicli for any one
man to stand.
The Chancellor and Mr. Addington saw the King
to-day for the first time; the former had with him the
commission for the royal assent to the Loan Hill
which he was to give to his Majesty for his royal
signature, if he should find him entirely well enough
for business.
Thursdai/, March Villi. — Admiral Payne came from
the Prince of Wales to tell me his Royal Highness
had seen the King yesterday ; but that he had not
been with him more than a minute or two before
Doctor Thomas Willis came into tlie room without
having been sent for, and remained in it the whole
time his Koyal Plighness was there, which of coiu*se
prevented any confidential conversation, but that
much passed of a general nature. Among other
matters entered upon by his Majesty, he said he was
glad to find the inquiries made about his health had
been very general; the Prince answered, he believed
everybody had been to the Queen's house who could
either go there or be carried ; to which the King
replied, Mr. Fox had not been, but that Mr. Sheridan
had, who he verily thought had a respect and regard
for him ; particularly dwelling on his conduct at
Drury Lane Theatre, when the attempt was made on
his Majesty's life by the madman who had been in
the dragoons ; which led his j\Lnjesty to ask whether
the Prince was in the house at the time ; who said he
was not, but that he repaired there the moment he
heard of the transaction. His Majesty then proceeded
THE BIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 333
to tell what his owii conduct on the occasion was :
that he had spoken to the Queen in German to quiet
her alarm : and then bursting into an agony for a few
seconds, said with much agitation, there was a Provi-
dence or a good God above who had, and would pro-
tect him ; in all other respects his Majesty was quite
composed during the whole interview. His Majesty
took up the conversation just as he had left it on ,
Friday, the 20th of February, and said again he hoped
Mr. Pitt would be comfortable ; the Prince having
before said he would be very poor, on which the King
said " it would be his own fault," but did not explain
himself. His Majesty's eyes were a good deal affected,
was thinner, and had lost the ruddiness of his com-
plexion. He complained of the looking-glass in his
room as faulty in the reflection from it ; it had been
covered with green baize during his illness.
Admiral Payne expressed a wish that the warrant
for the allowance for the Princess Charlotte might be
made for the arrears from her birth.
The Admiral had hardly left me before the Chan-
cellor came to me at the Treasmy, and sat with me
there for an hour and a half; his Lordship had also
been with the King for about half an hour, when his
Majesty signed the commission for the royal assent to
the Loan Bill, on doing which he asked with some
solicitude whether he had written his name well to
the commission for the Brown-bread Bill, the signing
which he perfectly recollected. His Majesty's whole
manner perfectly collected, and possessing himself
entirely. On the Chancellor giving him a true account
334 DIARIES AND COIlRESPONDE^'CE OF
of the feelings of the people, and of their anxiety for
his Majesty's recovery, he ai)[)earcd much aftected,
and said he hoped it would j)lcase God to give some
continuance to his life, that he might pro^c to his
subjects how deeply sensil)le he is of their attachment
and love.
After stating some other particulars of what passed
at the Queen's house, his Lordshij) entered again very
much at large into all the circumstances which led to
the change of the Administration, particularly dwelhng
on his being persuaded that some extraordinary intlu-
ence must have acted on Mr. Pitt from Sunday the
1st to Tuesday the 3d of February, which induced
him to press the King so much on the point which
led to his resit^nation. Thou'dit he had not been
treated with that degree of conlidencc previous to the
change which he might reasonably have expected ;
which is the only thing like a complaint I have heard
from him. His Lordship then stated at some length
his opinion as to the probable consequences of the
new Government coming into ottice, and asked for
mine in such a way as to induce me to think I could
not withhold it; I therefore told him plainly, that
mider the extreme contempt universally expressed for
them, and the conviction in the public mind on the
subject, it did not appear to me to be possible Mr.
Addington could carry on the government; his Lord-
ship assented in that entirely, and added, he had been
extremely desirous of consulting with me whether it
is not still possible for Mr. Pitt to remain in office, or
to return to it imraediatelv, which I did not hesitate
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 335
one minute to answer in the negative, under a clear
conviction that Mr. Pitt cannot again be the King's
minister till called upon by the country to come for-
ward ; his Lordship, however, urged me so forcibly
to ask the question of Mr. Pitt that I did so, almost
immediately, telling him at the same time the answer
I had made, in which he concurred most heartily ; and
in consequence thereof I wrote so to the Chancellor,
before I went to the House of Commons.
In the House, Lord Castlereagh proposed the
bill for continuing martial law in L-eland, supported
by a train of most respectable country gentlemen
from thence, and Opposition were afraid to divide
upon it. ' '^'^
Friday^ March \Wi, — Mr. Pitt expressed doubts to
me whether he could send the Prince of Wales's war-
rants to the King for a loan to his Royal Highness
from the Civil List, and an augmented allowance
for the Princess Charlotte ; but quite clear the latter
was to have no retrospect beyond Lady-day ISOO.
If he does not send them, decides at least to leave
them with Mr. Addington as a matter positively
arranged.
Saturday, March 14;th. — Mr. Pitt went to the King
at three o'clock, and returned about half-past four, and
I saw him at five for a few minutes, before he Avent on to
Mr. Addington ; he had resigned the Exchequer Seal
to his Majesty ; he said his Majesty possessed himself
most perfectly, though naturally somewhat agitated on
such an occasion ; that his kindness was unbounded.
Mr. Pitt said he was sm'e the King would be greatly
336 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
relieved by the interview being over, and his resigna-
tion being accepted ; adding, wliat 1 am sure was
true, that his own mind was greatly relieved.
In the evening, between eight and nine, Doctor
Thomas Willis came to me by his Majesty's com-
mand, to desire I would give what furtherance I could
to two pension warrants, for COO/, a year to Lady
Louisa Paget, about to be married to Colonel Erskine ;
which message he had received from the King while
playing at cards with the Queen and Princesses ; he
mentioned other matters to me from his Majesty of
little consequence, and he told me that although iMr.
Pitt was an hour and a half at the Queen's house,
he was not with his Majesty more tlian fifteen or
twenty minutes.
Dr. Willis (on my expressing great satisfaction that
his Majesty's illness had been of so short duration)
reminded me that during his Majesty's former illness,
in 1788 and 1789, he had told me that if his
Majesty had then been under the care of his family
from the beginning he would have been well much
sooner.
Dr. WiUis told me also the remark the King
had made respecting Mr. Pox and ^Ir. Sheridan;
in the same terms Admiral Payne did, and added
further, that to that time j\Ir. Pox had not been
to make an inquiry about him ; which led Dr.
Willis to look at the list, where he found Mr. Fox's
name the very last upon it ; he having been at the
Queen's house on the 11th inst., between six and
seven o'clock in the evening.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE HOSE. 337
Sunday, March \^fh. — Mr. Pitt explained to me
much more at large what passed when he was with
the King yesterday ; repeated that his Majesty showed
the utmost possible kindness to him both in words
and manner ; that his Majesty begun the conversation
by saying, that although from this time i\Ir. Pitt
ceased to be his minister, he hoped he would allow
him to consider him as his friend, and that he would
not hesitate to come to him whenever he might wish
it, or when he should think he could do so with
propriety ; adding, that in any event he relied on his
making him a visit at Weymouth, as he knew Mr.
Pitt would go to his mother, in Somersetshire, in the
summer/
The King told Mr. Pitt he recollected that in 1789,
he was sufficiently recovered to transact business on
the 12th of March, and that he had therefore dated
all the warrants (which were sent to him on Friday
and Saturday, the 13th and 14th) on the 12th of this
month.
Mr. Pitt sent to the King the two warrants for
Lady Louisa Paget, and I wrote a note to Dr. WiUis
to apprize him of it, and to say that Mr. Pitt would
not then trouble his Majesty with any other warrants.
Thursday, March 19//^.— With Mr. Pitt alone the
whole evening, when a conversation arose about his
^ At the close of the last conversation Mr. Pitt had with the
King before his illness, his Majesty expressed an earnest wish that
Mr. Pitt would see him frequently as a friend ; on which Mr. Pitt
obsei'ved that his Majesty would, he was sure, on a little reflection,
be aware that such visits might give rise to much observation and
animadversion, and be attended with inconvenience.
VOL. I. Z
338 DIARIES AND COKKESl'ONDEN'CE OF
own situation : on mentioning to him that an intention
had been expressed l)y many friends of bringing
forward a motion in the House of Connnons respeeting
a grant to him, he assured me in the most solemn
manner of his fixed determination on no consideration
whatever to accept anytliing from the pubhc ; rather
than do which he woukl struggle with any ditliculties ;
that if he had had the good fortune to carry the
country safe through all its dangers, and to have seen
it in a state of prosperity, he should have had a pride
in accepting such a grant ; but that under all the pre-
sent circumstances of the situation of the country, and
of himself, it was utterly inconsistent with his feelings
to receive anything. In all which (notwithstanding
the severe pressure I am sure he has upon him) 1
could not do otherwise than entirely concur Avith
him.
Friday, Marvh '20//i. — Mr. Steele told me the King
had expressed a determined })urpose to extricate Mr.
Pitt from his pecuniary ditHculties to the })erson from
whom ]\Ir. Steele had it, imder a most solemn engage-
ment not to mention the name of the person who told
it to him ; but that he could rely most firmly on the
veracity of the said person ; his Majesty told that per-
son that he had talked with Lord Grenville about
Mr. Pitt, who said to the King that he had good
reason to beheve Mr. Pitt was under no considerable
pecuniary embarrassment, which surprised his jNIajcsty
a good deal ; but he was convinced to the contrary by
the said person above alluded to.
Saturday, March '^\st. — ]\Iy functions ceased lus
THE HIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 339
Secretary to the Treasury, having been in that office
exactly eighteen years, viz. nine months from July
1782 to April 1788, and from December 1783 to
March 1801.
Monday, March 23^. — Signed a few papers at the
Treasury, and took my leave of the five chief clerks
there. In the evening met the Prince of Wales ;
strong assurances from his Royal Highness respecting
myself and my son.
Tuesday, March 24M. — A council fixed for to-
morrow, for the Great Seal to be given to Lord
Eldon ; but notice given to his Lordship this day, that
the council will not be held till after Easter.
A drawing-room fixed for Thursday. Various
reports respecting his Majesty's health during the last
eight days of a doubtful and unpleasant nature.
Thursday, March %Uh. — The Queen had a drawing-
room. Mr. Eox and Mr. Sheridan there.
Saturday, March 2Sth. — The state of the King's
health cannot be perfectly good; there are at least
eight hundred warrants unsigned ; and none are
returned that were lately sent.
Saturday, April Uh. — The Chancellor told me he
did not carry the commission to the King for the
royal assent (which he intended to have done) in
consequence of a message from Dr. Willis, saying his
Majesty wished to walk early, and requesting therefore
the commission might be sent to him. His Lordship
had sent a list of the bills to which the royal assent
was to be given, in a box on the preceding evening,
z2
340 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
which had not been usual. The signature to the
commission very well written.
Met Mr. Addington in the street, who expressed an
anxious wish to see me, although he had nothing
particular to say to me, and requested I would call
on him on Monday morning.
The account from Copenhagen (in Captain Ham-
mond's letter) discouraging, as it appears the Danish
fleet are in the basin, except three ships of the line,
and a formidable defence to keep our ships out of
bomb distance.
Sunday, April ^th. — Lord Eldon dined [with me ;
only Mr. W.' with him, when wo. had nnich confidential
conversation. The Duke of Cumberland told him that
on the day when Lord Ilobart and Lord Lewisham
were appointed to their situations, it was intended the
Great Seal should have been given to his Lordship, but
that the present Chancellor, Lord Loughborough, told
the King Lord Eldon was out of town, which prevented
his attendance; his Lordship said he was in town,
and had never had any intimation whatever that his
attendance at the Queen's house was expected. Lord
Eldon repeated what he had said to me on a former
occasion, that no consideration should induce him to
take the Seal till he was perfectly ascertained of the
King being in a fit condition to give it to him, of
which fitness he entertained great doubt at the present
moment. His Lordship very seriously questioned the
propriety of the Chancellor obtaining the King's
^ Mr, White, Solicitor to the Treasury.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOKGE ROSE. 341
signature for the royal assent to the bills on Thurs-
day last, as well as on the two former occasions.
According to my own judgment, the obtaining the
signature to the commission for the assent to the
Brown-bread Act, on the 24th of "February, was by
much the most objectionable measure, as that was
carried in by Dr. Willis when nobody was allowed to
see the King ; whereas at this time other acts are
done by his Majesty, such as the papers laid before
the House of Commons by his command on \yednes-
day last.
I found also, from Lord Eldon's conversation, he
was persuaded Lord Thurlow would take the Great
Seal if offered him, but without the speakership of the
House of Lords.
Lord Kenyon told Lord Eldon that Lord Thurlow
had been with him, and that his conversation about
the King was perfectly shocking to his ears ; that in
short he was a beast, and that their conversation
ended by his (Lord Kenyon) saying, I swear to God,
my Lord, I believe he (the King) is more in his senses
than your Lordship.
I learnt from Mr. White that Major Scott told him
Lord Thurlow had been prevailed with by Mr. Tox to
take the Great Seal, without the House of Lords, if
they should be able to get into Government.
Monday, Ajpril Wi. — Saw Mr. Addington at his
house at Downing Street according to his request
expressed on Saturday last. My feelings on first
entering the room he was in, in which I had been with
Mr. Pitt daily, when in town, for more than seventeen
342 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
years ! Mr. Acldington received me on his part with
great seeming cordiahty; at first spoke on general
topics : said that Sir John Warren was blocking np
Ganthanme, in Toulon, with the four sail of the line
he carried with him into the Mediterranean, and two
from j\Iinorca, the French having seven ; in speaking
of the Danish business, he expressed himself san-
guinely; I answered, T was sure that what could be
done by man would be executed by the two admirals
who commanded ; he observed that Lord Nelson was
the most likely to strike a great blow, though both
were good, on which I reminded him of the distin-
guished courage, and still more remarkable presence
of mind of Sir Hyde Parker, when he forced the
passage of the North River, above New York, early
in the American war, under circumstances as trying
to an officer as ever happened in a hazardous enter-
prise. Mr. Addington said he was then almost thirty
years younger ; that he should prefer him to command
the great fleet in the Channel, but that for such a
service as tliat at Copenhagen he should prefer Lord
Nelson ; from whence I infer that Sir Hyde has
stated to Ministers some greater difficulties in the
way of destroying the Danish fleet than were ex-
pected.
On my rising to come away, Mr. Addington told
me Mr. Pitt had mentioned to him his wish that I
should be made a privy counsellor, and that he
should very readily make that communication to the
King, to show his good disposition towards me, and
he hoped I should feel properly on the subject, and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 343
consider his doing so as a mark of kindness towards
me. To which I answered that I had certainly sug-
gested to Mr. Pitt, that if I could be made a privy
comisellor, through his interposition, I should consider
it as an honourable reward for my services to the public
and my attachment to him ; but that the value of it
would be lost unless I felt that I owed the distinction
to Mr. Pitt. Mr. Addington then said he hoped
neither I nor my friends would disclaim any obliga-
tions to him ; which induced me to observe that where
no merit was claimed (conceiving that in the present
instance he could take none to himself) there could
be no ground for disclaiming. Mr. Addington then
asked me what T should have done if Mr. Pitt had
died ? To which my answer was, that in that event my
thoughts would not have been employed in consider-
ing whether I should be a privy counsellor or not ;
that I should, of course, have abandoned all thought
about it. He then expressed a hope that I would
admit his being the channel through which Mr. Pitt's
wish should be expressed ; and I replied instantly,
perhaps a little quickly, that knowing Mr. Pitt's
feelings, I was sure that out of office he could not
think himself at liberty to communicate with the
King, except through his Minister. Mr. Addington,
before the words were well out of my mouth, said he
hoped I beheved him to be equally incapable of any
improper communications with the King out of a
responsible situation ; which not appearing to me to
call for any observation, I made none. It seemed to
savour of a consciousness that my remark about Mr.
344 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Pitt touched him somewhat. He conchidcd that part
of the conversation (in the course of which lie made
repeated attempts to extort from me something like
an acknowledgment of an obligation) by saying that
he would take the earliest opportunity of submitting
Mr. Pitt's request to the King, and he was certain
there would be no hesitation in a compliance with it ;
adding, that he hoped I would allow him at least the
satisfaction of assuring me he should have ])leasure
in being the channel of conununication.
Sunday, April \^lh. — The King much improved in
his health. He saw Mr. Addington for a considerable
time, and the Duke of York on military matters for
two hours ; then dined with the Queen, and had the
Princesses with him in the evening.
Monday, April 13///. — The King not quite so well ;
which is attributed to his having exerted himself too
much yesterday.
Tuesday, April \^th. — An account was received by
a special messenger from St. Petersburgh of the death of
the Emperor Paul, who died suddenly in the night of
the 23d of last month; supposed really to have been
in an apoplexy, he having had a fit of a dangerous
kind some time asro.
The messenger brought to Count Woronzo (ill at
Southampton, where he has been living ever since his
functions ceased as ambassador from Russia) letters
of credence to this Court, to be used as soon as a
British messenger should be sent to St. Petersburgh,
and a proclamation that the new Emperor meant to
tread in the steps of his grandmother, the Empress
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 345
Catlieriiie ; — wliicli probably will put an end to the
Northern confederacy.
Wednesday, April Xhth. — The authentic account
from Sir Hyde Parker of the entire destruction of the
Danish naval line of defence at Copenhagen, one of
the most brilliant victories that ever did honour to
the naval heroes of this country ; and in all its points
certainly exalting the national character of Great
Britain infinitely higher than any occurrence that
ever happened in any war we have carried on. Cir-
cumstances in the conduct of Lord Nelson marking
his coolness, firmness, presence of mind, and resources
in a situation of great difficulty, as superior, if pos-
sible, to his heroism in action. The conduct of Sir
Hyde Parker, in coolly looking on, not intelligible to
me ; but his character for intrepidity and resource
in a time of danger and difficulty is too well estab-
lished to admit of a conjecture that his not engaging
could arise from any improper motive.
Saturday, April I'^th. — The conversation I had with
Mr. Addington on the 6th, having impressed me
strongly with a persuasion that he wished to take to
himself the merit of making me a privy counsellor,
to which the delay in the notification would give
a sanction, I determined to decline it altogether.
I accordingly wrote a letter to Mr. Addington to
that effect, assigning as my reason that it would not
now have the appearance to the public of flowing
from Mr. Pitt's solicitation ; determined at the same
time not to allow the disappointment to influence
my conduct in the remotest degree. Before sending
346 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the letter, however, I consulted j\Ir. Pitt on the
subject, as there was a reference to his name and
interposition in it, who entreated me so anxiously to
delay sending it for a few days, that in his presence I
threw it into my desk in my own room.
Monday, April 20M.— Tlic King and royal family
went to Kcw. His IMajesty rode there with the
Prince of Wales, and after dinner rode again. The
exercise, so much exceeding what his ?^Iajesty had
lately taken, and his conversing with a great nund)or
of people, workmen and others, occasioned some
degree of irritation and alarm.
Tuesday, April 2Ls'/. — Lord Eldon (Chancellor)
was prevented dining with me this day, to meet Mr.
Pitt, by having been sent for by the Prince of Wales.
On his attending his Royal Highness, the Prince told
his Lordship that it was the intention of his ^Lajcsty,
declared yesterday, to devolve the government on him,
the Prince ; that he wished therefore the Chancellor
would consider the proper mode of that being carried
into effect ; and that it was the Kim/s intention to retire
to Hanover or to America. The Prince had expressed
in his letter, that the King was particularly desirous
his Lordship should give to his Royal Highness a
paper delivered into the hands of the Chancellor
some days ago. He desired therefore that his Lordship
would carry it with him to Carlton House, but in the
conversation he did not' ask for it. That the Queen
and his brothers wished him to take measures for
confining the King; that his Royal Highness very
greatly disliked the Willis family being about the King,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 347
and he was therefore desirous of knowing if they were
placed there by any authority, or how they might be
got rid of. That his Royal Highness had seen Lord
Thurlow, and wished the Chancellor to see him. To
all which the Chancellor said very little ; refused to
see Lord Thurlow ; the paper was not delivered ;
that Dr. Willis, &c. were not about the King by any
positive authority, but on grounds of propriety and
notorious necessity, justifying in the clearest point of
view the measure. On many of the points no reply at
all was made by his Lordship.
In the Gazette, a continuation of the title of St.
Vincent to the children of the present Earl's sister,
Mrs. Ricketts, with the dignity of a Viscount.
Wednesday, April ^2d. — Breakfasted with Lord
St. Vincent by appointment.
Agreed that Mr. Nelson (brother to the hero in the
Baltic) should not be a Commissioner of the Navy,
but that I would state to Mr. Addington Mr. Pitt's
intention to place him on the Board of Customs or
Excise.
His Lordship entered on the late glorious victory
at Copenhagen, and told me the merit of the attack
rested solely with Lord Nelson, as Sir Hyde Parker
had been decidedly adverse to the attempt being
made, and was overruled only by the perseverance and
firmness of the former ; and that in the middle of the
action Sir Hyde had made the signal (No. 39) for
discontinuing the engagement, which Lord Nelson said
to the officer who communicated it to him, he was sure
proceeded from some mistake. When it was men-
348 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
tioned to Admiral Graves, he asked if it was repeated
by Lord Nelson ; and on being answered in the
negative, he said, " Then we have nothing to do with
it." Lord St. Vincent then added, "For these and
other causes," probably alluding to the armistice, " we
have recalled Sir Hyde, and Lord Nelson is to remain
with the command." His Lordship proceeded to say
that this measure of necessity put the Administration
under some difficultv as to rewards of honour to
the officers who had distinguished themselves ; and
that he had thought it advisable to delay any distri-
bution of medals or to recommend any stage in the
peerage to Lord Nelson, conceiving that the whole
might be done on the termination of the service
with propriety, and without embarrassment respect-
ing Sir Hyde Parker. My Lord told me that in
the course of the action at Copenhagen two guns
had burst in each of the three Admirals' ships,
and one in another, — making seven in the whole ;
— by which accident a large proportion of the men
were killed or wounded probably, who suffered in
the battle.
After I had left his Lordship, it occurred to me
that as no measures can be kept with Sir Hyde
Parker, it might be desirable to confer the intended
step in the peerage on Lord Nelson now, and the
medals on the other officers ; in which opinion j\Ir.
Pitt concurring, I wrote to suggest that to his Lord-
ship before twelve o'clock.
I sent his Lordship also a note of various sugges-
tions for improvements in the naval service, a copy
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 349
of which I think I gave to Lord Chatham when he
was at the head of the admiralty in 1788 or
1789.
Sunday y April 26M. — Having seen in the Gazette
of the 21st the grant of a new peerage to Lord
St. Vincent, and knowing that Mr. Addington has had
intercourse with his Majesty on other matters, I felt
an increased reluctance to accept of being made a
privy counsellor now; and I copied my letter to
Mr. Addington, with necessary alterations, to send it
to him to-day, and went up to Mr. Pitt to apprize
him of my determination, to whom I stated, as
strongly as I could, that the thing would (after such
a lapse of time, and the King's pleasure having been
taken on so many other matters) be absolutely hatefid
to me, instead of being at all pleasant. Mr. Pitt still,
however, urged me so strongly not to send the letter
that I again declined to do it. He assured me that
Mr. Addington had not lately seen the King.
Tuesday, April 28M. — The Earl of Rosslyn (late
Lord Loughborough) called upon me, and stated at
much length what had lately passed between him
and the King, and between him and the Prince of
Wales. Of the former, the most interesting was, that
when he attended his Majesty to deliver up the Great
Seal, the King put into his hand a paper which he
Avrote in 1795, testifying his approbation of the recall
of Lord Pitzwilliam, and the reasons for that ; which
paper, his Majesty said, would be a decisive proof that
he had not changed his mind on the subject of the
Irish Catholics ; and he added, that he had a duplicate
350 DIARIES AND CORIIESPOXDEXCE OF
of it, which he shoukl soon put into the hands of
another person.
With respect to the conversation with the Prince
of Wales, it was very niucli the same as that witli
the Prince and the Chancellor (Lord Eklon). Lord
Rosslyn had seen his Royal lliglnu'ss twice, and heard
nearly the same things repeated, and had since received
a message, by Admiral Payne, on the subject of his
Royal Highness being Regent.
In the afternoon, after the House of Lords had
risen, when the Bill was read the third time for pre-
venting seditious meetings, I sat more than an hour
with the Chancellor in his room, near the House, and
he told me he was under an engagement to his
Majesty to re-deliver to him the paper alluded to
above ; but that Lord Rosslyn's copy was to be left in
his Lordship's hands. The Chancellor was under a
difficulty about the mode of obtaining his Majesty's
signature to the commission for the royal assent to the
Bills now ready for it ; on which I suggested to him
that it appeared to me, rebus sic staniihus, to be more
desirable, upon the whole, so to manage the matter
as to have a letter from the King, transmitting the
commission signed by him ; as that might perhaps be
more satisfactory than even his Lordship seeing the
King sign it, because he would then be in possession
of a written testimony of his Majesty's competency to
execute such an instrument. Whereas, in the other
mode, however his Lordship might be convinced of the
King being in a proper state to transact business, he
could hereafter have no means <di proving it \ in which
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 351
his Lordship concurred. He seemed to think it not
necessary that his Majesty should be in an U7iin-
terrupted state of health and composure to justify his
being called upon to discharge the ordinary duties of
the Sovereign ; but that it would be sufficient for his
Lordship's justification if his Majesty should, at the
time of his being called upon to perform any act of
sovereignty, be in a proper situation to do such act.
Sunday, May 10//^.- — Mr. Braun^ came to me with
a message from the King, to desire I would ask
Sir Henry Mildniay whether he would lend his house,
in Winchester, for his Majesty's residence for a day or
two, in his way to Weymouth. He came to my bed-
side, as I was extremely unwell at the time. I told
him he might assure the King that he might depend
on having the house, as Sir Henry authorized me
to offer it two years ago for the use of the King, when
it was supposed his Majesty was going to review the
provincial troops in Hampshire, &c. In the course
of conversation, however, Mr. Braun suggested that his
Majesty had more than once dropped expressions of
his persuasion that, if Cuffnells should be thought a
fitter residence for him, he was sure I would let him
have it. I was, therefore, induced to write on the
11th to Dr. Thomas Wilhs, to desire if he should ever
hear a wish expressed about Cuffnells, that he would
say, from me, I should be delighted if his Majesty
would make use of it in any manner and for any time
he might choose. I wrote, at the same time, to Sir
Henry Mildmay, to request he would call on me.
^ The King's page, an old confidential attendant.
352 DIARIES AND CORHESPOXDENCE OF
Tuesdaij, May \2th. — Received an answer from
Dr. Willis, telling me that the King would very
thankfully accept of my house ; with strong expres-
sions of acknowledgment, as well for that as for my
soHcitude about him diu-ing his illness.
Mr. Braun and Mr, Bowman called in the course
of a few days to settle about the apartments, and de-
livered messages to me from the King, that he ex-
pected I would remain at Cufthells. After this, to
request that at any rate that I would be so near it that
I might be constantly with him during his residence
there.
Sunday, May IG///. — Wrote to Mr, Addington to
decline the honour of being made a privy counsellor,
and to desire he would not propose it to his Majesty,
as it could not now appear to be connected with, or to
arise from, my services under Mr. Pitt's administra-
tion, or to be conferred on me at his instance ; but
that it would make no difference whatever in my
conduct. To this letter no answer of any sort was
returned ! !
Monday, May 17//^— The Chancellor told me he
had had a long conversation with the King, who was
perfectly well. His Majesty told his Lordship that
whatever he advised him to do in icriting, he would
implicitly comply with it,
Friday, May 21 5/. — The first public council for
some time past was held at the Queen's house, at
which Mr. Abbott and ^Ir, Wallace were sworn privy
counsellors !
May 31*^.— The King, at the instance of the Lord
THE RIGHT HON. GEOKGE 1108E. 353
Chancellor, agreed to defer his journey till the rising
of Parliament ; and at night I received a letter from
Mr. Braini, written by his Majesty's command, to
apprize me of it.
Tuesday, June 8///. — Mr. Pitt told me there was an
intention of dissuading his Majesty from going to
Weymouth, on account of the inconvenience likely to
arise from the concourse of people there. Asked me
about the house, late Lord Bute's, near Christ-
church, which I told him was half taken down, and
would not now do. Talked of Walmer Castle, as likely
to afibrd accommodation for the King, and that Deal
Castle would do for the attendants; to which I
answered, that it was entirely for others to judge of
the comparative risk stated, and also of that of dis-
turbing the King's mind by turning him from a
scheme he had an extreme fondness for.
Wednesdaij, June ^th. — The Chancellor dined with
me alone, bv his own desire. We had a Ions; and
interesting conversation on various points, public and
private.
He told me the King had expressed much un-
easiness at no notice having been taken by Parliament
or his people of his recovery from his illness ; that
Mr. Addington had opposed any parliamentary pro-
ceeding in it, as no notice had been taken by the two
Houses of his illness. This I stated as in my opinion
a frivolousobjcction, because, if his Majesty had been
afflicted with a fever of a common sort, or any other
illness, the Houses would naturally have congratulated
hiiu on his recovery ; and that the Privy Council
VOL. I. A A
354 DIAllIES AND CURllESPONDEN'CE OF
having ordered public tliaiiksgiviug prayers in all
clmrclies throughout the kingdom, the matter was oi
sufficient notoriety for a congratulatory address ; in
Avhich his Lordship seemed to concur, lie mentioned
the intention of making an attempt to prevent the
Weymouth journey, accompanied with strong expres-
sions of disapprobation. He told me that when at
Kew with the King, some weeks ago, he found his
Majesty in a house there, separated from his ftunily,
with the ^^■illis's, &c. living with him ; under which
arrangement the King was extremely uneasy, and at
lenuth t(jld the Chancellor he had taken a solemn
deterinhiation, that unless he was that day allowed to
go over to the house where the Queen and his family
were, no carthlv consideration should induce him to
sign his name to any paper or to do any one act of
sovenmient whatever. This resolution he affirmed,
with the strongest declaration, that he would abide
by, as a gentleman and as a king. Accordingly, the
Chancellor consented to his ^lajesty going to the
house where the Queen was.
TInimlmj, June 10///. — Doctor Thomas Wdlis came
to me to express the King's Avish again, that I would
be so near him (as I declined remaining in the house)
as to ensure mv beinpr with him the whole time he
should remain at Cnffnells. He told me Mr. Adding-
ton had a positive determination to dissuade the King
from going to A\'eymouth, which was seriously lamented
by himself and brothers, and equally so by Dr. Gisborne
and the other physicians, as likely to incur a serious
risk of disturbing the King's mind. That the premises
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE, 855
at Weymouth had withhi a few weeks been purchased
from the Duke of Gloucester, alterations made, and
hot and cold baths constructed there, under the dh'ec-
tions of the physicians, and every preparation made
for the journey ; but that Mr. Addington was bent on
effecting his purpose, and he believed he would make
the report that day, much to his grief and uneasiness.
He told me that unfortunately the King had taken a
decided aversion to himself and the other medical
peo})le about him, and showed great impatience to get
from under their restraint. That after his Majesty
went to Kew, they had been under the necessity of
removing him from the house where the Queen and
Princesses were ; but that tJiat was not effected without
a mark of violence from his Majesty towards him. He
assured me, however, that his Alajesty was now almost
entirely well, and that there was every appearance he
would remain so. He assured me also, that it was a
subject of constant complaint and regret with the
King that no notice had been taken by Parliament &c.
of his recovery ; contrasting that with the conduct of
his people in Hanover, who had congratulated him on
the occasion.
Friday, June 11///. — The Chancellor came to me
before breakfast for half an hour. He complained of
Mr. Pitt not havhig attended last night in the House
of Commons, on the Indemnity Bill (respecting the
commitments for treasonable practices), and said he
should write to him, to desire he would urge the attend-
ance of his friends in the House of Lords upon the
discussion. He apprehended Lord Thurlow would
A A 2
356 DIARIES AND COllRESPONDEXCE OF^
oppose it strongly. His Lordship told inc he would
strenuoushj resist the King being diverted from going
to Weymouth, under ii elear conviction that the
attempt even could not be made without great hazard.
He again mentioned the address, and concurred with
me in opinion about it, if it could be done so that his
Majesty should receive it upon his throne, and not be
pestered with others ; to which I re})lied, that if it
should be delayed till very near the end of the session,
his Majesty would escape all others by his excursion to
the sea-side. This his Lordship seemed to approve of.
Mr. Beresford, in talking of the extraordinary cir-
cumstances attending the debate on the Irish Martial
Law Bill, on Wednesday evening, the Oth, told mc
that before that business came on, jNIr. Addington said
their intention was to propose the continuation of the
bill to one month after the peace, which ]\L'.B. very nmcli
approved of; but that in less than ten minutes (and
while Mr. Abbott was making that proposal), Mr. Ad-
dington returned to him and said, their friends would
not support so long a continuance of the bill, to which
Mr. B. replied, if so, there was no remedy but to take
a shorter one ; asking, however, who the friends were
who alarmed him, to which it was answered Lord
Folkestone and .Mr. Calvert ! Mr. Addinorton then
said, he would send Mr. Vansittart to ^Ir. Ponsonby
(who had risen to speak) to tell him he would pi'opose
the bill should be in force only one year, which Mr.
Beresford dissuaded him from, as likely to make Mr.
Ponsonby more bold in his objections ; which effect
was produced by the message. jNFr. Addington then
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 357
rose, and declared '' he had never intended to
PROPOSE THE BILL SHOULD HAVE CONTINUANCE FOR
MORE THAN ONE YEAR, OR RATHER TO THE 25tH OF
March, 1802," and tliat in the hearing of Mr.
Beresford, to whom he had half an hour before said it
was settled to have the proposal made in the terms
moved by Mr. Abbott ! The latter was of course
exposed to the most virulent attacks of the Opposition,
of which they availed themselves to the utmost.
Mr. Tierney had appeared for some time past
wavering — certainly holding back from the front
ranks of opposition — and apparently making advances
to Mr. Addington ; but the conduct of that gentle-
man in the late debates made him relinquish all
idea of connecting himself with such a head of a
party. ..
Sir Charles Grey to be made a peer; — surely a
reflection on Mr. Pitt, — his only merit could be his
conduct in the West Indies; which, if so rewarded
at all, should have been done in Mr. Pitt's adminis-
tration.
I found myself unwell on the 28th May, the day I
returned to London to dine as usual with some friends,
at Mr. Dundas's, on Mr. Pitt's birthday (having been
to Hampstead, at Whitsuntide, for the Friendly
Societies); but went with Mr. Pitt toDeptford, Trinity
Monday, June 1st. Prom the 2d I was confined to
the house, with an inflammatory complaint in my lungs,
till the 13th, when I went to Holly Grove.
358 DLIUIES AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF
CHAPTEil VII.
1801.
CORRESPONDENCE ON MR. riTT'S RETIREMKNT FROM OFFICE IN 1801,
BETWEEN MR. ROSE, THE BISHOP UF LINCOLN, LORD Al'CKLANU, MR.
PITT, MR. ADDINOTON, AND LORD ELDON — MIS-STATEMENTS OP THE
WHIG WRITERS ON MR. PITT'S ADMINISTRATION, AND THE CAUSES OF
HIS LEAVING OFFICE.
[Great was the consternation with wliich the tidings
of Mr. Pitt's resignation were received by liis fol-
lowers, who seemed to say, " Can tliese things be,
and overcome us Uke a summer cloud, without our
special wonder?" Either not knowing, or not appre-
ciating at their real value, the motives by wliich he
was actuated, they displayed their irrepressible dis-
satisfaction, and no small obli(piity of judgment. The
Bishop of Lincoln was much alarmed at the idea
of the Roman Catholic Bill, and thought that by the
promise of abandoning it all would be set straight
again. In this he was quite mistaken, as well as
in the corrections of Mr. Rose's letter to the King,
which he suggested. The promise did not extend
beyond the King's reign, and it was not true that it
would hold good at all times and under all cir-
cumstances. — Ed.]
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 359
Dii. ToMLiNE, Bishop op Lincoln, to Mr. Rose.
\T^rwate?\
" My dear Sir,
" I hear, and I think from good anthority,
that somethmg very unpleasant is passing relative
to a Roman Catholic Bill, Avhich Government stands
pledged to Ireland to introduce into the Imperial
Parliament, and which is said to be disapproved by a
great personage to such a degree that very unpleasant
consequences indeed may follow. If what I hear con-
cerning the intended measure be correct, I cannot
but most earnestly deprecate it ; and I am satisfied
that it never can be carried throui>;h the House of
Lords. I think that every bishop would be against
it ; it has already excited no small alarm amongst
some of our bench. I am unwilling to write to ]\Ir.
Pitt about it, and you will judge whether it be expe-
dient for you to mention to him what I have said.
You and he both know that I am always ready to go
up to town ; but I could not well leave home till the
14th, as I have company coming hither out of York-
shire and Suffolk the beginning of next week, and
I have promised to preach in this church on the fast-
day. Let me know what you think and wish ; as
I really am at present in a state of considerable
anxiety and uneasiness.
" Adieu, my dear sir. Every good wish from this
house to you and yours.
" Yours ever most tridy,
"G. Lincoln.
" Buckden Palace, Feb. 6th, 1801."
360 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Letter from Mr. Rose to the Kin(;.
" It affords me great satisfaction to be able to say
to your Majesty that I am authorized by Mr. Pitt to
assure your Majesty, that (in whatsoever situation,
public or private, he may happen to be ') he will not
bring forward the question respecting the Catholics of
Ireland : and that if it should be agitated by others
he will supply a proposition for deferring the con-
sideration of it. And that I mention this with the
less hesitation, from Mr, Pitt not having thought
himself at liberty (for the reasons T stated last
year at Cuffnells) to avail himself of your Majesty's
very gracious and condescending kindness and li-
berality."
[Letters from ^Ir. George Rose, Lord Bolton, and
Lady Chatham, may next be introduced, expressing
their anxieties and regrets at the change. — Ed.]
Mr. George Rose to Mr. Rose.
"Holly Grove, Feb. 6th, 1801.
" My dear Father,
" William is just come. The news so con-
founds and perplexes me (without, Heaven knows,
the mixture of any but public feelings, except as to
' Instead of these words within parentheses, the Bishop of Lincoln
suggested — "at no time, and under no circumstances." It is
unnecessary to add, " during your Majesty's reign," as that must be
fairly understood. — Ed.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 361
what relates to you) that, in the instant I have to write
in, I can but say the only single consolation I can feel
is the ease and retreat it holds out to you, and for
which my anxiety has been more than I can express.
We shall be but one family, please God; and no
trifling inconvenience can weigh for a moment against
the advantages of retirement to you after a life of such
unprecedented exertion and fatigue.
" The prospect of unhinging the Government to raise
a new one with so weak a head is too frightful. Is it
credible that I conversed very long to-day with a
gentleman [the King] hunting, who talked of all the
people most affected as if nothing had happened, or
was to happen, and who was in unusual spirits ?
" May Heaven preserve you, my dearest Pather,
*'G. H.Rose."
" ' Lord Bolton to Mr. Rose.
[Private.'] -
"Hackwood Park, 8th Feb. 1801.
" My dear Sir,
" One hasty line to thank you truly for yours,
received this day. The confidential communication
of an event of real importance makes all our little
county arrangements seem still smaller. I am really
and truly sorry for this great change, although I by no
means wonder at Mr. Pitt's desire to withdraw for a
time from a weight which would have sunk most men
long ago. I would have had liim at the helm till we
could have reached the port; but such strange and
contrary winds blow, that perhaps the superstition
362 DIAllIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
of the crew must be awakened and yielded to, and
a change of pilot for that cause alone must be made.
Yet I wonder at the successor, not from douljt of
his talents, but at his willingness to move from the
other situation at such a time,
" I hardly venture to reckon upon all the good
which may have been hoped. If the Speaker is
placed there as a medium of attraction for conciliat-
ing parties, I can in some degree understand the ob-
ject, although doubtful of success. If lie is to be
the ministir upon the old ground, iiis House of
Commons popularity with the other side will be
soon gone. Some, indeed, have gone far in positive
declarations against any peace to be made by Mr.
Pitt, and may be a little freed by a new appointment ;
but this is the decided friend and confidant of ^Ir.
Pitt.
" I will only add iny best wishes for all possible
satisfaction to Mr. Pitt, and success to his successor,
if he does right, and I have no doubt about him.
I am so out of the way of politics or political men
that 1 am very ill (pialified for judgment.
" You do not surprise me by your own resolution ;
for indeed you must be well tired of it all, and you are
fairly now entitled to retreat. I could not have held
out half so long, even if I had had health. I trust
that happier days may come, when we may meet
more comfortably in the country.
"How soon will this all take place? But it is
unreasonable to ask a line from you, as you must be
doubly hurried.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 363
" I am half guessing a successor to you in tins
county. I think it would he agreeable to him : but
all this confidential. Adieu.
" Ever most cordially yours,
" Bolton."
Mrs. Stapleton^ to Mr. Rose.
''"" ' "BurtonPynsent, 11th Feb. 1801.
" Sir,
" The rumours of the last ten or twelve days
have kept Lady Chatham in a constant state of painful
anxiety. Your silence upon the subject of Mr. Pitt's
health, — of all things, next to his honour, nearest her
heart, — satisfied her, from your former kind attention,
that he was not seriously ill ; and your most friendly,
obliging letter of last night, relieves her from the very
irksome, painful uncertainty of not knowing what to
think possible or true of the various things, at best
most cruelly unpleasant, which reached us in a desul-
tory manner and style. A few lines, with yours, from
Mr. Pitt, was the first information we received that
could gain further faith than the fear that some severe
storm was gathering. Pray God it prove not destruc-
tive. A change, with every favourable circumstance
that the present appears to be attended with, it is
impossible not to dread, must prove destructive at a
period when unanimity and ]\Ir. Pitt at the helm
furnished sufficient difficulties to baffle with. His
promised aid, with the will of the Almighty, may still
1 Mrs. Stapleton was a friend of Lady Chatham, who lived with
her, and latterly wrote letters for her.
364 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
support us; and, if things put on a less threaten-
ing aspect, his greater degree of rehixation from busi-
ness will probably more firmly establish his health, —
of such near consequence to almost the whole known
world, whatever situation he may be in. His
dearest mother and himself are so much one in mind
and sentiment, that the rectitude of his conduct you
now give to him, and ever his due, with his own
account of perfect health, places her above any disap-
pointment. To yourself she owes the knowledge of
even the shadow of a new administration. Mr. Pitt
simply mentioned the unfortunate event as unavoidable,
with his feelings, and not a name. Lady Chatham
entreats your acceptance of her best regards and sin-
cerest thanks for your most friendly attention, which
she shall ever retain the most grateful sense of ; and
ventures to flatter herself, as occasion offers, you will
not withdraw the kindness of letting her hear any im-
portant event which she may otherwise lose, or not
learn from equally good authority. God grant success
to any right undertaking, and avert all fatal conse-
quences from this most unlooked-for change. I don't
think there is a better heart in human breast than
Mr. Addington's, or a man that loves Mr. Pitt better ;
so far it is pleasant. I ought to have acknowledged
the favour of your letter last night, but the post came
in late, and went out by seven o'clock this morning.
" I am, Sir, your very much obliged,
" And obedient, humble servant,
" C.\TH. Stapleton."
the right hon. geoege rose. 365
Lord Auckland to Mr. Rose.
\_Private.'\
" Palace Yard, February 8th, 1801.
" My DEAR Sir, - -
" I have sent to Mr. Pitt the several documents
respecting the proposed duties of postage, except,
only, an explanatory paper, which you will find in the
bundle of his minutes for the budget.
" As to the rest, stunned, grieved, and aggrieved, as
I am, I shall now have ample leisure to think ; and 1
have no particular desire to talk. I very cordially
hope, however, that we shall meet, whenever it may
not be disagreeable to you to spare a quarter of an
hour.
" Believe me, most sincerely yours,
" Auckland."
Mr. Rose to Lord Auckland.
"Sunday, February 8th, 1801.
" My dear Lord,
" Mr. Pitt told me he had received the Post-
office papers from you, which I dare say will justify
our taking the sum 3^ou mentioned towards our taxes
in the approaching budget.
" The allusion in the latter part of your note is to a
subject as painful and distressing to me, in various
points of view, as it can be to any individual in this
country, the principals not excepted. Any discussion
upon it with you for the present could answer no pos-
sible good end, and there are occasions on which con-
366 DIARIES AND COllKESPONDENX'K OF
versatioii on anij subject liad better for a time Ix*
avoided between persons who have long been in the
habit of talking confidentially on <?//."
[Mr. Rose, weighing the mediocrity of Mr. Addingtoii
against the superior talents of Mr. Pitt, not ordy re-
jected his solicitation to iiinain in office at the Trea-
sury, but would not accc})t a favour from him ; and
the offer of being enrolled in the I'rivy Council was
rejected, unless it was fully understood that it was the
reward of his service under the cx-Minister, and that
to him he was indebted for the iiunour. This is
shown in the annexed correspondence. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose to Mr. Addin(;ton.
"Feb. lOtb, 1801.
" I thought something fell from vou this morniuf^
that implied a doubt whether, in my situation, you
should have taken the same line I have. On points,
exclusively of feeling, with Mhich the judgment has
not much to do, I can easily conceive two persons,
whose habits of thinking arc much alike, may differ.
In this instance, I act on the impulse of my feelings ;
and I repeat to you, with the sinccrest truth, that in
any other situation whatever but that I at present
hold, I should have complied icith ihe ivish expremed
hy Mr. Pitt, without the slightest hesitation ; and that
I am influenced by no motive but the one I expressed
to you."
the right hon. george rose. 367
Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt.
"April 18th, 1801.
" My dear Sik,
" I should not think myself justified in making
any commnnication, where there is even a mention of
your name, without apprizing you of it ; but I have
other and more interesting reasons for begging you to
read the enclosed before I send it. I have been led to
write it principally from what fell from Mr. Addington
in the conversation I had wdth him twelve days ago.
If }ou happen to recollect what I stated of that, I
think you will not disapprove of this letter. If, how-
ever, you see anything objectionable in it, I will either
alter it or put it in the fire.
"I am still lame ; but I can get up to you in a
carriage any time in the day, if you wish to see me."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Addington.
" My dear Sir,
" When you mentioned to me three w^eks ago
that Mr. Pitt had requested you to submit to his
Majesty his wisli that I might be made a privy coun-
sellor, you told me you were persuaded there would be
no hesitation on the part of his Majesty in a com-
pliance therewith. In the course of that conversation
I felt myself called upon to say, that, consistently with
my feelings, I could owe the obligation only to Mr.
Pitt, under an impression that the distinction being
conferred on me early, would be considered as a proof
that my services under him for more then seventeen
368 DL-^RIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
years had rendered me worthy of the houour I sought ;
adding, however, tliat being aware (as circiunstances
had unavoidably prevented Mr. Pitt from submitting
the request to his jMajesty l)efore he retired from
office) it coukl now only be proj)oscd by you, I was
perfectly content 6v to receive what T had asked of
Mr. Pitt. But as you have taken his Majesty's
pleasm'e on various subjects in the interval since 1
saw you, and I have had no intimation from you re-
specting myself, the favour if granted could not have
the appearance of flowing from ^Ir. Pitt's solicitati(jii.
I have, therefore, no longer any wish for the distinc-
tion at present, and desire to decline giving you any
trouble about it. The reasons for the omission arc
to me quite unimportant.
"You know me, T trust, well enough to be (piite
sure that this determination does not arise from the
remotest tendency to captiousness, or from any other
cause than the one I have stated, and that the disap-
pointment cannot produce any alteration whatever in
my conduct.
" I am, my dear Sir,
" Your very obedient and faithful, humble servant,
" George Rose.
" Old Palace Yard, April 2.jth, 1801."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Addington.
"May 17th, 1801.
" My dear Sir,
"As my having the honour conferred upon me
of being admitted to his Majesty's Privy Council
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE RO«E. 369
could not noio be connected with my services under
Mr. Pitt's administration, or appear to arise from his
approbation of them, I could not consistently with my
feelings receive it at present. I desire, therefore, to
decline givhig you any trouble about it.
' ' You know me, 1 trust, well enougli to be very
sure that this determination does not arise from any
other cause than the one I have assigned, and that
the disappointment cannot produce the slightest
possible alteration in my conduct."
[It might be supposed that nothing coidd shake the
determination here so strongly expressed by Mr. Rose,
of resisting Mr. Addington's offer; especially since his
eldest son entirely concurred in his view of the matter,
and endeavoured to persuade him to adhere to it. But
Mr. Pitt was so sincerely desirous to support his suc-
cessor, so long as he committed no grave faults in his
administration, which might compromise the interests
of the country, that his friend could not stand out
against his earnest and repeated entreaties that he
would strengthen the government by accepting a seat
in the Privy Council. The public would suspect the
sincerity of his intentions, if his most intimate friend
stood absolutely aloof from the Minister, and refused
to accept the smallest obligation from him. Mr. Pitt
seems to have requested Mr. Addington to name the
subject to the King, and the latter not only complied
with that request, but judiciously desired Mr. Pitt to
make the communication to his friend. Mr. Rose having
VOL. I. B B
370 DIARIES AND COIUIESPONDENCE OF
constrained himself to make this concession to the
pohcy of Mr. Pitt, thought it a favourable oj)i)ort unity
to put forward the claims of his son for employment
mider the new Ministry ; for though the ex-Minister's
influence was crippled, it was not destroyed l)y loss of
office, and he had a right to ex})cct, that if he wished
to obtain a situation for some competent and trust-
worthy person, his recommendation would not be
disregarded. In this case there was no reason to
hesitate. Mr. George Kose had already obtained dis-
tinction in the diplomatic line, and his previous
character fully justitied an application in his behalf —
[After the short illness, occasioned by the change
of administration in the beginning of the year, the
King resolved to go to Weymouth, as a healthful and
quiet place, but it was too far to get there in a day.
Mr. Rose having learned that he did not like to sleep
at Southampton, offered him the use of his house,
called Cuffnells,' on the borders of the New Forest,
which pleased the King very much, and he employed
his doctor, T. Willis, to convey to him the thanks,
which are expressed in the first of the two following
letters. The second is from Lord Eldon, who had been
to visit the King at Weymouth, and, being obliged to
return speedily to town, writes to Mr. Rose asking
him to relieve him from a comical perplexity in
administering justice between man and man. In the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 371
postscript there are some good remarks upon traffick-
ing in Church patronage, and a revelation of the
plague which the possession of that patronage entails
upon the patron. — Ed.]
Dr. Willis to Mr. Rose.
- - ■.'■'. V • -" • 'i^Kew House, May 12, 1801.
" Dear Sir,
" I am commanded by his Majesty to write to
you, and say that he feels himself very much obliged
to you for your offer of Caffnells, which will be much
more pleasing to him than being at "Winchester.
He has also desired me to wTite to his page, Mr.
Bowman, — who has gone to Weymouth, and who was
to call at Winchester on his way back, to make pre-
parations for the King, — and say, that his Majesty
now^ intends to stop at Cuffnells for three or four
days, on his way to AVeymouth ; and that instead of
his (Mr. Bowman's) going to Winchester, he desires he
wall now return by Cuffnells, and see into the accom-
modation there and in the neighbourhood.
" I cannot express to you how gratifying this offer of
yours is to his Majesty. If anything should suggest
itself that you might wish to say to Mr. Bowman, you
Avould probably think it right to write to him to-
night, at Gloucester Lodge, Weymouth. He will
probably be at Cuffnells about Thursday. But it
will be requisite that a letter should find him at
Weymouth.
" Let me not forget to add, that his Majesty com-
manded me to say in this letter, that he had heard of
B B 2
372 DIAKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
vour solicitude clnriiiGr his illness, and that he should
ever remember it. Of this, also, he spoke to-day to
Lord Eldon, who says he never knew the King to be
at any time better.
" Should you wish to say anything further upon the
subject of Cuffuells, I would advise that you called
upon me (for I cannot come to you) at a house 1
have a few doors below the Rose and Crown, on Kcw
Green, somewhere about half after twelve to-morrow,
if you can spare the time. This is of course not
necessary ; but I only state it, that if you wisli it, you
may know how you may see me. And I think his
Majesty may be inquiring into particulars, which it
might be satisfactory to him to know.
" I need not add that I have been obliged to write
in a great hurry.
" I am, dear Sir, most truly,
" Yours very faithfully,
" Thos. Willis.
" I should imagine that the King will set off about
the beginning of the second week in June. Her
Majesty, the Queen, is delighted with the idea of
stopping at CufFnells."
Lord Eldon to Mr. Rose.
" Dear Rose,
" I got to Weymouth on the morning of Mon-
day, the 17th, and, according to what usually befalls
me, I was compelled to leave it, and to return to
town forthwith, setting out from thence on Wednes-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 373
day evening. So that my expectations of making what
may be called a stay there were ntterly disappointed,
and my golden hopes of being a night or two at
Cuffnells fell to the ground. I could not help lament-
ing this for a great many reasons, principally, that I
was unable to gratify jny inclination to take you by the
hand in my passage, and to assure myself by ocular
proof that you are got quite well. I had some
subordinate views undoubtedly ; and principally one
w^hich relates to a subject that distresses me, because
it puzzles me, and because it distresses poor Brodie,
whilst it continues to puzzle me. The business in
Avhich he has been engaged I never heard of, whilst
it has been pending in the House, except simply
that I had been informed that there was some such
business pending, and that Lord Rosslyn asked me
if I would undertake to settle what should be done.
Here it rested, without more being said to me till I
received some of your letters, which were written cer-
tainlv under a notion that I knew somewhat more of
this matter than I really did know. In the next place,
I was applied to by Mr. Adam and Mr. Brodie, to
direct all papers to be removed from Evans's to Brodie's
hands, and he joined in the proposition that 500/.
should by me be ordered to be paid to each of them,
and that Brodie should go on with the work.
" I was startled with this, for it was not till after this
that the resolutions of the Lords were communicated
to me. Erom these resolutions, as I understand them
(pray tell me if I am right), the Lords, I conceive, have
determined that Brodie is to go on with the work.
374 DIARIES AND CORKE.SPONDKNCE OF
but in such manner as I f^halJ dirrct, and they are
both to be paid in such manner for what is past, a-f J
also shall direct. Now, in having taken the good-
natured part of removing this business from that scene
of squabble Avhich I understand tlie committee-room
exhibited, I liave permitted myself to be i)laced in n
situation of more ditficultv than i^ at all comfortable.
In the first place, with an absolute ignorance of all
that has been doing, and responsible to the Lords for
the propriety of my directions, ignorant both as to
what ^Ir. Brodie has done, and as to what Mr. Evans
has done, how can I, without complete information
given me from some quarter, judge, in any sort, what
I OUGHT to direct to be paid to either of these gentle-
men for the time past, so as to be able to account to
the Lords whv I ordered so much or so little, as it
may happen, to be paid ?
In the next place, as I understand the order, though
Brodie is to proceed, he is to proceed as I shall direct.
Now, I feel it prodigiously difficult, — in absolute igno-
rance of all that has been doing, and all that has been
contended to have been rightly done, or injudiciously
done, and with no more knowledge of the subject than
your horse, or of the reasons why one plan has been
thought good and another has been thought bad, —
either to tell ]\Ir. Brodie to proceed upon the plan he
has hitherto been executing, or to tell him Avhat better
plan he can adopt and ought to pursue. And be
pleased to note well, that by the Lords' order, the
plan in future must be mine. Here I am without a
soul to give me any information on the subject, and I
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 875
cannot take my lesson from Brodie himself, "vvliom
I am to direct, and who into the bargain is a Scotch-
man : — a circumstance I feel, because I practically
know, from my friend Loughborough's having got me
into, and himself out of, this scrape, that I am not
equal to gentlemen from that part of the island.
" In the meantime, Brodie gets nothing, and is
starving. I am therefore mortified that the state of
public matters robbed me of the opportunity of seeing
you in my way from Weymouth ; but it was impossible.
But pray take up your pen, and tell me, if you'll be
so good, to what extent, and how, these gentlemen
should be paid for what is past, and ujpon what
grounds they are to be paid now to any such proposed
extent ; — grounds which I can state and assign to the
Lords when they look at the payment to that extent
as my act. As to Brodie's going on in the manner
he has hitherto proceeded, I really have not the power
or the means of judging whether that be right ; and,
as I understand the resolutions of the committee, he
is not to go on so, unless / think it right that he
should. Now, I am so ignorant upon the subject, so
little competent to judge whether it is right or wrong,
that I do not even know what the quarrel has been,
or on what grounds it has stood. Pray also tell me,
as largely as your convenience will admit, what have
been the different plans suggested, and what you
think, and for what reasons, the best. I need not tell
you that Brodie is hungry, and in a hurry, and there-
fore the sooner you can indulge me with a full answer
the better. I am heartily sorry that I have got into
37fi DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
this business at all. However, I must make the best
of it I can.
" I found the King doing very well, but not I think
in high spirits, which is perhaps so much the better.
With my best regards to Mrs. Rose and all the family,
" Believe me, dear Sir, fnithfnlly yours,
" Eldon.
" P.vS. — I had forgot in the enclosed to say a word
to you about Mr. B., who, you intimate, has a living
to dispose of, and you suppose looks to a ])rebend.
The thing is impossible for many reasons, Tn the
first place, my serious opinion is, that though ecclesi-
astical men of the highest stations and best characters,
* imdti et boni,' think nothing of these exchanges,
there is an illegality about such transactions which
makes it impossible for a man at the head of the
law to have anvthinj^ to do with them. I know this
was the rule with my best predecessors, and I have
positively refused already in many instances to take
any part in them. In the next place, as matters now
go on, that is, as nothing of any sort has in my time
become vacant, or next to nothing, I look to a prebend
rather with a wish to have some vacant than a hope ;
and I have two royal commands already for prebends.
They happen also to suit my brothers-in-law, and
some other people nearly connected with me, for none
of whom I was ever able to get any provision in the
church to which they belong, and I do hope anxiously,
somehow or other, by some chance, not to fail in my
last hopes on their behalf, though I am afraid I shall.
THE Rin^HT HON. GlEORGE ROSE. 377
My friend, Lord Rosslyn, presented to nineteen livings
in February. I liave presented to two in four months ;
neither of them worth acceptance. A wish to obhge
yon, when I can, I ever shall anxiously have, and this
I persuade myself you do me the justice to give me
credit for. In these circumstances, to me it is pro-
voking beyond endurance, that every day brings me
as many letters for preferment, from men strangers to
me, as if every parson in England were dead, though
they seem to be all immortal."
[We have now come to the close of Mr. Pitt's first
administration, the history of which has been greatly
misunderstood, by friends and foes, and much un-
deserved obloquy has been cast upon him by both.
Lord Malmesbury comes nearest to the truth, though
even his account is mixed with considerable error.
He says " This measure (the Catholic relief bill) is to
be attributed in part to Pitt's carelessness, and in
part to his want of real respect for the King ; for
had he been provident enough to prepare the King's
mind gradually, and to prove to him that the test
proposed was, as far as went to allegiance and supre-
macy, as binding as the present oath, no difficulty
could have arisen. Instead of this, he reckons on
his own power, never mentions the idea at St.
James's, and gives time for Lord Loughborough
directly, and for Lord Auckland indirectly, through
the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London,
878 DIARIES AND CORKESPONDENCE 0"F
to raise an alarm in the King's mind, and to indispose
and exasperate him against the framcrs of the measure.
This was very blameable in Pitt.' Afterwards, lie fell
still more under the intincnce of the backl)iters who
disseminate their malevolence in clubs and drawing-
rooms, and accused him of playing a very sclHsh and
criminal part:^ of trying to be entreated by the king to
keep the government in his own hands, or of letting
his successors remain in oilice long enough to make
peace, and then turn them out."*
If Lord Malmesbury had published his own Diaries,
he would scarcely have allowed these unjust surmises
to have held a place in them, since they are com-
pletely contradicted by the authentic facts which are
afterwards detailed at great length.^ If such was
the treatment that Mr. Pitt received from his friends, it
may be supposed that his opponents would not spare
him. Lord Holland was not far wrong in saying
that Mr. Pitt accpiiesced in an expedient by which
a ministry was formed for the express purpose of
resisting a great national measure, which he had
earnestly recommended ; and it is true that he
wished his friends who differed with him on that point
to remain in office. But it is not true that he suggested
that expedient ; and it is not true that the ministry
was formed chiefly of his own creatures and depen-
dants. Still less is it true, that Lord Auckland and
1 Diaries, &c. vol. iv. p. 3. ^ Ihid. page 3. ^ Ibid, page 40.
* Ibid. p. 75, et seq.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOKGE ROSE. 379
Lord Loughborough produced the breach between the
King and Mr. Pitt.^ Lord Brougham remarks upon
Pitt's resignation : " Xre the motives of it wholly
free from suspicion ? Cui hono ? He was incalculably
a gainer by it. Finding it impossible to continue
any longer the ruinous expenditure of the war, he
retired, placing in his office his puppet, with whom
lie quarrelled for refusing to retire wdien he was
bidden ; but the ostensible ground of his resignation
was the King's bigoted refusal to emancipate the
L'ish Catholics." ' - - • - ;
The bigotry which is here imputed to George III.,
calls forth, in another place, the wrath of the noble
WTiter. Like the lion who is said to have a thorn
in his tail, he lashes himself into ungovernable fury,
and lavishes upon the unfortunate monarch the wealth
of his invective, with a ferocity w^hich shows that the
most bitter animosity and the most unforgiving re-
sentment, w^hich he attributes to the King, had taken
possession of his own breast. *' Ira furor brevis est:'*
and certainly the inconsistency of his anger looks very
nuich like a temporary mental alienation ; for he says,
" the habits of friendship, the ties of blood, the dic-
tates of conscience, the rules of honesty, were alike
forgotten; and the fury of the tyrant, with the resources
of a cunning which mental alienation is supposed to
^ Memoirs of the Whig Party, vol. i. p. 171.
^ Historical Sketches of Statesmen in the time of George III.,
by Lord Brougham, vol. i. p. 201.
380 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
whet, were ready to circumvent or to destroy all \\ iio
interposed an obstacle to tlie fierceness of nnljridled
desire." ' And yet, in his calmer mood, tiie noble Lord
does not forget the rules of honesty, but makes this
candid acknowledgment : " That he (the King) only
discharged the duty of his station by thinking for him-
self, acting according to his conscientious opinions,
and using his influence for giving those opinions effect,
cannot be denied."^
In remarking upon the intolerance of Percival and
his party, Lord Brougham says, " They forget that
those of opposite sentiments have exactly the same
excuse for unyielding obstinacy that they have for
rooted dislike towards adverse doctrines. 'J'hey feel
all the heat of intolerance, but make no kind of
allowance for others feeling somewhat of the fire
which burns so fiercely within themselves." ^ Mutato
nomine de te fabula narratur. So easy is it to
discern the mote in another's eye without perceiving
the beam in our own. An additional instance of
this ''furor brevis' may be fovmd in the charge
brought against George IIL, of all men in the
world, of forgetting the ties of blood. The sandy
foundation on which this accusation rests, is stated
thus: " The treatment of his eldest son, whom he hated
with a hatred scarcely consistent with the supposition
1 Historical Sketches of Statesmen in the time of George III., by
Lord Brougham, vol. i. p. 201.
2 Ibid. vol. i. 3 j(ji^ ^q\^ j p^ 263.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 381
of a sound mind, iniglit seem to illustrate the shadier
part of his personal disposition. He had no better
reason for this implacable aversion, than the jealousy
which men have of their successors, and the conscious-
ness that the Prince, who must succeed him, was
unlike him ; and being disliked by him, mast during
their joint lives be thrown into the hands of the Whig
party, the adversaries he most of all detested and
feared."
No better reason for aversion ! Now what was
the character of the person thus disliked? After
running a course of dissipation uninterrupted by
any rational or worthy pursuit, prematurely exhaust-
ing the resources of indulgence both animal and
mental, and becoming incapable of receiving further
gratification, it was found that a life of what was
called unbounded profusion, could not be passed with-
out unlimited extravagance. He had become wholly
selfish through unrestrained indulgence. He neither
commanded respect, nor conciliated esteem. He had
neither firmness nor truth in his character. "The
Whig party, being the enemies of George HI., found
favour in the sight of his son and became his natural
allies."* But perhaps this is an overcharged state-
ment. It may be, but it is the statement of Lord
Brougham himself. If the King therefore detested
and feared the Whigs, it was not because they were
Whigs. On the contrary, he declared to Lord
1 Histoi'ical Sketches, vol. ii. pp. 4, 5, 6.
382 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Malmesbury, that he himself was an olil Whig. Hut
there are better reasons for disHkc than jealousy or
whiggery, or even the despicable character of the man,
which the historian of the statesmen of that reign can
scarcely be permitted to ignore.
From his earliest youth, the Prince had been a source
of pain and sorrow to his father. When he was fourteen
years old the King was very ill. Lord Hertford said,
" Think what he must feel at finding already that his
son is so headstrong that he has not the least autho-
rity over him." His tutors too were driven away by
his ungovernable temper. When he was eighteen,
and became emancipated from the surveillance under
which he had lived, he is described by Walpole as
getting drunk, swearing, and intriguing with various
women. This w^as the period too of the following
complaint : —
" When we hunt together," said the King (in 17S1),
" neither my son nor my brother will speak to me; and
lately when the chase ended at a little village, where
there was but a single postchaise to be hired, my son
and brother got into it, drove to London, and left]me to
get home in a cart, if I could find one. Me com-
plained, too, that the Prince, when invited to dine
with him, came an hour too late, and all the servants
saw the father waiting an hour for the son." ' From
the same authority we learn, that " the Prince of
' Memoirs and Correspondence of C. J. Fox, by Lord John Russell,
vol. i. p. 270.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 383
Wales had of late thrown himself into the arms of
Charles Pox, and this in the most undisgnised
manner," who dictated his politics in his lodging ;
" and in this school did the heir of the crown attend
his lessons, and imbibe them. Fox's followers, to
whom he never enjoined Pythagorean silence, were
strangely licentious in then* conversations about the
King. At Brookes's they proposed wagers on the
duration of his reign, and if they moderated their
irreverent jests in the presence of the Prince, it was
not extraordinary that the orgies of Brookes's might
be reported to have passed at Pox's levees, or that the
King should suspect that the same disloyal topics
should be handled in the morning, that he knew had
been the themes of each preceding evening." ' It was
believed that he had demanded of the Lord Chancellor,
and Lord Ashburton, " what redress he could have
against a man who had alienated from him the affec-
tions of his son."
The true causes of the King's estrangement from
his son are distinctly visible in the Diaries of Lord
Malmesbury and Lord Eldon. Li an interview with the
Prince in 178.5, Sir James Harris" proposed to get Mr.
Pitt to obtain from Parliament an income of 100,000/.
a-year, on condition, that he would set aside 50,000/.
to pay his debts and cease to be a party man. The
Prince's answer was, " It will not do. I tell you the
' Memoirs, &c. vol. ii. p. 47.
' Afterwards Earl of Malmesbury.
384 UIAKIES AND COIUlESrONUENCE OF
King hates me. He would turn out Pitt for i-utur-
taining such an idea : besides 1 cannot abandon
Ciiarles (Fox), and my friends." How was it possible
for the virtuous monarch to tolerate such a man, wlio
shuffled from the path of duty by meanly pretending
scruples about turning out IMtt, which was the very
thing most desired by Charles and liis friends; and
who preferred associntion with ])n>fligacy to being an
honest man and a good son ? What a striking con-
trast to this undutiful conduct of the Prince is i)re-
sented to us by his vounj^er brother the Duke of
Kent, who made this declaration of his feeUngs to
Lord Eldon : " The King is my object ; to stand by
him at all times my tirst duty, and my inclination ;
and I think I cannot prove this more strongly, than
by pledging myself always to support his servants.
I have ever acted up to this profession, and I always
will." '
But there is other evidence of the unworthy and
unscrupulous behaviour which provoked the severity
of the King, in their private correspondence. That
private correspondence the Prince proposed to publish,
because his requests, whicli were probably mireason-
able, were refused, and his extravagance and dissipated
manner of living reprobated. So callous and dead-
ened was his conscience, that he said to Lord Malmes-
bmy, who had seen the letters, " I cannot bring
myself to say that I am in the wrong when I am in
1 Lord Eldon's Life, by H. Twiss, vol. i. p. 485.
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 385
the right. The King hcas used me ill, and I wish the
public knew what you now know, and had to pro-
nounce between us." The sage counsel which he then
received should have shown him the folly of his unfilial
treachery ; for Sir James Harris replied, " I should
be very sorry indeed, Sir, if this was known beyond
these walls ; for I am much mistaken if the public
would not pronounce a judgment widely different from
what you think. It is not sufficient for the King to be
wrong on one point, unless you are in the right in all ;
and as long as any part of your conduct is open to
' censure, the voice of the public will always go with
the King." ^ Nevertheless, the Prince published the
private correspondence. Who can wonder that this
act of baseness rankled in the royal mind, and proved
the only bar to a perfect reconciliation ? When at a
subsequent period, one sohtary symptom of a better
spirit touched the tenderness of a father's heart, the
King said to Lord Eldon, " The Prince of Wales's
making the offer of having the dear little Charlotte's
education and principles attended to, is the best earnest
he can give of returning to a sense of what he owes to
his father, and indeed to his country, and may to
a degree mollify the feelings of an injured parent ; but
it will require some reflection before the King can
answer how soon he can brins himself to receive the
publisher of his letters.
" 2
* Lord Malmesbury's Diary, vol. ii. p. 129.
2 Lord Eldon's Life, by H. Twiss, vol. i. p. 485.
VOL. I. C C
386 DDVKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
There was another correspondence ' published in
1S03, but that contained only one short letter from
the King, and cannot be accepted for the " letters" to
which he alludes. But the manifest insincerity which
the Prince's letters breathe throughout, the almost
irony with which he beseeches an affeclionate father
to open his ears to the supplications of a dutiful son —
supplications to which he knew fidl well the King
could not, would not, and ought not to listen ; and the
prevaricating spirit of altercation with his brother the
Duke of York, v\'ho steadfastly resolved to obey his
father, show more desire to plague the King, and
embarrass his government, than any serious wish to
gain his confidence. The high military command to
which he aspired had been repeatedly and resolutely
refused, for obvious political reasons, which he does not
attempt to controvert. From all this it is abundantly
manifest, that the King had plenty of better reasons
for disliking his eldest son, than the foolish jealousy
which is imputed to him. Thirdly, Lord Brougham
says, that the Whigs were "the adversaries whom
he (the King) most detested and feared." How far
this is true or otherwise, we shall have another oppor-
tunity of showing. At present it is sufficient to say,
that it was not because they were Whigs ; for, as we
have seen, he said of himself that he was an old Whig,
and the Whig administration of Queen Anne he con-
1 Annual Register, 1803, p. 564.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 387
sidered the most able we had ever had.^ Lastly, the
accuser asserts, that m all that related to his kingly
office, he was the slave of deep-rooted selfishness ; and
yet he owns, that when he threatened to abdicate
rather than do what he considered wrong, they who
knew him were well aware that he did not threaten
without a full resolution to act.^ The Duke of Port-
land said, he was sure the King had rather suffer
martyrdom than submit to the measure of Roman
Catholic emancipation.^ : . ; ^ '•.
It was no theological bigotry that actuated him
in his pertinacious resistance to that measure, but a
conscientious conviction that it was his duty. He
probably knew little or nothing of the doctrinal
differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics,
but the oath which he had taken at his coronation
bound him to support the established Church. In
that sense he had taken the oath. In that sense
he believed it was intended to be understood by
those who framed it, and therefore he was resolved
to abide by the obligation which the state had laid
upon him, and to which he had vowed his un-
reserved adhesion. This is no mere surmise, or
arbitrary assumption, but rests on the King's own
declaration, and the uniform expression of his feel-
ings on other occasions. To Mr. Pitt he wrote
thus : " A sense of religious, as well as political duty,
^ Lord Malmesbury's Diary, vol. iv. p. 44.
2 Historical Sketches, p. 8. ^ Ibid.
c c 2
388 DIi\.RIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
has made me, from the moment I mounted the throne,
consider the oath, that the wisdom of our forefathers
has enjoined the Kings of this reahn to take at their
coronation, and enforced by the obhgation of instantly
following it in the course of the ceremony with takini:
the sacrament, as a Ijinding rehgious obhgation on nie
to maintain tlie fundamental maxims on whicli our
constitution is placed; — namely, that the Church of
England is the established Church ; that those who
hold employments in the state nnist ])e mend)ers of it ;
and conse(iuently obliged not oidy to take oaths against
Popery, but to receive the Holy Communion agreeably
to the rites of the Church of England." ' Stronger
stiU was his statement in a conversation with the
Duke of Portland, in whicli he said, " that were lie to
agree to it, he should betray his trust, and forfeit his
crown, and that it might bring the framers of the
measure to the gibbet." -
In all this there was no symptom of antipathy to
other creeds, or their professors; but a deep, ineradi-
cable impression that he was bound by his oath to
defend the Church to which he belonged from all
encroachments. This was the uppermost idea in his
mind during his illness ; and when he came to him-
self, he said, after a silence of several hours, " I am
better now ; but I will remain true to the Church."'
It was, in fact, the cause of his illness on that occa-
' Memoirs of Fox, vol. iii. p. 251.
2 Lord Malmesbury, vol. iv. p. 44. a [hid. vol. iv. p. ID.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 389
sion, which he thus signified to Mr. Pitt : "Tell him,"
said he to Dr. Willis, " I am now quite well ; quite
recovered from my illness ; but what has not he to
answer for, who is the cause of my being ill at all ? " ^
No better proof can be desired of his warm affection
for the minister who had served him faithfully for
seventeen years, than the pain at parting from him
which produced this derangement. He told General
Bode that " this was the first and only difterence of
opinion between them ; that the measure took him
quite by surprise, and hurt him very much."^ But
that no " unforgiving resentment took possession of
his breast," is proved by the conversation which he
held with Lord Malmesbury a few months afterwards,
in which " he spoke in friendly terms of Pitt," ^ and
by his desiring, through the Duke of York, to see
him. If he had been a selfish man, he would have
consulted his own ease, and undisturbed enjoyment
of life, by yielding to the earnest entreaties of so
great an authority. But he was cast in a nobler
mould ; and even those who most widely differ from
the conclusion at which he arrived, must reverence
the high sense of duty which prompted him to sever
his strongest attachment, and sacrifice his peace of
mind rather than do that which his conscience told
him would be a great sin.
The state of the King's feelings on this subject,
^ Lord Malmesbury, vol. iv. p. 32, ^ jn^^ yQ[^ iy_ p^ 3^
3 Ibid, vol. iv. p. 63,
390 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OY
after his recovery, is shown in the following extract
from a letter of Sir George Rose, who at that time
lived at Holly Grove, near AVindsor, and frequently
conversed with the King in his rides. He is writing
to his father : — " Many jwints in the Bishop of
Lincoln's letter are indeed highly satisfactory, and
give a hope of termination to a state of affairs so
abject, so galling, and so humiliating." (This refers
to a scheme of Mr. Pitt's friends, unknown to him,
to induce Mr. Addington to resign a post for
which they considered him quite unfit.) " Tlie obsti-
nacy on the Catholic question is most mortifying.
This country docs not care a straw about it, — per-
haps is against it ; and with the enormous advantage
of the Union, and the means of making various
concessions, short of the grand one, we might safely
have w\aited at least for experience to know whether
it was indispensably necessary or not. In this neigh-
bourhood it is distinctlv understood, that Mr. Pitt
put himself under the governance of Lord Castle-
reagh, who drove him to the question in the view^ to
debase and pull down the established Church, to
Avhich he (his family being at the head of the
Dissenters in Ireland) is peculiarly hostile. You will
judge how this persuasion will render the resistance
to Mr. Pitt's views acrimonious and insurmountable.
This leads me to a recent conversation, in which a
firm belief was expressed (by the King), that :\Ir.
Pitt, before the question had been agitated, or the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 391
violent hostility to it which drove him out was known,
had pledged himself to some person (I suppose Lord
Castlereagh w-as meant) to carry the question or to
resign his office. I could not pretend to say that no
such pledge existed ; but, as I could not believe Mr.
Pitt capable of giving it to that extent, upon a question
in great measure speculative, and in the state of the
country, and of a w^ar which he had undertaken,
I used every argument in my power, drawn from
circumstances, the nature, principles, and high feel-
ings of the man to eradicate this opinion. If what
I said did not convince, I am sure it did not offend.
I was told shortly before that, that Mr. Pitt had but
one fault, — pride. I endeavoured, as far as I was
able, to soften that opinion, and to put the amiable
parts of his character in as strong a light as I could."
A similar charge has been preferred against Mr. Pitt
by others of his friends besides the King ; and where
many voices concur in pronouncing the same sentence,
it may usually be taken for granted that there is some
truth in the allegation. But where better motives
are sufficient to account for the phenomena of political
conduct, it is the part of Christian charity not to attri-
bute it to worse. Mr. Pitt's conduct has been much
misunderstood, or rather it has not been vmderstood
at all. A recent writer in the Edinhurgh Review, wuth
all the assistance which the memoirs hitherto published
can give, says, " His conduct at this crisis was as un-
inteUigible to those of his contemporaries to whom it
392 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
was known, as it is to us at present : " and again, "We
confess ourselves at a loss to justify, and scarcely even
to explain, the course whicli he pursued ; why, if he
was willing to remain in March, he was so resolvetl
on resigning in February, or why, if he was so resolved
on resigning in February, he was so wilUng to remain
in in March, we are equally unable to detennine."
Nevertheless, with the additional light reflected on
this transaction by the Rose jjapers, the explanation
is not difficult. Besides that self-respect, which,
though invidiously denominated pride, is felt more
or less by every great man, the two motives, which
from first to last most swayed Mr. Pitt's political
conduct, were attachment to his sovereign, and his
duty to the country. For the long period of seven-
teen years, they had worked together in perfect
harmony ; but now a case had occurred in which
they Avere at variance, and which impelled them in
opposite directions. He knew the King's aversion
to the measure he proposed, and yet he thought it
his duty to propose it. But why (if Sir George Rose
was right in saying, that at that time the country
did not want it) did he voluntarily and suddenly
bring forward a measure which he knew must make
a breach between the Khig and himself? For it is
well known that he was bound by no engagement
to the Roman Catholics. He had given them no
pledge or promise of relief, and his own declared
opinion was, that it was a remote contingency de-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 393
pending upon their good conduct. But it is probable
that the report then current was correct; and that
Lord Castlereagh was the person who introduced the
question into the Cabinet, not from any hostihty to
the Church of England, of which there is no ground
whatever to suspect him, but because, having been
employed to bring about the union, in his anxiety to
accomplish the task assigned to him, he had over-
stepped the bounds of discretion, and encouraged
hopes which he was not authorized to inspire.
The majority of the Cabinet, however, having decided
in favour of the c(mcession, Mr. Pitt was bound to
report that decision to the King. Perhaps he was not
without a hope, that the influence by Avhicli his
Majesty had so long been governed, might overcome
the resistance which he foresaw ; but he also foresaw,
that the only alternative would be his own resignation
of office, unless the King should be satisfied with the
assurance, that he not only would not introduce the
measure himself during his Majesty's reign, but that
he would do all in his power to prevent the discussion
of it in Parliament. It was necessary, however, that
such an assurance should be accompanied by one
stipulation, for the sake of the country. It was im-
possible to administer its affairs with any tolerable
chance of success if it should appear that the Minister
did not enjoy the full confidence of the Sovereign ; if
the servants of the Crown were opposed by the Crown,
and the Cabinet defeated by the King's own friends.
394 DIARIES AKD CORRESPONDENCE OF
The condition, therefore, of his sacrificing his opinion,
and retaining office, was, that the King should not use
his personal influence to control the proceedings of
Parhament. To this demand, however, the King
refused to accede, and Mr. Pitt resigned. But when
he found that to this desertion of him the King attri-
buted the derangement of his mind, his inflexibility
melted at such a ])roof of the monarch's personal attach-
ment, and he felt that, according to his own cx})res-
sion, in proportion to the difficulty which a sovereign
might have in accepting the resignation of a minister,
who, for good reasons, sought permission to retire, so
ought to be his love for such a sovereign' ; and this
moved him to write the contrite letter mentioned by
Lord Malmesbury, retracting, it may be supposed, the
condition on which he had insisted before.
It may be doubted, however, whether this letter was
ever actually sent ; at least, no notice is taken of it
in Mr. Rose's Diary, amongst the confidential commu-
nications which he had with Mr. Pitt. Yet the feeling
which would have dictated that letter, plainly existed ;
for we learn from the Diary, that at that period Mr.
Pitt showed much more willingness to return to office
than he had ever done since his resignation ; which,
of course, indicated an unconditional submission to
the King's wishes. But it is not, therefore, to
be assumed that he acted upon this impulse. His
own deliberate feelings upon the whole subject are
1 Gifford's Life of Pitt, vol. vi. p. 599.
,THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 395
recorded by Lord Malinesbury, as communicated to
Mr. Canning. He said that " he went out, not on the
Catholic question simply, as a measure on which he
was opposed, but from the manner in which he had
been opposed ; and to which, if he had assented, he
would, as a minister, have been on a footing totally
different from what he had ever before been in the
Cabinet."
This obliged him to resign ; but as his sincere wish
was, that his going out should distress neither the
King nor the country, he had required no one to fol-
low him. Those who did so, did it voluntarily, and
against his desire. He had quitted office, leaving
behind him means and preparations so likely to insure
success, both in the expedition to Egypt then pending,
and in the proposed attack on the Northern Powers,'
as to free him, in his own breast, from any deserved
reproach of deserting his post at an hour of distress,
and of abandoning war measures when they were in an
unprovided or inauspicious situation. It had been his
anxious hope and endeavour to leave behind him such
a ministry as would be most agreeable to his Majesty ;
and who, on all great national points, would act on
the same principles that he had acted on. For this
purpose he had pledged himself, but himself singly, to
advise and support the present ministry. This pledge
he considered as solemnly binding, nor ever to be can-
celled, without the express consent of Mr. Addington.
The fruit of this was the battle of Copenhagen.
396 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Being asked whether, in case of war, it would not be
his duty to resume office, he said, " I do not deny it ;
I will not afl'ect a childish modesty ; but recollect
what I have just said ; I stand pledged. 1 make no
scruple of owning that I am ambitious; but my ambi-
tion is character, not office. 1 may have engaged my-
self inconsiderately, but I am irrecoverably engaged."
AVhen he was asked whether he would not seek to be
released from his engagement, he answered, " I cannot
bring myself to do it. It is imj)ossil)le to prevent its
wearing the aspect of caballing and intriguing for
power."
This plain statement of facts entirely demolishes
the unjust surmises of the iNIarcpiis of Buckingham,
who seems to have gloated over every malevolent
report, and viewed every action of Mr. Pitt through
the distortin-T- medium of a venomous ill-will. It
shows that his retirement was not a sham ; and that
Addington was not his creature, his agent, or his
representative, in any sense of preconcerted subordi-
nation, though the latter was weak enough at first
to call himself his locum tcncM ; but, having tasted
the sweets of office, he determined to hold it as long as
he could, without considting his friend, or attempting
to secure his approbation of the measures by which
the country was to be governed.
The hostility of the Grenvillites, after their long
and intimate union with ]\Ir. Pitt, is explained by
an observation of Mr. Canning's. Lord Grenville,
THE RIGHT HON. aEORGE ROSE. 397
he said, cannot be persuaded but tliat Lord Buck-
ingham would be a good and popular Prime
Minister; and whenever his family come upon him
with this idea, it bears down before it every other
consideration. Such was his subserviency to his
brother, who was infinitely inferior to himself in
abilities and character, and who was described by
Lord Mahou, on the evidence of his letters, as steeped
in selfishness and pride, that though he had previously
been ready to declare that the Catholic question Avas
completely abandoned, and considered by him quite
gone by and dead, and that the strongest assurances of
this might be given to the King ; yet afterw^ards, under
the influence of his brother, he retracted, because he
found that the question which he, on his part, had
agreed to consider as given up, was by no means so
readily to be put aside by others.' They were all
piqued at finding that the Marquis was not held in the
same consideration by Mr. Pitt, as in his own family,
and vented their spleen in captious animadversions
upon his conduct : yet that conduct, it is now per-
fectly clear, w^as dictated by principles which it is im-
possible not to admire.
The union with L'eland had brought the question
of repealing the Roman Catholic disabilities into
discussion in the Cabinet, the result of which was
that Mr. Pitt concurred with the majority of his
colleagues in judging that to grant the repeal
^ Lord Malmesbury's Diary.
398 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENXE OF
would be the wisest policy. IVrliaps lie foresaw that
the time would come when it would he inevitable.
But he felt no immediate necessity for forcing it for-
ward ; and he was unwilling to harass the mind of a
Sovereign whose unvarying affection he had enjoyed
for so long a time, and to embitter his life, which was
not likely to have a long duration, by insisting upon a
measure to which he was conscientiously opposed, and
which the country not only did not demand, but pro-
bably viewed with apj)rehension and dislike. As the
friend of the King, therefore, Mr. Pitt thought him-
self justified in engaging, as far as depended on him,
to postpone the agitation of this question. But then,
there were other duties to be taken into account. He
was at the head of the Government, and maintained
in that high position, not only by royal favour, but by
the confidence of a large majority of the people of
England ; and it was his opinion, that ho could not
carry on that government with credit to himself, or
advantage to the country, if he had to encounter a
new sort of opposition, — the opposition of the King
— or if any of the Opposition, or of his own col-
leagues, who did not concur in his views, and were
not actuated by his motives, should bring forward
the question, a case might arise in which it would be
necessary for him either to suppress his conscientious
convictions, or find himself at war with his soverei'^u.
and perhaps defeated by the party called the King's
friends. This he thought it necessary to guard against,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 399
by stipulating that no sucli party should be formed
against him.
When, therefore, the King, conceiving that neu-
trality in such a cause would be treason to the
Church, which his coronation oatli bound him to de-
fend, refused to abstain from exercising his influence
to defeat the measure, nothing remained for Mr. Pitt
but to resign his office. Still he was sincerely anxious
that neither the King nor the country should suffer
from his retirement, and therefore desired that his
successor should be a personal friend of the King, and
at the same time one who would continue to follow
the same policy, which, in his judgment, was best for
the country both at home and abroad : at home by
the similarity of his financial arrangements, and abroad
by strenuous warfare, or an honourable peace. He
suggested no one ; but when the King sent for Mr.
Addington, who was on terms of intimacy with both,
he thought his object was attained, and found out too
late how much he was mistaken. The consequence
was, that he not only promised Mr. Addington his
support, but wished his friends to serve under him; for
his own resignation was from motives entirely per-
sonal, and peculiar to his position ; so much so, that he
took no counsel, even of his closest intimates, till the
die was cast and the act of his abdication signed.
But we must now go back to the spring of this year,
w^hen a cold interchange of letters took place between
Mr. Rose and Lord Auckland, both bewailing the resig-
iOO DIARIES AND COllRESPONDEXCE OF
nation of Mr. Pitt, but with a nuitual reserve, wliicli
soon afterwards broke out into open hostility; for on
the 21st of ]\Iarch, Loi-d Auckland, thinking himself
aggrieved by it, because no provision had been made
for him, attacked Mr. Pitt in the House of Lords, in
a manner, which drew this remark from Lord Malmes-
bury: — "Lord Auckland has received from Mr. Pitt
obligations that no minister but one possessing the
power of Pitt could bestow, or any one less eager for
office than Lord Auckland ask; yet scarcely has he
left office, than Lord Auckland insinuates that he did
it from some concealed motive, and that the ostensible
one is insincere." For this speech Lord Auckland
was much abused ; and Mr. Rose, who was probably
personally touched by the censure, resented it so
much, that he declined all further intercourse with his
unsniteful friend.
Mr. Rose to Lord xVuckland.
"Saturday Evening, Maich 21st, 1801.
" The accomit I have had this day of what fell from
your Lordship in the House of Lords last night, must
interrupt the intercourse I have had with your Lord-
ship during the last fourteen or fifteen years. Ever
since I have mixed in public matters I have thought
it possible that persons taking different lines in politics
(separated very widely indeed on subjects of that sort)
might mix pleasantly in private society, at least occa-
sionally. But there are circumstances in the present
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 101
case of so peculiar a nature as to render that impos-
sible with respect to your Lordship and me. It would
be as painful to me to enter upon these as I think it
would be to you to have them even more directly
alluded to. You will, of course, not take the trouble
of calling on me for the papers we talked about this
morning."
VOL. I. D D
402 DIAHIES AND COIUIESPONDENCE OF
CHAPTER VIII.
1801.
CORRESPONDENCE AND NEGOTIATIONS RESPECTING THE PAYMENT OF
MR. Pin's DEBTS IN 1601, BETWEEN MR. ROSE, THE DL8H0P OF
LINCOLN, AND LORD CAMDEN — ll,7f>0/. SUBSCRIBED DY MR. PITT's
FRIENDS— THE KINGS OFFER DECLINED — MR. PITT's FRIENDS URGE
HIM TO WITHDRAW HIS SUPPORT FROM THE ADDINGTON ADMINIS-
TRATION, ON A STRONG SUSPICION OF TREACHERY BEING INTENDED
TOWARDS HIM.
Mr. Pitt's mind was so much devoted to public
business, and engrossed by the affairs of tlie nation,
that he entirely forgot his domestic concerns, and the
duties of regulating his household. The consequence
was, as might well be expected, that he became the
prey of unprincipled men ; his tradesmen and his
servants plundered him at their discretion ; for in-
stance, hi one year, the charge for his servants in
London and at Hollwood — their wages, board wages,
Hveries, and bills, amounted to more than 2,300/. It
may be supposed, that the large amounts entered
against him for his stable and his housekeeping were
neither controlled nor understood by him ; but the
heavy expense of his cellar, it is probable, was too
well known and sanctioned. He was a great drinker
of port wine, but he had no other extravagant taste.
He was not a collector of costly curiosities or works
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 403
of art; he was not a speculator in schemes for
makmg money, or for spending it ; he had no turn,
as his father had, for ostentatious extravagance; his
debts were not hke those of Charles Fox, the effect of
gambling and profligacy. Wlien in both cases the
partisans of the respective leaders offered to raise money
for their payment, Mr. Fox had no scruple in accept-
ing their assistance, though a sense of honour induced
him from that time to abstain from gambling, which
was so much the more meritorious in him, because he
is recorded to have said, that the greatest pleasure in
life was to win a game of hazard, and the next was to
lose it. But Mr. Pitt was too proud to consent to be
treated like a pauper, living on charity, at the expense
of others ; and when it was mentioned to him, he said
he would sooner return to his early profession, and
earn enough by practice at the bar to discharge his
debts. This, no doubt, he might have accomplished
without much difficulty, if he had remained out of
office ; for who would not have been anxious to
employ his powers of oratory ? George III. testified
his reo-ard for so faithful a servant in the handsomest
way, by offering to pay 30,000/. out of the privy
pm-se, but, with the delicacy of true affection, desired
that it might not be knowai from what quarter the
payment came. No better proof than this can be
wanted of the truth of Wilberforce's statement, that
" the King and Pitt part on affectionate terms ; the
King saying that ' it is a struggle betw^een duty and
D D 3
401 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
affection, in whicli duty carries it.'" But this most
liberal offer was declined. Nevertheless, Mr. Pitt was
reduced to the greatest extremities, and the trial was
severe; for this great political financier not having
been able to control his own finances, or to attend to
the administration of his private revenues, his debts
amounted to 45,804/., and now that be was out of
office, his creditors became clamorous. Executions
Avere threatened, his houses were in dauger of being
stripped of their furniture, and his stables of their
horses. In this emergency some of his most intiuiate
friends came forward to his relief, by contributing a
sum of money, which he was content to receive in the
light of a loan, to avert the pressure of his most immi-
nent embarrassments, and to save him from the mortifi-
cations and distresses which hung over his path. That
sum was 11,700/. The proportions subscribed, as
well as the general state of Mr. Pitt's debts at that
time, will be given at the close of the following
correspondence between the Bishop of Lincoln, Lord
Camden, and jMr. Rose. Their letters show the
timidity with which they approached the subject, and
their great fear of offending Mr. Pitt, and meeting
with a rebuff. — Ed.]
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" My Dear Sir,
" You may rest assured that Mr. Pitt's assigned
reason for not going to the Cambridge commemo-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 405
ration was considered unsatisfactory ; but still, things
remaining as they now are, I do not think that any
opposition either to him or to Lord Euston would
prevail. I have no expectation of seeing Mr. Pitt at
Buckden, and indeed a visit to me without going to
Cambridge, would only aggravate the offence. He
cannot go to Cambridge before November with any
propriety. It is exactly with me as it is with you ; —
the more I consider Mr. Pitt's debts, the more dis-
tressed and perplexed I am ; but I think you consider
relief as more practicable than I do. Lord Alvanley
dined here on Tuesday, on his way to York, and came
two hours before dinner, principally, I believe, to talk
to me upon this subject. I found that Lord Camden
had been talking to him, and that Lord C. had seen
Joe Smith, and had Hkewise mentioned the subject to
Lord Carrington. Lord Camden said that some of
the creditors were growing very importunate, and
that there was real danger of violent measures being
soon taken against Mr. Pitt's horses, carriages, or
furniture, at Hollwood or Walmer. Nothing had
occurred to Lord C. and Lord A. but some subscrip-
tion amongst Mr. Pitt's private friends ; but then, of
course, the difficulty of Mr. Pitt's consent, or acting
without his knowledge, occurred ; and also the diffi-
culty of raising a sufficient sum. Lord Camden and
Lord Carrington talked of 1,000/. each, but afterwards
Lord Camden said they would go farther. Lord
Alvanley said that he would give nothing which
should diminish his principal; — he meant that he
would advance only such a sum as could be spared
406 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
out of his income, but mentioned no specific sum.
I went so far with him as to say I had reason to
think that there was more difficulty in applying than
in raising the money ; and that I believed the money
would be ready, if any mode could be devised for
paying the debts which should not be liable to
serious objections. He seemed to think that the
debts might be paid, and tlie receipts sent to Mr.
Pitt. But then, who is to pay the debts, and what is
he to say when questioned by Mr. Pitt ? We parted
without being able to fix upon any plan. Indeed I
do not think our friend Lord A. a very good man for
such a business. The enclosed is a copy of a paper
which Lord Camden received from Joe Smith. If
Mr. Pitt would allow llollwood to be sold by auction,
it would certainly sell for more than by any other mode;
and there might also be a contrivance for increasing
the sum. AVould he consent to an auction? or does
he think of that mode of selling? To give more
than a common broker or purchaser would give, in
the common way, would be a very inadecpiate relief.
To offer much more than the real Avorth of the thing to
be disposed of, would immediately excite suspicion in
Mr. Pitt's mind, and wholly defeat the scheme. To
give a little more would answer no purpose. The
largeness of the debts is a great obstacle to any indirect
method of relief. I do not feel the confidence, I
must own, which you do, in the thing remaining a
secret if done by the King ; and were it to be so
done, and ever known to Mr. Pitt, the mischief might
be very serious. Do not, however, suppose that I
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 407
fall short of you in reverence and admiration of
the King's character. I entirely agree with you
that Hollwood should not be kept. I am most
decidedly of opinion that you may consult the Lord
Chancellor, unless before you see him any practicable
mode of effecting this great business shall have
occurred — of which I despair,
" I am sorry that you have no faith in the conver-
sation said to have passed between the King and Sir
J. Banks. Is his JMajesty satisfied that Mr. Pitt,
during his Majesty's life, w^iether in office or out of
office, would never bring forward the Catholic ques-
tion ? It seems to me very material that this should
be strongly impressed upon his mind. I fear at
AVeyraouth you will not have much opportunity for
private conversation. Besides your objection to the
scheme upon the score of disingenuity, it is a very
important question, whether Mr. Pitt, upon discover-
ing so peculiar an obligation to the King, would not
refuse ever to take office again.
" Adieu, mv dear sir. I shall be most anxious to
hear from you.
" Believe me always most truly and
" cordially yours,
" G. Lincoln.
" Buckden Palace, July 16th, 1801.
"Dundas has certainly a very fair claim to a
peerage, and there ought to be no difficulty about
it."
408 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Lord Camden to Mu. Rose.
[Most secret^
" Dear Rose,
" As I am confident there is no person more
interested tlian you are in Mr. Pitt's public character
and private convenience, I feel no dillicuhy in writing
to you on a subject in a great degree connected with
both those circumstances ; — I mean the state of his
affairs. In conversing with two or three of Mr. Pitt's
friends most confidentially, I learn from the best
authority, what I too well guessed before, that unless
some arrangement takes place, and he is enabled to
discharge a portion of his debts, he will suffer the
greatest inconvenience.
" From communications I have had with Mr. Pitt
himself upon this subject, I am convinced it will ])e
more difficult to induce him to listen to any loan from
his friends, than to induce them to offer it, and various
expedients have suggested themselves to me in order
to relieve him ; but I am convinced, upon reflection,
that he will discover any attempt to discharge his
debts without his knowledge, and will be displeased
at that sort of conduct in his friends. It has, there-
fore, been thought best that upon the review he cannot
fail to be obliged to take of his affairs, it should be
stated to him, which Long and Smith have undertaken
to do, that it is impossible to discharge the bills that
are owing, unless a sum of money is raised ; that they
know such a sum can be raised, if he chooses, without
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 409
any interest being paid j but as we are sure from what
he has said that he will not allow of that sort of loan,
the payment of, or at least the undertaking on his part
to pay, the interest, must be submitted to. Long and
Smith have also undertaken to tell Mr. Pitt that they
can procure the money, but that he must not know
the source. This secrecy is absolutely requisite, and
without it I certainly can have no share in it. With it
I have been desirous of taking as active a part in the
transaction as I can : 18,000/. or 20,000/. is the least
sum which, together with the sale of Hollwood, upon
which Long writes me word he has determined, will
relieve him. There are those who are ready and
desirous to give or to lend some part of this sum, and
they are Mr. Pitt's most intimate and confidential
friends ; beyond these I think we ought not to apply,
and there would indeed be little chance, if we did, of
retaining the secret. Those who can afford it have
agreed to lend 1,000/., — or more, if they please; —
those to whom such a sum is inconvenient will give
500/., below which sum it is thought not proper
to go.
" I have thus given you a sketch of this plan ; if it
were in my power to give you more details, I would
do it ; but I trust I have said enough to enhst you as
our assistant in this undertaking, which I am aware
there is no one so fit to direct. Pray let me hear from
you, with an account of your opinion upon this busi-
ness, and the sum you will be willing to lend upon it.
Lord Carrington, Lord Bathurst, myself. Smith, Long,
the Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Alvanley, and some
410 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
others, are eager upon the subject. I do not mean to
mention it to any of the present Ail ministration.
" You had better direct to me in Arlington Street.
" .Most sincerely yours,
" Camden.
" Bayham Abbey, July 23rd, 1801."
The Bisnop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" Mr DEAR Sir,
" I thank you for your short note and long letter.
I believe the 5,800/. to be a separate debt of Mr.
Pitt's, originally charged upon Burton, for which
Lady Chatham ought to pay interest, but does not.
The security was transferred to Coutts when he ad-
vanced the money. I cannot hear the idea of j\Ir. Pitt
accepting any office in the gift of Mr. Addington.
I cannot think that Ilollwood would sell for 10,000/.,
except it were by auction. I am very anxious you
should have such a conversation as you propose with
Mr. Pitt, when you see him at CufFnells. You may,
perhaps, gain from thence some new light. It cannot
leave us in a more perplexed state than we are in at
present, and I am confident he will not be offended
at it. I have told Mr. Pitt that I should be at the
Deanery next Friday noon, and that I should be glad
to see him on that day, or any of the two or three
following ones, if he be still in the neighbourhood of
London. I have also written to Joe Smith. If I hear
anything of importance, or anything passes between
Mr. Pitt and me, you may depend upon my commu-
nicating it to you instantly.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 411
" I really think that even if others were to bring
forward the Catholic question, Mr. Pitt would find
means of not acting contrary to the King's sentiments.
I am confident he thinks so, and it seems to me highly
important that the King should know it. Perhaps
you may also ascertain this point when Mr. Pitt is at
CufFnells. I agree with you entirely about the private
subscription amongst /nVw<r/^; the sum is far too large.
" I own I do not see any great objection to Mr. Pitt
having a second sinecure place, provided it comes
directly from the King, and it was understood that he
owed it to him only. The PUfs are most perfectly
out of the question in my judgment.
" Kindest compliments and wishes from Mrs. T.
and myself.
" Yours, ever most truly and affectionately,
" G. Lincoln.
« Buckden Palace, July 24tli, 1801.
" Surely facts have proved to demonstration that
Mr. Pitt was deceived with respect to the state of the
Irish Catholics ; and this may justify a change of sen-
timent, as upon the Reform Question.
" Pray remember the Prebendal Papers."
Mr. Rose to Lord Camden.
" My dear Lord,
" You do me but justice in supposing that I feel
great anxiety respecting Mr. Pitt's situation. I can
say with the sinccrest truth, that it disturbs me inces-
santly by night and by day. I. had a long con-
412 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
versation with iMr. Pitt on the subject, before I
left London, wliich I became less satisfied with in
proportion as I reflected on his statements, unques-
tionably sanguine ones. This led me into a corre-
spondence with the Bishop of Lincoln, full and explicit
on all points of the case, and on the possible ways of
extricating ^h•. Pitt, as any probable ones, I own I
cannot devise ; for he has most unecpiivocally declared
to me that no consideration shall induce him to accept
of relief from Parliament (if he could even be sure of
an unanimous vote), or from the King, who, if we may
judge from former circumstances, has it not to give ;
or from individuals. He will not, I think, easily be
brought to submit to promise not to ask who lenda
the money, because he knows that in his situation a
loan is a positive gift. I am not sure whether I ever
told. you, that in the spring of 17S9 the merchants of
London agreed to raise 100,000/., and to present it
to him as a token of their gratitude for his services to
the country, and of tlieir warm approbation of his
public conduct. One body of them raised their pro-
portion of 20,000/. instantly. The remainder would
have been completed in a few days, of which I had
intimation, with assurances that not a name of a sub-
scriber would ever be known to Mr. Pitt; and not
choosing he should be taken by surprise, I mentioned
it to him, when he desired me to express to the party
from whom I had my information, his positive and
mialterable determination never to receive a shillins:
in that mode. The subscription now proposed would
certainly be a cheaper one, but in my own mind, there
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE, 413
are objections to it stronger than to the other, unless
it can be confined to an extremely small number of
most intimate and confidential friends. Would it be
fair to subject him to obligations to persons, who,
however liberally and disinterestedly they may feel,
he would not like to be obliged to? For myself, the
smallncss of my means will hardly be believed, but I
am willing to take from those who can ill spare it
(I mean Mrs. Rose and my daughters), to contribute
to make up the sum wanted. I cannot, consistently
with my feelings, avoid saying this ; and yet it might,
to some, savour of ostentation, with the impression on
my mind, that Mr. Pitt will not avail himself of a sub-
scription. I think 25,000/. must be found to put
him at ease ; to raise which more than thirty persons
must of course contribute, if the subscription is to be
made up of sums of 1,000/. and 500/. Are there half
of that number you would choose to call upon ?
" In my last letter to the Bishop of Lincoln, a few
days ago, I told him my determination to state dis-
tinctly to Mr. Pitt the absolute necessity of his availing
himself of so^ne mode of assistance to avoid the conse-
quences you allude to, which would certainly be injurious
to him as a public man, and, of necessity, to the country,
the interests of which are inseparable from his conduct
and character ; and would be not less painful to the
feelings of himself and his friends. I expect to see
him soon on his way to Weymouth and to his mother ;
and I have a plan to propose to him, easy and certain
in execution if he will acquiesce in it, that I have not
414 DIAKIES AND COllllESPONUENCE OF
tliouglit myself at liberty to allude to in the remotest
possible way to any human being except the Bishop
of Lincoln, Avhich I think injinitelj/ less exceptionable
than a subscription of twenty or thirty persons, and
which would leave him in possession of a very large
part of his income. If he refuses that, the other mode
may be resorted to on his return to London, and I
should hope Smith might, by seeing the most urgent
of the creditors, prevent any disagreeable measures
being taken during that interval. If, however, your
Lordship is clearly of opinion that a subscription
should be entered into immediately, tell me so, and
I will explain to you with tlie utmost fairness my
pecuniary situation, and what I will contribute. You
will have the goodness to consider the jjarficulars I
have here entered into as strictly confidential and to
be confined to yourself. I feel mvself on most delicate
ground, and surrounded with ditliculties. You will, I
hope, be able to devise means of deferring the measure
thought of for two or three months Avithout referring
to me, if you shall concur in thinking it advisable to
do so. I agree with you most entii'cly in the pro-
priety of not communicating on the subject, in any
event, with persons in the present Administration ;
but I am persuaded your Lordship would not include
Steele in that number, nor Ryder, if he was in a state
to be spoken to. I am grieved to the heart at the
accounts I hear of the latter. He can very ill be spared.
You know as well as I do, the correctness of the judg-
ment of both, and their cordial attachment to Mr. Pitt.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. -415
If the subscription shall be decided on, I know no
man living I should more wish to be consulted than
Steele.
" I am, my dear Lord,
" Very truly yours,
" George Rose.
" College, Christchurch, July 26th,
" The objections to the subscription plan (to me in-
surmountable) are of a nature which prevents my com-
mitting them to paper in a hurry, even to your Lord-
ship. I will cheerfully go as far as Farnham, under
the colour of a visit to the Bishop of Winchester, more
than sixty miles from hence, to meet you, that we
may talk these matters over, if you shall wish it ; or
even to London if it shall be thought essential ; though
in the present state of my health, I had rather avoid
the latter, for I am still forced to observe strict rules.
I write this by return of post. If anything further
occurs to me, you shall hear fi'om me again."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose. ;
" My dear Sir,
" Yesterday's post brought me your letter, enclos-
ing Smith's; and it also brought me a letter from
Lord Camden. I believe I mentioned to you that I
had a long conversation, at the Deanery, with Lord C.
just before I left town, about Mr. Pitt's affairs. This
letter is to inform me, that Mr. Pitt had consented to
a sum of money being raised, by way of loan, amongst
his friends, but he does not know whether it be pro-
416 DIARIES AND COERESPONDENCE OF
posed that interest should be paid ; that is, this point
seems not to be settled. That it is intended to apply to
intimate friends only ; that Mr. Pitt is not to know
from whom the money comes; that 18,00C/. or
20,000/. are to be raised ; that tliose who can afibrd
it, are to advance 1000/., or more if they please,
and none less than 500/. ; and that a progress is made
to the amount of 7000/. or SOOO/. Lord C. seems
himself to have had no conversation with Mr. Pitt,
but only with Long, Smith, and Lord Alvanley ;
and Mr. Pitt's consent seems to have been communi-
cated by Long. 1 was rather at a loss to know what
answer to give; but I have just written to him, that
it is to no purpose to discuss whether this be the best
plan that could be devised. That being the only one
to which ^Ir. Pitt would consent, it must be adopted
by his real friends, and acted upon with zeal and
discretion. That the two principal points to be attended
to were, secrecy and care not to apply to any person
to whom Mr. Pitt ought not to owe such a favour.
That I despaired of secrecy, as so many must be privy
to it. That with a view to give it as little resemblance
as possible to the subscription for Fox, the money
should be advanced as a loan, not as a gift (Lord
C. in his letter had mentioned gift) ; and also upon
interest, without the slightest idea or wish in the
contributors that either principal or interest should
ever be paid. That at the end of the year, ^Ir. Pitt's
affairs should be looked over, and if there should be
any surplus, wdiich there certainly would not be, it
should go as interest; and that Mr, Pitt's friends
THE KIGHT HON. GEORGE llOSiE. 417
would not suffer any debt incurred in the year to
remain undischarged at the end of it. Have I said
anything wrong or improper ? I have not mentioned
your name, or alkided to our correspondence, or the
subject of it. Shall I say anything about you, or
will you write to Lord Camden, or Long, or Smith ?
I forgot to say that I had declared myself ready to
contribute 1000/., and that I would mention the subject
to the Bishop of London and another friend; and
that I considered .20,000/. at least as necessary. The
precise sum of com'se depends upon the price that Holl-
wood and the reversion of the pension sell for. Will
they together produce 20,000/. ? I think they would,
if HoUwood were sold by auction, to which I shall
press Mr. Pitt, if I see him. Could the King be
informed of this plan, and if so could he be permitted
to contribute? This seems to me a very nice and
delicate point. Let me hear from you, if possible, by
return of post, and in that case direct your letter
hither. If you do not write till Wednesday, direct
to the Deanery, where I shall be on Friday noon. I
entirely agree with you in your distinction of true and
fair value, and I am also satisfied that all Mr. Pitt's
property of all sorts, if sold in the ordinary way, would
not clear him. My mind is a little relieved at the
prospect of something being done to which he
will not object. I feel very anxious th;it his feelings
should be consulted, though I am fully aware of
his thoughtlessness, blamcable thoughtlessness, in
this respect. I cannot bear ihe idea of his having
less than his Cinque Ports to live upon, or at least
VOL. 1. E E
4dl8 DIARIES AND COKKiiSJrONDENCJi OJb'
2,500/. a year. He cannot live upon less with any
degree of eoinlbrt. 1 shall l)e impatient to hear from
you. If I see Mr. Pitt in town, may I state to him
the King's proposal to you, tiiat Mr. P. may be in pos-
session of all circumstances before any step is taken,
or shall 1 mention it to Lord Camden, if I see him ?
He wrote to me from Bayham Abbey, but he seems not
stationary there, as he desired me to direct my answer
to town. I have told liim that I shall be in London
on Friday, for two or three days, and perhaps he may
wish to have some conversation with me. Adieu ;
kindest compliments and wishes.
" Yours, ever most truly, and atlectionately,
" G. Lincoln.
" Buckdeu Palace, July 26th, 1801."
Loud Camden to Mk. Rose.
\_Mosl sec re L^
" Bayham Abbey, July 28th, 1801.
" Dear Rose,
" 1 agree in many of the suggestions in your letter,
and in the wisdom of many of your observations. I
have been induced to interest myself in this business
from the persuasion that communication and corre-
spondence will bring matters into some train, although
it may not be precisely that which is the subject
of the first proposal. I am by no means wedded
to the particular plan I have mentioned, which has
been proposed to me by Long and .Smith, and is not
calculated to raise so large a sum as 25,000/. : but
I hope that a smaller sum than that will answer a
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 419
very good purpose. As Mr. Pitt's particular friends
are now dispersed, it is not probable that any great
progress will be made in the transaction upon which
we have corresponded ; and you will therefore, I doubt
not, have ample time to speak to Mr. Pitt upon the
proposition you have to submit to him. Another
mode in which ]\ir. Pitt might be induced to accept
the assistance of his friends, would perhaps be, that
they should enter into joint bonds with him, and that
then they (his friends) should raise the money, and
pay it to the nominal person who advances it upon that
security. This would prevent the danger of pint
botids, to which I am extremely averse ; but then the
secrecy cannot be preserved. All my anxiety is to
preserve Mr. Pitt's mind from the embarrassment, and
his character from the imputation, which executions
and actions for debt always cast upon a man ; and
whether by subscription, loan, or gift, or by any
trouble I can take, I can relieve him, 1 shall conceive
my time and my money well employed. I am there-
fore ready to listen to and adopt any suggestion
calculated to the object ; but as Mr. Pitt has so many
friends interested for his case and credit, do not let
us suffer him to lose the benefit of such a connexion.
You will, therefore, let me hear from you when you
think } ourself at liberty to communicate any further.
I certainly did not mean to exclude Steele and
Ryder, to both of Avhom I feel in the same manner
as vou do. Bathurst and Lonft- have communicated
with the former. I imagined the latter too ill to be
addressed on such a subject. I do not think it will
£ £ 2
420 DIARIES AND COllKESPONDENCE OF
be of essential use that we should meet at present, and
I also, who have not been well, should find a journey
to Farnham not advantageous to iny health ; and at
present I really think it unnecessary. It" anvthing
occurs, you shall hear from me ; and I hope to hear
from you, when you have anything to tell me.
" iMost truly, sincerely }ours,
'' Camden."
The Bisuop or Lincoln to Mk. Rose.
" My dear Sir,
" The letter which I wrote to you on Sunday
makes any detailed observations upon the letters
which I received from you this morning]: unnecessary.
I retm*n them, and at the same time I seiul you Lord
Camden's letter to me. 1 have no copy of mine to
him, but I mentioned to you the substance of it. I
now rather doubt whether I was rii^lit in concluding
that Mr. Pitt had said he woidd consent to the loan,
&c. I inferred it from these words, " to which he
will consent," in Lord C.'s letter to me, page 2.
[ shall write to Lord C. to ask an explanation
upon that point by to-day's post. The more I con-
sider this most distressing business, the more I am
convinced of the importance of laying immediately
before Mr. Pitt the King's proposal. I cannot bear
the idea of anything being done from that quarter
without Mr. Pitt's knowledge, and :\Ir. Pitt ought to
be apprised of every circumstance before he decides.
I really think that a delay of two or three months
should not be risked, at least, not without con-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 421
suiting Smith, who is better acquainted than you or
I with the disposition of the creditors. I fear some
of them are very clamorous. I received a letter from
Mr. Pitt this morning, in which he says, that I shall
find a note from him at the Deanery on Friday
morning, fixing either Friday or Saturday for me to
dine with him in Park Place. I am engaged to dine
with the Bishop of London, at Pulham, on Friday ;
but I shall, of course, put off that engagement and
dine with Mr. Pitt, if he should fix Friday. I will
make a point of having a full conversation with him
about his affairs, and the modes of relief, with or
without mentioning to him his Majesty's proposal, as
you shall direct in the letter which I expect to receive
from you here on Thursday, or to find at the Deanery
on Friday. If I by any accident shall not hear from
you, I shall, of course, say not a syllable about his
Majesty's proposal. The great point seems to be to
make Mr. Pitt consent to something effectual, which
will leave him a comfortable income and not embarrass
him in any respect in future.
" Lord Camden's idea that Mr. Pitt is not to know
who subscribe, seems to me a very good one. I think
you see this subscription in a stronger point of view
than I do. Indeed, I think it very objectionable, and
that it cannot be kept secret ; but considering it as
the only plan to which Mr. Pitt would consent, I am
disposed to try it. Something must be done, and with-
out assistance Mr. Pitt would, as you first observed,
be left literally without a shilling. Adieu. Kindest
remembrance to all your ladies. I scarcely know
422 DIARIES AND corhespoxdexce or
u'lietlicr to dii'cct this letter to Cuffnells or tlie
College.
" Yours, always most truly and afFectionatcly,
'' Buckden Palace, July 28th, 1801. " ^- LiNCOLN.
" Pray return Lord Camden's letter, and remember
my Prebendal Papers,"
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" My dear Sir,
"I hayc had a pretty full conversation with Mr.
Pitt about his affairs, and upon tlie whole am inclined
to think that he would agree to a subscription ; but,
T am decidedly of opinion that he ought to have laid
before him every plan and idea which is in contempla-
tion before he determines upon any one. I also think
that something must be done, as speedily as may be.
No one can state to him so properly, and witli so fair
a hope of success as yourself, the King's proposal ;
consequently, I think that it would be right, and may
be useful, that von should come to town as soon as
possible; and as some preparation, I have just now
told him that you have somethinfj of a very delicate
aud important nature, relative to his private affairs, to
communicate to him, and that you are not unwilling
to come to town on Tuesday for the purpose of stating
it to him. He said that he would see you at any time
on Wednesday morning you would fix. I thought,
that if I did not mention the business thus far to liini,
die might be out of town, and you might wait several
days without seeing him. As a further strong reason
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 423
for your coming, I am persuaded that Mr. Pitt will
not go into the west for some weeks, and he already
thinks that it may be best for him to go straight for
Burton ; and then afterwards, if he has time, make his
other visits. Therefore there is some doubt whether
you will see him at all at Cuffnells, and certainly not
for six or eight weeks, and I think much longer. —
All these things put together, I think it pretty clear
that you will set out from Southampton on Tuesday
morning, and arrive in town either that evening or
Wednesday morning ; and I have determined to stay
in town to see you, though I really must a second
time put off my father and mother from coming to
Buckden, which will give me a good deal of pain : —
but I am very anxious to see you and to talk with
you, and I do not Hke to leave London without some
plan being settled, or at least some better prospect of
a decision than there is at present. I think it may be
right for Long to come to town too when you are
here, but I see no use in Steele or Lord Camden
being here ; but if you are of a different opinion you
will write or send to them. I say nothing more, as
I really have not time to enter upon the particular
subjects of your letter written yesterday, and as I
hope to see you so soon. Mr. Pitt is very well. I
write in Park Place. Adieu.
" Yours, most truly and affectionately,
" G. Lincoln.
" I will meet you in Palace Yard any hour you may
fix.
" Saturday, August 1st."
424 diaries and cotirespondence op
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Kosk.
" My dear Sir,
"The conversation with .^^l•. Pitt vesterdav was
very short. We first examined the statement whicli
was placed before us in Hill Street, and Mr. Pitt made
some deductions and some additions, in consequence of
money which had been paid and debts incurred since
tliat paper was made out. The result was more favour-
able by about 2,000/. as I thought : he thought by
about 3,000/. I thou told him that some of the creditors
were extremely importunate and })ut to serious in-
conveniences by the want of the money, and that it
was very much to be wished that the debts of all the
common tradesmen, at least, which were to a large
amount, should be immediately discharged ; and all
other plans being rejected there remained only the
one whiich I had mentioned to him the day before, —
namely, the assistance of private friends. — To this he
expressed his readiness to accede. I then asked him
whether he persisted in his determination to know the
names of those friends from whom he was to receive
this assistance : he answered, most certainly. I then
told him that the matter had been considered, and
that six of his friends, namely. Lord Camden, Steele,
Rose, Long, Smith, and myself, were ready to stand
forward and put his affairs into such a situation im-
mediately, that he might assure himself that he would
suffer no inconvenience or embarrassment from his
creditors. He signified his consent without a mo-
ment's hesitation, and added, there were no persons
THE EIGHT HON. GEOKGE ROSE. 425
to whom he had rather owe a kindness or accommo-
dation than those whom I had mentioned. I instantly
said, ' Then I believe, sir, we need not tronble you any
further; you and J. Smith can engage for the thing
being done.' Thus ended the conversation. I went
and told Lord Camden, who seemed perfectly satisfied
with what had passed. I then returned and sat with Mr.
Pitt alone at least half an hour. He said nothing about
this particular plan, but mentioned an idea of insuring
his life, and assigning the policy as a security for the
money he borrows. I am inclined to think that this
would be a better scheme than selling a part of his
Cinque Ports, and ought perhaps to be adopted in
preference to any other, if he resolves to do some-
thing. I am confident he means to pay interest, and
I think he will not be easy unless he provides some
security for the principal. Pie thinks he shall want,
after the sale of HoUwood and his reversion, about
1 2,000/.; the interest and insurance of which sum would
be about 1000/. a year. But that point, when I have
leisure, I can ascertain accurately. I wish him to do
nothing, and I do not despair of the thing working on
as it is. You will observe that neither the whole sum
to be advanced by these six persons, nor the propor-
tion of each, was mentioned. I thought it a great
point to get the business left to us in this general
manner, and shall be happy to hear that you approve
what passed.
" The above is a copy of what I wrote to Long,
and having the same story to tell you, and very little
time, I troubled Mrs. T. to copy it. Wheu you go
426 DIARIES AND CORTIESPOXDENTT] OP
to Weymouth, do not forget the Catliolic question.
Remember my Prebendal Papers. All well liere.
Kindest compliments.
"Yours, ever most tndy,
"G. LiNCOI-N.
"Buckden Palace, August 7th, 1801."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" My dear Sir,
"I am very glad that you think of going to
Weymouth, and I am impatient that you should have
the conversation with the King. Recollect that when
the King was recovering from his illness, Mr. Pitt
saw Dr. J. Willis at Mr. Addington's; and before Mr.
Addington, authorized Dr. Willis to tell his Majesty
that during his reign he wouhl never agitate the
Catholic question ; that is, whether in office or out of
office. Mr. Pitt left Dr. Willis and Mr. Addington
together. I saw Dr. Willis's letter to Mr. Pitt, and
I suspect that the message was not properly and fully
delivered. All this is of course private history, but I
think it very important. Joe Smith has sent for
Bullock from town, and as soon as there are meavs
the bills will begin to be discharged. Soane's office
has offered only 19,000/. for the pension of 2,000/. a
year for the three lives of Lady Chatham, Lord Chat-
ham, and Mr. Pitt, which is a Jeivish offer. I have
desired Smith to apply to other offices. Pray send
my Prebendal Papers, as the Prebend is near lapsing.
Mrs. T. thanks Miss Rose for her letter. Kindest
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE.' 427
compliments, and every possible good wish to you
all. Adieu.
" Yours, always most cordially,
« Buckden Palace, August 14th, 1801 . " G. LiN COLN .
" Our wheat is all carried, and I hear from every
quarter excellent accounts of the harvest."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" My dear Sir,
" I am confident that Mr. Pitt's message and
the determination of his own mind were not confined
to his bringing forward the question himself. Mrs.
Pretyman now recollects the account which I gave her
of this business at the time, and she is certain that the
words I used were, that the ' Catholic question should
never again give his Majesty any trouble during his
reign.'
" It was expected, as you know, that the Opposi-
tion would bring forward the question last session ;
and Mr. Pitt's intention was to have resisted it upon
this ground, — that such a proposition ought to be
brought forward only by his Majesty's ministers, and
that he should oppose it now, and at all future times,
whenever it should be brought forward from any
other quarter.
" This is a general principle, and would apply to all
times and cases, even, indeed, if another King were on
the throne. It is true that Mr. Pitt cannot prevent the
discussion, but he may always find means to get rid
of the question. What those precise means may be,
will depend upon circumstances at the time, but I am
428 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
positive you may answer for this ; that Mr. Pitt will
never bring forward the Catholic question himself,
and that he will resist it if brought forward by nnother,
during the King's reign : and tliis, whether Mr. Pitt
be in office or not. Surely he was as nuich pledged
upon the question of reform, as upon the Catholic
question. The former he had actually moved ; the
latter he has not. The enclosed is perfectly correct
and proper. I prefer the words in the parenthesis,
and it does not appear to me necessary to add,
' during your Majesty's reign :' that is understood.
" T thought the paper alluded to by you a most
imprudent and unfortunate one, but I was not aware
that Mr. Pitt adopted it in any degree that would
fetter him hereafter. I have no copy of it. I per-
fectly agree with yon in what you say of such
pledges.
" I have only time to add our kindest wishes to
all our good friends at Cuffnells.
" Yours, most tridv and affectionately, &c.
" G. Lincoln.
" Buckden Palace, August 18th, 1801."
Estimate of Mr. Pitt's Debts in 1801.
To Contra, advanced upon security of Burton Pynsent . ^5.000
Ditto, on Bond 6^000
Ditto, overdrawn 1,750
Mortgage, Hollwood 11,000
State of Debts, 1st of February 7.408
Old Debts, Hollwood 2,190
Mr. Soane 2,098
Bills unpaid 9,618
^£45,064
THE RIGHT HON. GEOKGE KOSE. 429
Contributors to the Sum of ^11,700 advanced in 1801.
Lord Camden £1,000
Lord Bathurst 1,000
Bishop of Lincoln ' . . . 1,000
Lord Carrington 1,000
Mr. Steele 1,000
Mr. Rose 1,000
From Scotland, supposed to be —
LordMelvUle . . . Jl,000
Duke of Buccleugh . 1,000
Duke of Gordon . . 1,000
Chief Baron .... 1,000
4,000
Mr. Wilberforce 500
Mr. Long 500
Mr. Joseph Smith 500
Uncertain, probably from Lord Alvanley 200
Jll,700
[On the 1st of October, 1801, Mr. Pitt showed
how much he was in the conlidence of the Govern-
ment at that time, by sending to his correspondent the
first intimation of the preUminaries of peace being
signed, before the fact was pubhcly known. — Ed.]
^1r. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
■ " Park Place, Oct. 1st, 1801, 6 p.m.
" Deak. Rose,
" Though 1 liave but a moment to save the post,
[ must send you one hasty Hue, to tell you that the
die is at length cast, and tlie preliminaries are actually
signed. I am not at liberty to-day to mention parti-
culars, but I think I can venture to promise you that
ti30 DIARIES AND COltilJisrONDENt;!: Ui-
the terms, thoii<^li perhaps not in every point exactly
what one shoukl wish, are, on tlie whole, advanta-
geous, and certainly very creditable to the country. 1
hope to be able to send you a t'ulKr account to-
morrow or next day. The signature has but just
taken place, and will not be made public till to-
morrow morning.
" Ever sincerely yours,
"W. Pitt."
jMh. Pitt to Mk. Kusk.
"Park Place, Oct. 3d, IhOl.
" Dexr Rose,
" On coming to town this morning for a few
hours, 1 have just found your two letters. I will,
with the greatest pleasure, take an early opportunity
of mentioning your son to Lord Ilawkesbury, who
will, I tiatter myself, be very favourably inclined
to consider his pretensions ; but 1 think it would be
clearly desirable that he should also himself state his
wish to be considered as a candidate for any proper
situation in the foreign line, and that you should, at
the same time, write to Lord Ilawkesbury.
" I hope the particulars which you will have re-
ceived by this morning's post, from Hiley, will have
answered your expectation.
" Ever sincerely yours,
"AV. Pitt."
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 431
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Park Place, Monday, Oct. 26th, 1801.
" Dear Rose,
" I received your letter yesterday morning, just
as I was setting out from Walmer. All the senti-
ments it states are precisely those which 1 feel, and in
which, I think, all moderate and dispassionate men
will concur ; but I fear there are some of our I'riends
who will not be found to be of that number. I am
very glad that you have determined to come up, and,
if it will really be no inconvenience to you to be in
town on Wednesday, 1 shall be much obliged to you,
as there are many points connected with finance on
which I wish much to converse with you, and on
which I have some large projects in my mind.
" Ever sincerely yom-s,
''W. Pitt."
[About the end of this year there seems to have
been a suspicion amongst the friends of Mr. Pitt, that
some acts of treachery towards him had been practised
by certain members of the Government, in order to
lower him in public estimation, and withdraw from
him the affection of the Kino;. Evil rumours were
circulated about him, and royal messages were with-
held. It is not likely that Mr. Addington would
have wished to injure him ; but injury may sometimes
be inflicted by forgetfulness and reckless language.
Certain, however, it is, that from this time Mr. Pitt's
4:32 DlxUilES AM) CUlaiJ:;J5^U^i>E^t'l:; Ui
friends began to besiege him with importunities to
withdraw his support, and let the Administration die
of a poHtical atropliy ; in wliicli, after a long struggle,
they succeeded. The Bishop of Lincoln and Mr, Rose
led the way. — En.]
The Bisnoi' of Lincoln to Mk. Rosk.
" You will easily believe, my dear Sir, that your
letter was as little satisfactory to me, as your conversa-
tion with Mr. Pitt was to you 1 will not, however,
trouble }ou with niy lamentations, as you know pre-
cisely how 1 feel upon this most truly mortifying sub-
ject. There is, however, one point upon which 1 must
express my anxiety, and that is, that you will yoursdf
contradict, to the King, the account which he received
of Mr. Pitt's determination to resign last October ; and
also that you will state to his ^lajesty, that his mes-
sage to Mr. Pitt to keep his engagement of visiting
him at AVeymouth, was never dehvered. These .sub-
jects the King has already mentioned to you, and
surely there can be no impropriety in your recurring
to them. A little breach of eti([uette may be risked in
matters of such importance. Be assured that Lord C.
is not a fit person to trust such an explanation to;
and, indeed, no one is so well suited to it as yourself.
I entreat that you will not leave the neighbourhood
of Windsor without accomplishing this object ; and
I hope that in every conversation you may have with
his Majesty, you will be upon the watcli for any
opportunity whicli may offer of opening his eyes.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 433
With respect to Mr. Pitt, the point to urge to him
seems to be, that the conckict he is uow pursuing is
the very one most calculated to lower his influence and
consequence in the country ; and that others are taking-
great pains to bring about the same thing, and are
aiming, in all their measures, to be able to do without
him. The only ' ray of hope ' your letter conveys is,
where you say that Mr. Pitt owns he feels uncomfort-
ably. If he will but cease to have such complete confi-
dence in Mr. A., and see that he does not deserve his
active support and assistance in the degree he has
hitherto given it, circumstances will soon point out
some line of conduct different from his present, and
perfectly consistent with his honour ; which, after all,
is the first thing to be considered. If ]\Ir. Pitt
withholds his advice and direction, the face of things
will soon be changed. Insufficiency and profligacy
will soon appear, and the public will be convinced
that Mr. Pitt has just ground for altering his conduct.
" You seem to think of going soon to Cuffnells. If
we do not sec each other before you set out, pray let
me know by letter whether I be at liberty to state to
Mr. Pitt any of the circumstances and facts you have
mentioned to me, and to comment upon them. I am
fully aware that nothing must be done or said to
revolt Mr. Pitt.
" I have written to Mr. Carthew, as vou suo-o-ested,
and directed my letter to him at No. 13, Queen
Anne Street West ; concluding that he had not
changed his habitation. If he has, pray send after the
letter, and in any case I should be glad you Avould
VOL. I. F F
434j diaeies and cokkesi'ondence of
inquire whether he has received it, as T should be
sorry if it fell into other hands.'
"If this should find you at Ilully Grove, pray dis-
tribute our kindest coniplinients to all yoiu' party.
Mrs. Pretyuian desires to be kindly remembered to
you.
" I am, my dear Sir,
" Always most truly and cordially yours,
** G. Lincoln.
" Buckdea Palace, Nov. I'Jth, 1»01.
" I think you might urge to Air. l*itt the effect —
— the revolting effect — which the continuing his pre-
sent line of conduct will have u[)on his real friends,
and the most respectable men in the country firmly
attached to the constitution j now that A. has taken
Tierney and formed a coalition with Opposition : and
the real mai);nanimitv of his conduct is not \inderstood,
but his motives misrepresented."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
'' My dear Sir,
" The King is, iu my judgment, perfectly clear.
The design most certainly is to kick away the ladder ;
and this makes me exceedingly anxious that no further
assistance should be given upon the subject of finance,
or indeed upon any other point. Surely Mr. Pitt's eyes
must be soon opened. Pray watch the debate on the
25th, and see whether new light cannot be collected
^ Allusions to letters intercepted at the Post-Office, as stated \vith
regard to !Mr. Pitt.
THE IIIGHT HON. GEOUGE HOSE. 435
from the speeches of certain persons ; and if anything
appears, do not fail to state it strongly to Mr. Pitt.
" It seems to me very desirable that you should
have some conversation with Steele, not only on his
own account, but as some criterion to judge how
Mr. Pitt's other friends feel concerning what is now
going on. j:^
"I see no objection to the receiving 1,000/. from
Lord RoUe ; but I think the thing should first be
mentioned to Lord Camden. Above all, do not fail to
show the last paragraph in the enclosed Times to Mr.
Pitt, and to tell him of the communication between
Hiley Addington and Mr. Waller. I hope you Avill
keep the enclosed paper, or send it again to me, that
we may keep it with other things of a similar nature.
The spirit of Jacobinism is surely visible in the above
paragraph. In great haste.
" Yours, ever most truly and affectionately,
" G. Lincoln.
" Euckden Palace, Nov. 20th, 1801.
" Pray let me hear again from you."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt.
, ..;. ; ^. .,. a HqHj Grove, Nov. 22d, 1801.
" My DEAll SlK,
" The opportunities I have had of talking with
you on confidential matters lately have been so inter-
rupted, that I fear nothing but the strongest attach-,
ment to you, and the most sincere and unaltered
regard for the public interest, could have induced me
so often lately to press on yom' attention, points which
F F 2
436 DlAltLES AND CUllKKSrONUENCE OF
appear to me as important tor tlie latter as tlicy arc to
yourself. My want of discretion may be blamed, but
you cannot mistake my motive. To the hour of your
anuouucin<; to mc that Mr. Addiiigton was to succeed
you, I considered him as one of your most attached
and devoted friends, and was in the habit of going to
him in preference to any other person on the most
confidential matters. The very day on which 1 was in-
formed by you of that event, 1 had appointed to see
him in order to have a conversation of the sort. 1 can
therefore have no prejudice against him, nor can
1 have been led to express to you the opinion T enter-
tain of what is going forward at present by any inter-
ested motive. I shall not have the remotest wish to
see you in office again so long as you continue to
feel that you cannot return to it with credit and com-
fort. But, having a firm impression on my mind that
there is a systematic plan, originating I know not
where, to lessen you as well in the opinion of the
public as of the King, I do feel most anxiously
desirous that that should be counteracted ; couceivhig
it to be for the interest of both, as well as from consi-
derations of a nature personal to yourself, that it
should be done as efl'ectually as possible. At the
same time I cannot help deeply lamenting that you
see the difficulties in the way of your returning to the
public service so forcibly as you do ; and I feel con-
vinced that the best aid you can give in a private
station is very far short of what you could do if you
had the direction of matters, of which recent experience
can leave no doubt. I may be mistaken as to a uego-
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 437
tiation having been attempted with any other person
in opposition besides Mr. Tierney ; but I beheve his
reception by Mr. A. affords a ray of hope to Mr. Fox
and every other enhghtened Jacobin in the country,
as well as to the gentleman himself. They will natu-
rally speculate on the possibility, at least, of that open-
ing the way to more of their friends, perhaps finally
to the exclusion of Mr. A. ; and to an adoption of
some of their measures, when it may not be in your
power to prevent it. It will be a great satisfaction to
me to have a quiet hour or two with you before I go
into Hampshire. I wash indeed to have your opinion
as to the best mode of combining the matter in my
two pamphlets, so as to connect all that is material
respecting finance in your administration. I hope,
therefore, you will have the goodness to come here
with me the end of this week' — though you must be
in town on Sunday."
<
Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt.
" Holly Grove, Dec. 7th, 1801.
" My dear Sir,
" My son, with the same opinion as my own on
the subject of the wish you expressed to me on
Friday, and repeated with irlcreascd anxiety the day
following, has not diver^I the strong inclination I
have felt, since our last conversation, to comply with
your desire ; and it is a great relief to me that I can
thus give another proof of my strong attachmment to
you.
You will, I am sure, permit me to say to the venj
438 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENX'E OF
fev to wliom I shall think it necessary to sav any-
thing, that I (lid not ask the scat in the Privy
Council from ls\\. A. but that I receive it at your
instance, because I shall receive it under circum-
stances of a very ditfercnt nature from those that
existed when I sought it as a fflsfjnrfin)}. I had been
Secretary of the Trcasiu'y under you longer than aiiv
person had held the situation who was appointed in
the whole of the last century. T had not been
entirely idle when the exertions were making which
opened the way for the Administration to come in, at
the head of which you rendered such important, and,
I may say, unexampled services to your country ; and
in the early part of it especially T had laboured
indefatigably. I had acquired some influence in the
county in which I settled, and l)rought forward use-
fully to Government the infinitely greater weight of
others, — at the same time that I secured to myself
and my family, honestly and fairly, a permanent
paliamentarv interest ; and I was at the time of vour
retiring from ottice the only person who remained in
the same political employment so filled on your
entrance into the public service. If I had been
selected for an honour then, it would naturally have
been considered as a reward for the sort of claim
I thought I had when I asked for it ; and I should
have had an honest pride in receiving it : it must
come to me very differently now. I assure you, that,
seriously, I do not state this with an intention either of
making a merit in acquiescing in your wish, or of
suggesting anything in the shape of a grievance;
THE RIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 439
both are utterly repugnant to me. I have not the
shghtest ground of complaint, and my attachment is
more strongly riveted to you than when you were in
power. I wish you only to be apprised distinctly
why I was solicitous for the object before, and hesi-
tated to comply at once with your wish when I saw
you were earnest about it. Having taken my deter-
mination, I shall drive from my mind every reflection
that can be painful about it ; and you shall never see
or hear of a symptom respecting it that is unpleasant.
" It was not my intention to have said anything
more to you about the object my son has at heart;
but I found here the Ihnes of Saturday, in which
persons are mentioned for all the missions open, I
believe, except Madrid, Avithout any notice taken of
him. I imagine Mr. Drummond is at Naples. If
the information had been in another paper, I should
not have much regarded it ; but I happen to know
that Lord Hawkesbury particularly favours that one,
though I have no imagination that he can influence it.
One of the gentlemen named (Sir James Crawford)
came into the line long after my sou, as Mr. Erere
and Mr. Drummond did. I am perfectly sure that
there is not an individual in it whose education was
likely to qualify him better for it. At the head of
Winchester School a year or two earlier than usual, he
had an opportunity of spending eighteen months in
Geneva, under the care of one of the ablest and most
respectable men there, in attaining modern languages,
acquiring the principles of the law of nations, &c.,
and then went to Cambridge at eighteen. As soon as
440 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDKXCE OF
he had taken his Bachelor's degree, he was placed
under Lord Auckland at the Hague, with the privilege
of seeing the whole correspondence of Europe, then
passing through there, where he remained for more
than a year, working at least ten hours a day, till
Lord Grenville sent him to Berhn, with the charge of
the King's affairs, on the ground of the character he
heard of him, without any application from me; and
I had the satisfaction of being toKl npcatedly, by his
Lordship, that he was most entirely satisfied with
him, I know, too, that Lord jMalmesbury (an impar-
tial judge at least) has several times spoken of him in
extremely flattering terms, from the observations he
had opportunities of making while he was with him
at Berlin. It was not in the smallest degree my son's
fault that he has not been employed for some years.
" You will not, I trust, understand me as con-
veying a wish that you should do anything on the
subject in the remotest degree unpleasant to you.
I flattered myself that rjour support of reasonably fair
pretensions with Lord Ilawkesbury would have been
decisive. If it shall prove otherwise, it will not make
the slightest alteration in my mind or conduct. If it
is meant to open Naples, I think my son would be
perfectly satisfied and happy with it."
Mr. Addington to Mr. Pitt.
" Downing Street, Dec. 19th, 1801.
" My dear Sir,
" I expressed to his Majesty, on Wednesday,
your wish and my own that Rose and Long should
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 441
become members of the Privy Council. He acceded
to it most graciously, and I have told Long what has
passed. The communication to Rose should^ I think,
proceed from yourself, and I hope this will be in time
to enable you to make it by this evening's post.
" I will take my chance of finding you at home at
three to-morrow.
- " Yours, affectionately,
" H. Addington."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
"Deanery, St. Paul's, Dec. 23rd, 1801.
" My dear Sir,
" I remained in town till the 14th, and then
went with Mr. Pitt to Cambridge. On the 16th,
after dining at a great feast in Trinity College Hall,
we went to Buckden, and he left us on the 19th.
I did not receive your very interesting letter till I
reached Buckden; and the short time I was there
I was so occupied by company and business (having
an Ordination on the 20th) that I really had not
leisure to write to you. I set out from Buckden
yesterday, and came hither this morning. I saw very
little of Mr. Pitt while I was in town. He was a day
or two at Lord Hawkesbury's, and then he went to
Hollwood. When he was in town he was engaged
every day to dinner. I scarcely know why, but I
could not bring myself to enter upon any of these
important subjects on which I knew I should differ
from him as we went along in the carriage, and I felt
almost an equal reluctance when he was at Buckden.
442 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
However, in the last walk we took on the Friday, we
fell insensibly into politic;^, and lie talked with his
usual openness and good temper. I expressed very
decidedlv niv ()|)inion concerninii; the insufHcienrv of
the present Administration, espeeially npon sid)ji'cts
of finance, and reprobated the dangerous tendency of
that spirit of candonr and coneiliation whieii had
hitherto marked his condnct to Mr. A. I endca-
vonred to prove to him that he wonld materially injure
his own eharacter, if he continued upon his present
intimate footing with Mr. A., and if he abstained from
declaring his opinion u})on the measures which he
really disapproved. I told him that such a line of
conduct appeared to me a betrayal of the interests of
his country. I mentioned the pains which had been
taken, and which were still continued, to lower him
in the estimation of the public, and I ventured to say
that his present conduct was precisely what his
enemies wished and his friends could not approve.
" I am willing to think that I made some impres-
sion upon him. He owned that the opening of the
distilleries was 'perfectly absurd.' He said that if
the peace establishment should not be settled as he
wished, or that one or two certain measures of finance
should not be adopted, he would certainly declare his
opinion in Parliament. He seemed to think it not
impossible but this opportunity might be aff'orded
him.
" Upon the Catholic question our conversation was
less satisfactory. He certainly looks forward to the
time when he may carry that point, and I fear he does
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 443
not wisli to take office again unless he could be per-
mitted to bring it forward, and to be properly sup-
ported. I endeavoured to convince him that he had
been deceived by those on whom he relied on this
question, as far as Ireland itself was concerned, and
that the measure would be very unpopular in England.
I did not seem to make much impression upon this
point, but I had not time to say all I wished and
could have said. I thought it better not to touch
upon the treacherous part of a certain person's cha-
racter and conduct. That point had been fully urged
by you, and I had no new matter to state. It ap-
peared to me wiser to argue upon public grounds, and
upon regard and concern for his own character.
" When he was leaving Buckden, I told him I hoped
1 should see him in town this week, as I did not
think of being in London again till the first of April.
He received that information in a manner which
struck Mrs. Pretyman and me exceedingly ; and
immediately said that he would make a point of
coming to town for a day on purpose to meet me.
In the course of the conversation I have alluded to,
I said there were other matters upon which I wished to
talk to him, but which I could not then enter upon,
and I am inclined to think he is desirous of talkino;
to me again.
" He was certainly not in so good spirits after this
conversation, and he remained some time in his room
doing nothing immediately after it, although he knew
that a large party from Cambridge was waiting for
him in the drawing-room. I am confident that he is
444 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
not perfectly easy in his own mind ahout public matters,
and I am satisfied that his uneasiness will increase.
" What may be the terinination of this stran^^e
uncomfortable state of things at home, even without
any fresh convulsion in Paris (wjiich seems expected),
it is impossible to conjecture.
" I have been interrupted several times, and have
now only time left to say that Mr. Pitt told me of
your acceptance, &c. with great satisfaction, and he
said he shouhl write to you as soon as he got to town.
I was delighted that you had so full a conversation at
Windsor. I hope you will tell Mr. Pitt about the
offer to Grey. Depend upon it, such incompetency
and such knavery cannot long go on and prosper.
" I shall stay in town till Monday, perhaps Tues-
day. 1 left Mrs. Pretyman not quite well ; she has
fever hanging about her, which disturbs her sleep, &c.
" Kindest compliments to your party at Cuffnclls.
" Yours, most cordially and affectionately,
" G. Lincoln."
Mr. Smith to Mr. Rose.
^ " Hereford Street, Dec. 24th, 1801.
" My dear Sir,
" Messrs, Biddulph and Cocks have informed me
that you have paid in to my account one thousand
pounds, which I will take care to apply to the dis-
charge of certain debts.
" I am, dear Sir, yours very faithfully,
"Jos. Smith."
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. M5
CHAPTER IX.
1802.
CORRKSPONDENCE BETWEEN MR. PITT, MR. ROSE, THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN,
AND MR. CANNING, RELATIVE TO THE ADDINGTON ADMINISTRATION,
[The debate alluded to in the following letter seems
to be that in which the question arose, whether the
debts of the Civil List should be paid by Parliament ;
and whether the King should, or could, be bound to
keep his expenditure within the sum allowed him at
his accession to the throne. Another question then
raised was, whether the Prince of Wales was not
entitled to be reimbursed for all the sums, minus the
expenses of his education, which were paid to the
Crown out of the Duchy of Cornwall, during his
minority. —Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Dear Rose "ParkPlace, Friday, Feb. 1 9th, I8O2.
" I knew nothing of the precise day on which the
Civil List was to be brought on till I returned to town
accidentally on Tuesday, after a week's absence at
Walmer. The Committee is now sitting from day to
day, and, I imaghie, will probably make a report in the
course of the next week, though I have not happened
446 DIARIES AND COllKESPONDENCE OF
to hear anything ])articuhu* as to their [jrogrcss. It is
certainly very material that nothing slioukl be omitted
which can phice the subject in a clear and just j)oint
of view ; and though I think the leading parts oi' tlie
case will be so clear on the face of the accounts that
they will hardly escape notice, the materials which
you have in your possession may be of considerable
use. If, therefore, it is really no inconvenience to
you to come for a few days next week, I shall be very
glad of it ; and, indeed, there are some things con-
nected with the debate of last week which I should be
2;lad to talk with vou about. Awkward as that de-
bate was in some of its circumstances at the moment,
I am persuaded, in its consecjuences, it has dont', and
will do good.
" I shall be in town all next week, unless, perhaps,
for a single day either on Wednesday or Friday.
" Ever sincerely yours,
"W. Pitt."
[In the next letter, the modest simplicity of Mr.
Pitt's character is remarkably exemplitied in the slight
notice W'hich he takes of a high compliment which had
just been paid him by a numerous body of his sup-
porters, on which most men would have delighted to
dwell without any undue self-complacency. Nearly
nine hundred persons, the most eminent in rank,
character, and talent, assembled in Merchant Taylors'
Hall, on the 2Sth of May, to celebrate Mr. Pitt's
birthday. — Ed.]
the right hon. george rose. 447
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Walmer Castle, June 7th, 1802
" Dear Rose,
" I felt, as you will believe, truly obliged to you
for your very satisfactory account of the 28th, and for
all the trouble you have had snice in prolonging my
furlough here. Immediately on receiving your letter,
I returned to Mr. Darke the copy of the paper in
question, with a certificate, which, as I have heard
nothing since, I suppose fully answered the purpose.
" This air, and the quiet and retirement which I
have been enjoying, have been of great use to me. I
mean to remain here till quite the end of the week,
and am not without hopes of stealing another eight or
ten days afterwards before the dissolution, which, I
imagine, we may expect somewhere about the 24th
or 25th; at least, if it be true, as I am told, that
all the business will be out of the House of Commons
on the 28th.
" Ever sincerely yom's,
■•'■■''- • "W. Pitt."
[In the following notice of the general election, in
1802, it will be observed that Mr. Pitt identifies him-
self with the ministerial party, in opposition to the
Poxites, whom he calls Jacobins : a name which the
leaders of that party had earned for it, by their
sympathy with the Prench Revolution ; but it is
remarkable also for his characteristic forbearance in
avoiding personalities. He alludes to them in general
448 DIARIES AND COIIRESPONDENXE OF
terms ; but there is no attack upon any one individual.
The rest of the letter is an overflowing of kindness
towards his correspondent and friend. — Ed.]
jMu. Pitt to Mu. Rose.
" Bromloy ilill, Saturday, July 10th, 1802.
" Dear Rose,
" I was sincerely glad to find that the election at
Southampton passed in a numuer which must have
been so satisfactory to yourself and your son. You
will have seen that ours at Cambridtre was pertVctly
quiet ; and it was not only (piict, but attended with
every mark of zeal and cordiality. I wish we had as
good accounts of three or four other places, where (as
it has turned out) the Jacobins have triumphed, and,
in some instances, unaccountably ; but, upon the whole,
I do not see anything likely materially to change the
relative strength of parties or the general complexion
of the House.
" I am likely to be detained by diff'erent engage-
ments near town for a week or ten days, and shall
then return to Walmer Castle, where I shall be most
happy to see you whenever you find it most con-
venient, and have a fair wind. T shall probably not
go to Somersetshire till late in the autumn ; but I
hope to find an opportunity of making a coasting
voyage, and returning your visit in the course of the
summer. If your sons are with you Avhen you em-
bark, I shall be very glad, if it suits them, to be of your
party. I am going on extremely well, and expect to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. M-9
pass muster as a stout and able-bodied seaman by the
time I see you. ,, ti
•^ Ever yours,
"W. Pitt."
[The determined hostility with which the Bishop of
Lincoln continued to assail the Addington Adminis-
tration is displayed in these three following letters,
and also the perseverance with which he endeavoured
to shake the " immobile saxum " of Mr. Pitt's mind.
—Ed.]
The Bishop or Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" My dear Sir,
" I have this morning received a long letter from
Mr. Pitt, and you will like to know the contents of it,
if you have not heard from him yourself. He says
that the Bath waters agree with him, and he seems to
have a very confident hope that they will be of material
service to his health. He is going to Burton this
week, for a day or two. Not thinking it right to be
absent from the meeting of Parliament, in the present
state of the country, he means to be in town about the
19th, to stay for live or six days ; then go to Walmer
for ten days, pass through town in his way to Bath,
where he liopes to arrive about the 10th of next
month, and to stay there till Parliament meets after
the Christmas holidays. All this is, of course, subject
to what may arise to require attendance upon the
House of Commons.. In speaking of political matters,
he says the state of things is full of difficulty; that
VOL. I. G G
450 DIAIUES ANL> COllllESPONDENCE OF
during the siiiniiier lie knew notliinc; of what was
going on, except from the newspapers ; that in passing
through London, on his way to Bath, he was ghid to
learn that the line taken by our Government was such
as he approved ; and that their future intentions
seemed to be right. lie thinks that war with Trance
cannot long be avoided. This is the substance of
what he writes ; and 1 own that the political part of
bis letter has not given me nuich satisfaction or com-
fort. I am aware that he has a very difKcult pait to
act ; but 1 think lie will injure his own character
if he expresses, which J fear h(^ will, an unqualified
approbation of the conduct of our present ministry.
" All things taken together, the situation of the
country seems to me truly alarming. I write in great
haste, and have only time to add our kindest respects
to Mrs. Rose.
" Ever most affectionately and truly,
" G. Lincoln.
"Buckden Palace, Nov. 7th, 1802."
The Bisnor of Lincoln to Mr. Hose.
" My dear Sir,
" I thank you for your letter which I received
this morning, and rejoice most heartily that Mr. Pitt
has desired to see you at Bath. I really think that
your meeting may be very useful. I am most de-
cidedly of opinion that what you propose to state in
the House of Commons is exceedingly right in itself,
and of the highest importance. It ought surely to be
said as early as may be on the first day, before people
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 451
have committed themselves. I have no doubt there
are many members whose minds are in suspense, and
who would be determined by such a speech as you de-
scribe. Remember to state your approbation of the
preliminaries, and to mark strongly the conduct of
ministers since they were signed ; and that the only
cliance of preserving the peace and sparing the country
is by having a iirm, able, and respected ministry. If,
however, you mean to wait for Mr, Pitt's full and
clieerful consent, I fear your speech will never be
made. Consider whether you need mention your in-
tention to him, provided he be not in the House, and
you have reason to think that what you will say will
not be opposite to his real opinion.
" I wish to apprize you that I wrote a very strong
letter to Mr. Pitt, last Monday, entreating that he
would not, in the House of Commons, express an un-
qualified approbation of the late measures of Govern-
ment ; reminding him that he had not be en consulted
during the summer, and that now his assistance was
hkely to be wanted, they were paying court to him ;
that they used ' every effort and every art ' to obtain
his support when necessary. I told him how much
ministers were despised in the country, and begged
that he would not identifv himself with such men.
And, lastly, I begged that he would stay at Bath, for
which his health afforded a sufficient reason, and wait
to see what turn things will take. I told him also,
which I am sure is true, that by giving his unqualified
support to the present Ministers, he would lose the
confidence of the country.
G G 2
152 DIARIES A^D COKllESPONUENCE or
" Remember that you cannot do your country a
greater service than by making the speech you medi-
tate. I write in great haste, and have only time to
say that I shall expect with great impatience your
next letter. Adieu.
" Yours, most atiectionately and truly,
" G. Lincoln.
" Buckden Palace, Nov. Uth, 1802."
'i'ui: Bisnoi' of Lincoln to AIk. Rose.
" My dear Sir,
" Your compromise is, upon the whole, as good a
mode of settling the business as could be expected. I
was confident that Mr. Pitt would not consent to your
making your intended speech ; and 1 agree with you
in thinking it a great i)oint that Mr. Pitt should not
attend at the opening of the session under the present
impression of his mind. I almost shudder at the idea
of Mr. Pitt's expressing his approbation of the late
measures of Government.
" I am persuaded that Lord Grenville will take a
directly op[)osite line, and I greatly feai' that Mr. Pitt
will soon be driven to make his choice between the
present ministers and Lord Grenville, with those who
will act with him. 1 fear it, because I am convinced
that Mr. Pitt will support Government.
" I am very glad that you are remaining at Rath ;
and, if anything occurs, I trust that I shall hear from
you. You say nothing of Mr. Pitt's health.
THE RIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 453
" Adieu. Mrs. Pretyman desires her kindest com-
pliments.
" Ever, my dear Sir, most truly yours,
" G. Lincoln.
"Buckden Palace, Nov. 17th, 1802."
[The correspondence which closes this year consists
of letters from Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose, with answers
to some of them. They contain evidence of the high
veneration with w^hich Mr. Pitt was regarded not only by
men of ordinary stamp, but by the brilliant talents of
Mr. Canning ; they show Mr. C.'s anxiety not to cross
that great man's path, or throw any obstacle in the way
of his purposes, whatever they might be ; and the perse-
verance with which he endeavoured to worm out from
his friend Rose his secret feelings and opinions, in
order to regulate his own course in accordance with
thein, proves his conviction, that no one else enjoyed
so large a share of Mr. Pitt's confidence, or was ad-
mitted to see so much of the interior of his mind ; but
they also show how much machinery w^as at work to
influence those feelings and opinions against Mr. Ad-
dington, and to undermine the Administration. — Ed.]
Mr, Canning to Mr. Rose.
" Dogmersfield, Thursday, Nov. 11th, 1802.
" My DEAR Sir,
" It has been a great disappointment to me that
the invitation of our friend Sir H. Mildmay did not
454 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
liappen to find you disengaged this week. Inde-
pendently of the pleasure of meeting you here, I was
very particularly desirous of an ojjportunity of some
communication with you before the opening of the
session, upon subjects, not very fit to l)e discussed by
letter, u})on which I am confident you would feel as 1.
and other persons wlunn you would have found here
feel upon them : — and to the measures relating to which
you coidd, and I am pei^uadcd would, have contri-
buted the most efficacious and valuable assistance.
" I shouM be very glad to know if you are likely
to be in town before the meeting — and how soon ?
" I return to town from hence on Saturday ; and
for that, and the few first days of the ensuing week,
a letter would find me at Lothian's Hotel. On Thurs-
day or I'riday, 1 have promised to meet Mr. Pitt at
l^ropmorc, on his road from Bath ; aiul shall return
to town either with him, or the day after liim. It',
with this knowledge of my motions, you could con-
trive to give me notice of yours, so that we might fall
in with each other the first time that we are within
each other's reach, I shall be very desirous of profiting
by the opportunity.
" Believe me, my dear Sir,
" Very sincerely yours,
" Geo. Canning.
" P. S. I understand that you intend taking this
place on your w^ay to town. If that should be the
case, and if you would let me know beforehand the time
of your coming, I would endeavour to meet you."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. doS
[Towards the end of the year Mr. Pitt went to Bath
to recruit his faiUng healtli ; and being now out of the
trammels of office, the next letter shows more of the
affectionate kindness which he felt for Mr. Rose, than
when his head was full of matters of business. It
shows also that he was still determined to support
the Government on material points, though he seems
to apprehend, that something might be introduced
into the speech from the Throne, which might make
him desirous to be absent from the address. It
brought Mr. Rose into that immediate contact with
him which induced Mr. Canning to write the follow-
ing letters. — Ed.]
Mil. Pitt to Mr. Rose. —"
. . "Bath, Nov. 7th, 1802.
" Dear Rose,
" Your letter of yesterday reached me this morn-
ing. I am very sorry you should have given yourself
a moment's trouble about my mislaid letter, as its
contents were not such as to make the accident of any
consequence. I had been meaning to write to you to
tell you, what I know you will be glad to hear, that
I am much the better for my visit hither ; and I meant
also to say to you, that if you have really no engage-
ment to make it inconvenient to you, you w^ould make
rae very happy if you can let me have the satisfaction
of seeing you while I am here. There are many
points too long for a letter which I shall be very glad,
if we meet, to talk over with you. I mean to go
456 DIAKIES AND COKKESPONDEXCK OF
on Thursday to my mother's, but slmll returti here in
time for my afternoon's ch-aui^ht of the waters on
Saturday ; and from thence shall continue here till the
business of the session calls ine to town. It is
possible things may take a turn that may make me
wish to be present the day of the Speech, which will,
I understand, be on Monday the 2'2d ; but it is quite
as likely that I may not see occasion to go till either
the vote for the army or navy, or some material motion,
is brought forward.
" Perhaps even the circumstances may be such as
to make me doubt about going at all before Christ-
mas ; but of this I shall know more in a short time.
If it suits you to be here on Saturday by diimer,
I shall be happy to see yon then ; if not, the first day
afterwards that you find in your power,
" Ever sincerely yours,
" W. P."
Mr. Canning to Mu. Rose.
"Lothian's Hotel, Saturday, Nov. 20th, 1802.
" My dear Sir,
Though I have but a moment to save the post,
I will not put off till Monday giving you the pleasure,
which I am sure yon will derive, from hearing that
Lord G. (whom I have seen to-day) appears to enter
cordially into all the considerations of delicacy towards
]\Ir. P., which you thought it of so much importance
that he should entertain ; and that the line of argument
which he has laid down to himself, is one which will
carry him safely past all the embarrassing and uncom-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 457
fortable points of difference between them. There is
no intention of movinor anv amendment.
" In return for this intelHgence, I shall be glad to
hear from you that Mr. P. continues satisfied with his
wise and saving determination to remain where he is ;
and that he has done himself the justice to avoid (and
'to say that he must avoid) mixing himself by advice in
the councils for which he ought to be in no degree
responsible.
" Yours, dear Sir, very sincerely,
" G. C."
Mr. Canning to ]\[r. Rose.
" 37, Conduit Street,
" Monday, Nov. 29th, 1802.
" My dear Sir,
" The last letter with which I troubled vou
produced me so comfortable an answer, that I can-
not forbear to give myself the chance of another
such return for the very little that I have to tell
you.
" The navv estimates come on on Wednesdav : they
mean to vote 50,000 seamen — as it is understood,
only for three months. I should like very much to
know (but w^ithout in the smallest degree intending to
make any use of my knowledge) Mr. P.'s opinion of
the sufficiency or insufficiency of such a vote. I do
not write to him to ask — first, because I wish not to
trouble him with letters just at present more than
is absolutely necessary (he is nuich better left to his
158 DIARIES AND COKRESPONDENTK OF
own reflections); and secondly, because 1 do not think
it fair to put such a question to liiin at a nuMUcnt
when, if put from other (piarters, 1 trust he woidd
decHne to answer it. Hut if yon shouhl happen to
collect Avliat lie thinks upon th(^ subject, and slionid
see no impropriety in letting nic know it, it would be
some satisfaction to my mind. I certainly have mv
own opinion : but I sliouhl be desirous to avoid stating
one opposite to his — at least I would not do so
knowingly. However, the debate will be in a great
measure independent of this particular (juestion.
" Above all things, T anxiously hope to liear from
vou that he remains firm in his resolution U) abstain
from attendance, or interference.
" The voting the establishments for three months
ai)pears to me to relieve him from the only awkward-
ness which he could possibly have felt — that of not
being present at the settlement of the permanent
peace establishment. This measure is confessedly
temporary, adapted to their view of the circumstances
of THE moment, to which he is no party, and liable to
revision hereafter ; when it will (T trust) be his hn.si-
nesB to revise it.
" Peel is not in town. I stated your Swiss argu-
ment for you — and it was not answered — as indeed it
could not well be.
" Ever, my dear Sir,
" Most sincerely yours,
" G. C."
the right hon. george rose. 459
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
" Conduit Street, Tuesday, Nov. 30th, 1802.
" My dear Sir,
" As I mentioned to you yesterday that the
estimates were to be voted only for three months —
which was then true — I think it right to let you know
that the Doctor' has just announced the intention of
voting them for the year. This, 1 am persuaded, is
Ryder's doing, and it is done wisely. I do trust that
it Avill make no alteration in Mr. Pitt's intentions
of staying where he is. But it makes it still more
desirable, to know if possible, what are his ideas of
the force that ought to be kept up. The Navy comes
on to-morrow, 50,000 seamen, as I before told you.
The proposed amount of the Army I have not heard.
It (the army) does not come on till Wednesday. Fox,
it is now confidently said, will not attend either, cer-
tainly not the navy. God knows he has done mischief
enough already, and may well rest contented for a
while with the tone to which he has brought the
Government down. Perhaps, indeed, he is so well
contented that he thinks it dangerous to risk any
apparent diminution of his influence with them by
attending debates on which he thinks they may receive
a lesson from other quarters ; and it is obviously his
policy not to be obliged at the present moment to
express a difference of opinion with Addington.
" You shall hear from me again as anything occurs.
"Yours very sincerely,
''G. 0."
1 The sobriquet by which Addington was faiuiHarly designated.
460 DIARIES AND COURKSPONDENCE OP
Mr. Rose to Mr. Canning.
"Bath, Nov. 30th, 1802.
"My dear Sir,
" I conceive it to be quite impossible for Mr.
Pitt to form an opinion of tlie .siifiiciency or insuffi-
ciency of tlie 50,000 senmen for three months, with-
out any information wliatever of wliat lias been going
forward lately, or of the actual situation we are in
with France, — I mean as to the probability or improba-
bility of a Avar with her. 'riirrc are passages in Lord
TTawkesbury's speech, cither on the first or second
day, which looked like his having no intention to lay
papers before Parliament relative to the late discussion
with the First Consul. That th«y should not do so now,
is intelligible, and perhnps propiT ; but calling for a
vote, evidently for a larger force than they can ])ossibly
mean for a peace establishment, can only be justified
by the persuasion ministers have of the necessity for
such a force on account of a conduct on the part of
France which creates a just alarm in their minds. T
can conceive discussions, even of importance, with a
foreign country, passing even without papers laid,
when Parliament is not called u))on to act in conse-
cpience of them ; hut ichen it is, information at some
period or other is surely demandable. Ministers may
surelv be driven to sav whv 50,000 men are desired
for three mouths ; they need not tell the specific cause,
but they must admit that something extraordinary
leads to it. Mr. Pitt went out for his ride before I
got your letter, and I have no chance of an opportu-
nity of talking to him on the above subject before
dinner, but I am quite sure he could say nothing upon
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 461
it at all satisfactory. His health improves evidently,
and he holds his resolution now to a certainty not to
go to London, about which, however, he was a good
deal shaken at the end of last week."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Canning.
"Bath, Dec. 1st, 1802.
" My dear Sir,
" I thought it right, under so considerable a
change in the vote for the seamen, as you mention, to
show the letter I have just received from you, to Mr.
Pitt, who desires me to say to you nearly what I did
from myself yesterday ; — that at this distance, and
utterly uninformed as he is of everything that could
enable him to form a judgment on the subject, he can
express no opinion whatever upon it. It appears
manifestly to be better to vote the strength for a year
than for a short period, as showing a better counte-
nance to the enemy. The number may be increased
in the course of the session, if it be found necessary,
and if so large a force should not be wanted, the surplus
money may.be otherwise disposed of. The period of
the naval vote being extended strengthens my remark
of yesterday respecting information of some sort being
communicated to Parliament. In 1793, the vote was
for 45,000 seamen; for lo,000 in 1792. I am not
sure w4iether papers were then laid, but the ground
for that augmentation, I am sure, was stated and
debated. I trust Mr. Pitt will not be induced by
anything that one can foresee as likely to happen to
change his opinion respecting his remaining here."
•462 diaries and correspondence of
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
'\Conduit Street,
"Thursday, Deo. 2d, I8111'.
" My dear Sir,
" Many thanks to you for your letter of yester-
day, which I have just received. Vou will have seen
with no small indignation how (juietly the navv esti-
mates went oft' yesterday. As far as /am implicated
in the guilt of that remissness, I will honestly own to
you that my excuse is this— that 1 wished to hear
from you again hcl'orc 1 opened my lips iipon the
subject. The change from three montiis to a year,
though laudable in itself, appeared to me (as I now
see it does to you) only to aggravate the folly and
inconsistency of the conduct of Govermnent, and to
make their want of fair explanation with Parliament
still more reprehensible. "Rut I did not feel sure how
it might have been represented at Bath ; and tliough
1 am very far (as I ho])c you will understand me
throughout) from either presuming to ask, or still less
taking for granted that I have heard, anything of
Mr. P.'s opinions, yet I thought that if he had been
fully informed and fully satisfied upon the subject, he
would have said so, and that would, with me, have
been decisive against saying a word. As it is, you
will be better satisfied with to-day than yesterday.
And the loss of one day does us no harm. It has
shown how little disposition the Government has to
communicate information ; and the indignation which
everybody, whom I have seen or heard of, feels at
such a vote so passed, will be a great help to us to-
THE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE ROSE. 463
day, and will take off any imputation of a vexatious
seeking of opportunities to oppose. You shall hear
from nie again, and I hope you will send me from
time to time any hint that may occur to you.
" ¥010*8 most sincerely,
• - : ' •. "G. C."
Mr. Rose to Mr. Canning.
" My dear Sir,
" I have no hesitation in saying that I believe
such a vote as was adopted by the House of Com-
mons on Wednesday, is, I believe, unexampled in the
history of Parliament ; I mean without a syllable said
on the subject by the ministers. My observation was
purely my own, and not meant to implicate Mr. Pitt
in the remotest degree. It is impossible at the present
instant to be too cautious, not only of using his name,
but of saying anything that can lead to conjecture
as to what his opinion is.
" I shall return to Cuffnells early in the next week,
and I think Mr. Pitt will probably go to Long Leat
about the middle of it,
" I am, my dear Sir,
: . , ) ,. , . " Yours, &c.
'" , , . , "G. R.
" Bath, Dec. 3d, 1802."
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
" Conduit Street, Friday, Dec. 3d, 1802.
" My dear Sir, ':■:
" I hope the debate of yesterday will satisfy you
and will not f/^>-satisfy Mr. P., as I am confident, if
464 DIARIES AND CORKESrONDENCE (JF
fairly represented to liiiii (and if a miseliievoiis para-
graph in the Morning Chronicle does not deceive, and
alarm him), there is no reason why it shoukl. The
disavowal which was ol)tained from Hawkesbmy of
Fox's doctrine of small establishments, I hope he will
consider as an essential point gained, and (though I
do not see that any paper, except the True Briton,
states that part of what I said at all sutliciently) I am
sure he will think / did ri«^ht in hailin'' as cordiallv
as I did this symptom of returning good sense and
consistency. Ilawkesbury's language was the more
important ; and it was the more important that it
should be strongly remarked upon, as Addington had
shirked in the meanest and most pitiful manner the
whole of the (piestions which T. Grenville addressed
to hun ; and indeed his (A.'s) whole exhibition was as
contcmptii)le as even I could wish. His own troops
were heartily ashamed of him, and there is but one voice
amongst all who heard his waverings aiul shufflings,
that this man cannot govern the countrv ; that we
are not safe in his hands. AVill he be the last man
in the country to perceive this? ^^'e shall see on
Wednesday how A. will face Fox if he comes down.
Then (since he has not done it sooner) he nmst be
called upon to adopt Ilawkesbury's disavowal. But,
depend upon it, Mr. P.'s presence would do us no good
as yet. For God's sake let him remain quietly where
he is, unpledged, unmixed with anything that is going
forward. Assure him (what is strictly true) that his
name was not once brought into question in last
night's debate ; nor shall be, unforced, by any of ns.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. - 465
The Grenvilles we cannot answer for, nor are they at
all considered as answering for him. We keep our-
selves quite distinct from them.
" You will be glad to hear, and so will Mr. P., that
Sturges distinguished himself in last night's debate
most eminently. His speech was unquestionably the
best of the night; and as a proof of its impres-
sion, old Pulteney came across the House to thank
him for it, and to subscribe to every sentiment that it
contained.
" Ever sincerely yours,
" G. G."
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
" Conduit Street, Saturday, Dec. 4th.
"My Dear Sir,
" Do not be alarmed lest I should have misun-
derstood you, or misquoted Mr. P., or quoted him at
all. Be assured I have done no such thing. What I
said to you of my readiness to say nothing if he had
thought fit to say to me through you, ' Hold your
tongue,' is purely between ourselves. I never quote
him. I do not pretend to hear from him. Others
do, but I hope I am not to believe them. I trust to
hearing from you again on Tuesday.
" Ever sincerely yours,
"G. C.
" The effect of Thursday's debate is excellent. The
marked difference of the language of Addington and
Hawkesbury, in respect to Fox's doctrines, strikes
people as one could wish. With Hawkesbury it is,
VOL. I. H H
166 DIARIES AND CORUKSPONDENCK OF
I am persuaded, Ryder's doinpf ; but I am heartily
glad that he has profited hy Ryder's advice. A., I
trust and believe, is doubly armed in vanity and folly
against any such impression."
Mil. Canning to Mr. Rosk.
" Conduit Street, Monday, Dec. 6th, 1802.
**My Deaii 8iu,
" I have this moment received your letter of
yesterday, and as you talk of leaving Hath on Wed-
nesday, lose not a moment in answering it.
" I am not sorry that you arc not so satisfied with
the result of Thursday, since your dissatisfaction is so
entirely on the right side. I am quite aware that we
did not do half of what we might have done ; but
recollect the fcf/crs in which irr act from the dread
of misrepresentation to Mr. P. ; from the apprehen-
sion of being mixed up too much in public opinion
with the Grenville opposition of last year (which
would do us a disservice just at the present mo-
ment that you cannot well calculate without being
on the spot) ; and above all, under the uncer-
tainty which some of the letters of last week
from Bath had created, and which a thousand Iving
reports, circulated with incredible industry on AVed-
nesday or Thursday, had contributed to aggravate,
respecting the possibility of ]\lr. Pitt's coming up;
an event which, whatever had been the real motive,
they (the Addingtons) would not have failed to ascribe
to the opposition to them ; on which interpretation,
our going one step or shade beyond what Mr. P.'s
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 467
opinion, when he arrived, might turn out to be,
wouki have appeared to countenance them. The
'others,' to whom I aUuded as quoting letters sup-
posed to be received from Bath, are people hanging
on to Addington and Hawkesbury, who have told
tliose, that related it to me again (and I beheve for
the purpose of its being so related to me), that Mr. P.
had Avritten to A. last week, offering to come up if he
was wanted ; that he had written to Hawkesbmy,
dictating the answer to be made to Fox, in conse-
quence of which H. made that declaration on Thurs-
day ; which therefore, perhaps, as well as on other
uccoimts (I mean because it was understood to pro-
ceed from Mr. P., and ])ecause I believed it to
proceed not indeed directly from Idm, but from Ryder
speaking his sense), I thought it right to hail for a
(jreat deal more than it ivas reatly worth. ' ' ' ■
" In what sense he did write to Ryder, I would
give much to know. Ryder's wish to see Mr. P.
where he ought to be, and where he must be again,
it is impossible to doubt ; but his tenderness for A.
is so great, that he supplies him beforehand with all
the means he can of meeting the strong points to be
brought against him ; and thereby, I think, throws
difficulties in the way of Mr. P.'s return, in exact
proportion as the faults which it is to remedy are
rendered less observable. I cannot help being of
opinion that in his precise situation he might properly
abstain as much as Mr. P. himself does.
" Of what has been written to Long, if one is to
judge from the effect, I cannot but judge well, as he
H H 2
468 DIAUIES AND CORRESrONDKNCE OF
has not been in the House (I believe) since the first
day — certainly has not stayed out any debate.
" After all, the essential point is that of which your
letter of to-dav briuiirs the continued assurance, —
Mr. P.'s not coming up. This will give us on Wed-
nesday an opportunity of more free debate, and more
clear speakitig out than we have yet ventured. The
two last debates, and especially the Attorney-General's
speech (which was a very good one of its kind), were
full of taunting invitations to us to say distinctly what
we meant, — whether we agreed w ith the firenvilles
in thinking Ministers untit, &c. kc. And our discro-
I'lon — o?vv-discretioii, 1 should think it, if there were
not room to repair it on Wednesday — has had the
effect of emboldening the Doctor's friends to assert, and
of inclining stupid and shabby people to believe, that
all that we have been doing is purchj out of pique to
Addi)igto)i, and not in the smallest degree from devotion
to Mr. P. It is impossible to acquiesce in this impu-
tation ; but I am not sorry that we have borne it in
silence thus long, and 1 hope that even on Wednesday
that silence will not be broken without fresh and
instant provocation : — but that we shall assuredly have,
and as assuredly we must not suffer ourselves to be
misconstrued and misrepresented to so mischievous
a purpose any longer.
" Wednesday will afford opportunity for most of the
observations in your letter ; — many of which, however,
were pressed out lightly last week, but remaining
perfectly nnanswered by Ministers, make the less
figure in report.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 469
'' I entreat you to let me have your last words from
Bath. I cannot but be concerned that you are leav-
ing him.
" Ever, my dear Sir,
" Most sincerely yours,
" G. C.
" Have you time to state your Exchequer Bills'
observations ? "
470 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE or
CHAPTER X.
1802.
MR. rose's diary, FROM THE llTH OF NOVEMBER TO THE 27TH OF
DECEMBER, 1802.
[Mr. Rosk's Diarv of this year (1802) occupies only
tlic two lust months. The coniincnccmcnt of it is the
substance of an attack which he would liiive nuide in
the House of Commons upon the Atldington adminis-
tration, if he had not been prevented by Mr. Pitt.
The rest consists of frequent conversations between
them at Bath and at Cuffnells, in which the one is
always using the spur and the other the rein ; the one
eager for the fray, the other checking his ardent desire
to turn out the Government. It was not that Mr.
Rose thirsted for place. He might have retained his
office, and was vehemently pressed to do so by Mr.
Pitt, at the time of his resignation; but he had been
accustomed to see the reins of government held by
a firm and unfaltering hand, and could not bear
the feebleness and vacillations to Avhich they were
now consigned. Notwithstanding all the difficulties
that stood in the way, and all the objections which
were but too apparent, his devoted attachment to his
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 471
friend led him to conclude that nothing could save
the country, which was then hovering between peace
and war, but his return to power. But Mr. Pitt's
attachment to the King weighed down the scale on
. the other side. He had promised his support and
assistance ; and the strictness of his principles bound
him to keep that engagement, even under great provo-
cation to think himself released from it ; for Mr. Ad-
din gton forgot that the obligations in such a contract
are reciprocal : that if he wanted assistance, he must
ask for it ; that he could not expect to find in Mr. Pitt
an obsequious follower, ready to support every mea-
sure, whether good or bad, and to sanction every plan,
however objectionable, and proposed without his pre-
vious concurrence ; that, in fact, the relation in which
his predecessor stood to him was that of a guide, to
be consulted on all occasions, to whose experience and
authority he ought, for the most part, to defer. But
that was not the light in which Mr. Addington chose
to view it. He prided himself on being independent ;
and it was only at rare intervals, and under circum-
stances of great perplexity, that he resorted to Mr. Pitt
for advice. It argues, therefore, a great amount of self-
complacency in him, when his biographer declares
that, " to the close of his life, he considered that he
had been unkindly and unfairly treated by Mr. Pitt.
He promised him his assistance and advice whenever
he might request it, and nevertheless removed to a
distance where it would be impossible to consult him ;
472 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
he would neither be the adviser of the Administration
nor its head : nothing woukl satisfy liiiu l)ut its disso-
lution." '
Could it really be expeeted that Mr. Pitt would
put himself at the head of a (Jovernment falling tu
pieces from its weakness, without infusing some new
blood into it ? With this proviso, Mr. Addington was
^Wiling to accept his advice, l)ut his Cabinet rejected
it. His advice was never asked at anv other time,
except on two or three isolated points, of which no
judgment could be formed separate from the context
of his policy. It has been proved that he went to
Jiith for his health, though he sometimes stayed there
to avoid being mixed up with the passing of measures
about which he had not been consulted, and of which
he disapproved. But Bath and Walmcr were not
situated in America or Australia. His friends found it
not impossible to consult him at either of thf)se places,
and a letter would have reached him in two davs.
He who expected a servile assistance from him, as
Aladdin did from the charm-bound Genius, deserved
to be disappointed. It is true that when Lord Hawkes-
bury wrote to him, as related in these notes, in order to
obtain from him an ex-post facto sanction to a course
of policy about Avhich he had never been consulted
before, he evaded the compromising effects of that
manoeuvre by the plea that they were too far asunder ;
but it is quite obvious that this was not his real
^ Pellew's Life of Lord Sidmouth.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 473
opinion ; that it was only a specimen of diplomatic
insincerity, a retort courteous for the disingennous
treatment which he felt that he had received. In one
of his conversations he had stated that the plea of
ignorance upon the subject would have drawn down
upon him additional papers, which would only have
added to his embarrassment : for he was too friendly
to the Government to censure when it could do no
good, and he was too honest to applaud what he was
unable to approve. The whole object of his answer was
to prevent his hearing anything more about the matter.
It was not impossible that it was too late. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose's Diary resumed.
Cuffiiells, Thursday, November 11. — On reflecting
on the present appearance of public affairs, uninformed
as I am of what has been doing by Government
during the last two or three months, I think it right
before I see Mr. Pitt, to embody in a few notes what
occurs to me from the conjectures I can form.
If Ministers have held a language to Prance that
their proceedhigs in Switzerland (violent, atrocious, and
unjustifiable as they have been) shall be considered as
a just ground of war, — or if they have used anything
like a serious threat that this country will resent them,
especially if that has been done without a certainty
that Austria will be a principal in the (juarrel, — it will
be difficult to find terms strong enough to express a
censure of their conduct; especially as at the time
474 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the correspondence began, tlie remotest liopc could
not be entertained of the co-operation of Russia,
because the channje of the Minister of that country
by the a})pointnient of Count Woronzow, brother to
the Great Chancellor, (who is unfortunately suspected
to be corrupt, and not to have so decided an inHucnce
as was at first supposed,) had not then taken place.
This opinion is formed not umh r a duubt of tlie
iiifuiite importance that ought to be attached to the
independence of Switzerland, jior from a want of a
warm feeling for the cruel and lamentable situation tliat
///«/ brave and virtuous people are in; but from a
clear and strong conviction that our interposition can
produce no possible good to the suflerers. It is cpiitc
certain that we can send thcni no force, and that even
with the aid of our purse, they cannot collect a suffi-
cient strength to resist the power of France suddcidy
poured in u])on them, as well from that country as
from Italy. Can any man in his senses hope that the
First Consul will attend to the threats' of our Minis-
ters (conveyed in the strongest expressions they could
devise) to save Switzerland, important as it is to all
his views of aggrandizement and security, when they
tamely and quietly suffered the most direct and
unequivocal insults and injuries to be inflicted upon
us since the signing the preliminaries, without, as it
is believed, a representation on the subject ? It will
be sufficient to state a few of these occurrences.
* Demosthenes, in the Second Olynthiac, observes, " Words, in
general, if not supported by deeds, appear frivolous and vain ; and
in proportion as we use them with gi-eater promptitude and alacrity,
so do all mankind more assureiUy disbelieve them.*'
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 475
First. — France prevailed with Spain, or rather
ordered her, to cede the province of Louisiana; the
importance of which does not appear to me to be suffi-
ciently felt. The French have everything now within
their grasp except the precious metals. In this pro-
vince they may assemble wdth ease an army sufficient
for the conquest of Mexico, on which it borders. The
soil and climate are equal to any in the world ; and if it
shall be found difficult to march an army to take pos-
session of the Spanish wealth, on account of not being
able to find provisions, &c. in an unsettled country, the
voyage across the Gulf must be short (favoured by the
trade wind), and not easily interrupted. This Avill not
appear romantic, or improbable, when the spirit of
enterprise of French troops is considered, especially
under a certainty of acquiring great Avealth and other
luxuries ; and the invincible indolence and want of
discipline of the Spaniards, as well as the utter dislike
the natives have to them. The acquisition gives the
French also an immense influence with the American
States, by completely bringing under their subjection the
State of Kentucky, already a very flourishing county,
and likely to become infinitely more so, from the
healthiness of the climate and the fertility of the soil,
in which respects it has at least equal advantages with
Louisiana, and is better inhabited. The exports from
Kentucky already amount to about 1,500,000/.,
though it has not been settled five-and-twenty years.
The communication between it and the other States
of America, for the conveyance of goods by land, is
impracticable, being divided from them by the Alle-
476 DIARIES AND COKHKSPOXDENCE OF
ghany mountains. Tlic only outlet it has, therefore, is
by the Ohio, which tails into the Mississippi ; which
latter is navigable nuich higher than where it receives
the former, without lither a fall or a rapid. The situ-
ation of New Orleans, about thirty or forty leagues up
the river, must give the I'rench the command of the
navigation most completely. Must not the represen-
tatives of this Stale be under the direct infiuence of
iVance in the Compress? And \\ill not the mischief
of stoj)ping the trade between this and other parts of
the continent of America, produce a considerable eti'ect
in the other States? It will evidently, too, shut us
out of all trade with the county of Kentucky, fruitful
in flour, hemp, and naval stores.
Secondly. — France was permitted to consolidate
with itself the Italian Republic, deeply affecting
thereby not only the balance of power in Europe,
but some of the most important commercial interests of
this coimtri/. — Compare this alone with Switzerland !
Thirdly. — She was allowed to make such terms in
the definitive treaty respecting Malta, as insured to
her the possession of that island whenever she should
please to have it ; the insutticiency of a Neapolitan
garrison is notorious. But if the bravest troops in
the world had been stipulated for, and adequate in
number to the defence of the place, the French would
have nothing to do but to direct the King of Naples
to order his troops to march out and allow their's to
possess themselves of the island ; and he must in-
stantly obey, or they would without hesitation dis-
possess him of his kingdom. If the French should
THE KIGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 477
not avail themselves of the interval while the Neapo-
litans are in Malta to get possession of it, how is it
afterwards to be preserved in a state of independency ?
There is no Avay in which an income can be found to
maintain a sufficient garrison and support the whole
establishments. The revenue of the island is trifling ;
the estates of the Knights are almost all gone ; those
in Germany are distributed amongst the indemnities ;
in Spain they are confiscated ; in France they are of
course passed into other hands ; — in short, none of any
consequence are left. The provisions therefore under
the definitive treaty were a mockery upon us, and not
capable of being carried into effect.
Nothing surely can be worse than loose stipula-
tions in a treaty of peace, or such as are difficult to
execute. They are sure to occasion strife and ill-blood,
and when a proper time occurs bloodj^ and expensive
wars. It were better infinitely at once to know what
we are to depend upon, — the best or the worst we
have to expect. In making peace, it is of the last
importance to avoid, as far as honour and foresight
will enable us, the occasion of future w^ars.
Fourthly. — The Island of Elba, (which in our hands
had proved impregnable,) ceded by the definitive
treaty to Tuscany, was immediately taken from the
King of Etruria, a monarch of French creation, and
annexed to the dominions of France ; which country
thereby acquired another important port in that part
of the Mediterranean^ for the protection of their
commerce and the annoyance of ours. Tuscany too
was taken into their hands, including the important
478 DIARIES AND COURESPONDENCE UF
port of Leghorn ; and in tlio Knst Indies tlio still
infinitely more important port of Cocliin. No notice
is taken of the advantages acquired to France on the
side of Brazil, l\v the boundaries as settled by the
definitive treaty. I do not understand that part of
the subject suiticiently to remark upon it with
accuracy.
It is quite clear that tlie four points before enumer-
ated, relate distinctly and [)lainly to the immediate
interests of this country; and to these may be added
France retaining possession of the port of Flushing
(and of course of the whole Island of Walcheren in
which is the port of Middleburg, the princi[)al mart
for the East India trade), a most important one for
their own coninierce, and in a future war tor the
annoyance of ours ; giving the I'rench too a direct
power in the affairs of Holland, deeply affecting our
commerce and navigation, as well as greatly adding
to the before gigantic strength of FYance. All these
occurrences happened after the signing of the pre-
liminary articles of peace. These were borne, as far
as the public are aware, with patience ; they were
certainly borne with submission ; — for not a single
remonstrance was known to have been made, — not an
observation upon them in the papers favourable to
Government. So matters stood, when the French, in
the month of September, interfered in a most atrocious
manner with the affairs of Switzerland, and in October
proceeded to acts of positive violence. Here the
Ministers interfered, to what extent I know not, —
but they certainlj made the conduct of France a
THE RIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 479
subject of loud complaint and remonstrance, if not of
threat.' Much pains were taken to rouse the feelings
and spirit of the country, by the papers connected
with Government, and with considerable success.
Having so roused them, the Ministers appeared to
feel strong, and to decide on hostility if France
should not recede. Thus in the spirit of chivalry
and romance, embarking in the cause of Switzerland
(without any aid or support whatever) ; after having
allowed the French to injure and to insult us in the
manner already alluded to under the four different
heads, — deeply affecting our navigation and com-
mercial interest.^ V-- :J- :-!• }>; ') r i , ■■■/.
It is essential next to consider the state this country
was in when we patiently submitted to these injuries.
Firstly. — We had then the greatest navy, beyond all
comparison, that this country ever had, with 135,000
seamen. •
Secondly. — We had a large army well disciplined
and inured to service. * ^ —
• On this part of tlie subject it is curious to refer to the address
ou the peace, as proposed by Mr. Windham, and as amended by the
Ministers : — " And above all, that his Majesty will imiformly deter-
mine and prepare to defend against every encroachment the great
sources of the wealth, commerce, and naval power of the empire."
On these points can there be any comparison between the annexing
all Italy, Louisiana, probably Malta, FIushing/&c. &c. to France ;
and her establishing her j)Ower more firmly in Switzerland ?
- " A spirited behaviour in almost any circumstance of strength,
is the most politic as well as the most honourable course. We pre-
serve a respect at least by it, and with that we generally preserve
everything ; but when we lose respect, everything is lost. We invite
rather than suffer insults, and the fii'st is the only one we can resist
with prudence." — Account of the European Settlements in America.
(Supposed to have been written by Burke).
480 DIARIES AND COIIUESPONDENCE OF
AVe had a disciplined militia that had been embodied
nine years.
We had about 30,000 volunteers, in general toler-
ably well trained, and in most ])laces well instructed
how to act and what to do in the event of an in-
vasion.
AVe had a great munber of armed vessels liired, and
ships fitted, for the defence of the coast.
There were in the whole Kil sail of pendants,
under the command of Lord Nelson, between Beachy
Mead (Hastings) and Harwich, for the protection of
the coasts of Sussex, Kent, and part of Essex, to
prevent the approach of the enemy to the capital.
Thirdly. — We had almost all the colonies of France
and Holland, and some of those of Spain.
Fourthly. — We had upwards of 25,000 French
seamen, and more than 10,000 Dutch and Spanish,
in our prisons.
Fifthly. — The commerce and navigation of France
were utterly annihilated ; those of Holland and
Spain most materially crippled ; and the manufac-
tures of the former in a state of the utmost de-
pression.
And lastly. — Exclusively of all these advantages,
while the definitive treaty was depending, an account
came of Toussaint resisting the force sent bv the First
Consul against Saint Domingo, which put completely
at our mercy twenty-nine sail of the line, with frigates,
armed transports, &c., and 35,000 troops. If we had
interposed hostility, we should not only have secured
the greatest part of these, but have enabled Toussaint
THE KIGllT HON. GEORGE HOSE. . 481
to resist successfully the attempts of France, and de-
prived her for a long time at least, perhaps for ever,
of that invaluable island, the trade to which, when
the island was in full cultivation, was considerably
more than one-third of the whole commerce of
France. By an account in my possession the value
of the exports from Saint Domingo to France alone,
was to the amount of 10,000,000/. sterling; and to
America they were immense.
After losing such an opportunity as this, and suf-
fering the injuries before enumerated under the four
heads, when we were armed at all points, — we are
now threatening to go to war for the protection of
Switzerland ! And in what condition are we for war
as compared with our situation in the five preceding
instances?
The following table shows the average number of
seamen in each year, not the greatest number in each ;
and to these are to be added the men in the hired
armed ships, cutters, armed transports and storeships \
— in the whole 7 or 8000 men at the least : —
VOTED.
ACTUALLY MUSTERED
1793 . .
, . 45,000
. . . 59,000.
1794 . .
. 85,000
. . . 83,700.
1795 . .
. 100,000
. . . 101,700.
1796 . .
, . 110,000
. . . 112,800.
1797 . ,
. . 120,000
. . . 120,000.
1798 . .
, . 120,000
. . . 119,900.
1799 . .
. . 120,000
. . . 122,500.
1800 . .
, . 120,000
. . . 128,700.
1801 . ,
. . 135,000
. . . 132,800.
This would afford an encouraging prospect for the re-
manning our navy two or three or more years hence
VOL. I. II
482 DIAllIES AND COKRESirONDENCE OF
with an increased trade ; but it is perfectly certain for
the reasons stated, that that eoukl not be expected now.
lu tlie first place, — our navy at present is reduced
almost to the peace establishment ; not more than
44,000 men left, without a hope of gettin-; as many
more in the course of two or three years. No exertions
will man a frigate; nor can it be expected that after
a service of six, seven, eight, or nine years, men will
immediately enter as they did in the former war,
though in a year or two they would probably not be
reluctant. We should not m the tirst year get men
enough to complete the crews of tlie ships wanted
for the protection of the capital, on the scale of the
last war, and all the rest of the coast left destitute, as
well as our foreign possessions.
Secondly. — Our army is greatly reduced, with a
difficulty of recruiting it as in the case of the navy.
Ministers say we have a stronger army and navy now
than we ever had before in peace. But the comparison
with a view to the present question is to be made with
what they were in the war ; — more especially consider-
ing the means of strength and ofience we have given
to the French.
The militia are disembodied, — and when re-
assembled the men will be raw and undisciplined ;
many of the officers too have quitted, and few will
be found to supply their places.
The volunteer corps are disembodied, and in most
instances will not be found again.
The armed vessels are discharged and the gun-
boats sold.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 483
Thirdly. — All the colonies of France and Holland
are restored, not only afFordino; those countries the
means of commerce and navigation, but of reviving
their manufactures ; and, worst of all, of getting pos-
session of our colonies in the West Indies, and of
greatly annoying us in the East Indies.^ ■
Fourthly. — The French have the whole number of
from 25,000 to 35,000 seamen to man their fleet at
once, as under their government they will be able to
lay their hands on them directly.
Fifthly. — The commerce and navigation of France
is already or in part restored, and will progressively go
on, having the w^hole Mediterranean to herself, and
advantageous treaties with Spain and Turkey ; Italy
her own ; and the East Indies opened to her.
Lastly. — Saint Domingo is now quietly in the
possession of France.
When the whole of this plain statement is con-
sidered, is it possible to account for the conduct of
Ministers but by imputing it to the weakest imbecility ?
They suffer the grossest injuries from France, affect-
ing directly our commerce, navigation,^ &c. &c. when
they had in their hands the means of repelling them ;
and as soon as they have greatly reduced the force of
the countr}', they threaten to go to war for an object
interesting enough, God knows, but one not immedi-
ately/ connected with the welfare of Great Britain, or
affectinp; our conmiercial interests, &c.
' CochiQ given up to France by the Dutch ; which can only be
for the purpose of annoying us, as there is no commerce to that
place.
^ See again the Address on the Peace. i- ■ ■'■■ -. i . ■
1 I 2
484 DIARIES AND COllllESPONDENCE OF
What has hcen said of the Ministers putting up
with the injuries before enumerated, a})plies only to
thcni personally. In reasoning on the ex})ediency of
war or peace at present, that conduct, 1 am aware,
should not l)c mixed with the (piestion. Tiie gross
inconsistency of their proceedings is sutiicient to decide
as to their utter incapacity for their situations ; but
when that is admitted, aiul taking the (juestion of
Switzerland by itself, no rational man will suppose we
ought, in the actual state of the country and of its
resources in various respects, to threaten France with
war. It is ridiculous to suppose she will mind our
bullying when we cannot strike. We must thus
recede, and add one more degradation to the list
before given, and so confirm more strongly to France
that she may treat us as she pleases with imi)unity.
Is not this, as I have already said, rather provoking
insults than merely bearing them ? It was truly
observed that the first is the only one that can safely
be resisted.
These ai'e the reflections which occur to me,' and
which I have thus hastilv stated before I leave Cutt-
nells, in consequence of a letter from Mr. Pitt, at
Bath, requesting me to go to him there.
Baf/t, Nocemher \Wi, 1802. — Arrived at Bath, and
found Lord Camden and Lord Carrington with .Mr,
Pitt. In the evening I was quite alone with the latter.
^ I had determined to state these iu my place in the House of
Commons, under a persuasion that such a statement would open the
eyes of many independent and respectable men to the utter incapa-
city and unfitness of the present Ministers ; but I was so strongly
dissuaded from it by Mx'. Pitt, as to induce me to give it up.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 485
I learnt from him tliat he had known nothing during
the latter part of the summer of what had been going
forward respecting foreign politics but what he col-
lected from newspapers, except that in passing through
London, on his way from Walmer here, he had some
conversation with Lord Castlereagh, Lord Haw^kes-
bury, and Mr. Addington. That even then he saw no
papers, and could therefore have only an imperfect
knowledge of the steps they had taken respecting the
business of Switzerland, or of the grounds on which
they had proceeded ; but that from all he knew" he
thought jNIinisters had done right in interposing about
Switzerland, even without having previously ascer-
tained whether we could have a co-operation of the
German Emperor ; that as the Swiss had applied to
us, with offers on their part to resist the tyranny and
injustice of France, if they could have our support,
our refusing them that until we could hear from
Vienna, might occasion the loss of a favourable oppor-
tunity of preventing a further dangerous aggrandize-
ment of the power of France.
I found, in the course of the conversation, that Mr.
Pitt had been led to express the foregoing opinion to the
Ministers he talked with (Lord Castlereagh is in the
Cabinet) ; and knowing the generosity of his nature,
with the high point of honour on which he invariably
acts, it occurred to me strongly and irresistibly, that
the proceeding on the part of Mr. A. and Lord H. was
unfair in the highest degree. I mean by making no
previous communication, nor consulting Mr. Pitt at
all, in the course of the correspondence with France,
486 DIARIES AND COKUESFONDENCF, OF
and then endeavouring to entrap him into a sanction
of measures wliich they now tind will either make
them superlatively ridiculous or involve the country
in war, for an object nlrcadii ahso/iifc/i/ losf, by the
unequivocal submission of Switzerland ; but which, if
still open for contention, would be beyond all possible
comparison of less importance to the country than
those alreadv mentioned, which they shamefullv bore
with tameness and pusillanimity. I found too that
Mr. Pitt meant to attend Parliament on the 23d,
(the debate on the King's speech), and from all that
passed I had a firm and clear conviction that in that
case he woidd, on the principle on which he has acted
invariably since his resignation, commit himself to an
approbation of the measures taken by Government
with respect to Switzerland. Under the impression
stated in a preceding page, deeply fixed in my mind,
and persuaded that it was of the last importance to
the public good and to his own unsullied character,
that he should not lose the weight and consideration
which he now justly has in the coimtry,' by support-
ing measures, which I am most confidently persuaded
he woidd not himself have adopted if he had been in
administration, I used all the means in my power to
dissuade him from attending the House of Commons
^ It is hardly possible to imagine anything so extraordinary
respecting the public mind, as the warm and universal esteem in
which he is at this moment held by all descriptions of persons,
when it is considered that the grounds on which he went out of
office are yet unexplained, which is incalculably to his disadvantage ;
and that every newspaper, except the 2'rue Briton, is eternally abus-
ing him ; and even that is much louder in commendation of Mr.
Addington than of him.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 487
on the day of the opening of the Session. He dis-
cussed the matter with me temperately, and with his
usual kindness, but came to no determination. He
told me Lord Bathurst, who was here a few days ago,
had expressed the same wish, without saying why, or
entering into any reasons for it.
Sundajj, November lA-th. — A good deal of general
conversation in the course of the day, chiefly respect-
ing the opinions Mr. Pitt had entertained and ex-
pressed to some of the Ministers, about the interposi-
tion in favour of Switzerland ; in the course of which
he relaxed a good deal as to the propriety of it.
Monday, November \hth. — The conversation was
renewed respecting Mr. Pitt's attending Parliament
on the opening, and with regard to my intentions
already referred to. Mr. Pitt said, if I made such a
statement as that, it would be impossible to avoid
people suspecting that I was acting in concert w'ith
him, more especially as it would be known that-I had
been with him here ; that if he absented himself as I
wished, and I w^ent up, it would not be to be wondered
at if it should be said andjaelieved that the part I took
was connected with him. I felt the justice of this
observation, but renewed my urgency respecting the
importance of his not committing himself, so as to be
implicated in the blunders and disgrace of the Minis-
ters. And the discussion ended in a positive assurance
from Mr. Pitt that he would not go to London, and
on my promising to remain here with him, with which
he declared himself to be perfectly satisfied.
Mr. Pitt, how^ever, said he could not avoid going to
i88 DIARIES AXD COHRESPOXDENCE OF
London for the votes for the army and navy, if there
should be the least dithciilty about a large peace
establishment.
In the course of the discussion tliis day I found
Mr. Pitt nuicli less reluctant about taking otHce.
He at first urged to me the improbabihty of his being
able, if he came in, to do anything of essential service
to the country ; to which I replied, T thought he might
in the finances, and settling the peace establishment ;
but above all, that a strong Government, in which the
country would have confidence, and that would be
respected abroad, would prevent a repetition of insults
and injuries, which would otherwise be heaped upon
us till we should be compelled to go to war; and that
if it should not be able to avert that evil, it wouhl be
prompt in making the utmost exertions the country
should be found capable of, at the first moment they
could be made, — which is evidently of the last impor-
tance.
Mr. Canning iiaving written earnestly desiring to
see me in my way to London, if possible, and if not,
as soon as possible after my arrival there, I this day
wrote to him, to say that Mr. Pitt had decided to stay
here, which I was perfectly sure was right, and that I
should remain with him. I expressed a wish also
that Lord Grenville might not go such lengths in the
House of Lords, as mi<T;ht make it extremelv ditticult
for Mr. Pitt and him to act together ; which I did in
the hope that it would be conveyed to his Lordship,
and take the chance (however desperate) of its pro-
ducing some effect.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 489
Tuesday, November \Uli. — Nothing material oc-
curred in the course of this clay ; but I took different
opportunities of quietly suggesting what occurred to
me, as carrying conviction, that our interposition
(especially considering the manner of it), in favour of
Switzerland, could have no other end than humbling
the country by one more degradation, and so pro-
voking further aggression ; which seemed to me to
produce considerable impression on Mr. Pitt, and
made him entireh/ satisfied with his determination
not to leave Bath.
Wed7iesday, November 17 i/i. — This morning, Mr.
Canning arrived about nine, in consequence of my
letter, having travelled all night. Finding that Mr.
Pitt would not go up, he wished to discuss some points
with him.
I had much conversation Avith Mr. Canning, in which
I did not disguise from him at all my general view of
matters, nor the advice I had given to Mr. Pitt.
In the evening, I was alone with Mr. Pitt, and he
told me he had received in the forenoon a packet from
Lord Hawkesbury, with papers respecting matters now
depending with France, accompanied by a wish to
know his opinion on the whole subject ; and that he
felt very considerably embarrassed by it. This led to
a further retrospect of all that we had before discussed,
and especially as to the opinion he expressed in his
way hither from Walmer ; on which subject I said all
I could to strengthen his mind, on the ground of his
being surprised in a manner not at all justifiable. He
admitted that the papers now sent were by no means
490 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
sufficient to eiiahle him to judge of all that lias passed ;
but said, if he sliould state that as the reason for
giving no opinion, they would, of course, furnish hini
witli more papers. After much consideration, he
asrreed to write to Lord Ilawkcshurv "that lie felt
the absolute impossibility of making up his mind on
proceedings of such a nature as he had consulted liiin
upon, by any information that coidd be conununicatcd
at the distance they were from each other." So I
trust he stands clear of any responsil)ility, and cannot
be identified with the blunderers, which appears to be
equally important to his own character and the ])ubhc
good.
Thursday, November 18///. — Mr. Canning cominuiu-
cated to me a plan in agitation famongst persons wlio
are strongly of opiuion that the weakness and imbe-
cility of the present Government must plunge the
country deeper and deeper in disgrace and mischief)
to induce Mr. Addington to relinciuish the govern-
ment, by convincing him of the dangerous situation in
which he stands, and the want of confidence of the
country in him ; the hope of accom{)lishing which rests
on some very respectable men, entirely unconnected
with Mr. Pitt, making such a statement as shall shake
Mr. Addington, and prevail with him to make over-
tures to Mr. Pitt ; a persuasion being entertained
that if Mr. Addington refuses that, a separation from
Mr. Pitt must necessarily follow.
This plan struck me instantly as yery unlikelv to
succeed, as well as highly objectionable, and to be at-
tended with considerable hazard : — not likely to sue-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 491
ceed, because unless there should be a decided falling
off of support in Parliament, or a plain manifestation of
the public mind in some unequivocal way, Mr. Adding-
ton's vanity will never allow him to believe the country
entertains any belief of his insufftciency, or that it
wishes for a change ; he might also find difficulties
with his colleagues : hazardous, because, if there
should be the remotest trace of any concert with
Mr. Pitt in the plan, or any plausible ground afforded
for imputing that to him, it would be likely to affect
his character deeply. In this Lord Camden concurs,
to whom Mr. Canning mentioned the plan, as well as
to me. I am strengthened in my opinion, too, by
learning from Mr. Canning that the person proposed
to take the lead in the business is Mr. Cartwright,
member for Northamptonshire ; who, although as re-
spectable and independent a man as Hves, is known to
be an enthusiastic admirer of Mr. Pitt, and was the
person who seconded the motion of thanks to him in
the last Parliament.
Mr. Canning assured me that Lord Grenville had a
most anxious desire to continue well with Mr. Pitt,
and that he would do nothing to produce a separation
from him ; that he would not take the line in the
House of Lords of endeavouring to force the country
into a war, in any event, as its only resource against
the spirit of ambition and aggrandizement of France ;
and that his Lordship had given him the most unequi-
vocal assurance that he would be entirely satisfied if he
could see Mr. Pitt again in the Administration, with-
out a desire of coming into office himself. On the
492 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
whole, I derive great comfort at the account ^fr.
Canning gave me of the state of Lord Grenville's
mind, and of his intentions.
In the evening, Mr, Canning set off for London.
Friday, November 19///. — Lord Camden left us to
go to Lord l^atluH'st's and to Loii(h)n ; and Lord
^lulgravc arrived. In tlic evening, more conversa-
tion with Mr. Pitt al)out his coinint; into oftice. Ilr
nthnitted to me that he now found his lieahh (juite
equal to the duties of it ; and that he slioukl have no
rehictance to enter on them again, if his coming in
could be brought about in a manner perfectly satisfac-
tory to himself.
I thought it right, in this conversation, to mention
to Mr. Pitt the plan respecting svhich Mr. Canning had
talked to Lord Camden and to me, that I might not.
in discouraging it, act upon my own judgment j and
he concurred entirely with T^ord Camden and me on
the subject.
Thinking over what passed last night, T talked
to Mr. Pitt about difficulties that might occur in
arrangements, even if the way to his taking office
should be opened iu a manner that might satisfy him ;
and I suggested, in particular, a serious doubt whether
he could be safe in taking his former situation, with
Mr. A. in the Cabinet, considering the personal in-
fluence the latter had acquired with the King, and the
degree of weight he would have with him. To which
Mr. Pitt answered he should have no apprehension of
lliat ; that he was persuaded the King nuist have seen
there is no firmness of character in ]\[r. A., and
THE BIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 193
that his Majesty must also be convinced before now
of his deficiency in other respects. I own, however, I
am not at ease on the point. His Majesty may be
aware of what is obvious enough in Mr. A. ; and
yet the latter may have so ingratiated himself, as to
have it in his power to make impressions on the King's
mind very unfavourable to any one he may w'ish to in-
jure. I know the use that has been made of partial
or inaccurate information of vv^hat has passed in the
Cabinet in the last Administration, as well as on other
occasions.
Mr. Pitt thought he could not make any arrange-
ment that should exclude Lord Hawkesbury or Lord
Castlereagh, both of whom he pressed to take office
with the present Government.
The conversation "was renewed about the mode in
which he should decline to give any opinion on the
present state of foreign affairs, and what has been done
on the subject ; and Mr. Pitt promised he would
WTite to Lord H., as was agreed on Wednesday ;
and that he would also write to Mr. Addington,
thinking it better to speak out to him at once. He
agreed with me, on reflection, that it is hardly possible
it can be necessary he should fulfil his intention of
going to the House for the army and navy votes, as
alluded to on Monday last, there not being the remotest
probability of large ones being objected to. In the
event of his not going up, he said he would stay here
till about the 18 th of December ; then go to Cuffnells
with me for two or three days, and proceed by the
coast to Walmer.
494 DIARIES AND COllRESPONDENCE OF
Sundni/, Novtnnhor 2]sf. — Hcceivctl a letter this
morning from Mr. Canning, in uliich he says, " Lord
Grenvillc (whom I have seen to-ihiy) appears to enter
cordially into all the considerations of delicacy towards
Mr. Pitt which yon thonght it of so much importance
that he should entertain ; and that the line of argument
which he has laid down to himself is one which will
carry liim sf/fc/y past all the embarrassing and uncom-
fortable points of ditference between them. There is
no intention of moving an amendment." This gives
me great comfort, and is, indeed, all that could be ex-
pected or wished from Lord rirenville; as it affords
the best possible chance of Mr. i'itt and him acting
together, if an occasion shall offer. Mr. J^itt has
written to-day, as he agreed to do yesterday, to Lord
Hawkesbury, not only declining to give an opinion as
to what has been done, but in a manner that must
prevent their attempting to draw him in to mix him-
self bv advice in councils, for which he ought in no
degree to be responsible.
No copy of the speech sent to Mr. Pitt, in which he
expressed great satisfaction, as relieving him from any
embarrassment on the subject.
MoncUui, November 22f/. — I fonnd, from the cow-
versation at breakfast this morning, that Mr. Pitt did
not write to Mr. Addinsrton vcsterdav, thinking it
would be too formal ; but that he stated to Lord
Hawkesbury that the sort of approbation he had con-
veyed of measures, when he was passing through
London, must not be considered as at all conclusive,
as it arose from partitd information ; and that, on the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 495
subject of the despatch which he returned to him, he
could make no observation at all. ^That he would on
no account attend the House of Commons ; that he
imagined, indeed, there was little chance of that being
of any importance ; but that, in any event, he knew
too little of the grounds on which they had proceeded
to be of any use ; and that it was essential to his health
to persevere in drinking the waters. Lord H. had
written, pressing urgently Mr. Pitt's attendance in the
House of Commons.
Tuesday, November '2'^d. — Mr. Pitt is decidedly of
opinion that Ministers will recede from their com-
plaints of the conduct of France, which must neces-
sarily be a submission to the Pii'st Consid;' and
as necessarily an encouragement to him to offer
injuries or insults of a more direct nature to us
than overrunning Switzerland ; and that no occasion
is less likely to interest Austria than the late busi-
ness. If Buonaparte should now take measures
without disguise, for securing Malta, or wait till he
gets the Cape, all the difficulties of our situation,
suggested before, will open upon us as forcibly as
they do now. AVe must expect that, because we have
provoked it. Is the island of Malta, in the present
moment, an object to go to war for ? Where will the
encroachments and aggrandizement of France end?
She will next unite Holland with herself ; will again
get possession of Egypt, of which we shall not be able
a second time to dispossess her. In neither of which
1 This of course arises out of the ' despatch of Lord Hawkesbury,
which he returned to his Lordship on Sunday. . , j i .
■196 DIARIES AND COUUESPOMJENCE 01'
cases will Austria move a finger, us Switzerland was
an object infinitely nearer to her than these.
Wednesday, Noccinber 2Af/i. — Mr. Pitt received a
letter from Lord Camden, who had seen Lord Spencer
and Lord (irenvillc, both concurring that his returning
to office is tlie onlv thine; that can save the countrv ;
confirming what Mr. Canning wrole, that tliey would
not move an amendment to the address, but that,
consistently with the line they had firndy taken,
they must of necessity expose the conduct of the
Administration in their late proceedings (which I
cannot regret), and point out to the public the
absurdity of them ; not intending, however, to go on
making motions in the House of Lords, or to take
any measures merely to harass Government. That
Lord Lowther had been applied to to move the
address, which he had declined. Lord Nelson was to
second. Mover not settled, but hopes of the Duke of
Rutland. That it appeared to him (Lord Camden)
that Lord Lowther had been consulted on the sugges-
tion of a statement to Mr. Addingtou of the necessity
of Mr. Pitt's coming in, and of the propriety of its
being proposed by Mr. Addingtou himself.
Mr. Long told Lord Camden that the opinions
of iufiuential persons m the City appeared to be
that Government had been too brisk in holding a
threatening language, and too ready to recede. That
D. Jeuneus had seen General Anderossi, who said
to him the clouds were gathering, and would soon
burst ; an indication probably of the intentions of*
Buonaparte.
THE EIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 497
Lord Camden had a conversation with Lord Castle-
reagh, who particularly regretted Mr. Pitt's absence,
but would not blame it, on Lord Camden stating the
ground of want of information, &c. The latter
endeavoured to impress on persons in general whom
he saw, that Mr. Pitt's absence was owing only to
the state of his health.^
Lord Bathurst thinks Mr. Pitt should go up for
the vote of the army and navy, to take an opportunity
of giving a support to Government relative to the
country being put in a state of respectable defence,
and of showing to the public that he is not desirous of
abandoning it altogether in a time of great difficulty.
I am not averse to that. ]\Iy anxiety from the first
has been, that Mr. Pitt should be kept quite clear of all
participation in the blunders and mischief of the late
proceedings of the Cabinet respecting Switzerland.
Thursday^ November 2'dt/i. — Received a letter from
Lord Camden, expressing a wish to know whether I
had learnt Mr. Pitt's sentiments respecting the plan
alluded to above, as his Lordship suspects Mr. Can^
ning has not been discreet in his language ; and
rather speaks as he wishes, than as he is authorized to
do. To which I answered, that I had thought it
safer and better to talk Avith Mr. Pitt on that plan,
^ [In the King's speecli this sentence occurred : —
" To maintain the true principles of the constitution in Church
and State, are the great and leading duties which you are called upon
to discharge."
Upon which Mr. Rose remarks : —
" The Church could only be introduced into the speech to revive
what led to Mr. Pitt going out of office, and to create fresh difficulty
to his returning to it ; and so it strikes him." — Ed.]
VOL. T. K K
4t98 DIARIES AND COllKESrONDENCE OF
than to act at all on my own judgment about it ;
though I was nearly certain he could not approve
of any measure being taken by his friends to attain
the end proposed. 1 therefore had a full conversation
with Mr. ritt alujut Mr. Canning's suggestion the
day his Lordship left us, and found him entirely con-
curring with us in the matter; that Canning had
indeed promised he would not stir in it ; and that I
hoped his zeal (however well intended) would not
lead him to take any step wliieh might in the remotest
possible degree implicate Mr. I'ltt.
[A long account of the s))eeches in Parliament upcju
the address is here omitted, with the criticisms upon
them ; such details having now lost their interest, and
affecting very little the character of the speakers. —
Ed.]
Friday, November 'HGf/t. — Lord I'itzllarris wrote
to his father that Canning's speech was not as nnich
cheered as he could have wished ; — that there ap-
peared in the House much apathy, and on the part of
individual members a considerable degree of neutral-
ity, as if waiting for something to lead their opinion,
and to direct their judgment. And that in the House
of Lords ///r// opinion was still stronger; — that Lord
Pelliam told him, when thevmet in the House at half-
past three, no Peer had been found Avho could be
prevailed on, by any entreaties, to move the address ;
and that at last they Averc reduced to the necessity of
resorting to Lord Arden.' Lord LitzHarris described
^ Recently made a Peer by Mr. Addiiigton.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 499
Lord Grenville's speech as remarkably able, and the
defence very weak.
This state of douljt and of uncertainty in the
minds of the members of both Houses, the trutli of
which I have no doubt of, rather confirms the in-
clination of my mind as to the expediency and pro-
priety of Mr. Pitt going to London to attend the
House on the vote for the army, in order, by the line
he may then take, to show (without reflecting in the
smallest degree on the conduct of Ministers) that he
has had no communication with them on the late pro-
ceedings respecting continental politics ; but at the
same time taking the opportunity to hold an encou-
raging language to the country, and to give a right
tone to the public opinion, which may otherwise take
a wrong one.
Mr. Pitt showed me letters from Lord Grenville,
Mr. Ryder, and Mr. Canning.
Lord Grenville, in svdjstance^ expressed a hope that
if Mr. Pitt should not agree with him in the wdiole
extent of his speech of Tuesday, yet he trusted there
Avas nothing in it different from the ideas he had
before stated to him. That what he said of the only
mode by which the country could be saved,' he spoke
from the sincerity of his heart, without the remotest
idea to his own interest or ambition ; — with no wish
beyond the enjoyment, peaceably and securely, of the
station in the country in which Mr. Pitt's friendship
not un seconded by his own exertions) had placed
Mr. Pitt coming into office.
K K 2
500 DIARIES AND CORRESrOXDEXCE OF
him. He doubted, however, whether both security and
independence are not out of our reach. His sense of
the absoUite impossibility of safety but in Mr. Pitt's
hands, has increased greatly since the meeting of Par-
hament ; takinnr tlie lanuruaije of Ministers in tlie
House of Commons (for in tlie House of Lords they
are incapable even of answering an attack) that
the general impression they wish to give, is of a
resolution to execute the peace to the very last
iota in despite of everything which has occurred,
or may occur, on the part of Trance. That the
countenance Ministers give to Fox's declaration
against war /// cnifj case, and the degree to which they
court and receive his protection, sheltering themselves
under his wing from attacks, and answering them
only by criminations of all that passed before their
accession to office, have lowered materially the tone and
spirit of the public. That Ministers have, to a certain
extent, succeeded in impressing the public with a
belief that .Mr. Pitt's return to ottice must tend to a
renewal of the war ; whereas his (Lord G.'s) sincere
o])iiiion, which he stated, is, that Mr. Pitt's return is
precisely the only possible mode by which peace can
be preserved. 'J'hat the only thing which gives the
]\Iinisters support is the persuasion that they will not
go to war. Lord Grenville added that he learns,
from a quarter of indisputable authority, that Cochin
is ceded to France by Holland ; and that the Vienna
news is, that the First Consul has laid hands on
Tuscany.
Mr. Canning states the protection aflforded to
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 501
Government hy ^Ir, Fox, and the complacency with
which it was received ; dwells a good deal on the
attacks made on the old Government, particularly
respecting the proceedings at the treaty of Lisle ;
justifying those at Amiens, particularly by Lord
Havvkesburv and ^h\ Addino;ton, — the former in a
violent authoritative declamation ; and the latter, in a
style of crimination of his predecessors entirely un-
called for by- anything that had passed. Thinks if
Mr. Pitt is not Minister, Mr. Fox will be. Is per-
suaded that no out-of-doors' measure (such as had
been thought of) will attain the end. (I am heartily
glad he now sees this.) Says the Ministers are de-
termined to hold out. Thinks the impression against
them must w^ork and spread ; and that it is doing so
already.
Mr. Ryder thinks that what fell from Mr. Addington
did not justify the manner in which Canning took it
up. He thinks Mr. A. alluded only to the old com-
parison between the Projet of Lisle and the Treaty of
Amiens, for the purpose of arguing that Lord Temple
(still less Lord Grenville) could not fairly state that
there was not so much difference in the terms of the
two as to make such a material difference in the
danger of our situation. That Lord Hawkesbury
dwelt more upon the distinction between a ^m'sX projet
and a treaty : and contended that, considering the
difference of the circumstances, as much attention
was shown to our allies in one case as in the other.
To the unfairness of that comparison some objections
were made by Lord Morpeth. Canning stated the
502 DIARIES AND CORRE^iPOXDENCE OF
projp/ as an iilliniatunt -^ niul coiiinientcd on \\\q qonr-
rosihj of the present Ministers in jnstifvinGj them-
selves at the expense ot" tlieir predeeessors. Hrnirp^e
remarked, tliat tlic observations respecting tlie two
treaties liad been made before ; and tliat Canning's
present condnct wonld not answer the end proposed.
On the wliole, Air. Ryder saw nothing in the speeches
of liOrd TI. or Mr. A. tliat railed for Mr. Canning's
attack ; iiiid thinks tlicy liad no sneh intention as
impntcd to them, as the argument had been re-
peatedly nsed last year. Regrets nnuh .Mr. Pitt's
absence, at a time when tlie knowledcre of iiis
opinions, and the tone he would give, is much wanted.
Mr. Ryder does not go into the extremes of the violent
alarmists, yet is far from being satisfied with the tone
taken by Government. There is too much apparent
acrpneseence (in spite of words thrown in now and
then to the contrary) in the opinion of Fox and
AVilberforcc ; or at least too little disposition to state
distinctly the points in which they differ from them.
Thinks the times must soon call .\fr. Pitt forth ; but
' This was not correct. It is true as to Lord rjrenville only, who
would certainly have gone out of office rather than have receded
from it. But it if? equally certain that when Lord iralmesbur>''.s
in.structious were delivered to him, Mr. I'itt stated to him distinctly,
that if he found the French plenipotentiary would not accede to the
terms of the projef, he should be allowed to rc.<5ort to the Cabinet
for further instructions ; and Mr. Pitt further told Lord ^I. (in full
confidence that his Lordship would e.xert his utmost energy to obtain
all that was proposed in the projef) that if he failed in that, he
should be authorized to give up the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Pitt
said this however, under a fixed persuasion that in that event Lord
Gi-envillc would resign. Mr. Canning probably knew nothing of
this : but it was unfair of him to make any assertion on the subject.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 503
■wishes to see liim march in througli open doors, and
not through a breach.
Saturday, November %lth. — Mr. Pitt continues to
express the utmost ■wihingncss to take office himself if
a fair occasion shall offer ; but thinks it quite im-
possible for Lord Grenvillc to come in with him,
if such an occasion soon presents itself, on account of
the language he has invariably held respecting the
present Ministers. About that, however, no difficulty
can arise, if his Lordship is sincere in the expressions
in his letter, the substance of which I stated yester-
day. Of this, however, there is no reason to doubt.
On reading the debate of Wednesday, as given in
all the papers, it is curious to observe Mr. Fox's
language respecting the folly of quarrelling with
France on commercial points, compared with the
language he held in the debate on the commercial
treaty with France in 1786-7. He noio thinks all com-
mercial jealousies foolish and contemptible. He then
thought an easy commercial intercourse with France
highly objectionable, as likely to abate that spirit of
hostility which should always exist in the minds of
the people of this country against France.
Sunday, November 2^th. — Mr. Pitt, this morning,
expressed to me that he should feci considerable
embarrassment on going to London, from what he
conceived to be an impossibility of avoiding to see
some of the Ministers previous to his being in the
House of Commons, particularly his brother ; that he
could, indeed, as little avoid seeing Lord Castlereagh
(who had lately taken office at his particular entreaty)
504 DIAKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
and Lord Hawkesljury, nor, if it sliould ))e desired,
Mr. Addington himself; and that in tlie interviews
witli thera his cxj)laining liiniself on all such points as
should be put to him would be a necessary con-
sequence. That he would be then ])laced in a situation
of doing so without full and complete information of
all circumstances before him, and be drawn into a
responsibility, in the public opinion, for all that had
passed, because his general line in the House would
certainly be that of support to the (jovcrnment.
I had hoped that he might go to London only the
evening before the vote for the army (which is to
he on the Gth of next month), state his sentiments in
the Hou.se that day, as before agreed on, and return
here the next morning. But agreeing with him, upon
reflection, that when in London he coukl not avoid
liaving connnnnication with the Ministers, and so un-
avoidably implicating himself with them, 1 entirely
concur, upon the whole, that it is most desirable he
should remain quietly here ; being, however, still
aware that some inconvenience and risk may be in-
curred by this alteration of his intentions, adhering
to the opinion before stated as to the advantages
that might arise from his going up. But thinking
the danrjer of mischief greater than the prospect of
good hopeful, I strongly incline to Mr. Pitt's remain-
ing here.
Lord Bathurst came in after the conversation I had
with Mr. Pitt ; and, finding me alone, asked me what
Mr. Pitt's determination was. On my mentioning to
him what had passed between Mr. Pitt and me, he said
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE EOSE. 505
that he adhered to the ophiions he expressed to me a
few days ago ; admitted that the embarrassment j\Ir.
Pitt alhided to would be a distressing one, but thought
he would have to encounter that whenever he should
go up ; and that if by hanging aloof he showed evident
signs of hostihty to Mr. Addington, he would throw
him into the hands of Mr. Fox, whose support he had
already thankfully received. Not blind, however, to
that, nor to the other circumstances already referred
to, I still think it of the utmost importance Mr. Pitt
should not commit himself with the Ministers respect-
ing the late measures, which he would most certainly
do, in the public persuasion, if he were to go up now.
It is by his character and his talents that he must
save the country, if these can be made available to
the object ; both of which would suffer deeply in
the estimation of every reflecting mind if he should
identify himself with these men and their measures.
I told Mr. Pitt, when he came in from riding, what
had passed between Lord Bathurst and me ; after
which they had a separate conversation when I went
up to dress for dinner.
Mondai/, November 2^th. — In the evening Mr. Pitt
told me Lord Bathurst had urged to him all he did to
me ; but that he continued to think with me, it was
better he should not attend Parhament before the
hohdays. Mr. Pitt renewed the conversation about
his attending Parliament, which led to a more particu-
lar discussion than has hitherto taken place respecting
-his actual situation with Ministers and the conduct it
may be right for him to hold with them and towards
500 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDEXCE OF
them, Tliis convorsation was lonp: and toinporatc,
every part of the siil)jcct was fully considiMTd, and
the consequences of cacli line tliat niii^ht be taken
carefullv adverted to. The result was a fixed deter-
mination expressed hy Mr. Pitt not to advise Minis-
ters how to act on any }H)int in futurr. This he feels
the necessity of, on various grounds. Tlie advice he
has liitherto given lias cither not been ach^pted, or has
been followed in a manner entirely different from his
intention, and so as not to produce the effect pro-
posed by him. He also feels the impossibility of
bcuinr able to form correct judgments on matters
respecting which he has not full information and seen
the whole correspondence, <S:c, kc. He will give his
general support to Government whenever he can.
That, to be sure, will be of little use.
Observations in the Courier very pointed on the
conduct of Mr. Fox.
Tucsdaij, November 30///. — Received a letter from
Mr. Canning, in which he begs I will tell him whether
Mr. Pitt is satisfied that the intended vote of 30,000
men is sufficient for the navy for three months. To
which I answered, that I was perfectly sure Mr. Pitt
could not form an opinion of the sufficiency or insuf-
ficiency of the vote without any information whatever
of what has been going forward lately, or of the actual
situation we are in with respect to France ; I mean as
to the probability or improbability of a war with her.
I observed to jNIr. C. that there is a passage in Lord
Hawkesbury's speech, which looks like his not intend-
ding to lay any papers before the Houses respecting
THE RIGHT H0^^ GEOUGE r.OSE. 507
the late negotiation — suggesting to him also the pro-
priety of Ministers being eallcd upon to assign some
general reason, at least, why 50,000 seamen are now
desired, a number certainly beyond any peace esta-
blishment that can be intended, and must be founded
on some conduct on the part of France; the corre-
spondence about which must unavoidably become
subject of parliamentary inquiry hereafter, if on perusal
of the papers that measure shall be thought proper.
It cannot be doubted that when the interposition of
Parliament is called for it has a right to infor-
mation.
Wednesday, December 1st. — Received a letter from
Mr. Canning, in which he says Mr. Addington had
just given notice that he should vote the increased
number of seamen for the year, — which he thinks was
on the suggestion of Mr. Ryder ; — trusts it will make
no alteration in ]\Ir. Pitt's intention of remaining here ;
but considers it as rendering it still more desirable he
should know, if possible, what Mr. Pitt's ideas are of
the force that ought to be kept up. Mr. Fox not
expected to attend either debate ; certainly not that
on the navy.
Under so direct an application for Mr. Pitt's senti-
ments on the matter, I thought it right to show the
letter to him ; and by his desire I told Mr. Canning
nearly what I did yesterday from myself, "that at this
distance, and utterly uninformed as he is of everything
that could enable him to form a judgment on the sub-
ject, he can express no opinion whatever."
Lord Malmcsburv told me he heard Sheridan was
508 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
to go down to-dav,' to abuse Mr. Pitt and lii>» friends ;
to lessen them, if he could, in the ])ul)lic opinion. His
Lordship also told nic that a friend of his heard Mr.
Fox say lately tliat he did not think it at all likely he
should ever be Minister himself, but that he was deter-
mined, if possible, to prevent Mr. Pitt ever n;;ain being
so. In the course of a long conversation with i.ord M.,
he talked a good deal about Mr. Fox, said he had known
him from very early years, ami all his habits and ways
of thinking; that he was sure his earliest principles of
strong Toryism were still rooted in his mind; and that
if he ever should attain the government in a situation
in which lie could act according io hi^ own opinionft, he
would be a high prerogative minister; but that he did
not think the country would endure him. His Lordship
then went on to sav, that in a tour he had made
through Gloucestershire and Heref(3rdshire, and a con-
siderable extent of the central part of England, the
enthusiasm for Mr. Pitt was as stron::: as amonjist his
most particular friends, even with the quietest and
most retired people he saw\
He told me, too (what the Count himself had said,
in substance, to me and my eldest son before he left
England), that Woronzow, on his return to this country
where he is daily expected, would co-operate most
heartily with Mr. Pitt or Lord Grenville, in uniting
1 He did not do this till the Sth.-when he made a most brilliant speech
■with much quizzing on Mr. A., but replete with invective on Mr.
Pitt ; artful towards the King, and deprecating Mr Pitt being forced
on his Majesty after what had passed on the Catholic question ! He
had forgot his justification of Mr. Fox being forced on the King in
1782, in a manner unprecedently offensive.
THE EIGHT HOX. GEORGE EOSE. 509
this Court with that of Petersburgh ; but that if he
should find the same people in office as he left, he
would get himself superseded in the embass}^, and
return to Southampton, despairing of being able to do
any good in this mission.
27iursdai/, December 2(1. — Nothing occurred of any
importance to-day. Mr.Pitt received a letter from the
father of the man who now keeps Bull's library, express-
ing great satisfaction that he had lived to see the son
in 1802 subscribe to the library which the father had
been a constant subscriber to from 1750 to 1757 ; in
which interval he (the late Earl of Chatham) used to
have a 3'Oung man from the library to read to him at
hours when that was shut up ; and that the book he
principally read to him at one period was Josephus's
History of the Wars of the Jews.
Friday, December Sd. — -In the Times of yesterday is
a most virulent and elaborate attack on ]\lr. Pitt and
his friends, and a most fulsome panegyric on the pre-
sent Ministers ; but written with ability. The editor
of this paper is in habits of constant intercourse with
the Minister's brother. This essay is detestable in all
its parts ; but more particularly so for the language in
which Mr. Pitt is grossly censured for his skulking
from office in a disgracefid manner in the hour of
danger, and abandoning his sovereign.
iSafurdaf/, December bth. — The debate on the report
of the vote for the seamen, is one of the most extra-
ordinary I ever read. The tone taken by Ministers in
refusing all explanation on such a measure is certainly
unexampled ; there never occurred an instance of a
510 DLVKIES AND COKllESPONDENCE OF
large increase being proposed in the naval or military
establishment without either explanation given, or
papers laid. .Ministers were pressed for the former,
but were allowed at last to trium[)h, with saying to
the Opposition, You are for a large vote as well as us,
there is no difterence of opinion ; what is all this dis-
cussion about ? To which the answer was obvious,
You may intend this armament for one piu'pose, we
may think it recpisite for another : we have a clear and
distinct right to know generally what your reason for
it is. — Do you mean it is a regular peace establish-
ment ? If you do, we may agree with you or we may
not. Do you mean it to give effect to any j)ending
negotiation with France ? Is it on account of additional
strength recently acquired by France, that makes her
more likely soon to go to war Avith us? Is it on ac-
count of Malta, respecting which fresh difficulties have
arisen ? In short, is it all or anv of these reasons that
induce vou to continue armed? Some answer mi^ht
have been extorted. Those who dift'er from Ministers
certainly gave them great advantage, in allowing the
vote for the seamen to pass in the committee without
comment ; but that did not deprive them of the right
to insist upon information in another stage of the
business. It is worth while to refer to what was done
in the instances of the Sj)anish, Dutch, and Russian
armaments in 17S7, 17S9, and 1700.
Something was gained in the debate by fixing Lord
Ilawkesbury to a declaration for a large peace estab-
lishment, from which Mr. Addingtou however shrank.
What can Mr. Fox say to the number of seamen
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 511
voted ? He has positively and recently declared for
a very small peace establisliment ; he has also in the
strongest terms expressed his conviction that wc have
nothing to fear from France. What then is this arma-
ment for? and where are all his strong assertions
against blind conjfidcnce ? Bnt there is no possible
(/round on which he can avoid resisting the measure of
a large navy.
On talking to Mr. Pitt this evening about the long
article of abuse against him and the late ]Ministers in
the Times, he grew to feel the utmost resentment and
indignation at it ; and said, if not apologized for in
the same paper, or commented upon in the True
Briton in the next paper, he should consider it as coun-
tenanced by the Administration ; and that he would
write to Mr. Steele to desire he would say to Mr.
Addington, that unless it was disavowed in some
shape in the same manner the calumny was published,
he must consider it as sanctioned by him.
AYe were led insensibly again to discuss at great
length the situation he would find himself in if he
should return to the Administration by himself, or
nearly alone ; and he in the end agreed with me, that
he could not take office with any degree of safety
to himself, or hope of doing good to the public, Avitli-
out Lord Grenville and Lord Spencer doing the same.
Hundaij, December 6//i. — In the evening Mr. Pitt
said he would certainlv write on the morrow to Mr.
Steele, as he had said yesterday ; but it struck me that
his doing so would, almost to a certainty, lead to
some embarrassing and equivocal explanations : — that
512 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Mr. A. was very sorry for the attack, but that Mr. Pitt
must know how uiiinauagoable tlie editors of news-
papers were, and most of all Mr. ^^'ahers of the
Times ; adding just as much as he shonhl think miglit
suffice to prevent Mr. Pitt acting on the restntment he
must naturally feel at the mixture of insult and injury,
but in no degree sutficicnt to remove the impression
made by the libel. It seemed probable, too, that the
opening an intercourse of any sort at this moment with
^Ir. Addington might be jjroductive of much incon-
venience, as he might avail himself of it to introduce
other subjects. After that was considered, Mr. Pitt
gave Uj) his determination to write to Mr. JSteele, or to
have any communieation with Ministers on the subject.
Monday, Decembrr Ifh. — 1 mentioned to Mr. Pitt
this morning what had occurred to me yesterday ou
reading the newspaper, as to the proceedings in the
House on the exchecpier bills ; in all which he agreed
with me entirely ; and said, he was the more surprised at
Mr. Addington's intention, because he had repeatedly
stated to him the indispensable necessity of providing
at once for any extraordinary exj)enses which might
occur in years of peace. Thus Mr. Addington had
always admitted the principle, and had given him
the strongest assurances that he would on no oc-
casion, nor in any emergency, depart from it. That
so late as the last summer he discussed the importance
of it with him and Lord Hawkcsbury ; both eagerly
embracing the measure, the latter most warmly : after
which he dined with Lord Hawkesburv, to meet
Mr. A. and Mr. Vansittart. ^Ir. A. did not come,
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 513
but Mr. V. agreed to the whole extent of what
was urged by Mr. Pitt, and undertook to prepare
materials for consideration ; Lord Hawkesbury con-
tinuing anxious that there should not be the least
relaxation from the plan. Mr. Pitt, after that,
returning through London on his way here, saw
Mr. Addington, not more than seven weeks ago, when
the point was again discussed, and the strongest pos-
sible assurances given by Mr. Addington, that nothing
should induce him to depart from what had been so
strongly enforced by Mr. Pitt, and admitted by him.
Tuesday, December Stk. — Mr. Pitt this morning re-
vived the conversation about Mr. Addington's depar-
ture from the system of raising the money wanted for
extraordinary services within the year, and told me
that on reflection it appeared to him the more astonish-
ing, as the last deliberation at Mr. Addington's was
a full one, and that Mr. Vansittart was present mth
a plan (such as it was) for raising the money : — founded
on the mischievous basis, completely reprobated and
abandoned by us, of a £5 per cent, impost on the
customs and excise.
Wednesday, December Wt. — I left Bath and returned
to Cuffuells.
In the newspapers of the 11th of December I no-
ticed Mr. Addington's statement of the supplies and
ways and means for the ensuing yeai', on which the
following observations occur : —
" He states the necessity of raising £5,000,000 for
the service of the year, by exchequer bills, which he
says he shall either fund at the cud of the session or
VOL. I. L L
514 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
borrow money to pay off; — evidently, therefore, not
entertaining a thought of raising any part of the money
within the yeai' ; thus departing from his solemn en-
gagement to Mr. Pitt, and from the principles on
which the stability of public credit most essentially
rests. There will therefore be a debt incurred in this
second year of peace equal to the capital redefined
by the commissioners: — where is the system of tiic
sinking fund which was to be inviolable?"
Friday, December 24//, 1S02.— Mr. Pitt came to
Cuffnclls. lie told me that nothing had occurred after
I left Bath till three or four days ago, when Lord Castle-
reagh arrived there, who, from a variety of circumstances,
certainly was there on purpose to sound Mr. Pitt on
the present state of affairs ; although in the whole
of the conversations between them Mr. Addington's
name was never mentioned, except in a direct message
delivered from him to ^Ir. Pitt, " requesting to know
his opinion, whether he thought it would be right to
make a compromise with the Prince of Wales, by
setting his income clear on condition of his Royal
Highness waving his claims to the arrears of the
Duchy of Cornwall, previous to his coming of age ;"
which can only be done by the pubhc paying off the
debentm-es at present payable out of the Prince's
revenues. The inclination of Mr. Pitt's opinion was
against a compromise in such a case ; thinking the
arrears should be paid if due ; if not, that the ques-
tion of setting the Prince's income free should be
considered separately. Mr. Pitt, however, found it
impossible to avoid the conversation turning on public
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 515
affairs in general. His Lordship told him that great
difficulties had arisen respecting an arrangement about
Malta ; and that the present inclination of the Cabinet,
in order to obviate these, was to leave the nomination
of a Grand Master to the Knights, who were to
assemble somewhere, perhaps in Russia, for the pur-
pose of choosing three of their number, out of whom
the Pope should select one ; and Mr. Pitt understood
him, that if that should be found impracticable, then,
in that case, the Pope to name one of the Knights.
To which suggestion Mr. Pitt told me he did not
hesitate to express his decided disapprobation. At
the same time he told Lord Castlereagh he was sure,
from the statements he had seen of Mr. Addington's
budget, that he had made great mistakes which would
prove highly inconvenient. This conversation, or a
part of it, his Lordship unquestionably communicated
to Mr. Addington.
Saturday, December 2Wi.—0n this day Mr. Pitt
received a letter from Mr. Addington directed to him
here, requesting to see him as early as he should
arrive in town or in the neighbourhood of it. I
conceive it to be clear that the communication was
made by Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Addington, because
the latter could not know Mr. Pitt was here except
from his Lordship ; and because, during all the nego-
tiations with Switzerland and France, Mr. Addington
never held any correspondence whatever with Mr. Pitt,
except a single conversation he had with him on
passing through London ; nor had he any intercourse
with him about his budget. The eagerness to see
51G UIARIES AND CORllESVONDEXCE OF
him now, therefore, coiikl arise only from tlic pniiic
occasioned by tlie observations Mr. Pitt made to Lord
Castlereagh at Bath.
Mr. Pitt feels it (jiiite impossible to avoid the inter-
view with Mr. Addinu;ton, under so decisive a rcfjiiest,
and I can say nothing against it. Feeling, liow-
ever, very considerable appnhensions that at the
meeting, the low cunning and artful management of
the one, opposed to the candid and generous nature
of the other, may lead the latter to a di.selosure, not
only of all his opinions, and a detail of the gross
blunders conunitted by the former in France ; but
also to 'Mve him his advice on cverv point of im-
portance, — I thought it my duty to say everything 1
could to i)ut Mr. Pitt on his guard ; which 1 did with
the utmost earnestness, and supported by every argu-
ment that occurred to me ; under a strong conviction
that if Mr. Addington's ignorance and incapacity is
not detected and made manifest now, he will acquire
such a character with the King and the public, as may
be likely to fix him in his situation for such a period
as will ensure the destruction of the country, by the
tame and pusillanimous conduct of the present Govern-
ment. The concessions they have already made, must
impress the French with a persuasion that there is
nothing they will not bear ; and of course the First
Consul will go on from one aggravation to another,
till the country will be so goaded, as to drive the
Government into a war, whether they are willing or
not.
Siindai/, December 'lQ>ih. — Mr. Pitt told me, on
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE EOSE. 517
]\Ir. Dmidas's peerage being mentioned, that he was
beyond measure surprised at it; that he had not
heard one syllable from him on the subject since they
parted early in the summer ; that he had indeed had
no letter from him for some months ; but what was
most extraordinary, that when he last saw him, ]\Ir.
Dundas stated to him a variety of reasons why it was
impossible for him to accept a peerage.
I renewed the conversation, while we were riding,
about the interview with Mr. Addington ; and ^Ir.
Pitt gave me fresh assurances that he would be as
much upon his guard during it as possible.
Monday, Decemher 21th. — I again revived the sub-
ject of Mr. Pitt's interview with Mr. Addington, and
he repeated to me his assurances of being on his guard,
and promised he would write to me (of course in a
guarded manner as it could only be by the post), after
the meeting between them shall be over, to tell me
what has passed. On talking over matters at break-
fast by ourselves, he expressed great doubts whether
in the event of a possibility of a way being opened for
him to come into government, he could form an Ad-
ministration with which he might act usefully to the
public ; about which, on the sudden, I could offer no
distinct opinion ; entertaining, indeed, considerable
doubt on the subject, on the slight consideration I
could give it. During the three days Mr. Pitt was
here, we went carefully over all the papers on finance,
necessary to a full and most attentive consideration
of Mr. Addington's statements on the opening his
budget; and he agreed with me entirely in all my
518 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE.
conclusions, going away perfectly persuaded tliat the
whole of those statements were founded on gross errorn
arising from the most childish u/nnrancc ; thinking
too that it would be impossible for him to avoid
delivering his thoughts on the subject in the House of
Connnons.
Mr. Pitt brought with him and showed me the
Times of tlic 1 1th, in which there was a libel on him,
and the late Government, more gross and offensive
than the former one, which he felt so strongly.
END OK VOL. I.
B. CLAT, PRINTER, BREAD STREET BILL.
THE
DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE
OF
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE.
VOL. II.
LONDON :
H. CI.AY, I'RINTKB, BRKAU HTREKT IIU.U
THE
DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE
OF THE
RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE:
CONTAINING
ORIGINAL I-ETTEKS
OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED STATESMEN OF HIS DAY.
EDITED BT THE
REV. LEVESON VKRNON HARCOURT.
IN TWO VOLUMES.— VOL. IL
LONDON :
RICHARD BENTLEY. NKW BUHLTNGTON STREET.
^ubliskt in ^rbinurn to 'Jer ^lajcsfij.
1860.
CONTENTS OF SECOND VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
Correspondence between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Rose, 1 ; Lord
Melville's view of Mr. Pitt's line of conduct and views, 2 ;
the Prince of AVales's notion of honour, 4 ; Whig liberality
and Tory honesty, 5 ; the island of Perim, 5 ; letter of Mr.
Pitt on the financial errors of Government, 6 ; letter of Mr.
Pitt to Mr. Rose, urging forbearance towards the Government,
7 ; Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose, 9 ; Mr. Pitt's opinion of Buona-
parte's programme, 11 ; Lord Grenville, 12 ; island of Perim,
13; vote for the Prince of Wales, 14; the public accounts,
15 ; state of the nation, 16 ; Mr. Pitt on finance, 17 ; French
projects in Eg}'pt, 18 ; Mr. Pitt's views of Buonaparte's
designs, 19 ; Sebastiaui's interference in Corfu, 20 ; allairs of
the Prince of Wales, 21 ; discussions with Mr. Pitt on the
state of affairs, 22 — 24 ; view of the conduct of France in their
endeavour to seize Egypt, 25 ; difficulties with respect to our
position towards France considered, 26 ; Addington's conver-
sation with Mr. Pitt on the subject of Pitt's return to office,
27 ; Addington's childish ideas about finance, 28 ; Adding-
ton's scheme to place Pitt in the same IMinistry as hunself,
under Lord Chatham, 29 ; death of Mr. Pitt's mother, 30 ;
Addington's proposal made through Lord Melville, 31 ;
rejected by Mr. Pitt, 31 ; Addington's second proposition,
32 ; the time for taking office considered, 33 ; the new
arrangements, 34 ; Mr. Addington's position in them, 35 ;
Vi CONTENTS.
Lord St. Vincent, 35 ; gross attack on the Cfrenville I'arty,
36; ntt visits Mr. Addington at Brondey Hill, 38; detjiils*
of tho negotiation, 38 ; ^Iv. Addingtun alters Ids views, 39 ;
Mr, Pitt declines to receive any future overtures, except by
comiuaiid of the King, 40.
CIIAITER II.
Count WoronzofT, tho Russian Ambassador, visits Mr. Rose at
CuiTnell.s, 41 ; Ins opinion of the imbecility of Ministers, 42 ;
promises to Portugal, 42 ; Ru.<v*ian mediation olfered in our
([uarrel witli France, 43 ; Ix)rd Ilawkesbury's delay, 43 ; Ids
inrapacity and gaticfwnr, 44 ; illiberal conduct of the English
Government, 45 ; Count "NVoronzofT seeks tho English alliance,
46 ; the King presses Count Woronzoffto give his confidence
to Lord Ilawkesburj', 47 ; last ^vi8hc3 of tho Duke of Port-
land, 47 ; Russia aided by Fox, to the detriment of England,
48 ; character of the Emperor of Russia, 48 ; Prince William
of Gloucester, 49 ; anecdotes of Lird Tlawkesbun,', 49 ;
libellous jMimplilet against Mr. Pitt, 51 ; the ]»amphlet not
disavowed by the Government, 52 ; Pitt's difficult position,
53 ; proposes a pamphlet in reply, 54 ; tho defence of tho
country, 5G ; extraordinary communication from the Prince
of Wales, 58 ; Lord Keith's arrangement on the Do^vns
station, 59 ; gun-boats in P)Oulogne, 60 ; discussions respect-
ing tho pamphlet, 61 ; dinner at the London Tavern, 63 ;
future conduct of !Mr. Pitt, 64 ; Lord Gremnlle's alliance with
Mr. Fdx, 67 ; Pitt takes the comuian<l of 3,000 volunteeifi,
68 ; Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose, 68 ; gun-boat<<, 68 ; preparations
to receive the enemy, 70, 71 ; expectations of a French
attempt at invasion, 72.
CHAPTER III.
Mr. Pitt's reasons for reserve in correspondence, 74 ; letter of
^Ir.Rose to Lord Chancellor Eldon, advising a junction with the
Coalition, 76 ; letter of Eldon, scorning all compromise with
the Opposition, 78 ; Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt, on the prospects
CONTENTS. Vll
of the Govermuent without a coulition, 80 ; ilhaess of Dr.
Moore, Archbishop of Canterbury, 82 ; letter of the Bishop
of Lincohi to ]\Ir. Eose, on the vacancy for the Archbishopric
of Canterbury, 83 ; Irish arrangements, 85 ; the Bishop of
Lincoln to Mr. Eose, respecting an interview A^ith Mr. Pitt,
86 ; the Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Eose, on the strength of
the House of Commons, 88 ; Dr. Manners Sutton appointed
Archbishop of Canterbury, 89 ; situation of 'Mi'. Pitt as
respects the King, 90 ; Mr. Pitt's late habits, 91 ; Mr. Pitt's
reserve towards Mr. Eose, 91 ; negotiation with Addington,
92 ; details of the negotiation, 94 ; important Eussian busi-
ness, 95 ; the King's dislike to Mr. Fox, 96 ; Mr. Eose's
sensitiveness, 97 ; Pitt's reconciliation with Addington, 97 ;
the Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Eose, on the coalition with
Addington, 98 ; Pitt's conduct to his private friends defended,
99 ; Pitt's forge tfulness, 100 ; effects of party zeal, 100 ; the
Grenvilles, 101 ; Lord Brougham's charge against the King,
102 ; the King's dislilce to Mr. Pox defended, 102 ; the
supper at Brookes' s, 103 ; improbabilities of union of Pitt
and Fox considered, 104 ; Fox's strong aversion to it, Avith
Pitt at the head of government, 105 ; Pitt's remarks on Fox's
conduct, 106 ; the King expresses his belief in Fox's dislike
of him, 106 ; Mr. Fox explains away his disinterested pro-
■ posal, 106 ; Fox's wish to act against the Coxirt, 107 ; Mr.
Fox in office, 108 ; Pitt's treatment of the Catholic question,
109 ; the King's sentiments, 109 ; Fox's treatment of them
when in power, 110; criticism on Pitt's conduct, 110;
different manner of Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox in speaking of each
other, 110 ; Lord Thurlow, 111 ; the True Briton, 112.
CHAPTEE IV.
^Rlr. Pitt writes to the King, stating that he can no longer sup-
port Ministers, 113 ; Mr. Pitt proposes an Administration on
a broad basis, 114 ; Mr. Pitt's determination not to agitate
Catholic Emancipation during the King's life, 114; presses
his arguments in favour of Fox, 115 ; Mr. Eose's agreement
in Pitt's views, 115 ; Mr. Eose's criticism on Lord Eldon's
viii CONTENTS.
reply, 116 ; the Kiiij,''3 irritable rejoindt-r tu Mr. Pitt's com-
nxuuioation, 117; Pitt's temperutc reply, 118; statement of
the balance of parties, 111) ; prospective Ministerial armnge-
ments, 120; Mr. Pitt j,'oo8 to the Kinj;, ll'l ; the sUite of
the King's health, 121 ; detiiils of Mr. Pitt's conversation
with the King, having referuuco to the new Ministry, 122 ;
tlie King's resolution not to liave Mr. Fo.\ in the Cabiiiet,
122 ; Lord M<lville, 123 ; the King's readiness to yield to
Mr. Pitt, 124 ; meeting of Fox's friejids, 124 ; conversation
between Mr. Pitt, Mr. Kose, ami the P.ishop of Lincoln, rela-
tive to the new arrnngenienta, 125 ; disappointment of all
parties at Mr. Fo.x's refusal to act, 126 ; Mr. Kosc reconi-
meuds ^Ir. Pitt temponirily to withdniw himself, 127 ; Mr.
Pitt's resolution to persevere in fonniiig a Cabinet, 128 ; diffi-
culties in his way, 128 ; meeting of the Opjiosition at Carlton
House, 129; Mr. Sturges Bourne, 129; reflection."? by Mr.
Pose on Mr. Pitt's putting himself at the head of the new
Aihuinistration, 130 ; Lord Melville's eagerness for office,
130 ; Pitt's conduct approved by many of his best friends,
131 ; the King disposed to support the Government, 132 ;
further Ministerial arrangements, 132 ; Loixl Aucklanil, 133 ;
final list of the new Cabinet, 134 ; talks of peace and rise of
the funds, 136 ; overtures fi-om P.uonaparte, 137 ; Stiirgcs
Boui-no, 139 ; the King's disjtlca.sure with Lord Amherst,
14U ; the L)iic D'Enghien, 140 ; Iiu.ssia's dislike at the over-
grown power of Napoleon, 140; Lord Westraeath, 141 ; the
King's interference in ^Linisterial aiTangements, 143 ; mode
of enlistment, 145 ; symptoms of malady in the King, 147 ;
conversation with Sir Harry xSeale on the King's state of
mind, 148 ; the King advised to put himself under medical
direction, 149 ; the King dismisses !Mr. Braun, a faitliful
servant, 149; Mr. Pitt's interview -sWth the King, 150 ; Mr.
Fox and ^Mr. Grey call on ^Ir. Pitt, to communicate to him
that !Mr. Livingstone, the American Minister at Paris, had
reason to beheve that the Government of France was disposed
to make peace, 151 ; council at the Queen's House, 152 ; the
King's health, 152; debate of Mr. Pitt's defence bill, 153 ;
chances of coalition between Mr. Fox and Mr. Addington, 154.
CONTENTS. IX
CHAPTEE V.
Mr. Eose's diaries continued, 155 ; conversations with the King
on the change of Government, 156 ; the King's opinion of Mr.
Addington, 156 ; unanimous opinion of the Foreign Ministers
respecting Lord Hawkcshury, 157 ; King's opinion of Lord
Auckland, 158 ; of Mr. Huskisson, 158 ; of Mr. Sturges
Bourne, 159; negotiation with Mr. Yansittart, 159; Mr.
Tierney ; 160 ; Addington' s resentment against Mr. Pitt, for
making him ridicvdous in the House of Commons, 161 ; the
King's inter\'iew with Lord Melville, and plain speaking
to him, 163 ; Lords Westmoreland and Castlereagh, 164 ; the
King's portrait of the Marquis of AVellesley, 165 ; Mr. Charles
Yorke, 166 ; conversation with the King about Lord Thurlow,
166; the French emigrants, 167 ; the Prince of Wales, 167;
seeks an interview with the King, 168 ; backs out of it, 168 ;
Lord Eldon, 169 ; the Princess of Wales's opinion of the Prince
of Wales, 170 ; interview with Mr. Sheridan, 170 ; the Prmce
of Wales's anxiety to be reconciled with the King, 170 ; Sheri-
dan's advice to the Prince, 171 ; haughty temper of Lord Grey,
171 ; Mr. Pitt's account of the Princess of Wales's conduct, 172 ;
Lady Auckland receives an extended pension, 173; the King
and Eoyal Family visit CufTnels, 173; the Grosvenors, 174;
the Duke of Montrose, 175 ; the King intimates to Mr. Eose
some of his rules of conduct, 176 ; conversation with the King
on subsidizing foreign nations, 176 ; the King's project with
respect to Flanders, 177 ; Lord St. Helens, 178 ; conversa-
tion with the King respecting Lord Chancellor Eldon, 178;
respecting Mr. Eose's son, 179 ; respecting the Marquis
of Wellesley, 180 ; respecting Lord St. Yinccnt, 181 ; respect-
ing Mr. Fox, 181 ; Mr. Fox, a Tory, 181 ; the King's opinion
of Lord Thurlow, 1 82 ; the King's dislike of romantic scenery,
183; the King's curiosity about Junius, 184; Mr. Eose's
opinion that Mr. Gerald Hamilton was Junius, 184 ; conver-
sation with the King respecting the Duke of Grafton, 184 ;
Lord ^North, 185; education of the Princess Charlotte, 185;
the King desires to nominate Lady George Murray to bring
up the Princess Charlotte, 186 ; the Duke of Athol, 187 ;
Dr. Hayter, Bishop of ^Norwich, 188 ; George Scott, 188 ;
X CONTEXTS.
Adolphus's Histoiy of Englaiul, 189 ; anecdote i-c.Hpccting
George the Second's deatli, 180 ; the Princess Amelia, 190 ;
the King's accession, 190; Lord I*ute, 191 ; Mr. (JrenviUe,
192; Lord Suffolk, 102; cliaracter of D^rd Auckland. 19:3 ;
accident to the Pruicess Amelia, 193 ; remarks of the Kijigim
the courage of the Royal Family, 194 ; presentation of C'ai>-
tain Prescott, ninety-fivo years old, 194 ; I>r. r>oi>th, 195;
the King leaves Cuffnells, 195 ; the King's jmrtial blindne8.>s
196 ; Count Woronzoff, 19G ; Lord Pembroke, 19G.
CHAITKR VI.
Mr. Pitt goes to the King at AVeymoutli, 198; suggestions for
an extension of the Administration, 198; the King's great
dislike to a junction with ^Ir. Fox and his friends, 199 ; pro-
secution of Lord Melville, 201 ; influence of Lord Ilawkes-
huiy and the Chancellor, 201 ; account of Nelson's death, 202;
editorial remarks, 204 ; Mr. Pitt's illness, 205 ; anxit^ty alnnit
his health, 206 ; his death, 207 ; lett<>rs from Mr. AVilbi-rforco
to Ur, Koso on the subject of Mr. Pitt's death, 208, 209 ; the
Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Kose on the same subject, 211; Lord
Grenville, 213 ; Mr. Kose applies to the King for j^emxission
to aimounce his former projx>sed subscription of 30,000/. to
pay Pitt's debt*!, 214 ; Colonel Taylor's reply for the King, 215 ;
Lord Lowther to Mr. Kose on a history of Mr. Pitt's IJftj and
Administration, 216 ; Lady Hester Stanhope on the life of Pitt,
217 ; letter from Henry Mackenzie respecting his writing a
Life of Mr. Pitt, 218 ; the Duke of Richmond, 220 ; the Pitt
Club, 220.
CH.VPTER VII.
Details of the illness of Mr. Pitt, 222—224 ; state of affairs
consequent upon Mr. Pitt's illness, 225 ; meeting at Lord
Castlereagh's, 226 ; difficulties of the situation, 227 ; Lord
Earham, 228 ; reflections on Mr. Rose's long friendship with
Pitt, 228 ; Mr. Pitt faints, 229 ; his anxiety about his rela-
tions, 231 ; announcement of his death, 233 ; comparison
between Pitt and Nelson, 233 ; the Cabinet advise the King
to send for Lord Grenville, 236 ; Lord Hawkesbury, 237;
CONTENTS. XI
Mr. "Wilberforce, 238 ; meeting at Mr. Lascelles', 239 ; dis-
cussion on Mr. Pitt's debts, 239 ; !Mr. Lascelles moves for a
public funeral, 240 ; opposition to the motion by Mr. Windham
and ]\Ir. Fox, 2-41 ; Mr. Cartwright's motion that Mr. Pitt's
debts should be paid, 241 ; Lord Grenvdle waits on the King
vdih a list of the new Cabinet, 241 ; the Duke of York, 242 ;
meeting at Lord Camden's, 242; the King acquiesces in
. Lord Grenville's arrangements, 243 ; Mr. Eose tenders his
-^ resignation, 244; success of Mr. Cartwright's motion, 244 ;
Mr. Fox's bill relating to the Auilitorship of the Exchequer,
245 ; Lord Grenville, 246 ; interview with the Duke of
Montrose, 246 ; Lords Hawkesbury and Castlereagh throw
over Lord Sidmouth, 247 ; Mr. Eose's line of conduct, 247 ;
proposal of poHtical dinners, 248; Pitt's intention asserted
of bringing Caiming hito the Cabinet, 249 ; Mr. Long, Mr.
Canning, 250; receive a letter from Canning, 251 ; the new
Mmistry, 251 ; the Bishop of Lincoln's account of Pitt's last
moments, 254; the Pay Office and Mr. Steele, 254 ; Lord
Lowther, 256 ; laments the death of Mr. Pitt, 257 ; Mr. Pitt's
funeral, 257 ; details of the funeral, 258 ; character of Mr. Pitt,
259 ; his great firmness and his quickness of perception, 259 ;
personal demeanour, 259 ; his unselfishness, 260 ; his mastery
of foreign politics, 261 ; dinner at Mr. Eose's, 262 ; Canning's
resolution to oppose Governnient, 263 ; Mr. Eose leans to an
opposite course, 263 ; Sturges Bourne, 265 ; impeachment of
IVIr. Hastings, 266.
CHAPTEE VIII.
Pitt and Fox, 267 ; Sir Samuel Eomilly, 268 ; Mr. Wilberforce,
270; contrasts and similarities between Pitt and Fox, 271 ;
Pitt's aversion to war, 272 ; inconsistencies charged upon
Mr. Pitt, 274 ; Lord Holland, 276 ; Mr. Fox an enemy to the
Church, 277 ; the Church and State, 278 ; death-bed scene
of Mr. Fox, 279 ; comments thereupon, 280 ; Pitt's death-
bed scene, 281 ; comments thereupon, 282 ; account of Pitt's
death in the Annual Eegister, 284 ; observations upon it,
285 ; Bishop of Lincoln, 286 ; Mr. Gifi"ord, 286 ; Sir Walter
XII CONTENTS.
Farquliar, 287 ; Lord Eldou's view of ^h. Pitt, 288 ; Mr.
Pitt's deportment in society, '2S^ ; Lord Wellesley s charni--
ter of Mr. Pitt, 20U ; Pitt'a love of tho classics, 292 ; his
industry, 293 ; liis cheerful spirit, 294 ; Lord ( Jrenville's
sorrow at Pitt's deatli, 29;> ; coinmis.'^ion for intjuirinj^ into
charges against the Princess of Wales, 29.5 ; letter of the
Princess of Wales, asking for the loan of the cottage at Christ-
church, 206 ; letter of Sir Vicnry Gibh-s 29H ; letter of Mr.
PerceviU on tlie (-hai-ge against the Princess of Wales, 299 ;
letter of Sir Vitary (ril)l)s on the .name subject, 304 ; di.sson-
sions and jealousies in Mr. Pitt's party following his death,
305 ; olijections to Lord Grenville, So.l ; Lord Kldon, 305 ;
Mr. Canning quits his coloui-s, 306 ; appointment of Sir
George liose to a special mi.ssion in the T'^nitnd States, 307 ;
Sir John ^Lacpherson, 308 ; the Church of England and the
landowners, 309 ; Mr. Canning to Mr. Kose on the subject of
the policy to be pursued in Parliament, 311 ; Lord Timugham's
misrepresentation of the King's conduet, 318; the King and
the Princess of Wales, 319 ; ilill'en'nce with Ministers, 319;
haughtiness of the AVliigs, 320 ; minute of the Cabinet sent
by Lord Spencer to the King, 320 ; the King's anxiety re-
specting any alteration in the Mutiny Pill in favour of the
Koman Catholics, 321 ; Lord Grenville urgent with the King
upon the sulijeet, 322 ; the King yields, 322 ; note from Lord
llowiek to the King. 324 ; L<jrd (irenville to the King, 324 ;
verbatim minute to tho King on the Catholic question, 325 ;
the King's reply, 327 ; re«iuests a positive assurance that
the Catholic claims shall not again be jtressed upon him, 329 ;
reply of Lord Grenville, 329 ; meeting of the ('atholics, 331 ;
advice of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 331.
CHAPTER X.
Editorial remarks, 334 ; abuses of ecclesiastical patronage, 335 ;
letter of Lord Mulgrave to Mr. Rose, declining an augmenta-
tion of salaries in certain cases, 336 ; Dr. Jenner declines
the directorship of the National Vaccine Institution, 338 ;
Lord Clifford to Mr. Rose, giving some account of his ancestor
CONTENTS. xiii
who signed for Charles II. the secret treaty with Louis XIY.,
339 ; the Bishop of Lincohi to Mr. Rose, 341 ; characteristic
letter of Lady Hester Stanhope on afiairs in Spain, &c., 342 ;
letter from Lord Wellesley, 344 ; letter from Sir Walter Scott,
345 ; memorandum of a letter to Mr. Eose respecting the
Duke of Kent's income, 346 ; letter from the Duke of York
respecting the Princess Sophia, 347 ; letter from the same on
the same subject, 348 ; Mr. Sturges Bourne to Mr. Rose, on
affairs in Downing Street, 349 ; and on the Walcheren expe-
dition, 350 ; Mr. Canning's conduct, 351 ; Letters from Mr.
Rose to Mr. Sturges Bro^vne dissenting from the course taken
by Mr. Canning in resigning oflftce, 352 ; concessions to Can-
ning, 355 ; letter of Lord Malmesbury dissenting from the
course taken by Mr. Canning, 356 ; letter from Lord Mulgrave
respecting Sir Andrew Hammond, 358 ; Mr. Rose to the
Marquis of Wellesley, soliciting employment for his eldest son,
the father of Sir Hugh Rose, 360 ; editorial remarks on the
quarrel and duel between Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Canning,
363 ; Guizot's character of Canning, 366 ; secret communica-
tion from Mr Canning, 368 ; the W^alcheren expedition, 368 ;
decline of the Duke of Portland's health, 369 ; position of
Mr. Canning, Mr. Rose, and Mr. Sturges Bourne in conse-
quence of the threatened retirement of the Duke of Portland,
370 ; relative jiositions of Mr. Canning and IMr. Perceval,
373 ; Mr. Rose's comments on Canning's resignations, 376 ;
difticulties in the way of Mr. Rose, 376 ; Mr. Rose decides
against resigning, 377 ; interview with Mr. Canning, in which
Mr. Rose informs him of his intention not to resign, 378 ;
ambition of Mr. Canning, 378 ; the convention of Cintra,
380 ; interview with Lord Bathurst, 380 ; confidential com-
munications, 382 ; Ministerial complications, 383 ; duel between
Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Canning, 383 ; the King's objection
to Lord Grenvillo, 384 ; details of the circumstances which
led to the duel between Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Canning,
385 ; details of Mr. Canning's proposed Cabinet, 388 ; INIr.
Perceval's interview with the King at Windsor, 389 ; difUcul-
ties in the way of a new Ministry, 390 ; Mr. Henry Wellesley,
391 ; Mr. Villiers, 391 ; Lord Grey declines the overtures of
xiv CONTENTS.
Government, 392 ; Lord Grenville's re])!)', 392 ; deUoils of
a letter^ from the Kinj,' on the position of afl'oirs, 394 ; tlie
King's J, Jetennination to alnlicatc rather than give Catholic
Emancipation, 395 ; Lord Melville's view of Mr. Canning's
conduct, 39G ; reflections on the situation of affairs, 397 ; ap-
pointment of Mr. FrtTo to the Si)anirih Court, 399 ; conduct of
Mr. Canimig to his colh-agues, 399 ; resignation of Lord Welles-
ley, 400 ; Morning Post account of tho duel between Canning
and Castlereagh, 401 ; Mr. Perceval l)ecomes First I>ord of tho
Treasury, 402 ; intrigue to secure Lord Wclksley's resigna-
tion, 404 ; Lird Sidmouth's resolution, 405 ; otfers to Mr.
Rose's son, 406 ; Mr. Canning's resignation, 407 ; John Wil-
son Croker, 408 ; Lord Harrowby, 410 ; Mr. Croker's apjxiint-
ment regretted, 411 ; Lord Biithurst, 412 ; Lonl Harrowby,
412; Mr. Kose is offered tlie ullico of Chancellor of tho
Exchequer, 412; Mr. Rose declines tho office, 414; Lord
Palmcrston, 415; tho finances of Great Britain, 416; Lord
Iklclville declijies to act with Government, 418; rejoicings
on tho King's fiftieth birtlulay, 419; conversation with She-
ridan, 420 ; Lord Castlereagh's duel, 421 ; Mr. Rose urged
to become Chancellor of tho K\choquer, 424 ; Mr. Clapham^s
sermon at Christchurch, 425; death of the Duke of Portland,
428 ; the Duko of Cumberland's disapproval of Canning's
conduct, 429 ; peace between Austria and France, 430 ;
Marquis of Wellesloy, 431 ; his acceptance of office, 433 ;
dinner with the Bishop of Lincoln, 434 ; Lord Grenville's
letter to the Principal of Brazenose, 435.
CHAPTER XII.
Recollections respecting Sellis's attempt on the Duke of Cumber-
land's life, 437 ; editorial remarks, 447 ; return of the
King's illness, 447 ; the King'.s anxiety about the Princess
Amelia, 449 ; position of affaii'S consequent on the King'.s
illness, 449 ; variations in the King's state of health, 4.52 ;
Lord YarmoTith, 454 ; funeral of the Princess Amelia, 455 ;
state of affairs in Portugal, 456 ; co-operation of Russia, 457 ;
position of Massena in Portugal, 458 ; examination of the
King's physician.s by the Council, 459 ; :Mr. Rose attacked
CONTENTS. XV
by gout, 4G0; projects for a Regency, 461 ; continued
illness of the King, 462 ; debates on the Eegency, 463 ;
conduct of the Prince of Wales, 468 ; impending change of
Ministry, 469 ; Duke of Queensberry's will, 471 ; Lord Gren-
ville's hard conditions with the Prince, 471 ; Auditorship
of the Exchequer, 472 ; Mr. Perceval's conduct generally
approved, 473; u'ritation of the King, 474; liis imperfect
sight, 474 ; the physicians confident of his ultimate recovery,
475 ; Mr. Perceval's interview with the King, 476 ; conduct
of the Prince of Wales to the Opposition, 479 ; discussion on
the Regency Act, 480 ; the Chancellor's interview -with the
King, 481 ; the Regent takes the oaths, 481 ; gives audience
to the Ministers, 482 ; gracious manner of the Prince of
Wales, 482.
CHAPTER XIII.
Editorial remarks on Mr. Canning's secession, 484 ; Mr.
Chinnery's malversations, 486 ; letters from Mr. Perceval to
Mr. Rose on the King's illness, 493 ; Prince of Wales's debts,
496; Chevalier de Suza, 498; Spitalfields weavers, 498 ; Lord
Wellesley in Ireland, .500 ; conduct of Portugal and Spain, 501 ;
Mr. Rose resigns his office, 502; Mr. Perceval's letter on the
subject, 503 ; death of Mr. Perceval, 509 ; Lord Wellesley's
project of Administration, 510 ; letter of Lord Melville, 511 ;
letter of Lord Walaingham, 516; letter of Lord Liverpool,
520 ; letter of Sir William Grant on receiving the thanks
of the House, 522 ; death of Mr. Rose, 522 ; letter of Lord
Castlereagh on the subject, 523 ; concluding remarks on Mr.
Rose's life, 524.
DIARIES AND CORIIESrONDEiNCE
OF
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE.
CHAPTER I.
1803.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MR. PITT AND MR. ROSE, FROM JANUARY TO
JUNE, 1803 — MR. rose's DIARIES FOR FEBRUARY AND APRIL, 1803.
[The long correspondence between Mr. Pitt and tlie
ex-secretary for the Treasur}^, on matters of finance,
a portion of which only is given here, shows that he
took as deep an interest in the financial schemes of
the Administration, while he was out of office, as if he
had been still presiding over its councils. It would
have been well for his successor, if he had taken the
same pains to sift the facts and ascertain the truth ;
but it is important, in the estimation of Mr. Pitt's
character, to observe, that he was not actuated by any
private or selfish motives, but solely by his solicitude
for the public good. He had no wish to turn Adding-
ton out, or to take his place. On the contrary, he
endeavoured to open his eyes, by private expostulation,
VOL. IT. B
2 DIARIES AND CORUESPONDEN'CE OF
tu the mistakes into which fioin want of experience lie
had fallen, and would have assisted him in turning
aside the mortitication of ri'tracting his erroneous
statements. Jhit when tlie infatuated Ministt r was
"like the deaf adder tliat stoppeth her ears, and re-
fuseth to listen to wisdom," he preferred the public
good to private friendship, and resolved to expose the
faults which he was not permitted to correct. Perhaps
he would have found it difficult to make this sacrifice
of his feelings, if lu' liad not been strongly urged to
it by Mr. Rose and the Bishop of Lincoln : but to say,
that their "unfriendly insinuations 'M-aduallv rendered
him indisposed to a just and candid view of the mea-
sures of the (jiovermnent," is not consistent with the
truth. Their arf^umcnts mav be seen in their own
letters, which will be given in the .sequel. Hostile
they undoubtedly were ; but they had not the effect
attributed to them.
In Mr. Pitt's line of conduct there was no want
of justice, or of candour. It is described with perfect
truth in a letter from Lord ^lelville to Mr. Adding-
ton : — " As matter of })rivate gratification, Mr. Pitt
has the reverse of any wish to return to official situ-
ation ; and if the present Administration prove them-
selves competent to carry on the Government with
reasonable prospect of success, his wishes, to be
able to support them out of office, are precisely the
same as they were at their first formation. He does
not, however, disguise from me, that many things have
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 3
occurred, both in relation to theii- transactions with
foreign powers, and with regard to the financial opera-
tions and statements of the Treasury, which have given
him sincere concern ; and if it were not under the
circumstances of the present critical moment of the
country, he doubts how far, considering the connexion
he has had for so many years with its financial affairs,
he was at liberty to refrain so long from stating
to the public the fatal errors which, he is satisfied,
exist in the statement made with regard to the amount
of the national revenue, compared with the charges
upon it. As things now stand, he is induced from all
these considerations, for the present at least, to ad-
here to the resolution of continuing his residence where
he is, and refraining from taking part in the discus-
sions in Parliament. From the state of his health,
nothing could induce him to come forward except an
urgent sense of public duty, and a distinct knowledge
that his services are thought essential both in the
highest quarter and by all those with whom he might
have to act confidentially."
If there are any, who wish to investigate the
facts which confirm these statements, they will be
found in the next series of letters. To others they
may not seem to have nmch interest at the present
time : but there is one in reply to Mr. Rose, who
had intimated his intention to attack the Govern-
ment, which is a model of mild and considerate ex-
postulation, to dissuade him from a proceeding which;
b2
4 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
being premature, would compromise his character and
damage his ])()licy. This appeal to friendship was
not made in vain. In another letter, he animad-
verts upon the faithlessness of the Prince of Wales,
and his shameless demand upon the public purse, to
pay for his extravagance, his conscience being callous,
and his selfishness insatiable. The C'liuneellor of the
Exchequer had stated on the 4th of March, in the
House of Commons, that the account between his
Royal Highness and his creditors had been prepared
and submitted to his inspection, and the propositions
founded on it declared by the Prince to be according
to his wishes ; in consefpiencc of which his income
was to be 125,000/. a year, besides the revenues of
the Duchy of Cornwall. Nearly 800,000/. had been
already paid to liis creditors, and it was distinctly
stated, that no debt could have been incurred since
1795, without a violation of the Act then passed for
the payment of the heavy debts which he had incurred.
And yet, he now felt called upon to declare, that he
was still exposed to debts, for which no provision had
been made, but which he considered himself bound
in honoi/r to discharge. The honour consisting in
getting the country to pay them for him.
And yet Mr. Fox had the assurance to talk of the
Prince having redeemed his character by the most
prudential regard to pecuniary aflfiiirs, and a system
of economy, which it was scarcely natm'al to expect
in such a situation. Thus it appears again, that
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. O
the Tories were tlie defenders of the piibhc purse,
while the AVliigs were for opening it to the widest
extent, in order that the Prince might be able to live
in " splendour and maguilicence," at the nation's cost.
The sum that he wanted was never explicitly stated ;
but ]Mr. Sheridan hinted that 100,000/. might be
easily spared. It is true that he offered to renounce
his claim to the arrears of rent from the Duchy during
his minority ; but it was proved by j\Ir. Johnstone,
that a larger sum had been paid during that time
on his account, than the whole of the available reve-
nue. That sum amounted to, in the gross, 239,000/. ;
which was 500/. more than the entire produce of the
Duchy of Cornwall.
There is another subject alluded to in this corre-
spondence, concerning which, the information collected
by Mr. Rose for Mr. Pitt, might prove to be of great
value at the present time, when negotiations are in
progress with respect to the island of Pcrim, in the
straits of Babel Mandeb. It was a question then, not
about occupying, seizhig, or obtaining it by negotia-
tion ; but with respect to fortifying it, as if it already
belonged to the British Crown.— Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Wilderness, Jan. 11th, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" I received here this morning your letter of the
9th. It was not till Wednesday last that I had any
6 DIARIES AND COIIIIESPOSDENCE OF
opportunity of holding tlio conversation of whidi you
arc anxious for tlic result. It has since been followed
by another short one on Saturday. T think from
both, that on the foreign points depending, there is
still a probability that the line of Government may
be more nearly conformable to my opinions than I
expected ; at all events I have had the opportunity of
stating those opinions ;is distinctly as T wished, with-
out committing myself in embarrassing details ; and
have let it be fully understood that my public declara-
tions and conduct on leading points nnist be ref^u-
lated by those opinions. This previous knowledn^e of
my sentiments may perhaps prevent mischief, but if
not, it will at least make any line 1 may be oblio-cd
to take much more satisfactory to my own mind.
With respect to the rpiestion of Finance, I have
received no detailed explanation, and have had no
occasion to give any, though I have stated generally,
and as I believe convincingly, the grounds on which
I suppose the statement of the Consolidated Fund to
be erroneous to so large an amount. I think I
see that there is a determination, if possible, not to
acknowledge the error, and a confidence that for the
present the produce may be so much swelled by
extraneous causes, as to support in some degree the
result of the calculation, though not in the least to
justify its principle, or any of its details.
" Ever sincerelv yours,
" W. P."
the right hon. george rose. 7
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Waluier Castle, Jau. 28th, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" I received tliis moniiiig your letter of the 2Gth.
I really feel great reluctance in saying anything to
discourage you from executing a determination which
you have probably not formed without much consi-
deration. But, I should not do justice either to
you or myself, if I disguised from you that the step
you have in view must, in my opinion, produce the
most aAvkward effects, and (what I am sure you would
most wish to avoid) must place me personally in a very
disagreeable and painful situation. You know already
how prone people have been to think that they could
collect my intentions from the declarations of persons,
whose relation to me in no degree justified such an
inference ; and you must, I am sure, feel how much
more this would apply to anything said by you, on
any subject, and especially on that in question. It
woidd be in vain to attempt to persuade the world
that there was no concert between us, unless I were
prepared to take a line directly contrary to yours,
which is so far from being possible, that on the con-
trary I must, on the first proper opportunity, take
precisely the same line myself. Do not imagine,
therefore, that I either want, out of tenderness to
Government, to prevent the discussion, or, that I con-
ceive it would be possible to do so, if I ever so much
wished it. What I do wish is, that where I must be
forced to declare an opinion, which cannot fail to pro-
8 DIARIES AND COKKESPONUENCE ol
duce such effects on the credit of the Govermneiit, that
opinion should come directly from myself, and not be
collected from any other person. I feel this the more
strongly, because I have already stated my sentiments
distinctly to Addington, and appriseil him that unless
he can convince me that his original statement is
right, and my objections to it are erroneous, it will be
impossible for me to sutler the public to continue
under a delusion on so important a point. Having
received no attempt towards explanation before I left
town, I talked over the whole subject with Steele, and
repeated to him my intentions, that he might state
them again to Addington. I probably shall hear from
him before long, but I am perfectly confident nothing
can be said on the real truth of the case that can
materially vary our statement. I wait chiefly to see
whether they admit their error, and are rcadv to take
the steps which the real state of the income and
expenditure requires, or whether they mean to persist
and justify. If the former, I shall certainly wish to add
as little as possible (as far as depends upon me) to the
pain and discredit of such a retractation, and to give
every facility in my power to such measures as are
adequate to the necessity of our situation. If the
latter, the task of exposing their blunders will be
more disagreeable both to me and them, but nuist
at all events be executed, both for the sake of my
own character and the deep public interests involved.
At all events, my present notion is to take the first
o|)portunity (probably on the discussion, either of
the repeal of the Convoy Duty or the Malt Tax), to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 9
give my general opinion on the state of our finance,
and to be regulated by the circumstances I have
referred to in the further measures I may pursue. I
have thus stated to you, as shortly as I can, the whole
of my opinion and the grounds on which it rests.
They will, I trust, appear to you as strong as they do
to myself; but I am sure at all events, that even if
my opinion does not satisfy you, you will, I am sure,
be inchned to give all the weight I can desire to
my wishes.
" Ever sincerely yours,
" W. Pitt.
" If you have been able to ascertain what is the real
state of the case with respect to the bonded duties, or
any postponement (if there has been one) of the East
India duties, pray let me know."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Walmer Castle, Feb. 16th, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" The return of something like fine weather gives
me so much occupation here, and will probably give
me so much healtli, that it would alone have tempted
me a good deal to change my plan, and remain here
some time longer. But, besides this selfish reason, I
am more and more persuaded, by all that 1 see of
things and parties, that any part I could take at
present, if I were in town, would be more likely to do
harm than good ; and that I am, therefore, in every
view, better where I am. There are, however, many
10 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
points i?i our sifttatio/i, niul particularlv on tin- subject
of finance, whicli I should liavc been very glad to talk
over with you ; and if it was not proposing to you
anything very inconvenient, it would bi> a great satis-
faction to nic, if (whenever you arc released from
your Southampton Rill, or anything else you wish to
attend) you could spare a few days, to let nie have
the pleasure of seeing you here. According to my
present notion, T should not be likely, if T can help it,
to move from hence for some weeks. I am now (piite
free both from gout and bile, and am gaining strength
every day. The picture from my windows this morn-
ing is as delightful as in tlu' middle of summer.
" Ever sincerely yours,
" w r."
.Mr. Pitt to Mr. Hose.
"Walraer Ca.stlo, Wednesday, March, 2d, 180:i.
'' Dear Rosl;,
" I shall be much obliged to you if you will move
leave of absence for me, as you propose, and for what-
ever time you think will least occasion remark. When
once granted, I conclude, it will be easily prolonged
till after Easter. I think clearly the leave, when once
obtained, must supei*sede the necessity of any other
excuse for not attendinG: when the names of defaulters
are called over ; otherwise the express leave of absence
would be rendered nugatory by the construction of a
preceding order, which is evidently absurd. Lest
however, so absurd a doubt should be started, I mean
(if my apothecary's opinion is what I take it to be) to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 11
send you a certificate to-morrow. I begin to think,
on considering all that is passing about finance, that
it may be desirable to move inniiediately for the
accomits. of which we prepared the list ; and to give
notice now of an intention to discuss the subject, as
soon as it appears what is Addington's final statement
and plan for the year. On this I will write more fully
to-morrow. The business respecting the Prince seems
to grow more awkward and entangled every day. Our
fine weather has been interrupted, but for a very short
time, and is now completely returned.
" Ever yours,
"W. P.
" The Consul's expose speaks pretty plain, and
amounts, I think, to a declaration that we must
soon expect either avowedly to receive the law from
him, or to encounter war,"
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Walmei- Castle, March .3d, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" On further consideration I am inclined to
think that it is better to postpone, just for the pre-
sent, the motion for accounts which I mentioned yes-
terday. My reason is, that it is impossible not to
suppose, from the language of the Pirst Consul in his
expose, that the discussions between this country and
Prance are on the point of being brought to a speedy
issue of peace or war ; and I am very much confirmed
in this opinion by private information from a quarter
12 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDKNC E OT
on which 1 can entirely rely. At such a nioment you
will agree with me that it niiglit, in a |)ul)lic view,
have a bad effect to give notice of a discussion which
must be so embarrassing to Governim-nt ; and that it
will, therefore, be better to wait a little, to know wiiat
turn things may take.
Lord Camden ;uid Hope, with whom T had a good
deal of conversation on my notions ol" France, both
knew of my intending to write to you resjx'cting the
propriety of calling for the accounts, and, perhaps, Uiay
ask you about it. If they should, I can have no ob-
jection to either of them being told, in confidence, why
I now should rather wish such a step to be delayed,
" Ever sincerely yours,
"w. vr
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" \y aimer Castle, March Gth, lb03.
" Dear Rose,
" Lord Grenville's wish to see you is a little em-
barrassing, but I really do not see on what ground
you can decline going to him, and giving him any in-
formation he asks as to the true state of our revenue
and charges. It may, perhaps, be possible to give all
the information necessary to ascertain this principal
point, without going minutely into all the collateral
errors in Addington's speech. The credit of the
Treasury must certainly, at all events, suffer from
the exposure of their errors, from whatever quarter it
comes ; but the effect would be a verv different one,
especially just now, if it proceeded either from you or
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 13
from me. The private information I referred to in my
last letter, I am sure, Mould have no relation to any-
thing I had in contemplation on this subject.
" Ever sincerely yours,
"W. P."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Walmer Castle, March 8th, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
"I am much obliged to you for the information^
you have taken the trouble to collect, which throws a
good deal of light upon the most important points. I
quite agree with you in thinking that it would be im-
possible to be totally silent, if the surplus revenue (as
stated by Addington) should be urged as an argument
for repealing the tonnage duty. It strikes me that
the best line would be to say, that one fears that argu-
ment (whatever might be its weight) is not warranted
by the truth of the case ; that this is not the
proper moment for a minute discussion of that point,
which it is better to reserve till the final budo;et of the
year, when it must be fully gone into ; but that, in the
meantime (though the permanent revenue is certainly
highly flourishing, and more than sufficient to defray
all the charges incurred by the last war, and even a
considerable increase of the peace establishment be-
yond what has ever before been requisite), yet it does
not appear to be equal to an establishment so much
' This was relative to the navigation of the Red Sea, fortifying
the Island of Perim, in the Straits of Babel Mandeb, and other matters
respecting Egypt.
14 DIAEIES AND COllUKSrONDEXCE OF
liiglicr, as the ju'csent circuuistanccs of Europe make
indispensable, and as the Chancellor of tlic Kxehe(juer
has assumed, in forming the comparison of income
and expenditure for future years ; and that, on the
contrary, on the supposition of such an establishment,
there seems reason to apprehend a veiy considerable
deficiency, instead of a surplus, as has been stated.
Something to this etfect seems to me to be as free
from objection as possible, and I sui)j)ose you would
thiidv it sutiicicnt. I imaunne bv this time vou will
have seen that my expectation of a crisis ajjproaching'
is conlirmed.
" Ever sincerely yours,
" W. P."
.Mu. Pitt to Mu. Pose.
" Walmer Castle, March 9tb, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
'■ From what 1 had heard, I was not surprised at
the account of the message. It is so general, that be-
yond the address, which 1 su])pose will have been voted
to-day, I hardly see any inunediatc parliamentary mea-
sure that it can lead to ; and, therefore, my jjresent
intention is to remain here till things take some more
decisive turn, which may not be yet for some time.
I quite agree with you, that any further vote for the
Prince ought on every account to be resisted. The
proposal seems in all respects highly indecent. If
' The King's message about preparations being made in Franco
and Holland, of an alarming nature, was delivered to both Houses,
on the day on which this letter was written.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 15
made at all, it could only properly be made througli
the Crown. Besides, the Prince, by message, has
already (as I understand) declared his satisfaction in
the arrangement just made ; and, above all, the pro-
posal (if 1 am not mistaken) is founded on an admis-
sion of debts contracted in the teeth of the last Act of
Parliament, and in breach of repeated and positive
promises. I am not sure (without referring to the
Act) whether the existence of such a debt might not
itself be made a charge against our Treasury, and
at least against the Prince's officers ; but at any rate
I should have thought, that if once brought under the
notice of Parliament, it was a reason for refusing all
relief. That Parliament should specifically recognise
and pay such debt, is monstrous.
" Ever yours,
- AY. P."
" I think I see, on the first view, that the accounts
j'ou have sent me are prepared under Lord Auckland's
direction. Nothing can be more perspicuous in its
form than the abstract. It is unluckily subject to the
remark, that in the charge on the Consohdated Fund,
it wholly omits the interest of tlie Imperial loan, and
is in some other respects below the result of former
statements bv about 150,000/. : and that in the income
it includes amongst the permanent taxes 2,000,000/.
temporary (now substituted for the land-tax), and
takes credit also for the unredeemed land-tax itself,
and for the saving of interest arising from the redemp-
tion. Whether the accuracy of the detail corresponds
16 DIARIES AXn CORRESPOyDEN'f K OF
with the outhnc, 1 have not yet examined ; but 1 sus-
pect in the beer duties it takes credit for the post-
poned duties, but forgets to deduct for the stock in
hand of malt."
Mr. Pri'i' TO Mil. liosr.
" Walmer Castle, May Ist, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" Many tlianks for your letter. I liardly tliink
Patton can mean to make his motion, if tlie final
answer is not come ; and if it is, he will surely
still wait for the papers, which I suppose in cither case
of war or peace, must be laid before Parliament. At
any rate if the motion is for the slate of the nation,
I own if I were present, I should be much inclined to
oppose it. If the answer is not come, the time alone
is a sufficient objection ; but the very nature of so gene-
ral and indefinite an inquiry makes it, in my opinion,
very seldom lit to be resorted to ; and it seems much
fairer and better, if there were sufficient grounds of
complaint, or well-founded suspicion on specific points,
to make them the object of separate motions, instead
of going into a vast field which may include every
grievance — real or supposed. On this argument (in-
dependent of all others) we have repeatedly opposed
motions of this sort ; and it appears to me to apply as
strongly to the present case as on former occasions.
If the subject strikes you in the light in which I have
stated it, perhaps you may think it right to vote
against the motion, by which I do not conceive you
can be in anv degree committed to any opinion
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 17
respecting the measures whicli have been adopted by
Government. If, however, you feel the least hesita-
tion on this point, staying away, as you propose, seems
certainly the best course. I have been writing a long
answer to a letter from Lord Grenville, on the subject
of Revenue, in consequence of which he will probably
wish to trouble you on two or three points, which you
will be able to clear up easier than I can.
" Ever sincerely yours,
" W. P."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Bromley Hill, June 12th, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" I had from Steele a general account (as far
as he recollected them from a cursory view) of the
amount of the supply, and of the intended taxes.
This account did not differ very materially from
what you have learnt, except that he supposes only
1,500,000/. to be raised on malt, and larger sums on
some other articles ; but he did not profess to state
the particulars with accuracy. He puts the income
tax at 4,500,000/., and the other taxes at 7,500,000/.
" As far as I understand, I see nothing to object to
in the principle of any one of the taxes, though the
produce in some instances may be considered as
very questionable. The general plan and scale of the
ways and means I think very conformable to what the
circumstances require ; and on that ground my object
VOL. II. c
18 DIARIES ANirCOllUKSPONDEN'CE OF
will naturally be to endeavour to smooth as much as
possible all ditFiculties of detail.
" Ever yours,
" W. P.
" I mean to he in town pretty soon to-morro.v."
.MR. ROSE'S DIARIKS FOR FEBRrAUV AND APRIL, 1803.
[Tni; ahu'in exhibited in this diary at the prospcet
of France gettinp^ possession of the Isthmus of Suez,
and the Red Sea, by occupying J^gypt, is not without
its interest at the present day. The Prince of ^Vales's
oliiims to the arrears of the Duchy of Cornwall arc
discussed, and rather in his favour. .Mr. Pitt's love
for the King is strikingly shown by his disinclination
to resume odice, and consequently to take any steps
for turning out Addington, on account of the effect
which it would ])roduce u})on the King's mind. —
Ed.]
IValmor Castle, Si(/Khti/, Frbniari/ :H')///. — I'ound
Mr. Pitt on mv arrival here renu\rkablv well ; and
heing alone, we entered immediatelv on a discussion
of the state of public matters. The first thing he
mentioned was Sebastiani's account of his proceedings
in Egypt, &c., &c. to the Eirst Consul ; which he
considered as a declaration of the intentions of France
as to the line of conduct she meant to pursue in taking
possession of Egypt ; for extravagant as it may appear,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 19
that a country should announce beforehand its deter-
mination to commit acts of aggression against another,
such has been the practice of France since the revo-
lution, and it appears to have answered the purpose,
by famihariziug other nations with then* atrocities, and
persuading their own people that they are in pursuit of
a right object. However that may be, the publication
of such a statement at all, is giving authenticity to it
arid stamping it with marked a[)probation, as it could
be made only by the government, but it having ap-
peared in the papers under the immediate sanction of
government fixes it completely upon them, and calls
for the most decided representation from our Ministers
to force France to an explanation on the subject. If
not, whenever she shall invade Egypt she will tell us,
" I avowed my intention of doing so, and you were so
" conscious that you had no pretence to interfere that
'■' you did not say a word on the question." I was
naturally led, in pursuing tiic subject, to talk of the
importance of Egypt. We agreed that the possession
of that country must, in one way or other, completely
take from us the advantages we at present derive from
our possessions in and trade to the East Indies. The
facility that it Avould give to France to invade India with
large armies carried down the Red Sea from Cosseir,
where they could embark easily and have a perfectly
safe navigation, during a considerable part of the year,
to the Malabar Coast, cannot be questioned. Tiiese
armies they would be enabled, of course, to reinforce
from time to time, as they should find it necessary.
In another point of view, it a})pcars to be within a
c .2
20 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
probability that, with the spirit of enterprise so strongly
manifested in the French lately, they would be very
likely to attempt to make a large and navigable cut
from the Red Sea to the Nile, cither from Suez to
Cairo, or, more probably (as it would certainly be
much more useful), from Cosseir to the neighbourhood
of Chennah ; in which attempt, if they should succeed,
they would ctVectually bring the trailc of liulia to
Marseilles, and other ports in the Mediten-anean, by
carrviuK the commodities of that countrv through
Egypt, for probably about one half the expense of
our freight by the Cape of Good Hope.
Under these circumstances Mr. Pitt agreed that the
evacuation of Malta, which in any way that can be
thought of would let France almost at once into
possession of it, would be inexcusable ; as it nnist
unavoidably facilitate the French establishing them-
selves in Egypt.
Mr. Pitt aGjrced too that Sebastiani's interference in
Corfu, and generally with the republic of the Seven
Islands (the government of which had been settled
under the mediation of Russia and Turkey, guaranteed
by France), manifestly tending to fix the direct in-
fluence of the First Consul, if not the supremacy of
the French nation, over those islands, was as violent
an aggression as could be committed, and almost as
dangerous a one ; as Corfu is considered nearly as
important as Malta, both from its natural strength
and situation, with a view to either the attack or
defence of Egypt. It followed, of course, that this was
a strong additional reason for insisting on an expla-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE.
M
nation of the intentions of the First Consul, arising
out of the strange and extraordinary papers of Se-
bastiani.
Mr. Pitt told me he knew to a certainty that when
Captain D'Auvergne was taken up at Paris two or
three months ago, he was examined as to loliat his in-
structions were during the last war when he commanded
at Jersey, and as to his conduct in executing those
instructions ; which he found from a conversation he
had with the Chancellor, when last in town, was not
known to his Lordship. Mr. Pitt supposes some ex-
planation has been given on the subject by the French
Ambassador, but by no means a satisfactory one ; and
not as having been authorized by his court to disavow
the transaction. He states it, it seems, to have been
done by some subordinate officer without the au-
thority or the knowledge of the government. On a
point so essential to the national honour, a direct dis-
avowal appears to Mr. Pitt as well as to myself
indispensably necessary.
We next discussed the business of the Prince of
Wales, which is to be under the consideration of
Parliament this week. On that, I had the good fortune
to find Mr. Pitt agreeing with the opinion I had
repeatedly expressed in town ; indeed, nearly with
what he had stated to Lord Castlereagh at Bath
before Christmas, that in any event the question of
rio-ht as to the income of the Duchv of Cornwall,
during the minority of his Royal Ilighness, should
have been decided ; which he thought (as to any
present advantage to that Prince) could not have been
22 DIARIES AND CORKESPOXDENCE OF
available to him ; because, supposing liim to have
been, in the contemplation of law, of age from his
birth and so entitled to the income, he had in fact
had it, it having been laid out in the charges of his
maintenance, tSrc. &c. during his real minijrity. That,
however, he (Sir. P.) saw no material objection to
the debt of the Prince being paid, if anvthing like
a general opinion prevails that after having been for
manv vears restrained in his income he should now
have it free.
In the eveniu'; Mr. Pitt entered verv fullv into his
own situation, and what he ought in the present state
of things to do. lie admitted his health to be fully
good enough at present for him to undertake business,
but doubted very much whether a close attention to
that would not throw him back, and render him unfit
for the principal charge of public atiairs. I lis disin-
clination, however, to an immediate attendance in
Parliament he distinctly admitted to me arose from
the extreme difficulty of his situation ; he supposed
Mr. Addington wished him to be present, though no
direct application had been made to him ; he knew
from Lord Camden, that Lord Spencer and the new
opposition wished him to attend, and that they were
holding back from making any motions or taking any
steps till they should see what line he would pursue :
and I have no doubt, but that Mr. Fox wishes him to
be forced into a declaration of his sentiments pub-
licly, conceiving that he Avould thereby be consider-
ably embarrassed, by his dislike, on the one hand, to do
anything that would distress Government, and bv the
THE RIGHT IIOX. GEORGE ROSE. 23
impossibility, on the otlier hand, of his approving the
timid and irresohitc measures pnrsned by those who
are in it. He said (if he should attend) his stating
objections to the measures pursued by Government,
in foreign atfairs, would prol^ably be inevitable ; the
consequences of Avhich might be the removal of the
present Government ; and he entered then into a
train of reasoning to prove the utter inexpediency of
his forcing himself into administration, or coming
into office again at this moment, even if Mr. Ad-
dington's cheerful concurrence could be obtained ;
referred to what he had before said about the danger
to his health ; ' — the little chance he had of doing
good ; — the effect it might have personally on the
King ; — the almost certainty of its being attended with
a renewal of the war ; — and the knowledge that he
could not return to his former situation without
having nearly the whole weight of the government
upon him, which he now felt himself unequal to.
On the subject of finance I found ^Ir.Pitt had stated
in detail to Mr. Addington, to Mr. Vansittart, and
to Mr. Steele the whole of the errors the former had
fallen into on opening the budget on the lOtli of
December last ; — that Mr. A. was so thorouo-hlv
ignorant of the whole matter, that he could not make
him comprehend the extent or even the nature of his
gross blunders ; — this Mr. Vansittart justified in part,
but cut the conversation short ; and that Mr. Steele
stated the explanation of Mr. Vansittart by letter,
which he admitted to be by no means satisfactory :
^ Loifl Eldon's Life, vol. i. p. 44.3, line 23.
24 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDEXCK OF
acknowledging, indeed, that Mr. Addington wonld be
under a necessity of explaining his former statements,
and of proposing considerable taxes, but that he
thought he would defer the latter till next year when
the produce of the revenue in peace would be better
known, and the peace establishment could be better
ascertained. Mr. Steele, in further explanation, said
that Mr. A. knowingly overstated the future revenue
of the country in order to prevent Mr. Fox resisting a
high peace establishment, which was thought indis-
pensably necessary ; thus subjecting himself to a just
imputation of a direct imposition upon Parliament and
the public to avoid the charge of childish ignorance,
Mr. Pitt told me that the paragraph at the i)ottoni
of page 20, in Mr. Addington's printed speech, begin-
ning "inferences no less favourable," and ending at
the bottom of page 21, was not spoken by him ; but
inserted in it to obviate an objection made by Mr.
Pitt to Lord Castlereagh, at Bath, before Christnuis,
of Mr. Addini]rton not having said anvthini:j about the
permanent taxes, but relying altogether on the produce
of the Consolidated Fund. He told me also that the
speech was printed the very day he saw Mr. Adding-
ton, and on which he stated to him the gross and
monstrous errors : and that three days afterwards Mr.
Addington sent it to all the foreign Ministers resident
in London, and to all our Ministers at foreign Courts.
On reflecting on what has passed in these conversa-
tions with Mr. Pitt, the difficulties of his own situa-
tion, and of that of the country, do certainly appear to
nie in a most formidable point of view ; nearly, indeed
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 25
I fear, insurmountable, unless by the interposition of
Providence.
The conduct of France, in their undisguised inten-
tion of seizing upon Egypt, leaves us, apparently, no
possible means of avoiding a war. Even if that aggres-
sion, ruinous and destructive as it must be to us in
various points of view, as affecting our manufactures,
commerce, navigation, and revenue, could be passed
over, and Malta should be evacuated at the command
of France, other aggressions must inevitably follow,
that would force us to hostilities with her, however
reluctantly ; in which view of the subject, perhaps the
best thing that could happen, abstractedly considered,
would be Mr. Pitt's return to administration, in order
to conduct the war with spirit and ability. But his
coming into office in consequence of having brought on
a renewal of the war, would infallibly render him un-
popular, and would prevent his having the country
with him, as he had during the last. This unpopu-
larity would be increased, perhaps incalculably, by the
enormous taxes that must of necessity be imposed.
The latter consideration is, indeed, not sufficiently felt,
perhaps, by any one individual in the whole kingdom
except by himself and me, and not even by him to the
extent I am impressed with it. It weighs much with
me in reflecting on the probable consequences of his
coming into administration again. If he had been in
Government at the time of the peace (supposing him
to have acquiesced in the terms on which it was made),
I think his known spirit and firmness (however he
might have thought peace desirable on such terms
26 DIARIES AND CORRESPOND!' NfE OP
under the exigency of the pcriotl) would liavi' pre-
vented the gross and rej)cated insults and injuries
which have been heaped u|)on us. lint we have sub-
mitted to them, and we could hardly hoj)e that Mr.
Pitt's resuming otlice would arrest ihionaparte in his
ambitious career, or prevent his availing himself of an
opportunity, which, if now missed, might not recnr, of
lavinij his liands on Malta and ^"fvut. On the other hand,
if Hnonaparte is to be allowed to possess himself of those
quietly, aiul we are consecpiently to lose India, or, at
least, all important advantages from it, what a situation
are we in ! We shall have to contend with France
a little later, but crippled, discredited, dispirited, and
narrowed in our means of exertion. Mr. Pitt had a
strong impression on his uiind that if he held the lan-
guage he must hold, if he attends at all, it might force
the Ministers into a war thev are utterlv unable to
conduct under all the disadvantages of want of prej)a-
ration, especially in financial measures ; and that if
from motives of prudence, founded on an opinion that
France, having seen such glaring instances recently of
our irresolution and weakness, would not be restrained
by the most spirited remonstrances, and with a persua-
sion in his own mind of the difficulties before alluded
to in finding resources, he should suggest anything
like temporizing measm*es, that they would at once
abjectly throw themselves at the feet of Buonaparte.
If he does not attend he will ccrtainlv suflfer in the
public opinion to a considerable extent, as it will be
thouo-ht he should not withhold his advice at such a
crisis : but there are such serious objections (indepen-
THE TvIGHT HON. GEOKGE EOSE. 27
dently of personal considerations) to his attendance,
that, upon the whole, I cannot urge liim to it. It is of
great consequence towards his rendering future ser-
vices to the country, in times of danger, that he should
not diminish materially the degree of popularity he(
still retains; and I am convinced great risk would'-
be incurred, if any measures were adopted by him,
or forced upon others by him, that would infallibly
lead to a renewal of the war, which the country is so
extremely averse to. Upon the whole, anxious as I
was for Mr. Pitt's attendance before I came here,
I am a convert to his reasons which, under a choice
of very 2;reat difficulties, incline him to remain in the
I/O '
country.
Mondau , February Vid. — Mr. Pitt told me that when
he was in town, after Christmas, he dined and slept at
Mr. Addington's, in Richmond Park ; that they were
alone the whole afternoon and evening, and a consider-
able part of the next morning, in all which time Mr. A.
never dropped the remotest hint about Mr. Pitt re-
turning to office ; but in the chaise coming into town,
when they had reached Hyde Park, Mr. A., in a very
embarrassed manner, entered on the subject by saying
that if Lord Grenville had not stated the indispensable
necessity of ]\Ir. Pitt coming into office to carry on the
Government, he should have been disposed himself to
propose his return to administration ; and followed
that up in a way that rendered it im})ossible for
Mr. Pitt to remain silent. He, therefore, said that
whenever it should be thought there was a necessity
for his returning to office, he should consider very
28 DIARIES AND CORRESroXDEXCE OF
attentively how far it would be right and proper for
him to do so ; and in such an event lie should first
desire to know what his Majesty's wishes might be on
the subject; and that he should not decide without
knowing the opinion of Mr. A. and his colleagues
about it. It appeared, from Mr. Adilington having
delayed this conversation till tiiis time, within ten
minutes or a (juarter of an hour before their sepa-
ration, and from the e.vtreme embarrassment he was
under during it, that he felt reluctant and awkward
in beginning it, and that he wished it to be of no long
continuance.
Tttcsdfti/, Fchruarji 22d. — Mr. Pitt read over with
me attentively the notes I had prepared for a speech, in
answer to Mr. Addington's on finance, on the lOth of
December last, and concurs with me in every part of
my statement, and in every observation thereupon ;
admitting to the fullest extent that the prospects held
out by Mr. Addington were illusory, and that his
statements were full of the grossest errors, founded
on the most childish ignorance, lie persisted, how-
ever, so strongly in entreating me not to make the
exposure of those blunders, and urged such reasons for
it, that I agreed to be silent on the subject till the final
budget at the close of the session, when he promised
to probe the whole business to the bottom, unless
there should be any allusion to Mr. Addington's repre-
sentations about the financial situation of the country
in the meantime ; in which case I told him it would
be utterly impossible for me to forbear in general
terms warning the House from relying on the expecta-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 29
tions held out to them and to the country, in whicli he
perfectly agreed ; and on that understanding we closed
the subiect.
[Mr. Addington was very unwilling to descend
from the lofty pedestal on which the King had placed
him, but finding himself utterly incompetent to carry
on the Government with the feebleness of his own party,
he was constrained to look out for other aUiances to
strengthen himself. He could not well coalesce with
the Whigs, whose principles were entirely opposite to
his own ; and therefore, even if ancient friendship
had not directed him, there was nothing left for him
but Mr. Pitt. It niioht be thouo-ht that it would be
no humiliation to a man of his calibre to recognize the
superiority of that statesman, but he felt it so ; and
to avoid that degradation proposed a scheme that
would place them on the same level in the Cabinet.
They were both to serve under a third person. He
proposed to place at the head of the Treasury,
Lord Chatham ; on account of his name, which was
not then tarnished by the expedition to Walcheren, and
also on account of his relationship to ]\Ir. Pitt, which
he thought would reconcile him to the manoeuvre.
But aid CcBsar aut nullus was Pitt's motto. He knew
that the country would consider him responsible for
whatever occurred ; and he would not have the re-
sponsibility without the power which it implies.
30 DIARIES AND^ CORRESPONDENCE OF
Being now tlicrcforL' driven to tlic wall, Addington
complied witli the victor's terms, and it seemed as if the
object of coalition was effected ; hut it turned out, con-
trary tohis expectation, that his colleagues did not a})i)rc-
ciate the dilliculties of their position so accurately as
the Premier ditl. I'hey objected to the treaty, and he
was weak enough, contrary to his own convictions, to
break it oft\ Probably the objectors were tliose who
knew that tliey would not be accei)tablc to Mr. i^itt,
and would therefore lose their jjlaces ; but they could
scarcely be persons of sufHeient consequence to justify
the breach of the capitulation. Prom that time for-
ward jMr. Pitt would listen to no overtures from Mr.
Addington, but waited in cidm security till he should
receive the Kind's commands to form a new adminis-
tration. The following portion of Mr. Rose's Diary
traces the progress of this negotiation, concerning which
it is remarkable that Lord Eldon's biographer seems to
have been unaware of its existence, and even of some
conversation on the subject, attributed to him in this
Diary. — Ed.]
Tr'a/oicr, April Si/i, 1S03.— Mr. Pitt, after talking
a good deal to me respecting the d^ath of his mother,
and of feehngs awakened by that event, entered upon
the matters respecting which he had expressed much
earnestness to see me before he went to the neighbour-
hood of London.
He told mc that Lord ]\lelvillc came here on Sun-
THE lllGliT ilON. GEOllGE ROSE. 31
day, the 20 th of March, purposely to make an over-
ture to him from Mr. Addington, in terms nearly as
follow : — That it was very much his wish (Mr. Ad-
dington's) to strengthen the Government, by taking
in Mr. Pitt and some of his friends ; that in carrying
such a measure into effect he was sure Mr. Pitt would
be disposed to let it be done, with as little pain and
degradation to him as possible ; in order to which, he
hoped Mr. Pitt would not insist upon resuming his
former situation, but would be satisfied with naming
the first Lord of the Treasury, and filling the office of
Secretary of State ;^ suggesting at the same time Lord
Chatham, as a desirable man to be first Lord of the
Treasury ; to which Mr. Pitt flatly objected ui limine,
and expressed considerable surprise that Lord M.
would allow himself to be the bearer of such a pro-
posal ; insisting upon his (Lord M.) conveying by letter
a most unqualified refusal. Lord ]\I. wrote accordingly ;
and Mr. P. thinking there were expressions in the letter
too flattering to Mr. Addington, drew his pen through
them, and the letter was sent ofl". Li the course of the
conversation. Lord M. threw out that Lord St. Vincent
was imi)atient to retire, and that he was proposed
for the head of the Admiraltv. Lord Pelham to retire,
and Mr. Addington to be Secretary of State in his
room. The arrangement, stopping there, was utterly
unsatisfactory to Mr. Pitt, exclusively of the objec-
tion to his not behinf at the head of the Treasurv.
' It is difllciilt to decide whether the impudence of Mr. A., or the
baseness of the mes.senger who could charge himself with such a
communication, is most to be admired.
32 DIARIES AND CORRESPOXDEXCE OF
When Lord Melville retunicd to London on the Tues-
day, Mr. Pitt desired him to say to Mr. A. that if
anything should iiuluce him to listt-n to a proposal
for rcturniu2j to Government he would nut entertain a
thought of any situation but the Treasury, as lie
thought his being placed there was essential to his
being able to carry on the King's Government, espe-
cially with a view to eft'ecting the important objects
he had in view, respecting the finance of the country;
observing, that it was essential there should at all
times be one ])erson on whom the responsibility of
the Administration shoulil principally rest, ami who
was known to be at the head of it ; that the advan-
tage of that had been invariably found ; that expe-
rience had, during the whole of the late Ciovernment,
shown this advantage ; and how practicable it was
to have the advice and opinion of others ; reserving
( when it might be indispensably necessary ) the
decision to the one with whom the responsibility
chiefly rested. That, under this impression, he was
decided not to hesitate a moment in resolving, that if
he came into office, to take only the Treasury.
This communication having been made to Mr.
Addinston, he sent down ^Ir. Lone:, last week, to
say that he would consent to propose to the King
Mr. Pitt's returning to the Treasury ; still adhering to
Lord ^lelville being at the head of the Admiralty,
and himself being Secretary of State. On which
Mr. Pitt desired Mr. Long to say on his return, that
he would be at his (Mr. Long's) house, near Bromley,
to-morrow evening, and would see Mr. A. there on
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 33
Sunday, the lOtb, in order to enter fully on the
several points, wliicli he stated to me fully : —
First, — and principally, whether he should take
office pending the negotiation ; feeling strongly the
objection to his doing so, which I had on a former
occasion stated to him, viz. — the odium that Avould
be fixed upon him in the event of its terminating in
war, which seems absolutely unavoidable.
Secondly, — Avhether he should take office without
Lord Grenville, and Lord Spencer, as w^ell as Lord
jNIelville.
With regard to the first, I repeated all that I had
before said ; adding, that it did not appear to me that
any advantage to the negotiation could now be derived
from his taking a part in it, as Buonaparte, by his late
manifesto, published at Hamburgh by his express
order, had committed himself much too deeply to re-
tract ; and that, on the other hand, Buonaparte \vould
attribute the decisive advice for war to Mr. Pitt, and
that an impression of the same sort would be made
to a considerable extent on the public mind here.
LIow mischievous that might be in rendering Mr.
Pitt's government unpopular, was but too evident;
especially as Mr. Pitt would, to a considerable extent,
be mixed with all the blunders and irresolution of the
present ministers. He felt the full force of these ob-
jections, and some others of less w^eight very forcibly;
but he argued that it was extremely possible the
negotiation might be drawn to considerable length by
Buonaparte, perhaps for months. That, indeed, he
might hang the matter up just as long as he pleased,
VOL. II. D
34 DIARIES AND CORllESPONDENCE 01'
by allowing us to keep .Malta till the moment lie
should see it to his aclvairtage to break That if the
business should be so trained on for any time, the op-
portunity would be lost of taking vigorous measures
for the defence of the country ' and rousing the national
spirit; whieh he thought it of the utmost importance
should be done instantly. He trusted, too, that the
late manifesto of Buonaparte, already referred to, had
opened the eyes of the whole country, as to the vio-
lent aggression of France ; and tliat then; would
be but one (^pinion and one feeling, as to tlie measures
indispensably necessary to be taken for repelling it.
That imieh valuable time would, in the event of
a protracted negotiation, be lost also as to ope-
rations of finance, no less necessary than those for
defence.
These reasons certainly render the point very doubt-
ful whether Mr. Pitt, supposing all otlier ditliculties
removed, should take otliee directly. Lord Chatham
thinks the question of peace or war will be decided
by the day Mr. Pitt and Mr. Addington meet ; but
there is no real foundation for this hope.
Mr. Pitt is clear, in the event of an arrangement
going on, that he should insist on Lord liobart
retiring as well as Lord Pelham : Lord St. Vincent,
of course, himself being stated to desire it ; that Lord
Liverpool should not hold the Duchy, and Lord
^ This ^Ir. Pitt thought of importance, as no steps whatever ai-e
taking either here or in Ireland for the purpose, the uigency of
which is certainly very strong ; and it must be admitted that on this
point the loss of even a week is of serious imjwrtauce.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 35
Hawkesbnry the Secretaryship of State; that Lord
Dartmouth should retu'c from the office of Lord Steward,
which may be made a cabinet one for Lord Camden,
as in the instance of the Duke of Rutland ; conceiving
that persons who have got into offices by occurrences
on his quitting the Government, and since, which they
could not otherwise have looked to, should not be
allowed to retain them. Mr. Pitt doubted whether
there is any obhgation upon him to continue Lord
Salisbury as Chamberlain; he himself remained in
office without at all consuhing hiui, when the change
of government took place in 1801.
He thinks it will be impossible to avoid Mr. Ad-
dhigton being Secretary of State and a Peer ; unless
he could be prevailed with to take the Speakership of
the House of Lords separated from the Great Seal,
making up to the latter the income of it.
He agrees with me, that there are objections to Lord
Melville being at the head of the Admiralty, and that
he had better be Secretary of State for the War De-
partment again. Of course, if Lord Spencer returns^
he must have the Admiralty. The Law arrange-
ments to remain as they are.
Mr. Pitt is of opinion that Mr. Addington's prm-
cipal inducement to wish for the strengthening his
government is the dread of exposure of his finance
blunders, and the impossibility of going on, in a war,
with that department. He thinks, too, that Mr. A.
stated the certainty of having fifty sail of the line
much more broadly than Lord St. Vincent authorized
him to do ; conceiving that the latter had qualified his
D 2
36 DIARIES AND CUKKESrONDJiNCE OE
opinion in that respect by adding " if men can l)C pro-
vided for them."
Mr. Pitt thought of retaining Lord Ilobart in some
situation ; l)ut, after a good deal of discussion, he
concurred with me, that he wouhl be of no use, and
had no claim on him. The pretensions of Lord
Hawkesbury and Lord Castlereagh he admitted were
the oidy ones on him personally ; but, as before sug-
gested, the former not to keep his situation, and Lord
Liverpool retain the Duchy of Lancaster also.
Mr. Addington stated by Mr. Long, that the King
has not yet bien apprised of any new arrangement in
the Government. This, Mr. Pitt does not believe ; but
insists upon it, that nothing whatever shall be decided
upon till his Majesty shall have been consulted on
the subject, and expresses his entire approbation of
Mr. Pitt's ideas respecting his return to office.
Mr. Pitt is persuaded that his brother knew nothing
of Mr. Addiiigton's suggestion for him to be at the
head of the Treasury.
^ Nothing decided hi Mr. Pitt's mind, as to his in-
sisting upon Lord Grenville and Lord Spencer return-
ing to office with him ; but he is resolute on being
allowed to communicate as freely as possible with
them, and to act on their advice.
In the Sun of yesterday, there wa.s a violent and
gross attack on the Grenville party, in an official
paragraph, notifying a negotiation with Mr. Pitt.
If Mr. Pitt shall decide to take office, it is his in-
tention to open his plan of finance as soon as he shall
be re-elected, which we reserved the discussion of; —
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 37
agreeing that the country can be in no security in that
respect unless we can obtain almost at once the taxes
that will be wanted for seven years, in addition to the
income tax, which must of necessity be imposed again.
Mr. Pitt seemed resolved not to submit to any
restriction about removals of persons from the highest
situations.
He expressed great regret that no communication
had been made to Parliament from his Majesty when
the additional seamen were voted ; conceiving it was
most peculiarly called for. If he should come soon
into office he will certainly bring one, stating the
substance of what has passed.
April 9M.— Mr. Pitt went to Bromley Hill (Mr.
Long's) for the purpose of a personal communication
with Mr. Addington, and I returned to London by sea.
Ajjril Wth. — Mr. Pitt came to me in Palace Yard,
to communicate what had passed with Mr. Addington
at Bromley Hill the preceding day : which was, in
substance, that he had had a very full discussion
respecting the arrangement which Mr. A. expressed
an anxious wish should take place. Mr. Pitt told him
the only terms on which he could talk with him were,
that he should be at liberty to propose, in order
to its being submitted to his Majesty's consideration,
a list of persons from those who formed the late
Government, and from those who formed the present
one, to make an Administration ; of which, he should
himself be at the head, returning to his situation as
first Lord of the Treasury. That he should also be at
liberty to communicate fully with Lord Grenville and
38 DIARIES AND COrniESPOXDEyCE OF
Lord Spencer respecting the arrangement ; and the
arrangement sliould on no account take place till the
forei£;n negotiation should be completely over, and the
question of peace or war be completely decided.
These preliminaries having been cheerfully ac(|ui-
esced in by Mr. Addington, Mr. Pitt proceeded to
say, if the other ministers should likewise concur
in them, ii woidd be his intention to submit to the
King th(^ names of Lord Grenville and Lord Spencer
amongst the persons to form the new administration;
mentioning at the same time other particulars, that
he thought it right Mr. A. should be early ap-
prised of : Lord Pelliam to retire, which his Lord-
ship had before agreed to; Lord llobart to retire;
— against which Mr. A. remonstrated, but agreed to
it. Lord St. A'incent to retire, as he had earnestly
desired to do ; some subordinate situations to be
opened, into which persons had got from circum-
stances that occurred on the late change, who other-
wise coukl not have looked to them; such as Mr,
Bragge from the Pay Olhce, &c. &c. All which, in
the end, (after suggesting that Lord Grenville return-
ing to office might make an unfavourable impression
on the public mind) Mr. A. cheerfully consented to
(though it was evident from his conversation, that
Lord Melville had led him to expect that Mr. Pitt
would have been much more aquiesccnt), and expressed
an impatience to return to Bromley Hill to settle
matters finally, Mr, Pitt, however, told him he had
better take full time to consult his colleagues at lei-
sure. After Mr. Pitt had made this statement to me.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 39
I had hardly a shadow of a doubt but tliat the whole
arrangement would be immediately made to Mr. Pitt's
perfect satisfaction ; and with this impression I went
on the 12th to Taplow Court.
April 14tt/i. — I returned from the Marquis of
Thomond's, and the Bishop of Lincohi came to dine
here, who told me Mr. Pitt had received a letter from
Mr. Addington, most unexpectedly putting an end to
the negotiation.
April IQt/i. — Received a letter from Mr. Pitt, at
Bromley Hill, expressing a strong wish to meet me at
dinner on the ISth, as he hoped the day following to
leave London for the summer, going first with Lord
Carrington to Wycombe for a day or two, and then
crossing the country to the Wilderness (Lord Camden's
place in Kent), and so on to Walmer.
April 18///.— Dined with Mr. Pitt at the Bishop of
Lincoln's, and had a full conversation with him about
all that had passed in the negotiation, subsequent to
my last seeing him.
On the 12th he had a letter from Mr. A. (instead of
the visit he had promised), telling him he continued to
think the arrangement, as proposed by Mr. Pitt, would
not be considered admissible by his colleagues ; trust-
ing, therefore, he would not tenaciously adhere to it,
but said he would consult them, and be with him on
the 14th. Mr. Pitt was so much struck with Mr. A.
saying that he continued to be of an opinion, the con-
trary of which he had distinctly expressed in conversa-
tion, that he wrote to him to say he was persuaded his
coming again to him at Bromley Hill would be unne-
40 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
cessary, as his adhering to the arrangement as pro-
posed by him was indispensable ; but that if he
thought otherwise he (Mr. Pitt) wonUl })e in the way
the day following.
On the 14th, however, Mr. A. replied by letter that
his colleagues did not sec the necessity for the change
in the Administration gohig so far as Mr. Pitt pro-
j)osed, and closing the business in terms of civility.
The cii'cumstances which occurred in the cours(^ of
this transaction led Mr. Pitt to state the leading
j)oints in a letter to Mr. A. accurately ; — particularly,
that the proposal originated from an anxious wish
expressed l)y Mr. A. lor Mr. l^itt's return to otfice.
That he (Mr. Pitt) had not insisted upon anything
that could interfere with the King exercising his
judgment most freely on the names that should be
submitted for his Majesty's consideration, reserving to
himself the right of judging ultimately whether, in the
event of objections being made to persons, he would
come into Government again or not ; desiring it to
be clearly understood that Lord Grenville and Lord
Spencer knew nothing of his having mentioned their
names, or of his intention to say anything about them ;
and, of course, that he did not know whether or not
they would take office if it should be otfered to them.
That in no case whatever should the arrangement take
effect till the question of peace or war should be
finally decided ; adding that he considered the present
business as completely at an end, and stating distinctly
that he would in future receive no overtures but such as
may be made by the express command of his Majesty.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 41
CHAPTER II.
~ ~~' " 1803.
3IR. rose's diaries FOR AUGUST AND OCTOBER, 1803 — CORRESPONDENCE
WITH MR. PITT FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER, 1803.
[The following record of Count Woronzow's con-
versations may be considered an exception to the
general tenor of Mr. Rose's DiarieS; for it is filled
with anecdotes very inimical to Lord Sidmouth and
Lord Hawkesbury, which, if they are true, certainly
show that they were not equal to the tasks which they
had undertaken ; that the business of their offices was
too much for them ; and, consequently, that some part
of it was occasionally neglected. The portraits of the
Court of Petersburgh, and the contrast between the
Russian and the English Prince, are historical curiosi-
ties.— Ed.]
Cnffnells, August 20—23, IS03.— Count de Wo-
ronzow, the Russian Ambassador Extraordinary, made
me a visit here for three days, in the course of
which I had much interestinor conversation with him
on public matters ; the heads of the most important
parts of which T have here noted. He told me
42 DIAKIES AND COTlRESrO>:"nEN*CE OF
that he received a letter on Monday, tlie iTjth, from
the Emperor of Russia, written in his own liand, in
which his IVfajesty expressed the deepest regret at
hearing Mr. Pitt was not hkely to enter upon (he
charge of tlie A(hninistration again, as he coukl have no
confidence wliatever in the men wlio now govern this
country, marked as they are tlirougliout Euroj)e for
their utter imbecihty ; which, the Count said, occa-
sioned no surprise in liim, as lie knew from all the
foreign Ministers here, and from his correspondence
with different parts of Europe, that they are held in
iniiversal contempt. The Count added that he had so
much experience of their weakness, and in some in-
stances of their falsehood, that he should conceive it a
point of duty to do all in his power to disabuse the
King respecting their true characters ; with a view to
which it was his intention to communicate the original
letter above alluded to, through Baron Leuth, the
Hanoverian Minister, to his Majesty, as soon as the
Baron should return from Germany, — having made
frequent confidential communications to the King
through that channel.
The Ambassador from Portugal (Marquis de Souza)
told the Count that our Ministers had given him the
most positive assurances two or three months ago that
they would inmiediately send to Portugal 4,000 in-
fantry, chiefly foreign troops, probably from Egvpt
and elsewhere, 2,000 horses for their cavalrv; and
50,000 stands of arras ; but that no measures what-
ever were taken for sending any part of that supply ;
and that although he continued to receive assurances,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 43
as at first, he now entirely despaired of receiving any
aid at all.
Previous to Lord Whitworth leaving Paris, in
May last, the Count received from his Court
clear and distinct instructions to propose to the King
the mediation of Russia for terminatin gt the differences
between Great Britain and Prance, which he imme-
diately communicated to Lord Hawkeshury, waiting
impatiently for an answer.^ After a fortnight had
elapsed without his receiving one, he saw in the news-
papers a speech of Mr. Addington, in a debate on the
war, containing a declaration that if the interposition of
Russia had been offered, due regard would have been
paid to it ; in short, that it would have been made
available as far as possible. Astonished at such an
assertion, the Count wrote immediately to Lord
Hawkesbury to remonstrate upon it, stating that, as
the English debates were translated and inserted in
many of the neswpapers on the Continent, his Em-
peror must be filled with surprise when he should
see such a statement from the first Minister of this
country after the instructions he had given on the
subject to him (the Count) ; to which his Lordship re-
plied that the speech of j\Ir. Addington had been in-
correctly given in the papers, as he had not made such
an assertion as stated ; adding, that he had not yet had
time to laij the offer of the Emperor of Rtissia before
the King, hut that he would take an early opportunity
' The Count told me that at the time of his making this com-
munication to his Lordship, the only observation made by the
latter was, " It is too late."
44 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
of doinf) m} Tie had tlien, as lias been already ob-
served, had that offer in his possession more than a
fortnight ; and, in the debate allnded to, Mr. Fox
pressed the Ministers so hard respecting the mediation
of Russia, that in order to get rid of his motion for an
address to the King to seek it, they positively under-
took to trv to obtain it. On which the Count observed
to me, that by doing so, they would have given to Mr.
Fox the merit of the measiu'e, if it should have suc-
ceeded ; whieh, however, by their conduct, they had
prevented any chance of, as the Fmpcror could hope
for no success in a nudiation into which the British
Government was reluctantly forced.
Tile Prince Castelcicala, Minister from the King of
Naples, told the Count that when his master heard of
the appointment of Mr. Hugh Eliott to \w our Minister
at his Court, he had instructions from the King of
Naples to remonstrate against it in the strongest and
most lively manner, as a thing most offensive, painful,
and disagreeable ; possibly for reasons which from deli-
cacv are not here noted. Lord Hawkesburv assured
the Prince the appointment could not be revoked. The
Prince then urijed thenecessitv of it still more forciblv
than at first ; and entreated that, as the humiliating
state to which the King of the Two Sicilies was
reduced was owinj]j solely to his attachment to this
1 By this conduct we lost the chance, desperate as it was perhaps,
of avoiding the war with France ; but if we had not found that
advantage, we should almost to a certainty have secured the friend-
ship of Russia, in the event of France being unreasonable.
The Count told me he had shown the letter containing the words
marked under, in Lord Hawkesbury's own writing, to Mr. Pitt, and
that on mv return to town, he would show it to me.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE ROSE. 45
country, advantagu might not be taken of that to
degrade it still further by forcing upon him the only
foreign Minister in England to whom any objections
would be made. All was, however, in vain ; and
Mr. Hugh Eliott was sent out with Lord Nelson.
The Count received a letter from Mr. Vansittart,
Secretary to the Treasury, in the summer of 1801,
acquainting him, for the information of his Court, that,
in consideration of the very liberal and handsome
conduct of the Emperor, in giving up to this country
the Leander, 50-gun ship, retaken from the E'rench
when the Russians got possession of Corfu, the King
had ordered 10,000/. to be given as a present to the
ofKcers of the Imperial squadron which took that
island ; and that a warrant was signed for it ; request-
ing, therefore, that his Excellency would authorize
some person to receive it : in consequence of which,
the Count gave a power to Mr. Harman for that pur-
pose, who having made repeated applications for the
money in vain, receiving always for answer that it
coiUd not be spared, the Count at length withdrew
the power from Mr. Harman, requesting at the same
time that he would blot out of his books all the corre-
spondence on the subject, that no trace might remain
of a transaction so discreditable to the British Govern-
ment, as their not being able, or their unwillingness,
to pay such a sum as 10,000/. for which the King
had signed a warrant. The money was about eighteen
months afterwards remitted to Sii' John Warren, our
Ambassador at St. Petersburgh.
From the whole of the conversation 1 had with the
16 DIARIES AND COKKESPONDENCK OF
Count, I am inclined to hope his Court is well tlis-
posed toward this country. J lis own opinion is most
decidedly in favour of the two nations preserving a
perfectly good correspondence, as essential to the
true interests of both. He thinks that while Russia
acts upon that princi[)le, Denmark and Sweden will
not venture to take any part hostile to us, whatever
the i)olitics of either of those countries may be. The
former governed by a miserably weak Administrator
(the Prince Regent) not likely to be disposed to stir.
In the latter the whole decidedly French, except the
King, who is a determined Antigallican.
With the present Ministers in the Enghsh Cabinet,
however, the Count utterly desponds of anything being
eifected. He assiu-ed me, most solemnly, that Lord
Hawkesbury is absolutely incapable of transacting
common business. That in the connnunication of
despatches of the most serious importance from his
Court to him, they are frequently not noticed at all
for two or three weeks ; and then in a manner and in
a style which he finds it impossible to transmit to
St. Petersburgh, and have often compelled a necessity
of his suggesting alterations svhich have been adopted.
On the whole, that there is an actual imbecility in his
Lordship, as a man of business, which no man can
have a comprehension of who has heard him speak in
Parliament, or who has read his speeches. The Count
lamented to me deeply, that with this knowledge of
the character of his Lordship for want of talent, as well
as for protraction or wilful delay in matters of the last
importance, he could have no confidence in him ; that
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 47
he regretted this the more, as the Kmg had conde-
scended to request it of him strongly. He tokl me that
on the King's birth-day (the 4th of June, 1801), just
after the change of ministers, his Majesty sent for him
to the Queen's House, not going that day to St. James's,
where he found Lord Hawkesbury with the King ;
w^hen his Majesty pressed him in the most earnest
manner to give his entire confidence to his Lordship,
as he knew he had done to Lord Grenville : to which
his Excellency replied, that he would do all that could
depend upon him to transact the business between
the two Courts in the most friendly and practicable
manner; but that confidence could not be at once
given as he would take a pinch of snufF.
The Count told me that in the Duke of Portland's
late dangerous illness, he wrote a letter to the King,
when he supposed himself at the point of death
(having been absolutely given over by his physicians),
in which he implored his Majesty in the most aftecting
manner to recall Mr. Pitt to his service, as a matter
of indispensable necessity ; stating that he had never
had strong or personal attachments to him, but that
he had a clear and perfect conviction he was, beyond
all comparison, the fittest man to be at the head of
the Government in times of difficulty or peril; that
he gave that advice under an impression he was
almost immediately to answer for it at the judgment-
seat of God ; and that its not being followed, woidd
be attended with the most serious and imminent
danger to the country.
Keferring to some former occurrences between
^"8 DIARIES AND COUUESPONDENCK OF
Great Britain and Kussia, the Count gave nir an
account of his conduct respecting the groiuid of our
armaments against Russia in 1789. He said, when
he found from the Duke of Leeds, then Secretary of
State, that the liritisli Ministers had determined to
go to war rather than allow Russia to have Oczacow,
he gave his Grace notice, that, tiiuling all other means
fail him, he would try what he could do with the
0|)j)osition to prevent it; soon after which he met
Mr. Fox at Sir Ralph Payne's, where he was invited
at his re(piest by Lady Payne, now Lady Lewington.
The history of what followed is well known. It is
beyond all doubt that the public opinion, worked up
by the Opposition, compelled the I^ritish Cabinet to
acconuuodate matters with Russia acjainst their clear
convictions. I am perfectly sure against that of
Mr. Pitt.
I could not talk with the Count about the personal
character of the Lmperor or Empress ; but 1 learned
from his daughter,' one of the most amiable young
women I ever met with, and very intelligent and
obsenant, as well as from Miss Jardine, a daughter
of the late Colonel Jardine in our artillery, who has
long lived with the young Countess, that the Emperor
is an extremely worthy and honourable man, and
remarkably shy and reserved, to a degree ])ainful to
himself and distressing to those about him ; modest
and unassuming, kind in his manner, certainly well-
intentioned, but his understanding moderate, though
not approaching to imbecility. The Empress affable
' Afterwards Countess of Pembroke.
THE 31IGIIT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 49
and kind, not meddling with public matters. The
Empress Dowager also kind and good, but mixing her-
self much more than she ouojht to do in the conduct
of affairs ; her influence in the politics of the Court
certainly greater than that of the reigning Empress,
but no trace of her using it at all mischievously. The
young Countess and Miss Jardine were with the Count
in Russia several months in the last year, and during
a considerable part of that time lived with the two
Empresses, very frequently dining with the Emperor,
and seeing him at his leisure hours, which gave them
abundant opportunities for observation. The conde-
scension of the Emperor will hardly permit him to
comply with the established forms of the Court. He
could hardly be prevailed with, at a ball there, to give
his hat, according to usual custom, to a young page
in waitins ; — which was contrasted with the conduct of
Prince William of Gloucester, who, at the same ball,
called upon or permitted Major Dawson, one of the
gentlemen travelling with him, to kneel down and
buckle his shoe, which became loose while his High-
ness was dancing. On mentioning the name of the
latter, the Countess was led to express her deep regret
that his whole conduct while in Rassia tended to
offend and disgust the royal family and all the prin-
cipal people who showed him attention.
Count Woronzow having had information, on which
he could most confidently rely, of a Frenchman, of an
infamous character, and an agent of M, Talleyrand's,
unquestionably employed by him as a spy, he gave
inteUistence of the circumstance himself to Lord
Hawkesbury ; and, after having repeatedly urged him
VOL. II. E
50 DIARIES AND COKUESPON DKNCE OF
Oil tlic subject, Ills Lordsliip at length told him the
suspected person was touiul to be a very dangerous
man, and that his papers were theretbre seized, and
he sent out of the country : on whicii the Count ex-
pressed some curiosity to know what was discovered
from his j)apers, or if anything important respecting
his em|)loyment hero had been brouglit to light by the
seizure of them. To whicii Lord llawkcsbury re[)lied,
he really did not know, as that was in the department
of the Alien Oiice ! ! 1 A Secretary of State for Foreign
Afliiirs had no desire to be informed of the contents
of the papers of a spy, but h-ft the examination of
them to a clerk in the AHeii Otiice, who was himself
a foreigner (M. Lullisj ; and had not even the curiosity
to in([uire what they were ! ! I
Another anecdote the Count told me, of a somewhat
sinnlar nature. His (/uiiidiiirr (a respectable Russian
priest) Uientioncd to him liis having dined in the City
with ^Ir. Barlow (a notorious American Jacobin, who
was one of the legation from the Corresponding- So-
ciety to the National Convention in France) ; who, it
was perfectly well known, had resided at Paris during
the whole of the peace, and returned here on the
breaking out of the war, evidently for mischievous
purposes, which his Excellency communicated also to
Lord Hawkesburv, who said J^arlow should be sent
out of the kingdom under the provisions of the
Alien Act. Some time after, on inquiry from Mr.
Hammond whether he was actually gone, the answer
was that the American consul ' had made such earnest
entreaties in his favour, and given such assurances
' A known Jacobin.
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE KOSE, 51
that he would do nutliing offensive, tliat Lord IJawkes-
bury had consented to Ids remaining in this country ! ! I
The Count added, it would be endless to attempt to
enumerate all the instances which had come to liis
knowledge of the imbecility and gross neglect of his
Lordship. He mentioned, however, many others in
the course of various conversations.
[The libellous pamphlet published in the August
of this year, and not disavowed or contradicted by
Mr. Addington or any of his colleagues, so exasperated
Mr. Pitt that he was only prevented from immediately
joining the Opposition by his fidelity to the King.
Nevertheless it was, no doubt, his indignation at this
treatment, together wdtli the blunders in finance, to
which he could not open Addington's eyes, and his utter
incapacity to provide either fur offensive or defensive
war, which excited him in the following year to give the
King notice that he would support that Minister no
longer. He declared that he never should have a place
in any administration formed by him. Vnit his anger
Avas of brief duration ; for the year after, they were
reconciled. Considering, however, how sore ]\Ir. Pitt
was upon that subject, and how severely he felt it at
the time, Ave have a proof of his magnanimity and unas-
sailable integrity, in the answer which he gave to the
Prince of Wales, who wanted his aid in the House of
Commons, to obtain the command of the army, aiul
therefore sent a messenger to inform him, that if he
E 2
52 DIAllIES AND C()lllli:Sl'ONJ)i:.NCl': OF
caine to the tlirouc, it was liis intention to employ
liim. The Prince's sincerity may well he douhted ;
but he (piite mistook his mrm. Mr. Pitt replied, that
it was a contingency he could not contemplate, and in
the meantime the best thini^ he (the Prince) could do
was to support his Majesty's ministers. These arc
the main subjects of this Diary.]
OJ<l Palace Yard, Siuidai/, Oclohrr id, IS 03. —
I arrived in town to meet Mr. Pitt l)y aj)j)ointment,
who came also this morninf;, liaving slept at Lord
Darnley's, in his way from W'aliucr.
We talked fully on the subject of the j)amphlet
published about two months ago, entitled " A few
cursory Remarks upon the State of Parties during
the Administration of Mr. Addini^ton ; " bv " A Near
Observer." I told him it had been mentioned to me
that bethought the jjublieation a harndess one ; which
he said was so far from beini' the case, that it struck
him to be one of the most malignant, false, and artful
statements he ever saw, and calculated to do much
mischief; that he was so much impressed with that
opinion, that on a late application from Lord Castle-
reagh to him for advice on a matter in discussion with
the East Lulia Company, he assured his Lordship,
t/iaf liai'tiuj road f/ie pamphlet alhidi'd fo, he found
himself under an impossibility of hohimg the remotest
intercourse icith any individual in the present adminis-
tration as a member of the Government, whatever senti-
ment of private reqard he mir/hf entertain for him,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 53
unless the jJubUcation should be disowned hy Mr. Ad-
din(/ton, in the most unrjualijied and satisfactory manner,
as publicly as the falsehoods had been circulated ; — to
which he had no reply from his Lordship.^
\Ye then discussed the several points most immedi-
ately calling for an answer or observations. Mr, Pitt
agreed with me, that it is now become of the most
serious importance that some explanation should be
given on the causes of his retiring from office ; and that
tlie necessity he is reduced to in that respect would
justify fully his making public the circumstances which
led to his retiring, observing all the caution possible,
and with the utmost delicacy towards the King ; in
particular, that it should be known to the public that
he had offered his Majesty to remain in office till the
country slioidd be completely clear of all its diffi-
culties, if his Majesty would forbear to allow his
name being used on the Catholic question.^ And that
he did not at last retire till he found it impossible
^ This alone is a strong instance of the Government sanctioning
the piibhcation ; but a much more unequivocal one appeared in the
Sim of Friday, September 30th, in which it is stated, as from
authority (under the signature of " A Country Gentlciuau"), that
the Secretaries of the Treasury circulated it o«/yamongst their private
friends ; that IMr. Addington, honest soul ! knew nothing about it,
for that it was his brother-in-law, Bragge, in his most intimate con-
fidence, fiu-nished the facts, or supposed facts, to Mr. Bentlcy ; who,
in addition to the incitement of pecuniary reward most liberally
bestowed upon him, was actuated by strong personal and implacable
hatred to Mr. Pitt, ou account of a disappointment he had met with
from him. The Govei'ument knew that, because Mr. Sargent told me
in the summer, Mr. Bentley had offered himself to them then, at the
same time abusing Mr. Pitt in the grossest terms.
- The King had agreed to do so, as far as respected himself ; but
said he would put no restraint on others in stating his opinions.
64 I »l A HIES AND COKRESPONDENCK OF
to liavc any satisfiictury assurance I'runi his Majesty
on tlie subject.
Secondly, \\c agreed tiiat a proper explanation
sliould l)e given of the gronnils on wliicli lie with-
drew his support. On discussing this point, he
reminded nic tiiat the tirst occasion on which he
liad reason to be dissatisfieil was the King's speech
at the close of the session last year: that from
that time he had luKl no intercourse with Mr.
Addington till October, when nothing conlidentiai
l)assed, and that he was utterly ignorant of nil Ihal
look /ilfire in the ncj^-otiatiuii, mrniy parts of which,
as detailed in a separate paper, he could not, in
his conscience, ai)prove of or sanction. Connected
with this, we agreeil also to show at the same time
the impudence of the charge against Mr. l*itt,
of (obstructing measures of finance, and throwing
(lifHculties in the way of Mr. A. on the subject,
by calling to the attention of the public Mr. Pitt's
forbearance in not exposing the gross and numerous
blunders, to an enormous extent, in Mr. Addiiiglon's
statement of ti nance before last Christmas, which it
would be proper to refer to in the answer to the
j)aniphlet, to account for his withdrawing his sup|)ort ;
it being evident that no assurance of that could be
supposed as intending to bind liiin to sanction pro-
ceedings of which he entirely disap[)rovcd.
Thirdly. — That the most positive contradiction sliould
be given to the impudent falsehoods of Mr. Pitt's
having determined to force himself again into the
Administration, in opposition to the King's wish ; and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 55
that he had peremptorily insisted upon Lord Grenville
coming into office with him, as a sine qua non.
In addition to what may be said on these two
points in the pamphlet, Mr. Pitt thought it might be
advisable (certainly justifiable) to publish the letters
which passed betw^een him and Mr. Addington at the
close of the negotiation, which would remove every
possible doubt on the two points above referred to ;
which may be done by giving copies of them to dif-
ferent persons without any injunctions against their
publication.
Fourthly. — ^To show that the early opposition of
Lord Grenville, Mr. Windham, and Mr. Canning, was
absolutely and entirely out of all control of Mr. Pitt ;
and that he can by no possibility have any thing to
answer for on that head."
Other matters of inferior moment were discussed,
and it was agreed how they should be treated. /''
After which, we came to consider who should
undertake to write the answer to the pamphlet. ^L\
' I had a long conversation with Mr. Canning on this part of the
subject, on my way to town (at his own house at South Hill), but
could not prevail with him to admit the indispensable necessity of
not making common cause between Mr. Pitt and Lord Grenville, in
the answer ; he persisted that it should be so, and evidently wished to
answer the pamphlet ; but I had a clear conviction that his doing
so w^ould be destructive to Mr. Pitt as far as regarded what appeared
to him and me the injudicious (to call it no worse) opposition of his
Lordship, Mr. Windham, &c. In my way down I saw Mr. Canning
again, and told him an answer was intended by a person not con-
nected immediately with Mr. Pitt, at which he seemed much morti-
fied. I explained to him that the distinction between the parties
above alluded to need in my opinion be only retrospective ; that
prospectively they might he one.
5 DIARIES AMJ COUUESPONDENCE OF
Pitt was most ilecidtdly against any one iiiniu'cliatrly
connected with liiin doing it; tliiiiking tin- assertions
and contradictions might he so j)iit l)y an indillerent
person, as to li\ tlic truth of tlicm on tin- |)ul)he mind
by calling npon .Ministiis to contraiHct an\ one of
them if tliey conld ventnre to (h) so. W'c were hoth
at a loss to think of a tit person for the work. At
length we decided to talk with Mr. Thomas Peregrine
Conrtney ahont undertaking it, who has just |)id)-
lisht (1 a sensible j)amphlet in answer to Mr. Morgan's
tinancial statements, and animadvertiiii; very well,
and with good ellect, on the one in (piestion. F
engaged also to see the person who has commented
on it repeatedly in the Sim, under the signature of
" Fitz Albion," and who wrote to me for information,
to enal)le him to do that usefullv, two or three weeks
ago, without my taking any notice of his application,
at the time, not having a guess of who he was. My
letter to the author was not calletl for during the day
I remained in town, consequently 1 remain in igno-
rance of who he is.
We next talked of the conduct of Government
respecting the defence of the country, which appears
daily to be more and more incomprehensible. Mr.
Pitt told me that very early after his arrival in the
country, he had an offer from the people of Deal of
fifty gun-boats, which he immediately communicated
to Government, and it was accepted. Convinced of
the great utility of such a defence, he obtained from
some otlicr places an offer of fifty more ; but before he
was regularly authorized to communicate that to the
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 57
Administration, he received a private letter from
Lord tlobart, requesting him to get more boats if he
could. Of course he replied to his Lordship that
he had anticipated his wish to the extent above
mentioned, and at the same time wrote to the
Admiralty to beg they would order the second set
to be fitted ; to which he received for answer from
their Lordships, that Lord Hobart was taking other
measures for obtaining gun-boats, to be equipped as
well as found by the ports ; besides Avhich the
Admiralty had no 4-pound carronades to spare.
The last observation is the more extraordinary, as
only four or five of the boats required carronades so
small as this, and there are plenty of larger ones in
store. After which, a correspondence took place
between Mr. Pitt, Captain Essington, commanding
the Sea Fencibles at Dover, the Navy Board, and
the Admiralty Board ; the latter having reprimanded
Captain Essington for encouraging the application
about fitting the gun-boats, though he had been
called upon by the Navy Board to state how many
were required to be fitted ; and at this moment no
orders have been given by the Admiralty for the
purpose, but they are now daily expected. Mr. Pitt
has in the whole 150 gun-boats.
Other measures of defence, thought by Sir David
Dundas and General Moore^ to be of great impor-
tance, were equally neglected. Colonel Twiss, and
other distinguished officers, had approved of a species
' Sir John Moore, who then had a command in Kent, and lived in
intimacy with Mr. Pitt, though a Whig.
58 l^TARIES AND CORRESPONDENX'E OF
of towers or castles,' capable ot" containing twenty-five
men cacli, witli a heavy carnjiiade or gun nt the top,
not assaihible, except witli ladders of a great height, or
with heavy cannon brought against them ; in conse-
quence of wjiich it was long ago agreed that a number
of them should be erected on the most exposed parts
of the coast ; but not a stroke struck yet to make a
beginning of any one of them.
Mr. Pitt t(/ul me that after I left London in the
beginning of the siunmer, lu- had a most extraor-
dinary communication from the Prince of Wales, in
an extremely circuitous manner, ultimately through
Lord .Mulgrave, stating that he wished Mr. Pitt to
understand clearly that his Roval Highness had not
the slightest disinclination towards him ; that he //^/fi
entertained thoughts, whenever power and authority
should devolve uj)on him, of giving his confidence to
Lord Moira; and that, iiulecd, he had at one time
intended, in such an event, to call upon Mr. Fox; but
he was now satisfied, from those parties themselves, that
he could not do so wisely as to determine to employ
him (Mr. Pitt), adding many expressions of civility.
To all which Mr. Pitt replied, through the same
channel, that he entertained a due respect and proper
sense of duty to his Royal Highness. He trusted,
however (as he was certain his Royal Highness
hoped), it would be long before he would have to
decide anything ou that subject, and that in the
mean time he humbly thought his Royal Highness
' Martello towel's.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 59
could not do better, as far as be might think it right to
interfere in pohtical matters, than to give his support
to such ministers as the King his father should give his
confidence to. The communication having been made
to Mr. Pitt just before the discussion took place in
the House of Commons about the refusal of his Royal
Highness's offer to serve, Mr. Pitt is inclined to think
the application to him was in the hope of getting him
to take a part in that debate friendly to the views of
his Royal Highness.
Nothing finally settled respecting a provision for
Lord Pelham, who holds off taking the Duchy of
Lancaster, insisting upon it that if he accept it, it
shall be considered as a reward for past services, and
not as giving the Administration any claims upon
him prospectively. He will likewise have it for life,
or not at all.
Provision is to be made for Mr. Sheridan's son, as
a reward for the father's services ; but to avoid
wounding the delicate feelings of bot/i, there is an
intention of giving Sir John Morshead an employ-
ment, that the Prince of Wales may appoint Mr.
Thomas Sheridan to the situation Su" John now has
mider him.
Mr. Pitt says the arrangements made by Loril
Keith in his command, on the Downs station, are
remarkably able, and very zealously executed.
I saw^ a confidential letter to-day from Captahi
Wright, employed off Boulogne in a situation of great
trust, who says he is sure there are at the least one
hundred gun-boats in Boulogne only ; and he is of
no DTATIIES AM) frmEESPONDEN'CE OF
opinion tlicy may l)i; cxtrcnicly troublesonic,' It lias
long occurred to nic they may be so even to our large
sliips, if they come out in gnat mmibers. I'vcrv
sliot almost from thosr will till ; u Iiercas thcv, bcini;
remarkably low in Ihc water, will st'ldoni be hit bv
shot from our largest men-of-war.
Lord Chatham was with Mr. Pitt ;it \\'almer after
the publication of th(> pamphlet before alludrd to, but
he never mentioned it, nor .Mr. I'itt to his Lordship.
Ml'. Pitt mentioni'd to me, with deep regret, the
unaccountable neglect of the (iovernment respecting
the late attempt at insurrection in Lvland. The Lord-
Lieutenant had information of dangerous practices in
the spring, aiul advised Mr. Addington of them by
a letter to himself; nhvv which his Lordshij) made
earnest a])plication for parliamentary interposition, to
enable him to take necessary measures to repel the
attempt of the insurgents. Lord Pelham, Secretary
of State for the Home Department, objected that
there was not ground to go to Parliament upon, when
^Ir. Addington produced Lord Hardwicke's letter,
ir/nc/i he oioied he IkhI hml in his pocket sonirfhitff/
more than a fortnight, without having made any com-
munication of it, or about it, to any of the Cabinet.
' These boats nuist, of necessity, be infinitely superior to those
we have at Deal. Tlie latter, belonging to iiuliviiluals, are calculated
only for the purposes of their occupation.'^, and frequently eniployetl
in them at some distiince ; too shght also to bear more than one
carronadc ; whereas the French are built expressly for the pui-pose,
strong, probably carrying hea\7 and loui] gims, with a great number
of men ; formidable therefore (when boarding shall be piacticalilc),
as suggested in the text, to our men of-war.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 01
From a private letter from Mr. Beresford/ to me, it
does not seem that the Lord-Lieutenant and Comicil
had taken the measures of precaution they should have
done ; and there can be no better authority than his,
as he is himself an active and efficient member of tlie
Council.
It appears as if Ministers were afraid to act up to
the principle which it was understood had been estab-
lished as the law of nations, respecting contraband,
in time of war ; as several neutral ships, laden with
naval stores, for Havre and other French ports, which
had been detained by our cruisers, were liberated, and
allowed to go to their destination ; which Mr. Pitt
assured me he knew to be true, and that he had good
reason to beheve the o;un-boats at Havre were built
and equipped with those so liberated. What then
did we contend for so zealously and successfully at
the latter end of the last war ?
Mondai/, Ocfoher 3r/. — Mr. Pitt came down to me
in Palace Yard, and Mr. Long met him there by
appointment. We went over the whole subject of the
Pamphlet again, in every part of which j\Ir, Long
agreed w^th Mr. P. and me ; but he doubted very
much whether an effectual answer could be given
without revealing several matters highly confidential
that had passed in the intercourse with Mr. Addington,
about Mr. Pitt's return to government ; but that objec-
tion was over-ruled, by the necessity for it having been
created by Mr. A. having encouraged the circulation of
^ Brother of the first Marquis of WaterforcL He was First Com-
missioner of the Revenue in Ireland.
()'2 DIAKTKS AND fOll UESPONDENCK OF
the lil)cl.' And aftor a Um<f discussion as to who slujuhl
answer it, it was ajj^reed uj)()n the whole to be desira-
ble that it should be done by S(Mne person nut
innnediatcly connected with Mr. Pitt ; as the asser-
tion of the falsehoods in the libel may be made
confidently, and truths asserted as boldly, callinj:; on
the friends of Mr. A. to contradict the one or the
other, with an observation, that if they venture
to do so, it cannot fail /o aunpi'l tlw production of
proofs. I had jjnpared very lull notes and observa-
tions for the piu-pose, whieh are to be given to the
person to be employed, with some furlhei: remarks of
Mr. Pitt's. .Mr. William Ciitlord and Mr. John Gilford
were both thought of: the first has an employment
during pleasure (double Commissioner of the Lottery),
and is more connected in opinion and habits with
Canning ; may have some feelings too towanls Lord
Grosvenor,- who is a warm supporter of Government;
— the other (iiflord rather a dull man, and very
unmanageable.' I then mentioned .Mr. Courtney, a
' Mr. Long said he had positively ascertained its having been sent
to several persons Li/ Mr. Vamillarl. He had no doubt of Mr. Bentley
I)eing the author. The latter had offered to Stockdale a i>aiiiphlct to
pul)li.sh, provided he would do so without reading it, which S.
naturally refused. He then offered it to Hatchard, who agreed to
publish on many passages being expunged, chiefly against Mr.
(.'aiming.
^ He had travelled with Lord Grosvenor when Lord Belgrave, and
is said to have been a well-informed and clever man. [Author of the
Buriad and Mirviad, translator of JitrenaL and editor of the Quarlrrlif
Rrxieir. — Ed.]
' [No relation to William Gifford. His real name was Green.
Editor of the TrueBrihiiu aud Anti-Jurobia Rfriew; and author of the
Life of /'///.—Ed.]
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. G3
son of the late Bishop of Exeter, who was appointed
a clerk in the Treasnry, but changed that situation
for one in the Stationery Office ; having just seen
a pamphlet published by hiui in answer to one of
Mr. Morgan's, iu which he animadverts very freely on
Mr. Addington's financial statements, and with still
greater freedom on his conduct, in countenancing so
malignant and scandalous a publication as the one so
frequently alluded to in these notes. Mr. Pitt had
read Mr. Courtney's recent publication, and thought
of it as I did — so did Mr. Long ; and as tiie latter
knows him very well, it was settled that he should talk
with him, to learn whether, circumstanced as he is,
he will undertake to be the ostensible WTiter of the
answer ; not with an intention of exposing his name,
but for the purpose of putting matter together which
shall be given to him. Mr. Pitt engaging to superin-
tend the work, to throw in fresh materials, and to
sugo-cst new arf>-uments where he shall find it neces-
sary ; and so the bnsiness was left. It w^as thought
quite clear, for the reasons already mentioned, that
Mr. Canning could not be allowed to write the
answer, as far as Mr. Pitt and his friends were con-
cerned. Nothing can be more certain than that,
retrospectively, Mr. Pitt and Lord Grenville have
different cases.
I dined at the London Tavern, on Mr. Pitt's
invitation, at the swearing in of the officers of the
Trinitv House Volunteers, Avho were all the elder
brethren, except Sir Andrew Hammond (who had
previously accepted the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the
Gt 1)1A1U1:.S AND CUKllEsrONUENCK OF
S(jnu.'isct llorsr Volunteers, under Mr. TitM'iK'y), and
many ol tin- younj^cr brethren, ineluding several
Captains of Kast Indianun. The si^dit was really an
extremely atlectin*^ one. .\ nuinlxr ot" i^allant and
exceedingly good old nun, who had iluring the best
part of their lives been beating tiie waves, now coming
forward with the zi'al and spirit of lads, swearing
allegiance to the King, with a determined purpose to
act manfully in his defence, and for the j)rotection of
the caj)ital on the river.
In the evening I went home with Mr. I'itt, and
went over again nmeh that we luid before discussed ;
both having given the whole subject mature considera-
tion. AVhat had been agreed upi^n about the pani-
pliiet was contirnied ; and .Mr. Pitt gave me strong
assurances that he would follow that u|) unremittingly;
which 1 persuade myself he will do, as he feels
warmly the baseiuss, iuLfratitude, and wickedness of
the attack u[)on him. We then talked of what it
woidd be ri^lit to do on the meeting of Parliament.
Mr. Pitt recurred to wliat he had so rcpeateflly
insisted upon, and acted upon before : the impro-
priety and even danger of his directly opposing
Ministers, as it may atl'ect the King's mind, and be
considered contrary to the principle he lias so con-
stantly maintained, //taf //m- ^lajesty should not hi'
forced into a c/icuk/p of the administration. I admit-
ted that consistently with that principle, it would not
be justifiable in him to enter on a st/steuiatic opposition,
to which I was as little inclined as he could possibly
be ; having been at all times averse to that ; but that
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 65
I knew no possible way of effectually opening the
eyes of the King or the })iiblic, to the utter and
absolute incapacity of the Ministers, in any way, but
by their blunders, neglect, and timidity, being exposed
in Parhament. That hitherto there was every reason
to suppose the King was perfectly satisfied with the
sufficiency of his servants ; little objection having
been taken to their conduct in Parliament, and they
having carried everything there most triumphantly.
The country indeed seems awakened thoroughly on the
point for a time ; but if the exposure is not made in
Parliament, every one will suppose they have judged
wrong of the conduct of -Government, and a diff'erent
tone will be taken. I urged, that beyond all that,
there was an irresistible claim on Mr. Pitt, on
the part of the country, that he should not pass over
in silence the disgraceful misconduct of ministers,
which he felt on various points at least as strongly as
myself, and that his silence would naturally be con-
strued into approbation. I added, I had no wish for
him (as far as I could judge at present) to make any
motion, or propose any censure respecting that mis-
conduct, but was desirous only of his stating it in as
strong a way, and in as lively colours as he could, in
order to draw the public attention to the scandalous
and blameable neglect of the men, as well as to their
decided incapacity. In the end, he promised positively
to attend at the opening of the session, and almost
engaged to take that line precisely.
Mr. Pitt again expressed warmly his indignation
at the conduct of Mr. Addington in sanctioning
VOL. II. F
tj6 DIAKIES AM) COKKtyi'ONDKNCE OF
decidedly the malignant and virulent attack upon him,
and his determinatiuu to counteract the miscliicf that
would infallibly ai'isc from it unless some pains arc
taken to prevent it. lie gave mc the correspondence
between Lord Melville, Mr. xVddington, and himseli,
relative to the attempt to bring him into the Adminis-
tration, which puts his conduct in tlic most honour-
able point of view possible, and establishes, beyond all
possibility of controversy, the facts stated in these as
well as in former notes on the subject : — that the pro-
posal originated with Mr. Addington ; that Mr. Pitt
refused peremptorily to accede to any terms, or to
propose any difinitc ones, till he knew whether his
Majesty was really desirous of his return to office;
and that it never entered his mind for one moment to
make the admission of any individual whatever into
the cabinet a sine quit non. Mr. Addington's first
letter evidently intended to fix upon Mr. Pitt what
he never said in the conversation at Bromley Hill,
on Monday the lUth April, and which is counter-
acted in Mr. Pitt's reply. A similar attempt in a
more marked way was made in the subsequent letter,
and repelled still more strongly hi Mr. Pitt's answer
from Wycombe. On giving me the letters, he desired
I would not allow any of my family to copy them,
and he left me at liberty to make any use of them I
should see proper.
[The next series of letters is a fm'ther illustration
of Mr. Pitt's anxiety to see and consult with his
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 67
friend, when any difficulties occiiiTed to him, and also
exhibits the new direction, in which the activity of his
mind found useful occupation diu'ing his retirement
at Walmer Castle. As Lord Warden of the Cinque
Ports, he had been placed on the same footing as
Lords Lieutenant of counties, witli respect to the
raising an additional force of militia, by a recent Act
of Parliament ; and to this task he addressed himself
with his usual energy. No longer able to control the
councils of the nation, he set himself in earnest to
study the means of its defence, within the jurisdiction
which belonged to him, and, if we may judge from the
evidence of his letters, with great success. His mili-
tary ardour was ridiculed by the whigs ; and in the
course of the following year. Lord Grcnville, who had
allied himself with Mr. Fox, showed neither reason
nor common sense, in thus venting his ill humour
against his former colleague : — " Can anything equal
the ridicule of Pitt riding about from Downing Street
to Wimbledon, and from Wimbledon to Coxheath, to
inspect mihtary carriages, impregnable batteries, and
Lord Chatham's reviews ? Can he be possibly serious
in expecting Buonaparte now ? Pifty more such ques-
tions one might ask, if any part of his conduct ad-
mitted of any discussion on the ordinary principles
of reason and common sense." As it is now well
known that Buonaparte at that time did seriously
intend to make the attempt, it is as well for the credit
of Lord Grcnville, that the other fifty similar questions
r 2
68 DIAKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
were not proposed. A more impartial and sagacious
writer has formed a very different estimate, both of
the emergency and of Mr. Pitt's talents for meeting
it. Mr. Wilberforce declared, that he had "discovered
great military genius;" and again, "Pitt is about to
take the command of 3000 volunteers as Lord
Warden. 1 am uneasy at it; he does not engage
on equal or common terms ; and his spirit will lead
him to be foremost in the battle ; yet as it is his proper
post, we can say nothing against it."'
In the months of March and April Mr. i'itt had
been very urgent for an interview with Mr. Rose, and
spoke of the particular satisfaction which it would
give him. In the autumn wc find him again soliciting
an interview, which however seems from the Diary
not to have taken place till the 2d of October, when
they discussed the offensive pamphlet. — Ed.]
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
" Walmer Castle, Sept. 8th, 1803.
"Dear Rose,
" I have deferred answering your letter in hopes
of being able to tell you something more certain, as
to the time when we might have a chance of meeting.
I am not, however, yet able to name precisely the day
when I shall be at liberty ; but I rather think I shall
be able to go to town or its neighbourhood in about
ten or twelve days, and I believe it will be rather less
^ Life of "Wilberforce, vol. iii. p. 113.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 69
distance for you to meet me there than in any western
point of my district ; besides which I think my visit
to that part of the coast will be at rather a later
period, and I am anxious to see you as soon as possible.
I wish very much I could pass a few days with you
at Cuffnells, but I do not like at present to go so far
from my post, though we have certainly no immediate
indication of any intention from the other side of the
water to give us employment. Before the long
nights we hope to be very well prepared to receive
them, both afloat and ashore. Your son's zeal and
alacrity do not surprise me ; but in his particular
situation the sacrifice he has made is indeed a great
one.
" I hope you have found no material inconvenience
from your accident except the confinement, which, how-
ever, is no small grievance in this enjoyable weather.
I say nothing of the pamphlet till we meet, but I shall
be very glad to talk it over with you, and to consider
what is fit to be done upon it.
" Ever yom's sincerely,
« \Y p "
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Margate, Oct. 18th, 1803.
*' Dear Rose,
" I received your letter just as I left home this
morning. I had not forgot your wish to have a
description of our gun-boats ; but as many of my
friends here are more expert in fitting a boat, or
fighting it, than in writing or drawing, I could not at
76 DIARIES AND COUKESPONDENCE OF
once obtain one wliich would explain to you the last
improved mode of fitting as aceurately a? I wished.
But Mr. AMiitby, the Assistant of Shccrncss Yard, who
has been appointed to superintend the work, and whom
I saw yesterday, has promised me to send imme-
diately to vonr house, in Palace Yard, a small nifxlel
of the frame and sUde, whieh will, I trust, completely
answer the purpose. I should hope it will reach yoiu*
house in a day or two, and you will, I take for granted,
send orders for its being innnediately forwarded to you
by coach. AVe have now fitted, or are fitting, I be-
lieve, about 170 boats between Margate and Hast-
ings, which, I think, will contribute not a little to
giving the enemy a good reception whenever they
think proper to visit us. By the intelligence T collect,
and by the orders for extraordinaiy preparation which
are received from London by this jiost, I am much
more inclined than T have ever been hitherto to
believe that some attempt will be made soon. Tn
this situation I am likely to have my time very com-
pletely occupied by the various concerns of my regi-
ment and my district. I hope, however, to find some
interval for attending a little to the cursory remarks,
when I hear from Long, which I am expecting to do
every day. Our Volunteers are, I think, likely to be
called upon to undertake permanent duty, which, 1
hope, they will readily consent to. I suppose the
same measure will be recommended in your part of
the coast. I wish the arrann-ements for defence were
as forward everywhere else as they are in Ilythe Bay,
under General Moore. We begin now to have no
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 71
other fear in that quarter tlian that the enemy will not
give us an opportunity of putting our preparations to
the proof, and vdW select some other point which we
should not be in reach of in the first instance. I
write here to save the post, as I shall not get back to
Walmer till a late houi\
" Ever sincerely yours,
" W. Pitt."
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Walmer Castle, Nov. lOth, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" It would have given me great pleasui'e if I
could have seen you here, but I am not surprised that
your occupations have been too constant to allow of so
distant an excursion, especially when the defence of
your district seems to rest almost entirely on indivi-
dual zeal and example. As far as they can go, fortu-
nately you have been able to supply them in abundance
from the circle of your own family ; but these alone
cannot be sufficient if Government persists in such
unaccountable negligence and inactivity. Our state
of defence is certainly (comparatively speaking) very
complete, though stOl, in many respects, very far short
of what it ought to have been, and what it easily
might have been. On the whole, I think there is
good ground to expect that we shall be able to give a
very good account of any force that seems likely to
reach any part of this coast, and shall be able to pre-
vent its penetrating into the interior. But if, by any
accident, we were to be overpowered in the first
72 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
instance, I am by no means satisfied that any ade-
quate force could be collected in time to stop tlie
enemy's further progress till they had arrived nnich
nearer the capital than one should like. I have been
turning my thoughts a good deal to the object of
rendering the volunteer force throughout the country
permanently more ctticient than it seems likely to be
(except in a few instances) under the present arrange-
ments ; and I will endeavour before long to send you
a note of what occurs to me, on which I shall be very
glad to have your opinion.
" Till within these two days I had piTsevered in the
intention of going to town for the 2 2d, but the .state
of the preparations on the opposite side, and the
imcertainty from day to day whether the attempt may
not be made immediately, makes me unwilling to
leave the coast at present. 1 have, therefore, nearly
determined to give np attending the first day ; but I
am still inclined to think that it may be right (if I can
find an interval of two or three days) to take some
opportunity before the recess to notice the principal
omissions on the part of Government in providing for
our defence, and to suggest the measures which seem
still necessary towards completing it. I shall, of
course, wish to have it understood by my friends that I
shall probably attend in the course of the session, be-
fore Christmas, and that ray absence on the first day
proceeds entirely from my unwillingness to leave my
duties here. Lord Camden (who left me this morn-
ing) and Lord Carrington are the only persons with
whom I have had the opportunity of talking on this
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE 73
subject, and they both agree with me in thinking this
the best plan.
" Ever sincerely yours,
Mr. Pitt to Mr. Rose.
"Walmer Castle, Dec. 2d, 1803.
" Dear Rose,
" I shall be so constantly occupied all next week
in going round to my diflPerent battalions, that it will
be impossible for me to think of going to town till the
week after ; but I hope to be at liberty on Monday
se'nnight, and to reach town by dinner-time that day.
I agree very much in all you say of the pamphlet, and
I think particularly that a note, adding a much more
ample statement on the finance, will be very useful in a
new edition. We may talk more of this when we
meet, which I hope will now be very soon.
" Ever yours,
"W. P."
74 DIARIES AND CORRESPOyDENCE OF
ciiArrER III.
CORRESrOXDEN'CE BETWEEN MR. PITT, MB. ROSE, LORD ELDON, AM) THB
BISHOP OF LINCOLN — THE PROPOSED COALITION MINISTRY DETWBDI
MR. PITT AND THE OPPOSITION.
[The next letter is remarkable, because the postscript
sufficiently accounts for Mr. Pitt's reserve in his cor-
respondence on important points. It appears that his
letters, when directed by himself, were opened at the
Post-office, and a note by Miss Rose relates the
singular way in which that discovery was made, though
it had been suspicted long before, as one of Mr. Rose's
letters shows. She also indicates the person to whom
it was imputed. — Ed.]
" Rochester, Saturday night, Jan. 7th, 1804.
"Dear Rose,
" 1 write, having got thus far on my way to
town. The weather seemed to allow me an intcn-al
in which I could leave the coast for a few days, and
letters wliich I have had from some of my friends in
town, made me think it material not to delay coming
up, in order to ascertain what is likely to be the state
of parties when the House next meets.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 75
Mucli will depend on the line now to be acloptecl;
and as I find I must give up going to Bath, and shall
lose that chance of seeing you, I should be very glad
if you could without inconvenience meet me in town.
I mean at present to stay over Thursday, and perhaps
Friday, but that must depend a little upon wind and
intelligence. The sooner therefore you can come the
better.
" Ever yours sincerely,
cc ^ p »
" I send this under Hammond's cover to the
Postmaster at Southampton, to be forwarded from
thence."^
[After the resignation of Mr. Addington, when the
King had recourse again to Mr. Pitt, Mr. Rose con-
vinced himself, by a close examination of the parties
in the House of Commons, that the latter could not
obtain a working majority in that house in opposition
' Note by Miss Rose. — The precaution of sending the letter under
cover, "was in consequence of letters of ]\Ir. Pitt to my father, and
others, having been intercepted. After he ascertained that, they
were directed by others, and not sealed by his seal.
Some time after, when we were in London, the floor-cloth in the
entrance-hall was taken up, and under it, near the door, one of the
intercepted letters was found by the housemaid ; indeed there had
been a heavy mat on the floor-cloth, and the sill of the door was
worn hollow by mani/ feet. It seemed to have been pushed under
the door by a stick, and accidentally slipped imder the floor-cloth.
Who had intercepted and opened the letter, there could not be
a doubt ; and more, very little doubt who found it (where, as it was of
no consequence it was probably left), and put it under the door.
The then Postmaster-General lived in Palace Yard, very near. ^
70 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
to the three divisions of it, the leaders of which wore
Addington, Fox, and Lord Grenvillc ; two of them
having been his supporters in his last administration.
He became, therefore, a strenuous advocate for a union
■with the leaders of the Opposition, except the first ;
and conceiving that Lord Eldon might have great
influence with Mr. Pitt, he stated the case to him,
with a view to secure his concurrence; but the Chan-
cellor was as firm as a rock, lie scorned any com-
promise with the enemy. It w!is tlic only thing on
which he never entertained a doui)t, and in great
wrath he rejected the proposal. — Ed.]
Mr. Rose to Lord Cii.vnckllor Lldon.
" May 4th, 1804.
" My de.\r Lord,
" At the present moment I cannot entertain a
thought of breaking in upon you by desiring any
personal intercourse, and 1 must reluctantly interrupt
you very shortly in this manner. It would be the
height of presumption and folly in me if I could
conceive the remotest possibility of my being able to
add anvthing to what ^[r. Pitt said in his letter to
you of Wednesday (respecting the advantages that
would be derived to the King and to the nation by
the formation of an administration on such a basis as
he therein suggested), to convince you of the cer-
tainty of what he has so forcibly stated. But mixing
more with them at present, and necessarily knowing
more of their sentiments, than your Lordship, I am
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 77
anxious to say to you, that although there is on the
part of some of our friends a disinchnation to anything
like a union of the sort alluded to by Mr. Pitt, I
have a firm persuasion that he would not be able, if
an absolute negative should be put on that, to submit
to the consideration of his Majesty names to form an
administration which would have a reasonable chance
of maintaining itself for eighteen months. Every feel-
ing of my mind, and every wish of my heart, are
adverse, my dear Lord, to an unnecessary co-operation
with the persons in question ; to one set of these I
have, from my first thinking on pohtical subjects had a
strong dislike, and to this instant, have never had the
shghtest intercourse with any one of them, either
directly or indirectly ; and by the leader of the other
part of them, I have been treated with the most
supercilious neglect and marked inattention. I men-
tion these circumstances merely to convince you that
I am at least disinterested in the opinion I am ex-
pressing.
" My aff'ectionate and devoted attachment to the
King (in which I protest to God, I believe I am not
exceeded by any man in his dominions), is not, nor
has it at any time been, diminished by any change of
situation. I wish his happiness, tranquilUty, and
comfort, as much as I do the prosperity of the country:
a stronger expression of my devotion to him I could
not devise. Porgive, my dear Lord, the freedom I am
using ; my motive cannot, I trust, be mistaken by you :
I write under the strongest conviction that my opinion
is well founded. As soon as you have read this I
78 DIAllIES AND CORRESrONDEN'CE OF
entreat you will put it into tlic fire : it re(juires no
answer, nor could one be given to it. I have only
further to beg you will never let any human being
know that I have made this or any eomuuuiication to
you, as Mr. I'itt is entirely ignorant of my intention.
I except, however, Sir AVilliam Scott, in the event of
your tlunking it right to say anything of it to him. I
mean to breakfast with him to-morrow (if he will let
me), because I have no reluctance whatever in opening
my mind fully to him, and by doing so, can attract no
observation ; nor woulil it, indeed, if I should look in
upon you in your room near the House, if you should
wish to see me for ten minutes, as 1 have often done
so on House of Lords business; but at the same time
1 must repeat, that 1 have not the remotest wish to
obtrude further on you, being indeed awai-e that I
could not usefully add a syllabic to what I have
herein said."
Lord Eldon to Mr. Rose.
Written and received,
" ilay 4th, 1804.
" Dear Sir,
" No man can be more convinced than I am of
the difficidt circumstances we stand in, and I thank
God I am not accessary to the causes which have pro-
duced them. The forbearance of a fortnight or three
weeks would have saved the King, and I think might
have saved Mr. Pitt the cruel consequences, as I am
apprehensive they will turn out, of having felt a neces-
sity of making a proposition, the making of which
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 79
•vvill, iu my judgment, most seriously injure him, and
the execution of which I beheve to be utterly impos-
sible, whilst the personage who must decide upon it
retains his understanding. I see no medium between
Mr. Pitt's trying what you think not lasting, and the
King's being destroyed. God forgive all those who
have brought either of them into this situation. For
my own part, my mind is so decided, that if the
King's health was firm, and I could so far forget my
duty to Mr. Pitt as to give him what I thought the
worst advice I could offer him, I should forward the
purpose of his forming an administration upon those
broad-bottomed principles, an attention to which, on
his part, would, after all that has passed, deliver up
his character, in the minds of thinking, honest men,
to a silent, melancholy, painful disapprobation; and
in the minds of those who act upon honest prejudice,
having the semblance and face of just reasonmg, to
something that will fall little short of execration. I have
no objection to seeing you anywhere — my brother I
would rather not see upon this subject, for many
reasons; principally because my mind is unalterably
fixed as to what is to be my conduct, and in whatever
befalls me I will never have it left in the power of my
mind, when it reflects, to attribute anything to the
suggestions of a brother whom I love, if I thought
him more impartial upon this subject than I think
the goodness of his heart allows him to be.
" I am, yoms truly,
" Eldon."
80 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Mr. Rose to Mr. Pitt.
" Monday morning, 7 o'clock,
"May 7th, 1804.
" My dear Sir,
" I cannot resist (after a night of much more re-
flection than sleep) calHng your attention again for a
few minutes to the important point on wliich we liad
so much discussion yesterday. 1 will, in the first
place, fairly own that my opinion about the letter to
you is unaltered. 1 will say nothing of my feeling on
the subject ; but, putting that entirely out of con-
sideration at ])resent, which perhaps we ought not to do
altogether, I think the statement made up bv Lonj; to
me, must be decisive against the remotest probability
of the Government ^oing on for the remainder of this
session without apquiring some part of the strength
contained in it. The most moderate view of the diffe-
rent interests makes the total numbers 240, and that
leaves 70 Irish unaccounted for, many of whom are
actually arrived, or are on the road. You recollect
Beresford said most of them are for Mr. A. ; and
Lord De Blaquiere, who is no incompetent judge of
such matters, said at Lord Camden's, on Saturday,
that tM'o-thirds of them are hostile to you ; besides
which there are manv Endish about whom neither
Long nor myself could form any probable guess. On
the whole, it is surely being sanguine to suppose that
we should only have 260 or 270 against us, almost
every one of whom are on the spot, and 205 remain
Mr. A.'s. It seems to me that a plain representation
of this to the King would have nearly the same effect
THE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE ROSE. 81
towards convincing his Majesty of the utter impossi-
bihty of your forming a Government usefully without
some other aid, as it would for you to put yourself at
the head of an Administration which must fall almost
as soon as formed. And I continue to think that such
an event would be not only unpleasant as affecting your-
self (leaving you in a very different situation, in many
respects, from the one you are now in), but would be
extremely mischievous to the public interest both at
home and abroad.
• " It would naturally be said, here is a country so
distracted that, upon one Administration being removed
by the voice of Parliament, it has been found impos-
sible even for Mr. Pitt, to whom Europe, as well as
England, has looked up, to form another that can
carry on the government of the country for a month.
The encouragement this would give to our enemies,
and the distrust it would create amongst our friends,
w^ould not easily be removed by subsequent arrange-
ments."
" P.S. — I am not sure that the letter should be kept
entirely out of view in the present consideration, be-
cause it raises a doubt, at least, whether the support
of those who are friendly to the writer would be
steady, uniform, and active. If the Prince should
separate from Mr. Eox, I am by no means certain
that we could reckon on all those in his list. I do not
believe there would be any chance of the Duke of
Norfolk's members."
VOL. II.
82 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
[Dr. Moore, tlic Archbishop of Canterbury, being
dangerously ill, the Jiishop of Lincoln, relying nj)ori
the close intiinacv which had subsisted between Mr.
Pitt and himself, ever since the latter was at Cam-
bridge, aspired to tlie primacy as soon as it should
be vacant. And if it had depended on ^\v. Titt
alone, no doubt his ambition wouM have bt en
gratified. But the King sometimes insisted upon
sharing the j)atronage of the Church with his
Minister, even though that Minister was as great a
favourite and as powerful as Mr. Pitt ; and in this
instance he insisted upon giving Canterbiuy to
Dr. Manners Sutton, the Bishop of Norwich, who
was also Dean of Windsor. But the vacancy did
not occur till the 5th of February, in the following
year. In these letters Dr. Tomline describes the
grounds of his hopes and fears to his friend, Mr.
Rose. — Ed.]
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rosk.
[Pn'vrffe.]
'• My dear Sir,
" Upon looking over my inclosed letter I do not
perceive in it anything which I should be unwilling
that Mr. Pitt should see ; and, therefore, as you say
that you intend to have some conversation with him
upon the subject, you will consider yourself at liberty
to show- it to him, if you sec a fair opportunity ; per-
haps it might be useful. Li haste ; but be assured,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 83
my dear friend, that ive feel all your kindness upon
this occasion, and that I have in the most perfect
confidence opened my whole heart to you.
" Yours ever, most affectionately,
"G. Lincoln."
-~^^ The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" Be assured, my dear Sir, that I feel as strongly
as you can wish that your hesitation proceeds from a
delicacy of mind and warmth of friendship, as highly
honourable to you as gratifying to me. I have con-
sidered what you say, but I own I am still inclined to
wish you may find a proper opportunity of showing
my letter (as you see no objection except the one you
mention), and this for the following reasons : — If the
case really stands as it has been represented, and the
expected vacancy should take place before I see Mr,
Pitt, it may be immediately made so public a matter
as to prevent the possibility of avoiding the mortifica-
tion I have deprecated in my letter. But if Mr. Pitt
be previously in possession of my sentiments and feel-
ings on this account, I am confident he would most
readily and affectionately wish to consult them as far
as he could consistently with what had passed with
the King. The more I reflect, the more firmly am I
persuaded that, if\\Q has committed himself upon the
subject, it has been under the impression of my not
wishing for the situation ; the agreement, therefore,
may be considered by him as only conditional.
Another reason — and this you will fully enter into — ■
G 2
84 DIARIES AND COURESrONDENCE OF
is the reluctance I feel to iiitrodiice the circumstances
which make it necessary for iiic to have an expl.ma-
tion upon tlie subject, considering tlie terms uj)on
which we liavc always spoken upon whatever was
interesting to either of us.
" Mrs. T. desired to take a copy of my hist letter
to you, and, upon looking it over again, I sec nothing
1 wouhl wisli not to meet Mr. I'itt's eyes; l)ut 1 re-
gret tiiat 1 diti not express my very strong sense of
the awful responsihihty attached to such a station in
the present times l)eing as much the cause of my
doubt wiiether 1 should or should not accept it (for
such it truly is), as the hap[)iness 1 enjoy in my pre-
sent situation. 1 knew that it was (piite uimecessary
to add that, if you found from Mr. Pitt that he had
not formed the positive opinion and determination
stated t't vou, vou woidd not show mv letter to him.
But as from vour letter received this morning, there
is a possibility that you have already hail some con-
versation upon the subject, and had not taken that
opportunity of showing him my letter, the propriety
of renewing that conversation nnist depend upon what
has already passed, and which I leave entirely to your
judgment. In any case 1 must entreat that you will
not stay an hour in town on this account. I am
truly sensible of all vour kindness.
" Coupling what 1 heard from Mr. Pitt with some
paragraphs which appeared in the Su// news})aper
yesterday and to-day, it seems to nie very j)robable
(notwithstanding what you told me upon this subject)
that Lord Moira will soon be appointed Lord-ljieu-
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 85
tenant of Ireland, and Mr. Tierney his secretary. It
appears to nie — and I wish you may agree with
me — that the objection to the employment of Mr.
Tierney wonld be a good deal weakened by the
appointment of Lord Moira at the same time, and by
the reconciliation of the King and Prince. All these
matters will seem to be connected, and Mr. Pitt niav
even be commended by some people for giving up his
own private feelings and personal objections. I am
very glad that Gibbs is coming into Parliament, as he
may be useful as a speaker, which you nmch want. T
wish the Master of the Rolls could be prevailed upon
to come forward upon common occasions ; on great
days he will assist you. I do not doubt but you want
constant every-day debaters. '
" Mrs. Tomline desires her kindest compliments.
We are both grieved beyond measure that you should
think you perceive a diminution of kindness and confi-
dence where, we are satisfied, you have a right to
expect an increase, if possible. We are persuaded
that no one is more attached, and few, very few, more
useful. Adieu.
" Yours ever, most cordially,
" G. Lincoln."
"Buckden Palace;, Nov. 15th, 1804."
The Bisnop or Lincoln to Mii. Rose.
" I feel, my dear Sir, all your kindness ; but at
the same time I have so much coniidence in \our
judgment that I cannot persevere in desiring vou to
8G DIARIES AND COKUESl'ONDEN'CE OF
show my letter to Mr. Pitt ; and more especially as it
would be not only contrary to your judgment, but
repugnant to your tVeling>5, aiul attended with some
apprehensions lest you should dis[)lease Mr. Pitt.
I therefore, without any hesitation, give up the point
in the nuuiner I before wished. 1 will only beg you
to take the letter in your pocket when you go to
Putney, and if Mr. Pitt should of his own accord
renew the conversation, and in the course of it say
anything to alter your opinion, ami give you a fair
opportunity of showing the letter, then show it, but
not otherwise 'by any means; and in particular let not
the conversation be renewed on your part ; for I can-
not bear the thought of ever being instrumental in the
remotest degree to the consequences which you hear
might result from it. I trust I need not say, I never
could have wished vou to make the connnunication
if such consequences had aj)peared to me possible.
"Adieu! mv dear friend, — and in anv case let
me hear from you again before you leave town, with
any news you can pick up.
" Mrs. Tomline desires to be most kindly remem-
bered.
" Yours ever, most cordially,
** G. Lincoln.
"Buckdeu Palace, Nov. 18th, lb04."
The Bisiior of Lincoln to Mk. Rose.
" My dear Sir "Deanery, St. Paul's, Dec. 3d, 1804.
" I went to dine and sleep at Putney on Satur-
day, and ]\Ir. Pitt, as soon as he saw me, told me that
THE IIIGIIT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 87
lie was to be at Windsor the next clay or two,
and would certainly speak upon the subject, about
which you have so kindly interested yourself. He
desired to see me this morning at breakfast at
Putney ; but he came down late, and I could not
see him alone, although he said before a third
person, " Bishop, I want to speak to you, and
must get into your carriage with you." He did so,
and told me what had passed. It is by no means
decisive ; but as far as it goes it is rather favourable,
inasmuch as no fixed determination or promise was
mentioned, although a very strong wish and opinion,
of course against me, or ratlicr in favour of the other
person, were expressed. The Lord Chancellor was
present at Windsor. Mr. Pitt means to write fully
upon the subject, which he thinks better than conver-
sation in the present state of the King. I am con-
fident that he will do everything in his power short
of absolute force. Nothing can be more kind than
his manner and expressions, and my mind is perfectly
at ease ; indeed, much more than at ease.
" I have but a moment to say that I rather think
w^e shall remain in town and at Fulham till Saturday,
when we shall go to Wycombe to meet JMr. Pitt
at Lord Carrington's. Adieu, my dear Sir. Kindest
remembrances to all our good friends at Cuftnells.
" Yours ever, most cordially,
" G. Lincoln.
" Things arc getting worse than ever with the
ri'mcc.
88 UIAUIES AND CORRESPONDENCK OF
The IJisnoi' ot" Lincoln to Mk. Kosk.
"Wycombe, Dec. Utb, 1801.
" ]\Iy dear Sir,
" I received your letter on Satunlay, just as we
were setting out for this place to meet Mr. Pitt. Mr.
Pitt came hither to dinner on Saturday, and went
away yesterday uiorning ; he seems remarkably will
and in high spirits: he thinks that additional strength
in the House of Commona is very desirable, though
not absolutrly necessary. It will be drrived from
a (juarter, if from any, which will not give much satis-
faction to you and me. \\ Idle he was here he wrote
the rough copy of a letter to his Majesty, relative to
the expected vacancy, as strong and as kind as I could
wish; but still we all of us considir the event as un-
certain. 1 have already said everything in my power
to the Bishop of Bristol respecting Mr. Clapham.
I think he should make a point of seeing the Bishop,
unless he writes ex|)licitlv to him, that he mav kiKnv
what he has to expect 1 am still inclined to think
that the opinion of a common lawyer may be useful.
A caveat or a rmare Uiipcdlt may be advised.
" But as the n(jhl is clearly not in Mr. Clnphain,
he will of course conduct himself with caution and
civility towards the Bishop, lie has not wu-itten to me,
and I fear that his intentions are not friendly. I do
not know where he is. I shall carrv this to town,
and if I hear anvthincr there I will let vou know. We
propose to set out for Buckden to-inorrow, and I
shall be in town some time next week again. Adieu,
THE RIGUT IIOX. GEORGE EOSE. 89
my dear Sir. With kindest remembrances to all
your circle,
" Yours ever, most affectionately, .
" G. Lincoln.
** Mr, Pitt talks of going to Bath for a fortnight
about the 20th ; but I do not think he will be able to
leave town so soon."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
"Buckden Palace, Dec. 18th, 1804.
" My DEAR Sir,
" By a letter which I received from Mr. Pitt,
1 learn that the political arrangement to which I
alluded in my last letter is likely to take place. I ex-
pect to be in town on Thursday, but probably not in
time to see Mr. Pitt on that day. I shall, of course,
write wlienever I hear anything worth communicating.
Mr. Pitt had received no answer to his letter on my
business. I have agreed to purchase the manor of
Lymington, Woodside Farm, reversion of Lady Dela-
ware's cottage, &c. I shall direct this letter to
Palace Yard, for the chance of your being called to
town. Adieu.
" Yours ever, most truly and affectionately,
" G. Lincoln/'
[When the vacancy in the see of Canterbury actu-
ally occurred, the King insisted upon its being given
to Dr. Manners Sutton, Bishop of Norwich and Dean
90 ULVRIES AND CORllESPONDENCE OF
of Windsor. Mr. Pitt acciiiicsced, and the Klw^ nus-
took liis accjuicsccnce for approljation, as appears
from Mr. Rose's Diary at the end of 1605. — Ed.]
The Bishop of Lincoln to ^Ir. Rose.
" Buckdeu Palace, Feb. 4th, 18t)5.
" ^Iy dear Sir,
"A thousand tlianks for your letter wliieli 1
received yesterday. Tiie kind expressions and feeliufrs
of yourself and family respectincf Land)etli, are highly
gratifying to //a. 1 am particularly alive to Miss Rose's
consoling reflection. 1 r( ally think that 1 am much
happier where I am, and therefore, as far as 1 am
concerned, I shall remain content at Huckden, as 1
have most abundant reason to be. Mr. Pitt's assur-
ances and exertions upon the occasion, though not
successful, have given me the most heartfelt satisfaction.
1 had a most kind letter from him the l)eginning of last
week, which implied that he had acquiesced. The
triumphs and exultations will give me personally no
piiin. I rather mean on my own private account —
but I entirely aGjrec with you that this defeat may be
of serious mischief upon public grounds. And, indeed,
I know persons of great consequence who will con-
sider Mr. Pitt's acquiescence as very uncreditable to
liim — and who are represented to me as waiting for
the result of this striip-dc. I am confident that .Mr.
Pitt has not the slightest idea of resigning or being
forced out, and that he looks forward to a long con-
tinuance in ofhce. I regret, from the bottom of my
heart, that you have had no private conversation with
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 91
him, but still I contend that tins inattention does not
proceed from want of regard for you. It is a part of
his natural character, increased by incessant pressing
business, and long habits of office ; I might add, long
possession of power. You will perhaps smile when I
mention a further cause, which may appear trifling —
but, I am myself persuaded that his lying so late in
bed in a morning prevents his seeing and talking with
many persons to whom he might otherwise be able to
show attention. He is too late for anything. Business
presses which mud be done. Whatever can be put
off is put off, and by this procrastination, many things,
which, though they belong to no particular day, ought
to be done soon, are never done at all. I lament this
disposition in Mr. Pitt more than I can express. I
know that it is mischievous to himself and painful to
his best friends — to those for wliom he has a real
regard. I am far from justifying Mr. Pitt's silence
and reserve towards you, but I am very anxious that
you should understand its real cause, and see it in its
true light. Do not impute it, notwithstanding appear-
ances, to any diminution of regard towards you, or to
any want of confidence. Perhaps he may not feel all
the energy which he did twenty years ago ; and even
conversation upon matters of business and explanation
of conduct may gi'ow in some degree fatiguing to him.
I really believe it does, and that he finds solitude and
entire rest sometimes necessary to him. Look at his
colleagues, and you will be satisfied that he must have
many things to do, even of detail, in their depart-
ments. All this must be felt by a constitution certainly
92 DIARIES AND C'ORllESPONDENCE OF
not in its full vigour. I am sure you arc the last man
not to make allowances for considerations of this kind;
and you will also be conviuci-d that the critical
situation of the country, both as to domestic and
foreign atlairs, may at times alfcet .Mr. Pitt's mind in
its present state, and tliat his spirits niav, now and
tlicu at least, sutler a dejjression which may give a
colour to to his external beliaviour and manner.
■ Yours ever, most truly and affectionately,
'• (J. Lincoln."
[Mr. Pitt comunicatcd the pn^gress of his negotia-
tions with Mr. Addington to tiie Hishop of Lincoln
only, knowing that the otiier iVicnd was so adverse to
the whole of that policy that it was useless to look to
him for any sympathy. It may be thought that the
Bishop had shown (piite as much bitterness against
that party as Mr. Rose; but the Bishop, though bold
in his letters, was more timid in the presence of Mr.
Pitt, lie was not so })lain spoken and persevering as
Mr. Rose in the assertion of liis own opinion. The
diftercnt phases of the negotiation therefore are ex-
hibited only in these letters. — Ed.]
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mu. Rose.
"Deanery, St. Paul's, Dec. 22d, 1804:
" My dear Sir,
" I dined yesterday with Mr. Pitt, and had a
long conversation with him after the company went
away. He and Mr. A. are to meet to-morrow, and I
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 93
am inclined to think that the arrangement will take
place almost immediately, but I am not entirely with-
out hope that it may stand over for a short time, and
that Mr. A. will support. "^Jliis would, I think, be
better. There is some difficulty about Lord Buckinor-
hamshire, for whom Mr. A. thinks it right to stipvdate.
I do not apprehend that Mr. Tierney will have office or
give support ; he will remain probably with the Prince.
Mr. Pitt thinks that by this junction he shall gain
great strength, as it will unite all persons who do
not wish the King to be forced to take Fox. Mr.
Pitt has fixed to set out for Bath on Wednesday. My
own opinion is that he will not go at all ; certainly not
unless Mr. B. Prere comes very soon.
" I shall see Mr. Pitt on Monday, on his way from
Lord Hawkesbury's to Long's. If I learn anything
you may depend upon hearing from me. Adieu.
Every good wish to you and yours.
" Yours ever, most cordially,
" G. Lincoln."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" Fulham Palace, Dec. 27th, 1804.
" My dear Sir,
"Mr. Pitt was not in town from Saturday till
yesterday, and it was so late when I saw him that I
had not time to write to you, being engaged to dine
here, and now I shall have leisure only to state a few
facts and circumstances without any comment,
" Mr. Pitt was preparing to go and dine at Rich-
mond with Mr. Addington. He expressed himself
94 DIARIES AND CORRESVONDESCE OF
perfectly satisfied with the interview on Sunday, and
rehited to me the principal things which passed. It
was not settled what particular olliee Mr. A. is to
have. Two oltices arc to be opened tor two of Mr.
A.'s friends, of whom brother llih-y will probably not
be one, in which Mr. V. thought Mr. A. judged
rightly. Lord Charles Spencer will probably resign
the Fost-Olliee, sotnc moderate pension being to l)e
given to himself and a provision made for his son. This
will niaki" an opening for Lord Huckinghauishirc, who
is to be in the cabinet. I stated to Mr. Pitt how
much better it would be that all this should be
deferred for some months, and that in the mean time
Mr. A. and his friends should support. !Mr. Pitt
thought that tliis could not be accomplished, and
assiijned some reasons. The whole was to be talked
over yesterday after dinner. Mr. IMtt saw Lord
Ilarrowby last Saturday for an hour and a-half. lb' is
pretty well recovered from his fall, but his general
health is such as to make it impossible he should
attend to the duties of his office for many months.
He is anxious to resi!z;n ; and Ladv llarrowbv, whom
Mr. Pitt saw, is convinced that it is neces.sary,
although she was originally very eager for his taking
office. Indeed, continuance in office without being
able to do anvthintc would, with his anxious mind,
probably be very injurious to him. He is therefore to
give up the seals, and I am inclined to think that
Lord ^lulgrave will succeed him. Perhaps the Duke
of Portland may remain in his present situation ; but
this is doubtful.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 95
" Mr. Pitt was in high spirits. He talked of
going to Bath on Saturday or Sunday, if the wind
continues east, and sending to Plymouth and Fal-
mouth, and desiring that Mr. B. Frere, if he should
arrive, would go to Bath, instead of going directly to
town. Mr. Pitt would return to town about the
9th ; but I am of opinion, upon the whole, that he
will not go, and more especially as there is some
important Russian business which must be settled
before he can leave town, exclusive of this political
arrangement ; and he must also go to Windsor,
which, indeed, he might perhaps do on his way to
Bath. On the other hand, he may perhaps want to
return to town after he has seen his Majesty.
" I shall remain quietly here to-day, and intend to
be in Downing Street to-morrow morning, before Mr.
Pitt's breakfast hour, for the chance of getting some
conversation with him. I shall not leave town till
after morning service at St. Paul's, on Monday, and
perhaps not even then, though I am very anxious to
pass New Year's Day with j\Irs. Tomline and our
three boys. W. G. is to come from Cambridge for
three or four days only ; but, if Mr. Pitt goes to
Bath, there will certainly be nothing to detain me ir
town.
" I saw Mr. Clapham yesterday, and I conclude
that he has communicated to you the particulars of
his interview with the Bishop of Bristol. His busi-
ness seems in a fair way.
" I do not wonder, my good friend, at your feelings
expressed in your last letter. Of the degree of strength
9G DIAHIES AN' I) COIITIESPONDEXCE OF
\^\nc\i Mr. Pitt will gain from this junction, or whether
sufficient strength might have been gained without it,
I can myself form no judgment. That stnMigHi was
wanted, is agreed on all hands. Vnion with Mr. Fo.x
in the j)n'sent reign is absolutely impossible. To
gain the (irenvilles without Fox was hopeless, and
their mnnbcrs would not have l)een considerable
separately taken. Fox and Addington would then
have joined, if not at first, in time ; and, though this
might havi' hurt the eharaetrr of both, they would
have soon acted together in oj)position. Ihit any
speculation u[)on this point is worth nothing, as I am
satisfied from what i latelv heard that vou cannot
liave the (irenvilles without Fox. 1 will not, how-
ever (and, indeed, there is not time), reason i\[nm this
very uni)leasant subject. We shall soon meet, and
talk it over ; and, in the meantime, 1 trust you will
not form any resolution of the kind to which you
allude in vour last letter. Had I been at Buckdcn,
JiOrd and Lady Grenville w^ould have dined and slept
there yesterday, the very day Mr. P. dined with
Mr. A. What a paragraph for the newspapers !
" I expect to see Lord G. at Buckden, on his way
to Lord Carvsfort's. Tie has i)romised. Adieu.
" xVlways most affectionately and truly yours,
" G. Lincoln."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 97
[Mr, Rose was perhaps a little too sensitive ; but
great attachment is apt to be jealous, and, it appears,
he entertained some misgiving that Mr. Pitt's affec-
tion for him had cooled ; and, if there was any foun-
dation for it, it may have arisen from the opposite
views which they entertained about the alliance with
Mr. Addington ; for Mr. Pitt, never implacable, had
resumed his habits of friendship with his former
friends, of which Mr, Wilberforce gives this account,
" I am sure," Mr. Pitt said, " you are glad to hear
that Addington and I are one again ; " and then
he added, with a sweetness of manner which I shall
never forget — " I think they are a little hard upon us
in finding fault with us for making it up again, when
we have been friends from our childhood." But all
the complaint that appears is of inattention ; and
there seems to have been a suspension of correspond-
ence about this time, between Mr. Rose and Mr. Pitt,
the only grievance may have been that his letters were
not answered ; and, if so, the testimony of Lord Gren-
ville, who knew Mr. Pitt well, should be remembered,
that he had contracted a bad habit of not answering
letters. That there was no real diminution of regard,
is evident from the following letter, for it seems to
have been the uppermost thing in his thoughts to
inquire of a better correspondent what Rose thought
of his plans ; and the kindness with which he spoke of
him proved that his feelings towards him were un-
changed. — Ed.]
VOL. II. H
98 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
The J^isiiop of Lincoln to .Mu. Rose.
" Doanory, St. Paul's, Dec. 20th, 1804.
" Mt Dear Sir,
" T read your letter, wliieli I found upon my
coming from St. Paul's this morning, on my way to
Downing Street. I went to Mr. I'itt, in his dressing-
room, whieh he was just leaving ; and he was scarcely
seated at his breakfast table, when he said, ' Have
you heard from Rose lately? Does he know what is
going on?' 1 told him that I had given you a general
idea of the business, as I concluded he (Mr. Pitt) wouhl
have no objection. ' Quite otherwise, for I have intended
to write to hiiu myself, but could never find leisure. I
am ghid he knows it from you. What does he say ?'
This would in any case have been rather a puzzling
question, and especially after reading your letter. My
answer was to this effect : — That you witc convinced of
the necessity of additional strength, but you were in-
clined to think that sufficient strength might perhaps
have been gained without a junction with Addington ;
that you certainly had no reason to be ])artial to
Addington, but that you as certainly felt no resent-
ment towards him ; that yom* attachment to Mr. Pitt
would lead you to think favourably of any measure
which he might think necessary ; and that you were
desirous of hearing from Mr. Pitt hmiself the reasons
which had induced him to take this step, before you
delivered any positive opinion, and especially as you
hoped so soon to have an opportunity of conversing
with him.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 99
" Have I done or said more than I ought ? Mr.
Pitt then talked about you in the kindest manner,
said that you had taken the greatest pains with
your present office, and were bringing it into most
excellent order. He said that he Avould write to
you to-day, if possible ; if not, upon his road to Bath.
He still talks of setting out to-morrow.
" Indeed, my good friend, be assured Mr. Pitt has
a sincere regard for you, and a high opinion of your
merit. That he has sometimes treated you with
inattention, is not to be denied 3 but this is a part
of Mr. Pitt's character, and I could — in my long and
intimate acquaintance with him, and after watching him
so many years — relate such instances as you would
scarcely believe. Banish all idea of an opposite kind
from your mind, if you have any reliance upon my
veracity and judgment. I am confident of what I say.
" Your warm and affectionate heart has led you
now and then to draw conclusions which were as un-
just to Mr. Pitt as they were painful to yourself ; in-
deed, they Avere unjust to yourself also. I have been
sadly interrupted, or I would have written at more
length upon this subject, which I earnestly wished,
because I know that it concerns the happiness of you
and yours ; — but I must conclude. I am going to an
early and short dinner with Mr. Pitt, that he may pre-
pare for his Bath journey, of which I have still some
doubts. I shall leave town on Monday. Let me
hear from you. Kindest compliments.
" Yom's, ever cordially,
" G. Lincoln.
H 2
100 DLiRIES AND COKRESrONDENCK OF
" Recollect that there was no difference of principle
between Mr. A. and Mr. \\, and tiiat Mr. \\ ridiculed
him as First j\finister. Tiic Kiii^ij approves of Lord
Muli^'rave. Nothing new about the arrangement.
Mr. Pitt agreed to meet Mr. A. yesterday, at Hat-
sells. Mr. A. came to town on purpose, and, alter
waiting an hour and a half, he sent to Downing Street
to inquire after Mr. Pill. The answer was that he
was gone to Windsor, ami was not expected hack for
several ho\u's ! Mr. Pitt forgot the ap[)ointment
that they were to meet to-day.
[The next portion of Mr. Rose's diary, from \\)\'\\
to June 1804, is valuable because it furnishes another
useful lesson to historians, warning them to beware
how they adopt the impressions, or belief, or misrepre-
sentations of contemporary writers who are not eye-
witnesses of what they relate ; and who, to use the
language of Lord Brougham, have " a proneness to
prejudice in favour of opinions resembling their own,
a blindness to the defects of those who hold them,
and a prepossession against those who hold them
not." But especially is this the case with those who
are rivals in political warfare. Party zeal, exasperated
by disappointed ambition, ))roduces an obliquity of
mental vision which leads them astray far from the
straight line of fact. They endjracc falsehood for
truth, in order to impute ill motives to those whom
they dislike. Thus the Diary shows incontrovertibly
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 101
that the writers of the i)arty opposed to Mr. Pitt
were utterly wrong in tlicir representations of what
occurred on his return to power in this year. The
Marquis of Buckingham was wrong in stating tliat he
was not particularly solicitous for the combination of
talent that Lord Grenville considered was demanded
by the position of the country ; and that he took
advantage of the consistency of more disinterested
politicians, to exclude them from any share in the
government.'
Mr. Thomas Grenville was wrono; in statin 2; that
Mr. Pitt had a reluctance to the oro-anization of a
strong government; and that when an opportunity
came for reunion (with the Grenvillites), he hesitated,
dallied, and then strove to go on in the old course.^
Lord Grenville was wrong in stating that his hope of
uniting the leading parties, and using all the talents
and exertions of public men to heal the distractions of
the country was " now desperate ; firstly, by the great
misconduct of Pitt, who might have realized it, but
refused to do so ; and secondly, by the violence of my
own friends, some of whom never wished the thing
to succeed." The only truth here is contained in the
second clause, and concurs with what Lord Grenville's
brother had previously stated, that most of Pox's
friends wished to drive the opposition to a union
with Addington, to the exclusion of Mr. Pitt.^ Lord
Holland, less bitter, because less personally interested
1 Letters, vol. iii. p. 356. - Ibid. p. 432. •■* Vol. iv. p. 9.
102 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
than the others, is still very wrong in asserting that
Mr. Pitt's endeavour to prevail on thi- King to admit
all parties into his cabinet, was a faint endeavour,
and that he found the prejudice against inei> and
measures insurmountable.
There was but one man against whom his prejudice
was insurmountable, and it was for the sake of that
one man that all the rest were excluded — not by
Mr. Pitt, nor by the King, but by themselves.'
Brougham, Avhose monomania against George III.
breaks out on every occasion, is wrong in another
way when he says that " it was discreditable to Mr.
Pitt, that after pressing Mr. Fox upon the King, as an
accession of strcnj^th necessarv for well carrving on the
war, he agreed to take otHce without any such accession,
rather than thwart the personal antipathy — the capri-
cious, the despicable antipathy of that narrow-minded
and vindictive Prince against the most illustrious of his
subjects." The epithets in either case might better
have been omitted. The character of that " most
illustrious " man has been already exposed, and it has
been shown how justly obnoxious he w^as to the King.
But when we add to this, " his disrepute Avith
the public," spoken of by Walpole, and his evidence
that " the character of Fox would be an inex-
haustible fund of objections " to a coalition ; ^ that
" the bad character of Fox and his friends would give
1 Memoirs of the Whig Party, vol. i. p. 192.
" Lord John Russell's Memoirs of Fox, vol. i, pp. 44 and 53.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 103
infinite offence ;" and that " his private life alarmed
public morality ; " and in addition to all this, Lord
John Russell's admission that the intimacy between
the Prince of Wales and Mr. Fox greatly exasperated
the King, who ascribed his excesses and imprudence
to the advice, influence, and manoeuvres of one whose
own dissipation afforded plausible grounds for such
a suspicion ; — it must be granted that the King's
objection to that most illustrious of his subjects was
a very respectable antipathy.
However, this is matter of opinion ; — not so what
follows. After relating an anecdote of j\Ir. Long
having diverted Mr. Pitt from his intention of going
into Brookes's to sup, in 1804, Lord Brougham adds,
"When we reflect on the high favour Mr. Pitt was then
in with the whigs, and consider the nature of Mr. Fox
as well as his own, we can have little doubt of the
cordial friendship which such a night would have
cemented, and that the union of the tAVO parties would
have been complete." ' It is singular that Mr. Rose
himself fell into the same mistake, and anticipated
great results from the two leaders combining both
parties; and therefore it was rather hard upon him,
that in the year 1807, when, after the death of Fox,
the Grenvillites were intent upon remodelling the
administration, Lord Temple objected to treating with
the adherents of Mr. Pitt, because Mr. Rose was one
' Historical Sketches of Statesmen in the time of George III.
vol. i. p. 201.
lOi DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
of them; supposing, no doubt, lliat he sliarcd in tlir
imputed cxclusiveness of Mr. Pitt. This was a very
great mistake, pardonable enough in the actors of tiiat
time, l)y wlioni the private sentiments of the leaders
might indeed be conjectured, but were not certainly
known; but uiH)ardonable in those who now know
exactly how matters really stood, ami the flame that
burned so inextinjTuishablv in the breasts of both.
It would not have been less ridiculous to propose
to Napoleon I. and Louis XVIII. to rule over rraucc
together, and to unite their followers in one con-
cordant administration. The flattery of Virgil could
suggest to Augustus that he diviilcd the Roman
empire with »lu[)iter ; but Jupiter, if there had been
such a person, would have fidminated his thunders
loud enough to prove the contrary. The lofty spirit
of Mr. Pitt, who for seventeen yeai"s had held undis-
puted sway over these realms, was not likely to bow
tamely beneath the yoke of Mr. Fox, even though he
were " the most illustrious " of Britons ; and so little
did the possibility of such an expectation occur to
hhn, that, in order to satisfy both his sovereign and
his rival, he proposed, in his character of Premier, to
send Mr. Fox as an ambassador to some foreign court j
and if he could have been contented with being the
representative of his sovereign, the King would have
ratified the appointment.
If such a proposal had been communicated to Fox,
it Mould have thrown hiui into fits ; for see how he
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 105
raved at the mere thought of subjection to Pitt
in any way. Having heard that his ^Majesty had
consented to an extended administration without any
exchision, and that six of his party were to be
admitted into the cabinet, he proceeds to say, — " I
shoukl conceive that either this plan is abandoned, or
that such is the impudence of the man, that he con-
ceives it not incompatible with this plan, to insist on
his own remaining where he is. I can hardly think
him audacious enough to make such an overture ; any
proposal ought to be, and would be rejected, in which
he was to be head." '
There is a passage, however, in a letter from Mr.
Adair to Mr. Fox, which so completely vindicates the
conduct of Mr. Pitt, that it must be here repi-oduced.
Mr. Pitt strongly represented to the King the impos-
sibility of going on without the assistance of the
Opposition ; that the experiments the King had w^ished
for had both been made, and both completely failed
(alluding to the attempt to detach the Grenvillites
from the Foxites, and then to admit the Foxites with
the exception of Fox himself). That something else
must be resorted to ; for that he would go on no
longer. The King mentioned JVIr. Fox's speech (a
speech which he had made in the House of Commons,
declaring that he would not stand in the way of
forming a new administration). Pitt replied it was a
most noble one, and that the man who could make
' Memoirs of Fox, vol. iv. p. 96.
106 DIARIES AND CORKESrOyDEXCE OF
it was the fittest to be applied to for advice. On the
King's asking whether some proposal could not be
made to the Opposition without Mr. Fox, Pitt replied,
" They ought not to listen to such a proposal ; and,
in my opinion, their acceptance would be of very
little use without him." lie then argued the point
for some time.
The King could not deny that there was great
good sense in what Mr. Pitt observed, and that the
argument stood on very ditterent grounds from what
it did last year. ITc said to another person, that his
chief objection was that he thought Mr. Fox had a
personal dislike to him. The person answered, "Then
your ^lajcsty has given a complete refusal to Mr. Pitt?
The King said, " No, not that ; he had only taken
time to consider, and had told Pitt to patch up as
Avell as he could for th(> present." '
After such progress had been made, it may now
be asked why did the negotiation utterly fail, or
rather, why was it carried no further ? Because this
" noble speech " was thus meanly explained away to
gratify his friends, by that " most illustrious" speaker.
To 'My. O'Brien he wrote thus : " I never meant to
admit, nor do the words at all convey such a meaning,
that such a ministry could be made without my having
a principal, or perhaps the principal share in forming
it, or that it could be formed at all without Pitt's
coming down from his situation at the Treasury, and
^ Memoirs of Fox, toL iv. p. 74.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 107
in fact considering the present ministry as annihi-
lated ; in which case all such persons as I alluded to
(i. e. his own followers), might be consulted on the
formation of a new one."
Nor were these sentiments expressed once only,
or to one person confidentially. They were indeed
intended to be made known to his friends, who had
taken offence at his nobleness. But to Lord Lauder-
dale he wrote to the same purpose ; that he had all
along held a junction with Mr. Pitt to be not impro-
bable but impossible ; that he wanted to ascertain
whether there was any possibility of theu' coming in
on other terms than submission to Pitt. " If such a
possibility exists," said he, '' I am as eager for seizing
and improving it, as I am, and I believe always
shall be, totally averse from acting under him."
And again : " The taking anything short of com-
plete power would be worse than anything that has
yet occmTed." ^ And then, if he had been possessed
of that power, how did he propose to use it ? He tells
us in a letter to Mr. Grey : " our efforts probably would
not lead to forming a party acting decidedly and
honestly against the Court, which, after all, is the
main object." ^
Now, the conclusions to be drawn from all this
evidence are these : Pirst, that the King's dislike of
Mr. Pox was not capricious and vindictive, but natural
and reasonable ; and that he had abundant cause to
1 Memoirs, vol. iv.'pp. 290 and 130. * Vol. iii. p. 429.
108 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
dread his admission into the cabinet. It is true that
when no option was left to him after Mr. I'itt's deatli,
and he was o1)Uged to take him into liis councils, the
Whig minister became verv amiabK-, and, like the
panther in Dryden's fable, —
" He civilly withdrew his shari>eiiM paws,
And pacified his tail, and lick'd his frothy jaws."
But the King was not sufticientiv versed in the
science of physiology to know how nuich the enjoy-
ment of high office can tame the ferocity of a Jacobin.
Secondly, that if Mr. Pitt took olfice witiiout Mr.
Fo.\, it was not his fault, nor yet the King's, who
seems to have been in a relenting mood at last, and
only asked fur time to reconcile hims«'lf to the idea ;
but it was solely and entirely the fault of Mr. Fo.x,
who would be contented with nothing less than
absolute supremacy. It is true that in his fear lest it
should altogether elude his grasp, he once suggested
that a third person might be })laced at the head of
the Treasury ; the eflfect of which may be better under-
stood by comparing it with the somewhat parallel
case of Addington and Pitt. They had l)oth been
Premiers, and therefore Addington thought they should
both be on an equality apparently in the cabinet ;
but he proposed virtually to convey all the power to
Pitt by placing his brother at the Treasury. In like
manner, Pox would submit to no other alternative
than that of securing all the power to himself, by
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 109
placing there some AVhig friend, who would do all
his biddino;.'
If, then, it be true that Pitt " committed a flagrant
political crime," by refusing to share power with a
man whose life, it is admitted, was a " life of gambling,
intrigue, and faction,"^ much more flagrant was the
crime of Mr. Fox, in refusing to share power with a
man " of spotless reputation." Lastly, then, it is
quite obvious that the union of the two parties, to be
brought about by the union of their leaders, was
an utter impossibility ; and it is wonderful that this
conclusion should have escaped the sagacity of Lord
Brougham. But there is another charge preferred
against Mr, Pitt, which calls for some notice. He is
accused of resuming office, which he had resigned,
because the King would not consent to the emanci-
pation of the Koman Catholics, without making any
stipulation for them " on the utterly unconstitutional
ground of the King's personal prejudices." ^ Whether
it was unconstitutional or not, it has been clearly
shown that Mr. Pitt was at least consistent. The same
view which he took of that question at the first, he
persevered in to the end. But the great Whig leader,
Mr. Pox, plainly did not consider it unconstitutional,
for he told Lord Grenville, what he and Lord Grey had
often agreed upon, that if there was a ministry cordially
united on giving the Catholics substantial relief, and
' Memoirs of Fox, vol. iv. p. 114. 2 Historical Sketches, vol. i. p. 89.
■^ Historical Sketches, vol. i. p. 201.
110 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDEN'CE OF
their full share, as far as the law will allow, in the
government of the country, he thought some considera-
tion, as far at least as delay went, might he had of the
King's prejudices, especially in his present state." '
One would have scarcely thought it possible that
the same person who penned this considerate and
reasonable opinion, should have been so inconsistent
as to vent his animosity at another time in such terms
as these: "Some add that Pitt's refusal is owimj to
madness ; it seeming, I suppose, incredible, that if he
were in his right senses, he should refuse to do what
certainly would be the greatest act of meanness
hitherto exhibited, by coming in without arrange-
ment of the Catholic business. .My opinion of Pitt
is not high, but I own I do not think him capable
of this. That he takes the proposal as any other
than an insult, is more wonderful to me than anvthing
else."^ And yet Fo.x came in himself without any
arrangement ; and when Count Stahienbur^h said to
him, " Have you no dilliculty respecting the Roman
Catholic question ? " he replied, " None at all ; I am
determined not to annoy my sovereign by bringin<T it
forward." Lord Holland says there was less personal
enmity between them than so long a period of politi-
cal conflict could be supposed to engender ; but Fox
was frequently abusive in speaking of Pitt, but Pitt
never so, when naming his rival.
The first part of .Air. Rose's Diary for 1804 is not
' Memoirs of Fox, vol. iv. p..45. » U,d. vol. iii. p. 383.
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE EOSE. Ill
sufficiently interesting to be given at full length, but
from this sentence there are two passages which must
be excepted ; one connected with the character of Lord
Thurlow% and the other wdth the conduct of the press.
When it was certain that the Addington administra-
tion would be broken up, either by its own weakness
or by a demise of the Crown, which then seemed very
probable, — various rumours were afloat as to who
their successors would be. Mr. Rose thought it very
improbable that the Prince of Wales would call upon
Mr. Pitt to form an Administration ; and he proceeds
to say, " I am confirmed in this observation by a
certain account, that Lord Thurlow was with the
Prince more than two hours this morning. What
advice a man can give who has entirely secluded
himself from all parties, and every description of
gentlemen almost (except an occasional visit to Bright-
helmston), living only with low Jacobins, it is difficult
to guess." The other passage relates to a visit which
Mr. Rose received from the Editor of a paper. " Mr.
Herriot," he says, " the Editor of the True Briton and
the SuUi with whom I have had no intercourse of any
sort for seven or eight years, and whom I never saw
more than two or three times in my life, came to me
to say, that on the first coming in of the present
Administration he took a decided line with them,
knowing that Mr. Pitt supported them ; that as long
as he did so, Mr. Hiley Addington rode him hard
with fulsome eulogiums on his brother, but assisted
most materially in circulating his paper ; that since
112 DIARIES AND COTlRESPOyDEN'CE OF
he took a contrary lino, and attacked tlieir measures,
his paper had fallen off, so much as to render it a
losing concern. lie added, that he knew the esteem
and respect of the country for Mr. Pitt was higher
than ever ; but that as he would not manifest to the
world his opinion of the incapacity of Ministers, a
paper that professed to support him and expose them
could not stand." Now this is important, because it
is a direct contradirtiDU to Mr. Fox's statement, when
he complained to O'Hricn of an incivility to liim in
an anonymous li-tter, which he thought Mr. I'itt
would not have sanctioned. " ]hd," he adds, "per-
haps I am too candid. Rose and his creatures arc
the set of Pitt's friends, who have, 1 believe, most to
say to the True Brifu/iy^
Now this was written just about the time, when
Mr. Rose declares in his diary, that he liad not seen
the Editor for seven or eight years before ; and in the
next place, it appears that the person who had most
to do with the True Bri/on, up to the time, or at least
as long as :\Ir. Pitt extended his a^gis over that Admi-
nistration, was Mr. Ililey Adilington, who so long
continued to give it that essential assistance which
a Minister can render to a newspaper, Mithout paying
for its services. But the complaint is a sufficient proof
that the Editor derived no benefit from Mr. Pitt, or
his friends; that he was a steadfast partisan of that
statesman, and owned allegiance to him as his politi-
cal leader,
^ Memoii's, vol. iv. p. 21.
THE J^IGIir JIOX. GEORGIO KOSE. 113
CHAPTER IV
1804.
MR. rose's DIART FROM APRIL 22d TO 15tH JuNE, 1804 — NEGOTIA-
TIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
z'
Old Palace Yard, April 22d. — Mr. Pitt wrote a
long letter to the King, stating that the conduct of his
Majesty's ministers, particularly of the one who was at
the head of the Administration, rendered it impossible
for him, consistently with the sense of duty he felt to
his Majesty and the country, to forbear any longer a
direct opposition to their measures. That he took the
determination reluctantly ; and that he made this
communication to his Majesty, previously, from mo-
tives of the sincerest respect and consideration for his
Majesty. From the 2 2d of April, to May the 2d,
there were frequent communications uct bally between
the King and Mr. Pitt through the Chancellor, which
led to Mr. Pitt writing a letter to his Lordship to be
communicated to his Majesty ; having, during that
intercourse, been encouraged to submit his thoughts
to the King respecting a new Administration, at the
head of which he should be.
May 2d. — Mr. Pitt wrote accordingly to the Chan-
cellor, desiring him to submit to his Majesty, how
VOL. 11. I.
114 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENXE OF
desirable it would he, in the prcsint circumstances of
this country and of Europe, that an Administration
should be formed on a broad basis, cond)ining the
best talents and the great weight of properly of the
country ; and, with that view, earnestly recommended
including Lord Grenville and his friends, and Mr.
Fox and his friends. Mr. I'itt urged earnestly tiiat
in carrying on such a war as wc are engaged in,
it would proljably be necessary to adopt measures of
finance which wouhl from their pressure unavoidably
be unpopular ; and tliat other measures of government
might also be found necessary, which wouUl in like
manner be rendered unpopular by ])ersons of great
talents and active dispositions. That those con-
siderations alone would have induced Mr. Pitt to
think that the best interests of the country rccpiired
a strong Government. On looking abroad, however,
with regard to the opinions of foreign courts, nothing
would be so likely to give them confidence in this
country, as the formati(m of such a Government as lie
suggested. And in addition to these reasons, Mr.
Pitt stated his firm determination never to agitate the
question of Catholic Emancipation again during the
King's life; and that he thought the most certain
way of ensuring Mr. Fox never stirring it again would
be the including him in the new arrangement ; as
Mr. Pitt w^ould make the stipulation that he should
not move it, nor support it, a sine qua non of such an
arrangement. The letter was in a style of the utmost
respect towards the King ; but the arguments for in-
eluding Mr. Fox were pressed with great eagerness
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 115
and anxiety, proportioned, indeed, to tlie importance
Mr. Pitt attached to the snccess of them, — which he
felt most forcibly. Mr. Pitt concluded by entreating
the King would not positively decide agahist tlie pro-
})osal he had submitted to his Majesty without hearing
from him in person his reasons in support of it ; as-
suring his ]\Iajesty at the same time that he had
formed no engagement which would subject his
Majesty to the slightest inconvenience or embarrass-
ment whatever. •
Mai/ 3d. — The letter was sent to the Chancellor in
the afternoon, who carried it to his Majesty the next
morning.
Ma^ 4tf/i. — Feeling the same anxiety j\Ir. Pitt did
for the formation of an Administration on a broad
basis, and conceiving that the Chancellor might be
able very much to influence the King's determination
on the subject, I wrote to his Lordship a confidential
letter, stating that it would be the height of pre-
sumption in me if I could suppose I could add
anything to the arguments in Mr. Pitt's letter before
referred to ; but mixing more with men, and neces-
sarily knowing more of their sentiments-, than his
Lordshi[), I was desirous of impressing on his mind
the importance of forming such an Administration as
Mr. Pitt proposed ; persuaded, as I was, that no other
could possibly have a chance of maintaining itself for
eighteen months. I urged to his Lordship reasons to
prove, incontrovertibly, that I could have no possible
personal motive for tlic union so anxiously desired ;
and expressed a disinclination to trouble his Lordship
T ^
116 DIARIES AND COIIHESPONDENCK OI"
personally at such a iiioiuent ; but said I woukl break-
fast with his brother. Sir WiUiam Scott, in tlic morn-
ins:, in order to talk witli him. 1 eonehided with
telling him that my Ictti r re(|uired no answer, nor
indeed conld any be given to it.
The servant, however, brought l)ack a letter iVom
his Lordship, evidently written in a state of nuieli
agitation, or rather of irritation, at the instant of his
reading mine; achnittiiig tin- ditlieulty of the circnni-
stances we are in, and tlianking (Jod that he was not
accessary to tlie causes which liad produced tiiem.
His Lordship said the fori)earance of two or three
weeks would have saved tlie Kiiiij, and mi^ht have
saved j\Ir. Pitt tlie cruel consequences of making a
proposition, in his Lordship's opinion, most seriously
injurious to his Majesty, lie conceived there was no
medium between Mr. Pitt's trying what 1 thought
not lastimi;, and the Kin<]r being destrovcd. That he
thought the advice to form an Administration on the
basis alluded to, woidd l)e the very worst that could
be given ; adding terms of the highest reprobation,
and in a style of acrimony.
I, therefore, declined going to Sir William Scott, i\s
utterly hopeless of producing any ctiect : — the Chan-
cellor indeed having said, at the conclusion of his
letter, that he would not mix his brother in the
business.
Maj/ 5///.— The King wrote to :Mr. Pitt, in answer
to the proposals made to his Majesty in Mr. Pitt s
letter of the 2d to the Chancellor. From the style of
the letter, his Majesty must have been in a state of some
THE KIGHT HON. GEOKGE KOSE. 117
irritation at the time of writing it.' He exjn'essed deep
regret at the opinion entertained by Mr. Pitt of Mr.
Addington, whose conduct in the chair of the Honse
of Commons for twelve years, and afterwards in so
handsomely taking the adnnnistration in the hour of
distress, w^hen Mr. Pitt and his colleagues abandoned
it, for the sake of a measure wdiich wonld have been
most highly dangerous both to the constitution and
religion of the kingdom ; and in which his Majesty
could not have acquiesced w^ithout a violation of his
coronation oath. That before he could consent to
Mr. Pitt formino; an Administration he should ex-
pect he wonld agree to make an explicit declaration
that he would never, at any time, agitate or support
the question of Catholic Emancipation or the repeal of
the Test Act. That his Majesty highly disapproved of
the conduct of the two Secretaries of State ^ who went
out of office on the occasion alluded to, one of whom
he said had been in a correspondence with a former
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland ; ^ and that the other ^ was
governed by obstinacy, his usual disorder. His J\Ia-
jesty added, that he hoped ]\Ir. Pitt, in forming a new
Administration, wonld include as niiuiy of his present
' It is perfectly certain that Mr. Addingtou had been with the
King a considerable time before his Majesty wrote this letter ; and
there cannot be the shadow of a doubt but that, either by represent-
ing his own merits, or complaining of the conduct of others, he con-
tributed to, if not entirely occasioned, the irritation under which
this letter was written.
^ Lord Grenville and Mr. Dundas.
^ Alluding to Lord Melville's correspondence with Loixl Corn-
wallis.
■* Lord Grenville.
118 DIARIES AND COKllESPONDENCE OF
servants as possible. To the admission of Mr. Fox
in it the King expressed an absolute negative ;
saying, that he had been expelled from tlie Privy
Council for his conduct, and that no consideration
should prevail with him to accept him now as one of
his ministers.'
To that letter from the King Mr. I'ltt wrote a very
temperate and respectful answer; j)roposing to attend
his Majesty whenever he would ])ermit hiiu ; vindica-
ting the conduct ot' lumself, Lord (irenville, and
Lord Melville ; and reminding his Majesty of the
recpiest he before made to him of being iieard person-
ally in support of the measure of an Administration
being formed on a broad basis.
I thought it essential before Mr. Pitt .shoulil see tlic
King, to put him in possession of the state of parties
as far as respected those who would be likely to be in
opposition to a Government formed by him to the
exclusion of Mr. Pox, Lord Grenville, &c. &c. in the
event of his not being able to carry his point for
them ; in order to which Mr. Lonf' and mvself
made np lists of persons, in each party, with the
greatest possible attention and care. The result was,
as under : —
' The contents of this letter were soon known to the Prince of
Wales, and others ; which arose from copies of it having been made
by the King's order, by :Mr. Simmons, the son of the Physician from
St. Luke's, who attended his Majesty ; one of which was read before
one or two of the royal dukes. But the circumstance gave occasion
to a malevolent report that the letter was shown to Dr. Simmons
himself before it was sent to Mr. Pitt.
RISH.
TOTAL.
12
41
9
79
1
23
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 119
ENGLISH.
The Prince 29
Mr. Fox 70
Lord Grenville 22
Mr. Addiugton, includiug persons who j
would oppose from former disappoint- [^ 60 8 68
ment, &o
Doubtful persons, of whom we have
some knowledge, 58 ; suppose only
half of these against
240
leaving 70 Irish members, and many Englisli ones,
quite micertaiii. From hence it followed, that adding
only 30 more as acjainst us from the uncertain mem-
bers (a sanguine estimate), there would be in the
whole a strength of 270 opposed to us at the first
onset. That statement Mr. Long undertook to convey
to Mr. Pitt in the evening.
In the course of the day I had much conversation
with j\Ir. Pitt about the formation of his new Govern-
ment, under the discouragement in the King's letter
respecting ^Ir. Fox, Lord Grenville, &c. He expressed
a hope of being allowed to include the latter, which at
once struck me to be quite a vain one ; because, if the
King should give way, there could not be a chance, after
what we had recently seen of the intercourse or under-
standnig between the Grenvilles and Mr. Fox, that the
former could entertain a tliougUt of taking othce with-
out the latter. In that event, Mr. Pitt said he thought
he could form a good and permanent administration
without them. I expressedyrra^ doubts on three points,
ist. As to members in the House of Commons ; 2d.
as to speakers there ; and 3d. as to filling the great
120 DIARIES AND COllKKSPONDENCE OF
offices. The first was k't't tor consideration ; the second
he thonpjht lie sliould nrr!Uip:o very well ; — reckoning
Lord Cnstlereagli, the Attorney-General, Canning,
Stnrires Bourne, with one or two more of that chiss ;
and getting Adam to be Solicitor-General, with a ])ro-
babilitv of having Mr. Tierncv,' to which he was
encouraged by Mr. Long. Mr. Adam apjicariug to
me to bi- unhkely to take office, as well from iiis con-
nexion with Mr. I'oxasfrom his dislike to entering again
into politics so late in life, and giving uj) great gains
in the House of Commons business, — I asked Mr.
Pitt who he would think of if Adam shnuhi decline?
and he mentioned Homilly in ])reference to Mr. Dallas,
now in the House, or Mr. (Jibbs. ( )n the third ])oint,
Mr. ritt mentioned JjOid Melville lor the Admiralty ;
Lord Castlereagh, Lord llarrowby, Lord llawkesbury,
&c. for other great offices. The lu^alth of Lord Har-
rowby occurred to me inunediately as likely to prevent
his taking any situation of much labour, or requiring
' Respecting the suggestion about Mr. Tieniey, I could say
nothing to Mr. Pitt more than de.siring him to con.sidcr that atten-
tively in his oicH hiinti, before he should allow any propo.sal to he
made to Mr. Tierney, because the effect of it on the jJubUc opinion
could be judged of by !Mr. Pitt a.s well as by any one. He too could
estimate what sacrifice was worth making to get rid of the (rouhh-
Mr. Tierney is capable of giving, — his xnpport not being likely to be
valuable. It occurred to me too, that any objections raised by me
might possibly be attributed to self-interest. In my mind, however,
I was most earnestly against it, mider a conviction that in the pre-
sent state of the King's health, by the line the Prince of Wales is
taking, Mr. Tierney would refuse ; knowing he could in no way so
efifectually make his court to his Royal Highness, and .secure future
benefits fiom him. 1 should have been equally against the proi)osal
if I had thought he would accept it,— from the discredit of taking
him after all that had pa.ssed.
THE HIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 121
constant attendance. The Chief Justiceship of Chester
not having been given away, Mr. Pitt thought of
Lord Tlionias Manners having that on retiring from
the Solicitor- General's situation.
May Ifh. — The state of parties made up by Mr.Long
and myself yesterday, appearing to meto be so important
in the consideration of forming a new administration,
I wrote to Mr. Pitt early in the morning (that he
might be sure of having my letter before he went to
tlie King), re-stating the numbers, with observations,
under nn impression that showing that to the King,
would convince him of the extreme doubtfulness of a
Government being usefully formed without some other
aid ; suggesting to Mr. Pitt, in the strongest terms I
could express myself in, the mischievous effect that
would be produced by a Government being formed bj/
him that could not stand after the overthrow of the
former one by the voice of Parliament ; that this country
must desjpond, and foreigners despair of us.
Mr. Pitt went to the King about eleven o'clock. IJc
first saw the physicians in attcndajice on his Majesty,
who assured him the King was in a state of health and
mhid that rendered it most ])erfectly and entirely safe
for him to see his Majesty, and to converse with him
on any business, even of the most arduous and interest-
ing kind ; which opinion they stated in writing, and
signed it.
i\lr. Pitt then went in to his Majesty, who received
him with the utmost possible kindness and cordiality.
He congratulated his Majesty on his looking better
than on his recovery from his last illness; to which his
122 DIA.RIES AND COllRESPOXDENCE OP
Majesty replied, " tlmt was not to be wondered at, as
he was then on tlie j)oint o{ jjartituj with an old friend,
and he was now about to regain one." Mr. Pitt then
entered on the sul)ject of forming an administration.
In the course of the conversation liis .Majesty digressed
a good deal when he came to suggestions of .Mr. Pitt's
which lie did not like, but always most perfectly
rational, and returned to the suggestions exactly at the
parts from whieh he went off. "With tlie aj)j)ointiiu'nt
of Lord Melvilh' to any office in which he mi''ht Ijc
useful lie acquiesced. lie objected a good deal to
Lord Grenville, but gave way completely about him ; —
to Lord Spencer he made no objection at all, only said
he thought a better First Lord of the Admiralty might
be found; — to Mr. Windham, in like manner, he did
not object ; but said he thought he had better not be
placed in any situation of business, " though if hi- had
been in the House of Commons, he should have voted
with him on some of his (juestions." On Mr. Fox's
name being suggested, the King digressed a good deal,
but returning to the matter, he said he could not
possibly take him into his Cabinet. Mr. Pitt urged
the importance of it with all the reasons he could find,
and with the utmost earnestness ; but the King w^as
quite immovable respecting him. Mr. Pitt then asked
his Majesty whether he would object to .Mr. Fox being
employed abroad, if by any possibility he should offer
himself for a foreign mission, on any occasion that
might appear to him to be worthy of his being engaged
in it ; to which his Majesty replied, " Not at all." He
conhued his objections solely to the bringing Mr. Fox
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 123
into the Cabinet. On the whole, the impression was
strong in Mr. Pitt's mind, that he could have easily
prevailed with the King to admit several of jMr. Fox's
friends into offices, some into the Cabinet ; and that no
difficulty would have occurred in taking care of those
about whom he w^as most anxious, by employments of
different sorts. Respecting Lord Moira, the getting
w^hom (wdth a view^ of conciliating the Prince) appeared
to be of importance, Mr. Pitt did not, in the first
interview, venture to propose anything, though he
was anxious on the subject. The King said jNlr.
Addington had forced him upon the Duke of York for
the chief command in Scotland.,
The King told ]\Ir. Pitt there -were two or three
persons,^ naming them, whom he could not forgive, for
voting with Mr. Pitt cujaimt him ; and that he never
Avould forget it : which ^Ir. Pitt observed was unfor-
tunate, as they were amongst those wdiom he meant to
^ One of these was unquestionably Lord Melville. The Duke of
Cumljcrland told me soon after I came to town (two or three weeks
ago, when dining with him at his own house) that Lord Melville
had given the King the most positive and unequivocal assurances
that he would never oppose his Majesty's Government. That assur-
ance was given at his Lordship's house at Wimbledon, when the
King was there at a grand review, in the summer of 1802 ; and was
repeated in most distinct terms when his Lordship took leave that
year to go to Scotland. This information the Duke of Cumberland
had from the King at the review, and more than once since. It
explains the reluctance, and indeed refusal, of his Lordsliip to come
up lately on Mr. Pitt's summons, till it was evident the Government
could not stand. It is confirmed too by the account Lord IMelville
gave to Lord Meadowbank (one of the Lords of Session), on his
return to Scotland in 1802 — that the King, on his taking leave of
his Majesty, was so pleased with him, that he told him he must
keep the govei*nment of Scotland in his hands.
124 MARIES AND COUUKSl'ONDEN'CK OF
propose to liis Majesty for offices, 'i'lic King replied,
if they came in as friends of Mr. Pitf's, he shoiiUl not
object at all to thcni ; and that Mr. Pitt need be under
no uneasiness on that subject.
The readiness with which his ^rajcsty gave way
relative to Lord Grenville, Lord Melville, Lord Spencer,
Mr. A^'indhanl, &c., the disjmsition he showed to ac-
quiesce with regard to Mr. Fox's friends; the fair
opening there appeared to be for Mr. Fox having a
Cabinet office soon, by taking the liussian mission,
or, by waiting a very few months, or perhaps weeks,
at home, till Mr. Pitt could gradually reconcile the
King's mind to the measure, atlordcd to Mr. Pitt and
others, as well as to myself, the fairest prospect of an
arrangement being made, such as we all most anxiously
and cordially wished.
Mr. Pitt stated all these circumstances, first, to
Lord Granville Leveson and Mr. Canning, on iiis
return to York Place from the King ; and then more
in detail to the Bishoj) of Lincoln and me together.
After wliich he went to Lord Grenville, to mention to
his Lordship everything that related to him or to
Mr. Fox.'
In the evening, j\h-. Fox's friends and Lord Gren-
ville's met both at Camelford House (the residence of
the latter) and at Carlton House. At both meetings
it was unanimously agreed, and positively decided, that
no one of the friends of either of the parties, and at
^ Mr. Pitt told me he had determined not to show the King's
letter to Lord Grenville, or Mr. Fox, nor to Lord Granville Leveson,
nor indued to any friend of Lord Grenville or Mr. Fox.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 125
Carlton House meeting that no friend of the Prince's,
should on any account take any office whatever,
unless Mr. Fox should be admitted into the Cabinet
directly.
May d)th. — Found the Bishop of Lincoln with Mr.
Pitt, and in talking over occurrences and probable
events, Mr. Pitt seemed in the highest spirits possible ;
neither he, the Bishop, or myself knowing anything
then of the resolutions or proceedings of the meetings
at Camelford House or Carlton House ; but an impres-
sion on the minds of each of us that so fair an opening
presented itself for Fox, as to afford a reasonable cer-
tainty that he would not allow it to escape him ; which
we had the stronger confidence in, as Mr. Pitt had
resolved to meet Mr. Fox at Lord Strafford's, as soon
as the Liskeard Committee should break up, on which
Mr. Fox was nominee, and to discuss all matters with
him in the most cordially open manner possible, wait-
ing only to know when he could see him. All our
hopes and expectations were, however, soon destroyed
by Mr. Canning coming in to announce to him the
resolutions of the preceding evening, and to say,
that in consequence of these Mr. Fox dechned a meet-
ing with Mr. Pitt as useless.' I have no hesitation in
owning that in the whole course of my political life no
one event ever gave me so sensible a shock ; no one
' This was conveyed by a letter from Mr. Fox to Lord Granville
Leveson, stating that it could answer no possible good end for liim
and Mr. Pitt to meet, after the positive determination of his friends
not to make part of any Government from which he should be
peremptorily excluded ; declining therefore the meeting with Mr.
Pitt in a most unqualified manner.
126 BIAKIES AND COllKESPON DENCE OF
that I believe I shall feel the effects of m lonq or so
severely/. I looked to the union of talents and j)ro-
perty projected, as the most probahle means of extri-
cating the country, giving vigour to our exertions at
home, and procuring us respect abroad ; of iiiabhni;
strouG^ measures to be taken when necessarv. cither of
finance or police, and of keeping down, in the most effec-
tual manner, all dangerous or factious attempts, and all
stirring of delicate questions. On thissubject a thousand
things crowd into my mind to make me di'epiv, vcr//
decpli/ indeed lament the disappointment. It is. I am
sure, most strongly to be regretted that .Mr. Titt and
Mr. Fox did not meet, as I am firmly persuaded thai
if they had, there would have been at least a probabi-
lity of matters being set right.
Lord Grenville wrote to Mr. I'llt, t(j aimounce to
him what was decided at the meeting at his house;
and to put an end to all i)ossibility of any further
expectation of his Lordship, or any of the friends of
Mr. Fox or his Lordship's, making a part of the new
Administration.
Mr. Pitt came to me in Palace Yard at four in the
afternoon, and afforded me an opportunity to state
fully and at leisure everything with which my mind
was full, against his attempting to form an Admini-
stration with such persons as he could alone hope
would engage with him. He then reminded me of
what I should have noticed earlier in these Notes,
that he had engaged positively to the King, that if,
HI a personal conversation with him, he should fail to
persuade him to take Mr. Fox into his councils, lie
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 127
would then endeavour to form an Administration
without that gentleman ; which he now found himself
bound in honour to do, if possible. To this I replied,
that if he could show to his Majesty the strength he
would have to contend with, by merely exhibiting to
him the lists of parties before stated, with the names
of all the persons in each, it must satisfy him that any
Government he could form would have no chance of
standing, exclusive of the difficulty in filling the offices
creditably. I thought his Majesty must, in such case,
release him from his engagement; being, however,
fully persuaded that he could not redeem his pledge
given on any other terms, or in any other way, than
by determining not to oppose any Government he
could form, not even the last, if the King should
choose to restore them. Finding Mr. Pitt incensed
against the friends of Mr. Fox and Lord Grenville for
their preventing the arrangement he had hoped to
form, I suggested to him that his withdrawing himself
entirely from the scene at present would be the most
mortifying thing that could be conceived for them, as
it w^ould leave them a weak and ineffectual Opposition,
acting by themselves, and put him in a high point of
view. I thought this argument aflected him a little
at first,' but he soon roused himself, said he was com-
mitted, and would go on, certain that all would do
well ; that he should go through the remainder of the
' Mr. Pitt is human, and of course not free from human frailties.
I think (as observed in the text), he is at present somewhat influenced
in making a Government by a desire to satisfy his resentment against
Mr. Fox's friends ; and I will fairly own I thought the line I here
recommended would most_effectually have attained that end.
128 DIARIES AND COKKESPONDKNCK OF
session (with a {laiiger of iK-iiig in a minority possibly
on one of the Defence Bills) w ithout great eniharrnss-
ment; and that in the summer li<> should undouht-
edlv be able to stren<j;then the Administration in
some way or another. He said l/mt with so much
firmness as to render any further attempt to dissuade
him iittcrly hopeless, and 1 gave up the point reluc-
tantly enough, Heaven knows! under a strong con-
viction, that, although Mr. Pitt can lose no character
in endeavouring to secure the King against such a
force upon him as is in the highest degree unjustifiable
to be attempted, yet it is impossible not to see that
he risks loss of consequence to a very great extent.
If the Opposition shall prevail against him, and lie is
removed bv such means, the count rv will not, in anv
emergency, look up tu him as they have done; and if,
on such an occurrence, another attempt shouKl be
made on the King to receive Mr, Fox, and that that,
from the dire necessity of the case, should succeed,
and a Government should be formed by a junction of
parties, Mr. Fox would then naturally have the more
weight in the new Government, as he would come in
by conquest, and Mr. Pitt would remain in hi/ suffer-
ance. The part the Prince of Wales so decidedly
takes in the matter, renders the forming an Admini-
stration with little more than some of the late Mini-
sters (whom we have been holding up to ridicule for a
long time) a desperate undertaking; not only on
account of the number of his Roval Hitirhness's friends
in either house, but that a regular standard being set
up at Carlton House will have the effect of a rallying-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 129
place for all discontented men to go to ; and it will
become a rival Court to that at St. James's. In the
event of the King's death or permanent disability,
the Government would certainly be put into Mr. Fox's
hands, and the recent transaction and intercourse
with him will have a considerable effect in lessening
the prejudices in the public mind against him.
After, however, Mr. Pitt had patiently listened to
all I/aid, and expressed the firm determination before
alluded to, I promised I would not pain him by any
revival of the question hereafter.
May ^tli. — I saw Mr. Pitt in the morning, who
received a short letter from the King while I was
with him, written remarkably well, and with great
kindness of expression, though merely to say he
would see him at half-past three, to talk further of
arrangements ; but the King concluded with saying
that he had read in the Times, not without astonish-
ment, "that the Opposition meeting was held at
Carlton House."
Mr. Pitt told me he meant to propose to ]\Ir. Sturges
Bourne to be Secretary to the Treasury.
May\Wi. — Was with Mr. Pitt in the morning;
nothing, however, passed that could tend to throw any
light on what was passing. Mr. Long moved Mr.
Pitt's writ on his acceptance of the office of Chancellor
of the Exchequer and First Lord of the Treasury.
Mr. Sturges Bourne told me he had at once agreed to
accept the office of Secretary to the Treasury on Mr.
Pitt offering it to him, though very much against his
liking, and solely from attachment to Mr. Pitt; on
VOL. II. K
laU DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
coudition however, expressly, that he shoukl not have
the department of Finance.
Matters being thus so far settled as to be abso-
lutely decisive respecting Mr. Pitt jjutting himself at
the head of the new Administration, it is impossible
to avoid some reflections on the subject. It is per-
fectly clear to me that in taking the determination,
Mr. Pitt has not acted on his own cool and temperate
judgment, nor entirely on the advice of others, though
he has been much influenced by the latter. He has
in this, as in former instances, been a little led by
resentment against political op[)onents. He certainly
felt somewhat indignant at the conduct of those who
drove him, and through him the King, so hard, on the
admission of Mr. Fox iiiuitodiatflij into the Cabinet;
considering it as overbearing, inexcusable, and intole-
rable to him to be so dictated to. He was desirous,
therefore, to show Lord Grenville and that set (whom
he blamed by much the most), that he could form a
Government that would stand without them. At the
same time, I am persuaded, he had strong opinions
urged upon him as to the expediency of forming an
administration on the basis of such an arrangement as is
now making; and I have not the shghtest doubt but that
Lord Melville is the principal adviser of that measui'e.
His eager impatience for ottice was manifested beyond
all dispute in the earlier negotiations, and he knew that,
by the exclusion of Lord GrenviUe's and Mr. Fox's
parties, he should be sure of obtaining his favoiu-ite
object of being First Lord of the Admiralty, in which
situation he will have full scope for all he is desirous
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 131
of. I have good reason for believing too, that the
state of numbers, in the parties of Mr. Fox and Lord
Grenville, and of persons influenced by the Prince, as
made up by Mr. Long and me on the 6th, has been
iuvahdated where it ought not to have been,^ because
Mr. Pitt expressed a strong opinion that that list
had been made up with more despondency than
the case required. On the other hand, some of
Mr. Pitt's most valuable and disinterested friends
think he does right in the present course he is pur-
suing ; Lord Bathurst personally told me so, and
said at the same time that Lord Harrowby entirely
approves it ; that the latter is too unwell, and the
future prospect of his health too unpromising for him
to take any situation of constant labour and attend-
ance, but that he agrees to be of the Cabinet, and
will probably preside in the Committee of Trade. The
country mai/, and I hope will, be with j\L\ Pitt, under
a just impression that he is making a manly and well-
principled struggle. If it should take that line, I shall
myself not despond of a very tolerable parliamentary
support. Our greatest weakness will be in what I before
observed, — filling the offices usefully and creditably;
and particularly with persons who will be able to assist
essentially in debate ; being now convinced that the
King will be as anxious for the cause of the new Go-
vernment as he ever was for any ; seeing clearly that
their continuance must be his best protection against
what he must dread, and that in consequence thereof
1 Subsequent information, perfectly to be relied on, confii-ms thia
conjectvu-e. — May 17th, 1804.
K 2
132 DIARIES AND COllRESPONDEXCE OF
all those who consider themselves as his t'ricnds will
be hearty, uniform, and steaihi in their snpport, whieh
will make a most essential difterencc in any com})u-
tation of strength.
May Wth. — Mr. lluskisson fixed to be joint Secre-
tary of the Treasury witli Mr. Sturges Bourne; the
office having been refused to Mr. John King, when
applied for in his favour by the Duke of Portland.
The Secretaryship at 'War reserved for Mr. Canning,
who had left town on the negotiation with Mr. Fox
and Lord Grenville breaking off.
Lord Stafford will support Mr. Pitt, and also Lord
Granville Leveson ; but neither will take olliee.
Sir Henry Milduiay eagerly approves of the line
Mr. Pitt is pursuing.
Sir Robert Lawley declares he will retire into the
country, and leave j)ulitieal matters altogether, for the
present.
Mat/ \1th. — Mr. Pitt expressed to me a very anxious
wish that I would accept the Vice-Presidentship of
the Board of Trade, with a Privy-Councillor's office ;
telling me at the same time that he meant to propose
to the Duke of Montrose to be President, and to offer
his Grace the Post-Office.
Meaning these notes as memoranda of what passed
from day to day on public matters, I forbear to say
anything about myself more particularly than about
others, and because those into whose hands they will
fall will know everything that respects me.
Mr. Pitt told me at the same time that he meant the
Chancellor should remain ; that Lord Harrowbv had
THE RIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 133
agreed to accept tlie seals as Secretary of State, and
that he hoped to prevail on Lord Ilawkesbiiry to give
up to him the foreign department ; that Lord Camden
will be Secretary of State for the War Department ;
Lord Hawkesbury going to the Home, as Mr. Pitt
hoped at least ; Lord Mnlgravc to be Chancellor of
the Duchy and in the Cabinet [surely if his Lordshi])
is to be a Cabinet Minister, it would l)e more fit for
him to be Secretary of State for the War Department;
the Duchy might suit Lord Camden] ; the Earl of
Westmoreland to remain Privy Seal ; and the Earl of
Chatham at the Head of the Ordnance. Lord Salis-
bury to be removed from the Chamberlainship, but no
successor thought of.
3Iai/ Vofh. — Mr. Pitt told me the Attorney and
Solicitor General would remain in their offices; the
latter preferring his present situation to the Chief Jus-
ticeship of Chester, vacant by the promotion of Mr.
IMansfield to the Common Pleas. Lord Pembroke
declines the offer of succeeding Lord Salisbury ; Lord
Dartmouth is therefore to have the office, and the
Earl of Aylesford to succeed him as Lord Steward,
which opens the Band of Pensioners, of whom his
Lordship is Captain. And his Majesty having ex-
pressed an earnest wish to Mr. Pitt that something
might be found for Lord Ilobart, Mr. Pitt proposed
to his Majesty to give his Lordship the Captainship
of the Band of Pensioners.
On talking of Lord Auckland's probable distress on
being removed from the Post-Office to make room for
the Duke of Montrose, it occurred that he would not
134 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDEyCE OF
lose more than 700/. a year by it, as liis pension will
revert to him ; and Mr. Pitt said he should bi' glad to
indemnify him for that, by perhaps some })rovision for
his son, who is a promising young man. Doubt en-
tertained whether Lord Charles Spencer should be
allowed to remain in the other joint Post mastership,
to secure the Duke of Marlborough's support ; one
nephew of the Duke's having a scat at the Board of
Stamps, and another either appointed Ileceiver-Cjene-
ral of Oxfordshire, or the otliee held for him.
May 14///. — This morning Mr. Pitt mentioned to
me his intention of proposing to the King my being
joint Paymaster of the Army, to which comnuniication
I answered, that without affecting absolute indifference
about myself, T could not resist saying that 1 was
beyond all comparison more anxious for my son,
whose education and rpialitications most peculiarly
fitted him for the foreicrn line. More I will not here
take notice of with respect to either of us for the reason
previously assigned. Mr. Steele to be removed from
the Pay-Office, and Mr. Ililey Addington, of course ;
Mr. John Smyth from the Mint; and Mr. Wallace
from the Board of Control. The Cabinet settled as
follows : —
Lord Eldon, Chancellor.
Mr. Pitt, First Lord of Treasury.
Lord Melville, First Lord of Admiralty.
Lord Hawkesbury, Home \
Lord Camden, War V Secretaries of State.
Lord HaiTowby, Foreign )
Lord Westmoreland, Privy Seal.
Lord Chatham, Master of Ordnance,
THE RIGHT HO]S\ GEORGE ROSE. 135
Lord Castlereagh, Board of Control.
Duke of Montrose, President of Ti-ade, and Postmaster.
Lord Mulgrave, Chancellor of the Duchy.
Duke of Portland, President of the Council.
The Marquis of Hertford to be Master of the
Horse, in the room of the Earl of Chesterfield.
The Earl of Chesterfield to have the vacant Garter.
Lord Hobart refuses the Band of Pensioners ; his
Lordship is therefore afloat, and the office is to be dis-
posed of. I think it is 2,000/. or 2,500/. a-year.
Mr. Pitt told me he had not thought of any one to
be Secretary at War.
Mr. Canning to be Treasurer of the Navy.
Mr. Tierney had also the offer of remaining as
Treasurer of the Navy : he certainly thought Carlton
House the better speculation.
May 15///. — I had received the King's commands
to kiss hands on my appointments to the Pay-Office
and Committee of Trade, but was prevented from
obeying them by being confined in a committee on the
Liskeard returns.
May 16///. — I was occupied till three o'clock this
day in the committee above-mentioned, which pre-
vented my seeing Mr. Pitt in the com'sc of it; and
nothing interesting occurred.
The Duke of Cumberland (whom I met at dinner)
inquisitive to know whether the Opposition meeting
was actually held at Carlton House ; to which I re-
plied I really knew nothing certain about it. His Royal
Highness expressed his surprise that his brother of
Clarence should have decided on hostility against the
130 DIARIES AND COKUESPONDENCE OF
Government. 1 wrote to Lord Ilarrowby on my
son's views respcctin;,^ a foreign mission.
May \lih. — ^Mr. Wallace to remain at the Board of
Control ! On my exclaiming against that, Mr. Pitt
said he conld not refuse it to Lord llawkeshury, who
had behaved so handsomely in giving up the Foreign
department to Lord Ilarrowby.
I learned from Mr. Pugett, one of the Bank Direc-
tors, that Mr. Livingstone was arrived from Paris, with
powers (as generally believed) to treat of peace ; the
report adding, that he came in the expectation of tend-
ing Mr. lox Secretary of State for Foreign Atlairs,
with whom he hoped he coidd successfully negotiate.
The Funds rose 1 per cent, on the news.
May 18///. — I found Mr. Pitt alone, and, after
mentioning to him what 1 had heard respecting Mr.
Livingstone, he told mc the arrival of that gentleman
had been notified to him by a memorandum in the
foreign box the evening bc^fore, but without any com-
ment or observation. I sngiiccsted that the circum-
stance might be turned to account by Mr. Fox's
friends, who would not fail to endeavonr to impress
the country with a belief that, if he was in office,
there would be the fairest prospect of peace ; to which
Mr. Pitt answered that the character of Mr. Liviuij-
stone (as a violent Republican, hating this country)
would induce all right-judging people to rejoice that
WT should escape the dangerous consequences of a ne-
gotiation between two such men as Mr. Livingstone and
Mr. Fox. I entreated him, however, to listen to any
proposition Mr. Livingstone may have to make, if it
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 137
shall turn out he has any authority from Buonaparte to
treat at all, and to consider them coolly and dispas-
sionately ; conceiving it to be possible that the First
Consul, in order to facilitate his way to the imperial
dignity he is evidently aiming at, or to secure him-
self in the possession of it, may think it advisable to
try at least to make peace with us, as the most popular
thing to his own subjects he could do ; taking into his
view also the possible, if not very probable, interposition
of the Northern Powers, particularly Russia. If he
sees a storm likely to burst there, and has anything to
apprehend in his own country from those who are real
enemies to a monarchical government, he may possibly
wish to conciliate us. In any event, it appears to me
of the last importance that, if the overtures (sup-,
posing, as before, any to be intended) are inadmissible,
the public should be satisfied that they are so, and
that they are not rejected from intemperance, precipi-
tation, or dislike to the Powers from whence they
come ; all which seemed to make some impression on
Mr. Pitt.
On such a subject (utterly uninformed whether Mr.
Livingstone has any authority to suggest even the pos-
sibility of an opening for a treaty with France), it
seems to me to be of great consequence to receive him
well, if he shall desire to see the Minister for Foreign
Affairs ; because a cold reception to a person who is
supposed to bring overtures of a pacific nature would,
to the pubHc, have an unpromising appearance. His
conduct as American Minister, at Paris, on the late
occasion of the publication of j\Ir. Drake's corre-
138 DIARIES AND COTlTlESrONDENCE OF
spondencc there, certainly indicated, in a marked
manner, an indisposition to this country ; hut Mr.
Cooke (under-secrctary to Lord Camden) assured mo,
that he knew from a near relation of his that Mr. Living-
stone's true sentiments arc not hostile to the British
interest.
If peace could now be made on reasonable terras,
the advantages are too a])parcnt and clear to leave a
doubt in the mind of a human being of its being
beyond all manner of c\i)ression desirable that the
opportunity should not be lost. The interests of this
nation would be (or might be) better secured and
consolidated than those of any other people in Europe,
from the stand we have made, although the war might,
by a proper firmness, have been avoided : the British
name and character would be respected all over the
world, and we should be as secure against a new
attempt froniYrance as any coimtr\' can be whilst Franco
retains the immense advantages she at present pos-
sesses of territory and resources ; the diminution of
which, hopeless as it may appear, is more likely
to happen by intestine commotions in peace than by
hostile attacks in war. At present we are engaged in
a war without a view or a hope of being able to make
either impression on the enemy, or to distress them in
any quarter ; with the exception of some of the half-
settled Dutch colonies in the West Indies. The policy
of taking any such step has always been, in my mind,
very doubtful, as large sums of British capital are in-
variably laid out in improving them, and increasing
the cultivation, after which they are invariably restored
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 139
on a peace. Our best expectations in tliis state of
hostility are, that we may be able successfully to repel
an invasion of Great Britain or Ireland, if it should
be attempted; in order to which we are at a most
enormous expense for defence by sea and land.
These reflections I had an opportunity of re-stating
more fully at my house, after the House of Commons
rose (Mr. Pitt having taken his seat to-day on his re-
election), than I had in the morning ; and I imme-
diately got into my chaise to go down to CufFnells, and
slept at Harford Bridge, from whence I wrote to
Mr. Pitt about my son.
My writ was moved for this day, on my acceptance
of the office of Joint Paymaster-General of his Majesty's
Forces ; but my patent was not put in motion, as the
person is not yet decided on who is to be joined with
me in the office.
May 2Sd. — Received a letter from Mr. Sturges
Bourne, saying he could not yet learn from Mr. Pitt
who my colleague in the Pay-Office is to be ; and that
he cannot answer for the delay, unless a difficulty is
created by Lord Amherst having been deprived of
office for not supporting the late Administration.
I take it for granted, therefore, that his Lordship is
removed from the Bedchamber on that account, which
naturally leads to reflections of a most serious nature ;
involving, in truth, the dearest interests of this country,
and of the world ; because, after such an occm*-
rence, I know not how Mr. Pitt can carry on the
government, or who can undertake it. If he submits
to the dismission of a person of Lord Amherst's rank
140 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDK NCi: OF
for having acted on liis advice (iiis Lordship not having
in the late discussions voted against Mr. Addington's
measures, but merely observed a neiitrahty), he will
be degraded, and cannot hope to have that respect in-
dispensably necessary for the First Minister to pre-
serve. If he should provide Lord A. with an employ-
ment in his own gift, and so indemnify him for
the loss of his ofhcc in the Kind's fainilv, it would
subject both his Majesty and Mr. Pitt to ridicule; and
if Mr. Pitt should oblige his Majesty to take Lord
Amherst back, it would then be iirged strongly against
him that, in a case of no moment to the country what-
ever, he could use force most ofTensively and painfully
on the King; but, in a matter of State, on which
depended perhaps the lasting prosperity, happiness,
and security of the country, he would use no such
force, nor even offer to withdraw on just and reasonable
ground. This appears to be a dilemma very diflicult
to escape from.
Mr. Sturges Bourne mentions that the Emjieror of
Russia has published a strong protest against the
violation of the law of nations by the arrest of the
Duke D'Enghien in a neutral territory.
Lord j\Ialmesbury, in a long conversation I had with
him the day before I left town, read some letters to me
from well-informed persons at St. Petersburgh, express-
ing a clear conviction that the disposition of that
Court was become extremely favourable tD any plan
that may be formed for abridging the monstrous and
enormous powers of France.
Mr. Pitt told me some days ago that it was decided
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 141
to recall Sir John Borlase Warren from St. Petersburgli,
for which mission he never was fit, least of all at such
a conjuncture as this.
Sir Edward Pellew is to be continued in the naval
command in the East Indies, through the intercession
of Lord Chatham ; to which he was named by Lord
St. Vincent.
May 26M. — No information from London till this
day, and now not any at all conclusive or full on any
subject. Li a letter from Mr. Sturges Bourne, he
alludes to a visit the King made to Mr. Addington in
Richmond Park, and to the appointment of Lord St.
Helens to the Bedchamber as an act of the King's
without communication. Mr. Sturges also states the
probability of Lord Amherst being appointed to a
higher office in the household than the Bedchamber,
from which he was dismissed to give it the appearance
of promotion.
WilHam mentions a conversation he had had with
Lord Westmeath, who complained bitterly to him that
he was extremely ill-treated ; that some time before
the King's illness, Lord llobart, by a letter under his
own hand, acquainted him that he w^as appointed a Lord
of the Bedchamber, and desired him to thank Mr.
Addington for it, to whom he was obliged for the
nomination, which he accordingly did ; but that his
appointment could not be formally notified to him, as
the Duke of Roxburgh, the Groom of the Stole, was
ill, through whom only the notification could come;
and now the King will not acknowledge him as one of
his Bedchamber.
142 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE: OF
My election took place to-day without my appoint-
ment having been made out, or my knowing wliu my
colleague is to be.
May 2^th. — T nrrivcd in town, and met Mr. Pitt
at dinner, with the Trinity Brethren, at the London
Tavern (his l)irthday, as well as Trinity Monday),
where, of course, I could liave little conversation with
him. I had, however, an opportunity of talking a
little with Lord ITarrowhy in the room where we
drank coffee, which we agreed to renew tiic next
morning at his ofTice.
I learned that the account of the dismission of Lord
Amherst was true ; the manner of it was, by Lord
Winchilsea (Groom of the Stole, lately aj)pointed on
the vacancy made by the death of the Duke of Ro.v-
burgh, during the King's illness) writing to his
Lordship that his Majesty had been employed in
making a new arrangement of his household, and that
his Lordship's name was not found in the list. The
appointment of Lord St. Helens, too, has actually
taken place in the Bedchamber, which could not be
acceptable to Mr. Pitt. It was also told me, with
confidence, that Lord Uxbridge was to be Master of
the Horse, but of that I entertain very great doubt, —
because his Lordship had threatened to turn his eldest
son, Lord Paget, out of Parliament if he voted with
Mr. Pitt in his late opposition to Mr. Addington.
The King certainly wrote to Lord Salisbury on his
removal from the Chamberlainship, to say that his
Majesty was sure his Lordship would be glad to hear
he had appointed a most amiable, worthy, and respect-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 143
able nobleman, the Eaii of Dartmouth, to succeed
him ; and another nobleman of the same description,
the Earl of Aylesford, to the office of Lord Steward,
in the room of the Earl of Dartmouth. The letter
was directed to the Earl of Salisbury, though the
King mentioned in it his having created him a
Marquis.
May 2Wi. — I stated fully to Lord Ilarrowby every-
thing that occurred to me respecting the difficulties
which appeared to me we should have to encounter of
every kind, principally dwelling on what depended on
the King ; conceiving that from all I had heard, there
is too much reason to believe, his Majesty is either not
in such possession of his faculties as to make it fit for
him to carry on the executive power much longer, or
that he is not disposed to support heartily his present
servants ; which under other disadvantages, of un-
certain strength and defect of speakers in Parliament,
would render our situation not only unpleasant, but
extremely dangerous.
Llis Lordship on the whole agreed with me, but
thought I overstated the difficulties ; being persuaded
that the King is well, and steady in his favourable dis-
position towards Mr. Pitt.
Mai/ 30//^.— Was with Mr. Pitt early ; who told
me there was no foundation for the story of Lord
Uxbridge, and that the Marquis of Hertford is to be
Master of the Horse. He could not yet tell me who
is to be my colleague, being under difficulties in com-
pleting his arrangements ; chiefly from a desne to open
another Peer's-office, which he thought of doing by
144 DIAllIES AND CORRESPOND KNCi: OF
removing Lord Charles Spencer from tlie I'ost-Ottico
to the Pay-OfUcc with me ; thinking, however, that the
Post-Office is too good a thing for Lord Andierst,
and equally so the Band of Pensioners, vacant by the
promotion of Lord Aylcsford. That reserved thrrc-
fore for further consideration.
We then discussed the subject of tlic measure to be
proposed by him for the defence of the country; in
which, after considering it in every point of view, 1
was decidedly of opinion that it would be better not
to press the plan he had before opened to the Mouse,
for recruiting the army of reserve, and through it the
regiments for general service, as far as respects the
repeated ballots ; under a persuasion that these ballots,
to the extent of four in each case, uidess the first,
second, or third man balloted should agree to serve,
w^ould produce tvry, vcrtj few men, as each wouhl pay
the fine of 4/. rather than go as a soldier; that the
efiect would therefore almost generally be to raise
IC/. towards a recruiting fund by fines on poor men ;
on the other hand, by imposing a fine to that, or to a
greater amount, on the parish, where they did not find
a man on a limited bounty, the charge would fall on
those who could better afibrd it, and the vexation of
repeated ballots would be avoided. That by this
course some other objections would be obviated,
prejudices would not be encountered, which are very
prevalent against balloting, and the opposition to be
expected would lose much advantageous ground. On
the whole, Mr. Pitt's mind seemed to give way con-
siderably on the point, but 1 did not think it advisable
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE 145
to press him to a decision. — With that matter is essen-
tially connected another point which has been often
and earnestly discussed, — the recruiting the army for
A LIMITED TIME. The Tcasous for and against that
measure have been so frequently stated in and out of
Parliament that I will not attempt to repeat them
here ; confining myself now merely to the objections
suggested by the Duke of York (who has always been
steadily against the proposed innovation), as arising
from his own reflections or experience. His Royal
Highness told Mr. Pitt, he is persuaded that if after a
recruit has gone through all the drudgery and disci-
pline of learning his business you should offer him his
discharge he would not take it, as he is generally
much pleased with his new situation ; but that if you
should offer him his freedom at the end of five or six
years, during which period he would probably have
gone through some disagreeable service, he would
avail himself of the offer, and return to his home.
Carry him on, however, for fourteen, fifteen, or sixteen
years, and then make him the same offer and he would
probably refuse it, because at the end of such a period
he would probably be too old to return to his early
occupation, and he would go on in the service with
the expectation of the comfortable provision of Chelsea,
to which he would be entitled at the end of fifteen
years from his enlisting.
His E.oval Highness observed, that the difference
between enlisting for life, and for a few years, is
so trifling in the estimation of recruits, that a man
offering himself for the latter will extend his offer
VOL. II. L
146 DIARIES AND COllRESrONDENCE OF
to the former for an addition of one guinea. [If
this has often been })rovcd from actual experience
there is no reasoning against it, but it seems extra-
ordinary, and hardly to be reconciled to the common
feelings of men.] The Duke added, that in one of the
regiments of guards, 1 think the Coldstream, three
hundred of the men who enlisted into it from the
militia in the last war, insisted on their discharge at
the end of the time for which they engaged. With
respect to the inconvenience that would be ex-
perienced from the terms of service expiring on
distant stations (no inconsiderable one certainly), I
recommended an iiupiiry how the system atVected the
army of the East India Company, which is recruited
for a limited time. The whole was reserved for further
consideration, and Mv. Pitt felt it of so much import-
ance to propose the measure, if it shall be finally
thought to be a right one, at the same time that he
proposes the measure for defence of the country, that
he is inclined to defer the latter from Friday the 1st
of June, to Tuesday the 5th, to give opportunity for
fuller inquiry.
The King w^ent to Windsor on the 2r)th, and re-
turned the 29th ; but I did not learn with absolute
certainty what passed while he w\as there till this day.
I learn however, now, most positive information from
a source the most entirely unquestionable, that his
Majesty wdiile there was not so tranquil as he had
been for some time before. On passing through Eton,
on his way down, the boys of the school cheered as
he passed, and -followed the carriages to the Castle,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 147
cheering again when they got there, which had such
an ejSPect on his Majesty that the next day he said to
some of the boys, " he had always been partial to their
school ; that he had now the additional motive of gra-
titude for being so ; and that in future he should be
an Anti-Westminster." On Sunday the "2 7th, on
w^alking across from the Queen's Lodge to the private
chapel in the Castle, his Majesty stopped for an hour,
in the whole, talking with the officers of the Staftbrd-
shire militia, who were drawn up as his Majesty
passed, the Queen leaning on his arm ; and wath his
hat off all the time, which Dr. ISimmonds could not
prevail with him to put on ; the style of his Majesty's
conversation more familiar too, even than usual : and
during the two days he remained at Windsor, the
exercise he took was more violent than he had ever
taken when in perfect health, except in hunting. All
these, and some other trifling circumstances combined,
lead to a serious apprehension that his Majesty's
recovery is not entirely complete. The reflections on
which cannot but be painful in an extreme degree, as
the embarrassments arising therefrom are likely to be
of the most serious nature. If his Majesty shall be
subject to returns, such as are just alluded to, it can
hardly be creditable or proper for Mr. Pitt to carry
on the government. On the other hand, if the King
shaU be as Avell as he ordinarily has been lately, and
as fit to do business as he has been found to be, it
win be a strong measure to have a regency ; for he is
certainly not ill enough to be confined. It would be
quite a new occurrence to have the government taken
L 2
148 DIARIES AND COIUIESPONDENCE OF
from a Prince on the throne, without the desire pro-
ceeding from him, wliile he is well enough to go nl)Out
everywhere, and to talk on gravt; subjects perfectly
rationally. But it seems hardly jjossible that tlie
complaint (if anything of it really remains) should be
stationary.
May 3U7. — Sir Harry Neale called on me this
morning. He told me he was at the Queen's House
in waitmg, as Groom of the Hedchambcr on Tuesday
last, when the King returned from Windsor ; and
that soon after his Majesty's arrival he walked com-
pletely round the Queen's garden with him, during
which time, and for a short while afterwards in the
liouse, while he was with the King, he was as rational
as possible, conversing on dillerent subjeets in a
manner perfectly collected. 1 was induced to mention
to Sir Harry (in whom I have the most entire conti-
dence) what I had heard of the King's unsteadiness
at Windsor ; at which he expressed no sort of surprise,
because he said he had frequently had occasion to
observe of late that in talking of serious matters and
on business, his Majesty would converse with as much
possession of himself as at any moment of his life,
when at the same time, if any matters of a lighter
nature occurred, he would indulge himself with
levities. Sir Harry said there is somebody about
the King who tells him things very unfit to be men-
tioned to hira, but that it has not been possible to
trace who it is. Amongst other matters his Majesty
M^as informed that Dr. Willis was in the house while
he was ill, at which he was very much inflamed.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 149
Jiine \st, 1804.— With Mr. Pitt in the morning,
who has not seen the Kino; since his return from
Windsor. But in consequence of having heard what
passed there, he went to a meeting of the physicians
fixed by him at Sir Lucas Pcpys's last night, to
avoid the observation and public attention that would
necessarily have taken place if the physicians had come
to Downing Street. And in consecjuence of what
passed at the meeting, Mr. Pitt wrote to the King
to-day strongly, though respectfully, recommending it
to his Majesty to put himself under medical direction ;
a measure, I have no doubt, perfectly right and called
for by the actual state of his Majesty ; but, unfor-
tunately, one very likely to displease him to a
great extent, as he had shown a strong dislike to
medical people ever since his recovery in 1801. He
expressed that to me at that time, at Cuffnells, in
the most unqualified terms, which he several times
repeated to me during his stay in my house.
I this day heard that his Majesty had dismissed
Mr. Braun ; certainly one of the most attached, faith-
ful, and honest servants he has ; a particular favourite
too to this week even. How Mr. Pitt can carry on the
government creditably, if the King is to be in the
hands of his physicians I cannot discover ; nor how
he can well resist an inquiry and examination of the
physicians, if that shall be pressed in the House of
Commons.
June 2^.— The King yesterday, on receiving the
letter from Mr. Pitt, and one on the same subject
from the Chancellor, told the Duke of Cambridge he
150 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDEXCK OF
had received two very foolish letters ; but said that in
good huiiiour. When Mr. Pitt went to him he re-
ceived him with perfect kindness, promising he would
acquiesce in the advice given liim in the two letters
alluded to; but that he would not have done so to gratify
any man on earth except Mr. Pitt. His Majesty al.so
agreed to the Queen having a Drawing-room on his
birth-day, about which he had been reluctant unless
he could be allowed to be there also. And on tlie
whole Mr. Pitt thought him remarkably well, talking
on all subjects in as collected a n»anner as he had ever
known him to do. His Majesty, amongst other subjects,
talked of Lord Grenville and his friends, in terms of
great moderation. He referred to a subject on which
there had been some ditlerenceof opinion between him-
self and Mr. Pitt before the latter went out of office, and
said, it had turned out that Mr. Pitt was right ; and
he produced a letter of liis respecting the matter.
June ^th. — Not having kissed his Majesty's hand,
on my nomination to the otfice of Joint Paymaster-
General, I could not with propriety attend the Draw-
ing-room, which was held on the King's birth-day ;
as I could not appear there without being presented to
her Majesty — of which there is no instance without
the same ceremony having been previously gone
through with the King ;— but, at Mr. Pitt's particular
request, I dined with him in Downing Street.
June Ml. — Mr. Fox and Mr. Grey called on Mr.
Pitt, to communicate to him that Mr. Livingstone,
the American ^Minister at Paris, had been with them
to say he had reason to believe the Government of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 151
France was at this time well disposed to make peace
wath this country ; that he had no authority whatever
to make any overture for that purpose, but he was
persuaded if we would consent to secure the neutrality
of Malta, by putting it in the hands of some power
equally independent of France and of Great Britain
(evidently pointing at Russia), France w^ould consent
to evacuate Holland and Switzerland, and to give a
guarantee of the independence of those countries in
future; and that, as a preliminary, France would con-
sent to the release of the British subjects detained
there on the breaking out of hostilities, the detention
of whom it was admitted was extremely unpopular in
France.
This opening appeared to be very captivating, — and
the taking no notice of it would give Mr. Fox a great
advantage ; who insinuated, in the course of his con-
versation, that Mr. Livingstone had expressed a hope
of finding him in the Administration, from expecta-
tions that were formed of that event in consequence
of recent occurrences, and from a hope arising from
his known pacific disposition ; especially as Mr. Fox
would have opportunities of alluding to the circum-
stances much to his own advantage. Mr. Pitt, how-
ever, thought no good consequences could result from
the communication ; conceiving, that if France had
really any serious intention of putting an end to the
war, the new Emperor w^ould have found some less
exceptionable channel of communication than through
a man whose hostile inclination to this country had
been so strongly and lately manifested ; his public
152 DIAIUKS AM) COJlllESPONDKNt K OF
character at that Court too making him an luitit iii-
striunent tor the purpose. -Mr. l*itt committed tlie
conversation with Messrs. Fo.\ and Grey to writing as
soon as they left him, whicli he gave me to read; and
said he shouhl state it correctly to the Cabinet.
A Council was tiiis day held at the Queen's House ;
previously to which there was a sort of a private levee
there, at which 1 kissed his Majesty's hand as .Joint
Paymaster-General. I'liis was the first time I had
seen the King since his recovery, lie spoke to nje for
about ti'u minutes, and 1 never saw him more entirely
well; perfectly composed and collected ; if anything,
less hurried in his manner than usual. He talked to
me chietly about my family, for all of whom he in-
(juired with great kindness ; but there was no appear-
ance of any unbecoming familiarity. When the levee
was over, the Privy Counsellors were called into the
Council room, where we were all seated at a table, at
the head of which the King sat. The first proceeding
was the nomination of the Duke of Montrose to be
President of the Council for the Affairs of Trade, and
myself to be Vice-President of that Council, on which
Me both rose and kissed the King's hand ; his Majesty
continuing in his chair at the head of the table. The
Earl of Dartmouth then took the oaths as Lord Cham-
berlain, the Earl of Winchelsea as Groom of the Stole,
and the Earl of Powis as Lord Lieutenant of Mont-
gomeryshire, kneeling, as Piivy Counsellors do, and
then kissed the King's hand. Lord Pelham resigned
the Seals of the Duchy of Lancaster, and came out
from his ^Lajesty with the Gold Stick, as Captain of
THE EIGHT HON. GE0U6E ROSE. 153
the Band of Yeoman of the Guards, of which he had
no previous intimation. The Seals were given to
Lord Mulgrave as Chancellor of the Duchy.
June%th. — The first debate on Mr. Pitt's bill for the
defenceof the realm, by establishing amode for recruiting
the army in future, on a new system, and for making a
great immediate addition to it. The question for the
second reading was carried by 221 to 181 : majority, 40.
Ill the minority were all the friends of Mr. Fox, Lord
Grenville, and Mr. Addington : amongst the latter were
included a considerable number of persons who had
received some favours from Mr. Addington, and otliers
who having voted for his Defence Bill, felt it difficult
to avoid opposing the present one. Mr. Long and myself
were both shut out of the division by an accident
that happened to him near the House, which was how-
ever attended Avith no serious consequences.
June IG///. — Mr. Pitt went to the King this
morning, wdtli an intention of stating to his Majesty
what had passed in the late discussions, particu-
larly respecting Mr. Addington's conduct, and that
of some persons who miglit be supposed to be
influenced by his Majesty; and on his return from
the Queen's House, he told me he thought three
or four persons would be induced to su[)port the
Defence Bill who had not yet taken any part upon it.
I confess it would, in my opinion, have been more
wise as well as much more dignified, if Mr. Pitt,
when he went to the King, instead of struggling for
a few votes, had said to his Majesty (consistently with
my former opinion expressed above) : " I humbly
151. DIAKIKS AND CORUESPONDKNTK OF
suggested to you before I took tlie governuient. tlint
1 (lesj)nire(l of being able to cnrrv it on without n
greater strengtli than I could liopt- to have. I now
find it to be so from cxperieiu'e, and must, therefore,
earnestly cntn'at y(^ur Majesty will condescend to take
such measures as you shall think best, to add force, and
give permanency to the Adnunistration." IW not having
done so, he sul»jects himself to a contiiuicd struggle, in
which he may fail in tlu; end; and by which he risks
the fornung a junction ])etweeu Mr. Vox and Mr.
Addingtou, supportid by tin- intbience and authority
of the Prince of Walts ; and certainly of yielding to
Mr. Fox such a preponderance as will give him a con-
siderable chance of having the greatest weight in an
Administration formed by them both, if that should be
found practicable.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 155
CPI AFTER V.
1804.
MR. rose's diaries FROM SEPTEMBER 30tH TO NOVEMBER 6TH,
1804 — VISIT OF KING GEORGE THE THIRD, AND THE ROYAL
FAMILY, TO MR. ROSE's SEAT AT CUFFNELLS, IN HAMPSHIRE, FROM
THE 28th OF OCTOBER TO THE 2d OF NOVEMBER, 1804.
[The diaries for September and October of tliis year,
1804, contain some very interesting conversations
Avith the King, at Weymouth and at Cuffnells, which
need no remark or explanation. — Ed.]
Weymouth, Sunday, September 30M., 1804. — After
general expressions of regard to myself, and of disap-
pointment at not having seen me at the council that was
held ten days ago for the prorogation of Parliament,
his Majesty gave me strong assurances of his favourable
opinion of me, and of his real desire to talk with me.
He then entered on what had passed on the change of
Government in the spring ; could not, he said, even at
this distance of time, avoid stating to me his surprise at
Mr. Pitt having entertained a tliouyhi of suggesting
Mr. Fox forming a part of the Administration, and
still more that he should have urged it with the ear-
nestness he did ; especially as Mr. Pitt himself was
the person who had proposed expunging Mr. Fox's
15(> DIARIES AND COIUIESPONDEN'CK OF
name from the list of privy coimsillors. I answered
that the point was an extremely delieate one for me to
make even the sli^litest observation upon, and tliat
the consideration of it having l)een long linally closed,
I felt a still greater reluctance to say a syllable about it ;
but that I thought it due to Mr. I'itt to observe, that
I had certain ground for my conviction that in making
the proposition to his Majesty, Mr. Pitt was influcnc«'d
solelv bv a fixed opinion that the taking .Mr Fox info
till' Administration was likelv to be attended with
the best possible consecpicnces to the cotmtry. His
Majesty went on to say, that notwithstanding the
determined objection he made to Mr. Fox, he was pressed
by Mr. Pitt to allow him to repeat the proposition before
he left the closet; to which the King assented, though
lie assured Mr. Pitt it would be useless. His Majesty
added, that In; had taken a jiositive determination not
to adnnt Mr. Fox into his councils, even at I he hazard
of a civil icar.
With respect to Mr. Pitt, his Majesty expressed
himself satisfied in the highest degree, and spoke of
him in the warmest terms of praise. lie said, that
tinding from ex|)erience Mr. Addingtou was not equal
to the government of the country, he was extremely
desirous of having Mr. Pitt again ; that he had
thought very favourably of Mr. Addington, but was
much displeased at his having said (while the inter-
course was going on with Mr. Pitt about the change
of administration) that he knew his Majesty did not
wish Mr. Pitt to come in ; and that in consequence
thereof, he had resolved, in the event of the negotia-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 157
tioii with Mr. Pitt breaking off, not to keep him (Mr.
Addingtoii) at tlie head of the Government. His
Majesty said his mmd was now entirely reheved from
all apprehension about the Catholic question ; because
— in addition to the assurances he had received from
Mr. Pitt himself, and from him through me — Mr. Pitt
had lately told him he might be perfectly at ease on the
subject, as he had now pi'ivate reasons for not reviving
the subject ! On which I ventured to say, I thought
his Majesty must have misconceived Mr. Pitt in giving
greater weight to private reasons than to the public
ground which he had originally taken and acted upon,
on the most interesting and trying occasion : but he
said he w^as sure he had not mistaken Mr. Pitt !
His Majesty said he was entirely content with the
manner in which his Government w^as composed ; said
the exchange of Lord Harrowby for Lord Ltawkesbury
in the foreign department wiis a most useful one ;
rating the talents of the former very high, and speak-
ing of the latter as utterly uniit for the situation ;
adding, that however the foreign ministers might
differ on other points, their dislike to, and contempt
for Lord Ilawkesbury was decidedly unanimous ; that
his Lordship always approached him with a vacant
kind of grin, and had hardly ever anything business-
like to say to him ; that on observing that once to Mr.
Addington, the latter said to his Majesty, his Lordship
came to him in the same manner, interrupting him
uselessly, sometimes three or four times in the course
of a day.
His Majesty took some merit to himself for not
158 DIARIES AM) CORRESPONDENCE OF
opposing tlie removal of Lord Aucklaiul ; ' adding,
that in the arrangement of the political olKccs lie had
not interfered witii Mr. Pitt at ail; hut tiiat he had
insisted on having in iiis household such persons as he
could, with comfort to himself, associate with occa-
sionally.
Alluding to the line he had taken, of giving his
firmest support to the Administration, he mentioned
the case of Lord Powis, to whom he had applied, at
the request of Mr. Pitt. His Majesty found his Lord-
ship out of humour at the succession to the Governor-
Generalshi|) of lU-ngal not having been secured to
him on the return of Lord W'ellesley, as had been
engaged for by Lord Melville, previously to his going
to jMadras ; which engagement his Majesty thought
had been made without the power of fuUilling it ; and
that having suggested that to Lord Powis, his Lord-
ship, in the conclusion, had given assurances of the
support of his friends in the next session, who in the
meantime would absent themselves. His .M.ajcsty
spoke in unqualified terms of his deep regret on the
appointment of Mr. Huskisson to the Secretaryship of
the Treasury, on account of bis former situation as
secretary to a revolutionary club at Paris, adding that
his temper was not good ; and, on the whole, thought
him not qualified for the situation. Not an allusion
even was made to the story respecting which Mr. H.
' AVhen his Majesty was at Cuffnells, in 1801, he spoke of his
Lordship with great contempt, as an eternal intriguer. He had pro-
bably since recommended himself by being busy in the Catholic
question.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 159
was attacked in Mr. Cobbett's paper. Of Mr. Sturges
Bourne, the other Secretary of the Treasury, the King
spoke in a very favourable manner, and aUuded in a
flattering way to his connexion with me.
His Majesty then went on to say that Mr. Pitt, in
the early part of the summer, had suggested to him
that Mr. Vansittart, the late Secretary to the Treasury,
would be a very proper person for the Irish Secre-
taryship, and that he should, before making him an
ofTer, like to know whether he would accept it; on
wdiich the King told him he fortunately had the means
of learning that without committing Mr. Pitt at all ;
and immediately employed the Duke of Cumberland,
who was in habits of intercourse with Mr. Vansittart,
to sound him, as from himself solely, whether, if an
employment should be offered him, he would accept
it ; his Majesty giving Mr. Pitt to understand that if
Mr. V. should be disinclined to take office, the matter
should drop altogether, and that no other person living
should know the overture was made at Mr. Pitt's
instance, and that his Majesty's silence on the subject
nnist be considered as decisive of a negative from
Mr. V. That, however, on the Duke of Cumberland
sounding him, he found no disinclination towards
Mr. Pitt in his mind at all. He said his first con-
nexion was with Mr. Pitt, and that he took office with
Mr. Addington because his Government was to be
supported by Mr. Pitt ; that he should therefore be
ready cheerfully to accept the Irish Secretaryship, pro-
vided he could have Mr. Pitt's confidence ; but that
he would not enter on such a duty if he was to be
160 DIARIES AM) CORRESPONDENCE OF
merely tolerated by Mr. I'itt. This disposition of
Mr. \'ansittart's mind the King lost no time in eoin-
mnnieating to Mr. Pitt; since whicli, however, Ins
Majesty had not heard one word from him on the
subject; but had been informed that Mr. Pitt had
been in a negotiation with Mr. Ticrney to accept the
oflfice, of wiiich his Majesty did not conceal his dis-
approbation, for reasons he stated, taking up the
conduct of Mr, Tierney from his first attempt to come
into Parliament, in the year 1784, under the protection
of the Clarendon family, to the present time.
His Majesty afterwards adverted to the office of
Judge Advocate, the duties of which Sir Charles
Morgati felt himself incapable longer to discharge.
He spoke of them as important, said that a deputy
should be appointed, and that the situation of the prin-
cipal should be very respectably tilled. Alluded to the
case of the court martial sittino: on some officers of the
Bedfordshire militia, where the court, from the igno-
rance of their judge advocate, had got into a most
awkward scrape. He then mentioned the candidates
for the emploMuent. Mr. Reeves, the law clerk
to the Privy Council, supported by the Chancellor;
but unfit for the situation from his impractica-
bility, his temper, and his idleness: Mr. Lewis, late
Under-Secretary at War, supported by a set about
the Duke of York, his only recommendation being
his having the honour to be brother-in-law to General
Brownrigge ; not educated to the profession of the
law : and Mr. Watson, a person altogether unknown,
and so little esteemed in the volunteer corps to which
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 161
he belongs, that the officers of it would not allow him
to succeed to the Majority, on a vacancy.
His Majesty then returned to the importance of
the office, and added that he felt, personally, a
strong anxiety that it should be well and respectably
filled, as, in truth, he frequently decided matters of a
very nice and delicate nature on the opinion of the
Judge Advocate in discussions with him ; putting,
therefore, his conscience, to a certain extent, into his
hands. That viewing the matter in that light, it could
not be wondered at if he felt a good deal of solicitude
about the person who should succeed Sir Charles.
After which, he mentioned Mr. Nat. Bond's name
with approbation, and asked me what my sentiments
were about him, which led me to speak in the
manner I have always thought of him since I first
knew him, — as a man of excellent understanding, of
considerable abdities in his profession, of great worth,
and as likely to fill the situation both usefully and re-
spectably ; and that I considered his being already a
privy counsellor was an additional recommendation.
This seemed to give his Majesty great pleasure, and he
said, in such an appointment he ought to have a choice;
but he had no means of knowing whether Mr. Bond
would accept, though he believed he would, as Mr.
Addington had expressed a positive resolution not to
oppose Government further. The strongest ground
of resentment in the mind of the latter gentleman,
the King told me, was Mr. Pitt having made him
ridiculous in the House of Commons ; and that Mrs.
Addington was infinitely more inveterate on that
VOL. II. M
162 DiAiUES AND corre-spondencl: of
account, and more irreconcilable than her husband, —
having dcclaiuicd against Mr. A. receiving any favour
from Mr. Pitt, or through him, till he had uiade some
reparation for that ofleiice. This led his Majesty to
speak of au intendeil provision and reward for .Mr. A.
but decliued by liim, — an to the inaiini'r, however,
only, — describing him as nibbling at it at the moment
he was refusing it. Tii.it a message was proposed to
Parliament respecting it by his Majesty, but that
difiiculties and delays occurred till the session drew
to an end ; from whence I inferred that a pension was
to make a part of the reward, for nothing explicit was
said as to particulars. The King put it, in a great
degree, on Mr. Addington's claim for his services as
Speaker. And his Majesty said he would, at a proper
season, reconcile Mr. Pitt and Mr. Addincrton : but
that matters were not yet ripe ; to which I made no
answer, thinking if I had said anything against peace-
making (generally plausible), I nuist have followed it
up l)y a train of reasoning which the opportunity would
not atford time for.
Lord ]\Iclville was ne.xt mentioned. In the observa-
tions respecting Mr. Iluskisson, the King said he did
not believe Lord Melville recommended him to Mr.
Pitt, as he had reason to think his Lordshij) did not
now live as much with Mr. Pitt as he used to do, nor
possessed the same influence over him he formerly
had. He now mentioned, as a proof of it, that Lord
Melville, on his first seeing him, after it was agreed he
should be at the head of the Admiralty, told his
Majesty he shoidd Uke to know the particulars of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 163
what had passed with Mr. Pitt, as he had seen very
little of him. This, his Majesty said, surprised him
somewhat, but that he had thereupon produced to
him the only copy of any of his letters to Mr. Pitt that
he had taken, telling him also what passed in different
conversations, and, in short, the whole that occurred ;
observing, that he had not taken copies of other letters
to Mr. Pitt, from the thorough knowledge and expe-
rience he had had of his honour and fairness. Lord
Melville, in the course of the conversation, asked
his Majesty if he had not felt some surprise at his
opposition to the late Administration, in the close of
it, after the promise he had given to his Majesty, on
receiving his peerage, that he would never oppose his
Government ; and that he feared his having obtained
such a number of proxies on the occasion was particu-
larly displeasing to his Majesty ; to which the King
answered that the occurrences did not greatly surprise
him ; and that, as to the effect of them, it gave him no
concern, because, finding from experience that Mr. A.
could not go on with the conduct of the Administra-
tion, he was glad of any proceeding that had a
tendency to bring Mr. Pitt in. That he felt the less
pained on the occasion, as he had never had any con-
fidence in his Lordship, nor any friendship for him,
receiving him now only as belonging to Mr. Pitt ; but
that, as he is placed at the head of the Naval Depart-
ment, he had given him all the papers that could be
useful to him in the situation, which his jMajesty had
received from his predecessors, — Lord Egmont, Lord
Sandwich, Lord Howe, Lord Spencer, and Lord St.
M 2
164 DIARIES AND CORRESPON'DEXCE OF
Vincent; — valuing those of Lord Sandwich the most,
who, hairing his Ilnntingdonshire johs, his Majesty
thought liad been a good First Lord of the Admiralty.
This conversation and conduct of the King, Lord
Melville bore vastly well, and has been, his Majesty
said, remarkably attentive to him about everything
respecting which he had expressed a wish. \n addi-
tion to other and earlier grounds of dissatisfaction
with J^ord MelvilK', 1 am persuaded his Majesty felt
uncomfortably on the subject of the letters his Lord-
ship wrote to Lord Westmoreland relative to the fjues-
tion of Catholic Emancipation, while the latter was
Lord Lieutenant of hvland ; whieh letters, his Majesty
told me, Lord Westmoreland had shown to him, keep-
ing them, — with all the others he had received on the
same point, — bound together in a volume. Such a
proceeding on the })art of Lord Westmoreland (com-
municating the letters to the King) appears to me the
more extraordinary, as they could not, I think, have
been written to him official/^; Lord Melville not
having been in the Department (the Home Othce) that
corresponds with the h-ish Government.
About Lord Castlcreagh there seemed to be, in his
Majesty's mind, a considerable degree of indifference.
He said, however, he was glad it was not proposed to
him to make his Lordship Secretary of State, as it
might have led (from his Lordship having had much
intercourse with, and influence over, the Irish mem-
bers, as Irish Secretary) to his putting himself at the
head of an Irish party, as Lord Melville had done at
the head of a Scotch one.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 165
Lord Wellesley was spoken of by his Majesty as
liavino; considerable merit in the conduct of Jiffairs in
India, but as inflated with pride, and with his own
consequence ; assuming to himself the exclusive merit
of all that had been done in the East, and demanding
ceremonious respect much beyond what was due to his
station. That wdien he had more than once been re-
minded that he was exacting from those about him
more than the King did, his Lordship replied, " Then
the King is wrong ; but that is no reason why I
should improperly relax also." His Majesty added,
" when he returns, his head will be quite turned, and
there will be no enduring him."
His Majesty spoke of Mr. Yorke and Mr. Bragge
as the best Secretaries at War he had ever had ; espe-
cially the former, who, he lamented, had accepted the
Secretaryship of State. Mentioning him (on an allu-
sion to his declining the peerage which had been
actually granted to his father, with a reversion to
him), the King was led to recur once more" to the
circumstance of the father's acceptance of the Great
Seal and his immediate death ; and he told me, for the
first time, that when *Mr. Charles Yorke was hesi-
tating about whether he should take the seals or not,
on Lord Camden's resignation, he told him that if he
refused them then, he never should have them, what-
ever changes might take place in the Administration
of the country. This accounts to me for Mr. Yorke
* He had talked to me a good deal about it when at Cuffnells, in
the summer of 1801.
IGG DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
having taken tho?n after lie had come to a contrary
determination, wliicli occasioned in the end tlie fatal and
very melancholy catastrophe of that respectahle man.
After havini,' thus talked of persons in public situa-
tions, his Majesty asked me what Lord 'J'hurlow was
now doing ; to which 1 answered, it could, I was sure,
give him as little pleasure to hear that as me to relate
it, and that I thought it better, therefore, to say
nothing about his Lordship ; to which his Majesty
assented, but went on, however, himself to say that
Colonel and Mrs. Cunningham were then at Wey-
mouth, or had lately been there ; that Colonel Cun-
ningham had complained to him of his rank in the
army not being allowed to go on, he having retired on
half-pay in a maimer that precluded his having any
claim thereto, to which his Majesty had, of course,
turned completely a deaf ear. After that, the Colonel
desired permission to present his wife — a natural
(laughter of Lord Thurlow's— to him ; to which the
King answered, that whenever he should happen to see
Mrs. Cunningham, he should be disposed to show her
due attention, or some such words. When he did
meet with her, he told her 'he retained a grateful
recollection of her father's attachment to him ; and
that, in particular, he should never have out of his
mind his Lordship's solemn declaration, " that if ever
he should forget his King, he trusted God, in such
case, would forget hira."' Mrs. Cunningham desired
Two nights before he made that declaration, in the House of
Lords, Mr. Sheridan, on the part of ^Ir. Fox, sat up with his Lord-
ship in his house in Ormond Street till two o'clock in the morning ;
and he was notoriously intriguing with othcre.
THE -RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 167
permission to write that to her father, and obtained it.
On relating that anecdote, the King took occasion to
observe, that it had, from his entrance into hfe, been
an invariable rnle with him to store in his memory
carefully every right and proper act of others, and, as
far as possible, to forget instances of a contrary
conduct ; and on that principle he should always
cherish the remembrance of the natural and sudden
impulse by which the Eton boys were actuated, when
they received him with such aflectionate and marked
congratuhitions after his last recovery.
His Majesty reminded me of a strong opinion I
had some years ago stated respecting the little depen-
dence that ought to be put on the declarations of the
emigrants against the various usurpations in France,
under a conviction that every one of them -Cv'ould,
sooner or later, make their peace with the existing
Government in that country, however constituted, or
by whomsoever conducted, and that at the expense
of this nation, as far as might depend on them ; and
then said that the Duke de Morteraar (son-in-law of
the Due de Harcourt) had just returned to Trance,
after the most solemn declarations, within this month,
that he would live in England to his last hour, on his
half-pay from us, rather than return to France ; but
that it is understood he is much despised there for
his conduct.
The last interesting subject on which his Majesty
touched Avas the Prince of Wales; and it was the
one, naturally enough, that seemed to affect him
most deeply. He said the intended interview,
IGS DIARIES AND CORRESrOXDEXCE OP
that had been so much talked of, was not desired
by him, being persuaded tlwit no good coidd arise
from it, but that he had been j)revailed witli to agree
to it by the Chancellor and Mr. Pitt, whose pressing
instances in support of the Prince's request he had
found it impossible to resist ; wishing it, however, to
be delayed till after his return from Wevmouth. In
this state of matters, he consented at length to the
interview, on condition that it should take place at
Kew, and in the presence of the Queen, some of the
younger brothers, and some of the Princesses. On
the day fixed, however, when the King was exj)ecting
his lloval llij^lmess, the Chancellor sent a letter fn>ni
the Prince to the King, by a servant of his Royal
Highness, in which he excused himself from attendmg
on his Majesty on account of illness ; which excuse,
he said, he most readily accepted, and wrote so to the
Chancellor. The Queen urged him to write to the
Prince of Wales, but he declined that, having resolved
never to write again to any one who liad published
his letters. His Majesty certainly added, he never
could forgive the conduct of the Prince of AV'ales,
because it was impossible to forget it. His Majesty
had made it a condition, if the interview had taken
place, that there was to have been no allusion to any-
thing that had passed ; the Prince was to have ex-
pressed satisfaction at seeing the progress of his
Majesty's recovery, and the King to have received that
properly, and made a suitable return. His Majesty was
sure that the Prince meant the reconciliation should
be accompanied with eclat, and that it was intended
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 169
to make a scene of it. He attributed the Prince's
desire of a reconciliation to Lord Moira, and thought
his Lordship was counteracted by some one, pro-
bably by Mr. Sheridan ; thought the plan of making
Lord Moira Lord Lieutenant of L'eland was a bad
one, and that he was best in Scotland, in a military
capacity, though he did not think him an officer.
The King thought the Chancellor should have gone to
him at Kew, instead of sending the Prince of Wales's
letter in the manner he did.
On mentioning the Chancellor's name, he spoke of
him without using any terms of aflection or warm
approbation ; said he did not understand why he
took such short periods for prorogations, till the last
long one, which appeared to be intended to avoid the
necessity for Ministers going again to Weymouth to
hold another Council. He said he expected his Lord-
ship at the last Council, and had, therefore, provided
lodging for him gratis at Mrs. Steward's, being aware
that he sets some value on his money, which, he
observed, is frequently the case with persons who
acquire their fortunes themselves.
The King, after inquiring whether his being at
Cuffnells at the end of the month would be inconvenient,
told me that himself and the Queen, with all the Prin-
cesses, would be there on the 29th of next month
for a few days.
I heard, while at AVey mouth, with great concern, from
an authority I respect quite as much as if I had been
myself present at the conversation, that the Princess
of Wales said to Mrs. George Villiers, " I cannot say
170 DIARIES AND CORRESrONDEN'CE OF
I positively liate the Prinee of Wales, but 1 certainly
have a positive horror of him." 'J'hey lived in dit-
fcreiit houses, dined at ditl'erent hours, and were
never alone together. Tlic Princess said, " Nothing
shall shake the determination I have taken to live in
no other way than the state of separation we arc
now ill." Little was known on the subject at the
place, and not a syllable said to me about it, except
in one house. The circumstances cannot, however,
be kept under, I think, much longer, as there are
occasional manifestations of them that must meet the
eyes and ears of observers.
October \lh. — Mr. Sheridan came here to dinner
with Captain and Mrs. Ogle (with whom he was
staying at Lymington), as a friend of theirs, somewhat
unexpectedly. T endeavoured all I could to avoid
any conversation on subjects at all of a political nature,
by turning it to other matters as often as he began
upon public points; but it became utterly impossible
to prevent his talking of the Prince of Wales, prin-
cipally with a view of stating in the strongest terms
the anxious disposition of his Royal Highness to
reconcile himself to the Kinor bv the most unonalified
submission, if his Maiestv would condescend to
receive it, and restore him to his good opinion.
Mr. S. professed his unalterable attachment to
^Ir. Fox ; but spoke in terms of the highest com-
mendation of ^Ir. Pitt, and declared solemnly, that his
im varying advice to the Prince of Wales had been,
never to think of forming a Government without
making Mr. Pitt a part of it. He gave the strongest
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 171
assurances, also, that he had nothing to do ^ with the
breaking off the intended interview between Mr. Pitt
and Mr. Fox on the late change of Government, which
he attributed to Mr. Grey, of whose temper and
haughtiness he spoke in unquaHfied terms. He pro-
fessed himself a determined enemy to a Reform in
Parliament, which he would oppose, he said, during
the remainder of his life.
Safurchi/, October Vdtth. — Mr. Pitt came to Cuff-
nells. I stated to him as accurately as I could all
the interesting parts of the King's conversation with
me at Weymouth a fortnight ago, except what his
Majesty said of Mr. Pitt having told him he had private
reasons for not bringing forward again the Catholic
Question, which entirely escaped my recollection.
I told him also what I had heard from the most
positive and unquestionable authority respecting the
conduct of the Princess of Wales towards the Prince.
I found he w^as fully and completely apprized of the
latter to the utmost extent of what I had heard ; and
said that he and the Chancellor had made joint
remonstrances in the most earnest manner to the
Princess on the subject, which her Royal Highness
received in the coldest manner possible, utterly unmoved
for a long time ; and at last, made sensible of the
absolute necessity of some change in her conduct by the
effect that would otherAvise be produced in the public
^ The conduct Mr. Sheridan had held in the latter part of Mr.
Addington's government, prevented Mr. Fox, probably, from acting
upon his advice ; but it will be seen, in the notes made at the
time, what the opinions expressed by Mr. S. were.
172 DIARIES AND CORHESPONDEXCE OF
mind, she at length promised an alteration, but stated
particnlars in the I^-ince's bthaviour that had created
alarms in her mind of which she conld not get tiie
better. On the whole, Mr. Pitt seemed to think any
hope of her acting up to the wishes of those who arc
most anxious for the welfare of the country was
desperate. The prevalent opinion, he said, is, that
she was so indulged for thirty years as to nuike her
impatient under any untoward circumstances after-
wards ; and he conceived she might be acting, to a
certain extent, under an impression of partiality for
the Prince of \\ ales.
Mr. Pitt thought Mr. Pond would be a most un-
objectionable man to Ix- Judge Advocate, but con-
ceived there were some objections (which he stated)
to making him the otter; and said, that in the over-
ture to Mr. Vansittart, his Majesty had gone further
and proceeded (juieker tiian was intended. The
objection to him, his in>utticiency in Parliament,
Mr. Pitt applied more foreil)ly to Sii' Evan Nepean,
whose want of talents for the House of Conuuons
made the necessity for finding a proj)er per.^on to
succeed him more apparent. I observed that, except
as a speaker, I thought Mr. Vansittart fully equal to
the situation, and that much in that line was not now
requisite. Mr. Pitt told me I was mistaken in con-
ceiving, from anything the King had said about Lord
Auckland, that his Majesty had at all altered his
mind about his Lordship ; for, that in answer to a
letter Lord A. had some time since written to him,
his Majesty had reminded him of his former conduct
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE EOSE. 173
with respect to the coaUtion between Lord North and
]\Ir. Fox, the effects of which the former never got the
better of. I found tlie account of Lady Auckland
having another pension of 500/. a year added to her
former one of 800/., however, to be true.
Mr. Pitt said nothino- to me of the nec-otiation he
had had with Mr. Tierney, and I thought it could
only be painful to him to mention it, without a hope
of any good being derivable therefrom ; T therefore did
not start the subject. He said there was no probable
appearance of any material addition to our parlia-
mentary strength ; nor could I learn that any one is
seriously thought of for the Lish Secretaryship.
Cuffnells, Mondajj, October 29M,LS04. — His Majesty
arrived at Cuffnells, from Weymouth, about four in
the afternoon. The Duke of Cumberland's regiment
of Light Dragoons, and my eldest son's regiment of
South Hants Yeomanry Cavalry, received His Majesty
on the road near Stony Cross; and in the park, at
Cuffnells, he was received by the Volunteers in the
neighbourhood, amounting to about 1800. The
Queen, all the Princesses, and the Duke of Cam-
bridge, arrived at the same time, and four ladies
attending the Queen and Princesses, viz. : — Lady
Isabella Thynne, Lady Georgina Buckley, Lady
Matilda Wynyard, and Lady Ilchester. I dined with
their Majesties, and in the evening was at their card
party, and afterwards supped with them. No oppor-
tunity occurred in the course of the afternoon for any
private conversation.
Tuesday, October 30//^. — I walked in the morning
371 DIARIES xVNI) CORRESrOXDEN'CE OP
with the King for an hour before ])reakfast. Ho talked
of several individuals, mentioning Mr. Sturges Bourne
again (as he had done at Weymouth), with l\y;iii
and -Mr. lluskistjon, in a very ditierent nuuiner. lie
said, that after Mr. Pitt's coming to the administra-
tion in the summer, he had used every endeavour witii
Mr, Drax Grosvcnor to support Government, who had
expressed the utmost willingness to comply, but wished
his brother the General would do so tirst, to sanction
his taking such a part ; in consecjuence of which his
Majesty had a})j)lication made to the General, whose
answer was, that he wished his elder brother Drax to
set him the example, as he was fearful of otlending
Lord Grosvcnor. The King, added liis Lordship, was
strongly disinclined to Mr. Pitt, on account of the
Catholic question. This impression his Majesty
thought he had removed, by telling his Lordshij) he
was perfectly satisticd with the assurances he had
received from Mr. Pitt about it. The King then
said, he understood and believed Mr. Titt had been
induced to make Lord MuliTrave Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster, under an engagement from his
Lordship to give Mr. Pitt all the patronage of the
Duchy ; which I happened to know was not true, and
therefore ventured to state that confidently to his
Majesty. I did so because Lord ^lulgrave had spent
two days with me, two or three weeks ago, on his
way to Weymouth, and mentioned the greatest living
in his gift (about 1500/. a year), as likely to become
soon vacant, which he intended to give to a person to
hold for his second son, now an infant. He also said
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 175
he should give the next considerable living that may-
fall to a private friend. I am sm*e, too, that Mr. Pitt
is incapable of making such a bargain. The King
regretted much Lord Mulgrave having the office, and
still more his being in the Cabinet.
On speaking of the Duke of Montrose, the King
said, his appointment to the Post-Office should not
have been made; that having given him the Justice-
Generalship of Scotland for life, on rehnquisbing the
Mastership of the Horse, he should have taken
the situation of President of the Board of Trade,
without any other employment. That his Majesty
thought that placing his Grace in the latter post was a
good arrangement; as from his good-nature and ac-
quiescing temper he was persuaded he would quietly
permit me to do all the business.
[On this point, however, his Majesty is a little mis-
taken, as I have found as much presumption in his
Grace as could be met with in almost any individual.]
The King spoke again in high terms of Lord
Harrowby, and repeated, tliat he thought Lord
Hawkesbury would make a good Home Secretary of
State.
The King spoke of the importance of attending to
the Press, and said he thought that remarkably well
managed now.
The following conversation took place during our
ride across the wildest part of the forest (in one of the
heaviest rains I ever felt) to Cadlands, where we dined,
at Mr. Drummond's, the King's banker. The ground,
after long and incessant rain, for some days was wet
170 DIARIES AND COTlIlESrONDEXCE OP
and sponuy, wliich made the ride, at no time a pleasant
one, extremely uncomfortable to the King, who there-
fore chose to come the roadway back, by Ehng, though
five or six miles further.
His Majesty repeated an observation he had made
at Wevmouth, in somewhat diti'erent words, — that his
memory was a «jjood one, and that what he did wot for/fet
he could uoX forr/ivf. lie said, that in his intercourse
with men, it had been an invariable rule with him,
not to xuppoKO them bad till he found them so; that
there had been instances of men becominfr good, or
at least consitU-rably improving, by letting them
understand they were considend as better than they
were.
In speaking of the war, he said, something should
be done to bring it to a ])oint ; that the sort of war-
fare going on woidd wear out the resources of the
country, without leading to nni/ conclusion of it.
That he was aware we could have no assistance from
any of the continental powers without paying them ;
and I observed, that het/ond all comparimn it would
be cheaper to subsidize them to a great extent, rather
than send British armies to the Continent ; not taking
into the account the loss of English blood or the
expense of recruiting. After breakfast we rode to
Cadlands, with the Dukes of Cumberland and Cam-
bridge, and the Princesses Amelia and Sophia, with
their attendants, in a storm of wind and heavy rain,
which came on before we got a mile from Lvndhurst.
His Majesty renewed the subject of continental
politics, and surprised me bei/ond measure, by telling
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 177
me that he had suggested to Mr. Pitt the propriety
of getting the co-operation of Austria with Russia,
and if possible Prussia ; that it shoukl then be put to
the first power to declare whether she wishes to
repossess Flanders or not ; that she would probably
say no ; in which case measures should be taken for
seeming that country to Great Britain ; not to be
annexed to it as a part of the British dominions, but
to be under a prince of the blood of Great Britain,
with their own former constitution, or something
resembling it. To have ihe Joyeiise Entree restored
to them; the army there to consist of about half
Flemings and half English : under an impression
that with sufficient guarantee the country might be
maintained in a state of independence, at very little
expense, except that of first putting the fortified
places, or rather those that formerly were such, in a
respectable state of defence. His Majesty said he had
always considered the Barrier Treaty as a very wise
and a very efiectual one, for a long time, for preserving
the balance of power in Europe. All this I will fairly
own appeared to me to be so visionary, that I could
not resist saying, " However desirable such an arrange-
ment might be, it must, I feared, be considered a
hopeless one, in the degraded state of the minds of
most of the sovereigns on the continent :" in which his
Majesty acquiesced, but still thought if Austria and
Prussia could be roused, as well as the Court of St.
Petersburgh, the attempt would be worth making ;
and that he would for such a purpose spare Lord St.
Helens, whom he had no desire to part Avith, believing
VOL. II. N
178 DIAKIKS AND CUUUESrOXDENCE OF
liiin to bo more likely to succeed in such a ncf^otiatiou
than an} other man.' It did not appear to mo to be
useful to pursue the discussion, as there is iKjt the
remotest probability of the matter ever becoming a
subject for the exercise of diplomatic talents. I am,
too, unfortunately of a ditferent oi)iuiou from his
Majesty, respecting the fitness of tlu* man ; because 1
know liis Lordshij) is impressed with an opinion that
lUionaj)arte is absolutely irresistible, and that it is a
folly to contend with him : in short, that his Lord-
ship is, irit/iout hi'iiiji tit all awart' of if, a .lacobin.
Much conversation, as we rode, about the Chan-
cellor, of whom the Kitig spoke in terms of high com-
mendation ; but quite aware of the inconvenience tha
arose in nianv instances of his want of decision, occa
sioned bv his not having: sutKcient confidence in himself,
particularly in |)rotracting the determination of causes,
felt not only in the Court of Chancery l)ut in the
House of Lords. This led me to express how impos-
sible it is for any uian to go through the duties of the
two offices of Chancellor and Speaker of the House of
Lords, so as to discharge both properly, which the
King assented to ; but added — what Sir William Scott
said to mc when the negotiation with Mr. Addington
broke oti' — that the Chancellor would not hear of such
a measure as the division of the offices, even under a
complete indemnity to the Great Seal for the j)rofits
of the Speakership ; as the profession (meaning the
Law) would never foigive him for being the first to
* His Lordship is of the King's bedchamber, on his Majesty's own
nominatioujlately. j
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 179
agree to the offices being divided. This is as httle in-
telUgible to me now as when the objection was first
started, because the profession woukl lose nothing
either in profit or honour by the alteration. The Great
Seal would be precisely the same in rank and income
as now.
His Majesty next talked to me about my eldest son,
of whom he spoke in terms of the warmest approba-
tion and regard ; observing, what I could only state
in these most private notes, that what first recom-
mended him to his warm good opinion, and maintained
him to a certain degree in it, was his perfect resem-
blance in mind to his father. He then asked rae if
my son thought of returning to the diplomatic hue ;
which I answered in the affirmative. That led to a
good deal of conversation on the total neglect of the
education of young men in this country for that line ;
his Majesty much commending the course taken for
qualifying my son for it. His Majesty added, that if
ever my son was but hinted at to him for a respectable
mission, he would express, in the warmest manner, his
cordial approbation of the appointment; and he ob-
served, how infinitely better it w^ould be to have him
at Berlin than such a man as Mr. Jackson. The King
said he thought I had done perfectly right in the mean-
time in appointing him Deputy Paymaster-General.
His Majesty spoke of Mrs. George Rose in the hand-
somest manner, and said the eldest boy was as
promising a one as possible. On asking the value of
the Deputy Paymastership, and learning that it was
500/. a-year, he asked me what such a salary on the
N 2
180 DTARTES AND COIUlESrONDEXCE OF
Civil List nettt'd, which he wislicd to know, because he
liad given Georgia ViUars 400/. a-year as a private
bonnty, in compensation for disappointing liiin of tlic
l^angcisliip of Windsor I'ark, or sonic such office.'
I conid not be sure whetlier 1 cauglit this correctly,
as tliere was a perfect storm of wind as well as
rain when his Majesty mentioned it in our ride.
Tiic King said he suj)poscd Lord W'elhsley, on his
return iiomc, wonhl l)e divided ixlween Lord Grenvillc
and Mr. Pitt, in wliicli I concurred ; bnt am persuaded
he will not oj)posc Mr. Pitt's government. From
talking of his Lordship, his .Majesty was led to speak
of General I^ake, which he did in terms of perfect
indifference; observing, that military rej)ntation was
easily acquired in India. On our return in the even-
ing from Cadlands, by the high road, in another deluge
of rain, on horseback, the King again mentioned my
eldest son in a manner even of alFection, conuncnding
him warndy, and expressing an an.xious wish that he
might very soon be employed in the foreign line. His
Majesty then mentioned Admiral Lord Gardiner as an
officer of the highest merit, and spoke of Lord St.
Vincent as another of equal consideration iu his
profession, but who had rendered himself extremely
unpopular at the Admiralty Board, by adopting the
measures of others ; expressing surprise that he should
allow Captain (now Admiral) Markham to govern him
' He being a groom of the bedchnmt)er, as well as paymaster of
marines, the former of which employments he had agreed to give
up ou his api>ointmeut to the latter ; but by some management ho
kept both, and has now, it seems, this pricale allowance from the
King, besides.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 181
absolutely, whom, as Commander of a Ship of the Line,
he had pnblicly discredited by sending an officer from
the Flag Ship to make her a Man-of- War. His Majesty
said that in all matters not connected with the business
of the Board, Lord St. Vincent was governed by a worth-
less man of the name of Tucker, who had been his
Secretary ; and that on his Lordship retiring from the
Admiralty, his Majesty had written to him plainly on
some parts of his conduct, though he was perfectly
satisfied of his good intentions, his zeal, &c., &c.; and
that his Majesty had particularly remarked to him the
impropriety of his appointing Mr. Tucker's brother to
be builder at Plymouth, from a private yard.
I took occasion, in the course of this ride, on Mr.
Fox's name being mentioned, to say to the King, what I
verily believe to be true, — that Mr. Fox is now, and
always has been, a most decided Aristocrat ;^ which,
considering the line of conduct he has for many years
pursued, is perhaps not likely to elevate his character.
But my real and sincere motive was, as far as I could,
to impress the King with a persuasion that the taking
Mr. Fox into his Government would not be attended
with any danger ; but that on the other hand, he would,
in that case, find it his interest, and the safest line to
gratify his ambition, to maintain the just pov/er of the
Crown. I referred to Lord Macartney for my authority
about Mr. Fox as an unquestionable one, he having
known him from his infancy, and maintained a con-
stant intercourse with him ever since of private friend-
ship, though he had not sided with him in politics.
^ Itfy expression was, on recollection, a determined Tory.
182 DIARIES AND COIUIESPONDENCE OF
Wed/icadai/, Octohcr 31.y/. — His Majrsty, Ijcfoic
breakfast, told iiic he luul received a letter tVoiii .Mr.
Pitt, proposing to deter the meeting of Pariiaiiient till
after Christmas, it' he could be in town on .Nbiiiday,
to hold a Council to order the Proclamation, which
his Majesty said he should cheerlully agree to ;
and tlien added a good deal about the advan-
tage, in many ])oints of view, that would result
from the meeting being so deferreil. His Majesty
then fell into a conversation in the breakfast-room, in
tlie presence of the equerries, about Lord Thurlow,
whom he spoke of as a man of considerable feeling, and
said he had seen tears in his eyes ! To which oj)inion I
could give no assent. In the next sentence, however,
his Majesty mentioned his conduct to Miss Lynch, and
of his having comi)letely broken the heart of the son
he had by her; whieh he followed up l)y connnents on
his conduct towards Captain Brown, who married his
eldest daughter : of whom his Majesty spoke in terms
of great praise, and stated, in proof of his merit, that
General Wliitelocke had determined to take him with
him into the military department to which he was
appointed. (Inspector-General of Recruits, 1 believe.)
Alter breakfast we rode to Lymington, by the high
road, on our way to Southampton, to dine with Sir
Harry Neale. On the road the conversation of last
night about Mr. Fox was renewed, and the King
repeated what he had said at ^^'ey mouth, that he had
told Mr. Pitt he would rather take the risk of a civil
war than receive Mr. Pox into his council. This 1
did not venture to come across with any pointed obser-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 183
vations, under an impression that I should only have
revolted his Majesty, without the remotest chance of
effecting the object which, for the sake of the country
alone, God knows, I anxiously wished to accomplish.
But with great caution, I did suggest what I before
hinted, — that if Mr. Fox should at anytime be taken into
Government, his original principles would prevail with
him, and would induce him to be solicitous to main-
tain its powers and authority ; which at least did not
produce any adverse observations, and may therefore
possibly work quietly in his Majesty's mind. I put to
his Majesty what Mr. Pitt had formerly said to me,
about Mr. Fox going abroad; to which the King
replied, " that would have been a very different pro-
jjosition," and distinctly inferred that, to that he
should not have had a decided objection.
On our return in the evening, the King began the
conversation again about the naked and drearv waste
we rode over yesterday, abusing it as worse than any
part of Bagshot heath ; and said, on the whole he
thought Windsor Forest incomparably a more beautiful
one than this. To which I rephed, it was fortunate in
this as well as in other matters of taste, that all did
not think alike. I suggested the disadvantage at which
the King saw this country, but that in fine weather,
even the part of the forest he had seen had its beauties,
as the ground was finely thrown about ; to which his
Majesty replied, he had no taste for what was called
the fine loilcl beauties of nature ; he did not hke
mountains and other romantic scenes, of which he
sometimes heard much.
ISl DIARIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OF
Diiriiiij; tliis ride, the King askcil mc whetlicr
T kiieu', or liad any fixed opinion ns to who was tlic
author of .Funius. To wliich I answered, 1 l)rheved
no one living knew to a certainty who tlie author
was, except I^ord Grenvilh; ; l)ut that I had heard
Iritn say positively lie did. That 1 had, iiowever, long
had a strong ])ersuasion Mr. (jlerard Hamilton was the
author; that I knew him wtll, and from a cond)ina-
tion of a variety of circumstances, I had no doubt in
my own mind of the fact. His .Majesty asked me for
the book ; and I undertook to lind it for him in the
morning. After talking a good deal about .lunius, the
King entered into an account of the Duke of Grafton's
resignation ; stating that after the death of Mr. Vorke,
who had accepted the Seals,' it was settled by his
Grace that the Seals should be in commission, and that
the Government was in other respects to go on as was
before proposctl. But that on the evening on which
the commission (as usual a Judge from each Court)
were to be sworn, the Duke came to the Queen's
House with Lord \\'ey mouth, the Secretary of State,
or met him there by appointment, I am not sure
which. That his Majesty first saw the Duke, who said
he came to announce to his Majesty that he could not
go on with the administration ; which naturally sur-
prised him a good deal, after the arrangements above
alluded to. That his ^lajcsty next saw Lord Weymouth,
who felt equal sur})rise on the subject, but said he would
go home with the Duke and endeavour to infuse some
firmness and manliness into him ; in which, however,
' On tbo resignation of Lord Camden.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 158
he then completely failed. That his Majesty, after that,
sent to Lord North, who had been for some time Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, under the Duke as first Lord,
and gave him two days to consider whether he would
succeed his Grace or not. In the interval the Duke
wrote to his Majesty that he was inclined to go on.
When Lord North, therefore, attended his Majesty to
accept the office, the King told him he would give him
one day more to consider about it, which he accepted
thankfully ; but in the evening of that day, his Grace
wrote to the King to say he had decided positively to
resign. Of course, when Lord North came in the
morning, it was fixed for him to be at the head of the
Treasury ; and the King then told him what had in-
duced him to propose the fm'ther day for consideration.
TJiursday, November \st. — T put the " Letters of
Junius " into the King's hand ; and we looked through
the book for a letter which the Duke of Cumberland
thought was in one of the notes, from Miss Parsons to
the Duke of Grafton, without finding it, or even a note
alluding to such a letter; which was very probably
owing to mine being an early edition of the book.
After breakfast we rode to Southampton, and imme-
diately after getting through the vihage of Lyndhurst,
his Majesty began a conversation about the young
Princess Charlotte, who his Majesty said the Prince
of Wales had put into his hands for education, &c. ;
and that he was beyond measure anxious to find
proper persons to place about her, and appeared to me
to be desirous of continuing the conversation on the
subject, about which I felt so much unaffected delicacy,
18(5 DIARIES AND COUUESI'ONDENCE OF
tliat I inori' than once atttinptcd to turn it. Tlic King,
however, soon ivndcrcd tliis (juite iin})ossible by saying
that a bdy had been mentioned to liini as one in all
respects well (|ualilied tor, and well suited to, such a
trust. To which I answered, that with all the oppor-
tunities his Majesty had for personal observation of
the characters of women of rank, he had better act in
so important a matter on ids own judgment. This
led him to say that he had felt a great anxiety to know
my opinion (the tirst lu' had asked) of the person,
who he said, was the widow of the late Bishop of St.
David's, anil who, it was probable, I knew something of;
and he commamlrd me to state distinetlv what 1 knew,
or had heard from any authority on which 1 could
rely, aliout her. To which I replied, that whatever
scruple I might feel in suggesting anything in so very
delicate a point, I could not, under such a conmiand,
withhold an acknowledgment that I knew something
of Lady George Murray early in her life. That as a
girl she was remarkably amiable, and very innocent ;
that she had bi'en married when little more than a
child, to a young man under age ; that she had con-
ducted herself most unexceptional )ly, to say the least,
both as a wife and mother ; that I had never heard a
syllable to her disadvantage, but nnich in her com-
mendation : with all which his Majesty seemed nuich
pleased, and said he had determined to withhold
making up his mind on the subject, till he could make
inquiries of me upon it, being perfectly certain I would
tell him nothing but the plainest truth. He then asked
me if there was no danger of the Duke of Athol having
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 187
an influence over her — pretty plainly implying that lie
had no partiality for his Grace ; — to which I answered
it was impossible for me to be at all certain about that,
but that I thought her mother was most likely to have
an influence over her ; who I had no reason to suspect of
an intriguing disposition ; but that I had seen nothing
of her for a great many years, and could not venture
to express a decided opinion about her. This part of
a long conversation closed with an assurance froui his
Majesty that he felt great comfort from what I had
said to him, and that it would have great weight with
him. The last declaration he repeated twice. I then
ventured to say, that encouraged by such condescension
from his Majesty, I thought it of great consequence
that whoever his Majesty might ultimately decide on
to be the head governess for the young princess, it
would be very desirable in the selection of the sub-
governess to consider W'hether they would be likely to
accord with each other. The importance of this his
Majesty admitted, and mentioned in confidence that
he had in a great degree decided to place in the latter
situation, a Mrs. Campbell, w^idow of a Colonel Camp-
bell, who went out governor to Bermuda or Bahama
(I am not sure which), and died on his arrival there.
Of this lady he had received a most favourable account
from an authority he respected.
To prove the justice of my observation, his Ma-
jesty told me that most serious inconvenience had
arisen from disagreements and intrigues amongst
those who were entrusted with the care of his
education ; mentioning Dr. Thomas, afterwards Bishop
188 DLVIllES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
of A\'incliestcr, and Mr. George; Scott, jifterwards
a Coiiiiiiissioncr of Excise, as men of unexception-
able characters (preceptor and snl)-preceptor). But
he considered Dr. llayter, liishop of Norwich, as an
intriguing, unworthy man, more fitted tn bo a Jesuit
than an English Bishop ; and as intluenced in his con-
duct by the disappointment he met with in failing to get
the archbishopric of Canterbury. His Majesty added
that his Lordshij) was the author of the gross ami
wicked cahunny on (Jeorge Scott ;' accusing hin), a
man of the purest mind, and most innocent conduct,
of having attempted to poison his wifi\ The King
then spoke of Lord Waldegrave and Lord Harcourt
(both 1 believe his governors, they were certainly
both about him), the tirst as a depraved worthless
man, the other as well-intentioned, but wholly unlit for
the situation in which he was placed.
The King then returned to the subject of Lady
George Ahu'ray, and again expressetl the highest
satisfaction at what I Inul said about her ; observing
that her manner and appearance at Weymouth, as
well as her conduct, as far as he had means of
judging of it, had impressed him with a favourable
opinion of her ; and added that she was now living at
Weymouth, where she meant to remain all the winter,
in a lodging, at two guineas a week.
His Majesty afterwards proceeded to speak of his
accession, and of the first measures taken after it,
' I knew this geutlemau long and very intimately : and I can aver,
with the siacerest truth, I never knew a man more entirelj/ bltnuefcss
iu all the relations of life ; amiable, honoui-ablc, temperate, and one
of the sweetest dispositions I ever knew.
THE MGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 189
expressing a good deal of surprise at the accuracy
with which some of them were related in a history of
the time Avritten by a ]\Ir. Adolphus, as far at least as
respected himself/ and particularly referred to a state-
ment in that book of the words, " I glory in the
name of Briton," having been inserted in the draft of
his first speech with his own hand ; adding, also, that
they were his own, and suggested to him by no one.
His Majesty then referred to a conversation he had held
with me when at Cuffnells, in 1801, respecting Lord
Bute ; saying he would now tell me what he had then
omitted to do, Avliich omission he had since regretted,
and was now desirous of repairing. That on the day
of the late King's demise, he was going from Kew to
his house in London, to give some directions about
an organ he had there being fitted in a room he had
prepared for it. When near Kew bridge, he met a
person he did not know, who rode up to him and
said he had something to say to him, and took out of
his pocket a piece of very coarse white-brown paper,
with the name of Schrieder wrote upon it, and
nothing more, which the man said was given to him
merely to obtain credence with his Royal Highness ;
and then went on to say that the King was taken
suddenly ill, and that appearances were very alarm-
ing. He ordered him to say nothing to any one, but
to ride on quietly. The determination his Majesty
instantly took was to return to Kew, to colour
M^iich, he observed to his attendants that his horse
^ His Majesty said he should, therefore, have it bound as a conti-
nuation of Eajjiu.
IDU JJl ARIES AND CORKESPONUENCE nV
went latnc ; niul jiltlioii«j;h his jri-ooni assured hiiu to
the contrary, lie went l)aek directly, and immediately
repaired to the l^rincess of Wales, whose unremitting
and eartful attention he spoke feelinulv of, to com-
nnmieate to lirr what had occurred ; in doing which
he (■nj(jine(l her in the warmest manner to say nothing
on the subject to Lord Bute, lest he should entertain
some notion of endeavouring to be placed in a political
situation ; of wliich, however, the Princess Dowager
assured him there was no danger. Tiie King, not
satisfied with that assurance, repeated the injunction,
and obtained from her Iloyal Highness a positive
promise of a compliance with it, adding, that if she
should be mistaken, it would entirely alter her opinion
of his Lordship. That after leaving his mother, and
before reaching his own house, he met a messenger
with a letter from the I'rincess Amelia, directed "To
his ^Lijesty," which led to his being certain of the
event that had happened. Iler Royal Highness, in it,
rcfpiested him to come directly to Kensington ; the
impropriety of which he was so sensible of, that,
after again waiting on his mother, he went straight to
his own house in London, and on the road met a
coach and six, which, by the liveries of white and
blue, he knew must belong to Mr. Pitt, who turned
about and followed him to Carlton House. In the
first interview, Mr. Pitt desired he might be allowed
to comnninicate with Lord Bute about the measures
necessary to be immediately taken, to which his
Majesty assented ; and they met accordingly, in the
most friendly manner, for that purpose. But one
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 191
circumstance was not attended to ; for when Dr. Seeker,
Archbishop of Canterbury, came into his Majesty's
closet, at the head of the Privy Council, and made a
speech to him on his succeeding to the throne, he
was not aware of it, and was not prepared with any
answer. It was, however, at that time that the
speech was framed, and that his Majesty made the
alteration in it before alluded to. Lord Bute took
the office of Groom of the Stole, with which he
appeared to be satisfied for several months, but it was
soon manifest that he was desirous of being in some
high and responsible political situation ; the attain-
ment of which object he effected through the agency
of Count Viri, the Sardinian ambassador, who pre-
vailed with the Dukes of Newcastle and Devonshire
to propose Lord Bute being Secretary of State; his
Excellency having a considerable influence with both,
paiticularly with the former. Till that time, there
had been a perfectly good agreement between his
Lordship and Mr. Pitt, but on the appointment' taking
place, in March, 1761, evident dissatisfaction appeared
in the latter; and in the October following, he re-
signed the other Secretaryship of State, as Lord
Temple did the Privy Seal. Which resignations were
followed in May, 1762, by that of the Duke of New-
castle of the office of First Lord of the Treasury ; and
in November, 1762, of the Duke of Devonshire of
the Chamberlainship. liOrd Bute succeeded to the
' The opening was made by Lord Holdernesse having a pension
till the Wardenship of the Cinque Ports -should become vacant by
the death of Lord Holdernesse.
1U2 DLVlllES AND CORRESrONDEN'CE OF
first, and tlic Duke of .Marll)orou*:;h to the latter.
His Maiestv conceived tliat the Dukes of Newcastle
and Devonshire, in allowing; tlieniselves to be per-
suaded \o j)r()i)ose Lord JJute being Secretary of
State, were inlhienced l)y a suL'Ljestion that tlje
appointment would allurd some check on Mr. Pitt,
of whose power tluy wire a bttic jialous ; but his
Majesty was sure they repented of having done so,
as he lieartily chd of having accpiiesced u\ tla;
measure. The King tlien spoke of Lortl liute as deficient
in pohtical firmness, whicli he admitted to be a most
important ingredient in a minister — particularly in
tile one at the head of the Government. This led
his Majesty to remind me of the anecdote related by
him, in I SOI, of his Lordship, while Minister, when
surroumied in his carriage by a mob near the House
of Lords, coming to him in a panic, followed by the
mob, to St. James's, to dissuade his Majesty from
going to the play, and of the rebuke he gave his
Lordship for that j)roeee(ling. He said, however, that
his Lordship did not want talents, and that Lord ^Lms-
field had assm*ed him he never knew any one who came
so late into business take to it and do it so well.
His Majesty said little about Mr. Grcnville,
except that it was not his wish he should resign when
he did, but Mr. Grcnville's own voluntarv act. He
spoke of Lord Sufiblk as a man of some talents, but
of great ambition, — a proof of which was his desire to
supplant Lord North' at the Treasury. The mention
^ Of this, I believe neither Lord Xorth nor the public ever enter-
tained any suspicion.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 193
of his Lordship led the King to some observations
about Lord Auckland, whom he described as a man
of deep intrigue, who had artfully got about Lord
Suffolk/ but wdiose true character was well known to
his Lordship before his death, which induced him to
send him to America as one of the commissioners for
restoring peace ; previously to which, however, on
Mr. Robinson's illness. Lord Suffolk had put him about
Lord North, in the hope of his becoming Secretary
to the Treasury in the event of Mr. Robinson dying ;
whose recovery defeated that project, which his
Majesty thought fortunate. Of Lord North his
Majesty w^as beginning to speak in very favourable
terms, when we were interrupted by the Princess Amelia
(who, with the other Princesses, was riding behind us)
getting a most unfortunate fall. The horse, on
cantering down an inconsiderable hill, came on his
head, and threw her Royal Highness flat on her face.
She rose, without any appearance of being at all hurt,
but evidently a good deal shaken ; and, notwithstand-
ing an earnest wish to avoid occasioning the slightest
alarm, was herself not desirous of getting on horse-
back again ; but the King insisted that she should,
if at all hurt, get into one of the carriages and return
to Cuffnells to be bled, or otherwise mount another
horse and ride on. She chose the latter, and rode to
Southampton, where she lost some blood unknown to
the King. I hazarded an advice, that no one else
would do, for her Royal Highness's return, which
^ His Lordship certainly entertained a warm friendship for Lord
Auckland till the latter quitted him and his other connexions.
VOL. IL O
Li)i DIAIlliiS AND COllilESroNDENCE 01'
was certainly not well recrivcd, and j)rovokv!d a
quickness from his Majesty that I experienced in no
other instance, lie observed that he could not bear
that any of his family should want couraf,'c. To which
I re})lied, I hoped his Majesty woultl excuse me if
I said I thought a pru[)cr attention to prevent the ill
effects of an accident that had haj)pened, was no
symptom of a want of courage. He then said with
some warmth : — " Perhaps it may be so ; but 1 thank
God there is but one of my childrcu who wants
courage; — and I will not name uiM, becauae he r> to
succeed me." 1 own I was deeply pained at the
observation, and dropped behind to speak to General
Fitzrov, which gave a turn to the conversation.
In the Audit-house at Southain{)ton, his Majesty
said personally to my son what he had before to me,
of his litness for the diplomatic line, and of his earnest
desire to be useful to him in it, if he should ever have
an opportunity of being so. 1 there presented to
his Majesty, by desire of the Mayor, Ca})tain Prescott,
a commander in the navy, ninety-five years of age,
perfectlv erect, capable of taking any moderate exer-
cise, and a})parently possessed of all the faculties a
man of his age can have the enjoyment of.
On our ride home, the King talked of the ([uali-
ties necessary for persons at the head of the Church,
and expressed satisfaction that Mr. Pitt and he were
agreed about Dr. Sutton, Bishop of Norwich, being a fit
man to succeed the Archbishop of Canterbury, who
is breaking fast ; and in that case that Legge should
succeed to the Deanery of Windsor, now held by
THE KIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 195
the Bishop, as that situation shoukl always be filled
by a man of some family, which, indeed, it had usually
been ; for even in the instance of the appointment of
Dr. Booth to that Deanery, the Duke of Newcastle
had persuaded the late King that the Dr. was of the
Earl of Warrington's family.
During the time their Majesties were at Cuifnells,
I could not perceive anything that could lead to the
remotest suspicion of what I had before heard from the
most positive and unquestionable authority, and of
the absolute certainty of which I am as entirely con-
vinced as if I had been present when the occurrences
happened. While in this house, there was every
appearance of perfect cordiality; and I had good
opportunities of watching for symptoms, as I was
constantly at table with the royal family when they
dined here, as well as every night at supper, and
every evening at cards. It may be hoped from hence,
that the advice which has been recently given to her
Royal Highness may have produced some effect, for
a time at least.
Memoranda, made Friday, November 2(/. — This
day theu' Majesties and the royal family left Cuffnells,
after breakfast, to return to Windsor, meaning to dine
with the Bishop of Winchester at Earnham, on their
road.
On the road to Lymington, last Wednesday, the
King talked to me a good deal about Lord Melville.
He very much blamed him for proposing Lord Kellie
as one of the sixteen peers for Scotland, on account of
his not being generally acceptable to the Scotch peers.
o 2
19G DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
llis Majesty observed, it was giving a great advantage
to Lord Lauderdale, who was most indefatigable in
his exertions to be clecteil ; and went over nmeh ot"
the same groiuul about his Lordship tiiat he had done
at Weymouth.
While here, his Majesty told me he had nearly lost
the sicht of his rii'ht eve, and that it was witli the
greatest ditTieulty he could read a newspaper by
candle-light with (niji spectacles he could get.
The King told me that Count ^^'oronzow, the Rus-
sian ambassador, had sui'i:jested to liim, in the Audit-
house at Southampton, that if his .Majesty would
express a wish for his remaining in Kngland another
year, he wouUl propose it to his Court, and he was
sure it would be aecpiiesced in.
Tursdni/, yovpnihrr Q>t/i, IS 04. — Count Woronzow,
the Uussian and)assador, came here. lie contirmed to
me what the King had said about his remaining here
another vear. He said it could easilv be accomijlished,
as there had been no intention on the part of his
Court to recall him, he having rc(piested leave to
return home ; and that his successor was not to leave
Petersburgh till the Count's arrival there.
He told me that Lady Pembroke (the dowager)
had been oflered the government of the Princess
Charlotte, but had refused it ; and that Lord Pem-
broke had been offered the embassy to Russia, which
he would have accepted if he could have been allowed
to return in eighteen months. This being not assented
to, he had declined.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 197
CHAPTER VI.
1805—1806.
MR. rose's diary FOR SEPTEMBER, 1805— CORRESPONDExVCE RESPECT-
ING MR. PITT's death, AND THE PAYMENT OF HIS DEBTS, FROM
JANUARY TO JUNE, 1806 — FORMATION OF THE PITT CLUB.
[The close of the year 1S04 left Mr. Rose in a very
uncomfortable state, not satisfied with the tone of the
Bishop of Lincoln's correspondence, of which copies
have been already given, and nionrning over the con-
tinued silence of Mr. Pitt and his recent reconciliation
wdth Mr. Addington (not personally, but politically),
which was probably the cause of that silence. His
lamentations upon that subject fill a few pages of his
Diary, which it is not necessary to transcribe.
But wdien the Diary is resumed, in the autunni of
1805, we find Mr. Pitt again visiting his friend at
CuflPnells, and discussing with him the difficulties of
his situation, and the necessity of strengthening his
Government by taking into it some members of the
Opposition ; stating also the resistance he met Avith at
Weymouth from the King, which he attributes to the
influence of some of the Addington Cabinet. — Ed.]
198 DIAIUES AND COlUlESrOXUENCE OF
TtfCbcht/, Soptcinf)n'\Hft.— \\\\ Pitt left me at Ciitt'-
nclls to go to tlie King nt Weymouth. On tlic pre-
ceding evening, I Imd a conversation of between two
and three hours with him in my own room on the state
of foreign and domestic politics. On the former lie was
extremely sanguine, from the treaties entered into with
Russia and Prussia, and the measures taken iu consc-
cpience of them ; — the success of which he promised
himself would tend verv ^^reatlv to strengthen his
Administration. But indipendently of that expectation
(which lie did not appear to overrate) there was n(»
prospect of any addition to our friends in Parliament.
I took occasion, therefore, again to urge him, with the
utmost earnestness, to press on tlie consideration of his
Majesty, when he sliould see him at Weymouth, the
necessity of strengthening his Administration, which lie
gave me the strongest assurances he would do. Tie
agreed there might be the following openings, with the
entire comn. union and even wishes of the parties : —
President of the Council . Lord Caimlen.
S.cretari,s of State j Lord Castlereagh.
•' \ Lord M nigra ve.
First lA>rd of Admiralty .... Lord Barhani.
Lord LieulenaHt of Ireland . . . Lord Hardwicke.
Chancellor of the Duchy .... Lonl Harrowby.
Besides various other offices that might be opened of
the second class. I made a tender of my son if it
should be found necessary ; to which he would not
hsten. In the conclusion, 1 suggested to him the
expediency of his talking to the King as early on the
subject as he should find an op])ortunity of doing
after his arrival at AVevmouth.
TKE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 199
Saturday, September 21.9/'. — I arrived at Weymouth
late in the evening, and supped with Mr. Pitt, who
stated to nie ail that had passed "wdth his Majesty,
which was extremely discouraging, and told me he
was to have his definitive answer the next day.
Sunday, Sep f ember 22d. — -1 went on the esplanade
early in the morning, and at a quarter past seven the
King came there, accompanied by Col. Taylor, who,
on the King calling me to him, left us. His Majesty
then told me that Mr. Pitt had made very strong
representations to him of the necessity of strengthen-
ing his Government by the accession of persons from
the parties of Lord Grenville and Mr. Pox, but that he
was persuaded there existed no necessity whatever for
such a junction ; that we did very well in the last
session, and he was confident we should not be worse
in the ensuing one ; that affairs on the Continent wore
a good appearance, and that, at least, it was desirable
to see how they would turn out ; but that Mr. Pitt had
agreed to revise the Parliamentary canvass with Mr.
Long, who was also at Weymouth, and in the course
of the day to state the result to him. T observed to
his Majesty that there would be an unavoidable neces-
sity in the next session of Parliament to resort to new
and extraordinary measures of taxation, which would
put our force in the House of Commons to a very
different test from anything that had passed in the
last session ; and that, considering our situation in that
House, I was perfectly convinced, if Mr. Pitt should be
confined by the gout, or any other complaint, for only
two or three weeks, there would be an end of us; —
200 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
adding siicli other reasons as occurred to me to show
that Mr. Pitt had not overstated the (Hilieulties he
had to encounter, T had not the good fortinie, liow-
ever, to make any impressiou whatever on his Majesty;
on the contrary, I found him intinitely more imprac-
ticable on the point than hist year when at Cutlnells.
He then wouhl have consented to achuitting as many
of the two parties before-mentioned as Mr. Pitt should
desire, with the exception only of Mr. Fox, and would
not object even to him if employed on a foreign unssion,
or in any situation that would not render his re-admis-
sion to tlie Privy Council necessary, as appears by my
notes written at that time. But now, the King states a
positive determination against taking a single individual
from the Opposition into the Administration, observing,
in a manner that precluded any rrply, " he could not
trust them, and they could have no confidence in him ; "
and added, " he was sure there was no necessity," to
which I couhl only answer, I hoped most sincerely liis
Majesty would not find himself under a mistake, but
that I felt it my duty to say, I saw the matter in a less
promisuig light, and that it appeared to me to be
infinitely better for his Majesty to admit of a moderate
accession of the persons to whom he objected, with
Mr. Pitt as the head of the Administration, who has
the good fortune to possess his Majesty's confidence,
than to have the whole forced upon him by a struggle
in Parliament, and a complete change in his Majesty's
confidential servants effected. To this he would not
listen at all, considering it as a visionary apprehension.
PI is Majesty tlien changed the conversation to the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 201
prosecution of Lord Melville, expressing himself in no
very favourable terms of his Lordship, and reminding
me of some observations of mj own about him many
years ago. He evinced resentment particularly at his
Lordship having accepted the Presidency at the Admi-
ralty, after he had been examined by the Commissioners
for Naval Inquiry (or after he knew from those Com-
missioners that he should be called upon to explain, I
am not sure w^hich) respecting the money in his hands,
as Treasurer of the Navy, not being kept at the bank,
and other circumstances connected therewith ; at
which I expressed my surprise and doubts whether
his Majesty had been rightly informed of the fact. He
replied, he had it recently from two of his Cabinet
Ministers (who I am nearly certain were Lord Mul-
grave and Lord Hawkesbury, then at Weymouth) ;
and that upon referring to the Chancellor, then also
on the spot, he admitted the statement to be true.
On revolving in my mind all that passed in this
conversation, which lasted very nearly two hours with-
out interruption, I have a perfect conviction that the
positive determination now formed by the King against
admitting a single man from the Opposition into
Government, so directly contrary to the sentiments he
repeatedly stated to me twelve months ago, has arisen
from representations that have been made to him very
lately, and from a combination of occurrences not to
be mistaken. I have a firm persuasion that Lord
Hawkesbury effected the change in his Majesty's opi-
nions, aided perhaps by Lord Mulgrave, and still more
by the Chancellor. This may appear extraordinary, con-
202 DIAKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
sidoring thr l.mgunjro liis Majesty held respecting Lord
ITawkesburv when at Ciitlnells last year (wliieli then
strongly marked a want of confichniee in his Lordship's
talents and judgment) ; hut it is perfectly certain that
the noble fjord, during his stay at Weymouth thi<
season, gained very considerable ground with the King
by constant assicbiity and attention, particularly at the
time of the Duke of (Jloucester's death, when his
Majesty's mind was deeply aftected.
[A letter from Mr. vSturges IJourne, containing an
account of Tiord Nelson's death, of Lord CoUingwood's
subsequent success, and some other interesting par-
ticulars. — Ed.]
" De.vr Rosf,
" The Ga:re{t€ of to-dav will give von a most satis-
factory account from Lord CoUingwood. Four of the
prizes being saved is quite prrrtcr spcm, and three only
of them which escaped being serviceable, leaves us little
to have wished but the safety of him to whom we owe
all, and who seems to have devoted himself most un-
fortunately. Captain Hardy saw the man who shot
him from the poop of the Ihicputaur, levelling at him
continually, and was near enough to distinguish his
countenance ; but nothing could induce him to render
his person less conspicuous, or to move about on the
quarter-deck.
" I hope there is uo reason to be alarmed at Mr.
Pitt's health ; but two or three weeks at Bath would
probably be of essential service to hira. He wishe^^
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 203
to put off the meeting, if it be only for a week. WitB a
view of giving him a week more at Bath, it would be
valuable, and perhaps the state of things on the Con-
tinent may make it desirable, otherwise I should have
thought it not worth while, unless it could have been
postponed till after the birth-day.
" You will be glad to hear that in consequence of
Leveson having been urged to continue at Petersburg!!
by that Court, and consenting to do so till the spring,
Lord Cathcart is to take the command of our troops
almost immediately, which maj', I hope, postpone if
not supersede some other arrangements.
" The proportion of the proceeds of Spanish mer-
chant ships detained before hostilities given to the
captors, has varied in some instances where the
amount was very considerable : Mr. Pitt would not
consent to the ordinary share of two-thirds being
granted. We have not, however, heard of any dis-
satisfaction on that account, or with regard to the
reduced share of the bullion which was given to
the captors.
" We get neither foreign papers nor mails.
" Yours, most truly,
"gW. Sturges Bourne.
" Lord Collingwood has twenty-one sail of the Hue
lit for service, exclusive of Admiral Louis's squadron,
and the reinforcements from home."
20i DIARIES AND COPvKESrONDEN'CE OF
[Tlie correspondence of the year 180G begins vvitli
a very brief account of Mr. Pitt's illness and death.
At first sight it may seem strange that Mr. Sturges
Bourne should have to conunuiiicate to Mr. Rose the
progress of his disease ; but Ik^ had been summoned
from the Treasury to give an account to the dying
Minister of the posture of affairs, and, therefore, his
letters contain also intelligence from abroad, chiefly of
a dark and sad conij)l('\ion, but not unrelieved by
gleams of better fortune. Tlien, after the announce-
ment of Mr. Tilt's death, lamentations ponr in from
various quarters, and nnieh discussion about the pay-
ment of his debts ; one party maintaining that applica-
tion should be made to Parliament for a grant, which
Mr. AVilberforce discouraged, on the ground tiiat there
was no prospect of success, and believed that tiie
whole sum which was required might be raised by
private subscription amongst his friends. It does not
appear that any others took the same sanguine views.
But then another question arose, whether those who
had alreadv subscribed should be considered creditors,
as Mr. Pitt wished, or not. ,AIr. Rose was one of
those who would not take back his money, although
he was extremely mortified by the discovery that,
owing to some sinister influence exercised against
him, his friend had died under the persuasion that
he was not one who had subscribed largely for his
relief. Their next anxiety was to find some one
whom they could engage to write a life of their
THE RIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 205
deceased leader. It was proposed to Mackenzie, who,
without declining it, suggested his own incompetence ;
and ultimately it devolved on the Bishop of Lincoln,
who might have done it well, but did not. It was
afterwards undertaken by Mr. Gifford ;^ but he had no
means of giving it the interest of private memorials,
and his is only a political history, l^he formation of
the Pitt Club, with the Duke of Richmond for its
president, and Mr. Rose for its vice-president, closes
the history of that great statesman. — Ed.]
Mr. Sturges Bourne to Mr. Rose.
" Dear Rose,
" The accounts of Mr. Pitt are rather better.
He leaves Bath to-day, and proposes to reach Chip-
penham, about twelve miles. He is anxious to pro-
rogue Parliament another week, but the risk incurred
by it would be such, that, I think, meeting it without
him is the least of the two evils. I wish you were on
the spot, that we might be assisted by your opinion.
I calculate that Mr. Pitt will reach Putney by Mon-
day. Do you continue in the country till the last
moment ?
" I forbear savino- what I feel about his healtii till
we meet. I wrote to you on the subject two or three
days ago, but burnt my letter, thinking I might as
well save you some restless nights.
" Yours ever, most truly,
" W. S. B.
" 9th January, 1806."
* Mr. John R. Giflford, mentioned in a former note.
20(i dlviues and correspondence of
Mr. Sturges Bourne to Mr, Kosk.
" Dear Rose,
" Mr. Pitt arrived at Putmy last iiiglit, having
accomplished his journey with less fatigue than might
have been expected ; and 1 have been with him this
morning by his own desire. His appearance was not
woi-sc than 1 expected, thougli it seems to have struck
Lady Hester very much. He thinks himself, how-
ever, better, particularly in the article of sleep. He
is, however, very, very weak, anil h,;s a horror of all
animal food. Yon will derive some comfort from
knowing that ])r. Reynolds and Dr. Baillie were wait-
ing to sec him when I came away. \Mien he may
expect to be able to attend to l)usincss and Parliament,
we must learn from them. He thinks of going to the
Wilderness, which Lord Camden has offered him, and
where he will be more out of the way of interruption.
" Under these circumstances, I am very glad that
you mean to come to us on AWnhiesday, and 1 tliink
you had better dine with me on that day, without going
first to Putney. I did not mean to reproach you so
unjustly as you supposed, but rather marvelled at
your taste for the country. As wc must do without
Mr. Pitt at present, I am sure we ought to have
everybody else on the spot that can assist us.
" Yours ever, most truly,
" W. S. B.
" Sunday, half-past tive,
"January 12tb, 1805."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 207
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
« Putney Heath,
" Thursday, quarter- past 9 P.M.
" My dear Sir,
" I will just tell you that Mr. Pitt has continued
in bed the whole day, quiet and composed upon the
whole, and without any increase of unpleasant symp-
toms. He is going to be removed to his sofa for an
hour. Sir AValter's report is rather more favoui^able.
I hope we shall see you to-morrow.
" Ever yours,
" G. Lincoln.""
" Putney Heath,
" Jan. 20th, quarter past 9.
" My Dear Sir,
" I am most truly concerned to send you so un-
favourable an account. The fact is, that the symptoms
are all aggravated, and the apprehensions of the physi-
cians greater than ever. They are to be here again at
ten to-morrow morning.
" Yours ever,
" G. L."
"West strand, 7 o'clock,
" January 23d.
'' My dear Sir,
" The last sad scene closed at half-past four.
Our dear friend did not suffer in his last moments.
" I expect to be in Downing Street about one.
" Yours ever, most truly,
" G. Lincoln."
208 DIARIES AND COURESPONDEXCE OF
Mr. Wilukuforck to Mr. Rosk.
[/V//Y//^'.]
" Broomfiekl, Jon. 23J, IbUG, Thunwhiy.
" My dear Rose,
" I feel so iinst'ttK'il, that I have hceii near (hiving
to town again, merely because I cannot remain in (piiet
here ; but I fear I shouhl hear nothing of comfort if I
were to go. 1 will, therefore, stay licrc to-day, relying
on your being so kind as to let me know if you hear
of any change. I own I can scarcely bring myself to
conceive the case hopeless, considering our friend's
time of life ; but yet physicians arc never the first to
acknowledge that there is no more room for hope. 1
ought to have told you last night that the friend
whom I snid I would consult (binding him, of course,
to secrecy, on which, indeed, without binding, one
might rely) continns the apj)rehensions I had formed
of the reception of such a [)roposition as we talked of.
But when I look around to the many affluent (some
extremely so) men who were connected with our
friend, 1 cannot bring myself to think that something
might not be done sufficient for paying what remains
unsatisfied of fair claims. I am myself far from a rich
man, with increasing expenses, and a prospect of
diminishing fortune; but I would cheerfully join,
according to my means, if any eff'ectual plan could
be set on foot. It would, in my mind, be a part of
such a plan that the names of contributors, and the
sums furnished by each, should be kept secret.
" It will give me pleasure to hear you are yourself
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 209
pretty well, for I fear the effects of what you feel on
your constitution from what I saw yesterday.
" Yours sincerely,
" W. W.
" P.S. — On reflection, another consideration regard-
ing THE POINT we talked over yesterday struck me
with great force, which I will tell you when we meet ;
I am sure you would feel it. I shall have a servant
come out to me at a quarter before six this after-
noon."
Mr. Wilberforce to Mr. Rose.
" Broomfield, Friday, Jan. 24th, 1806.
" My dear Rose,
" It has occurred to me on recollection, that
when you mentioned to me what our departed friend
had stated to be his wish, respecting some of the
Stanhopes, I rather too hastily assented to what
seemed to be your own impression at the moment ;
and further reflection has led me to the adoption of a
different opinion. With respect to Lady Hester, I
am even clear, that what was mentioned was little
enough for her, and I cannot think that the public
would conceive it to be any departure from the deli-
cate principles on which our friend acted in the case
of his own relations,— that he endeavoured to secure for
such of them as were still improvidedfor, a decent and
proper maintenance. What you stated as having been
proposed by himself, was as little as any one would
name. If I am not mistaken, one of the ladies'
VOL. II. ' P
2]0 DIARIES AND CuURESrONDENCE OF
luisbmuls lias an office of some value for life. Ho
and she of course would not fall within the j)rniei|)le.
I have hcen anxions, however, to correct what I
Imstily exjjressed to you the other day ; and as to
Ijady Hester, Imd our friend even been silent, I should
think it right not to nci^Kct her. In all our reason-
inf^s on this question, the peculiar character of Lord
Stanhope, and his casting ofi' his children, for not
being as wild and strange as himself, are considerations
of great force.
" On the uwiT. material point, you will believe, my
dear Rose, that it would |)ersonally be one of the
greatest gratifications I could receive, to promote the
[)lan, if I thought it really likely to do honour to his
character, while also it would perhaps ease nu; of the
share which may devolve on me, on the other plan ;
and which, though small in itself, wonid be to me of
importance. Jhit the more I have thought on the
subject, the more sure I have been, that even in the
House of Commons, the reception such a proposition
would have, would be very far from satisfactory, and
nuich more that in the country, the effect on his
memory might be of the most unfavourable sort. It
is a point, on which one can scarcely open to any one,
but I have consulted (under obligations of strict
sccrecv) three friends, all men of excellent under-
standing, and from their political connexions and
princij)les, likely to consider the proposal, with a wish
to be able to approve of it ; and yet they all have
been decidedly adverse to its coming forward. I have
myself lived in the world long enough to know what
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 211
stuff it is made of, yet I cannot but believe that
25, or 30, or 40,000/. might be collected, without
any other than private and confidential applications.
I have been looking around me, and I have made out
a list of sixty people, most of whom I think would be
willing to contribute, some of them very largely, for
such a service. I perfectly concur with you in think-
ing, that where the debts are fair and due to trades-
men, every effort should be made to pay them ; and it
would be extremely useful, if any means could be
found of distinguishing between fair and fraudulent
claims. Do be so obliging to let me know where the
Bishop of Lincoln is now to be found.
" Believe me ever yours,
" W. WlLBERFORCE."
TuE Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
" Wednesday Morning.
" My dear Sir,
" Mr. Wilberforce came to me last night from
the House of Commons, and we had a full conversa-
tion about the debts. He prefers the mode of sub-
scription to that of payment by Parliament, but
made no particular objection if the latter should be
adopted, to the 12,000/. I told him I considered it
as certain that Mr. Cartwright's motion would be .
made on Monday, and he is satisfied, that it will pass.
He was very reasonable, and seemed desirous of
acceding, or at least of not opposing. I am to see
him again, and in the mean time he is to consider
the subject. I am inclined to think he will stay
p 2
212 DIARIES AND CORKESPONDENCE OF
away. You probably know tliat Mr. Banks is gone
into Dorsetshire. Till Mr. Wilbertorce shall have
made up his mind, it will be better to say as little
about hini as possible. I shall be in Downing Street
the whole morning. If you mean to speak to
^Ir. Joseph Smith about his interest, you should
do it soon, as I shall probably see Mr. Bootle in a
day or two.
" Yours ever, most affectionately,
" G. Lincoln."
Mr. W'lT-HEBFORCK TO .Mr. Rose.
"A thousand thanks, my dear Rose, for your letter.
I will consider how I can best promote the private
plan, of the success of which I have no doubt. I am
only anxious measures should be taken with delicacy.
I am extremely pressed, having just this moment got
a file of letters.
" Yours ever,
" W. W.
" Saturday, Jan. 2oth,
" Half-past 3 o'clock.
" I have this instant seen the paper, and will cer-
tainly attend ; but 1 must say it would have been
better in my colleague to consult and combine more
about it. If so, perhaps all my opposition might
have been prevented. But Lascelles acts from a
warm and honest heart as ever man had. Y'ou should
have told me how you yourself are."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 213
Lord Glastonbury to Mr. Rose.
' My dear Sir,
I have the satisfaction to assure you that Lord
Granville concurs in approving Mr. Lascelles's in-
tended motion, with feelings as warm and zealous as
yours or mine, and that he has in the most earnest
terms requested his friends to concur in the support
of it, the greater part of whom have expressed a
readiness to comply with his wishes. Mr. Fox, I
understand, hesitates, but it is believed that if the
words of the resolution are confined to the acknow-
ledgment of great talents and integrity, and steers
clear of measures, he likewise will acquiesce. I could
not forbear making this communication to you, as T
knew well vv^hat pleasure you will derive from it.
" I am, my dear Sir, with sincere esteem,
" Ever most faithfully yours,
" Glastonbury.
"Sunday Morning, 26th Jan., 1806."
[Mr. Rose thought that the hope of raising a suffi-
cient private subscription would be materially im-
proved, if the King would allow it to be known how
much in that way he had formerly offered to do for
Mr. Pitt ; and perhaps he entertained a secret hope
that he would head the subscription. He wrote to
him therefore to ask leave to publish the fact, but
received no answer. Again he wrote to explain, that
he only wanted the sanction of his Majesty's name
211 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCK OF
with riTcrencc to the former transaction ; hut in his
Diary he complains tliat he received no answer t
either of those letters. At a hiter period, liowever,
he wrote again, and received the following h'tter on
behalf of the King, from Colonel Tavlor, in which the
nature of the royal objection is ex[)lained, and the
magnitude of the ofler is shown to have been misun-
derstood. — Kl).]
Ml{. KOSE TO COLONKL Twi.OR,
Si'cretarif to Ihr Kinj.
"OUl I\ilace VanJ, iJuc. 14tli. IMn).
'• Sir,
" When his Majesty did me the high and dis-
tinguished honour of residing for a few davs at
Cutfnclls, in the year I'rOl, he graciously condescended
to propose to put into my hands the sum of 30,()U()/.
for the payment of Mr. l^itt's debts, which pressed
upon him very severely on his quitting otlice ; with a
command, in the event of the service appearing to i)c
])ractical)le, that it should be so managed, as to pre-
vent a suspicion arising in Mr. Pitt's mind of the
quarter from whence the aid came, either by the pur-
chase of I loll wood, or in such other manner as should
be judged most likely to make the gracious and bene-
volent intentions of his Majesty successful. The
scheme was found to be impracticable without a com-
munication with Mr. F^itt. On the mention of it to
him, he was actually more affected than I recollect to
liave seen him on anv occasion ; but he declined it.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE." 215
though with the deepest sense of gratitude possible.
It was indeed one of the latest circumstances he men-
tioned to me, with considerable emotion, towards the
close of his life. I mention this to you now. Sir, for
the purpose of requesting that you will have the
goodness to express to his Majesty, with all humility,
my humble and dutiful suit, that he will be graciously
pleased to permit me to mention the fact in a Tract,
that I hope may be of some use, which I am about to
publish, as likely to add to the respect for Mr. Pitt's
memory, though nothing can increase the veneration
which every good subject has for the best qualities
ever possessed by a sovereign.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
' . Your humble, &c. &c.
" G. Rose.
" I made an application of a similar nature soon
after Mr. Pitt's death ; but I believe from not ex-
pressing myself properly then, I had not the honour
of receiving his Majesty's pleasure on the subject."
Colonel Taylor to Mr. Rose.
\Prlvate?[
"Windsor, Dec. 16th, 1809.
" My bear Sir,
" I could not have any hesitation in submitting
to the King your letter of the 14th instant, and I had
this day the honour of reading it to his Majesty.
" The King ordered me in reply to observe to you,
that the communication which he made to you in 1801,
of his desire to assist the late Mr. Pitt, was one of
21G DTATITES AXT) COTITIESPOXDEXCE OF
which he never intended tliat the knowledge shoiiUl
reaeli any others tlmn the parties immediately con-
ceriied ; that liis Majesty has never mentioned it since,
and cannot acquiesce in the pid)lieation of the circum-
stance, as it would hear the a|)j)earance of makinj^ a
parade of his intentions.
His Majesty also observed, that he never mentioned
the specitie sum to be applied towards relieving Mr.
Pitt from his endiarrassments, and certainly had not
in view one so considerable as that which vou have
named.
" 1 have the honour to be, with great regard,
" My dear Sir,
" Most faithfully yours,
" II. Taylor."
Lord Lowtiikr to Mr. Rose.
" Cottesmore, near Stamford.
" March 6th, 18(H5.
" j\Iy dear Sir,
" T am much obliged l)y your letter which I have
received by the last post.
" I am very anxious to promote the writing of
a history of Mr. Pitt's Life and Administration, and
have already named the subject to Lord Mulgrave.
I know no one who could supply so many and such
important materials for a work of this kind as your-
self. A friend of mine, every way qualitied for this
imdcrtaking, with the most ardent and enthusiastic
admiration of Mr. Pitt's character, would, 1 believe,
engage in it ; and in his hands, I am inclined to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 21 7
think it would want nothing of that distinctness,
accuracy, and animation by which a work of this kind
ought to be characterized. The Bishop of Lincohi
would be able to afford most material assistance.
I should think myself most obliged if you would
name to him this project, and request his assistance.
^5:1^ - "I am, dear Sir,
" Ever most faithfully and truly yours,
" LOWTHER."
Extract from a Letter from Lady Hester
Stanhope to Mr. Rose.
" Dawlish, March 25th, 1806.
" My dear Sir,
" I am much obliged to you for yom- kind letter,
but shoidd not write merely to thank you for it, had
not the dear personage who you tell me mentioned
me with interest, named you in the following terms,
in his last letter : — ' Since I wrote to j^ou last, I
have seen our mutual friend, dear old Rose, and love
him better than ever ;' part of your conversation then
followed, too long for me to detail. I hope this
pleases you ; it does me ; for they are not in the hahit
of disguising their thoughts or treating me with
insincerity, therefore in naming you thus hindlij, they
only expressed what they felt.
" I perfectly agree with Lord Lowther in the pro-
priety of the history of Mr. Pitt's life being begun
immediatelv, and also in the choice of his historian.
Mr. S. is certainly a man of great integrity, and pos-
sesses great literary knowledge, and he will have
21 S DlAlllFS AND CORKESPONDENCK OF
many opportunities of k-arniti^' tacts, wliicli would not
be coinnumicatcd to every one who nuijlit undertake
such n work, hi sliort, few persons I think Ijetter
(juaHlii'd to do justice to the sul)hnie virtues and
tran.scen(h'nt talents of tliis tver-hunented, greatest of
men, than Mr. S. A liistoryof a lifehke his is a work
of hibour, and genius o/i/^ will not tit a man lor this
interesting task.
" Kvcr most sinciivly yours,
"11. L. S."
From IIknry Mackknzik {Ai/f/ior of lln- " Man of
Fei'iiny') to Mu. Kosk, on llir dcmrabh'nL'as of a
Life of Mr. I'itf.
"Achiudiuuy, 15th Juuo, IStKi.
*' Mv DEAR Sir,
" My principal reason for troubling you with a
letter is on a subject in which I know you must be
interested, and which 1 si'e, by the additions to your
political pamphlet you lately sent me, has been fre-
quently in your thouglits. You mention your hope
that tlie Lf- (f Mr. Pitt will be written by some one
(pialitied to do it justice. Now, some of my friends
have mentioned this subject to me, with an earnestness
which is a greater proof of their kindness than their
judgment; but the above-recited passage in your
papers, leads me to mention it, though perfectly aware
that I am not the person you wish for, as qualified to
do justice to the memory of Mr. Pitt. Were it other-
wise, 1 own T should esteem it one of the best as w ell
as most honourable closes which I coidd make of my
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 219
literary life. But, independently of every other con-
sideration, I sliould like to know where proper mate-
rials are to be had, and if they are in quarters where
I might hope to find access to them. I once men-
tioned to Lord Melville how essential it would be to
the honour of the Administration of wliich, under
Mr. Pitt, he formed a considerable part, to have some
memorial or abstract of its principal events : — events
coimected with the most momentous era in the history
of Europe, and indeed of mankind ; and I think he
mentioned that he had papers and letters which he
could communicate to me that would enable any one
to throw much light on our history during that period.
But you are one of the best authorities I know on
this subject ; and it will be a great favour if, during
any moment of leisure, you will write me your candid
opinion upon it. Perhaps it is yet much too early for
a history of that period to be written ; but there are
certain facts, as well as certain motives and opinions,
which are better and more accurately recorded near
the period of their rise than at a remoter one ; some-
thing like what the French call ' Mcmoires pour
servir :' a good enough phrase in itself, though dis-
credited by the numerous silly works of the kind to
which the national vanity gave birth in France.
" The substance of such a work there is perhaps
nobody so well qualified to write as yourself. If you
should have any thought that way, I would give up
those slight and iuiperfect ideas to which the above-
mentioned suggestions of some friends of mine had
sometimes given birth. At any rate, write to me
220 DIARIES AND COURESPONDEXCE OF
fraiiklv on the siil)j(.'ct. I look every day for tlic
a|)j)('arancc ot" the new e(Htion of yoin* ])aMi|)lilrl,
Avhicli, in itself, is an i!n|)ortant sketch of the life and
character of that jj^reat and cxallent man.
" Most faithiiilly and truly yours,
" II. Mackenzie."
The Duke of IIichmond to Mh. Kose.
''PhcEnix Park, June 2d, is 10.
" My dear Sir,
"It is particularly flattering- to me that the
Pitt clul) should wisli me to be their president, and
1 he^ of von t<» thank them in mv najue for the
honour they do me. Then' is nothing 1 pride my.>^elf
on so much as havint' been the intimate friend of
such a man. If another inducement to accept the
oHice was necessary, the choice of you as vice-
president would have been sufficient. I was very
glad to hear you had so good a day as 1 understand
vou had on the last 2Sth.
"Believe me, my dear sir,
" Yours very faithfully,
" RlCIlMO.ND."
Mr. Rose to the Secretary of the Pitt Club.
"Sir,
" You will see by the inclosed letters from the
Duke of Richmond, which I have the honour of
inclosing to you, how highly gratifying it will be to
him to preside in the society established for com-
memorating the memory of Mr. Pitt ; and it cannot
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 221
be necessary for me to seek for expressions to convey
to the members of that society that it will not be less
so to me to be placed in a distinguished situation
amongst them.
" I was in habits of the closest confidence with
Mw Pitt from the first hour of his entrance on
administration, and enjoyed his most cordial and
affectionate friendship, without the slightest interrup-
tion, to the latest hour of his existence ; everything
therefore that keeps alive in the minds of others what
can never have any abatement in mine, must afiford
me the highest satisfaction. Under this impression,
therefore, which will not be weakened while I exist,
I cannot hesitate to request that you will acquaint
the gentlemen that I shall be highly flattered by being
allowed to enrol myself amongst the members of the
Pitt Club in the manner which has been suggested
to me."
222 DIARIES AND CORUKsmNDKNCK OF
(:ii\i'Ti:i: \ii
is4>«;.
MR. rose's DIARira FOR JAMUAUV AND FEBRUARY, 1 800 — PARTICULARS
RFflPECTINO UR. PITT'S DEATH AND FUNERAI. — TUE DREAKINO UP OP
HIS MINISTRY, AND THE FORMATION OF A NF.W OOVERNMENT.
[TiiK ))iv€iHlinfT corrcsjKHuk'ncc I'iis i^ivon a l)ri('f
account of the circuinstanccs of Mr. Pitt's dfHith, ))!it
the Diary outers much more into detail, and then
relates the broakinp: up of his Ministry, and the
formation of a new one. — Kn.]
Wechu'siJfn/, Januarji \v)l/i. — I arrived at Mr. Pitt's
house on l^itnev Heath; exi)ecting, from tlic ac-
counts I had received in the country, to find him
gaining strength daily, as he had arrived tiierc from
Bath on the Saturday eveninir preceding, after a
journey made in three days, nliich the ])hysicians
thought would have required six; Sir Walter Parquhar
having travelled with him : but, to my deep concern,
I learned that he had lost ground since his arrival.
On the Sunday he was better, and continued im-
proving till Monday in the afternoon, when Lord
Castlereagh insisted on seeing him, and having
THE RIGHT HON. GEOKGE ROSE. 223
obtained access to liiin, entered (Lord Hawkesbury
being also present) on points of public business, of
the most serious importance (principally respecting
the bringing home the British troops from the Con-
tinent), which affected him visibly that evening and
the next day, and this morning the effect was more
plainly observed. Sir Walter Farquhar, wiiom I found
in the house, said so much on the subject that I
positively declined going to Mr. Pitt on being re-
quested by him to do so through the Bishop of
Lincoln. Mr. Pitt then insisted that I should not
leave the house till evening, and about eight o'clock
Sir Walter brought me a message to say he was con-
fident the seeing me would do him good. I there-
fore no longer hesitated, but went up to his room and
found him lying on a sofa, emaciated to a degree I
could not have conceived. He pressed my hand with
all the force he could (feebly enough God knows !)
and told me earnestly he found himself better for
having me by the hand. I did not remain with him
more than five minutes. The short conversation was
quite general, as I felt it of importance not to touch
on any topic that could agitate his mind in the
smallest degree ; and at ten in the evening I left the
house. His countenance was changed extremely, his
voice weak, and his body almost wasted, and so indeed
were his limbs.
From Thursday ike \^fh to Sunday the \Wt. — No
considerable alteration in Mr. Pitt. He took no
nourishment of any sort, except occasionally a small
cup of broth, which seldom remained on his stomach ;
22 i DIAILIES AND COURKSPnXDFXrK OF
lianlly spoke at nil, tliouu;li as entirely right in his
iiiiiid as at any time in his lif'r. The very little he liiil
say to his })hysicians, and to the liishop of Ijincoln
(the only ])ersons, except servants, who saw him in this
interval), liad not the remotest tendency to anything
respecting public atlairs.
Dr. Jiaillie and Dr. Reynolds were first called in
to the assistance of Sir Walter Farquhar on Sunday
the 12th; they then thought there was a reasonable
prospect of Mr. Pitt's recovery, that the probability
was in favour of it, and that if his complaint should
not take an niifavoiirable turn, he might be able to
attend to business in about a month. On this follow-
ing Sundav morning the l'.)l1i, they acknowledged
that although there were no new unfavourable
symptoms in the disorder, he was much weaker ; and
they now suggest (especially Dr. Baillie separately),
that supposing the patient to go on as well as they
can reasonably ex})ect, it can hardly be hoped that
he will bo able to transact business in less than
two months, and they entertain considerable doubt if
he will be fit to take an active part in the House of
Commons this winter.
Under that discouragement, I felt an extreme
anxiety that Mr. Pitt should be apprised of the probable
length of time that would elapse before he could
return to his public duty, in order that he might
decide what course it would be proi)er for him to take
with respect to his retaining or resigning his office.
I therefore, on Sunday, pressed Sir Walter Farquhar
myself (and the Bishop of Lincoln did the same at my
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 255
desire) to consult the other physicians, whether it
would be safe to make the communication to Mr.
Pitt as to the duration of his confinement. The point
was accordingly considered by the three physicians,
and they were most decidedly and unanimously of
opinion, that nothing should be said to their patient
on the subject. At this I felt deep and sincere
concern, under an impression that if the Opposition
should press us vigorously on Tuesday, on the point
of the insufficiency of the Administration, without
Mr. Pitt to conduct the difficult and arduous affairs
now depending, both as to foreign politics and
financial measures, we should be in great danger
of being beaten ; and so, uncreditably driven out of
government : which I am persuaded would be avoided
by a dignified resignation, if Mr. Pitt could be con-
sulted. In the unfortunate state, however, in which
he is, the risk is utterly unavoidable ; and we must
take our chance. It is my determined purpose to
take as strong and direct a part in the debate on
Tuesday, as I shall find it possible to do; and my
son has promised to do the same. If there had been
a reasonable hope of Mr. Pitt's attendance in three or
four weeks after the meeting, I should certainly have
thought it right to make every possible exertion to
carry on business till then ; and 1 have a firm per-
suasion we should in that case have been able to go
on till the middle of March. But the hope of the
Administration maintaining itself for two or three
months, within which time the budget nuist unavoid-
ably be opened, appears to be utterly desperate, if
VOL. 11. Q
22G DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Mr. Pitt cannot, iluring the period, be even consultcil
on business ; especially as the ways and means of tlie
year will require resources being resorted to of a new
and extraordinary nature.
Sundaif Evftiixf/, Jauuarj/ 11)///. — A meeting was
held at two o'clock, to consider the speech and the
aildress, at Lord Castlercagh's, when some small al-
terations were made in the speech, to render it as
unexceptionable as possible, avoiding any expression
that could convey approbation of hite measures, in
order to take the best chance of unanimity on the
address ; it being thought most advisable that those
should be separately discussed when the papers come
before the house. Lord Francis Spencer to move the
address, and Mr. Ainslie to second it.
Although detained at the meeting till past four
o'clock, T got on horseback to go to Putney Heath;
but meeting Lord Camden and the Duke of Montrose
entering Fulham, and the former beginning an inter-
esting conversation with me, I thought it more essen-
tial to pursue that by retin-ning with them than to
pursue my ride to Mr. Pitt's house. They told me
they found Mr. Pitt's health rather improving, and
Lord Camden expressed a decided opinion that if
there should not be a probability of his recovery
within such a time as there miiz-ht be a necessity for
his appearing in the House of Commons, in that
case undoubtedly he would not be prevailed with to
retain his office; which should not however induce his
colleagues to resign, so long as the King could form
a Government, including them, that could carry on his
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 227
business. But that, if unfortunately Mr. Pitt should
die, it might be prudent for them to advise his
Majesty to form a new Administration altogether ;
and admitted that in this event the King could do no
better than to send for Lord Grenville, and put the
arrangement into his hands. With the Duke of Mon-
trose I had had repeated conversations before. He
agreed with me most entirely on every point bearing
on our present situation ; but he found it quite im-
possible to get the cabinet to discuss the consideration
of the propriety of Ministers resigning or continuing
in office ; Lord Hawkesbury in particular insisting
upon it, that that was not a point on which a cabinet
could be summoned. On learning that from his Grace,
I suggested to him that he might bring on the discus-
sions incidentally when the cabinet should meet on any
other matters, — which he tried to do, but without
success. Nothing could more plainly mark the dis-
inclination of a part of the Administration to quit
their offices. Those who were evidently desirous of
some arrangement that would give them a chance
of retaining them, were Lord Hawkesbury, Lord Castle-
reagh, Lord Chatham, and Lord Camden, influenced
altogether by considerations for Lord Castlereagh. —
Lord Mulgrave is desirous of retaining office till after
the discussion of the late measures of the Govern-
ment, but will on no account remain longer, or form
a part of an Administration without Mr, Pitt. Of
Lord Westmoreland nobody knows anything, nor has
he so much as made a single inquiry after Mr. Pitt.
The Chancellor, from the recent severe misfortune
Q 2
228 DIARIES AND COKRESrONDENCE OF
of the loss of his eldest son (a most ainial)le and re-
spectable young man) has been shut out from all
intercourse ; but I have not the slightest doubt of his
disposition to make up a Government witliout revert-
ing to Mr. Fox or Lord rirenville. Lord liarham's
very advanced age will make him, to a certain degree
at least, indilVcrcnt about what is to be done relative
to a new arrangement, though he has most un<pies-
tionablv conducted the Admiralty with as nmeh
industry, ability, and success as any one of his
predecessors without exception. Tlu' Duke of Mon-
trose is decided for retiring, in tlie hope the King
would call into his service Lord Grenville and Mr.
Fox. Lord Harrowbyis abroad ; but I am persuaded,
if he was on the spot, his sentiments woidd completely
coincide witli his Grace's. On the whole, however,
my conviction is that, in the afilicting event of the
death of Mv. Pitt, which appears to me to be too
certain!! the present Ministers who are desirous of
remainini]: in othce will not be able to form a Govern-
ment that would stand three months. They can
strengthen themselves only by Lord Sidmouth's friends;
the worst of all resources in every respect.
These notes are written, with an aching heart
and anxious mind ! I have lived now a little more
than two-and-twenty years (T do not include the
first eighteen months of our accpiaintance) in habits of
the closest intimacy and most confidential friendship
with ^Ir. Pitt ; hardly ever clouded, never inter-
rupted. Li addition to the feelings naturally incited
thereby, I foresee consequences likely to be deeply
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 229
hurtful, if not ruinous, to tlie public interest by his
loss. Any further reflections on this subject will be
unnecessary to my son when he reads these notes
hereafter, as he is a witness to my feelings. To others,
into whose hands they may subsequently fall, they
would be comparatively indifferent.
Monday, January 2()th. — I got to Putney soon after
daylight, and learned from Mr. James Stanhope, that
Mr. Pitt had fainted the evening before, or had fallen into
something like a fit. Sir Walter Farqnhar soon after
came to me, and confirmed that, adding that the
symptom was an unpleasant one, and that a repetition
of it would be highly alarming. He had given Mr.
Pitt two large glasses of Madeira.^
Tuesday, January ^\st. — On going early this forenoon
to Mr. Pitt's, I found the three physicians in better
spirits. Mr. Pitt showed some disposition to take food
(which he had not done for several days), and last
night Sir Walter had given him his choice, whether he
would have an egg or some bread jelly ; he determined
for the former, and then asked for a second, which he
ate with appetite. On pressing Sir Walter, however,
to explain to me what he really thought of the state
of Mr. Pitt, he said, he did not think him in so promis-
ing a way as he was in on Sunday ^ before he fainted.
1 In this situation of Mr. Pitt, I was extremely desirous that the
usual public dinner at his house the day before the meeting of Par-
liament, should be put off, in which Mr. Canning, Mr. Bourne, and
Mr. Huskissou concurred ; but we were overruled by Lord Castle-
reagh, and it took place.
2 In the afternoon, when the three physicians met, they thought
very ill of his case ; the account they desired might be sent to the King,
was, that the symptoms tvere unpromising and his situation hazardous.
230 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
On retnniing to town, therefore, T said to two or three
confidential friends, that I was convinced the misfor-
tune we were dreading was very fast npproacliing.
Wednesdaii, Januari/ 22c/. — On my arrival at
Putney Heath this morning, the Bishop of Lincoln
and Sir Walter Farquhar were going in to Mr. Pitt.
The ]iishop came down to me, however, and took me
into his own room; where he begged me to wait till he
could speak to me at more leisure. \\ hen he came,
he confirmed the account of Mr. Pilt's dangerous
state. What followed leads me here to observe, that
from my seeing him on the evening of ^Ve{lnesday the
1 5th (from which time no one had access to him
except the Bishop and the physicians), he had lain on
the sofa or in bed without hardly oj)ening his mouth,
except to answer questions put to him by the physi-
cians, nor did he attempt to read a line ; but such
a mind as his must have been occui)ied with some-
thing ; about what that was, however, no conjecture
could be formed. The Jiishop did not venture to
call his attention to religious duties, lest he should
do harm by agitating his mind ; the physicians having
strictly directed that nothing should be done to incur
a risk of that.
I now resume the diary : — After the Bishop was
told by Sir Walter that Mr. Pitt's death was inevi-
table, he proposed to him to administer the Sacrament
to him, which ^Ir. Pitt said he had not strcnirth to go
through. The Bishop then desired to pray with him,
— whereupon, he asked Sir Walter, " how long he
thought he might hold out?" who answered, " he
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 231
could not say that he might not recover." Mr. Pitt,
apparently regardless of that, turned on his bed to-
wards the Bishop and said, " he had (as he feared
was the case with many others) neglected prayer too
much to allow him to hope it could be very efficacious
tioid!' He, however, joined the Bishop in prayer, with
his hands clasped with much earnestness.^ After that
was over, the Bishop observed to him, that, although
he had nothing to bequeath, his papers were of impor-
tance, and he might probably wish to give some direc-
tions about them ; which induced him to desire the
Bishop would put in writing what he should express to
him. Proceeding then to dictate : first, — that he was
indebted to Sir Walter Farquhar one thousand guineas,
for his attendance on hira from the month of October
last, which he signed ; he then stated, that in the year
1801, he had borrowed the sum of 12,000/., through
the medium of Lord Camden, the Bishop of Lincoln,
Lord Carrington, Mr. Steele, Mr. Long, and Mr. Joseph
Smith, which he was anxiously desirous should be paid
Avith interest. He then directed that the examination
and care of his papers should be entrusted to Lord
Chatham and the Bishop of Lincoln ; — that his servants
should have double wages ; and, lastly, he expressed
a hope that pensions might be granted of 1,000/. or
1,200/. a-year, to each of his nieces, the daughters of
Earl Stanhope; and 1,000/. each to their younger
brothers,^ Charles and James ; which he did not know
' See further on this interesting subject, -what the Bishop men-
tioned to me in quiet conversations at Buckden.
* They are not the children of his late sister, but the sons of the
present Countess Stanhope.
232 TUARTES AXn CDRKESPONDKNf'K OF
tliat he IkuI {'ariR'd, l)iit he hoped his wish mij^dit he
acquiesced in. This paper was subscribed by Mr.
Pitt in tliree places in the wliole, liis sip^naturc vary-
ing very httlc from the manner in wliieli lie signed
his name when in health. \\ hen the Bishop showed
ine this paper, with the ink hardly dry, it struck me
with astonishment, and tilled me with grief to observe
that Mr. Pitt had a fixed opinion that Lord Carrington
was one of the six who raised the money for him in
1801, instead of me. The measure was concerted at
that time by Lord Camden, the l^ishopof Lincoln, and
myself; and in the final arrangement the names were
as above, with mine instead of Lord Carrington's ;
but Mr. Pitt had most unquestionably been led some-
liow to believe I had withdrawn mvsclf from the
loan, and und(^r that impression, unfortunately for my
feelings, he must have continued to his death. After
the arrangement was comiileted, and the monev was
raised, the communication with Mr. Pitt was left with
Mr. Long; from which quarter the misconception
must have arisen.
After a most distressing scene with Ladv Hester
Stanhope, and her brothers Charles and James, I
returned to town. No intelligence was brought to me
during the afternoon or evening ; but about half-an-
hour after midnight, Miss Jennings and my son came
to me with a letter from Sir Walter Farquhar to the
former, telling her that Mr. Pitt's situation was per-
fectly hopeless ! However the late accounts had
prepared me to expect this, the shock convulsed me
strongly, and in half-an-hour I felt the gout in my foot,
THE KIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 233
with wliicli I have never been troubled a week in my
hfe.
Thursday, Jmmaryl^d. — I passed a completely sleep-
less night. I received a note about seven in the morning
from Mr. James Stanhope, and afterwards one from the
Bishop, to tell me that my most inestimable friend
quitted this world soon after four o'clock. He saw no
one after the Bishop had taken notes of his last desires,
but Lady Hester, who went to his bed-side in the
evening. He at first did not know her, but afterwards
he did and blessed her : nor did he utter another
WT)rd, except that about half-an-hour before he breathed
his last ; the servant heard him say, " My country !
oh, my country ! "
Mr. Pitt attempted to write himself before he dic-
tated to the Bishop; but it w^as not at all legible,
though his name was signed very nearly in his usual
manner.
Intending these notes merely as memoranda of oc-
currences, it is not my intention to attempt to express
the agony of my mind on the incalculable loss I have
sustained; severe and irreparable as it is, and deeply
as it will be felt by me to the latest hour of my hfe,
I bow with resignation to the Power that has inflicted
it : that which I have exhorted others to I will practise.
The event, however, will strongly put to the test this
resolution, but I trust it wiU not overcome it. This
afflicting stroke follows close on the loss of Lord Nelson,
for whom I had also a cordial love and affection ; and
it leads me to reflect on the uncommon similarity of
their characters : — gentleness of mind ; sweetness of
23 1 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
disposition, accoiii})aniLd Ijy the iiiuj-t clctcniuiiccl
resolution ; quickness of conception, and promptitude
in decision ; ardent zeal for the welfare of their country,
rendering it most signal and imj)ortant services; wis-
dom in concerting plans, and tirnmcss in executing
them, undismayed by any hazards or tlie severest
responsibility. In all these they resembled each other
with a degree of exactness not to be conceived by any
one who did not know them as intimately and as
entirely as 1 did. They ditlered only in one having
been educated as highly as a man could be, and the
other in having been deprived of that advantage by
being sent early to sea. With respect to Mr. Pitt,
1 can sav with the sincerest truth, that in an inter-
course almost uninterrupted during more than twenty
years, I never saw him once out of temper, nor did
ever one unpleasant sentence pass between us ; of which
I verilv believe there have been few, verv few, so
remarkable instances, where two persons have had the
same constant intercourse on public atl'airs (in times
too of the most trying dithculties respecting finances,
internal government, and foreign politics) without the
slightest disagreement having occurred, or a harsh or
even, to the best of my recollection, a hasty word used.
These two great men died, as they lived, for their coun-
try. Mr. Pitt sacrificed his life in its service as much
as Lord Nelson did. I foresaw what he would have
to encounter when he undertook the Government in
1804 ; that the whole weight of it falling, as it inevita-
bly would do, upon him, woidd be too much for his
health and strength to stand. He bore up, however.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 235
under all the incredible fatigue that he underwent in the
conduct of his own department, and of the War and
Foreign departments, occasionally assisting in those of
the Commander-in-Chief and the Admiralty, beyond my
utmost hopes ; and although he was sometimes indis-
posed (seldom indeed for a long interval, without taking
cordial medicines), he was, when at CufFnells in Septem-
ber last, and when I left him at Weymouth in the same
month, apparently as well, or nearly so, as I ever saw
him. And from all I heard there was no failure in his
health till the beginning of December; when, more
from precaution than from any other cause, he was
advised to go to Bath,' some symptom of the gout
having appeared. The waters there almost immediately
threw the gout into his right foot, and soon after into
the left ; but on receiving the account of the armistice,
after the battle of Austerlitz, the gout quitted the ex-
tremities, and he fell into a debility which continually
increased till it deprived the world of the man who
appeared to have been born to save it. The physicians
were decidedly of opinion that he died merely from a
decay, and that there was nothing wrong in any of the
vital parts.
To return to the similarity of character betv^'een the
two eminent men of whom the nation has recently been
deprived : I am desirous of observing that they carried
the principle of disinterestedness to the utmost extent,
with the liveliest disposition to reward merit wherever
they found it. In short, I can say with the utmost
confidence, arising from a thorough knowledge of both,
^ He went on the 7tli of December.
2'M) DIARIES AND CORRESPONDKNCK OF
that there ucvtr existed in tliis or any other country
greater men than themselves in their ditlercnt lines.
Their perception on subjects on which they bestowed
their attention, and on which they had occasion to state
opinions, appeared like intuition. Anxious, in the ex-
tremest degree, about the payment ol' Mr. Pitt's debts,
T wrote to tlie King, refpiesting 1 might be at liberty to
mention his Majesty's gracious proposal in ISOl, as to
putting money into my hands tor that purpose; con-
ceiving that it would retlcct great honour on his memory
that he declined the otl'cr, and tliat it might be very
useful f/o/r, whcthrr aj)j)lication shouhl be made to
Parliament, or we shouM have recourse to a sub-
scription.
The Cabinet this day communicated to the King
their unanimous opinion that it would be impossible,
by any accpiisition to the present Government, to form
an Administration that could have a prospect of carry-
ing on the pubhc busine.<« in the present crisis; and,
therefore, recommended to his Majesty, most earnestly,
to send for Lord Grenville, in order to take his advice
about forming a new one In the evening. Lord
Hawkcsbury said the King had received the communi-
cation with perfect temper and coolness ; that his
^iajesty saw the necessity for following the advice
offered to him, and had made up his mind to admit
of such an Administration as should be recouiuiended
to him, u'Uhout any exclusion.' The prom})titude with
which that determination is taken may, I think, lead
to a suspicion in some minds that Mr. Pitt had not
^ This was not expressed decidedly till the following day.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 237
made all the exertions he stated to his friends he had
done, for prevailing with the King to admit Mr. Pox to
his comicils ; the certainty of which, however, is as clear
to me as my own existence.
Fnclaif, January 2^(1/ . — Lord Hawkesbury came to
me, by the King's command, to talk with me on the
subject of my letter of yesterday, and to express his
Majesty's disposition to do respecting it what I and
the other friends of Mr. Pitt might think right ; from
whence an explanation followed, by which I learned
his Majesty understood me to have submitted to his
Majesty's consideration the propriety of his now paying
Mr. Pitt's debts. On referring to the letter I answered
his Lordship I had no such meaning. I found the mis-
conception had arisen from my requesting that I might
mention the former proposal instead of disclose it. Not
choosing to trust the explanation altogether to his
Lordship, I wrote an explanatory letter to his Majesty
to free myself from the presumption of offering an
opinion to his Majesty on a matter of so much delicacy.
Unfortunately, my first letter was delivered to the
King at the Queen's House, when Colonel Taylor
(who reads all papers to his Majesty) was not there,
he having remained at Windsor.
I received no answer to either of these letters.
During these three days I have seen various friends
of Mr. Pitt, and two or three leading men in the City
who highly respected him, on the subject of his debts.
Mr. Smyth, of Heath, thought a proposal for paying
them would be very readily and cheerfully acquiesced
in, in the House of Commons. Mr.Wilberforce decided
238 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENXE OF
against that, iiiuk-r a jHTsuasioii tliat the amount
could he raised amongst his private friends. Wishing
to learn the sentiments of tlic Opposition on the suh-
ject, I begged Lord Glastonbury to sound Mr. 'I'lionias
Grenville upon it ; whose answer was discouraging
as to an application to Parliament. Mr. Bank.es
decidedly against that course, l^ord Carringtt)n un-
willing even to talk about it, and said he was going
to Wycombe. Mr. Angerstein and Sir Robert Buxton
in the City, eager for success by subscription. Mr.
Thornton and Mr. Manning there, cool, and for be-
ginning with lOU/. each. The two former had proposed
1,000/., and said they were sure some others in tiie
City woidd give as much. At this end of the town I
found few very eager ; Lord Camden not so ; Lf)rd
Lowther absent. 'I'he Duke of Montrose thouo^ht
people lived in general so entirely up to their income,
some beyond it, that few would give liberally, and dis-
couraged the idea of subscription. On the whole, the
prospect of raising the necessary sum in that way is
certainly unpromising. On Friday, Mr. Lascelles,
member for Yorkshire, gave a notice in the House
that he should on Monday move for a mark of public
respect being shown to the memory of Mr. Pitt ; in-
tending to propose a public funeral. After which,
Mr. Fox intimated to him, privately, that if he should
do so, he would oppose it ; but that he would inter-
pose no difficulty in the way of a monument and the
payment of debts. On Sunday, there was a meeting of
Mr. Pitt's friends to consider of what course should be
followed in the business next day, which was held at
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 239
Mr. Lascelles' house. Himself and his elder brother,
Lord Euston, Lord Bruce, Mr. Smyth, of Heath ; Mr.
Steele, Mr. Morton Pitt, ]\Ir. Blackburne, Mr. Bootle,
myself, my eldest son, Mr. Canning, Mr. Bourne, Mr.
Huskisson, Mr. Gunning, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Manning,
Mr. Richard Ryder, and some others were present. It
was agreed to adopt, at my instance, the resolution for
an address for a public funeral and monument in West-
minster Abbey, in the same words as in Lord Chat-
ham's case in 1778. I was led thereto not from likinoj
those words so well as others proposed by Mr. Smyth,
of Heath (probably written by his son), but under an
impression that by taking the specific words we find
in the Journal, we shall have less resistance than if w^e
suggest any new ones ; because it cannot be imputed
to us that we have invented anything to press the
individuals in Opposition who invariably differed from
Mr. Pitt in his politics and in the Avhole of his Parlia-
mentary conduct.
The subject of the debts was then discussed. Lord
Euston was for submitting to Parliament to pay them.
Mr. Canning concurred in that, and thought it might
be proposed to grant 100,000/. to trustees, one-half
of which might be applied to the payment of debts,
and the other be divided amongst those relatives who
in his life w^ere dependent in any degree on him. That
was, however, very generally thought inadmissible.
I then stated the discouragement I had met with
respecting a Parliamentary application, which influenced
the meeting to give up that intention ; but as Mr.
Pitt, within three days of his death, had expressed
2i0 DIAllIES AND COTlllESrONDENCE OF
to the Bishop of Lincohi an earnest wisli tlmt tlie tliree
Ladies Stanhope, one married to Mr. Taylor, another
married to Mr. Tekell, tlie tliird, Lady Hester, un-
married, shouhl be secured in an income of 1,500/. or
1.000/. a vear each ; and Mr. Charles and Mr. .lames
Staidiope of 1,000/. a year each, which, as already
stated, was taken down in writinc^ by the Bishop, and
signed by Mr. Pitt, — it was agreed by the gentlemen
present, unanimously, that Lord llawkesbury, should be
requested to carry to the King the following warrants :
— 1,:200/. a year for Lady Hester, under which she
will not receive 900/. net ; the same for each of her two
sisters, contingent on the death of their husbands; and
500/. each for the two brothers ; and it was agreed to
meet again the following day (Moiulay) to receive his
Lordship's answer: that in the event of his tinding
himself under a difficulty in proposing such warrants to
his ^Lijesty, some measure may be taken in the House
for carrying into efiect that part of Mr. Pitt's will, or
rather dying request.
Mr. Bourne and Mr. Huskisson, the two secretaries
of the Treasury, were deputed to wait on Lord
Hawkesburv, who immediatelv agreed to carry the
warrants to the King the next dav.
Monday, Januarif '111/1. — The same gentlemen nearly
as yesterday met at the house of Mr Lascelles ; and
Lord ILiwkesburv's consent having been comnmni-
cated to them, it was agreed that no mention should
be made of the matter in the House of Commons.
Mr. Lascelles moved in the House of Commons for
a public funeral for Mr. Pitt, and the Marquis of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 241 -
Titclifield seconded him. The motion was resisted by-
Mr. Windham and his personal friends (from whence
the difficnhy certainly arose), supported by Mr. Fox
and the old Opposition. Lord Grenville did all he
could to prevent any objection being made to it ; Lord
Temple, therefore, supported the motion, but Mr.
Thomas Grenville did not attend, and I believe Sir
Wm. Young went away. Lord Morpeth and Lord
Stafford's friends voted with us, and I think every
member present not immediately connected with ]Mr.
Fox's party. The division was 25S to 89. After that
was over, Sir Robert Buxton, sitting behind me,
expressed an earnest desire that I wonld allow him to
give a notice of his intention to submit, on some future
day, a motion f(n' the payment of Mr. Pitt's debts ;
but I entreated him to take four-and-twenty hours at
least to consider of it ; when, greatly to my surprise,
Mr. Cartwright rose, and gave notice that on this day
se'nnight he should propose such a motion.
Lord Grenville saw his Majesty to-day. It is gene-
rally believed that the interview was a short one, ami
that no particulars were entered into on either side.
His Lordship requested he might attend his ^lajesty
asain on Thm'sdav, to submit then the names of the
persons to form a new Administration.
Fridai/, "dist. — Lord Grenville waited on the King,
with the list of the new Cabinet, in which there was a
provision that the Duke of York shall remain Com-
mander-in-Chief, but assisted by a military council.
His Majesty put the paper in his pocket, but desired
two days to consider of the arrangement, asking,
VOL. II. R
242 DiAraES and correspondence of
however, Avhether the proposal rcsj)ectinp: the mihtary
council would be insisted on ; to which, on that being
twice repeated. Lord Grenville answered that he was
only instructed to submit it to his Majesty The King
then asked if Lord KUlon had been re(|uested to retain
the Great Seal? to whicli Lord (Jrenville answered, No ;
and whether it had been proposed to Sir \\"in. CJrant?
to which his Lordship answered also in the negative.
Safunlai/, Ffhntari/ l.v/. — The friends of Mr. Fox and
Lord Grenville circulated industriously that the King
would not consent to the Duke of York being fettered
by a council, and that the formation of a Government
was completely abroad ; perfectly well knowing that
what they should insist up(m must ultimately be
acquiesced in.
Sundai/, Fchrunry 2(1. — A meeting was held in the
evening at Lord Camden's, in Arlington Street, to
consider whether the paper before alludeil to, dictated
by Mr Pitt, written by the liishop of Lincoln and
subscribed by Mr. Pitt, the day before he died, con-
taining his latest recpiest about a provision for the
Stanhopes, and the payment of his debts, especially
the money borrowed of friends in 1801, should be
proved as a will. There were present. Lord Camden,
Lord Bathurst, the Bishop of Lincoln, Mr. Long, with
Mr. Perceval, the late Attorney-General, Sir William
Grant, Master of the Rolls, and Sir John Xicholl, the
King's Advocate ; when it was decided the paper
should be proved as a testamentary one. When that
point was settled, it was considered whether the
money lent in 1801 by private friends should be
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 243
claimed, on which subject Mr. Steele was sent for ;
and it was agreed that those sums should not be
claimed, nor included in the list of debts for which
application is to be made to Parliament ; the Bishop
of Lincoln dissenting from that as unreasonable, and
contravening Mr. Pitt's last and dying request. Mr.
Long undertook for the approbation of the persons
absent, who were interested. Those present were, Lord
Camden, Lord Bathurst, Mr. Steele, 1000/. each, and
himself 500/. I, who was on the spot, and with whom
and Lord Camden the measure of that loan originated,
and who advanced 1000/., was not thought of by those
present, nor the Duke of Montrose, who contributed
1000/./ nor, I believe, Lord Carrington. A conduct
at which I feel a proper resentment (by which I do
not mean anger), and advice for which a proper con-
tempt ; the present inclination of my mind being to
act in direct contradiction to it.
1 I have since heard that the Duke was not one of the contributors,
who were as follows : —
Lord Camden Jl,000
Lord Bathurst 1,000
Bishop of Lincoln 1,000
Lord Carrington .... 1,000
Mr. Steele 1,000
Mr. Rose 1,000
From Scotland : —
]
4,000
Duke of Buccleugli .... ^1,000
Duke of Gordon 1,000
Lord ]\[elville 1,000
Chief Baron 1,000 J
Wilberforce. Joseph Sraitli, and Mr. Long, £500 each 1,500
.£11,500
There was a further sum of Xi-'iiO. from .1 know not who,
u 2
214 DIAlliES AM) COKKESPONDENCE OF
^foN(Ial/, Fchruari/ S(/. — liord Grenville saw the
King again, wlun his Majesty acquiesced in the
arrangeiiK'nt ])rop()se(l ; and the uvw achninistration
was settled acconhngly. Tlie instant I hearil that, I
sent a letter to Lord GrenviUe, wliieh I wrote the day
alter .Mr. Pitt died (waiting only to till up the blanks
of date and address), desiring his Lordship would lay
before the King my Inunble request to be allowed to
retire from the situation of Joint Pavmaster-Cieneral.
and that his Majesty would be pleased to name a suc-
cessor for me as Vice-President of the Committee for
Trade ; adding, that 1 should consider it as an act
of personal kindness to nie, if he would at the sanu*
time state to his Majesty that I should carry into
retirement the warmest sentiments of gratitude, duty,
and ati'ection.
I omit the other arrangements till thev shall l)c all
completed, in order to state them in out' view ; ob-
serving mcrelv that it is understood thev are likely to
include only the friends of Mr. l'(>\, Lord Grenville,
and Lord Sidmouth.
hi the afternoon, Mr. Cartwright made his motion
for an address to his Majesty, that he would be pleased
to advance the sum of 40,000/. for the payment of
Mr. Pitt's debts, entering into no particulars what-
ever, lie was seconded, in the same manner, in
Mr. Bootle, which brought on a debate, in which very
little difference of opinion prevailed. The proposal met
with a very general concurrence. Mr. O'Hara, Lord
Folkestone, and Mr.Wm. Smith, member for Norwich,
expressed disapprobation, but did not give a negative.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 245
T asked Mr. Cartwright if in making the proposal he
considered the money lent in 1801 as waived; to
which he answered, withont the least hesitation, that
he certainly did not ; that he purposely avoided saying
anything about it, in order to leave it open to the
parties to do as they might think proper ; in which
Mr. Bootle concurred.
After the resolution respecting ^Ir. Pitt's debts
was agreed to, Mi*. Fox gave notice that he should
to-morrow move for leave to bring in a bill to remove
doubts respecting the First Lord or other member of
the Board of Treasury holding the Auditorship of the
Exchequer. I would have suggested to him the utter
impossibility of such a bill passing in the shape pro-
posed ; but there being no question before the House,
the Speaker would not allow me to say anything.
Tuesdai/, Fehruary ^th. — Mr. Fox named his bill,
on which I felt myself compelled to state to the House
that the measure proposed was a partial repeal of the
Act of 8th and 9th Wm. III., and would most mate-
rially affect the business of the Exchequer, by remov-
ing not only a legal, but a practical check ; and that,
if the bill should pass, the title must be changed to
" a Bill for altering the ancient course of the Exche-
quer, and taking away a check important to the
security of the public money." The Attorney-General
supported me ; and Mr. Fox agreed to alter the Bill.
I told i\lr. Charles Wynne, therefore, on passing
him, that if lie would let me see the bill before the
House should meet to-morrow, I would suggest the
necessary alterations.
Wednesdaij, Fehniary Mh, — Mr. Charles Wynne
216 ULAKIESJ AND COHKE^srONDENCE OF
accordingly ctiiue to me in the morning, and I went
through the bill, making such alterations as removed
all my objections, by cnal)ling Lord Grcnville to sub-
stitute another person who should perform all the
functions of auditor, with the same rcsponsil)ility as
himself, and t(^ hold the office so long jis Lord
Grenville should be a commissioner of the Treasury ;
with wiiich alterations the bill passed without ditti-
culty. Mv. \\'}nne was the bearer of a very civil
and kind letter from Lord Cirenvdic, in consequence
of my profl'ercd assistance, and of mv having, in the
course of my speech, said I did not wish to obstruct
his holding the office of First Lord nf the Treasury,
in which situation I had ratlier see him than any
other man in tlie kingdoin.
Fridaif, Ffhruari/ V/i. — An answer from Lord
Grcnville to my letter of resignation, in which he
says he could not rrf/ularlt/ answer it sooner; and
adds, " It is a matter of verv sincere regret that the
course which circumstances have taken should lead to
his being the channel of a resignation, on mv part, of
the office which I held under the Administration of a
friend whom he shall ever revere and lament. That it
is, however, useless to dwell on these sentiments ; " and
then proceeds to expressions of regaril and esteem in
a style of feeling and cordiality.
Siaiffaf/, Felruary Sith. — An mtcrview with the
Duke of Montrose, at his instance. In the coiu-se of
it, he told me that he had learned from Lord Camden,
Lord Castlereagh, and Lord Hawkesbiiry, the line
that was thought best for Mr. Pitt's friends to take at
present — viz., to keep together in one compact body ,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 247
to watch the conduct of the Administration, but not
to oppose, unless any measures should be taken sub-
versive of any of those adopted by Mr. Pitt ; to hold
themselves ready at any time to aid Lord Grenville in
the event of Mr. Fox attempting to force upon him
any proceeding hostile to constitutional principles, or
that would press unfitly upon the King ; and, in
general, to hold a temperate language, and to act
accordingly. In conclusion, his Grace assured me
that Lord Hawkesbury and Lord Castlereagh had
completely given up Lord Sidmouth, and would con-
cur with Mr. Pitt's other friends in looking exclu-
sively to Lord Grenville ; in confirmation of all which,
and to point out clearly the line to be pursued. Lord
Castlereagh had written a letter to Lord Camden, to
be shown to every one who it might be thought right
to enter on any explanation with, containing in sub-
stance what his Grace had now said to me. I heard
the Duke patiently, and then answered that, for my-
self, standing now as unconnected as any human being
can, I had one rule to guide me, which I should
follow as nearly as I could, without regard to the
opinions of others : to do as nearly as I could what
Mr. Pitt would have wished if he had been in life, and
disabled from further interference in public matters.
That the line suggested by his Grace very much coin-
cided with my own opinions ; that I had, indeed,
expressed in the House of Commons ray satisfaction
at Lord Grenville's being placed at the head of the
Treasury ; that the dispositions professed by the two
Lords towards him was natural, as they could not
248 DIARIES AND COKUESPONDENCK OF
otherwise liope for the cuiicurreiice of .Mr. I'itt's
friends, and thev were cast off 1)V Lord Sichiiouth.
That, however, 1 thought thcin very improper persons
to give the tone to Mr. Pitt's friends, consi(h'ring tlie
vacillation of their politics; that tlie niuinniery of
Lord Castlereagh writing to Lord Canulen, with
whom he was completely idcntitied, in ordrr to that
letter to be >hown, was ofl'ensive and disgusting; and
that their L(jrdshii)s had Ix-tter remain (piiet lor a
while, at hast, as those whom it was intended sliould
be imposed upon by the trick woidd see through it
too clearly to allow themselves to be made stepping-
stones for their Lordships to mount into power by :
concluding that those who deserted Mr. Pitt on his
tirst and widest ditlerence from Lord Sidmouth, could
not now be admitted to be the persons who should
derive all the consequence that can be obtained
through Mr. Pitt's firmest and most valuable ad-
herents. His Grace having also, in the course of the
conversation, mentioned an intention of the two Lords,
Lord Camden, himself, Lord Mulgrave, and others, to
give dinntrs, and to keep u|) in that way a constant
convivial intercourse to hold friends together, I cau-
tioned him to be careful how that was to be acted
upon, lest, instead of conciliulifif/ people, it should
revolt them. That men who felt [)roperly would not
submit to dine with persons with w horn they had been
in no former habits of familiarity whatever, when they
could not be ignorant that the civility shown to them was
to forward the views of those who w ere offering it. That
himself, Lord Mulgrave, and others, who had occa-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 249
sioiially entertained political friends, might do so use-
fully at this time ; but I repeated my caution as to
others, and concluded the conversation with saying
that I disliked any immediate meetings, which did
not appear to me to be called for ; that I had, therefore,
declined Lord Mulgrave's dinner invitation for next
Thursday, intending to go on Tuesday or Wednesday
to the Bishop of Lincoln, at Buckden, in order to be
out of the way of all interruption, and to find a quiet
there from which I hoped to obtain real benefit to my
health and relief to my mind. Heaven knows I want
the latter much more than the former ! On the sub-
ject nearest my heart I can certainly communicate
with the Bishop with less reserve than with any other
person in the world, out of my own family.
Mr. S. Bourne called upon me, and rather abruptly
asked me if I was aware that it had been ]\Ir. Pitt's
intention to bring Mr. Canning into the Cabinet, leav-
ing him in his present ofKce of Treasurer of the Navy ?
To which I answered that I had never heard from
Mr. Pitt, or any one else, the remotest hint of such an
intention ; nor could I conceive it could ever have
entered Mr. Pitt's mind for a single moment. That it
would have been an instance of want of judgment and
of infatuation which I could not reconcile with any-
thing I had ever known Mr. Pitt do, because such a sud-
den advancement would have given much oftence, and
would, I am sure, have been generally disapproved of.
That Mr. Pitt could have derived no possible advan-
tage from it, as he had all the benefit of Mr. Canning's
advice and judgment whenever he chose to resort to it ;
.\
250 DIARIKS AND CoKKESPONDENCE Of
and he could have no assistance from him in any detail
of business without j)hicin^ him in the department to
wliich it niif^ht rehite. Tli:it, if this was now stated for
the first time, to give him weiglit and consi(k*ration
amongst Mr. Pitt's friends, I thought the object wouhl
not be attained, as it would be more likely to drive
people from him than to advance them to him ; no
part of which did Mr. Roiu'ne seem to enter into. It
appeared to me evidently that his warm regard for
Mr. Canning had led him to assist in circulating and
giving effect to the accoimt of the circumstance stated
by Mr. Canning. In short, I did not conceal from
Mr. Bonrne any part of what occurred to me on
his making the conununication, and he left me not
entirely well satisfied.
Monday, Fefjrunnj \Ol/i. — .Mr. Canning called upon
me, and went over nearly the same ground as the
Duke of Montrose did yesterday, respecting the con-
duct of Lord Castlereagh and Lord Ilawkesbury, and
the line thought best to be pursued by Mr. I'itt's
friends. I made nearly the same observations to
him thereupon, exj)ressing my.self with rather more
warmth at the presumption of the two Lords, espe-
cially Lord Castlereagh, in taking upon themselves to
mark the road for Mr. Pitt's friends to pursue, not
having grown cooler on that point upon reflection ; in
all which he agreed with me.
Mr. Long made rae a visit, — the first time 1 have
seen him since his arrival from Ireland (some weeks), —
and told me Lord Grenville made him an offer to re-
main in office, and allowed him to mention it ; but
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 251
that he had decKued the proposal. Nothing fell from
him that could lead to a coiijectm-e Avhy he was singled
out from all Mr. Pitt's connexions for such a mark of
favour. He did not mention Mr. Pitt's name, nor did
any other allusion to the present state of things, or
what had recently been passing, fall from him. I told
him I had given in my resignation at the earliest
moment I could, and how properly it was received by
Lord Grenville.
Tuesday, February llth. — Received a letter from
Mr. Canning, savino; that he had been industrious in
preventing the bad effects which might be produced
by the premature activity of the noble Lords before
alluded to; and that he thought the letter would now
be suppressed, and that no such manceuvre would be
resorted to in future. In which case he was of opinion
that the more harmoniously we could go on the better ;
and that he had not mentioned my name to any of the
parties. I concur m thinking it Avill be desirable for
Mr. Pitt's friends to act together, and in proper con-
cert, but that it will require much prudence to devise
and direct the mode of domg that.
All the arrangements being now completed, I state
them here in order to mark opposite to each, the class
of connexions each person belongs to : — F. Fox, G.
Grenville, S. Sidmouth.
r. Lord Erskine . . . I ^, '''// 1 ^^''^ Eldon.
y Chancellor. )
G. Lord Grenville . .
F. Lord Henry Petty
G. Lord Althorpe . .
G. Mr.Wickham . .
F. ^Ir. Courtney . .
Treasury.
Mr. Pitt, and Lord Fitz-
barris,
Marqiiis of Blandford,
Mr. Long,
Lord Lovaine.
DIARIES AND COllKESPONDENCE OF
F.
let
Do
Do
F.
G.
S.
s.
Mr. ( Jrey
Sir Philip Stephens .
N. Admiral Markhaui
Sir Cliarlej* Polo .
Sir Harry Nealo
Lord Williiiin Ru-ssoll
Lord Kensington .
Lord Minto . . .
Lord Morpeth . .
Mr. lliley Atldington
Mr. Sullivan . . .
Earl of Moira . . .
■ Jdmira/ty.
^
Board of
Control.
' Lord Barham.
Keinains.
Adniirul Gainl)ier.
Lord Uarlies.
Admiral Patten.
Sir Evan Nepoan.
Mr. Dickenson, Jan.
Lord Castlereagh.
Mr. Wallace.
Earl of Chatham.
F.
F.
O.
G.
F.
G.
F.
Mr. Fox . . .
Sir Francis Vincent .
General Walpole . .
Lord Spencer . . .
Mr. Beckett . . .
Mr. Charles Wynne
Mr. Windham
Colonel Crawfiird
Earl Fitzwilliam . .
Lord Sidmouth . .
General Fitzpatrick
Mr. Sheridan . . .
Lord Temple . .
!l
ord Mulgrave.
OrdnaHrf.
Forcif/H
Secretary
nf State.
Under
Secretaries.
, Home
Secretary
i of State.
1 Under
Secretaries
of State.
( lUar
> Secretary
y of State.
Under ditto.
i I/)rd
\ President.
Priry Seal,
( Secretarij
\ at War.
( Treasurer of | ^^^ ^^
) Paymanters ( Mr. Rose.
Mr. llninmond,
Mr. Ward.
Lord Hawkesbury.
( M r. John King, now Secre-
j tary of the Treasury.
^ Mr. Smyth.
)
Lord Castlereagh.
Mr. Cook.
\ Lord Camden.
Lord Westmoreland.
I Mr. William Dundas.
Lord JnTowusheud )
Lord Auckland .
General. { Lord Charles Somerset.
( President of \ f^ , ... ^
I f J \ ^^^^ of Montrose,
.r , r„ , ( yi<^e President | , , _,
Lord Temple. . .| ^f Trade. p^- ^^ose.
G.
S.
Lord Carysfort
X J r) 1 • u Post-Masten
Lord Buckmgham- , g^^^^^^^
shire •'
Duke of Montrose.
Lord Charles Spencer.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE.
253
s.
Q.
(
]
Surveyor
Lord Robert Spencer | General of [ Lord Glenberoie.
I Crown Lands. )
Lord Charles Spencer Master ofMint. Lord Bathurst,
G. Lord Carnarvon
F. Lord Albemarle
F. Lord Ossulston
F. Earl of Derby
I Master of the | j^^ ^^ ^^riiovA.
\ Horse. )
( Master of the ^
Lord Sandwich.
F. Lord St. John .
F. Mr. Pigott . . .
F. Mr. Romilly . .
S. Mr. Bond . . .
F. Duke of Bedford
F. Mr. Elliot . . .
G. Sir John Newport
Mr. Vansittart
Mr. King .
Mr. Tucker
\ Stag Hounds
. {Treasurer ofthe\ j^ord Stopford.
i Household. )
. [ Chancellor of ) Lord Harrowby.
I the Duchy, j
J- Captain of \
. I Band of \ Lord Falmouth.
I Pensioners. )
. Attorney-General. Mr. Spencer Percival.
. Solicitor-General. Sir Vickery Gibbs.
. Judge-Advocate. Sir Charles Morgan ret ireB.
. [t^0Td-Ueutenant\ ^^^^ Hardwicke.
( of Ireland. )
^ ^Principal Secre-\ ^^^ ^ong.
\turyfor Ireland.)
(Chancellor of \
Exchequer for \ Mr. Foster.
Ireland. )
Secretaries of i Mr. Sturges Bourne.
Treasury. \ Mr. Huskisson.
. (^'^^^'•f^^'-^^^''"^} Mr. Barrow.
( of Admiralty. )
:1
Of the above-mentioned appointments those which
seem most to attract attention are Lord Erskine to be
Chancellor, not only on account of his total inexperi-
ence in the Court of Chancery, but from his poHtical
attachment to Mr. Pox not having been steady and
uniform. I recollect Mr. Pitt telling me, many years
ago, that on meeting Mr. Erskine at the opera, the
latter took occasion to tell him that he had no
determined political tie to any one ; and in Lord
254. DIARIES AND CORKESPONDENCE OF
Sidmontli's administration he was evidently opening
his way for admission. Lord EUcnborough being of
the cabinet, utterly improper for a criminal judge, for
reasons most obvious.
Sundai/, Fcbninri/ 10///. — While at Buckden, the
Bishop e.xplained to lue more particularly what
passed in his last interview with Mr. Pitt ; from
which I learned that, although he was too weak to
say n\uch, he (when he spoke of his neglect of prayer)
alluded to the innocency of his life, and expressed a
confident hope of the mercy of God. through the in-
tercession of his Redeemer : — and that with great
fervour.
Wi'dnrxdtiy, Frhrnnrji 1 !)///. — Returned to London
with the Bishop of Lincoln.
Thursday, Fthninri/ 20///. — Previous to my leaving
town to go to Buckden, Mr Thomas, the accountant
of the Pay-Office, with .Mr. Hammond and Mr.
Bradshaw, two of the senior clerks, came to me to
make some observations (on Monday, the 10th of this
month) respecting the office, and to thank me for
attentions, &c. «&:c. ; after which, when they were rising
to go away, ^Ir. Bradshaw, under some apparent em-
barrassment, said he wished to apprise me of a
circumstance of nii extraordinary nature that had
occurred in the time of my predecessors. That Mr.
Steele had in the year ISOO taken two sums of
7,000/. and 12,000/. out of the cash in the hands
of the Paymaster-General, on giving his own receipt
for the same, which receipt was written by Mr.
Wood, deputy cashier, — without any authority having
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 255
appeared for the same, either from the Treasury or the
War Office. At which statement I expressed great sur-
prise, and to Mr. Thomas some resentment, at the same
having been delayed till I was out of office and could
apply no possible remedy, observing that the transac-
tion was, on the face of it, at least, a most irregular
one ; but that from my long knowledge of Mr. Steele
I was perfectly sure he would be able to explain it, so
as to acquit himself of having done anything more
than taking upon himself a serious responsibility.
That he probably had a voucher in his possession, and
that, in any event, it was his (Thomas's) indispensable
duty to remind that gentleman of the transaction on
his quitting office in 1804. That if it had not been
satisfactorily explained he ought then to have stated it
to me and my colleague on our appointment. To which
Mr. Thomas answered, that he had called two or three
times at Mr. Steele's door, without finding him at
home. Such a justification appeared to render his
conduct still less excusable, because, if he thought it
necessary to see Mr. Steele on the subject, he certainly
should have apprised him of his wish to do so, that
he might be sure of meeting with him. I therefore
desired him to write to Mr, S. to ensure his seeing
him, and to let me know on my return from Buckden
whether any interposition of mine with Mr. Steele
would be necessary.
This morning Mr. Thomas came to me accordingly,
when he told me he had seen Mr. Steele, who said
generally that the sums before mentioned were re-
ceived by him for services of a secret nature.
25G DIARIES AND CORllESPONDENCE OF
Friday, 21*/. — Mr. Tlionias's statement of liis inter-
view yesterday was so little satisfactory to me tliat I
went to Mr. Steele this morning myself, from whom 1
could obtain no clear explanation of the business. He
said I must excuse liis entering into particulars at
present, as he did not feel himself at liberty to do so;
that the advances were made to a person (or persons
I am not sure which) for services of a secret nature ;
that the whole wouhl be repaid, but he could not at
this moment exactly fix the time when ; — acknowledg-
ing that he had no warrant or other authority whatever
for the issue. I observed to him, that under such cir-
cumstances T thought he should see either Lord Grcn-
ville or the presciif Paymaster-General, and explain to
his Lordship, or them, so much of the transaction
as should satisfy them ; the whole, certainly, if they
should think it necessary, adding, that it was beyond
all comj)arison better he should do that in the first
instance, as from himself, than wait to give an ex-
planation when he should be called upon to do so; as
the precedent in this case would show to future Pay-
masters-General the possifjilifi/ of their taking money,
placed in the bank on the account of the public, for
their own })iivate accommodation, at any time when
they should find themselves under a pressing urgency
to do so ; — which was plainly against the spirit of the
Pay-Office Act.
Reflectino; in the course of the afternoon on what
had passed, I wrote to Mr. Steele to enforce all that
I had said in the morning.
I received to-dav a letter from Lord Lowther, in
THE IIIGIIT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 257
answer to one I wrote to him from Buckden, requesting
to see him when he sliould come to town, that we
might have a httle conversation on the present state
of things and parties ; in which he says he comes for
the funeral to-morrow morning, and returns part of
the way to Cottesmere in the afternoon ; laments the
severe loss sustained by the death of Mr. Pitt, to
whom he was attached by every tie that could bind
the human heart ; that if he could feel the same dis-
position towards Lord Granville he entertained two
months ago, or consider him as the same person he al-
ways thought him till his present accession to power, he
should have little difficulty in fixing the line of his own
political conduct ; but, as matters have turned out, he
is much at a loss what course it may be best to pursue.
His Lordship then expresses a desire to have some
conversation with me on the subject, adding that what-
ever may be the result of our present determination,
he hopes Mr. Pitt's friends may be kept together if
possible.
Saturdai/, 2'2d February. — The day of i\L". Pitt's
funeral ! On attending the remains of my ever to be
deeply lamented friend, I was appointed to walk in
the procession from the Painted Chamber to West-
minster Abbey, as one of the supporters to Mr.
Spencer Perceval (the late Attorney-General), who
carried the banner of emblems ; Mr. Canning was
the other. Those who were to walk near the body
assembled in the old House of Lords, where I saw
Lord Lowther, who was to be one of the supporters
to the chief mourner (the Earl of Chatham.) His
VOL II. S
258 DIARIES AND fOllUESrONnENf'K OF
Lordship begged nic to go to the upper end of the
room with him, and referring to liis letters, repeated
sentiments very generally according with my own,
against taking any precipitate step of hostility to the
present Government ; the composition of wliich, how-
ever, he utterly disliked, marking his disapprobation
c.f Lord Grenville's conduct, :uul suggesting that
Lord Ilawkisbury and Lord Castlereagh appeared
to him to be taking tlnir ground for stepping into
Dower airain bv means of Mr. Pitt's friends, which he
thought should be guarded against. In conclusion,
In- said lie should return to Loiulon in eight or ten
days, when he would take an early op|)ortinuty of
discussing matters fullv with me.
The funeral was numerously and respectably
attended \\y Peers, members of both Houses, and
others. The pall-bearers were the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Dukes of lieaufort, Rutland, and
Montrose. The chief mourner was support«'d by six
Peers. The Duke of York, the Duke of Cumberland,
and the Duke of Cambridge, were in the procession ;
also several Peers and Bishops, with about 250 of the
House of Commons, amongst whom was the Speaker.
I got through the performance of this last public
demonstration of my respect, love, and regard for the
memory of one of the pnrest-minded and best men to
whom God, I verily believe, ever gave existence, better
than I hoped to do, although so deeply affected during
one part of the ceremony as to be in danger of being
completely overcome.
On my return to my own house, T indulged myself
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 259
with what has been very frequently the occupation of
my mind during the last five weeks, and will not
unfrequently employ it during the remainder of my
life ; the reflection on the character and talents of my
deceased friend, and the loss I have sustained in his
death, banishing entirely every consideration of an
interested nature. His talents ; the quickness of his
perception, ahuost intuitive ; his discerning judg-
ment ; the firmness of his mind, which secured to him
the fullest advantage of that discernment, in cases of
the extremest public dangers and calamities, such
as indeed had never occurred since the revolution, —
namely, the democratical exertions, prepared to be
supported by an immense armed force, influenced by
meetings, public and private, of those of the most
dangerous principles and active minds, as well as by
libels of a treasonable nature ; the mutiny of the fleet ;
the stoppage of the banks ; famine in the country ;
invasion threatened by an immense force of the enemy,
brought down to their coast, opposite to ours, with
ships collected sufficient to transport them. In short
no danger (however great) ever dismayed him, or
deprived him of the advantages resulting from the
quickness of his conception. A certain shyness or
reserve with persons he had httle or no acquaintance
with, and his general carriage (walking remarkably
upright), were by many mistaken for pride ; of which
he had as little as ahuost any gentleman I ever knew ;
for in families, or with people with whom he was
acquainted, his address and manner were the easiest
and most pleasant possible. His temper, as I before
s 2
2()() DIARIES AND COKllESl'ONDENCK OF
observed, tlie sweetest I tliiiik 1 ever knew ; on no
occasion rulllcd l)y any dangers, diiKculties, or un-
pleasant occurrences, except in the House of Com-
mons, wliere und()ul)te(lly he sometimes, undi r eon-
si(leral)le provocation, gave vent to his feelings ; and
when he did it was with wonderful eiVect, for his
elo(pience was tremendous as w»'ll as persuasive.
Few could know him as well as myself. From
Christmas, 17S3, to the time of his dissolution,
1 was in constant habits of the warmest allection
and friendship, as well as of business with him.
Hardly three days passed without my seeing him
throughout that period, except during the five or
six weeks in the- summer, and the three weeks at
Christmas, which I used to spend at Cuti'nells in the
year, lie hardly ever had the slightest thought al)out
himself; his mind was wholly occupied with his
country. His most uncommon share of good-nature
occasioned his giving way sometimes to solicitations
he should have resisted, esj)eeially with regard to
Peerages, of which he was liberal to a most unfortu-
nate extent ; but so far from gaining political strength
thereby, I am perfectly sure he suffered by them ;
for it frequently happened that an enemy was chosen
in the room of the newlv-created Peer. In the
administration of finances, and in the management
of the public purse, it is not possible any one could
be more entirely pure and disinterested. lie abolished
all contracts whatever, all purchases by commission,
all private distributions of Loan, and every other
species of money influence ; — which was in truth at my
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 261
solicitation. He abolished also the sinecure employ-
ments in the Customs, numerous and valuable. He
established a Sinking Fund in the year 1786, when
the finances were in so wretched a state, that no
other man would have even entertained a ihouglit of
the kind, which amounts now to more than eight
millions a year, and which in no public exigency would
he allow to be touched. These are only some of
his internal arransjements and measures of domestic
policy. In foreign politics he was intelligent, able,
and indefatigable. I have heard several of the foreign
Ministers say, they would rather discuss intricate
matters with him than with any other man they ever
knew ; particularly Count Woronzow, who, I verily
believe, laments his loss most deeply. The last union
of Austria and Sweden with Russia, in which Prussia
had actually undertaken to join, was accomplished
absolutely by himself, and would have saved Europe,
almost to a certainty, if it had not been defeated by
the conduct of those who w^ere entrusted with the
command of the Austrian armies. The effect of these
miscarriages has been already truly stated to have
occasioned his death. Other points in his character
may occur to me ; if they do I shall note them. A more
amiable one, upon the whole, no man can leave behind
him. I am much mistaken, if the fact of his country
being deprived of him, will not be deplored by some
who are at present exulting at the event. God grant
that no public calamity may lead to that 1 No one
laments the loss with more bitterness of grief than
myself. I am, as a political man, completely left alone ;
2()2 DTAltlES AND COUUESPONDENCE OF
no tic nor comuxiuns with any one li\ing, cxcopl iiiy
son and Mr. BournL', who I bring into Parliament,
and the habits I am in witii many of Mr. I'itt's
friends. Thus left, I must endeavour to take the
best course 1 can. 1 trust I shall be guided only by
views most strictly honourable, such as will reflect no
discredit on those who shall come after me. 1 shall
be inclined en evi'ry important instance to consider
what Mr. Pitt would iiave been likely to wish me to
do if he had been aliv.-, but incapable of taking an
active share in public business ; — comnmnieating on
all such occasions most freely with the Bishop of
Lincoln, wlio knew him, and the opinions he enter-
tained, better than any one.
The Hishop and myself were to have sat down to a
{[uiet dinuer after the sad ceremony we had atteiuled,
but Mr. Canning having desired he might join us, 1
could not refuse it, and my eldest son at my desire
made a fourth ; as I wished him to be present in the
event of any political proceedings being mentioned.
In the afternoon Mr. Canning referred to what had
passed relative to Lord Castlercagh writing to Lord
Camden, before referred to, and again expressed his
Lordship's contrition for his forward conduct in that
instance, which led to a general discussion on the
state of parties at gi'eat length, both on his part and
mine ; the Bishop aud my son only making occasional
observations. The substance of Mr. Canning's ex-
pressions of his intentions, views, and inclinations, I
think was, that either Lord Lowther or the Duke of
Beaufort, or some other such considerable Peer, shoidd
THE IIIGHT UON. GEOJIGE ROSE. 263
be considered as the pomt d'appui ; but that lie would
acknowledge no leader in Pai'liament, objecting to
Lord Castlereagli and Lord Hawkesbiiry as such, par-
ticularly the latter, with whom, he pointedly declared,
he never would have any intercourse. That if no consi-
derable Peer, like one of those above mentioned, would
set himself up to keep ]\Ir. Pitt's friends together, he
thought the next best thing would be to go on with
a vigorous Opposition, looking to Lord Greuville at
ilie same time as the person really at the head of the
party. That he would allow no time for further reflec-
tion of individuals, as he was determined not to keep
himself in abei/ancc, but if he could do no better, he
would go down to the House of Commons, day after
dav, with three or four friends who would adhere to
him. He said much more, nearlv in the same strain,
and frequently with much warmth. I replied, that 1
was resolved to remain in abeyance, to afford time
for talking with other people, and for consideration ;
that I was extremely disinclined to determined hostility
to a Government immediately on its being formed, in
a period of real danger and great difficulty, both from
foreign and internal causes, as well on the ground of
the impolicy of that line of conduct as on account of
the probable mischief that might arise to the country
from it. That I had as little liking for the two Lords
above mentioned as he had, and was very averse to
their being considered as leaders of Mr. Pitl's friends ;
but that I could conceive the possibility of circum-
stances occurring in such a way as to render it neces-
sary, in some degree, to place Lord Castlereagli in a
20 1< IMAIMKS AM) COllUESPOXDENCE OF
pruiiiiiient situation amongst iis,lio\vcvti' imcomfortaljly
wc might feel about liis having left Mr. Pitt for Lord
Sidmouth. That feelings, siieh as I certainly entertained
respecting the two Lords, nmst occasionally be sup-
pressed in pricafc life, and still more so in puljlw,
which would prevent my deciding positively against
acting with Lord Casllereagh, at least as a leader,
althouu;h 1 should anxiouslv wish to avoid that. 1
then suggested Charles Yorke and Mr. Perceval, to
whom Mr. Camiing did not evince so strong an objec-
tion as to the others, and seemed to think either of
those two might do tolerably will ; aiul yet they both
left Mr. Pitt to act with and serve uiuhr Mr. Adding-
ton. I also stated distinctly my fixed determination
not, in any event, to go on with a systematic o])posi-
tion to the Government, the avowed o])ject of which
should be to su|)port Lord Grenville, against the other
part of the Administration, if they should ever enter-
tain c»i)inions discordant on public matters. That
agreeing with Mr. Canning as I did, in thinking Lord
Grenville the best man to be at the head of the Govern-
ment, and wishing to keep him there rather than
bring forward Mr. Fo.x, I should be more disposed
(if it should not be found possible to keep Mr. Pitt's
friends together,) to say to Lord Grenville, f/iaf is
what T wish. I will not take office now, but I will
privately and publicly give you all the assistance 1 am
able to afford, and make me as useful as you can.
That I thought also such a course would be more
creditable, and more honourable, than the one he
marked out for himself, believing perfectly, however.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 265
that he felt disposed to do what should appear to
hmi correctly right. We agreed that there can be
no doubt of the expediency, and indeed the strong
necessity, of calling the attention of Parliament to the
nomination of Lord EUenborough to the Cabinet, as
a measure in principle most dangerous to the Consti-
tution, bv mixing; the character of a confidential
servant of the Crown with that of the first criminal
Judge in the kingdom, without the remotest neces-
sity for so highly objectionable a proceeding.
So far, this is a narrative of what actually passed. —
Left now to my owm guidance in politics, unconnected
with any human being, except my eldest son and
Mr. Sturges Bourne, brought into Parliament by me,
I have naturally reflected seriously and deeply on the
course I should pursue. In supporting the measures
of Mr. Pitt, my real opinion went with him, to the
best of my recollection, in every instance in which I
concurred with him. On some great and important
points I differed with him in my parliamentary con-
duct : the Reform of ParKament (to which he w^as at
last a convert), the Slave Trade, and the Peace of
Amiens, were the most weighty. On the impeach-
ment of Mr. Hastings I concurred, but have since,
on more mature reflection, and from subsequent events,
regretted the part taken both by him and myself.
To return to the consideration of the line I ought to
pursue, thus left to myself, my most anxious wish is
that I may be able to prevent personal resentments,
passions, disappointments, or private views, from enter-
ing into contests where the public interest is concerned ;
2()() DIAIUES AND (OKUESl'oN DENC E OF
.'it least, to guard aj^aiiist tlicir iiiHiicnces as iiiucli as it
is j)ossil)lr tor Imiiian iiatitrc to do. I know how
liard the lesson is, and 1 liavi- paiiitiilly witnessed
how seldom it is jjraetiscd. I am aware that there is
soinethiiii? in selt-love ' so dee|)ly rooteo, that j)nvaU?
intcr(\sts, and private views, have often a silent and
ctFectual inflnenee upon men, even when their move-
ments arc not distinctly telt uilhin. 1 have nut with
instances in others, where, I verily believe, tlu'y made
tliiit appear reasonfihlc whieli was pro/ilfihir, or agree-
able to some present view. Against n-venge lor
personal injnries my mmd i> most strongly tortified ;
t/uil I know by experience is blind against all light,
and deaf to all aigumeiit. May 1 on the whole so
eomlnet myself, as to bring no discredit on my cha-
racter, or give a moment's pain to those who come
after me.
' When I read Uocbofoucault's detiiiition of this jMus-vjitn at n m-if
rar/yage) I was sti-uck au<l pained at it. The constant guard I have
had in my mind against misanthropy would not, liowever, allow me
1.0IC to impute to that author a total want of knowlrdgo of the
world, although he colours highly. " Self-love " he describes as '* the
love of one's self and of everything else for our own .sake ; it n)akes a
man the idolater of himself, and the tyrant of others. Mnn is a
nii.xturo of contrarieties ; imperious and supple, sincere and false,
fearful and bold, merciful and cruel ; he can .sacrifice every pleasure
to the getting of riches, and all his riches to pleasure ; he is fond of
his preservation, and yet sometimes eager after his own destruction ;
he can flatter those he hates, and destroy those be loves."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 267
CHAPTER VIII.
1806—1807.
A VINDICATION OF MR. PITT's CHARACTER IN COMPARISON WITH THAT
OF MR. FOX, BY THE EDITOR OF THE PRESENT WORK — ESTIMATE
OP MR. PITT BY LORD WELLESLET — LETTER FROM MR. CANNING TO
MR. ROSE, FEBRUARY 7th, 1807, EXPLANATORY OF HIS POLITICAL
VIEWS AND OPINIONS AT THAT TIM 13.
[It is remarkable that both the great rival Ministers
of the Crown died in one year ; and that, as in their
social position and in their conduct, several parallels
may be observed, so in their character there were as
many contrasts. First, both were giants in oratory ;
Mr. Fox excelling most in acuteness of argument, and
Mr. Pitt in lofty declamation, the effect of which,
however, was so great, that even an opponent. Sir
Samuel Romilly, bears this testimony to it, that " his
influence and authority in the House exceed all belief ;"
for his reasonings were always logical, whereas Mr.
Pox's were often tainted with sophistry. Secondly,
both of them were at the head of large sections in Par^
liament who were enthusiastic partisans, and adopted
their opinions with a veneration little short of idolatry,
and were bitterly hostile to each other ; hence fairness
in judging of one another is rarely to be expected,
208 DIARIES AND CORUESPONDENCE OF
but that regard for truth, — which, in nicu of liigh
]H-inciplcs, will force its way occasionally tlu-ough
the opposition of political bias, like gleams of sun
through a dense mass of ch)uds, — sometimes involved
them in strange inconsistencies. Thus, for instance,
Sir S. Romilly, in general a very consistent man, but
intlnmed by party zeal, challenged Mr. Canning to
show " in what class of the communitv he could
discover an increase of comforts and lia])i)iness, the
effects of Mr. Pitt's talents; ami to what part of the
empire he was to look to re:ul his history in a nation's
eyes."' Ihit uhat is his own acknowledgement?
Either he nuist have thought that truth was an
inconvenient and unnecessary garniture of oratory,
or he nuist have cpiitc forgotten certain facts which he
had entered in his journal a few years before, and
which are a very sutHeient answer to his challenge.
During the peace of Amiens he went over to Paris ;
and this is what he records of the conversation there : —
" Almost all the French I have seen entertain a very
high opinion of Mr. Pitt, and a proportionally mean
oj)inion of the English Opposition. They admit that
Mr. Pitt did not carry on tlie war with great ability ;
but they think that ///* talents alone saved us from a
revohition such as they have themselves experienced."^
It is evident, from what is said of their admission,
that, in order to break the force of their culogium, Sir
S. Romilly himself had suggested the ill-success of the
' Mouioii-si, vol. ii. p. .3.")7. " Und. p. 1(»1.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 209
war, — an argument against which, of course, they were
not disposed to do battle ; and yet it was a very bad
argument, because it assumed that Mr. Pitt was respon-
sible for all the miscarriages of the Austrians, and the
blunders of the Aulic Council. But the rest of the
sentence proves, incontrovertibly, that the superior
comfort and happiness enjoyed in unrevolutionized
England were the effects of ]\lr. Pitt's talents ; and if
he wanted to know in what part of the empire he had
to look to " read his history in a nation's eyes," he
had only to look at the representation of the whole
empire in the House of Commons. There was,
however, this difference between the two leaders : Mr.
Pox had not so large a party ; but he identified himself
with it, and shaped his policy in the strictest con-
formity to its interest, and laid them nearer to his
heart than the public good. Of this his letters give
sufficient evidence. Thus, when in 1792 he expressed
his conviction that they never could with honour and
advantage come in under Pitt, he added, — " And I
deceive myself, if I do not ground this opinion much
more upon party than personal reasons and feelings."'
And in 1804, when Mr. Pitt failed in all his attempts to
persuade the King to admit Pox into the Cabinet,
he declared that " nothing could have fallen out more
to his mind than what had happened ; the party
revived and strengthened, Pitt lowered, and, what
was of more consequence in his view% the cause of
1 Memoirs and Correspondence of C. J. Fox, vol. iv. p. 287.
270 DIARIES AND CORIIKSPONDENCK OF
Royalisiii, in the bad sense of the word, lowered
too."' In short, it mij^Hit more truly be said of Fox,
tlian of JJiirkc, that " to party lie gave wliat was
meant for mankind. "
Mr. I'ilt, on the otlier liand, preferred the in-
terests of the conntry to tliose of liis partv ; and it
is witli ^Mvat truth observed \)\ .Mr. W'ilbcrforce that
he wished to toiiu for AchliuL^ton the stroiij^cst and
best possible Aibninistration : — 'lb has reallv be-
liaved witli a ma«i;naniinity uuparalhlcd in a pohtician.
New instanees of it are (hiilv oceurrint; ; it is one of
the nol)lest exercises of true mairnaniinity that was
ever cxliibitcd to thr athniraticjn and imitation of
mankind." Both I'itt and Fox advocated, in tlie
strongest terms, tlie abohtion of tlie shive-trade ; but
neither of them ventured to abob^h it wliih' thev
were in office. Mr. Fox, indeed, passed a liill bv
wliich its further extension nndrr tiie British flaf^ was
prevented ; but tliis bill was only to be in force for
two years. Both of them were advocates for parlia-
mentary reform ; but Mr. Fox agreed with Lord North,
that on that subject every man should follow his
own opinion ; and, therefore, while they were in
office, Mr. Pitt's resolutions in favour of it were
defeated by a large majority. If it be asked, whv
he did not renew the attempt afterwards, when he re-
turned to office, the answer may be given in the words
of Lord Brougham : — " The atrocities of the French
^ Memoirs and Correspondence of C. J. Fox, vol. iv. p. ,57.
THE RIGHT HOy. GEORGE ROSE. 271
Jacobins, the thoughtless violence of the extreme
democratic party in this country, the spirit of aggres-
sion which the conduct of her neighbours had first
roused in FrancCj and which unexampled victories
soon raised to a pitch that endangered all national
independence, led many who were naturally friendly
to liberty into a course of hostility towards all change ;
because they became accustomed to confound reform
with revolution, and to dread nothing so much as the
mischief Avhich popnlar violence had produced in
France, and with which the march of French con-
quests threatened to desolate Europe/'^ Similar rea-
sons were assigned by Mr. Pitt himself, in answer to
Mr. Grey ; but it is better to adduce them from the
pen of the great Whig Reformer who makes these
candid admissions ; only he should have recollected
that it was difficult not to confound reform with revo-
lution, when, at the head of the reformers, we find the
London Corresponding Society vow'ing, in their Maga-
zine, the destruction of the King, the Royal Family,
the Nobility, and the Episcopacy, and talking at their
meetings of a Revolutionary Tribunal, as the only
court adapted to the state of the country.
Both statesmen were real lovers of peace, and yet
neither of them could obtain it during their tenure
of office. Mr. Fox enjoyed more credit for it, because
it is so easy for those who have no responsibility to
' Historical Sketches of Statesmen, by Lord Brougham, vol. i.
p. 281.
272 DIARIES AND COKUESPONDENXE OF
condemn tho.^c wlio have, and to censure tlicni for not
overcoming im[)ossibilitics ; but, when he came into
power, he found out how much he was mistaken, and
tliat tliere were circumstances in whieli, consistenilv
with liis dnty to his country, peace was an impossi-
bility. In 1S(I() he expressed his conviction to Lord
Holland, founded on what lie termed " the shuliling
conduct of France, that the negotiation for pence
would fail ;"' and fail it did. .Mr. Pitt was equally
averse to war, althougii he oijtained no credit for it,
because he could not control the destinv of nations
according to his pleasure. Lord Malmesi)ury made it
an argument with him for turning out Addington at
the end of ISO;?; and, if he had preferred reputation
to conscience, it miglit have had great weight with
him. "I said, if -he came in at such a moment, and
could preserve peace even for a year, and till war was
manifestly forced upon us, he wouhl do away that
clamour raised against him (and no one knew better
than myself how undeservedly) of his ])eing fond of
war. This, he must know, was the Jacobin cry ; it
was believed on the Continent, and ati'ected to be be-
lieved by the factious and discontented here. ' I know
it,' said Pitt, 'the Jacobins cry louder than we can,
and make themselves heard." '^ On the same authority
we have this decisive evidence to the same effect :
*' Mr. Pitt has always been held up to the present
1 Memoirs of the Whig party, by Lord Holland, vol ii. p. 78.
- Lord Malmesburys Diary, vol. iv. p. 114.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 273
generation as fond of war; but the Harris papers
could furnisli the most continual evidence of the con-
trary ; and that he often suffered all the agony of a
pious man who is forced to fight a duel."' Up to
the commencement of the war which was forced
upon him by the Prench Revolution, w^e have the
testimony of Mr. Fox himself, " that his language
breathed only the strictest neutrality, which con-
tinued even after the King had been dethroned,
and many of the worst atrocities had been per-
petrated."^
If, after the palpable proof of insatiable ag-
gressiveness which the excitement then raging in
France exhibited, he had been guilty of " that blind
and obstinate adherence to the same system of neu-
trality," which, according to Prince Hardenburg,
" precipitated Prussia into the abyss ; "^ he would
have deserved to be impeached, as the author of ruin
and degradation to his country. But it has been
already shown, that notwithstanding the reluctance
and opposition of his Secretary for Foreign Affairs
(Lord Grenville), he availed himself of every glimpse
of an opening for bringing the war to a conclusion,
and was so anxious for peace, that he was ready to
sacrifice anything to obtain it, except the honour of
his country ; so that one of his warmest admirers,
1 Lord Malmesbury's Diary, vol. iii. p. 51G.
2 Alison'.s History of Europe, vol. ii. p. 445,
■* Prince Hardenburg's Memoirs, vol. iii. ]>. l.'il.
VOL. IT. T
274 DIARIES AND CORRKSPONDENCE OF
Mr. Canning, comijlainod tluit he was always too
pacific. Lastly, botii held tlie same views of the
Roman Catholic <|uestion.' Roth of them believed
that justice and policy recpiired tiie removal of many
of the restrictions : l)ut neither of them, when thev
were at the head of the (Jovernment, attempted to
remove them. Both of thrm were indul^int to the
conscience of the King, and wen- unwilling to cm-
hitttM* the remainder of his life, hy striving to make
him disreirard it. On this account both have l)een
charired with inconsistencv ; l)ut if Mr. Pitt was incon-
sistent, it was an inconsistency of a very ditTerent
character, juid of far less conse(juence than that of
.Mr. Vo\.
It has been shown, that he did not resign his
office because he could not carry that measure, but
upon a political principle which merely touched upon
it ; and whether upon that point any concession was
subsccpiently made, either by himself or by the King,
there is no evidence to show. But upon the measure
itself he never insisted as a si/ie quit non ; he only laid it
before the King as a measure recommended to his
consideration by tiic Cal)inct, and from the first was
wiUing to pledge himself, that he would not introduce
it during his Majesty's life. But Mr. Fox, three years
before, had reprobated, in the strongest terms of ab-
horrence, the idea of giving way upon the Roman
Catholic question. He wished to rescue his i)arty
^ Lord Malniesbury's Diary, vol. iv. p. 50.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 275
"from the infamy of acquiescing in the baseness of
conceding the most important of all national points
to the private opinion of the King ;"' and yet in that
infamy and baseness he did acquiesce, much to his
credit, for he was too good-natured a man to inflict
needless pain.
The motive which he assigned to his nephew for his
conduct on this occasion, was the apprehension, lest
an opportunity of restoring peace to the world might
be lost by stickling for a measure which he knew he
could not carry. If it were so, lie must have been
grievously disappointed ; but the truth is, that though
a great demagogue out of office, yet in office he was
an excellent courtier, perhaps better than Mr. Pitt,
certainly better than Lord Grenville ; for the King
told Lord Eldon, who was more in his confidence
than any one after the death of Mr. Pitt, that it was but
just to acknowledge that Mr. Fox, though certainly
forced upon him, had never presumed upon that
circumstance to treat his Sovereign like a person in
iiis power ; but had always conducted himself frankly,
and yet respectfully : his manner contrasted remark-
ably with that of another Whig ^Minister, wdio when
he came into office, walked up to him in the way he
should have expected from " Buonaparte after the
battle of Austerlitz."^ And this is quite in the spirit
of the letter wdiich he addressed to the King, when he
1 Memoirs of Fox, vol. iii. p. 429.
" Lord Eldon's Anecdote Book, p. 510.
1 <w
270 DTARTES AM) f OUUESPONDENCK OF
was in office before, in which he iiuploivd his .Majesty
to believe, thaf \u- liad notliing so nnich at lieart as
to conchict his Majesty's atVairs, both uitli respect to
measures and to persons, in the manner that niii,dit
give his Majesty most satisfaction; "and tliat wlien-
ever your Majesty will i)c graciously pleased to eon-
descend, even to hint your inclinations upon any
subject, tliat it will be the study of your Majesty's
Ministers to sIkjw how trulv sensible they are of your
Majesty's goodness."' Lord Holland, therefore, who
was more a Whii^ than the leader of the Whiirs him-
self, was maliciously wrong, wlun he asserted that
the King could hardly suppress his indecent exultation
at Fox's death.- On the contrary, the King said that
once he would not have believed that he could be so
sorry for that death.
So far we have seen that there was a great re-
semblance, though not without sonic signal ditTerences
too, in the conduct of the two Premiers. But in their
characters they were entirely ditl'erent. It has been
shown, that in point of morality, the profligacy of
Fox was a striking contrast to the spotless reputation'
of Pitt ; nor was the difterence between them less, in
the exhibition of that spirit of evangelical " charity,
which envieth not, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil, and endurcth all things."
From their private correspondence it appears, that
' Memoirs of 0. J. Fox, vol. ii. p. 123.
- Memoirs of the Whig Party, vol. ii. p. 40.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 277
I OX " spoke with acrimony of Pitt : he called him
impudent, audacious, one that never would do right,
incapable of acting fairly, and a mean, pitiful fellow ;"
than which there could not be a greater outrage upon
truth. He imputes to him the basest motives, and
professes that to lower him is the great object of his
ambition. Mr. Pitt, on the contrary, never speaks
evil of his rival ; his name is only introduced when he
advocates his cause, connnends his nobleness, and
advises that he should be consulted.
In matters of religion, they were equally far apart ;
for Mr. Fox was an enemy to the Church of England.
Mr. Wilberforce, a good and impartial judge, who
writes of it more in pity than in anger, asks Macau-
lay, " Does it not strike you, that there is a certain
philosophical spirit throughout his history, very hostile
to the spirit of Christianity, as well as a manifest
hatred in him, poor fellow — but too natural, to the
Church of England ? "^ This might partly arise from
a principle avowed by Lord Holland, that in any
contest with the Crown (he might with equal truth
have omitted the Crown), the Whigs must always
mainly rely upon the Dissenters.^ Mr. Pitt, on the
contrary, was friendly to the Established Church. In
1790, when he was pressed to repeal the Test Acts,
he said, " The Dissenters had succeeded in their ap-
plication about fourteen years before, and obtained
1 Life of Wilberforce, \ol. iii. p, 387.
2 Memoirs of the Whig Party, vol. ii. p. 227.
278 DIARIES AM) tURUESPONDENCK ui
what was considered a completion of tluir toleration.
It was then doclnrod that they intended to proeccd no
furtiier, if they only obtained the relict' wliich they
then solicited, lie conid not therefore trust their
assurance, that they would now hi- satisfied, if they
gained their point, and wouKl [)roeeed r.o further; for
they had violatetl their })roniisc, and if the House
should coniply with their wishes, who could tell but
their next application would be for an exempt iun
from Church dues, to whicli cverv ar":ument ad-
vanced in support of the present rpiestion would
ecpially ap])ly.
"Now an established religi(jn had been admitted as
necessary, useful, and advantageous to the civil govern-
ment of a state. It ought, therefore, to be protected and
supported by the Government ; and its expense should
fall cipially on all the mcnd)crs of the general com-
numity in a certain proportion."'
Subsecpient events have proved how accurately Mr.
Pitt looked forward into the future ; and it were well, if
those wlio have succeeded him, and have only to look
back to the past, would profit by the justness of his
reasoning and the fultilment of his predictions, and
beware of giving any further aid to the ultimate
designs of political nonconformity. What those designs
were, was accidentally revealed to Mr. Fletcher, a
Methodist preacher, eminent for his genuine piety and
great talents, who attended a meeting of Dissenters,
1 GifforfVs Lilc of Pitt, vol. ii. p. 462.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 279
at Bolton, in the belief that its object was to petition
for the repeal of the Test Acts ; but they informed
him, that "they did not care the nip of a straw for
the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts ; but that
they designed to try for the abolition of the Tithes,
and the Lilurgtj :" — a curious instance of intolerant
tyranny, in those who were clamouring for toleration,
and liberty of conscience.
But the most important point of this contrast between
the two statesmen, is their behaviour on the bed of
death, when all human greatness sinks into insignifi-
cance, and the awful prospect of eternity searches the
heart of the dying sinner. In the one case we see no
sense of religion at all ; in the other, uncultivated reli-
gion, and forgetfulness of God. But the time which
had been too much given to this world was redeemed
by penitence and faith.
Nothing can be more painful to a Christian mind than
the mockery of religion at the death of Fox. The scene
is related by his nephew, who was present, and seems
to have shared his apathy. " About this period of his
illness (September 11th) Mrs. Fox, who had a strong
sense of religion, consulted some of us on the means
of persuading Mr. Fox to hear prayers read by his
bedside. I own, that I had some ap[)rehensions lest
any clergyman called in might think it a good oppor-
tunity for displaying his reUgious zeal, and acquiring
celebrity by some exhibition, to which Mr. Fox's
principles and taste would have been equally averse.
280 JJiARlES AND COUlii:Sl'()Xl)KNCK OF
\\ Irm, lioweviT, Mr. Houvciic, a yount:: man of excel-
lent character, uithunt pretension or In pocrisy, was
in the honse, I seconded her request, in tlie full per-
suasion that hy so doing I promoted what would have
been the wish of Mr. l-'ox hitnself; his vh'nf object
throu^^hout was to soothe and satisfy her. Yet repug-
nance was felt, and in some degree urged, hy Mr.
Trotter, who soon afterwards tlunight tit to describe
with great fervour the devotion it inspired, and to
build upon it numy conjectures of his own on the
religious tenets and principles of Mr. Fox. Mr.
Ronverie stood behind the curtain of the bed, and in
a faint but audible voice read the service. Mr. Fox
remained uiuisually (piitt. Towards the end, Mrs. Fox
knelt upon the bed, and joined his hands, which he
seemed faintly to close, with a smile of incflable good-
ness. His last words were, "1 die happy.'" '
Thus died, on September 13th, he whom Lord
Holland ventm-es to call, " the best and greatest man
of his time." Whether he was in any sense sjood or
great, he and Lord Holland, and the whole world will
knoAv, when we all stand before the judgment-seat of
Christ ; but, in the meantime, what can be more
shocking to a well-regulated mind, than the picture
here presented to us of a dying man, with expanded
understanding, almost it would appear destitute of
divine grace, w^ith no cai'e apparently for his soul,
no fear of judgment, submitting to a cold formality
' Flax's ^Memnii-s, vol. iv. p. 480.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 281
of prayer, in wliicli he takes no interest, and seeks no
profit, not from any sense of duty, or any desire of
spiritual good, but merely to soothe and satisfy his
wife? While in the background stands the minister of
Christ, not permitted to speak a word of warning or
admonition, but concealed behind a curtain, and
giving utterance only to a portion of the appointed
service for the sick, which wakes no emotion in the
heart of the listener, not even the semblance of devo-
tion, till he is lovingly compelled to assume it. Yet
this man dies under the belief that he is happy ; and
one then present, who wishes his idol to stand well in
the opinion of the world, imposes upon it a faljle
directly opposite to the truth, in which he would have
succeeded if another nephew had not spurned the false-
hood, and Q;iven the true version in a manner more
to his own taste.
But he might have known that there was a better
and a greater statesman, who had left this world only
eight months before his uncle. He might have known
it, if he had not hugged his political prejudices to the
last, and desiring to drag down Mr. Pitt to the same
depth of irreligion and infatuation, he scrupled not to
contradict most positively the truths which he was
unwilling to believe, without a particle of evidence to
support him, and in the teeth of the most authentic
evidence on the other side. It is due both to Mr.
Rose and to Mr. Pitt, not to allow these bold allega-
tions to pass unnoticed, and to show that they are
282 DIAIUES AND COKUKSPONDENCE OF
shaincfullv calumnious. " A tale," Lord liollaiul says,
"rclatiui; to the ciiriimstanccs of Mr. Pilt's dentil was
fabricated by Mr. Rose, and delivered in his place in
Parliament. As Mr. Rose was his intimate associate,
and steady partisan, and his account was uncc^ntra-
dieted in the House, it mii^ht very reasonably obtain
credit with posterity. Mr. Pitt was represented by
this unscrupulous and injudicious encomiast, to have
exclaimed in the agonies of death, 'Save my country,
save my country 1 ' And then to have gone through his
devotions, and takeu the sacrament with the most
fervent and edifying piety. — In all this there was iiol
one word of truth ; for some days before Mr. Pitt's
death his fever had rendered him nearly insensible ;
and during the last twenty-four hours he was actually
speechless. As to religious observances, he at all
times com[)licd with the custouis of the world, but
neither felt uor atlected any extraordin:»ry zeal or
devotion. Mr. Canning was disgusted at the ettrontery
of Mr. Rose, and left the House, after observing to his
neitrhbour, that the value of historical testimony was
impaired by seeing that a lie could pass uneontra-
dicted ill the presence of hundreds who knew it to
be false." '
Now it may at once be admitted that Mr. Pitt
never affected any extraordinary zeal or devotion ; but
such was never asserted by Mr. Rose, and therefore is
nothing to the purpose. What he felt neither Lord
' Memoirs of the Whig raity, vul. i. p. 208.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE HOSE. 283
Holland nor any one else can know, except the
Searcher of all hearts ; and the anecdote concerning
Mr. Cannmg is altogether apocryphal. He was dead
when the paragraph was written, and Ids neighbour
was not designated : no one therefore could con-
tradict it. But considering the intimacy at that time
existing betwen ]\Ir. Canning and Mr. Rose, and his
attachment to Mr. Pitt, the storv is in the highest
degree improbable. One thing, however, is certain ;
that if Lord Holland's statement be true, Mr. Canning
said a very foolish thing ; for he was not present in the
chamber of death, and there was no time for him to
obtain any evidence upon which he could impeach the
truth of his friend's statement. Moreover, such an
insult being publicly known Avould have cut short
that friendship which the Diary shows was not broken
off till at a much later period, on a very different
occasion.
With respect to the rest of the contradiction,
it may be said with much more reason, that " there
is not a word of truth in it." Mr. Pitt was
lethargic but not insensible. He was not speechless
during the last twenty-four hours. He was heard
by the servant in attendance to say, with his last
utterance, *' My country ! " and at that time, it is
a rational inference, that it was a prayer to Him, to
whom he had been praying, to save it ; for he did
ju'ay fervently. All this we have upon the evidence
of the Bishop of Lincoln, who was not only present,
284 DIARIES AND COUllESI'ONDKXCE OF
but received Mr. Pitt's confession, and witnessed liis
devotion. lUit since that evidence has been aheady
produced in the Diarv, it may be more useful to «^ivc
another account of the closini^ passaifc of Mi". I'itt's
Hfe, by one wlio ihelares hinisrll to be no partial
friend. A writer in tlie Annual Rcz/isfar of that year,
the poUtics of which are wholly of a W hig complexion,
gives these details : — " The day before his death the
physicians told the IVisliop of Lincoln, that any attempt
to arouse him from his present lethargy would be
attended with instant death. The Bishop now saw
the necessity of intimating his danger to Mr. I'itt : lie
fullilled this [)ainful ollicc with lirmness. Mr. l^itt
was hardly sensible ; this dreadful shock had scarcely
power to dissipate his lethargy ; but after a fi'W
moments he waved his hand, and was left alone with
the Bishop. He instantly expressed himself perfectly
resigned to the divine w ill ; and w itli the utmost com-
posure asked Sir Walter Far(pdiar, wIkj was present,
how long he might expect to live. Mr. Pitt then
entered into a conversation of some length with the
Bishop, upon religious subjects. He repeatedly de-
clared, in the strongest terms of humility, a sense of
his own unworthiness, and a tirm reliance upon the
mcrcv of God, thron2;li the merits of Christ. After
this, the Bishop of Lincoln prayed by his bedside for
a considerable time ; and Mr. Pitt appeared greatly
composed by these last duties of religion. Lady
Hester Stanhope, his niece, had an interview with him
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 285
on the Wednesday evening, and received his last
adieu, which he gave in the most afFectionatc and
solemn manner. Mr. James Stanhope continued with
him all night, during which he expressed at intervals
frequent solicitude as to the political intelligence at
that time expected. It is said that he continued
clear and composed till a short time before his dis-
solution, wdiich took place without any addition of
suffering, or struggle, at half-past four, on Thursday
morning. His last words arc said to have been,
" my country ! " ^
It cannot have escaped the observation of any
thoughtful reader, that the advice of the physicians
very nearly deprived him even of one solitary day for
preparation to meet his God ; and medical men, in
general, are not sufficiently aware of the heavy respon-
sibility which they take upon themselves, and the
grievous mischief to the souls of men, of which they
may be the authors, when, from any imaginary or real
danger to their bodies, they keep back the knowledge
of their approaching death. It is not because death
may be sudden, that we pray in our liturgy to be
delivered from it. To be transferred in a moment of
time from earth to paradise, would be the greatest of
all possible blessings ; and blessed are they, whom, at
' Annual Register for 180G, p. 882. This account is evidently
derived from a different source, but fully coincides in proving
that with the few exceptions already noticed, there is not one word
of truth in Lord Holland's slanderous report.
2S() DIAHIF.S AND CORUKSPONDKNCK OF
wliatever hour of the nii^lit lie may come, tlieir Lord
shall find watchinj;;. iiiit it is because hy such sudden-
ness the majority of mankind would be precluded from
all prej)Mration ; and that communion with ( Jod in
prayer, which the angel of death sujrgests, while he
hovers over his prey, is one of the most ellicient means
of 'qacc to reclaim the wanderiufc soul, niul raise its
affections to thinprs abov(\ and tit it for the enjoyment
of heaven.
If the Bishoj) of Lincoln had not been restrained
by the injudicious timidity of the physicians, who
feared to agitate Mr. I'itt's mind by a sense of danger,
— a mind far too strong and healthy to be so easily (lis-
mayed, — his spirit might have been refreshed by par-
taking of the holy comnuniion, which he only declined
when it was jiroposcd to him, because then he had
not strength enough remaining to go through the
ceremony. And as this fact is recorded in Mr. Hose's
diary, it is utterly impossible that he could have made
the statement in the House of Commons which Lord
Holland chooses to attrii)ute to him.
Mr. Gitlbrd relates the same circumstances with
more muuiteness, and as he nuist have obtained them
from some one who was present, they are an impor-
tant conlirmalion of Mr. Rose's statement -. " Sir W.
Farquhar called up the Bishop of Lincoln, telling him
he was much alarmed, and could now no longer object
to any communication which the Bishop might think
j)roper to make to him. . . . The Bishop immediately
THE JIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 287
went to Mr. Pitt's bedside, and told him he found it
to be his duty to inform him that his situation was
considered as precarious, and requested his leave to
read prayers to him, and to administer the Sacrament.
Mr. Pitt looked earnestly at the Bishop for a few
moments, and then, with perfect composure, turned his
head to Sir Walter Farquhar, who stood on the other
side of the bed, and slowly said, ' How long do you
think I have to live ?' The physician answered, he could
not say, and expressed a faint hope of his recovery.
A half smile on Mr. Pitt's countenance showed that
he placed this language to its true account. In answer
to the Bishop's request to pray with him, he said, ' I
fear I have, like too many other men, neglected prayer
too much to have any ground for hope that it can be
efficacious on a death- bed ; but ' — rising as he spoke,
and clasping his hands with the utmost fervour and
devotion — ' I throw myself entirely ' (the last word
being pronounced with a strong emphasis) ' upon
the mercy of God, through the merits of Christ.' The
Bishop assured him that the frame of his mind at this
aw^ful moment Avas exactly such as might be reasonably
expected to render prayer acceptable and useful. The
Bishop then read prayers, and ^Ir. Pitt joined in them
with calm and humble piety. He repeatedly expressed,
in the strongest manner, his sense of his own unworthi-
ness to appear in the presence of God, disclaiming all
ideas of merit ; but with a conscience clear and undis-
turbed, he appealed to tlie Bishop's knowledge of the
288 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
steadiness of liis religious principles, and said it had
ever been his wish and endeavour to act ri}i;htly, and
to fultil liis duty to (jiod and to the world; but that
he was very sensible of many errors and failures, lb
declared that he was perfectly resi'^ned to the will of
(lod, that he felt no enmity towards anyone, but died
in peace with all mankiml, and ex])ressed his hope,
at once lunnble and confident, of eternal hap[)iness,
through the intercession of his Redeemer Sir
W. Far(|uhar and several of the servants had remained
in the room a part of the time in which Mr. IMtt was
engaged in religious duties, and heard this great and
good man profess the faith and hope anil charity of an
luunbly pious Christian."
Moreover, there is another remarkable trait in Mr.
ritt's character, related by Lurd Eldon, which shoidd
not be omitted as an evidence of his general philan-
thropy. " I observed," he says, " to Mr. Pitt that
his station in life nnist have given him better oppor-
tunities of knowing men, than almost any other
person could possess ; and I asked whether his inter-
course with them, upon the whole, led him to think
that the greater part of them were governed by rea-
sonable and .'lonoiu-able principles, or by corrupt
motives. His answer was, that he had a favourable
opinion of mankind, upon the whole ; and that he
believed the majority was really actuated by fair
meanins; and intention." ' Contrast with this what
> Vol. i. p. 499.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 289
Sir Samuel Romilly reports of Napoleon I., that he
entertained a very bad opinion of mankind.
In order to complete the portrait of Mr. Pitt's
character, it only remains to give some additional tes-
timonies from J\Ir. Rose, concerning his deportment
in society, taken from a pamphlet entitled " A Brief
Examination into the Increase of the Revenue, Com-
merce, and Navigation of Great Britain during Mr.
Pitt's Administration :" —
" No man was ever better qualified to gain, or
more successful in fixing, the attachment of his friends
than Mr. Pitt. They saw all the powerful energies of
his character softened into the most perfect compla-
cency and sweetness of disposition in the circles of
private life ; the pleasures of which no one more cheer-
fully enjoyed, or more agreeably promoted, when the
paramount duties he conceived himself to owe to the
public admitted of his mixing in them. That indig-
nant severity with which he met and subdued what he
considered unfounded opposition ; that keenness of
sarcasm with which he repelled and withered (as it
might be said) the powers of most of his assailants
in debate, — were exchanged in the society of his inti-
mate friends for a kindness of heart, a gentleness of
demeanour, and a playfulness of good humour, which
no one ever witnessed without interest, or participated
in without delight. His mind, which in the grasp
and extent of its capacity, seized with a quickness
almost intuitive all the important relations of political
power and political economy, was not less uncom-
VOL. II. TJ
290 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
iiionly susceptible of all the light and elegant impres-
sions which form the great charm of conversation to
cultivated minds,"
It is much to be regretted that Bishop Toinline,
who had been in habits of familiar interconi-se with
Mr. I'itt from the very first commencement of his
collegiate life, and enjoyed his confidence till the
hour of his death, should not have fulfilled the promise
which he made to the public, that the last volume
of the work he had then undertaken, should be a
picture of his domestic life. Perhaps he was deterred
by finding that it could not be done without com{)ro-
mising many persons then living; but whatever might
be his motive, the result has been that the volumes
which he published were only compiled out of public
documents, and add nothing to our knowledge of
Mr. Pitt's private character. Some amends, however,
have been made by another most distinguished friend,
who, in a letter to the editor of the Quarterb/ Review,
has given us a very highly-finished sketch of those
minute details of character, which none but his most
confidential intimates could have the opportunity
of observing. Lord Wellesley, in IS 3(3, gave this
masterly description of what he had known and seen,
in the following letter to the editor of the Quarterly
Beview : — Ed.]
" Hurlingham, Fulham, Nov. 22d, 1S36.
" In attempting to convey to you my recollection of
Mr. Pitt's character in private society, I cannot sepa-
rate those qualities which raised him to the highest
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 291
public eminence, from those whicli rendered him a
most amiable companion. Both proceeded from the
same origin, and both were liappily blended in the
noble structm-e of his temper and disposition. Mr.
Pitt's mind was naturally inaccessible to any approach
of dark, or low, or ignoble passion. His commanding
genius and magnanimous spirit were destined to move
in a region far above the reach of those jealousies, and
suspicions, and animosities which disturb the course
of ordinary life. Under the eye of his illustrious
father, he had received that ' complete and generous
education which fits a man to perform justly, skilfully,
and magnanimously all the offices, both public and
private, of peace and war.'
" Such an education, acting on such a natural
disposition, not only qualified him to adorn the most
elevated station in the councils of his country, but
furnished him with abundant sources to sustain the
tranquillity and cheerfulness of his mind. He had
received regular and systematic instruction in tiie
principles of the Christian religion, and in the doc-
trine and discipline of the Church of England, and
in every branch of general ecclesiastical history. His
knowledge on those subjects was accurate and ex-
tensive. He was completely armed against all scep-
tical assaults, as well as against all fanatical illusion ;
and, in truth, he was not merely a faithful and dutiful,
but a learned member of our Established Church, to
which he was most sincerely attached, with the most
charitable indulgence for all dissenting sects. No doubt
can exist in any rational mind, that this early and firm
r 2
292 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
settlement of his religious opinions and principles, was
a main cause of that cheerful ecjuaniniity, which formed
the great characteristic of his social intercourse, and
which was never aftected by adversities or troubles.
" He was })erfcctly accompHshcd in classical literature,
both Latin and Greek. Tiie accuracy and strength of
his memory surpassed every example which I have
observed ; but the intrinsic vigour of his understand-
ing carried him far beyond the mere recollection of
the great models of anticpiity, in oratory, poetry, his-
tory, and philosophy. lie had drawn their essence into
his own thoughts and language ; and with astonishing
facility he applied the whole spirit of ancient learning
to his daily use. Those studies were his constant
delight and resort. At llollwood, in Kent, his favourite
residence, and at Walmer Castle, Ids apartments were
strewed with Latin and Greek classics ; and his con-
versation with those friends who dcliG;hted in similar
studies, frequently turned on that most attractive
branch of literature ; but he was so adverse to pe-
dantry or aftectatiou of superior knowledge, that he
carefully abstained from such topics in the presence of
those who could not take pleasure in them. In these
pursuits, his constant and congenial companion was
Lord Grenville^ who has often declared to me that
^fr. Pitt was the best Greek scholar he ever conversed
with.
" Mr. Pitt was also as complete a master of all English
literature, as he was undoubtedly of the English lan-
guage. He amply possessed every resource which
could enliven retirement. No person had a more ex-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 293
quisite sense of the beauties of the country. He took
the greatest delight in his residence at HoUwood, which
he enlarged and improved (it may be truly said) with
his own hands. Often have I seen him working in
his woods and gardens with his labourers, for whole
days together, undergoing considerable bodily fatigue,
and with so much eagerness and assiduity, that you
would suppose the cultivation of his villa to be the
principal occupation of his life. He was very fond of
exercise on horseback, and when in the country, fre-
quently joined the hounds of his neighbourhood, both
at Hollwood and Walmer Castle. At the latter place
he lived most hospitably, entertaining all his neigh-
bours, as well as the officers of the neighbouring
garrisons and of the ships in the Downs ; and he was
most attentive to his duties of Lord Warden of the
Cinque Ports, which called him frequently to Dover,
and sometimes to the other ports.
" But in all places and at all times his constant
delight was society. There he shone with a degree
of calm and steady lustre, which often astonished me
more than his most splendid efforts in Parliament.
His manners were perfectly plain, without any affecta-
tion. Not only was he without presumption or arro-
gance, or any air of authority, but he seemed utterly
unconscious of his own superiority, and much more
disposed to listen than to talk. He never betrayed
any symptom of anxiety to usurp the lead or to
display his own powers, but rather inclined to draw
forth others, and to take merely an equal share in the
general conversation ; then he plunged heedlessly into
291 DLVRIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the mii'th of the hour, with lU) other care than to
promote the general good humour ami happiness of
the eompauy. His wit was (juick and ready; hut it
was rather lively than sliarp, and mvcr envenomed
with tlie least taint of malignity ; so that instead of
exeiting admiration or terror, it was an additional
ingredient in the common enjoyment, lie was en-
dowed beyond any man of his time whom 1 knew,
with a gay heart and a social spirit.
" With tiiise (jualities he was tlu* life and sold of
his own society. His appearance dispelled all care;
his brow was never clouded, even in the severest
public trials ; and joy, and lio[)(', and contidence
beamed from his countenance in every crisis of difH-
culty and danger. He was a most aft'ectionate, indul-
gent, and benevolent friend, and so easy of access that
ail his acquaintance in any I'lnbarrassment would rather
resort to him for advice than to any person who
might be supposed to have more leisure. His heart
was always at leisure to receive the comnumications
of his friends, and always open to give the best advice
in the most gentle and pleasant manner.
" I cannot resist the conclusion that a pure and
clear conscience must have been the original source of
such uniform cheerfulness and gaiety of spirit. The
truth, which I have asserted, I possessed ample means
of knowing. From the year 1783 to 1707 (when I
■went to India), I lived in habits of the most confiden-
tial fi-iendship with Mr. Pitt. On my return in 1806,
I warned Lord Grenville of Mr. Pitt's approaching
death. He received the fatal intelligence with the
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 295
utmost feeling, in an agony of tears, and immediately
determined that all hostility shonld be suspended in
Parliament. Mr. Pitt's death soon followed (two days
after the meeting of Parliament).
" If any additional evidence were required of the
excellence of his social character, it would be found
abundantly in the deep sorrow of a most numerous
class of independent, honest, and sincerely attached
friends, who wept over the loss of his benevolent and
affectionate temper and disposition with a degree of
heartfelt grief which no political sentiment could
produce."
[A Commission had been issued by the Crown for
' the purpose of inquiring into the truth of some grave
charges which had been brought by the friends of the
Prince of Wales against the character of the Princess,
similar to those which were renewed after his accession
to the throne; and the Commissioners had made a Report
unfavourable to the Princess, but they seem to have
conducted the inquiry without any great desire to convict
her. It appears from the letters of the lawyers to whom
her case was referred, and who drew up her answer
to the Report, — Mr. Perceval, Sir Vicary Gibbs, and
Mr. Plumer, — that the Commissioners had omitted
some important points in the accusation, which made it
a difficult matter for the lawyers so to defend her as
not to suggest to the accusers the necessity of asking
for a renewal of the inquiry, and to prosecute it further.
296 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Mr. Rose was friendly to her, and at her request lent
her for two or three days his house at Christchurcli.
When the Princess was on lier road to Norbury Park,
near Leatherhead, her carriage was overturned by the
postilion, in turning a corner, and Miss Choliuondcley,
who was sitting on the box, was thrown against a
tree and killed njxm the spot. This accident is
alluded to in one of her letters, but one only has been
selected for publication, partly as a specimen of h»r
familiar style when she was on her good behaviour, —
for she was a rcniarkabh^ woman, and her ill-regidated
mind occupied a large share of public attention for a
long perioil of time, — and partly because it contains
her opinions uj)c)n two events of great historical
importance, whicli had recently occurred; the death'
of Mr. Pitt, with the payment of his debts, and the
trial of Lord Melville for supposed malversation as
Treasurer in the Navy. The other letter shows the
view taken by her lawyer, Sir Vicary Gibbs, of tlie
position in which she was placed by what was not
very appropriately called " the delicate investigation."
—Ed.]
The Princess of AVales to Mr. Rose.
"Rose Cottage, May Ist, 1806.
" !Mt dear Sir,
" Encouraged by your so well-known good nature,
and as well by Lady Hester Stanhope, I resume my
pen to ask of you a favour, which consists in lending
me yoiu' little cottage at Christchurch near Poole, for
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 297
eight and forty hours, "which fame has told me is
beautiful.
" The period of my intruding on you will be the
21st or 2 2d of this month. I now am setting off for
Mount Edgecumbe with Lady Hester, and I hope that
the variety of new scenes will be conducive to her
health as well as to her spirits, which I found very
indifferent ; but between you and me, no wonder,
after such a loss ! and not less to us ; and depend
upon it, my dear Sir, that our departed friend will
remain immortal in our hearts, as I hope his loyal
spuit will in the common rustic's heart.
" If it were not too indiscreet of me, I would feel so
thankful if you would still more heighten your good-
ness to me by informing me how clear, good, amiable,
and for ever respectable Lord Melville is in health.
I know that he bears with fortitude and with greatness
of mind his very severe trial of adversity ; which only
an innocent and elevated mind could give him.
" Lady Hester has been kind enough to commu-
nicate your letter to me, my dear Sir, and I have only
to add, that I never had a doubt of the very great
difficulty to settle that very intricate business in the
most amicable and comfortable way for all parties ;
but if it should remain in your hands, I have all right
to expect that the nation would do it with their usual
justice and generosity. And believe me, my dear
Sir, for ever with the highest regard and esteem,
" Yours,
" C. P."
20S DIARIES AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF
Sir VicARY Giints to Mr. Rose.
" Hayes Coraraon, Bromley,
"Sept 28th, 1806.
" My df.ar Sir,
" The Answer is fmishcc], and I oiilv wish tiiat
his Majesty may be prevailed upon to give his
personal attention to it, and torni his own judgment
upon the case. Perceval has done it most inrom-
parai)ly. Every guard is placed, as you suggested,
atrainst the renewal of the same sort of intiuirv, which
was a point that n'([uired some delicacy, as it was
necessary, in many instances, to comj)lain that the
inquiry which took place was calculated to produce
a false impression by being left short, and to cast
suspicions upon the conduct of the party accused,
which a few further (piestions must necessarily have
cleared up. To avoid, therefore, any insidious otler
of renewing it, that these defects may be supplied,
there is a strong protestation against such a measure,
pointing out the gross injustice, and throwing doubts
at least upon the legality of it. Her Royal Highness
desires Lord Eldon to present her answer to the
King, and I shall be glad to hear that this is permitted
by his Majesty. It was impossible to avoid making
strong observations upon the conduct of the Commis-
sioners ; in truth, the justice of the conclusions which
the Report adopts could not be effectually attacked
without showing that they have been at least inat-
tentive to many material facts which they either
knew or had the means of knowing. The greatest
respect is observed towards them in expression, and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 299
their oversights are always attributed to their constant
occupation in the business of their respective offices.
" It seems as if Lord G. did not acquire any
addition of strength in the Cabinet by these new
arrangements.
" I beg my best comphments to Mrs. and Miss
Rose, and to Mr. and Mrs. G. Rose, if they are with
you.
~ '' Yours most truly,
" V. GiBBS."
[Both Mr. Rose and Mr. Perceval felt the same
interest at first in the Princess of Wales which the
King and the whole country would have felt, if they
had not been disgusted by the coarseness of her mind,
and the indiscretion of her whole life. Mr. Perceval
took up her cause warmly against her husband. — Ed.]
Mr. Perceval to Mr. Rose.
" Castle Ashby, Northampton, Oct. 3d, 1806.
'* Dear Rose,
" I should be extremely sorry, indeed, if you had
really thought that I had, as you express yourself,
snubbed you upon the occasion of your very kind
offer to call upon me on the Tuesday morning. In
the substance of what I did, I can trust to my own
feelings that there w^as nothing but what was consis-
tent with the truest kindness and respect ; and if there
was anything in the manner of it, which was not
sufficiently attentive, I only beg you will recollect how
300 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
1 was circumstanced, just stopping into my chaise,
with httle more tlian half my work liiiislicd for her
Royal Ilighness's perusal; and under the necessity of
dedicating whatever time 1 could of tlie next morn-
ing to the completion of the remainder. For as it
was all necessarily to be fairly copied over before it
could be delivered to the Princess for her signature,
and as 1 wished this to be so done as to enable mo to
leave town on Saturday last to attend my constituents
at their Mayor's feast on Monday, I had no time to
lose; as you will the better understand wlu-n 1 tell you,
that notwithstanding all my exertions, 1 worked the
whole of Saturdav with Gibbs and IMumer, for whom
I sent up to town in order to receive their final opinion
upon tlu! business. 1 could not, therefore, leave town
till Sundav, and 1 was not without some fear of bein^:
recalled at the beginning of this week. But, however,
the business is all linished, and by this time the letter
is delivered either to the King, or, by his command, to
some of his Ministers. Which course is to be pursued,
I have not yet learnt ; but it was apprehended, when
I left town, that liis ^lajesty would not receive it
through any hands but his Ministers.
" AVith respect to the desire of preventing all fur-
ther inquiry upon the subject of her Royal llighness's
conduct, there is no difference of opinion amongst any
persons that I have consulted ; and we have kept in
view tliat desire, in the execution of our more imme-
diate duty, — that of setting her right, and doing her
justice, on the subject of the present inquiry.
" It was extremely ditiicult, if not perhaps impossi-
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE EOSE. 301
ble, to do justice to her in the present case, without
doing much Ayhich may provoke more hostility against
her ; but we were all satisfied, at least so I thought I
collected the general sentiment, that the report was so
framed that she could not acquiesce under it in silence
without admitting its truth ; and that, in fact, there
was evidently so much disposition to be hostile to
her manifested in the whole course of the proceed-
ing, that looking forward to a new reign, there
could be no possible security for her being per-
mitted to hold her rank or station in this country,
but from the existence of a strong sentiment in her
favour throughout the kingdom ; and that, therefore,
her letter to the King should be so prepared, that
if published, it should have the efiect of producing
rather than checking that sentiment. The copies of
this letter, undoubtedly, unless it should be deter-
mined to publish it, ought to be kept very secret ; but
as soon as I conveniently can, I will endeavour to
procure you a sight of one of them, as I really shall
be very anxious to know your opinion u])on it. In
the stage to which we had advanced, when you were
in town, it would have been extremely difficult, upon
any suggestion, to have adopted any material altera-
tion in our plan ; and the materials Avhich you must
have been acquainted with to have enabled you to
have formed a judgment, would have taken you more
time to read, than you could possibly have employed,
between your proposed call, and your visit on the next
morning. On your business which interested you so
strongly and justly as connected with your County, I
802 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
felt incapaljle of giving you any further opinion ; and,
indeed, it seemed to nie, that as the onlv useful elVect
that could !)(' produced by anything that couhl be
done, wouhl he by its operati(»n upon tlic general
sentiments of the county, notliing very decisive
couKl be determined upon till you met together,
and had an opportunity of seeing how the sub-
ject would be received in the county. 1 am glad
to see, however, that such sentiment seems to have
been in the most hapj)y state for the best im-
pression ; and I can hardly conceive, that as this
matter has been taken up at so respectable a meeting,
there can be any doubt of Chute's success, and that
of Sir llenry Mildmay, or of whatever other candidate
(equally j)ropcr as he is) you may be able to prevail
upon to stand. I am now in a house where this
subject is a very anxious one (Chute married Lady
Northampton's sister), and I tind here that Chute's
reception in diti'ercnt parts of the county has been
most favourable. 1 am glad that my brother Druni-
mond supports him ; and I tind your neighbour,
Compton, does the same. I cannot help thinking
that Lord Temple's indiscretion will have a very
strong eftect, not only in Hampshire, but in other
parts of the country. Lord Ellenborough called
upon me the other day (if I had not had occasion to
write to you upon other business, I should not have
thought the circumstance of importance enough to
mention it, but he called), and began by stating that
now Fox was no more, probably the obstacle and
objection which I felt to having anv connexion with
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 303
the present Administration were at an end. And as a
friend of mine, lie wished to express his anxiety to
do anything which lay in his power to promote my
connexion with them. I told him, that I thought
I ought, in candour to his friendship, to stop
him immediately ; saying, that if his idea was con-
fined to me individually, I was so connected with
others, that I could not possibly receive any proposal
whatever, and therefore the conversation had better
stop, before I even knew whether what he had to
communicate was, or was not, in concert with Lord
Grenville, or was merely suggestive of his own
friendship to me. — And he said, that if I felt so,
undoubtedly there could be no occasion for its
proceeding any further; and therefore, though I
own I was not without a little curiosity to have
known how they fancied they could have reconciled
me to what I should have felt such great degradation
and disgrace of character, I was left quite in the dark
upon that subject.
" I was in town all Saturday last, but heard nothing
of your son ; and as I shall not return till the end of
this week, or the beginning of next, I imagine his
business will not wait till my return. I should have
had great pleasure in giving it any attention in my
power.
" I am, dear Rose,
"Very faithfully and sincerely yours,
" S. Perceval.'
301 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDEN'CE OF
Sir Vicary Ginns to Mr. Rose.
" Hayes Common, Bromley, Oct. 5th, 1 HOfl.
" My dear Sir,
" His Majci^ty has (Ucliiii'd rocciviiipj the answer
excc))t througli the sanu* cliannd as the other papers
liad pa.ssed ; but the manner of (h»ing this, and the
circumstances attending it, do not lead to so unfa-
vourable a conchision as the refusal itself would
otherwise justify. It will be delivered to the Chan-
cellor to-morrow, bv Plumer, The observations which
are made upon the conduct of the Commissioners will
certainly provoke them to any hostile measures which
it may bo in their power to adopt ; but it was diffi-
cult, if not impossible, to avoid this consequence, and
at the same time g;Wc its fidl strenu'th to the case.
All asperity of expression is avoitled, but certainly
nnieh of substantial blame is imputed to them, and
with good reason., as you will say when you see the
papers.
" The papers contain a correct account of the horrid
accident at Leatherhead. Miss Cholmondclev was, I
believe, a sincere friend to the Princess, and is, there-
fore, a real loss to her at this time, though I have heard
that there are some who think otherwise. The Princess,
whom I saw yesterday, was a good deal bruised, parti-
cularly in her hce, but not materially hurt. I beg my
best compliments to Mrs. and Miss Rose, and Miss
Dewar.
" I am, my dear Sir,
" Most sincerely yours,
"V. GiBBS."
THE RIGHT HON. GEOUGE ROSE. 305
[As a powerful electric magnet draws to itself a
multitude of nails, and forms out of them a sort of
iron cable, which, when its connexion with the source
of that force loses all its cohesion, and falls to pieces ;
so the party which was held together by the command-
ing influence of Mr. Pitt's talents, was broken up
entirely by his death, and resolved into its indivi-
dualities. Dissensions and jealousies sprang up im-
mediately ; and they found it impossible to array
themselves under any one leader, or to agree upon any
common rule of action in opposition to the Whig
Government. So much, indeed, of the Whig element
was eliminated by the death of Mr. Fox, that the
party was almost ready to split into two sections : the
one quite willing to act with Lord Grenville, with
whom they had been so long connected ; the other
and major part vehemently objecting to it.
The objection, as it appeared upon the surface,
rested on his desertion of Mr. Pitt in 1804 ; but, in
reality, the strong feeling on the subject of the Roman
Catholic question lay at the bottom of it. Mr. Can-
ning, who on that and all other points of policy agreed
with Lord Grenville, was only kept by party ties from
joining him at once. In the letter which is here
given he very plainly defines his position, and explains
his views. Lord Eldon, on the other hand, followed
Mr. Pitt much more closely in his attachment to the
King, and was for many years at the head of the
other party in the House of Lords ; and, therefore, it
VOL. II. X
300 DIAIUES AND COUREsl'ONDKNCl-: OF
is certainly strange that he should have been so little
consulted by his friends. Mr. Rose scorns to have
been the only one ^vho coninumicated to him what
was going on ; and his answer breathes a deep discon-
tent and nioititication at such treatment, lie says : —
" I lament upon, I hope, worthy grounds, that my
obscm-itv was such as to keep nic entirely ignorant of
liic proceeding at Lord Lowther's till it was of no
maimer of use that I shoidd ever have known of it."
The whole of his letter is in this strain, and, theref(jre,
is not much to the purpose.
After reading Mr. Canning's letter at the beginning
of this year, and seeing how ready he was to desert
his colours, no one can be sur[)ris(.(l at linding him
before the end of it again in oflice. But there is
bitterness as wcl! as sweetness in the cup of ambition ;
and the importunity of friends sometimes alloys the
enjoyment of high })atronage. Mr. Rose, who never
cared to aggrandize himself, was always eager to obtain
something for his son ; and some disappointment on
this subject is afterwards mentioned by him with
feelings of resentment. But, on the present occasion,
the apologetic answer of Mr. Canning probably falls
within the experience of most official men. lie says :
" Only be assured of my general disposition to gratify
your wishes, and your sou's fair pretensions ; but
pray have the goodness to bear in mind, at the same
time, the limited means on the one hand, and the
many unavoidable and powerful claims on the other
THE EIGHT HON. GEOEGE EOSE. 307
which. I have to reconcile (if I can) at my first outset ;
and do not, therefore, ascribe the want of immediate
attention to any defect of real good-will."
It so happened, however, that he had an immediate
opportunity of proving his sincerity by sending the
late Sir George Rose on a special mission to the
United States ; and the appointment is proved to be a
wise one, by a letter from Mr. Munroe, the American
Ambassador. " The appointment " says he to Mr.
Rose, " of your son to the United States on a special
mission is an event which gives me great satisfaction.
It will, I trust, be productive of consequences honour-
able and advantageous to both nations. The senti-
ments which you are so good as to express of the rela-
tion which oudit to subsist between them are such as
might have been expected from one who had had such
long experience in the great concerns of his country.
They cannot fail to be highly approved by all who
take an interest in the welfare of either. I have full
confidence that those sentiments are entertained by
your son ; as I have that he will be received by my
government with the attention and consideration due
to his acknowledged personal merit and to the public
character of his mission. It is my sincere desire that the
difterences which have unhappily arisen between our
Governments may be speedily settled, to the satisfaction
of both parties ; and I beg you to be assured that, as I
have long laboured to promote that very important
object, I shall continue to take a deep interest in the
accomplishment of it."
X 2
308 DIARIES AND COIUlESrONDENCE OF
TlicTc arc two otlicr letters belonging to this year
which deserve sonic little notice. In tiie tirst place,
one from Sir John Macplurson, who had hcen
Governor-General of Bengal, and is accused bv Lord
Cornwallis of having encouraged gross abuses in his
administration. Xcvcrtheless, he takes to liimself
credit for having devised plans by which India was
saved, and which must be resorted to again, in
order to save this country in India ; and he declares,
witii an amazing degree of self-complacency, that
when the Conunissioners for the Carnatic Debt shall
make their report to Purliament, it will not be a
proud day for others, but must be for him, John Mtu:-
plicrson. Moreover, like the fly upon the wheel, he
mentions his armed statistical accomit of ^parish in
Sussex, which was translated into French, and sent to
all the foreign courts. " The late armed J^rmaian
vianj/csto fully end)races all its parts." In mitigation
of this vanity, it may be stated that he had almost as
liigh an oj)inion of his correspondent's influence over
Europe as his own, for he tells Mr. Rose, " It is
essential that the new plan of finance (the present
Lord Lansdown's) should have your support to have
the j)ropcr effect upon the Continent."
The other letter is from a parliaiuentary supporter
of Mr. Kose, in Hampshire, who endeavours to coax
him into giving him a permission to see the Houses of
Parliament by alarming him about a conspiracy against
the Church, with which, however, he had l)een ac-
quainted four years before without saying a word on
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 309
the matter. The conspirators were Mr. Miles and
Earl Wycombe, afterwards Lord Lansdown. The
former begged the latter to inquire what was the
value of tlie Deanery of Durham and its prebends,
and how many there were. His notions on the sub-
ject were of the vaguest kind ; for lie seems to have
supposed that they were all golden prebends, and that
there was one officer in the Chapter called the Pre-
bendary, who enjoyed a larger income than the rest.
But he then proceeds to say, " If I could set men a
thinking about the Chapters, I will answer for their
dissolution ; and their dissolution will tend to the
abolition of tithes ; and the abolition of tithes to the
improvement of landed property." Now, this rapid
excnrsion to the contemplated ruin of the Esta-
blished Church, indicates a mind very much in har-
mony with the prediction attributed to Talleyrand,
that Christianity would go into the grave without
a struggle.
The unmitigated selfishness of the object which Mr.
Miles proposed to himself is very characteristic of that
class of men ; but the Power above, which never entered
into his thoughts, and the religious principle which he
ignored, have defeated all his speculations, and saved
the Church of England, under the control of a super-
intending Providence. The landowners of England
refused the glittering bait. They have reformed the
Chapters, and commuted the tithes, but they have not
al)olished cither; and they have been rewarded by a
310 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
great improvement, not only in their property, but,
■what is of more importance, in tliose who cultivate it.
The correspondence of the next year (180S), though
containing nothing of public note, is yet of great
importance in the unevontl^il life of the subject
of tlicse Memoirs ; for the few letters belonging to it
show the high estimation in which Mr. Rose was held
by those who were highest themselves in rank and
office. The Duke of Portland not only assured him
that his wishes would alwavs have considerable wei^^rht
with him in any decision he might take, but proved it
by promising tliat General Ilibbert, for whom he had
shown some interest, should be recommended to the
King for a baronetcy. And Lord Barham recom-
mended to his care, as if he were the fountain of
honoiM", two olhcers distinguished for their gallantry
and good conduct (Captains Blacklock and Lambert),
who, therefore, deserved some reward ; at the same
time disclosing a project of Mr. Pitt's, which, if he
had lived, he would have carried into execution, of
establishing an order of merit siinilar, it would seem,
to the present Victoria Cross.
But it was of more importance to himself that he
received the offer of two appointments, one from the
Duke of York, who overruled his objections and
insisted upon his taking the office of Deputy Warden
of the New Forest, in the management of which he
seemed to rely much upon his deputy's advice and
assistance. The other was from Mr. Canning, who
THE IIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 311
wanted him to go out on a special mission to Brazil,
to frame a commercial treaty. This is the subject of
a long: letter, in which Mr. Rose declines the offer,
wisely and discreetly. If he had been sent there with
a carfe blanche, before the regular avnbassador, he
Avould have had a fair chance of making arrangements
with the Court of Rio Janeiro beneficial to both
countries ; but Lord Strangford was already there,
and if he was competent to the business, no one else
was wanted. If he was not — if his errors had to be
corrected, and his defect of experience had to be
supplied, conflicts between them would have been
inevitable, and the Brazilian minister would have been
able to play oflF the one against the other. Despairing
therefore of doing any good by being placed in such
a false position, he would not accept the appointment.
Mr. Canning to Mr. Rose.
"Dear Rose, "Feb. 7th, i807.
"I entirely agree with you that the communica-
tion which you have received from Lord Eld on
entitles his Lordship to as explicit a declaration in
return, from any person to whom he may allow you to
report what he has said, and whose sentiments he
may be desirous of learning,
" I can have no difficulty in stating mine to you
freely, as you desire. I shall only be surprised if,
with respect to my sentiments, Lord Eldon has any-
thing new to learn. For I certainly have all along
312 DIARIES AND COIIIIESPON'DEN'CE OF
supposed tliat the substance of a conversation, ^vllicll
passed between Perceval and Lord Castlereagh on tlie
one part, and myself on tlie other, so long ago as in
the month of February last, hail been reported by
them to their friends ; as on my part I reported it, as
soon as it had taken place, to those with whom I had
previously ascertained my own entire concurrence of
feeUngs and opinions. I reported it, as you will
remend)er, to yourself; and I communicated it by
letter to Lord Lowther, as furnishing (according to
my view) a ground on which the co-operation in
Parliament, between the two dilhrent descriptions of
Mr. Pitt's friends, might be honourably and satisfac-
torily established.
" Perceval and Lord Castlen^agh called upon me in
Somerset Place (I think on the 8th of IVbruary), and
began by stating their own intentions with respect to
attendance and conduct in Parliament. They then
expressed a desire to know mine. 1 had no scruple
in saying plainly, " that I entertained great doubts (as
did others with whom I was in habits of communica-
tion) of the probability of such an agreement with
them (P. and L'l C.) as to the end and objects o( any
opposition in which we might engage, as would make
our entire co-operation practicable.
*' Li evervthiui^ that miijrht relate to the defence of
the measures and memory of Mr. Pitt (I said) there
could be no question ; but we should all cordially
co-operate, without the necessity of any formal stipula-
tion, or even of any previous concert.
"But, as to ulterior objects, I stated distinctly that
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 313
whatever causes of complaint there might be against
Lord Grenville, 1 still thought him the fittest, indeed
the only fit, man to be at the head of the Government ;
that I saw no possibility of forming a Government,
sufficient to carry the country through its difficulties,
without him ; and that though nothing would tempt
me to continue in office with him (if it were proposed
to me) at that time, nor did I think it likely that 1
could ever be induced to join the Government, con-
stituted precisely as it then was, — I yet had no desire
to see it entirely overthrown. My wish would be to
see it, at some fit opportunity, amended by the asso-
ciation with Lord Grenville of some portion of the
friends of Mr. Pitt.
"I said that 'I apprehended iheir views {\J. C.'s
and P.'s) might be different. It was natural they
should be so. My habits with Lord Grenville were
those of constant and intimate private friendship, and
(with the exception of his unfortunate separation from
Mr. Pitt in 1804) of uninterrupted concurrence in
political opinion and conduct. Theij, and their friends,
had been long in direct political hostility with Lord
Grenville, and never (I beUeved) in habits of private
friendship. It would be nothing extraordinary, there-
fore, if in iheir eyes Lord Grenville should not even be
the most favoured part of the administration. Nor
could I blame them, if their first object should be (as
it probably would) a complete change ; or if, finding
that impracticable, they should look for a more partial
change through Lord Sidmouth. Put neither of these
was an object for which I could consent to co-operate.'
31t DIARIES AND COKUESPONDENCE OF
" III answer, Lord Castlereagh and Perceval dis-
claimed looking to Lord Sidmoutli, in any ^vay or for
any purpose, in the most pointed terms. And to my
great surprise, I confess, but to my great satisfaction,
added, that with respect to Lord Grenvjlle, their views
and wishes coincided with mine. And they expressed
these sentiments not on their own behalf onlv, but on
that of others with whom tluy were most immediately
connected.
" Such was the distinct and express understanding
under which I went into the House of Commons, after
the formation of the New Government; — and such arc
the opinions which 1 still retain.
" 1 need not tell you tli;it al the lime when I first
declared these opinions, I had had no intercourse with
Lord Grcnville of any sort. We did not even ex-
change the ordinary civility of a letter upon my
quitting office. The course of the Session certaiidy
did not appear to bring us nearer to each other ; and
I was taken completely by surprise, by the overtures
which were made to me at the end of June or begin-
ning of July.
" Of the manner in which I received those overtures,
of my positive and repeated refusal to listen to them
separately, and my persevering endeavour to turn
what was addressed, in the first instance, to myself
alone, into a general or comi)rehensive proposal, 1
need not here trouble you with any particular
account. The inclosed coi)y of a letter to Lord
Lowther, written on the 2Gth of September, contains
a plain statement of the substance of my intercourse
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 315
with Lord Grenville, up to the 14th of that montli
(the day of ]\Ir. Pox's death), on which day that
intercourse terminated.
" Lord Ehlon will probably recollect a conversa-
tion which I had on that day, in Ids presence, with
Lord Hawkesbury, in which Lord H. repeated, at
my desire, the amount of those pretensions, which
had been brought forward at a meeting held at Lord
Lowther's in July, as necessary to be satisfied in any
arrangement between Lord Grenville and the friends
of Mr. Pitt. • -
" What that amount w^as I see no advantage in
recording. It was certainly sufficient to form an
insurmountable impediment to any successful negoti-
ation with Lord Grenville.
" These pretensions were, as you know, professed
to be founded on what ]\Ir. Pitt was said to have
been ready to offer to the Opposition in the summer
of 1805, had he then been permitted to make an
offer to them ; but it required very little sagacity to
discover that they were not founded on any principle
that was calculated to facilitate a junction ; but rather
on the preference of another , which was considered as
a better speculation.
" From the period of the opposition to ]\[r.
Windham's military plan, it had begun to be believed
and inculcated, that the King meditated a change of
Government ; and that particularly if a dissolution of
I'arliaraent should be proposed to him, he would take
his stand upon that ground.
" How or where these ideas originated I purposely
31G ULVlllES AND COllRESPONDEN'CE OF
forbear to iiuiuirc. T certainly could he niysflf no
judge of their solidity. I could know nothing per-
sonally of his Majesty's sentiments, and I had m-xcv
received from any one member of the Administration
Avliieh resigned in January, the slightest communiea-
tion of the grounds of that resignation ; of the footing
on which they partt-d from the King, or of the King's
feelings, views, or wishes, expressed at parting with
them.
" Taking everything upon trust, however, I deter-
mined that this speculation, whatever it might be
worth, should not be spoiled by any act of mine.
Therefore it was that I offered no objection to the
extent of the pretensions stated at Lord Lowther's,
and therefore it ^vas that in all my intercourse with
Lord Grenvillc, though I never specified to liiin the
extent of those pretensions (which could have done
no good), I kept that statement constantly in view ;
sacrificing my own judgment as well as my own
wishes, and therewith, I believe, what would have been
(well understood) the true interest of the party (if
party it coidd be considered), to what 1 had collected
to be i//('ir oirn view of their own interests and pre-
tensions.
•' The loss of this opportunity has been followed by
the dissolution ; of the operation of which event upon
the pretensions to which 1 have referred, and upon
the calculation on which they were founded, 1 sup-
pose there cannot be much difference of o})inion.
" It remains only to speak of the second topic
of Lord Eldon's conversation with vou, that of the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 317
necessity of more perfect understanding and concert
in Parliament.
" I am not aware that there has been any want
of union or of activity in the House of Commons ;
and if there has been (as does appear to be the case)
any such deficiency in the House of Lords, I confess
I do not see how it is to be remedied, but by them-
selves. In truth I very much doubt, from the tone
taken by some of their Lordships last year, whether
our interference even with the expression of an
opinion might not do more harm than good.
" I need hardly say, however, that I am perfectly
ready to listen Avith the utmost deference to any sug-
gestion upon this subject.
" Yours sincerely,
" Geo. Canning."
318 DIARIES AND CORRESl'ONDENCK OF
CIlAPTEPv IX.
1807.
MR. nOSE'S DIARY FROM THE 9TH FEBRUARY TO 3D MARCH.
[The next part of Mr. Rose's Diary gives a succinct
account of what passed between the King and his
^linisters in this year on the suljject of the restrictions
upon the Roman Catholics. Tliougli it contains
nothing absohitely new, yet it presents the negotiation
in such an inlelHgihle form, as to show clearly enough
the inaccuracy of Lord Brougham's account of their
expulsion from the Cabinet. Nothing but his hatred
of George 111. can ex})lain how the natural clearness
of his mind could be so nuich clouded with error.
He states that " the King, uneasy at being counselled
by a Whig Cabinet, had resolved to change his Minis-
ters, and to (piarrel with them upon the highly popular
ground of tiieir having made themselves the con-
federates of the I'rince, then in the aotte of his
iinpo})\darity ; and as such, having taken part against
the Princess. Fortunately for that party, whose utter
ruin this would have consummated, another scent
crossed his Majesty while in that pursuit, and he dex-
terously turned aside to follow it. This was the theory
of 'No Popery, and Danger to the Church.'"'
1 Historical Sketches of Statesmen, &c , vol. ii. p. (53.
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 319
Now there is no symptom of any disagreement
between the King and his Ministers on the subject of
the Princess. Those of the party who Hved a few
years longer were her fastest friends ; himself the very
foremost of them all. The only one who could be
called a confederate of the Prince was Mr. Fox, but he
was dead ; and Lord Moira was the sole member of
the Cabinet who lived on terms of confidential intimacy
with the King. But the scent that crossed the King's
path, as it were by accident, is a singular misrepre-
sentation by Lord Brougham, for one so well acquainted
with the facts. Any person ignorant of the contents
of his preceding volume might suppose that this was
a new cry of which the King availed himself, not on
princi[)le, but merely to gain his end of turning out
the ?\Iiuisters.
It is true, the popular cry supported him in so doing,
but the whole current of the negotiation proves that
they brought it upon themselves. They did not sliare
the strong attachment to the Sovereign which prompted
Mr. Pitt to sacrifice his character, in the eyes of
strano-ers, bv undertakinsr not onlv to refrain from
moving a cpiestion so entirely repugnant to the King's
conscience, during the remainder of his reign, but
also, as far as he could, to prevent others ; and,
therefore, they merely temporized Avith him. Tliey
would withdraw the bill they had prepared, but they
would not guarantee him from being tormented with
it again another year if it were brought forward by
320 DIARIES AND CORKESPOXDEN'CE OP
others : vvliidi, undtT such circumstances, was sure to
hiippcn. Tor being supported by tlie Ministers, which
they wouhl claim the hberty to assert, it wouUl i)ass
througli both Houses; and tlien the conscience of the
King woidd drive him into this dilemma, of either op-
posing his veto to a law of Parliament, or of abdicating
the throne. Thev were willint; to make a concession for
the present, but not a particle for tlie future. Their
characters would be lost if they did not state their
opinions freely; but tliey might iiave i)romise{l to
exercise no ministerial intluence to carry the motion,
and then there would have been no objection to the
expression of their individual opinions. Or, if an
emergency should arise, in which they thought the
safety of the State indispensably required it, they
might then have resigned their offices. In point of
fact, no such emergency did arise before the cstabUsh-
ment of the Regency ; but they would do nothing to
calm the fears or tranquillize the mind of the aged
monarch. It was the haui^htiness of tliese Whigs
that drove them out of office. — Ed.]
Biary^ Februan/ ^t/i. — Lord Spencer sends to the
King, in a note from himself, a minute of the Cabinet
Council of this date —
Lord President . . . Lord Howick.
Lord Priry Seal . . . Lord H. T. Petty.
Earl Spencer. Lord Grenville.
Earl Moira. Mr. Secretary Windham.
Mr. Thomas Grenville.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 321
This minute accompanies a despatcli from the Lord-
Lieutenant of Ireland, respecting the Catholics there ;
with the draft of an answer to be sent to his Excel-
lency.
February lOM. — The King's answer, approving of
the Lord-Lieutenant being instructed to keep back any
petition from the L-ish Catholics, and to prevent the
renevi^al of the question on which his sentiments and
the general sense of the nation are so well known, —
expresses his most serious concern that any proposal
should have been made to him for the introduction of
a clause in the Mutiny Bill which would remove a
restriction on the Roman Cathohcs, forming a most
essential /mif^^;-^ of the question ; and that he trusts his
Parliament will never, under any circumstances, agree
to it. His objections are strong. They arise from
principles by which he has been guided through life,
and to which he is determined to adhere.
Minute of Cabinet Council ; — the same ministers as
before, except Lord Spencer, ill; with the Lord
Chancellor added, and Lord EUenborough.
They had formed the answer so as to be free from
the difficulties which might attend other parts of the
subject on which his Majesty knew a difference of
opinion prevailed among themselves ; it being confined
to assimilating the law here to what it has within these
few years been made in L'cland, as the latter will
otherwise be illusory ; the measure will unite all his
Majesty's subjects in military efforts for the defence of
the empire. The Ministers would think themselves
deeply criminal if they disguised this point from his
VOL. II. Y
l\22 DTARIES AND COKRKSPONDKNCE OF
Majesty, or if they could neglect to otier to Parliaineiit
a proposal they respectfully conceive is not liable to
the ground of objection which his Majesty appears at
first to have felt to it, which in its principle is clearly
sanctioned by a law long since passed and acted upon
in many instances; it will avert the dangers they
have represented, and eftVet the most probable means
of preventing the agitation of those questions, on
which the opinion of Parliament has been so recently
pronounced.
Fehruar}/ Wth. — A long note from Lord Grenville
to the King, transmitting the last minute, urging his
Majesty, from himself (in addition to the reason in the
minute) to acquiesce in the measure proposed, as per-
fectly conformable in its principle to the concession
therein alluded to. Nothing but a deep impression of
the intlispensable necessity of some step of this nature
at the present moment could induce his Lordship to
think himself warranted in recommending it with such
extreme earnestness.
Fehruarji Vlth. — Note from the King. Ilis Majesty
is disposed to do full justice to the motives of Lord
Grenville and his other confidential servants. How-
ever painful his Majesty has found it to reconcile to
liis feelings the renewal of objections to any proposal
which may have had the least reference to a question
which has already been the subject of such frequent
and distressing reflections, he will not, under the cir-
cumstances in which it is so earaestly pressed, and
adverting particularly to what took place in 1793, pre-
vent his Ministers from submitting to Parliament, the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 323
propriety of inserting the proposed clause in the ^Ivitiny
Bill. Whilst, however, the King so far reluctantly
concedes, he considers it necessary to declare that he
cannot go one step farther ; and he trusts that this
mark of his forbearance will secure him from being, at
a future period, distressed by arty further proposal C07i-
nected with this question.
Note from Lord Grenville (in the absence of Lord
Spencer) to the King, with the following minute of the
Cabinet Council, with a despatch of the Lord-Lieu-
tenant of Ireland, to which it refers.
Minute. — The same Lords present as at the last,
thanking the King for the concession, and expressing
their concern that the Catholics presenting a petition
will be unavoidable.
March 12th. — Note from Lord Grenville to the
King, desu-ing permission to wait on him, in conse-
quence of what his jMajesty expressed yesterday ;
feeling the greatest anxiety and distress of mind from
the idea that any misunderstanding, however unin-.
tentional on his Lordship's part, should have had the
effect of creating uneasiness in the breast of his
Majesty, on a point on which he had felt so earnest
and peculiar a desire to avoid any such impression ; and
he hints, that what he shall have the honour of laying
before the King to-morrow will at least evince the
sincerity of these sentiments.
Lord Grenville was appointed at twelve on
the 13th. ■
Note from Lord Howick to the King, stating
that having learned from the Lord President, that
Y 2
324 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
in the conversation he had IkuI with liis Majesty
on the bill de[)Ciiclinf]; in P;iiliainent for the admis-
sion of Dissenters from the Church of Kiip;lan(!
into the army and n:ivy, he had not accurately
understood the opinion which his Majesty in-
tended to convey on the subject; Lord Ilowick is
most anxiously desirous to explain to his Majt-sty
the conduct he has pursued under this niisaj)j)re-
hcusion, and therefore solicits an audience. Till the
explanation is had. his Lordship feels it would bo
unfit to proceed with the bill, and will, therefore, this
afternoon ])ropose to postpone it till Tuesday, the
17th; and will, in the mean time, endeavour to find
some mode by which the measure (proposed from
a sense of duty to his Majesty) may be rendered less
objectionable.
Lord Ilowick apj)ointed at one, on the 13th.
March \hth. — Note from Lord Grenville to the
King, transmitting the following minute of the
Cabinet Council, announcing the opinions of such of his
Majesty's servants as are therein named, respecting
the bill depending in Parliament; and requesting leave
to wait on the King the next morning for the purpose
of giving any explanation that his Majesty may deem
necessary on this important occasion.'
Lord Privy Seal . . . Lord Grenville.
Earl of Moira. Mr. Secretary Windham.
Lord Howick. Mr. Grenville.
Lord H. Petty.
^ This minute, and the one of the 18th, are rerhatim ; so are the
lung's answers.
THE KIGHT HOX. GEORGE ROSE. 325
Yoar Majesty's servants now present, being those
whose opinions are favourable to the bill, humbly
submit that, on a full consideration of all circum-
stances connected with it, they do not intend there
shall be any further proceedings on it in Parliament.
This determination rests entirely on the same motives
which have induced them to abstain from bringing
forward other and more extensive measures connected
with the same subject, and which would, in their
judgment, be highly advantageous to the public
interests. They had flattered themselves that the
present proposal might not have encountered the
same difficulties which attended the measures to which
they allude ; but as this hope appears to have been
founded on misunderstanding, they judge it on the
whole more consistent with their public duty not to
press forward any further the discussion of the
present bill. They have thought this course of
proceeding would be both more respectful to his
Majesty, and more advantageous to the public in-
terests, than any statement to alter the bill so as to
bring it nearer to the strict letter of the Irish Act.
The points of difference which exist between this
law and the present bill, relate to matters, the
consideration of which (as it appears to them) it is
almost impossible to separate from the measure itself;
and they have found the attempt impracticable to
reduce the bill to such a form as would, on the one
hand, be likely to obviate the difficulties which now
obstruct its success, and as could, on the other hand,
be at all satisfactory for them to propose.
32(5 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
In stating to Parliament their dctcrinination to make
this very painful sacrifice to what they conceive to Ix;
their public duty, they trust your Majesty will see the
indispensable necessity of their e\[)ressing (with the
same openness by which their lauf^uage on that subject
lias uniformly been marked) the strong persuasion
which each of these individuals entertains of the advan-
tages which would result to the empire from a dillerent
course of p(jliey towards the Catholics of Ireland.
Their opinions they liave never concealed from your
Majesty; they continue strongly im[)ressed with them,
and it is obviously indispensable to their public
character that they should openly avow them, both on
the present occasion and in the possible event of the dis-
cussion of the Catholic ])etition in Parliament : a discus-
sion which they have all ecpially endeavoured U) j)re-
vent; in wliich (if it should be forced upoji them) there
might not be a perfect uniformity of conduct between
them, luit in which an adherence in them all to their
former opinions must naturally be declared.
They beg leave to add, that they cannot look without
great uneasiness and apprehension at the present state
of Ireland, which they consider as the only vulnerable
part of the British Empire. The situation of that
country is, as they fear, likely to force itself more and
more on the consideration of your ^lajesty's Govern-
ment and of Parliament : and it is essential not onlv to
their own character, but also, as they sincerely believe,
to the public interests, that the deference which they
have felt it their duty to show on this occasion to the
opinions and feelings expressed by your Majesty,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 327
should not be understood as restraining them from
time to time, from proposing, as their duty is, for your
Majesty's decision, such measures respecting that part
of your united kingdom as the nature of circumstances
shall appear to require.
They have only further most humbly to assure your
Majesty that, in discharging that and every other part
of their duty, so long as your Majesty shall think fit to
honour them with your confidence, nothing shall be
omitted on their part which can best testify their
invariable and respectful attachment to your Majesty ;
and their sincere and anxious concern for your
Majesty's personal ease and comfort, and for the
prosperity and honour of your Majesty's Govern-
ment.
March \lth. — Note from the King to Lord Gren-
ville, with the following answer to the minute of the
15th: That his Lordship may communicate it to his
colleagues, his Majesty trusting that Lord G. will
see the propriety, with a vieio to the prevention of
all future mistakes, that, when they shall have consi-
dered the latter part of his Majesty's answer, their
determination should be stated on paper.
The King's Answer.
March \lfh. — The King having fully considered
what is submitted in the minute of the Cabinet, wiiich he
received yesterday morning, desires Lord Grcnville will
communicate to those of his confidential servants who
were present, his sentiments and observations on the
contents of that minute, as hereafter expressed.
328 l5l ARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
His Majesty has learned, with satisfaction, tlmt they
have determined not to press forward any furl her the
discnssion of the bill depending in Parliament, and he
is sensible of the deference shown to his sentiments
and to his feelings ; bnt he regrets that, while they
have felt bonnd, as his Ministers, to adopt this line of
condnet, they slionld, as itiflividuals, consider it neces-
sary to state to Parliament opinions which are known
to be so decidedly contrary to his principle's; at a
moment, too, when it is tli»; declared object of his
Government not to cnconrage any disposition on the
part of the Roman Catholics of Ireland to prefer
petitions to Parliament.
From the latter part of the niimite the King must
conclude that, although the bill now (lcj)en(ling is
dropped, they have been unable to make uj) their minds
not to press upon him in future, measures connected
with a (juestion which has already proved so distress-
ing to him ; nor can his Majesty conceal from them
that this intention on their part, unless withdrawn,
will leave the matter in a state most embarrassing and
unsatisfactory to him ; and, in his opinion, not less so
to them. The King, therefore, considers it due to
himself, and consistent with the fair ami uj)right con-
duct which it has been and ever will be his object to
observe towards every one, to declare at once, most
unequivocally, that upon this subject his sentiments
never can change ; that he cannot even agree to any
concessions to the Catholics which his confidential
servants may in future ever propose to him ; and that
under these circumstances, and after what has passed,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 329
his mind cannot be at ease unless he shall receive a
positive assurance from them which shall effectually
relieve him from all future apprehensions.
March \^th. Half -past One, a.m. — Lord Gren-
ville has the honour most humbly to lay before your
Majesty the minutes of a meeting of such of your
Majesty's servants as are therein named, which w^as
held to-night at Earl Spencer's house.
March llth, 1807.
Lord Trivy Seal .... Lord H. Petty.
Earl Spencer. Lord Grenville.
Earl of Moira. Mr. Secretary Windham.
Viscount Howick. Mr. Grenville.
Your Majesty's servants have considered, with the
most respectful and dutiful attention, the answer
which your Majesty has done them the honour to
return to the minutes of the 15th. They beg leave
to represent to your Majesty, that at the time
when your Majesty was graciously pleased to call
them to your councils, no assurance was required
from them inconsistent with those duties which are
inseparable from that station. Had any such assur-
ance been then demanded, tliey must have expressed,
with all humility and duty, the absolute impossibility
of their thus fettering the free exercise of their
judgment. Those who are entrusted by your Majesty
with the administration of your extensive empire, are
bound by every obligation to submit to your Majesty,
witliout reserve, the best advice which they can frame
to meet the various exigencies and dangers of the times.
The situation of Ireland ap])ears to your Majesty's
servants to constitute the most formidable part of the
330 DIARIES AND C0RUE8P0NDENCK OF
present difficiiltics of the empire. Tliis subject must,
as they conceive, rccpiire a constant and vigilant
attention, juuI a repeated consideration of every fresh
circumstance whicli may call for the interposition of
your Majesty's Government or of Parliament.
In forbearing to urge any furtiier (while employed
in your Majesty's service) a measure which, in their
judgment, would have tended to compose the present
uneasiness in Ireland, and have been productive of
material l)enefits to the empire, they humbly submit to
your Majesty that they have gone to the utmost pos-
sible limits of their public duty; but that it would be
deeply ciiminal in them, with the general opinions
which they entertain on the s\d)ject, to bind them-
selves to withhold from your Majesty, under all the
various circumstances which may arise, those counsels
which may eventually appear to them indispensably
necessary for the peace and tranquillity of Ireland ;
and for defeating the enterprises of the enemy against
the very existence of your Majesty's empire.
Your Majesty's servants must ever deeply regret
that any diiticulty should arise on their part in giving
the most })rom))t obedience to any demaiul which your
]\Iajesty considers as indispensable to the case of your
Majesty's mind ; but it is not possible for them, con-
sistently with any sense of those obligations which
must always attach to the sworn counsellors of your
Majesty, to withdraw a statement which was not
made without the most anxious consideration of every
circumstance which could be suggested by their
earnest desire for your Majesty's ease, comfort, and
happiness; or to give assurances which would impose
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 331
upon them a restraint incorapatilile with the faithful
discharge of the most important duty which they owe
to your Majesty.
FrmdjKil Heads of the Desjmtclics from the Lord-
Lieutenant OF Ireland, of the 11 fh February/,
transmitted to the King, with the Minutes of the ^th.
A meeting of the Cathohcs had been held. His
Excellency thinks they would be satisfied if the
restrictions on the admission of Roman Catholic gen-
tlemen into the army and navy were removed, and they
were allow^ed to serve as sheriffs, and to be admitted
into corporations.
The answer to that was, a request to the Lord-
Lieutenant to keep back the renewal of the pretensions
formerly preferred, but to suggest a proposal to remove
the restrictions upon admission into the army, and the
military promotion of the Catholics ; with which
view it is the intention of his Majesty's Ministers, with
his Majesty's sanction, to introduce a clause in the
Mutiny Bill to that effect. The Catholics to take an
oath to be framed for securing their allegiance, re-
ferring the point respecting sheriffs, and suggesting
that Catholics are now admissible to corporations
under an old law.
The Lord-Lieutenant's Despatch, dated 10th Fe-
bruary, referred to in minutes of February 12th, states
that the Catholics meant to request everything but
admission to seats in Parliament.
On the 14th, the King received from Lord Grenville
(without any accompanying letter) a despatch from
332 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
the Lord-Licutcnant, of the lltli, transmitting an
Irish newspaper containing an account ot" the proceed-
ings at tlie Cathohc meeting oi" tlie \H\\. Keogh's
speeelies most violent and intlammatory. As the
matter now stands, his Excellency donhts whether
any concession will keep back the petitions; that,
indeed, the Irish Chancellor conceives that if the three
j)oints mentioned in the first despatch were granted,
and a fourth, viz., the capacity to he made King's
counsel, their further proceedings would i)e stopped;
but till' liord- Lieutenant declares his sentiments to be
decidedly adverse to any mibecoming conij)romise,
\\ Inch iroulil only bet rat/ ircuk/icss, (ind //ivr no sccurHij
for the fill lire. If his Majesty's Ministers should be
disposed to make any concessions on this occasion, his
Excellency suggests the pro])riety of their merely
stating generally that it was their intention to oiler
certain proposals, for the consideration of Parliament,
which should afford the Catholics relief, — without
enterinir into anv |)artieulars.
Mr. Elliott, in a private letter of the same date,
thinks a resolution will be taken at the next meeting
of the Catholics, to present a petition on the 17th.
On the 21st February, Lord Spencer sent to the
King despatches from the Lord-Lieutenant, of the
17th, and ISth. Communications had been made to
the Catholics that the admission respecting military
promotion was not of the nature of a compromise,
but one intended previous to any knowledge of their
intentions to petition. Some conversation about cor-
porations and the bank. Mr. O'Connor asked,
whether it was intended that Catholirs should be
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 333
employed as generals on the staff ? Mr. Elliott
replied he understood it to stipulate the admission
to any military commission.
No further observations made ; but the deputation
said they would communicate what had passed to the
committee.
Lord Spencer sent the above despatches without
observation.
On the 2Sth of February, the King received des-
patches from the Lord-Lieutenant, of the 25th, in
which was stated the result of the meeting of the
Catholics in Dublin, on the 34th.
On the 3d of March the King received from Lord
Howick (in the absence of Lord Spencer) a copy of
the proposed clauses, together with a draft of a
despatch to the Lord-Lieutenant, transmitting them.
They were unaccompanied by any observations,
although, upon reading them, they appeared materially
to differ from those originally submitted to the King ;
inasmuch as they admitted of the employment of
Dissenters of all descriptions, including Catholics, in
all ranks of the army and navy.
His Majesty returned them without any observa-
tion, considering that to be superfluous, after having
declared so positively in his letter of the 12th of
February, to Lord Grenville, that he would not go
one step further, &c. The King, however, repeated
that declaration verbally to Lord Howick, in London,
on the following day, the 4th, when it appeared that
Lord Howick had, in the intermediate time, sent off
the despatch.
33 t 1)1 ARILS AM) ( OUUKSt'ONUEXCE OF
CIIM'TI'.K \.
1809.
CORRFaPONDENCE DETWKKN Mil. ROSE, LORD MII/JRAVE, SIR I.UCAS
rEl'Y.S, LORD CLIFFORD, THE UIHIIiJP OF LINCOLN, LADY HESTER STAN-
HOPE, LORD WELLESLEY. HIR WALTER SCOTT, THE DUKE OF YORK, MH.
STUROEii HOURNK, LORD MALMI->iUURY', AND BIR ANDREW 8. HAMyoND.
[The letters of pulilic interest at the beginning of
this year are not very ninnerous. Tlie first is iVorii
Lord Miil^ravc, then First Lord at tlie Admiralty,
to whom Mr. Rose and Mr. Canning ha<l been sug-
gesting an augmentation of eertain salaries : a pro-
position which he firndy and reasonably resists. But
liis temper was much tried at a later period, by
a complaint made against him by the (juerulous Sir
Andrew Hammond, wlio chose to consider himself
treated with marked injustice by the promotion of
two olliccrs as Commissioners of the Navy, and by
what he calK'd being deprived of his Flag. When
the facts are explained by Lord Mulgrave, no one
but Sir Andrew could wonder at the indignation ex-
cited by the charge; and the resentment wliich he
displays only shows how ill qualified most men are to
be judges in their own cause.
Then follows a lamentation that Dr. Jenner would
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 335
not accept the office of Director of the Vaccine Insti-
tution. It does not appear what was his reason for
decKnins: it. It midit be that it would too much in-
terfere with his practice ; or it might be some jealousy
of him amongst his brethren, which perhaps the
annals of the College could explain. But certainly
it does seem a just subject of regret, that the author
of that valuable system should not have directed its
first operations. Lord Clifford gives some account of
his ancestor who signed the secret treaty, by which
the worthless Charles II. sold his faith to Louis XIV.
for a sum of money. He also famished a copy of the
treaty itself, which was published for the first time
by Mr. Rose, in his " Observations on the Historical
Work by Charles James Fox." That profligate
monarch had too much sense to attempt to com-
promise his people ; but to himself it was a matter
of perfect indifference what religion he professed to
hold.
At this time (1809), there were abuses going on in
the disposal of ecclesiastical patronage, which go far to
account for the lethargy which still entranced a large
portion of the Church of England. The Bishop of
Lincoln places at the disposal of Mr. Rose, for any
suitable person, the curacy of Stony Stratford, without
any explanation of what he meant by " suitableness,"
and without a hint of any anxiety for caution in the
choice ; as if no other qualifications were required
than such as might be needed for a beadle or a parish
33G DIARIES AND CORRKSPONDENCE OP
clerk. Til the next letter, Lady Hester Stanliope dis-
plays the tiery vigour ot" her character in her demuicia-
tion of the expedition to W'alcheren, thougli com-
manded hy her relation, Lord Chatham ; and of Mr.
Frerc, the minister of Madriil, for not co-oprrating
more cordially with Sir John Moore, who ched vic-
toriou>< at Cornnna. The rest of tlie correspondence
of this year illustrates the perplexities of the Cahinet,
occasioned hy the restlessness of Mr. Canning, who
advanced through a covered way to spring a mine
muler the feet of Lord Castlereagh, and seriously
shattered the Administration. The most reinarkahlc
events noticed are the resignation of the Duke of
Portland, .Mr. Canning, and .Mr. Sturges Bourne, the
vain attempt to form an alliance with the ()j)posi-
tion, and the offer of the important office of Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer to .Mr. Rose, which he de-
clined. — Ml).]
Lord Mulgr.we to Mr. Rose.
" Admiralty, Feb. 4th, 1809.
" My dear Rose,
" It must be ever unpleasant to me not to accede
at once to any measure proposed by you and by
Canning ; more especially as I find the Memorial is
in the hands of the clerks of the Council before I had
an opportunity of answering your note.
" Since I came into office 1 have proceeded on all
questions of augmentation of salaries, on a strong
impression of the importance of public economy, and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 387
on a full conviction that the advance of any one salary
does not rest there, but raises a cry of claim, founded
upon relative duties and rank, with an air of justice
from precedent; which involves either an excessive
increase of charge to the public, or an imputation of
harshness and injustice, against the person in au-
thority, who rejects the authority of the precedent,
and refuses the increase demanded. I feel how
impossible it is for me to follow up the principle
I have set out upon either with comfort to my-
self or advantage to the public, if I alone pursue
it. Upon all the demands of clerks for increase of
salary, I have consulted Perceval, to ascertain how
far the general charges upon the funds of Govern-
ment would be influenced by such increase ; because
I know that the advance in one department must
be followed bv a similar advance in every other. I
relinquished, on the representation of Perceval, a most
important, and almost necessary, measure of increas-
ing the appointments of the Naval Lords of the
Admiralty. I rejected the recommendation of the
Commissioners of Naval Revision for the addition
of £200 per annum to the Commissioners of the
Navy, because I did not think that increase necessary,
whilst so many eager candidates were pressing for the
situation. If the Paymaster to the Treasurer of the
Navy has his salary raised, will not the Commissioners
of Victualling and Transport Boards, whose duties
are so constant and laborious, especially the former,
have a claim to a similar advance ? I have re-
fused the advance to the Commissioners at the Cape,
as recommended by the Commissioners of Naval Re-
VOL. II. Z
.•?38 DIARIES AND COlir.KSrONDENCE OF
vision; and in short I ha\u (.onscuLcii to no increase
of salary uithont Imw^ persuaded that j)roper persons
could not be fovnid witiiout sncli increase ; and there-
fore, as far as my consent is required, 1 cannot give it,
but upon tliat persuasion, in any ease. I am aware
that 1 have created nuich dissatisfaction by hohling
the pubUc purse strings so close ; but it is from an
apprehension that without very rigid economy we can
neither retain the goodwill of the public, nor hold ont
against the pirseverance and resources of the enemy.
" Ever yours, sincerely,
" MULGRAVE."
Mu. Ivnsr, TO Sir Lrrvs Mii-vs.
".March 1st, IH()9.
" SiK,
" I cannot return the enclosure to von without
expressing my sincere regret at finding that Dr. J.nner
has declined to accept the situation of Director of
the National Vaccine Institution, which, in my con-
versation with him, he appeared to be anxious to
obtain, that he might rcndir the best possible service
in his power to the public, in return for the liberal
bounty bestowed upon him by Parliament ; and I will
fairlv own that the ground assigned by him for his
determination has added considerably to my concern
on the subject.
" In proposing the address to his Majesty respecting
Vaccine Institutions, I hoped to obtain the establish-
ment of an institution in which the confidence of the
public might be placed, for a fully satisfactory investiga-
tion of the benefits or dangers of that practice ; as well
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 839
as for the purpose of an immediate supply of proper
vaccine matter being at all times afforded to <5very part
of the kin2;dom.
" In this view of the subject, it appears to me, that
if Dr. Jenner had been allowed to guide the measure
of the Board, however higlily I think of his skill and
integrity, it could hardly be expected that the public
would have been as well satisfied with this decision as
to the merits of the practice of whicli he was the first
])romoter, as they are likely to be, if the eminent mem-
bers of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons who
compose the Board shall have the direction in their
own hands ; although Dr. Jenner would probably
have been extremely useful in assisting practitioners
with his advice, and in bringing cases of an extraor-
dinary nature properly and scientifically under con-
sideration.
"Under the disappointment arising from Doctor
Jenner's refusal, I am sure you, and the learned gen-
tlemen who are acting with you, will take the best
possible measures for repairing the inconvenience
arising therefrom ; it would therefore be presumptuous
in me to attempt to afford you any advice foi- your
conduct."
Lord CLTFir'f)Ri) to Mr. Rose.
" Hinchinhrook, April 1 1 tli, ]fS09.
" Dear Sir,
"I have compared the extract with the original
treaty, and it appears to me to contain the substance
with sufficient accuracy. T have added such passages,
with pencil in the margin, as I conceived might be
useful to you to form a more accurate judgment of
/ ^
'itO DIAKIKS AM) (OUIIKSPONDKNCI.: OF
the whole. 1 am happy I had it in my power to assist
in clearing up a transaction which has been niuch mis-
represented, owing to the mystery with which it was
conducted. The confidence mv father placed in vou
entitled you to the same from me, and you had a
further claim on me as a historian, I hope 1 may be
allowed to add, tli;it I am (piite satisfied with the im-
partiality with which you have stated it to the public,
and I beg you will atce|)t my acknowledgments for
the manner in which you have mentioned my ancestor.
The prominent measnre of his short administration
was the subjugation of Holland; he looked upon the
Dutch as our natural rivals in trade, and our most
dangerous enemies at sea. Subserpient events have
proved how far he was justified in his opinion, lie
embraced the Catholic religion in Holland when lie ac-
companied the King, who seemed desirous of following
his example, but was deterred by political con.sidera-
tions. To enable Charles to follow the dictates of his
conscience was the object of the private article of the
treaty in question. A friend of Mr. Fox applied to
me, in his name, to know if I had any papers relating
to the reign of James H. I told him I had not, but
offered to let Mr. Fox see the treaty of 1670. He
answered that his history did not go so far back, but,
as a matter of curiosity, he should be glad to see it.
He died, however, before I had an opportunity of
showing it liini.
" I have the honour to be,
" Dear Sir,
" Yonr obedient hmiible senant,
" CLirroRD.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 'S4il
" I hope to have the pleasure of seemg you soon in
London, when I will show you the original, and you
may then judge whether it can be of any further use
to you or the public. As I think I have not been
sufficiently explicit in the abstract I have given of the
preamble, I send it you at full length, that you may
shape it to your own ideas."
The Bishop of Lincoln to Mr. Rose.
"Buckden Palace, May 12th, 1809.
" My dear Sir,
" In consequence of information which I have
this morning received from Mr. Archdeacon Heslop,
in addition to what I knew before, I had thought it
my duty, and a very painful one it is on many accounts
to my feelings, to write to j\Ir. Strutt to say that I am
ready to accept his offer of resigning the perpetual
curacy of Stony Stratford. My secretary, Mr. Hodgson,
will send him the form of resignation from London by
to-morrow night's post. I am anxious that the business
should be completed before my visitation at Newport-
Pagnell, which would be his place of appearance on
the 23d. I will not dwell upon this subject for your
sake, as well as my own.
" As this vacancy was not expected, the preferment
is, of course, at liberty ; and allow me to say that if
you have any friend suited to the situation for whom
you wish to make a provision, I shall have great
pleasure in accepting your recommendation."
'U2 IHAKIES AND CORKK-SPONDKNCK (i|
Lady IIkstkk SrANHui't lu Alii. liosK.
"S«'pt. I3th, 1800.
"Dkah Mr. Kosk,
" Jl;ivu not events proved liow just was the abuse
1 l)csto\ve(l \\\)(>\\ Lord Chatliani and u|)<)n Ministers,
and wlial a day of ju(l<;nieiit to tliein will l)e the
meetiu'^ of Parliament? 1 always sav to vou, if I
speak at all, just wiuit I think, jujst what I wish, and
you never take anything ill; therefore, I shall tell you
at 0//CP, that after deep consideration, I eannot help
feeling uneasy at the prosj)ect of your suffering' in the
eyes of tlic world for the faults committed bv your
party. They must fall, ere long, branded with infamy;
anil 1 wish to CJod, as you have no love for oHicc, that
yoii would not disguise your disapprobation when a
proper opportunity offers to publiely demonstrate it.
I can have no interest in what I am advisinir, but
your welfare. If I am wrong, it is you who are to
correct me, but do not blame the feeliuij which
dictates these opinions.
" 1 must now thank you for having relieved the
mind of tlie poor fidgety old man who was the sub-
ject of my last letter, wliich you must have received
some time after date, as I find it missed one day's ])ost,
being too late, and in the part of the world I was then
in, it only comes in and goes out three times a Aveek.
Upon General Clinton's mission being at an end, James
came down to see me. "We spent some time at home,
and since then we have been to Swansea. lie has just
left me to relieve Lord A. Somerset, and I am a^ain
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 343
become a wanderer. I am now writing from an inn,
a stage from Margara, the most beautiful place I have
ever seen ; though the house has been pulled down,
if the new one Mr. Talbot talks of building equals
the grounds in beauty and magnificence, Margam
will certainly be the most delightful residence in his
Majesty's dominions. As Mrs. and Miss Rose are so
fond of plants, it would be almost worth their while
to take a journey on purpose to look at those at
Margam. Some of the old orange-trees were wrecked
upon the coast in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and
are now so hardy, that they stand out from May till the
end of October ; and one might almost fancy one-self in
a grove in Italy, for I think there are more than six
himdred of them : tulip-trees as large as fine oaks, and
all the other flowering trees in proportion. I suppose
Miss R. would tell me that a bay-tree Avas a shruh ;
but when they ^vow fft^-six feet high, I think they
can no longer be called so.
. "I suppose you have read James Moore's book. It
is interesting, because authentic ; but most shockingly
written, to be sure. Two things he never should have
done, — published Napier's conversations with the
French generals, or left out one word in his brother's
letters; for all he said \Yasjusf, and events will prove
it to have been so.
" Wc already see that Sir A. Wellesley, who is
famous for indulging his troops, speaks very harshly of
the conduct of several officers ; and we shall also see,
if we have not already seen enough, how useless it is to
send more troops to Spain. Frere is certainly dis- "
34 i DIARIES ANU CORRESl'ONDKNCK Ol'
graced forever. His birth was always, in my opinion,
a sufficient reason against sending him ambassador to
the proudest nation in the world. Nobody who knows
him can deny he has talents ; but conceit and indolence
prevent their being turned to account : and since his
conduct towards General Moore, I shall never be able to
endure the sight of him. But Canning and he have
both equally forgotten the respect due to those Mr.
Pitt thought highly of; for had General Moore been
General Don, they ought to have been the hunt persons
in the world to have treated him as they did during
his life ; and to have forgotten the respect due to
a soldier's meniorv, who lost his valuable existence
endeavouring to repair their ma.sl infamous blunders.
M'hen I began, I meant only to write a short letter ;
but I have ceased to recollect I was writing, not
speaking.
" Believe me,
" Yours, most sincerely,
"H. S. S.
" I cannot tell vou at this moment where to direct
to me. '
Lord Welleslet to Mil Rose.
{Private?^
"Donegal, at Sea, July 26th, 1809, lat. 49 N.
" long. 6.30' W. 1 r. M.
" Mv DEAR Sir,
" I was highly gratified by your kind invitation
to CufFnells, of which I most readily should have
availed myself if I had taken the route by Torbay ;
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 3^5
but as I embarked at Portsmouth, it was not in my
power to wait on you. I sailed on Monday, and we
are proceeding very well. I find that the sea has been
rather advantageous to my health. With a strong
sense of your constant kindness to me, and with the
most sincere respect and esteem,
" Believe me to be,
" My dear Sir,
" Always your most faithful and humble servant,
" Welleslet."
Mr. {afterwards Sir Walter) Scott to Mr. Rose.
" My dear Sir,
" I regret to observe from your note that a letter
which I had long ago written to my friend, Mr.
William Rose, had miscarried. The purport was to
say, that the manuscript was quite at your service,
and that I had it from the Buccleuch family, to make
any use of I thought proper ; and I know none so
proper as placing it at your disposal. The grammar,
&c. of the copy sent you seems to be inaccurate, but
is exactly according to the original, which is still in
my possession. Had I received the letter you men-
tion, I would have brought the original to town with
me.
** I am, with great respect,
" Dear Sir,
" Your very faithful and obliged servant,
" Walter Scott.
" Piccadilly, Tuesday."
3 to DIARIKS AND COKUKSPONDENCK OF
Mcmurunduni of a Lcllcr lo Mil. Rosk rvHpediny the
DuKK OF Kent's Income.
Tlic Duke of Kent origin;illy proposed to liord
Grenvillu, through Lord Melville aiul Mr. Adam, that
the Parliamentary incomes of his brothers, and his
own, should l)e made 15,000/. a year, clear of all
deductions ; and to those who had not the tahle, an
allowance of (5, 000/. per annum in lieu thereof,
which Colonel Dalrymple intimated to be the cor-
responding value ; and also to retain, as at present,
the allowance of fuel, oil, and cmdles from the
Lord Steward's department. And that a sum should
be allowed to provide ])late, china, earthenware,
glass, household and table-linen, culinary utensils,
&T. for those who had nol the table, as a com-
pensation for all the advantages enjoyed by those
who had it. However, the present expectation falls
short of //////, for the utmost Lord Grenville seems
disposed to propose, is an addition of (1,000/. ; and it
was even doubtful whether that may not be reduced
to 5,000/. should the income of the late Duke of
Gloucester, exclusive of what was granted him for the
maintenance of his children, appear to have been
only 17,000/. instead of 19,000/. or 21,000/. as it was
conceived to be. As such, all that is to be done now,
seems to be to ground the precedent on that income,
and to urG:e its beinir frmnted to its full amount, free
of deduction, be that what it will ; and as the allow-
ances are to be struck ofl', that would seem a fair plea
for remitting tht> Income Tax. If the friends of the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 347
old Administration, especially Mr. Rose, who is fully
master of the subject, will urge this, and the outfit,
which he always felt an unanswerable claim, no doubt
it would be carried ; yet it must originate with ikemy
for with Ministers it will not.
The Duke of York to Mr. Rose.
"Stable Yard, July 29th, 1809,
" Dear Sir,
" I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt
of your two letters, and return you many thanks for
the return of the number of deer fit to be killed this
year in the New Forest, as likewise for the informa-
tion relative to Burley Lodge, and the walks, late in
the possession of the Duchess of Bolton, and which
are now to be disposed of, for the remainder of her
lease, by auction.
" It vi ould be very desirable that tlie Treasury should
make this purchase, as the greatest damage might be
done to the New Forest, if it were to fall into improper
hands ; besides that it might be given as a lodge to
the Warden instead of Lvndhurst ; and I will not fail
to make the necessary application accordingly.
" I have been credibly informed, to my great sur-
prise, that Princess Sophia has let her lodge in the
New Forest, and that the Duke of Gloucester means
to do the same with Bolderwood, for wdiich he asks
400/. per year, but will take 200/. if he cannot get
more.
" I can suppose that they have the power to grant
leave to their tenants to meet in their respective walks
31)8 DIARIES AND COKRESPONDENCE Of
witlioiit the consent of the Warden, hut if they have
not, I beg that it may be known that I will upon no
account grant it.
" I am ever, dear Sir,
" Yours, most sincerely,
" rilKDERlCK.
" P. S. I cannot but highly approve of your pro-
posal of sending a buck to Lord Morpeth."
The Duke of York to .Mk. Rose.
"Stable Yard, Augiust 20th, 1809.
" Dear Sir,
" Nothing but a severe indisposition, which has
confined me for the last week, should have prevented
me from aeknowlctlging sooner the receipt of your
letter of the lOth instant, by which I am very happy
to learn that the Treasury has purchased Burley, and
T am only waiting for the return of Mr. Adam to
town, to apply for the possession of it, instead of
Lyndhurst.
" It seems verv essential to enter into some airree-
ment with Mr. Jenkinson, in order to prevent his
shooting the deer which may stray upon his manor,
and I shall most readily consent to any composition
you may enter into with him.
" I am so little in the habits of intimacy either with
the Duke of Gloucester or his sister, Princess Sophia,
that I do not know throuti-h what channel to endea-
vour to make them sensible of the impropriety of
letting any lodge in the Royal forests. Indeed, one
THE RIGHT HOX, GEORGE ROSE. 349
might imagine, that a moment's reflection would
point out to them the indecency of it.
" Beheve me ever, dear Sir,
" Yours most sincerely,
" Frederick."
Mr. W. Stdrges Bourne to Mr. Rose.
*' De\R Rose "Holywell, Alton, Sept. 17th, 1809.
" When I learned the miserable state of affairs
in Downing Street, I anticipated the ditficulties it
might impose upon you ; and I was glad to have an
opportunity at Bedfont, of preparing you for what
you were to hear, that you might have some little
time for reflection before it was disclosed. Till our
meeting there, I knew not how far you might have
been informed on the subject, or how far you had
pledged yourself to Canning. With respect to myself,
I owe to him my uitroduction to Mr. Pitt, Parliament,
and public life, and have been attached by long
intimacy, and generally confidential friendship. To
no one of his colleagues have I the smallest obligation,
nor for more than one or two, any particular respect,
and to the King I am scarcely known. My feelings
therefore (and in my unimportant situation, I have
nothing else to consult) would at all times have
prompted me to relinquish my post under such a
Government, whenever Mr. Canning ceased to be one
of its members, and on that principle I determined to
follow him in the spring, when he announced to me the
probability of his resignation. Not then, however,
350 DIARIES AND COUUE8PONDKNT I, .-i
thinking myself quite sutficiently infornicd to judge of
the wisdom or propriety of his conduct, I should liave
acted quite in contidence, thinking him alone capable
of deciding how far he ought to act with one of his
colleagues. To the course he has now taken I was a per-
fect stranger till I heard it from Perceval, and though
I have no scruple in saying to you, that if 1 had been
on the spot, and thought worthy of being consulted,
I should on many accounts have deprecated that
course ; yet consulting the feelings 1 have before stated,
and l)eing of no consequence to the Government, 1
cannot hesitate to abandon ofHce, and perhaps Parlia-
ment, ratiier than be suspected by him, or even by my
bitterest enemy, of having sacrificed obligations and
friendship to the love of place.
" To YOU I also feel obligations which 1 am most
anxious to considt ; and if vou shotdd remain in ollice,
and I .shoulil fiiul myself prompted by any motive,
which I do not now anticii)ate, to act inconsistently
with those feelings, I should then be anxious to quit
the House of Commons ; and I feel, I assure you, with-
out regret, that my \mhY\c life (if I may dignify myself
by such a term) is perhaps near its end. For I hate
the rumour of party, and I see much of management
•in political matters which disgusts me. I need only
instance that ruinous appointment by which the
safetv of a larf:;e armv has been hazarded, the success
of an important enterprise, and the credit of the
country sacrificed, by selecting, from indirect motives
I am sm-e, a man to conduct an expedition whom all
those who consented to his appointment must have
TUE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 351
felt to be the most unfit for that special service.
Would that Canning had made his stand then ! Ill,
hoAvever, as I think of an Administration that has so
acted, I deeply regret that it should be so broken up ;
and after deploring the situation of the King and
country, I lament sincerely the predicament in which
Perceval is placed ; his conduct being perfectly con-
sistent in this transaction with the strict honour and
integrity with which it has always been marked.
" I have thus explained to you, with perfect open-
ness, my own conduct and feelings, and I hope they
may be sanctioned by your more experienced and
sound judgment. With regard to yourself, it would
be in me the most ridiculous presumption to offer
you advice. There certainly is nothing in common in
our situations, though I hope there may be in our
feelings. You owe no obligation, but such as you
have imposed on yourself, to any member of the Ad-
ministration ; your station in the Government, your
consideration in the country, your obligation and
attachment to the Kino-, — all distinoruish vour case as
widely from mine as possible ; and you, I am sure,
alone can judge what your own conduct ought to be,
either with reference to your duty or inclinations.
" That any Government which is to be formed from
the ruins of that now dissolved, will stand in the
utmost need of your assistance, I cannot doubt, who
believe, that even unbroken, they could scarcely have
defended themselves from the attack to which they
have wantonly exposed themselves. But I confess
I cannot conjecture where the materials are to be
352 DIARIKS AM) COKRK.SPONDEN'CE OK
found of which any fabric of an Aihninistration ran
be constructed, and 1 fear it must ultimately fall into
those hands which we least wish. In the mean time,
I see the certainty of much distraction and the pro-
bability of much evil. I wish our fears may be
visionary.
"At the proper time I shall be anxious to ascertain
that my motives for (juitting otHce are not misunder-
stood, particularly by Perceval. And T shall be
hap|)y to hear that you have come to that decision
which will best satisfy yourself, and at least relieve
you from the misery of a state of perplexity arising
perhaps from a contlict between duty and inclination.
" Believe me, dear Kose, in all situations,
" Yours most trulv,
" W. Sturgks Bourne."
Mr Rosk to Mh. Sttrges Bournk.
" Dear Bournk,
" There is not a svllable in vour letter that 1 did
not expect to hear from you : and when I wrote on
Friday to you, indeed till late in the day on Sunday,
the inclination of mv mind was so stronf^ towards
(juitting office, that if 1 had been compelled to give
a decisive answer then, it would certainlv have been
that I would do so.
T told you, I think, what passed on Friday with
Perceval and Lord Bathurst. I heard nothing of
Canning that day except a note, desiring me to dine
with him the day following ; which, under the existing
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 353
circumstances, I thought odd. I went, tlierefore, to
Gloucester Lodge the next morning, when I had a full
conversation with him, which was not satisfactory to
me, as to the ground of his resignation ; but my
disposition to act with him was so earnest, that I
left him with my desire to quit office very much
the same as before. I conveyed that to him in a
manner he could not mistake. He gave me the corre-
spondence which had passed between him and his
colleagues to read, which I brought away with me ;
and I got as low in it as Perceval's first communication
(I think the 28th of August) respecting the Duke of
Portland's resignation before I returned to the lodge
to dinner. No alteration in my opinions, or rather in
my feelings, had taken place then. Mr. Bagot dined
with us, and the conversation during the afternoon
must have led Canning to expect there had been no
change in those; but I told him expressly I would not
decide till I should see my son, who I thought would be
likely to come up the next day (Sunday).
" He allowed me to take back the remainder of the
papers, from the end of August, that I might read them
attentively. George arrived on Sunday morning, to whom
I repeated the substance of what I had before written to
him respecting the state of my mind. I then finished
reading the correspondence ; on which subject it is un-
necessary to go into a long detail with you of all that
has passed in the course of my reflections upon it, be-
tween my son and me ; it is sufficiently distressing
and painful to state the results. A¥ith the most anxious
and earnest wish, manifested as you know in repeated
VOL. II. A A
J551 IMAUIKS AND CORRESPONDKNCE OF
instances Ijcyinul all possil)ility ot" tlouljt, to att witli
Canninir, 1 do tVcl it f|uite impossible to l)c a party
to hrcakinji: iij) the (ioverninent, because he failed in
obtaining the situation of First liOnl of the Treasury,
when Perceval (tlie other competitor) would have ac-
quiesced in Canning's naming a third j)erson ; for in
substance, thougli not positively in words, his conccs-
si()!i went tliat length. 1 do wrong, indeed, in de-
scribing IVrceval as a competitor, for, in truth, lie
disclaimed from the beginning the remotest intention
of looking to the situation; ;.(lmitting that such a
pretension on his part could not be actpnesccd in by
Canning. How deij)ly is it to be deplored, that in
a crisis like this, when ardent attempts arc making
by the Jacobins to break in iij)on all (jovernment,
that thosi- whose first duty it is to protect it, should
sacrifice that sacred duty to views of j)ersonal am-
bition ; which views are in more danger of being
defeated by the common enemy than by rivals for
power !
" My decision, 1 most solcniidy declare, is one of
judgment against strong feelings; and having taken
it, 1 will neither look prospectively nor retrospectively,
but rest nivself contented with a full conviction that
I am acting upon principles which, if known, can
neither discredit me nor those who are to come after
me. I am writing, however, with an aching heart,
arising from convulsed agitations, such as I never
experienced on political matters.
" You know me well enough, I am sure, to believe
me when I sav, that the first hour in which I can
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 355
retire will be infinitely the happiest of my life, as con-
nected with political matters ; and I think it very likely
that ill at will occur in the course of a week.
'' I am, dear Bourne,
A^'ery truly and faithfully yours,
" G. Rose.
"Old Palace Yard, Sept. 19th, 1809.
" Concessions were made to Mr. Canning by the
King and the other ministers, such as I verily believe
were never made before to any subject in this country.
I have not to this moment mentioned my determi-
nation to a human being except to George ; but am
going to the painful and distressing task of communi-
cating it to Cariuing."
Lord Malmesbury to Mr. Rose.
"Bath, Oct. 20th, lb09.
*' My DEAR Sir,
" I received very sincere pleasure from your
letter of the 17th, which found me just as I was
leaving for this place, where I propose remaining a
week for the purpose of bathing.
" At any period of ray life, and with the principles
on which I have endeavoured to regulate my public
conduct, I could not act or think differently from
what I said to my good friend your son.
" I lament extremely the loss of Canning's abilities,
and still more the idea, after that intimate and friendly
intercourse, which from his earliest days has subsisted
between us, that there should be even a shade of dif-
ference in our political conduct. It is my anxious wish,
A A 2
350 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
that time and reflection may bring him to view the
state of public aftairs in a diliorcnt liglit from wliat he
now appears to do, and restore liim to that set of
friends with whom he lias already acted, and who
know how to value his talents and character. I feel
convinced Mr. Pitt would have entertained the same
sentiments as those I express, and this conviction con-
firms me in them.
" It is amongst one of my first wishes to see you, my
dear Sir, fill a higher situation in his Majesty's councils
than the one you now hold. There is one for which
you, and perhaps you alone, arc pecnliarly fit, and which
they ought to solicit you to accept. Since the con-
clusion of the Austrian peace with France, we must
look to even more arduous times than any we have
yet experienced. The great burden of the war is now
coming on us, and every individual in the country is
called on and bound to exercise his power, small or
great, in support of a contest the issue of which will
be as important to his individual well or ill being as it
will to the preservation, safety, and security of the
community at large.
" Believe me, my dear Sir,
" Most sincerely and faithfully yours,
" Malmesbury."
Lord Mulgrave to Mr. Rose.
" Admiralty, December 2d, 1809
" Dear Rose,
" The reproaches which you have transmitted to
me from Sir Andrew Hammond arc an additional and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 357
pre-eminent proof of the impossibility of finding a
candid and dispassionate consideration of his own case,
from any man, however capable of a sound and discreet
judgment in other matters. Anybody, not informed of
the actual state of the affair, and reading Sir Andrew
Hammond's address to you, would suppose that the pro-
motion of Admiral Hamilton and Sir Charles Thompson
had been given as matter of personal partiality and
favour, and under the pretence of their peculiar and
distinguished merit as Commissioners of the Navy, and
that thereby a marked injustice had been done to the
meritorious services of Sir Andrew Hammond, by de-
privi7ig him of his flag. Such is the charge, if it is any-
thing. What is the fact? On the event of the 50th
anniversary of the King's reign a promotion is made,
not on the score of merit, not on the ground of selec-
tion, not on the principle of claim, but as a mere act
of grace ; taking without exception the senior officers
of each rank on the Navy Lid. Admiral Hamilton
and Sir Charles Thompson had a right to make their
option, in an ordinary promotion, between their profes-
sional rank and their official situation. Such an option
would have been no act of grace. An act of grace was
intended to the senior officers on the List, of each rank.
No inquiry was even made whether officers had served
during the two last wars, but the name 07i the List at
that peculiar time, and at that unexpected celebration
of the event, was the passport to promotion. Sir
Andrew Hammond, under other circumstances, had
put it out of my power to deprive him of his flag, by
having voluntarily relinquished it for his civil situation.
358 DIAIUKS AM) COKKKSl'ONDKNCK OF
Nav, he had i)ut it uiit ul' my power lu i/iVf liiiii liis
flag, ills iiaine being removed from the J^if^t of the
Navy, an order from tlie King in Couneil eonhl alone
phice Inm on the List of Admirals. No snch list was
made lor others beeause they were aetnally on the
List and eligible for promotion. And this is the
' markeil injnstice ' — this is the way in which Sir
Andrew Hammond ' has been deprived of hia flag.'
Of all the nnreasonable complaints, of all tlie nnjnst
reproaches to which 1 have been exposed by the nn-
reasonable expectations of over-rated claims, this is the
most gronmlless, harsh, and ottensive, that 1 have ever
had to digest ; and I leave ijoa to judge of the impres-
sion it mnst make, coming to ma in the guise of the
Jirxt com plaint of a tried friend of Mr. Pitt.
"The knighthood of Captain iStaines I have men-
tioned to .Mr. Perceval, and it will be submitted to his
.Majesty.
" Ever yours, sincerely,
" MuLflRAVE."
Sir Andrew S. Hammonu to Mr Ivuse.
" Terriugton, 6th December, 1809.
" Mt dear Sir,
" I have had too much experience of your friend-
ship and regard not to be perfectly certain, that
whenever you move in any matter that concerns me,
it is with a hearty and sincere wish to render me
service. I therefore beg you will accept my best
thanks for your late communication to Lord Mulo-rave
(whose letter to you I herewith return). At the same
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 359
time I cannot help expressing my regret in the present
instance, that what was meant as a private statement
to a friend, of my feehngs at being deprived of my flag
when others were in possession of it, under circum-
stances which had been a bar against me, should have
drawn from Lord Mulgrave such a tirade of invective
against me. I never meant to charge him with having
deprived me of my flag, or to have conceived that it
was in his power to have given it to me in the ordinary
course of things ; knowing perfectly well that if I
thought proper to move in the matter, the only road
was by a memorial to the King in Council. 1 knew
enough of Lord Mulgrave's hasty and petulant disposi-
tion not to put a question of that sort into his hands
until his brother Cabinet ^linisters had been canvassed,
and the King prepared for it by Lord Chatham, who
is well aware that he was the cause of my allowing the
first promotion to pass by me.
"I, therefore, shall be glad if you have an oppor-
tunity of undeceiving his Lordship, and explaining
that all he has said was perfectly unnecessary and un-
provoked on my part ; but at the same time, if I am
allowed by you to consider his letter as a public com-
munication to me, I shall certainly tell him how
indignant I feel at the charge of ' over-rated claims
more groundless, harsh, and ojfensive than he has ever
before had to digest,' being applied to me.
" You must allow, my dear Sir, that I cannot fail
of being hurt at these expressions. As to the thing
itself, it shall never give me a thought more, I mean
the flag. But why the occasion of the late promotion
3(50 1>1ARIES AMJ CORRESPONDENCE OF
could not have been stated without venting abuse
upon me is quite extraordinary, and ought not to pass
over.
" Ever, my dear iMr,
" Your faithful and affectionate humble servant,
" A. J?. Hammond."
[Mr. Rose was always anxious to obtain employment
for his ( Idtst son, the father of General Sir Hugh
Rose. He had more than once before enumerated his
(jualiHcations and described his early training for
ottice ; and he now shows how those (pialitieations
were appreciated by former Ministers, and grounds
thereon a fresh ap[)lication to Lord Wellesley, who
was at the Foreign OfHce, for a mission to some
foreign court. — Ed.]
" Mu. Rose to tuk Makquis Wellesley.
"Old Palace Yard, Decciuber 19th, 1809.
" Mr DEAR Lord,
"I have forborne to break in upon you since
your arrival, knowing that Lord Bathurst had most
kindly suggested to yon his intentions respecting my
son, and what his objects are, thinking it much better
to leave him in your hands, with a full knowledge of
these, than to pester you with any specilic application.
My sole motive for troubling you now is, that I think
it desirable on my leaving town for a month, to entreat
your attention to a further short statement relative to
my son, as I shall not have an opportunity of making
THE IIIGHT HON. GEOJIGE ROSE. 361
any personally in the event of anything occurring
during my absence. You have ah'eacly the account of
his education to qiiahfy him for any business in the
Foreign Department.
" Lord Grenville, from the account he had of him
from Lord Auckland (under whom he became con-
versant with all the details and forms of business, as
well as initiated in all the confidential correspondence
of Europe), sent him at two-and-twenty to Berlin as
Charge d' Jffaires ; where Lord Malmesbury being
for a month or two on a special mission, contracted
a friendship for him, and gave him the highest
commendations ; though just before that time I had
succeeded in an important political struggle against
his Lordship. My son returned from thence, after a
residence of thirteen months, in a dangerous state of
health. Some time after that, Lord Bute proposed to
him to go as Secretary to the Embassy to Spain, from
character only, for he had no personal acquaintance
with him ; but he was then on the point of marriage,
and declined it.
" Circumstances, of a private nature, not worth
troubling your Lordship about, prevented his being
employed till the change of Government in 1801 ;
when Mr. Pitt applied to Lord Hawkesbury, who in
the kindest manner offered him the mission to Copen-
hagen or Stockholm immediately, or to Naples when
it should be vacant. His health prevented his hesitating
a moment about making his election for the latter, as
a northern climate would have been fatal to him. But
before there was an opening at Naples, the discussion
IM)2 DIAKIKS AM) rOKRKSPONDKNCr. ol
on the peace took place, and on that, (|U('stion neither
my son nor myself voted with the (ioverinnent -. alter
which he thought he could not honourahly accept a
favour from a leatling niend)er of it. Ilr, therefore,
went to the Continent and resich-d at ditlerent Courts
for nearlv two years, to (lualifv himself further for the
lint' in which he had engngt>d. Two years ago. .Mr.
Canning sent him to America on a special mission ; who
was so well satislicd with his coiuhict, that he recjuested
him last winter to return tliere on another special
mission, wliich he had agreed to do, and was prepared
to end)ark, when the account of the confusi»)n created
by .Mr. Erskine arrived, whicli reiidrred it necessary
to send a permanent end)as.sy,
"In agreeing to return to America, at the instance
of Mr. Canning, my son sup|)ressed the fecHngs wliicli
were excited in his mind hv the selection of Mr. John
Villiers for Lisl)on, whose merits were certainly not
conspicuous, and who had fpiitted Mr. Pitt in a man-
ner altogether unaccounted for.
'■ I will only add Lord .Malmesbury's expression
respecting my son in .lamiary last: 'He is indisputably
better qualified than any one who has lately been
selected for the Foreign huties.' And that his
Majesty condescended to express himself quite as
favourably about my son years ago. I believe, indeed,
he mentioned him with approbation to Lord Bathurst.
When vou have thrown vour eve over the enclosures,
pray let thera be returned to me, directed Cufinells,
Hants, where I »o on Thursday morning."
THE lUGUT HON. GEOKCxE KOSE. 303
CHAPTER XL
1809.
MK. rose's MARY FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER, 1809 — HE REFUSES
THE OFFICE OF CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER — CHANGE OP
ADMINISTRATION.
[In passing from the correspondence to tlie diary of
this year, we find the same ground travelled over again
with respect to the plot against Lord Castlereagh, but
with more minuteness of detail, especially in the notes
which are appended to it — notes which were taken by
Mr. Rose from the correspondence placed in his hands
by Mr. Canning himself, though contrary to the
intention of the lender. They determined him to take
an unfavourable view of that gentleman's conduct, and,
instead of sharing his fortunes, to separate from him
and support the Government. It may be thought
that his whole family combining to urge him to retain
his office may have had more than its fair share of in-
fluence in that determination. But it is certain that
his OAvn feelings were strongly enlisted on the side of
Canning, to whom he had been hnked by a long com-
munity of friendship with Mr. Pitt ; and it is scarcely
possible to read these notes without coming to the
same conclusion that Canning preferred his own
3G1. DIARIES AND CORIIESPONDKNCE OF
ambition to the good of his country. But since the
editor of the Castlcrcagh papers, pu])Hshed only ten
years ago, imputed all the blame, though he abstained
from expressing it in all the gravity which he thought
it deserved, to Canning, and seemed to tliink his
brother (p.iite justified in challenging him to fight a
iluel on that account, it is but due to truth and to the
memory of that eminent man to say, that the conceal-
ment of which the other complained was not his fault,
as the correspondence [)lainly shows. It was the effect
of mistaken kindness on the part of his otiier col-
leagues, who were unwilling to lose him, and so little
understood the character of Canning, that they could
not perceive the necessity of sacrificing either the one
or the other. In vain they devised scheme after scheme
to bring about an accommodation ; in vain they post-
poned their decision till after tin- expedition to
Walcheren, in the hope that a successful issue would
render it impossible to remove the ministers who had
conducted it ; in vain tluy prevailed upon the Duke
of Portland to resign, in the hope that a vacancy in the
Cal)inet would give room for am[)le accommodation.
But they reckoned without theii* host. The failure of
the expedition strengthened the argument against
Lord Castlereagh ; the resignation of the Duke only
gave rise to new difficulties, for Canning would not
give way to Perceval. And on the other side, the
long concealment became a grave oftence when it was
no longer possible.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 365
The procrastinating policy, however well intended,
was disastrous to the Government, and in their fear of
losing one of these statesmen they lost both. But the
duel was quite unjustifiable. All duels indeed are
unjustifiable ; but even judged by the low standard of
the code of honour, this duel was unjustifiable ; for it
was proved to the challenger that the alleged cause of
offence had no existence ; that the concealment was
not to be visited on Mr. Canning ; that he might with
better justice on that ground have fought Lord Cam-
den or Perceval, or the Duke of Portland. But his
resentment got the better of him, and he would not
be pacified. The mischief, however, of giving way to
it did not end there. The Christian maxim was too
sadly verified, that "he who hateth his brother is a
murderer."
The code of worldly honour used to demand that
each of the combatants should risk his life ; but a
single exchange of shots satisfied that demand, and he
who persists in fighting contrary to the advice of his
seconds betrays a thirst for blood. He seeks not to
display his courage but to obtain a sanguinary revenge.
If the second bullet had pierced Mr. Canning's heart,
who could have acquitted his adversary of murder ?
Amidst many revolting features in the complexion of
these times, it is some consolation that that wicked
folly is now exploded.
The opinion about this quarrel in the Cabinet
expressed by Mr. T. Grenville, a popular person, and
.•J(J() DIAlllES AND COKIIESPONDEN'CE OF
living in the first society of Loiulon, sliows liow iinich
tlie bost-infornicd men, not in otKce, may be mistaken
in their conjectures of wliat is going on, thougli they
may be correct enough in their estimate of cliaractcr.
He writes to his brother in the month of July thus : —
" There are dissensions in the ('aliinet of a very serious
nature, so much so that my opinion is that resignation
will l)c the result inunediatelv, and that Lord Liver-
pool and iVrceval are aiiiongst those \\li() will resign.
The alleged cause of all this fracas is said to be Can-
ning's enterprising spirit, who will have everything his
own way." The same writer observes afterwards,
that if Mr. Canning would have been satisfied with-
out turning out his rival, the as.sistance of Lord
Wcllesley might have been obtained, and the clashing
of the departments obviated by the generous offer of
Lord Camden to resign the Presidency of the Counril
to him. and the j)roposal to combine the U'ar I)ej)art-
ment with that for Foreign matters; thus transferring
it to Canning from Lord Castlereagh, who was to be
left in possession of that for the Colonies, l^ut Canning
refused to accede to that arrangement ; and this was
afterwards attributed to an unaccommodating pertina-
city in dictating to his colleagues, and a close attention
to his own personal consequence.
But the best and most impartial character of Can-
ning is that given by one of the most eminent of
modern statesmen, ^L Guizot.' He describes him as
' ^ternoirs of Sir Robert Peel, pp. 24, 32.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 367
" a man of free and noble mind, full of impulse, and
but little troubled with scruples respecting principles,
or traditions, Skilfid in discovering what concessions
must be made to the liberal feelings of the people, in
order to gain their favour, he was far better adapted
for movement than resistance ; and the flexible inno-
vator was always perceptible behind the eloquent con-
servative. He stood in the midst of his colleagues an
isolated and suspected man."
The Diary goes on to relate the ineffectual attempt
made to fill up the gap made in the Cabinet by this
defection (which left them very defenceless in the
House of Commons), by an alliance with the Whigs ;
but that party had taken the Roman Catholics under
their protection, and would not unite with those who
differed from them. Lord Grenville, who had more
real tenderness for the Kinsf's feelino;s than his out-
ward manner indicated, might have consented ; but
Lord Grey's brusque refusal to move from Howick
was an insuperable obstruction. Then follows a long
review of the financial position of the country, which
makes it unnecessary to print a separate treatise upon
the same subject, which was presented to Mr. Per-
ceval. Mr. Rose was much gratfied by Lord Wellesley
calling on him as soon as he returned from Spain and
promising to befriend his son. — Ed.]
Diary, September, LS09. — Li the month of April,
soon after Easter, ]\lr. Canning made a confidential
368 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
coininuiiication to nie, uiuKt the strictest injunction of
secrecy, respecting what liad passed between the
King, tlie Duke of Vortlaiid and liiniself, nlutive
to a part of the business of the A\ ar Department,
mixed to a certain extent with dij)l()inatic matters,
being transferred to the Foreign OlHce, on account
of serious inconvenience liaving been experienced
lately on the subject ; or that Lord Wellesley should
be a])pointed to the former, in lieu of Lord Castle-
reagh. And in conserpiencc thereof, I had assured
Mr. Canning that if that arrancrement was not made
satisfactorily to him, I would resign with him.
A correspondence took place between Lord Hathurst
and nic in the latter end of August, continued to the
second week in this month, in which an anxious wish
was expressed, in the name of the Cabinet, for ray
going to Walcheren, in order to settle measures
which should be immediately taken, and to advise
future ones for making that island as available as
possible for carrying on an extended connnerce to
all the northern psirts of Europe ; and I liaving
agreed to go there, the Nyaden frigate was ordered
to the Nore, to receive me on board. Hut on the
7th, I received a letter from Mr, Canning expres-
sing much anxiety to see me ; and in a day or two
afterwards, one from Lord Batlmrst, in the same style ;
the latter suggesting that the Walclieren business did
not now press.
Thursday, September 14///. — Having therefore settled
the election for mayor, at Cliristchurch, satisfactorily,
and finished the business of the Swainmote Court at
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 369
Lyndliurst ; this clay, I left CufFnells in the afternoon,
and slept a few hours at Bagshot.
Fridaij, September 15//^ — In the morning, very
early, stopping to change horses at Bedfont, I saw
Mr. Bourne in the inn, returning from London, where
he had been called by a letter from Mr. Perceval.
From him I learned, for the first time, that Mr.
Canning had resigned, or was determined immediately
to do so, in consequence of the Duke of Portland
having retired, fron) the necessity he found himself
under on account of irrecoverable ill health, and of
the difficulties arising from that in making any arrange-
ment which could be satisfactory to Mr. Canning,
who thought he should lead the House of Commons.
My conversation with Mr. Bourne was very short;
but, in the course of it, he told me his determination
was to give up his seat at tlie Board of Treasury, as
his introduction into office was tlirough Mr. Canning^
to whom also he owed his first seat in Parliament,
through the friendship of Mr. Pitt ; which determina-
tion was accompanied, however, by expressions of
obligations to me for the liberal way in which I had
repeatedly brouglit him in for Christchurch, without
putting one guinea into my own pocket.
I arrived in town before nine o'clock, and found on
my table notes from Lord Bathurst and Mr. Perceval,
desiring to see me. Not a line from Mr. Canning !
T saw the former first, from whom I learned that
for some time past the Duke of Portland's health had
declined so fast that, although he had recovered from
a severe attack upon him lately, it was thought by his
VOL. II. B B
370 DIAKIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
family, as well as by his Grace, to be (luite iinpossibh-
for him to go on in ollice, and that he had therefore
given in his resignation to his Majesty on the Gth of this
month ; previously to which a correspondence had taken
place between Mr. Canning and Mr. Perceval respecting
an arrangement to be made for lilhng the Duke's place;
in which was mixed the business of Lord Castlereagh
and the Foreign Department ; namely, a new arrange-
ment of that, or for Lord \\\llesley to succeed to it.
That, in order to avoid, as far as jjossible, any incon-
venience from a rivalship between Mr. Perceval and
Mr. Canning, the former had proposed a third person,
in the House of Lords, to be at the head of the Treasury,
and himself to remain Chancellor of the Exchcqu(;r.
With \h\> Mv. Canning was not satisfied, and had
determined to retire ; which naturally led to an anxious
wish on the part of the remaining Ministers to ascertain
what line those more closelv connected with the
Government would pursue. Having listened atten-
tively to his Lordship's statement, I told him I had
in no instance in my life been taken more entirely by
surprise than in that ; as, with the excejjtion of the
short conversation I had with Mr. Bourne, at Bedfont,
I had not heard one syllable on the subject, nor, in-
deed, had entertain»d the remotest suspicion of any
change in the Government, beyond that already
alluded to in the War Dcj)artmcnt ; and a successor
being found for the Duke of Portland, whenever he
should retire, which, on the ground of his health, I
had lately thought could not be far off; and that,
on talking with my family on the latter event, before I
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 371
left Hanipsliire, I expressed a decided opinion that
the best thing that could possibly be done would be
to place either his Lordship or Lord Harrowby at
the head of the Treasury. But that, in the present
state of things, for myself, having been in confidential
intercourse with Mr. Canning (not then suggesting
that it had been confined entirely to one specific
point), the strong inclination of my mind was towards
resigning ; but that, in a case of so much importance,
I would take some time to consider of it, and would
not ultimately decide upon it till I could advise with
my son, whose future prospects in political life might
probably depend upon the line now to be taken by
me, and to whom I had written in a manner likely
to induce his coming up.
I then went to Mr. Perceval, from whom I had the
same sort of narrative, somewhat more in detail. I
learned from him that Mr. Canning had an objection
to a third person, from the House of Peers, being at
the head of the Treasury, as Mr. Perceval admitted
that, in such case, he, as Chancellor of the Exchequer,
must have more power, as derived from patronage,
than he has hitherto had, which would give him
a more decided lead in the House of Commons, and
leave him (Mr. Canning) in a more inferior relative
situation there than he ought to be placed in. Li the
course of the conversation, I understood Mr. Perceval
that Mr. Canning had given him an expectation that
he woidd not oppose the Government on his retiring
from office. Mr. Perceval then expressed great anxiety
to know what I should do, to which I answered exactly
B B 2
372 DIAIUKS AND COKKK.Sl'ONDKNCi: OF
as 1 had done to Lonl Jiatlmr.st. llo seciiu-d atVoctcd,
and laiiu'iitrd in strong terms that he had lost Mr.
Bourne, and was Hkely to lose me.'
On my return iiome, I found a letter from Mr.
Canning, desiring mc to dine vif/i him fhn ncAt dot/,
at Cdouccster Lodge.
ISdti/rdat/, Srptfin/ji'r 10///. — Being desirous of learn-
ing all I could, that ought to inthunce my conduct,
before the post wtnt out, in order to make a full com-
nuniication to mv faniiiv in the country, I went out to
Mr. Canning in the morning, who, in the course of
two hours, went through everything that had passed
from the spring, referring to former conversations on
the subject of the War Dipartment, and Lord Castle-
reaii;h and Lord WelK'skv as connected therewith :
complaining nmch of the delay that had taken place in
that arrangement. But the principal ground of com-
plaint made by him was, that Mr. Perceval had pre-
vailed with the Duke of Portland to resign without any
previous concert with him, which had produced the
present embarrassment, partly by mi.xiiig the other
arrangement with it, which ought to have been settled
some time ago, separately and unconnected with any-
thing else, but principally from the difficulty of filling
the Duke's place. That he (Mr. Canning) was per-
suaded there should be a Minister, not an elective owe,
' At this time he certainly knew nothing of Mr. Huski.sson's
intention of quitting the Secretaryship of the Trea.sury. In the
conversation, I told him distinctly that in any arrangements he
could make for a strong Government, my office (even in the event
of my not resigning now) would most cheerfully be given up to his
disposal.
Q'TQ
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 37'
and that that Minister should be in the Honse of
Commons ; that he was aware Mr. Perceval would not,
indeed could not, yield that situation to him ; and, on
the other hand, it could hardly be expected he should
yield it to Mr. Perceval. That in such a dilemma,
therefore, the only resource was for him to resign. I
first mentioned to him what I understood from Mr.
Perceval yesterday, respecting his (Mr. Canning's)
intention of not opposing the Government, thinking
it material there should be no misconception on that
point between them ; and he assured me he had held
out no such expectation, having confined himself to
general assurances of good-will towards Mr. Perceval,
and of taking no off'ensive course in matters which
personally interested the King. I then told him
plainly that I thought he had taken a very wrong
course, reminded 4iim of conversations, in the last two
years, of mine, dissuading him from thinking of
placing himself at the head of the Treasur}^, and
related to him the opinion I had expressed to my
family in the country of my opinion as to Lord
Harrowby or Lord Bathurst being at the head of the
Treasury, to avoid the consequences of rivalship
between himself and Mr. Perceval. I assured him,
however, that my inclination was to take my line with
him, and, at his desire, I took away with me all the
papers which had passed in the correspondence
between himself, the Duke of Portland, Lord Liver-
pool, and Mr. Perceval. I stated to him, however, in
the clearest and strongest terms, my attachment to
the King, for favours received and kindness repeatedly
'M \, DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
experienced, and the reluctaiiee I should fetl in {K)ing
anything that wouhl in any degree (hstress his
Majesty ; who, independently of all [ursonal con-
siderations, was entitled, in the present state of things,
to the steadiest attachment that could he manifested
to him. Mr. I iammond, the Undersecretary of State,
brought me in his carriage, and was the Ixiuvr of
a letter to Mr. Perceval, e\})laining his intintions ns
to liis conduct out of ollice, in the manner lie had
<lonc to me, with respect to parliamentary support.
In the interval, l)etween mv return from ( iloucester
Lodge and going tliere again to dinner, I read as
many of the papers as my attendance at the Com-
mittee of Trade, and writing letters, would permit
me, which carried me down to the letter of Mr.
Perceval to Mr. Canning, of the 2sth of August,
which was the commencement of the correspondence
relative to the Duke of Portland retiring from otiice.
When I went back to dinner, I carried the whole of
the papers with me, but Mr, Canning insisted upon
my keeping them subserpient to where I had left off
ill the earlier part of the day. Mr. Charles l^agot,
the Under-Secretary, and Mr. Plaiita, Mr. Canning's
private secretary, dined with us. Soon after dinner,
the hitter withdrew, and Mr. Canning showed me Mr.
Perceval's answer to his letters respecting his intended
parliamentary conduct out of office, about which there
had been some misunderstanding by Mr. Perceval.
The conversation was confidential to a certain extent,
but led to no disclosure of who Mr. Canning expected
to act with him, as I repeated my determination not
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 375
to decide on my own conduct till I should see my son,
and my desire of reading the remainder of the papers.
Mr. Canning, and the two gentlemen who dined
with us, Avalked on with me to Hyde Park Corner,
where Mr. Bagot and I separated from ]\Ir. C, and
Mr. P. and I walked on to the top of St. James's
Street w^ith Mr. Bagot, who seemed desirous of learn-
ing whether the King had any disincKnatiou towards
Mr. Canning ; to which I answered that, as far as
I was capable of forming a judgment, I believed he
had not ; and I repeated to him, what I had said to
Mr. Canning, that I would take no determination till
I should see my son. He would, however, I am per-
suaded, infer from my conversation that the inclination
of my mind was decidedly towards Mr. Canning.
Sunday, September 17///. — I read the remainder of
the correspondence from the 28th of August through
with the most careful attention ; and the impression
left on my mind strongly was as follows : — That the
Duke of Portland's resignation was become necessary,
and that his family would not have been satisfied
with his longer continuance in office ; but that it had
been brouQ;ht about without sufficient communication
with ]\lr. Canning, who had, some months ago, had
some discussions with his Grace on the subject ; some
assignable difficulty also appeared to have interposed
as to an increase of power to Mr. Perceval under a
new First Lord of the Treasury, which would neces-
sarily give him some further pre-eminence in the
House of Commons. But the important point to
which the breach that had unhappily taken place was
870 DIAUIKS AN I) CORRESPONDKNCE OF
to be imputed, was; the claim of Mr. Canning to ho
the leader of tlie House of Commons, attainaljle only
by his being First Lord of the Treasury. Just as
I had finislied reading these papers, and taking full
notes from them, my eldest son eanie into my njom
from Southamj)ton, into whose liauds I put tliese
notes, and afterwards gave him as faithful a narrative
as I could of ail that had j)assed with tlic different
ministers I had seen. lie had formed an oj)ini(iu,
previously to ids having left tiie country, that I siiould
not resign, in which Mr>. ivose, my younger son,
my daugliter, and Mrs. George liose, all concurred
iieartilv, from the statements made to them in letters
from nu' of the 15(11 and Ulth ; in which opinion he
was not shaken by having read the papers now, (jr
rather the notes I had made from them, which were
very full. My judgment coincided with his ; but the
partial confidence I had been in with .Mr. Camiing,
though on a matter entirely distinct from and uncon-
nected with this, put my feelings in a painful state
of conflict with my judgment. In this state, with-
out having had ns full and satisfactory a di.scussion
with my son as I wished, T went to dine with
Lord Bathurst, to settle finally our official letters
to Mr. Canning on the subject of the Brazil Treaty
which I liad written yesterday. Lord Ilarrowby
came in to dinner : and the onlv conversation about
matters depending was my saying that if I followed
the dictates of my inclination it would be, that
having had the misfortune (one I hoj)cd never to
have witnessed) to see a division of Mr. Pitt's friends,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 377
to retire altogether, and to take no part with either.
Tlicy carried me to .Downing Street in the evening,
wliere there was a Cabinet, on my way home.
I found my son at home, and went through with
him every circumstance that had occurred, and all
the bearings upon it ; which more and more satisfied
my judgment that I was not at liberty to indulge my
feelings by a resignation of my office.
Monday, September \Wi. — Having reflected most
seriously, with the most attentive care, during a
sleepless night, on the whole subject, giving the
fullest consideration in my power to what line Mr.
Pitt would have wished me to take if he had been
living, and in a state unable to mix in political con-
cerns, / decided against resigning my office ; and then
set out to communicate that to Mr. Canning, but in
the Green Park was overtaken by a violent storm of
rain, my son with me, that compelled us to take
shelter under the trees between the wall of the
Queen's garden and Constitution Hill, till near twelve
o'clock, when it was too late to expect Mr. Canning
would be foimd at home ; I therefore determined
to give up seeing him till to-morrow.
At the Board of Trade I met Lord Bathurst, who
expressed some anxiety to know whether I had made
up my mind on the point about which he and his
colleagues were so anxious ; and my answer was, that
I would first communicate that to Mr. Canning before
I did to any one else. We then transacted the
ordinary business of the Board, and I returned home.
Some time after that, his Lordship called upon me, to
:}78 DIARIES AND COKIIKSPONDKNCK ol
say tliat it was of importance the Ministers slioiilil
know my determination ///r//, pressing me closely to
decide ; on which I said, it' I mnst thru do so, he
would take my determination tor resignation ; that I
was aware it might he material to them to be at
a certainty about all persons nearly connected with
the Goyernment, but that no consideration shonld
induce me to declare inv intentions untd 1 should sec
Mr. Canning. His Lordship then asked nie if they
might hope it was fayourable to their wish ; and
1 replied 1 woiiM not drop a hint eyen of what
it was: consecpiently, I should have not the slightest
ground of complaint if Mr. iVrceyal acted as if he had
my resignation.
Tncsddjl, Srjjtntihrr Vdl/i. — 1 went out to .Ml.
CaiHiing at Gloucester Loilge, aiul communicated to
him niv purpose of not seiuling in my resignation, at
which hr was a irood deal att'ected, but much more so
at parting. The point on which I princijially rested,
\yas the impossibility of my being a party to his
breaking up the Goyernment on motiyes of personal
ambition, — throwing the King, as far as depended
upon him, on those who woidd be likely to deal
hardly with him, to afford cause of trium[)h and exul-
tation to the Jacobins, &c. ; detailing my reasons on
each head, and assuring him most truly that I had
taken mv line with infinite reluctance. He airain
attempted, unsuccessfully, to justify his conduct to me ;
obserying, that if he had acquiesced in the appointment
of a third person, he should haye given up the lead in
administration almost for ever, as Lord Bathurst or
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 370
Lord Harrowby were very little older tlmn himself : —
that he had no desire to suppress Mr. Perceval; on
the contrary, he had proposed his being made a peer
and President of the Council, with the Duchy of
Lancaster for life ; and still insisting that the latter,
by driving on the Duke of Portland to a resignation,^
had produced these difficulties, as his Grace might
just as well have continued their nominal head, as he
had for some time past. At the close of the conver-
sation we parted, without a syllable having fallen from
liim in the course of it that conveyed the slightest
shadow of blame on me for any part of my conduct ;
but he took leave of me in the most affectionate manner
possible. I should have observed that he for the first
time expressed some surprise at the Ministers having
taken it for granted that he had resigned; though his
letter to the King by no means expressed that, but
submitted propositions to his Majesty on which he
had not received any communication of his pleasure,
either from himself or from the Duke of Portland.
^ It will be seen in Lord Bathurst's letter to me, of Wednesday,
the 2()th, that he says, — " That after the Duke's fit had shown how
impossible it was for him to continue Minister ; and, after the ex-
planation between Perceval and Canning, in which the latter gave
him to understand that he would admit of no third person, Canning,
without communication with Perceval, wrote to the Duke, calling
upon him to execute immeiliatchj the change in the War Department.
The Duke sent that letter to Perceval, asking his advice, and it was
in answer to that letter that Perceval advised him to resign, as by
that measure it was possible the change in the War Department
might bo made palatable amongst other arrangements incidental to the
Duke's resignation. And the next day when the Duke came to
town, he explained to his Grace what might possibly be the conse-
quence of his resignation. It was not until after this explanation,
and having seen Canning also, that the Duke resigned.
380 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCK OF
That 111' (lid not consider hiiusclf out of otiico ; — so far
from it, he slioukl call ii Cahiiict this day, and meet
his collea^MCS as usual. That it was not liis incli-
nation to oppose the new Administration, hut that he
liad heard it was the intention of the present Ministers
to run at him, and that if they should do so lie would
make inveterate war upon them, which he had the
means of doin^, from the Convention ' of Cintra
(resting nmch u[)on that) downwards. That he had
refused seeing Lord C'hatham, who he supposed had
grievances against the Ministers, till after the meeting
of the Cabinet, and he luul seen the King.
On my coming to town, I met Lord Batliur>t at
the Committee for Trade, and then communicated to
him my resolution not to resign ; at which he expressed
his own satisfaction in terms and in a manner that
astonished me, and said he knew that his eolhagues
would feel not less delight at it. I explained to him
that I had not delayed till then to do it from a wish
to conciliate Mr. Canning to the measure, as I had
stated to that gentleman my tixed determination to
that end, at the very opening of the conversation
with him; and had ac(inainted my own family with it
by yesterday's post ; but that I had a feeling towards
' Respecting that transaction itself, he certainly had jn.st and strong
ground of complaint against his colleagues. He was in Leicestei>hire
when the account of it arrived, and, without waiting for his opinion
on the subject, they sent off the son of Sir Hugh Dalrymple, who
brought the account, with an unqualificl approbation of the measure ;
and Mr. Canning arrived in town just in time to have Captain Dal-
rymple stopped by telegraph on the road to Plymouth, and brought
back to London, when a qualified censure was expressed on the
Convention.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 381
liiiu which hiduced me to be desh"ous of making the
communication to himself before I did to any one else
whatever.
After the strongest and warmest expressions of
satisfaction on the part of his Lordship, he went
on to say, that as a proof of what he felt on the
occasion, he would no longer have any sort of reserve
with me ; and then told me, that finding Mr. Canning
bent on breaking up the Administration, they had
turned their attention in every direction as to how they
might strengthen themselves, and mentioned an over-
ture to the Speaker, which he had declined. On which
I observed that I was confident that that would not
have done, and was persuaded that nothing short of a
junction with Lord Grey and his friends, with whom
I feared must be joined Lord Grenville and his friends
(as the two would not be separated), could afford a
hope of a strong Government. In this he concurred,
and told me it was meant to be tried ; for which pur-
pose Mr. Perceval was going to Windsor, to ascertain
whether the King could be brought to approve of the
attempt being made ; of which there was some doubt,
as his Majesty entertained an insuperable dislike to
Lord Grenville, though lie would not object to Lord
Grey. I observed, that unfortunately the King had
no choice, but to decide whether he would permit
Mr. Perceval to try what he could do by treating with
Lord Grenville, or wait to be compelled to treat with
his Lordship in his own person. Lord Bathurst con-
sulted me in the most confidential manner on several
points likely to arise in the progress of the discussion
382 DIARIES A\D CORRESPONDKNCK OF
between tlie parties — and mciitioiKHl many tliinf^.s
that liad oceurred in tlic intercourse with Mr. Can-
ning. Amongst others, tliat the hitter had suggested
to the Duke of l\)rthuul, by way of satisfying Mr.
Perceval, that he shouUl be made Lord Chancellor ;
which the Duke, in the simplicity of his heart, had accord-
ingly proj)()sed to the Chancellor, who was outrageous
at it. That the King said he liad made such con-
cessions to Mr. Canning, unprecedented to any subject,
as would be hij/hly uncrrditaUc lo him if t/irt/ should
evn- he knoicfi : and was therefore certainly not likely
to make any more. That Mr. Iluskisson adheres to
Mr. Canning; and that Mr. Long had desired his
office might be considered as at their disposal, under
a conviction that they could not make a Government.
That he (Lord llithurst) considered himself out of
office, as he was persuaded his would be wanted in the
arrangement. That l^ord Liverpool was desirous of
giving his up to Perceval if the latter should not
continue Chancellor of the Lxchecpier; and Lord
Castlereagh being out of otHce, I conjecture there will
be disposable three Secretaryships of State, Secretary-
at-War, and probably the Presidentship of the Council,
Lord Camden, and the Privy Seal, Lord ^Vestmoreland.
Why not the Admiralty, Lord Mulgrave?— Wellesley
Pole very firm, but doubtful about his brother the
ALinpiis; who most likely will attach himself to Mr.
Canning, in consequence of the stand he has made for
him. Mr. Yorke extremely eager, but still restrained
by his brother Lord llardwicke.
Lord Bathurst told me that Mr. Canning's letter
THE IIIGHT nON. GEORGE ROSE. 383
to the King last week was not a resignation, but
conveying an intimation that if he had his Majesty's
approbation he could form an Administration ! ! Which
explains his expressing surprise at his having been
considered to have resigned.
Wednesday, September 'IWi. — In the Mornivfj
Chronicle of this day they say confidently that the
only changes in contemplation are of persons in the
Cabinet to new situations ; and that Mr. Canning is
to go to the Admiralty, which has long been the
object of his ambition.
Lord Bathurst did not come down to Whitehall
to-day, as he was to go to the levee at the Queen's
house. He therefore wrote to me to say that the
proposition for treating with Lord Grenville was
received less ill than was apprehended ; that nothing
decisive was said ; from whence it was conceived to
be clear that the advice would be accepted. Perceval
was very graciously received, and the overture to
Mr. Canning wholly rejected.
I saw Mr, Long on a Pay-Office business, who
confirmed to me the account I Ijefore had of his
resignation, and said he had liad no communication
whatever with Mr. Canning.
Thursday, Sepfember, '2>\st. — On going to the Office
for Trade, Sir Stephen Cotterell told me, there had
been in the morning a duel between Lord Castlereagh
and Mr. Canning, and that the latter was wounded,
not dangerously, in the upper part of the thigh.
Lord Bathurst acquainted me that he had yester-
day communicated to the King my determination, to
381 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OK
which I was greatly influenced by personal attach-
ment to his Majesty, and tliat I had been very much
led to and supported in that decision hy my eldest
son, warnilv countenanced by the rest of niv tainilv ;
at which his Lordship assured me his Majesty had
expressed the hii^hest sense of gratitieation, dwelling
with peculiar satisfaction on the attachment (»f my
son and family to him. The Kinj^ has not acceded
to any overtures being made to Lord Grenville, under
an impression that a Government may be formed by
Mr. Perceval and liis rcmainin'' colh'ac'ues : a vision-
ary expectation certainly, but not an unnatural one
for his ^L^jesty to entertain, from his extreme dislike
to Lord Ci., and still more froin having had positive
assurances from Mr. Canning that /le could, and
would, undertake to form a Government without
having recourse to Lord Grenville ; in which 1 can
hartlly conceive it possible he could be sincere,'
because he could not expect any of his present
colleagues to make a part of it, and he had no other
quarter to look to, except Lord Sidmouth's friends,
with whom he was at irreconcilable enmity, as Lord
Grey is inseparable from Lord Grenville. These
particulars tin- King could not have entered into;
and Mr. Canning having made such an ofl'er, it is not
surprising that it should produce an eflcct on his
Majesty's mind ; and the mischief occasioned by it
may be difficult to be removed. The King, however,
' This may have been to get the negotiations into hia hands ; and
then to have made that available to his views,— by being a principal
in it.
THE EIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 385
put aside entirely that offer of Mr. Canning's, and
treats Mr. Perceval with the most perfect cordiality.
In the Park, as I was getting on horseback, I met
Lord Lonsdale, who arrived in town only half-au-hour
before, having travelled from Lowther in two days on
hearing of the breaking-up of the Government from
Lord Camden, Lord Mulgrave, and Mr. Long. I
mentioned to him the immediate cause of the mischief,
leaving him to collect particulars from others. The
conversation lasted full three-quarters of an hour,
walking up and down the Mall, and he coincided com-
pletely in my view of matters. I then went out to
Mr. Canning's, where I saw Mr. Charles ElHs, who had
been his second in the duel, on Mr. Henry Wellesley
having declined to go with him, who told me that
Lord Yarmouth had brought a letter to Mr. Canning-
yesterday morning, in which Lord Castlereagh re-
capitulated all that he had lately learned had passed
relative to his removal from the War Department,
and resting his ground of complaint principally, and V'ij-^'*" x.
almost exclusively, on the concealment from his Lord-
ship of the whole transaction and everything con-
nected with it till after the expedition to Walcheren
was over ; concluding with a positive call upon him
for the only satisfaction he could receive. In the
afternoon, Mr. Ellis went to Lord Yarmouth, and in
a conversation of an hour and a half explained all the
circumstances that had occurred, to show that the
concealment (the only important groimd of complaint
insisted upon) was not in the remotest degree imputa-
ble to Mr. Canning. On a report of which, however, to
VOL. II. c c
v/L-v"
38(> DIAUIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Lord Castlereagh, the meeting ^vas still insisted upon.
Accordingly the parties met tliis morning. W hen
the parties reached the ground, Mr. llllis explained
a further circumstance, to show tliat Lord Camden
(the near relation of Lord Castlereagh) had imder-
taken positively to explain to the latter all that was
necessary respecting the arrangement connected with
the Foreign Department ; but it was inefieetual ;
Lord Yarmouth attending Lord Castlereagh, and Mr
Charles Ellis Mr. Cannini;. The second of the latter
said to the other, that as the j)rincipals could not be
there to seek each other's blood, it would be desirable
to take the usual distance, to wiiich Lord Yarmouth
agreeing, twelve paces were measnred ; and it was
then settled the parties should fire together. On the
first fire both esca})ed. Mr. I'^llis tlu^n said to Lord
Yarmouth he supposed enough had been done, but
that it must be as Lord Castlereagh wished, as Mr.
Cannincr came there onlv to satisfy him. Lord Yar-
mouth then talked with Lord Castlerea2;h, and ad-
dressing himself to Mr. KIlis said there must be
another shot, after which he should leave the ground,
as he would not witness any further proceedings.
The ])arties then fired together a second time, and
Mr. Canning was wounded in the flesh of the upper
part of tlie thigh, the ball passing through ; after
whicli he walked to a cottage near the spot, where
Mr. Home, the surgeon, was waiting, having been
engaged for that purpose by Mr. Ellis last night —
and then went home.
Having been mformed fidly of everything that led
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 387
to the proposal by Mr. Canning of a part of the
business in the War Department being transferred
to the Foreign, or for Lord Wcllesley to succeed to
the former, I have as clear a conviction as I can have
on any point, that Mr. Canning is absolutely blame-
less on any point that should have given ground of
offence to Lord Castlereagh. He had long, and
repeatedly, urged a communication of all that was in
agitation to his Lordship ; and no delay respecting it
could be fairly imputed to him.
In the Park, on my return, I met Lord Westmore-
land, who expressed great satisfaction at having heard
that I did not mean to resign. And he congratulated
himself very much on his good fortune in not having
heard a syllable till last week of the intended arrange-
ment of the War Department, which had led to this
breach in the Government ; which, in truth, had
nothing ivhatever to do ivith it, except in hastening
the resignation of the Duke of Portland, which could
not have been delayed much longer; indeed, not
many weeks, as his Grace could not have met Parlia-
ment again as Minister.
On returning to the Board of Trade I learned from
Lord Bathurst, that the Duke of Portland, in perfect
simplicity of heart, had communicated to Mr. Canning
all that his colleagues had been doing to strengthen
themselves by applications to the Speaker, &c. ;
which he will, of course, not fail to communicate to
Lord Grenville. The natural consequence will in-
evitably be, his Lordship turning upon his heel
if any proposition shall be made to him, with an
cc 2
388 Ul ARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
observation tlmt no application was tliouglit of to liiin
till every otlier iiad tailed ; and so the formation of
the new Government will probably fall exclusively into
his hands. In wlneh event it is perfectly dear that
I shall be within no j)ossibility whatever of being
included in the new arrangement : but 1 am so
entirely satistiexl with the determination I have taken,
that no human event ran sliakc my mind uj)oii
it ; nor would I alter it now to secure the tpiiet
possession of my otlice for life. The approbation
arising from !iiy reHections on all that has passed, —
sanctioned, supported, and strengthened by the con-
current opinions of all those most dear to me, — will
support me under severer political trials th;in T can
meet with, and will be a comfort to me under any
discij)line.
Fridai/, Srpfeinlx'r H^d. — Nothing of any impor-
tance occnrred this day ; but Lord l^athurst told me
he dined vesterdav with the Cabinet at the Duke of
Portland's, where he stayed three (piarters of an iiour
with his Grace after the others went away, in the hope
of learning from him how Mr. Canning had proposed
to form n Government but without much success ; as
he could get no further than Lord .Moira and Mr.
iluskisson! — the latter of whom the Duke thought
was to be brought forward to some considerable
station. Lord Bathurst is persuaded the Duke had
been no further intrusted with Mr. Canninij's secret.
But it is entirely certain that a regular offer was made
by him, as before observed, to form an Administra-
tion without Lord Grenvillo . — a most unequivocal
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 389
proof that he had not treated me with the smallest
share of his confidence respecting what has occasioned
his resignation.
I rode out to Mr. Canning's, and learned from his
servant that he is doing perfectly well.
Saturday, September 2'dd. — Went in the morning
to Woolwich, and embarked in the " Trinity Yacht "
for a sail down the river, or wherever the wind and
tide would take me.
Monday, September 25//^. — Returned in the evening
from Sheerness, wdiere I went in the Trinity yacht,
accompanied by Mr. Pelly and Mr. Lewin, two of
the Eider Brethren ; a strong gale of wind and very
foul weather having prevented our getting either to
Harwich or to the Downs.
I found on my table a letter from Lord Bathurst,
dated on Saturday, saying that Lord Liverpool and
Perceval were gone to Windsor that day, and that he
had little doubt, from what had passed yesterday after
he left mc, but that the King would authorize Perceval
to write to Lord Grey and Lord Grenville, to propose
forming an Administration on an extended basis. That
part of the Cabinet (those who have not resigned) have
concmTcd in advising a letter to be written to that
effect, the draft of which is to be submitted to the
King, and that there were two messengers to go down
to the King, in order to convey the letters without
delay. That it was his Majesty's letter of yesterday
which leaves little or no doubt that the message will
be sent by authority to-day ; but as it is possible
some fresh difficulty may be attempted from other
390 DIARIES AND COHRKSrONDENCE OF
(jiiartcrs, his Lordsliij) desired I would not mention
the substance of this coniniunication. If the niessuire
goes, the sul)stanee of it will he notified, lie hoped, in
the papers on Monday (this day), as the pul)lic ouglit
not to be kept longer in suspense.
Found also on my tal)Ie, on my return, a letter
from .Mr. Hourne. Lord Malmcsbury had been with
liim, and left him on Saturday.
Tamduy, ticpicmher 2()///. — The King iuis agreed
to applications ])eing made to Lord Grey and Lord
Grenvill(\ and letters were sent to them accord-
ingly; but his Majesty has declared that he will have
no personal communication with either of tluMu till
the arrangements shall lie finally settled; to which
determination he will, I am persuaded, not be able to
adhere. Those two Lords very well know tjiat the
present Government cannot go on without consider-
able additional strength, and they cannot be ignorant
that sxich strength is to be looked for in no other
quarter. They will, thi'refore, almost to a certainty,
make their o\\n terms, and Lord Grenvillc will, 1 dare
say, insist upon settling those terms with the King
himself; or that Lord Grey shall do so, which, after
some ineffectual struggle, must be conceded. What-
ever shall happen, I am for a strong Government ;
which no personal consideration of any sort shall
induce me to throw any difficulty in the way of. I
wish, for the sake of the King, he may not be forced
into an arrangement that will be odious to him ;
which, if made by Lord Grenville, it will be, as his
Majesty has repeatedly told me in the course of the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 391
last two years that his Lordship is even more offensive to
him than Mr. Fox ever was. I am anxious, also, for
the sake of the country, that the King shoukl not be
severely pressed on this occasion, from a conviction
that, if he should, the new Administration can have
no chance of being a permanent one; and I am per-
suaded that nothing can be more hazardous to the
public quiet and tranquillity than frequent changes
and weak Administrations.
Wednesday, September %ltli. — Lord Lonsdale having
called in Palace-Yard while I was out in the yacht,
and expressed an earnest desire to see me, I went to
Charles Street, and learned that he left town on
Sunday last. Lord Bathurst told me, however, that
his Lordship thought exactly as we did respecting the
necessity of forming a strong Government by a imion
with Lord Grey and Lord Grenville ; to attain which
he hoped there would be no hesitation in making
sacrifices on both sides. And on talking of the
probable line that would be pursued by different
persons, Lord Bathurst mentioned Henry Wellesley
as fixed to Mr. Canning's, by the latter having
appointed him some weeks ago to succeed Mr. Villiers
at the Court of Lisbon ! ! Such an appointment
might be necessary, considering the situation of
Marquis Wellesley at Seville, and Lord Wellington in
Portugal ; but some statement or explanation to me
was surely necessary, after what passed on the nomi-
nation of Mr. Villiers, who was named for the mission
without one single requisite quality for it, against
the fair and strong pretensions of my eldest son.
392 DIARIES AND CORKESPONDEN'CE OF
This, althongli it would not have infliicnrcd the dctcr-
ininatioii I have lately taken not to resign with Mr.
Canning, certainly does not make me regret that
determination.
Thurndfu/, Srp/nnbcr 2^//i — Letters received this
morning l)y Mr. Perceval from liord Grey and Lord
Grenville, the former declining, in very gentleman-like
terms, but very positively, to come nj) lor the ])ur|)osc
of entering into a negotiation with the present
Ministers for forming an Administration; hut adding
that if the King had commanded his attendance, to
consult him independently of his present servants, he
should have felt it his duty to obey the command.
The persons to whom his Lordship wrote by return
of tlie messenger, were TiOrd Grenville, Lord Holland,
i\L-. Ponsonby, and Mr. Tierney. Lord Grenville's
answer was, saying drily, but civilly, that he should
come up immediately. His Lordship wrote to Lord
Grey and Mr. I'reemantle. Mr Thomas Grenville is
coming up with him; and from the persons he wrote
to, combined with other circumstances not likely to be
mistaken, there is the greatest reason to believe his
Lordship was desirous of endeavouring at least to form
a strong Government. It is not likely he can be pleased
or satisfied with Lord Grey having refused all inter-
course on the overture made to him without anv com-
munication whatever with him ; because coming to
London himself, he must naturallv have wished to meet
Lord Grey here, and to communicate with him. But
it is beyond all doubt that, whatever his feelings may
be in that respect, he will not treat separately from
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 393
Lord Grey. Thus they will ultimately constrain
the King to come into their terms, as I have been
persuaded from the beginning, but in a manner very
different from what I conjectured; for I certainly
imagined Lord Grey would have been found much
the most practicable of the two. It is understood
(perhaps only supposed) that he has said to Mr.
Tierney, that by holding back they shall obtain the
conditions they W'ish ; which is very likely to be the
case, but their prospect of making a permanent
Government cannot be a flattering one.
Friday, Sejjtember 2dt/t. — Lord Grenville arrived in
town ; and wrote a second letter to Mr. Perceval,
stating that he had come up in consequence of his
Majesty's commands, but that he thinks it impossible
to treat with the remainder of the present Cabinet to
form a Government, having in his recollection the
principles on which they came into the Administra-
tion ; but in making that declaration, he washes it to
be distinctly understood that he has no feeling whatever
of personal hostility. It is, however, beyond all doubt,
that the inducement for writing that letter must have
been the one he found on his arrival in town from
Lord Grey. If he had entertained the sentiments now
expressed ; or rather if he had formed the determina-
tion he is now acting upon, when he was in Corn-
wall, he w^ould certainly not have taken the trouble of
coming up 250 miles, merely to write from Camelford
House, in Oxford Street, what he might just as well
have written from Bocannoch.
Lord George Cavendish expressed this morning great
.'JDt DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
regret at the rejection of the overture, aiul added that
lie tlioufjlit liis two friends liad acted very u/noisvli/.
Salurddff, Sep ton her 3()M. — I saw Mr. Perceval for
the tirst time since I took tht' determination not to
resifrii. He sliowed me the letter written to him l)y
the King, of tiie 2:2(1, a very long one, authorizing him
to make the overture to Lord Grey and Lord (Jren-
viilc ; very full, reasoning on the dillieult and critical
situation in which he is placed without any blame
upon himself ; referring generally to the past dilliculties
in his reign, and how he had met them ; with solemn
protestations that throughout he had never had any-
thing in his view but the good of his people, whose
real interest he had studied ; lamented in very ex-
pressive language his misfortune in being driven to
have recourse to tiiosc from whom he had icceived
injurious treatment, in terms of strong displeasure
against the leaders of the Opposition, referring more
l)articularly to the two peers; and sj)eaking in lan-
guage of the highest regard of the Duke of Portland,
for the manly part he had acted in coming forward at
his time of life, and in his state of health, to assist in
forming the present Government for his ])rotection ;
but admitted the absolute necessity of //i.s resignation.
His Majesty, in giving the authority to Mr. Perceval
and Lord Liverpool, to treat with Lord Grey and
Lord Grenville, stated his determination not to mix
personally in it ; but reserved to himself, when the
persons negotiating should have settled particulars, the
right of approving of, or dissenting from, any of those
he might think material. In more than one part of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 395
the letter he pointed strongly at the clanger of his
being pressed by the new Government on the Catholic
question. The whole letter, which, of course, was
dictated to Colonel Taylor by the King, was written
with great energy and spirit, as the King's own used
to be on great and interesting occasions ; with much
fairness as well as firmness ; and, upon the whole,
would, if published, do incalculable good, except as to
the manner in which he speaks of the Opposition.
Mr. Perceval told me that, in the conversations he
had with the King, he dissuaded him earnestly from
calling upon his new Ministers, if they should come
into his service, to give any pledge against bringing
forward the Catholic question, as it would be utterly
impossible for them to do so without an absolute
abandonment of character with the public. That the
best security his Majesty could have in the present
state of things against that question being carried,
would be the mixture of those who must continue to
be against it being a part of the new Government. On
which hope the King at length agreed to rest ; but
gave strong assurances that he would rather abandon
the throne than consent to Catholic emancipation.
I had not much confidential information from Mr.
Perceval, except on the heads I have stated ; but I
conjecture, from some hints that dropped from him,
they are treating with Lord Melville, who, it seems,
has expressed his strong disapprobation of ]\Ir. Can-
ning's conduct, on the statement made to him by Mr.
Huskisson, who, having resigned with Mr. Canning,
would not put things unfavourably for him ; Lord
39G DIARIES AND CORUESPOXDENCE OF
Melville at the same time professing a partiality for
Mr. Canning personally.*
Mr. Perceval represented to me strongly tlu' neces-
sity he felt we were untler of standing by the King in
the sitmition in which he is ])laced ; and the persuasion
he had that it was inlinitely hetter we should wait to
be beat in the House of Commons than to run from
our situation now as we did on the death of Mr. Pitt :
— on wliieh subject 1 am not so certain as he is, entir-
taining some doubt whether retiring now we could
not ailord the King a better protection than on being
driven out by a majority against us in Parliament,
especially considering the extreme ditliculty of tilling
the vacancies in the Cabinet. I know not even liow
a successor will be found for Mr. Iluskisson in the
Treasury.
Lord Bathurst and Lord Harrowby called on Mr.
Canning, coming in from "\Vind)U'don, lie havhig
desired to see the latter. The former probal)ly ac-
companying him to avoid any j)rivate conversation,
though it does not appear there could well have been
any.
SuncJai/, Ocfobrr \sf. — This day I have neither
seen anybody nor heard anything, as I remained
quietly at home, closely employed in arranging some
matters respecting prize agency likely to be of most
important use to the officers and men in the navy ; on
which I mean to make a representation to the Admi-
ralty to-morrow.
The freedom from all interruption afforded me
' Mr. Canning married Lord Melville's niece.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 397
further opportunity for reflection on recent occui'-
rences, and on such as may be expected.
I have no information whatever, nor can form even
a probable conjecture of the intention of Mr. Perceval
and others, of the means they have in contemplation
for acquiring such additional strength as can enable
them to carry on the Government, or afford a pro-
bable chance of their doing so. It does not, indeed,
occur to me that any such are within their reach.
This persuasion fixes more deeply in my mind the
painful regret arising from the refusal of Lord Grey
and Lord Grenville to treat, or to have any intercourse,
on the formation of a new and a strong Government ;
especially as I am quite sure there would have been
concessions to them beyond any they can have formed
an expectation of.
The vacancies of the First Lord of the Treasury
and two Secretaries of State they know of. The
Chancellorship of the Exchequer would necessarily
have been immediately conceded to them.' One
Secretary of the Treasury vacant, and the other (the
confidential one) would certainly follow. Lord Liver-
pool's Secretaryship of State was, I know, agreed to
be given up ; that might, perhaps, have been expected
for Perceval. Lord Harrowby would have at once
^ Of this concession Mr. Perceval never entertained a moment's
doubt. It would, indeed, have been quite impossible for him to
have held the office under Lord Gi'enville as the head of the Trea-
sury ; as he would certainly have brought back Mr. Wickham to
that Board, who had his confidence so entirely in his former
administration, that Lord Henry Petty, who was his Chancellor of
the Exchequer, was absolutely a cipher at the Board.
398 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCi: Ol
given up the \udn\ Board, and Lord Batliiirst, the
Mint. The Privv Seal lickl bv Lord Wcstinorehmd
would have been made free with, without lie.sitati<jn.
Lord Miilgrave wouhl not, / .su/jjjo.se, have resisted
giving up the Achniralty.
Of Lord Chatliam's intentions, and the Chancellor's,
I know nothing; i)nt suppose they would adiicre to
their otliees as long as possible, under any circum-
stances. Lord Granville will, of course, vacate the
Secretaryship-at-War, to follow his intimate personal
friend. Ah'. Camiing, at whose instance solely he occu-
pied the situation. One Paymastership of the Forces
is vacant by the resignation of Mr. Long ; and my ollice
of Treasurer of the Navy, the best in the King's gift
out of the Cabinet. Mr. Perceval knows that the one
from me is most entirely at the KiiiLr's disposal, in anv
arrangement he can make for his ALijesty's service.
Here is a tolerably abundant crop for the Opposition ;
but I am quite certain that further sacrifices would
have been made without ditlieulty, to almost any extent
that could have been called for.
If Lord Melville and Lord Sidmouth shall be taken
into the Administration to give strength to it, my
situation will be a most painful and di.stressing one.
I cannot ?iow quit the Government, however it may be
formed, for the purpose of attording support to the
King ; at least, until it has taken a settled form ; and
not even then without a tixed determination to give it
every assistance in my power, in aid of the cause in
which they are embarking. But my dislike to the two
Viscounts last mentioned is insnperable ; for reasons of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 399
a public nature, well known to my family, utterly un-
mixed with any personal consideration whatever.
Monday, October 2d. — A paragraph in the Morning
Chronicle of this day, respecting Mr. Canning's ap-
pointment of Mr. Bartholomew Frere to take charge
of the British interests at the Court of Spain, on the
departure of Lord Wellesley, led Lord Bathurst to
mention to me, that on Wednesday, the 20th of last
month, when Mr. Canning went in to the King on his
resignation, he acquainted his Majesty that the Mar-
quis, on his leaving this country, had left in his hands
a letter, desiring his recall in the event of Mr. Canning
retiring from office ; which he notified to his Majesty
in form, and obtained his permission to appoint Mr, B.
Frere to succeed him, pro tempore. Of which circum-
stance, so intimately connected with measures of the
highest importance to the national prosperity, and
the carrying on of Government from day to -day, he
said not one word to any one of his colleagues ; nor
would they have known anything of it at all, but
from the fact of Mr. Perceval accidentally going
in to the King after Mr. Canning. But that was
not all. Mr. Canning actually despatched the letters of
recall to Lord Wellesley the next morning, and they
would have reached his Lordship without a syllable
from any other human being — at least, from any one
connected with the Government — but for Mr. Perce-
val's discovery above alluded to, which induced Mr.
Wellesley Pole, brother to the Marquis, and Secretary
to the Admiralty, to detain the vessel going to Spain
for twenty-four hours ; and then Lord Bathurst wrote
lOU DIARIES AND COllUESPONDEN'CE OF
to tlic iMiiniuis (anil, prrliaps, others also), to express
a hope that he would not ttuddcnly quit his mission at
so critical a period as this.
It is impossible here to avoid expressing the utmost
astonishment at this proceeding of Mr. Calming,
keeping the secret of Lord Wellesley's retiring from
his mission to the latest moment, then communicating
it to the King onli/. Having met his colleagues in
cabinet the same day, before he went to the Queen's
House, and endeavouring to send off his despatch to
his Lordship, without giving any of the other ministers
an oj)portunity of writing by the same opportunity,
aj)pears to be irri'concilable to the plain duty of a
public man. Such a general delegation seems extra-
ordinary on the part of Lord Wcllesley, to give in his
request to be recalled in case of Mr. Canning's resig-
nation, whatever imtjhl he the (/round of that ! ! The
manner of Mr. Canning availing himself of such a
delegated power, and the exercise of it, are no less
cxtraordinarv- To recall a foreif^n minister in the crmn
of a negotiation, is a very diilrrent thing from the
retiring of a minister at home. The place of the
latter may be supplied at once, and being only one
of a Cabinet, no serious inconvenience would be likely
to result from the change. But the case is very dif-
ferent where the whole weight of responsibility rests
on a single individual ; especially w here the mission is
to a fluctuating and precarious authority, like that of
the Junta at Seville. In the present instance there
is another powerful objection, in addition to these
considerations, to the measure of Mr. Canning ; that
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 401
it is the brother of the IVlarquis who is in the com-
mand of all the British forces in Spain, the supplies
and succours for which must depend in a great degree
upon the talents and energy of the British j\Iinister
with the Junta.
In the Morniufj Post of this day, and in other
papers, varying a little in words but not in substance,
is an account of the circumstances which occasioned
the duel between Mr. Canning and Lord Castlereagh ;
not accurate in all the details, but sufficiently par-
ticular to make it certain that it has been inserted by
some one informed of all that has passed on the
subject, giving a favourable turn to Mr. Canning's
conduct througliout. As to the immediate occasion of
the duel it was blameless. But this statement, per-
fectly uncalled for, is likely to occasion further dis-
cussions, which may be mischievous.
Tuesday, October 3f/. — Mr. Long saw Mr. Perceval
to-day, and agreed to remain in office. What has
induced him to this change of resolution I know not ;
possibly the declared opinion of Lord Lonsdale, who
brings him into Parliament. In his conversation with
Mr. Perceval, he deprecated the introduction of Lord
Melville into the Cabinet, as a measure likely to be
attended with the very worst consequences, both in and
out of Parliament \ by loss of support, in the first case,
and the public, in the latter, going the length of meet-
ings, addresses, &c. I think the mischievous effect out
of doors, by the impression on the public mind, would
be deeper and more felt than in Parliament ; but I
certainly have no wish to see the experiment made.
VOL. II. D D
1,02 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Mr. Sainut'l Thornton (Hank Director) called on me
in the evening, on coming in from the Quarter Ses-
sions in Surrey. 1 discussed fully with hiui all that
was passing, and lie approved entirely of the course
that was pursuing. He mentioned his relation, Mr.
Mills, member for Pontefract, as a man likely to be
useful in othce -. a remarkably eloquent young man,
certainly.
V'ednr/iilai/, Ocfobcr Ath. — Mr. r(>rreval kissed hands
as First \jon\ of the Treasury.
Mr. Perry, editor of the Morning Chronicle, said
Mr. Canning was fixed with the Opposition, and that
to-morrow he should have his full statement /// /tin
paper. No other arrangement settled to-day.
Thursday, October bfh. — Consultations going for-
ward about filling the difi'erent oHices. An offer
lias been sent to Lord Wellesley, either to continue
in Spain, or take the Foreign Secretaryshij) ; someone
to hold that situation till the Manpiis's determination
shall be known. Lord Ilarrowby's health will not
allow him to take it even for that time. Lord Liver-
pool verv averse from taking it, on account of the
run made at him when he held the situation before.
Lord Bathiirst strongly disinclined to it. And the
point not settled to-day. Lord Ilardwicke has relaxed
from the positive prohibition he put on his brother
Charles Yorke's taking office a few months ago, when
the Secretar)ship-at-War was offered to him on Sir
James Pulteney quitting, which he would then have
accepted; and it is now in contemplation for him to be
Secretary for the Home Department. Mr. Robert
Dundas to have the War Department.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 403
Lord Chatham, yesterday, told Mr. Perceval that
Lord Sidmouth was determined to support him, in the
present emergency, without office ; which encouraged
the latter to think of making overtures to Mr. Van-
sittart and Mr. Bragge Bathurst ; on his mentioning
to do which this morning to Lord Chatham, he told
him drily he believed the Opposition had got hold of
him.
I dined with the Elder Brethren at the Trinity
House, and found only one sentiment prevalent there
approving of the exertions making to maintain an
Administration.
Mr. Canning had written a very strong expostula-
tory letter to Mr. Dundas, on his taking office, having
considered him as committed to make common cause
with him.
The Duke of Portland, who has been long ill,
thought to be in danger.
Received a letter from Lord Lonsdale, in flattering
terms to myself, warmly approving of what is doing.
Friday, October Qth. — Settled to-day that Lord
Bathurst shall take the Foreign Office till it is known
whether Lord Wellesley will accept it ; and Lord
Harrowby to come to the Board of Trade.
From conversation with an intimate friend of Lord
Wellesley, there is good reason to believe he will
take office, which may appear extraordinary after the
account of the letters he left with Mr. Canning,
authorizing him to desire his recall from his mission
whenever he (Mr. Canning) should resign. But from
the account given by the friend alluded to, who is in
D D 2
101 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDKXCK OF
the most cut ire confidciice of Lord Wcllcslcy, it is
quite clear that the letter was ohtained from him by
management, and that he was not at ease respecting
his having written it ; and that, on leaving England,
he was uneasy on the subject, and even quitted the
kingdom with considerable reluctance.
Tiie Prince of Wales has written to the Marquis,
for the purpose of fixing him in a dcterniination to
return home, and act witli the nartv, from his lioval
llighiuss' wishes to form a (Jovernment. His Royal
Highness asked the friend of the Manpiis already
alluded to, how to forward his letter safely and
quickly, who advised him to send it to his brother,
]\Ir. Wellesley Pole; to which the Prince re|)lied that
he would not trust him with it. Colonel Sydeidiam,
lately appointed a Commissioner of Excise, a gentle-
num very j)articularly in the confidence of the
Manpiis, is despatched to him for the purpose of
delivering letters from Lord Rathurst, sent to him
with oilers of the Foreign Secretaryship, Sec. and of
exj)laining personally the whole state of matters at
present.
Mv. Canning has sent to Lord Wellesley the letter,
often referred to, which he had deposited with him,
desiring to leave him at liberty to act as he should
think right ; but not till he had given a degree of
publicity to it, by having shown it to a number of
persons, and probably kept a copy of it. It now
appears, from the account of the Marquis's friend,
that Mr. Canning had communicated to his Lordship
the whole of the intercourse he had with the Duke of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 405
Portland, and the King, respecting the removal of
Lord Castlereagh from his office ; or the lopping from
it much of its efficient business ; enjoining the Marquis
not to allow Lord Bathurst to know that the commu-
nication had been made to him ; — Mr. Canning having
told him (Lord Bathurst) that nobody but himself was
intrusted with it. [The whole, to the minutest detail,
had been stated to me by Mr. Canning, from the
time I had dined with him at Mr, Huskisson's, about
Easter].
Saturdaij, October 1th. — ]\Ir. Carthew breakfasted
witli me, who was Mr. Pitt's Private Secretary in his
first Administration, and told me an intimate friend of
his assured him that Mr. Huskissou told him, on his
first coming to town lately, that he meant to take no
part in the disputes going forward, but to remain quietly
in his station at the Treasury, and do his duty ; which
was certainly not true, as he wrote from Sussex to Mr.
Perceval, stating his determination to resign.
Lord Sidmouth will give no encouragement to his
friends to accept office, unless he is himself taken
into the Administration ; which resolution is not much
to be wondered at, considering Lord Chatham was the
person who was to make the overture to him, devoted
as he is to his Lordship.
Colonel Sydenham, the person deputed by Lord
Bathurst and others to Lord Wellesley, lost his trunk
on his journey to Plymouth. Fortunately, his letters
were not in it.
Monday, October ^Ih. — Mr. Perceval offered me a
scat at the Board of Treasury for my son, accompany-
406 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
ing tliat with an assurance that he made the proposal
with a view to his being a useful and aetive menil)er
of the lioard, and reheving him, to a cortaiu extent,
from the pressure of business there.
Immediately aftenvards, Lonl Batlunst, aware of
Mr. Perceval's oiler, tuld me that from the tirst men-
tion of his being Secretary of State, he had decided
(in the event of his taking the office) to propose to my
son to 1)0 his coniidential Under-Secretary ; that he
is, as before, noted, to hold the ottice only till it is
known whether Lord \\(llesley will accept it or
not; that he has aj)j)<)inted Mr. Hamilton, a first
courier of Lord llarrowby's, to be his otlicial Under-
Secretary, who was precis-writer under iiis Lordship
when Secretary of State, and acted for Mr. Hammond
while he was on a special mission to Berlin with Lord
Ilarrowljy. That he is willing to appoint my son
directly as the confidential one, leaving it to him and
nie to judge whether that should take place now in
the state of uncertainty of his own situation ; and
whether, in the event of Lord Wellesley accepting, my
son's appointment might not be the occasion of some
embarrassment to that noble Lord, who would feel
uncomfortable in removing a son of mine from a
situation of confidence, although he might have some
one who has been intrusted by him that he would be
glad to have with him again.
These offers, both very flattering to my son, and
comfortable to me, I have communicated to him, with
such obsei-vations as occurred to me, and advised his
coming up.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 407
Mr. Perceval's difficulty in filling Mr. Huskisson's
place in the Treasury seems not likely to be well got
over. Mr. Vansittart not attainable for it. He has,
it seems, declared that he would never return to that
secretaryship, conceiving that, as a Privy Counsellor,
he ought not to hold it. It is nearly certain that he
no longer considers himself as belonging to Lord
Sid mouth. It is therefore extremely probable his
father-in-law has transferred him to Lord Grenville,
as a better speculation, his Lordship having long since
declared his firm opinion that Lord Grenville was
more likely to be long Minister of this country than
any other person in it. Mr. Perceval has decided to
ofi'er Mr. Vansittart the Chancellorship of the Exche-
quer, to induce him to take office, and assist him
constantly in finance — a bribe that cannot obtain him,
if he has given himself up to Lord Grenville, and
much more than he is worth, either from talents or
experience ; and the very offer, if known, would afford
a most unequivocal proof of weakness.
Tuesday, October \^th. — Explained to Mr. Ryder
what had passed since my coming to town.
Suggested to Mr. Perceval the release from confine-
ment of as many of the Crown debtors as in prudence
should be thought advisable ; as exertions are making
in many counties to release persons confined for
moderate debts, on the 50th anniversary of the King's
accession, the 25tli of this month.
Wednesday, October Wth. — Mr. Canning resigned
the seals of the Foreign Secretary to-day, and Lord
Euthurst received them from the Khig.
108 DIARIES AND COllULSl'ONDKNCE OF
Previous to the latter going to Court, he proposed
to Mr. Ciinniiinr to call on him at riloncester Lodge;
which Mr. C. declined, bv saving he woidd receive
Lord 1^ at the Foreign Oflice, which he did very
coldly, and in the most distant manner.
Mr. Wellesley Pole appointed Secretary to the
Lord-Jiientenant of L-eland, and Mr. Croker to succeed
him at the Admiralty ; the last aj)i)ointment not a
desirable one at all. He is an honourable man, I
believe, and certainly has talents, but there is a some-
thing belonging to him that makes me much regret
the selection.'
Mr. Arbuthnot, Secretan* of the Treasurv, tells me
that if his colleague, Mr. Huskisson, had not retired
from oHice, he is quite sure he would not have been
content to remain at the Treasury'! lie looked to
a higher situation. Mr. A. thinks to the Irish
Secretaryship.
Thursday, (Jctuhcr VZt/i. — Received a letter from
my son, in answer to mine of the 9th, conveying the
ofl'er to him from Mr. Perceval and Lord Pathurst,
stating his disinclination to the seat at the Treasury
Board, for reasons obvious to myself, and lamenting
that he had suffered so much in his health from his
attendance in Parliament in the last session, as to
convince him of the utter imj)0ssibility of his con-
' Mr. Ai-buthuot say.s, it was positively made by Lord Mulgrave
exclusively. Captain Smith, of the Navy, whom I met at dinner,
a.ssured me Sir Rd. Riche.ston told him the nomination originated
with the Treasury. Lord Bathurst since assured me that the nomina-
tion was Lord Mulgrave's.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 409
tinuiiig that in the next session, and performing the
official duties of an Under-Secretary of State also.
In the afternoon he arrived in town, and confirraed
personally what he wrote, which I communicated to
Lord Bathurst by a letter in the evening.
I find Mr. Yorke's acceptance of office is again
uncertain ; that Lord Hardwicke is not yet entirely
consenting to it, and perhaps some doubts are hanging
in his own mind.
Friday, October \Wi. — This morning, my son
stated to me that, upon reflecting upon the offer
Avhich had been made to him, he was disposed to try
whether he could go through the double duty of an
attendance in the House of Commons, and in the
Secretary of State's office ; on which I said not one
word, either to encourage him to such a trial, or to
dissuade from it. I carefully concealed from him also
the deep mortification I felt at the doubt in his own
mind, utterly unexpected by me, 2jainful cuid distress-
ing in the extreme, on account of the cause which led
to it ; and as disappointing the expectations formed
of some advantages he would derive from the Ions:
and arduous labours I had undergone, to give him
some political consideration in his country. In a
long conversation with him at breakfast, he expressed
to me an intention of saying to Lord Bathurst, that if
his answer might be deferred for a few days, he would
think more maturely on the subject, and consult his
Avife upon it, after which he would connnunicate his
decision to his Lordship j which, in an interview with
his Lordship, he told him accordingly, and was assured
410 JJIARIES AND CORIIESPONUEN'CE OF
by liini that it would not put hiiu to tlic slij^litest
iuconvcniciice if \\c did not receive the answei* for
eight or ten days.
This morning appeared in tlie Morning Chronicle
Mr. Canning's statement of the occurrences respecting
Lord Castlereagh, the insertion of wliicli in tliat
paper first, is strongly symptomatic of Mr. Canning's
future intention as to the part he will take; ; esjje-
cially as the edit(H' saiil, a iVw days after Mr.
Canning's public declarations of his intention to
resign, that he should have the narrative to insert in
his paper.
We dined at the East India J)oek, with Lords
Bathiirst, Liverpool, llarrowby, and .Mulgrave, and
Mr. Perceval.
Saturday, Oclobcr Wlh. — My son returned to
ILampshire ; and I went to the Attorney-General
(Sir \'ickery Gibbs) at Hayes Common, where I stayed
till Monday ; riding on Sunday through and about
the grounds, at IluUwood, which again brought to my
recollection many scenes that had passed there ; but
led mc to reflect seriouslv and maturely on what Mr.
Pitt's opinions would have been, had he been living
and disabled from taking a share in public business ;
the result of which was a comi)lete approbation of the
course I have pursued.
Monday, October \Qith. — Lord ITarrowby reluct-
antly declined, from positive necessity, the Presidency
of the Board of Trade ; the whole labour, therefore,
must unavoidably fall upon mc. An attendance
daily of some hours, with a load of business, greatly
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 411
exceeding what fell to the lot of the Board of Treasury
in my time.
I dined at Lord Mulgrave's with the Board of
Admiralty, to discuss some points respecting my plan
for ensuring regular adjudication and speedy distri-
bution of the proceeds of prizes.
Wednesday, October \^th. — Nothing worthy of
notice occurred yesterday. At the Levee to-day, Mr.
Wellesley Pole kissed hands as principal Secretary for
Ireland, and Mr. Croker as his successor, as Secretary
to the Admiralty. I continue to think this last appoint-
ment, without any impeachment of the gentleman's
character, very much to be regretted. Mr. Dundas
did not kiss hands, as was expected, for the situation
of Secretary of State for the War Department. And
I heard, by mere accident from a private friend, that
Lord Melville is immediately coming to town, which
has the appearance of his throwing difficulties in the
way of his son's acceptance, unless he can be included
in the arrangement !
Thursday, October 19M. — I sent over to Lord
Bathurst, at the Foreign-Office, a letter from my son
to him, agreeing to accept the office of his Under-
Secretary, in the event of his Lordship continuing to
hold the Seals of that department ; Avhich cannot be
ascertained till an answer is received from the Marquis
Wellesley.
In discussing political matters with my son lately,
he agreed with me that if the present Government
should be broken up (which has from the first attempt
to form it after the secession of Mr. Canning, &c.,
112 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
seemed utterly uiiiivoitlible), it would, for the sake of
the country, be liighly desirable to give our best sup-
port to any Administration that ean be aj)i)()inted to
succeed, excej)t Mr. Wliitbread should have the
forujation of it. My son, therefore, on enclosing his
letter .sealid to Lord liathurst to me, very naturally
re(juested that if his arceptance of Lord Hathurst's
oiler was to occasion any end)arrassment on his future
conduct in that 'respect, I would in that case not lot
him be connnitted by his acceptance. To which I
answered distinctly, that no restraint of that sort,
or to that extent, could possibly be created by his
taking the office proposed to hiui, or indeed any
other.
Safurdai/, (Jctohcr 2h'/. — Dined willi Lord Ibirrow-
bv, and met Robert Dundas, but not a word passed
about political arrangements.
Moiulay, Octohrr 2S(/. — Soon after my coming
home from the Committee of Trade, I received a note
from Mr. Perceval, stating that he very much wished
to see me /fjjo/i particular fjusincas, at my earliest
convenience. I felt an alarm, at the moment, that
something unfortunate had happened to the King;
but, on going to Downing Street, Mr. Perceval in-
formed me he was eonunanded by the King to
propose to me to be Chancellor of the Exchequer,
with a scat in the Cabinet. Taken thus most com-
pletely by sm-prise, 1 did not hesitate to say, that if
I was expected to give au immediate answer, it would
most certainly be in the negative ; and that I did not
mean to convey to liiu), that there was the remotest
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 413
probability of that inclination of my mind being
altered by reflection in the interval between this and
to-morrow. At the same time, I felt it due to the
importance he chose to annex to my accepting the
office, not to refuse it abruptly; not leaving out of
sight, miquestionably, the duty I owed to his Majesty
in the present crisis, especially having in view the
gracious offer, in addition to all his former acts of
kindness, and adding, what I most sincerely felt, a
strong impression on my mind of what is fairly and
justly due to himself, in the arduous struggle in which
he is eno-ao-ed.
If either Lord Batlmrst or Lord Harrowby had
been placed at the head of the Treasury, and Mr.
Perceval removed to the Secretaryship of State, I
should not have declined the offer, because in that
case (however conscious I w^as of deficiency in public
speaking), I think I could have been most essentially
useful in the situation ; principally in the reduction
of tlie public expenditure, which I am persuaded is
become of absolute and indispensable necessity. Not
in the reduction of paltiy places and pensions, the
futility of which I shall show after Christmas, in a
short pamphlet I have already written, and shown to
Lord Harrowby, but in the great branches of public
expenditure. But in that respect, with IVIr. Perceval
at the head of the Treasury and in the House of
Commons, I can perhaps be more useful than if the
matter was in my own hands. Eifectual measures
of that description, I am most decidedly sure, are
positively necessary, and essential to the security
411 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
and peace of tlic country, and even to the axis-
fence of the Government in wlionisoever it may ])e
vested.
To begin a new political career at my time of life,
now in my sixty-sixth year, by taking a Cabinet ofKce,
without being sure 1 should be able to prevail in
having such measures adopted as those to which I
have alluded; with a certainty therefore of respon-
sibility without ail<(|unte nuvuis of acting upon it,
would alone have decided me ; but various other
considerations crowd upon me, every one of which is
adverse to accepting the offer. 1 am certain too,
without assuming improperly any merit to mvselfto
which I am not justly entitled (not from talents, but
froju long experience and most assiduous attention),
that unless Lord l^ithurst shall return to the Com-
mittee of Council for Trade, my place there could
not be supplied without most serious disadvantaf^e
to the public ; and that infinitely more would be
lost by my removal from the department of Trade,
than would be gained by my assistance in that of the
Revenue. After having stated thus much on public
grounds, it is quite unnecessary to enter on private
inducements, every one of which has the same
tendency.
Tuesday, October 2^t/i. — 1 communicated to Mr.
Perceval personally my determination not to take the
office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, assigning to
him the reasons which operated in my mincl to lead
to that ; assuring him, at the same time, of my fixed
resolution to give him every possible aid in my power,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 415
to which I thought him most justly entitled, both on
public and on private grounds ; considering the highly
honourable and moderate manner in which he had
conducted himself from the very beginning of this
unfortunate schism.
He told me that Lord Palmerston is to be Secre-
tary-at-War, and that Vansittart had refused to accept
any situation unless Lord Sidmouth is taken in. This
proves I was mistaken in supposing that Lord Auck-
land had attached him to Lord Grenville ; knowing,
however, that Lord as entirely as I do (I mean Lord A.)
I am persuaded he thinks he has a double security
himself with Lord Grenville ; which interest I know from
himself, he thinks the best in the country (for which
he left Mr. Pitt, who saved him from absolute want,)
and also his son-in-law with Lord Sidmouth, from
which something may come.
Mr. Perceval is not yet sure that Lord Melville will
allow his son to accept the situation of Secretary of
State for the War Department ! !
And no successor is yet found for Mr. Huskisson as
Secretary to the Treasury.
Wednesday, October 2Wi. — The reflections I have
been led to make on the offer to me of the Chancel-
lorship of the Exchequer, have induced me on this
FIFTIETH anniversary of his Majesty's accession to the
crown of these kingdoms, to state in these notes, as
a record to those who shall come after me, what I am
persuaded is the true situation of the finances and
resources of this country, without exaggeration on the
one hand or concealment on the other.
IKJ DIAUIKS AND CORRKSrONDKNTK OF
The total expense' of Great Britain, exclusive of Ire-
land, comjirehoutling interest and management of
(U-l)t, sinking fund, ct»lleotion of ruvonuo, and all
exiwnses for the service of the year, exceeds . . . j£83,0OO,0OO
And amounts, including the charge for Ireland, to . . 93,500,0(10
The supplies voted by Parliament for the current year
wore, for (Jreat Uritain il47,.'>H7,i KJO
And for Ireland . . . 6,273,000
r.3,800,OOO
The existing nv-ans of (Jrcat P>ritain to meet this ex-
penditure consist of till' on 11 nary disposable revenue
and the war-taxes.
The fonner, or in other words the revenue, which re-
mains unappropriated, after providing for the per-
manent charges, may Ihj estimated at the very
utmost, at il7,5<Kt,00O
The war-taxes, at 1H,0(X),0<X)
i:2.'i,.'K)0,000
Tlic latter cannot be estimated higher after the approi)riation
that has Ijcen made of a part of them. There will therefore re-
main to be supplied by a lutin, i,"22,0s7,(MKJ, in order to proviilo for
the next year's expenses at the rate of the present year, viz.,
£47,r)87,(KM).
The interest and sinking-fumi on a loan of ^22,000,000, cannot
be reckoned as less than i,'l,32(>,0<^) or £ 1 ,3;J0,( hk » ; ho that, if the
war is to be carried on at the present rate of expense, there will
be a necessity of raising new taxes to the amount of that sum
annually, so long a.s such expenditure shall go on ; supposing
even, sangxiinely, that the exi.«*ting taxes continue as productive ns
they are.
The loans may, no doul>t, bo contracted for : but can taxes to such
an amount be found and forthcoming ? And is the present Govern-
ment strong enough to carrj' them through, if they could be found ?
These are questions which should, at this moment, be attentively con-
sidered by the Cabinet.
Mr. Perceval has seen a paper of Mr, Pitt's ; —
Husbandry horses £150,000 Overstated.
Tobacco 325,000 War-tax, new.
Cotton, L«. per lb 230,0OC» Do.
Coals, 1*. at the pit ... . 500,000 Tried and failed.
Candles 200,000 Impracticable.
Hides 80,000 Do.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 417
Private brewing ' ^500,000 Unproductive.
Broadclotli ^ 500,000
Having finished what occurred to me to turn my
thoughts and attention to, on the offer made to me of
tlie Chancellorship of the Exchequer, I went to the
Abbey (where I had not been for a great number
of years), to hear the Dean of Westminster. In a
sermon remarkable for eloquence and energy, he
touched on our domestic state ; and speaking of the
heavy taxen to which the people are subject, stated
the distinction between those which were imposed on
them, from the necessity of the case, by their own
representatives ; and the tribide they must have paid
on the demand of a foreign Prince, if they had
not been saved by great exertions, attended unavoid-
ably by privations. Then alluding to ex^jendiiure, he
said he had nothing to do with that, wdiich must
be accounted for to the proper tribunal.
A whimsical coincidence with what I had been
employed upon to the last minute of my going into
the church.
I saw^ Mr. Perceval after the service, and hastily
suggested to him my general view of the matters I
had been reflecting upon.
' I convinced ]\Ir. Pitt this would not do ; and prevailed to make
Lord Henry Petty give it up.
^ AVould do perfectly well when the price of foreign wool shall
fall, if the unpopularity of the measure would admit of it.
War-taxes to be made permanent : —
Wine £500,000
Malt, half war-tax 1,200,000
Customs, twelve and a half. . . 500,000
VOL. II. E E
118 DIARIES AXD COIIRESPONDENCK OF
] laving a lixod jjiiiposc to entur fully upon tliis
subject, and to \n- useful upon it, — if I shall find a
hearty disposition in Mr. Perceval and the Ca])inet to
act upon my view of it, — 1 have written to Sir Andrew
Jfaniniond, the late Conij)troller of the navy, who now
lives near Lynn, to express a wish to conunnniratc
with liim confidentially on the Xaval Kstiniates. And
it is my intention to talk to Mr. Steele about those
for the army.
I learn from Lord l^athurst, tliat Lord Melville has
positively refused to consent to hia son taking the
office of Secretary of State for the \Var Department ! !
And this after the most plain, positive, and unefpiivo-
cal declaration from his Lordship in writing, on Mr.
Canning's secession, that every one ought to stand by
the King, and give the most strenuous support to his
government ; expressing at the same time his com-
plete approbation of his son's acceptance of the otfice
above mentioned. What an instance of the extent to
which a desire for office m\i\ personal distinction may
go 1 Utter indifTerence about the disappointment of
his son in an object of fair and honourable ambition ;
and as to the etf'ect of what mi^ht and would have
been produced to the Administration by taking his
Lordship into it. Respecting this it is impossible to
say more, even in these notes, which arc to be seen
only by those who are most dear to me; at least
while the parties mentioned in them are living, and
likely to be in anv manner affected bv them.
The crowds of people walking about the streets the
whole of the day, after service time, were beyond
THE HIGHT HON. GEOUGE EjOSE. 419
anything I ever saw ; but perfectly quiet, decent, and
looking very cheerful.
Lord Bathurst carried me to the dinner at the
Merchant Taylors' Hall, on the invitation of the
Bankers and Merchants of London. The number of
people in the street, from Charing Cross the whole way
to the Hall, was immense, and the illuminations re-
markably beautiful ; the Mansion House equal to any-
thing I had seen, but the Bank most superbly magnifi-
cent : and the India House, as well as could be judged
of from the distance at which we saw it, not less so.
The crowd, great as I have described it on our going,
w^as become so immense as completely to fill the
whole of the streets we passed through from side to
side, and the carriage could only move at a foot's pace
through the people ; but all most perfectly quiet and
civil ; not an off'ensive word or insulting gesture, —
not even a squib or a cracker thrown by a boy which
might frighten the horses. I can truly say I never
saw before such a collection of people to give an idea
from sight of the population of the metropolis ; nor
ever witnessed such perfect order and decorum in any
great assemblage of the middling and lower order of
the inhabitants of it.
Before the dinner I found Mr. Canning in the room
and gave him my hand, which I thought he received
coldly. Lord Granville Leveson, Mr. Bagot, and ]\lr.
Hammond were with him. Lie did not say one
syllable to me, but talked easily with Lord Liverpool,
and for a short time with Lord Bathiirst. I did not
perceive him in conversation with Mr. Perceval, but I
E E 2
120 DIAIllKS AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
am not sure that he was not. It is hdrcly posHihh' he
might think nic cold towards him, but not probable.
Separations sometimes happen from nuitnal miscon-
cepticMi, but I think that is not so in the present
instance.
Nothinj^ remarkable passed at the dinner; the
attendance was very great considering the luunber of
other public entertainments there were : at the Man-
sion House for the whole of the Corporation; at the
Sessions J louse fur the .Magistrates and (jentlemen
who usually attcml County business ; the City Light
Jlorse, which consists chiefly of opulent I^ankers and
Merchants, &c. Perfect unanimity prevailed.
JiOrd Erskine was present, and Lord St. Vincent.
The latter, full of civility to me, talked much of having
given his y/ioir attention to farming, and pressed me
to visit him in I'^ssex.
Mr. Sheridan was at the dinner also, and 1 had a
good deal of conversation with him after it was over,
lie blamed the conduct of Lord Grey and Lord Gren-
ville, and said they had given the Government very
great advantage by it ; lamented that Lord Grey had
not asked an audience of the King ; and expressed a
most decided opinion of the folly and madness of again
stirring the Catholic question during the King's life,
as well as the cruelty ; adding, that the two peers
had had a pretty good assurance of the feelings of the
country upon it.
TJiursday, October 2C)t/i. — Lord Camden having ex-
pressed a great anxiety to talk with me, I called on
him this morning, when he entered fully into the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 421
history of Lord Castlereagh's business as far as he had
been concerned in it; and after going through his
narrative, showed me some letters which had passed
between him and the Duke of Portland respecting the
arrangement pressed for by Mr. Canning, either for a
new division of the departments, or for the Marquis
Wellesley to be named for that of War. Which
statement, supported by evidence that would be deci-
sive in any court of justice, estabhshed beyond any
possibility of a doubt, that his Lordship is free from
the slightest degree of blame in not having made a
disclosure to Lord Castlereagli of anything intended
respecting him.
Lord Camden admits the communication to have
been made to him as early as Mr. Canning states,
the end of April ; but so far from his being at
liberty to acquaint Lord Castlereagh with it, it was
made to him under the most solemn injunction of
secresy ; respecting which he was so uneasy, that on
the 29th of June he wrote to the Duke of Portland
to know whether he was in any mistake about that, to
which the Duke answered the same day, he was not :
stating that he had most strongly enjoined him to
secresy, in the hope that matters might be so arranged
as to avoid the necessity of anything being said to
Lord Castlereagh on the subject ; his Grace taking
upon himself, in the clearest terms, whatever blame
might attach to the concealment. A further corres-
pondence took place between Lord Camden and the
Duke of Portland in July, begun by the latter on the
same subject ; his Grace continuing to press for silence
422 DIARIES AND COrwRESrONDEXCE OF
oil it till the C'lul of the Walchercn Expedition, on
tlie same ground as before. And at length, when the
disclosure became indispensaijlv necessary, Lord Cam-
den made it to Lord Castierengh on the 7th of
September; without, however, Ktting him know how
earl) the matter had been decided on, not conceiving
it necessary that his Lordship's feelings should be
wounded by a knowledge tliat his removal from
office had been accpiiesced in by his colleagues before
the expedition had been set on foot, and that he had
been allowed to conduct the whole of it when his
otlieial death-warrant was in their possession.
Lord Castlereagh thus having been led to believe
that the measure was only now adoj)te(l to strengthen
the (lovernment, agreed to n^iuMi, and declined to
accept any other oflice ottered to him, Lord Can»den
having pressed his own upon him, the Presidentship of
the Council : and it was not till Lord Castlereagh was
shown the correspondence of Mr. Canning by Mr.
Perceval that he expressed any resentment or uncom-
fortable feeling on the subject. It was from UkiI he
learned how early his removal had been consented to
by his Majesty and by his colleagues, and it was in
that he met with passages which induced him to chal-
lenge ]Mr. Canning ; a proceeding which, 1 still think,
even admitting some misconception on the part of liOrd
Castlereagh, his Lordship was utterly unjustitied in
adopting. If he had determined to call out any one,
the Duke of Portland was the only delinquent to whom
he should have resorted; and he had no motive whatever
but an anxious desire to reconcile matters in the best
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 423
way he could, and, if possible, to prevent any breach
amongst the Ministers ; constantly hoping that an
accommodation might be accomplished in some way
or other, and at last thinking his own resignation
would afford an opportunity for such an arrangement
as might, to a certain extent at least, be satisfactory to
Lord Castlereagh, That was however defeated by
Mr. Canning urging a separate arrangement, as is
proved by the extracts of the correspondence which I
made from the papers Mr. Canning put into my hands
on the 16th of September.
Lord Camden told me he understood Mr. Canning
to have an intention of publishing further, in conse-
quence of the very short statement he inserted in the
newspapers of this month.
He told me, also, that the friend alluded to in Mr.
Canning's statement in the newspaper of the 13th
(with whom his letter to the Duke of Portland and his
Grace's answer was deposited in the month of July,
respecting the concealment from Lord Castlereagh)
is, Mr. Perceval. 1 certainly believed it was Lord
Camden himself; and so did every one with whom
1 had conversed.
Friday, October '21th. — Lord Bathurst pressed me
most urgently to take the Chancellorship of the Ex-
chequer, as of very serious importance to the Govern-
ment, with so much earnestness, in truth, as to be
seriouslv distressino; to me. I am at a loss to know
what leads him and his colleagues to think thus ; for
I am most positively sure they would lose more by
my removal from the Board of Trade than they would
42-J. DIAKIES AND CORRESrONDENCE OK
^ain by having nic at tlic Trt'asury ; because, without
being at the hitter board I can be of very essential
service in matters of finance ; to which I am entirely
disposed. In addition to which, I feel an invincible re-
pugnance to taking upon myself a severe responsibility
in a department wiiere I should not be the head; and
without inthience enough in the Cabinet (unconnected
as I shouhl be there) to carrv the measures of retrench-
nient which I alluded to in my notes of yesterday, as
essential to the existence of tlu* country. In taking
the situation too, it would fall to me to lead the
House of Commons in the absence, from illness, of
Mr. IVrceval ; of which, from the weakness of his con-
stitution and the incessant pressure upon him. there is
real groimd of aj)preliension. To this most important
duty I fctl mysilf, from want of elo(pience, quite
une(pial.
1 omitted to mention, yesterday, that frt)m the time
Mr. Perceval showed I.ord Castlereagh the corre-
spondence, from whence he learned how early his re-
moval from the Secretaryshi[) had been acrpiiesced in
by his colleagues, he had broken otf all intercourse
with Lord Camden, notwithstanding the very near
connexion between them ; and that the latter had
originally introduced him into political life, by making
him his principal secretary in Ireland, and most closely
uniting himself with him ever since. Indeed, during
the course of the transaction which now creates the
separation, he had repeatedly cxi)ressed his anxious
desire to resio-n the Presidency of the Council to him ;
or, to make his resignation of that liigh olfice subser-
THE RIGHT HON. GEOEGE ROSE. 425
vient to some other arrangement that might better
suit his Lordship's views or wishes.
The Duke of Cumberland joined me on horseback
to-day in Hyde Park ; very inquisitive about what is
going forward, but appeared to be but httle informed
of matters. He gave a most favourable account of
the King's health and spirits.
Saturday, October 2St//. — Mr. Fanshawe told me
that he carried Sheridan home from the dinner in the
City, who informed him that he sent a message to Mr.
Canning, who was in the room with him there, by Lord
Granville Leveson, " that this proceeding would not
do; he must, therefore, try something else." If he was
sincere in that, it does not look hke his having been
the asent to brini>; about an intercourse between Mr.
Canning and the Grenville and Fox parties. But in the
conversation with Mr. Fanshawe he said, if his friends
are to come in thev must be allowed to talk with the
King about the Catholic question ; which is unlike what
he said to me, though not absolutely contradictory.
A matter at this time occurring which may lead to
consequences of a public natnre, I think it right to
make a memorandum of it here ; though not imme-
diately connected with the subject of these notes.
I received a letter from my eldest son yesterday, in
which was inclosed an accurate statement of the sub-
stance of a part of Mr. Ciapham's sermon at Christ
Church (Hants) on the 50th anniversary of the King's
accession, Wednesday last. " A future historian, per-
haps partially informed, might say of this reign (here
various misfortunes occurring in it, or attributed to it,
12G UiAKlES AND COllRESPONDENCE OF
were cited), that, bcijinning with ii dt-ht of one
hundred niiUions, it now had one of six hundred
nnlUons : tliat tlie middle class, by far the most re-
spectable, was annihilated: that wars, l)egun without
necessity, had terminated in failure and disgrace : that
the blood and treasure of the nation had been fruit-
lessly lavished in expeditions professed to succour
nations, who either asked it not, or would not contri-
bute to the deliverance we pretended to otVer them :
that the people were loaded with a weight of taxes
absolutely (or hardly) suj)[)ortable : and, that we were
to be told of the tinaneial j)rosperity of the country !
And we were to judge by it of the happiness of the
people!" He then said, ''Kings were, however,
more to be pitied than blamed, being often (or gene-
ral! v) surrounded with designing and sdtish men :
that they could not sometimes avoid being mis-
chievous : that we nuist recollect they were men and
liable to err." lie then proceeded to say, that " how-
ever these matters might be, submission to the higher
authorities was a duty ; that factious and designing
men would mislead to mischief ; that there were dis-
contented men, who would be such even in the king-
dom of heaven." In the letter in which the preceding
was inclosed, my son told me that the captain of
the Horse Artillery (MacDonald), a sensible and tem-
perate man, was so disgusted that he walked out
of the church before the sermon was ended, and de-
clared that his men slrould never enter the church
again when Mr. Clapham preached.
The permitting a clergyman to go on })reaching
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 427
seditious sermons, especially to such an uncommonly
numerous congregation as that at Christ Chm-ch, ap-
peared to me so utterly unfit, if a remedy can be applied
to prevent it, that I prepared a case for the opinion of
some eminent civilian, to know whether the Vicar
can be silenced or removed, or what measure can be
adopted to correct the serious evil. When I put the
case into the hands of Mr. Frere, the solicitor, he told
me that Mr. Clapham had been lately with him,
venting most abusive language against me, and
declaring, that as he could get no more preferment,
he would take no care of the parish. I have, for a
very long time, borne with this man's infamous and
detestable conduct : falsehoods of the grossest kind,
contradicted in the plainest terms under his own
hand; threatenings to publish private letters, about
which I was perfectly indifferent, except from a
general dislike to appeals to the public on matters of
a private nature ; in short, everything that was most
off'ensive. To all which I opposed not even a justifi-
cation to any person in the place, except one, two,
or three sentences to an individual, much less any
recrimination, from an unwillingness to give a bad
impression of him to his parishioners. But further
forbearance would have an extremely bad tendency,
by endangering the corruption of those who hear
him in that pulpit ; and I am inclined to think any
deprivation of income, within my own reach, would be
proper in order to mark the sense entertained of his
conduct.
Monday, October 30M. — Wrote to the Chancellor,
428 1J1A111L> AND COllRESPONDKNCE OF
\\\\\\ a statement ol" Mi-. ('l;ii)liain's l)iisinesa, to learn
from his Lordsliip, as patron of this gentleman's
Yorkshire hving, whether the Vicarage of Christ
Cluirch cannot be opened to a new presentation as
voidable but not void, on a pubhc remonstrance being
made to him of the offensive passages in the sermon.
1 forbear applying to the diocesan, the Bishop of
Winchester, till 1 have the opinion of the civilian.
Mr. K)der called' on mc, to tell me he had agreed
to accept the office of Secretary of State for the Home
Department, and that Lord Liverpool was to go to
the War Department. .Mr. .Manners Sutton, son of
the Archbishop of Canterbury, to succeed Mr. Ryder
as .ludgi-Advocate. 1 thought the appoiiitiucut of
Mr. Leycester to that situation might have been con-
sidered judicious ; but Mr. Uydi'r explained to mh* that
the office of a AWl^h judge, aiul the business of the
Attorney-Cieneral in the Court of Kxchequer, con-
sidering the durability of the former, are more desir-
able.
The Duke of Portland died this day, after an
operation for the stone. A perfectly amiable man, and
with an honourable mind; but from the entire neglect of
his own aff'airs, he was considerably embarrassed, with
a princely fortune, and so was in the hands of his
servants and people about him. His death is now
not likely to create any sensation whatever in the
state of parties. As Master of the Trinity House, he
will, I think, be succeeded by Earl Camden, who, T
suggested some weeks ago to the Deputy-Master (Mr.
Caton), and through him to the Elder Brethren, and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 429
was assured liis election would meet with little or no
opposition.
Tuesday, October Vi.st. — The Duke of Cumberland
again rode up to me in Hyde Park, and talked of the
probability of the Government going on, of which he
expressed rather a sanguine expectation ; but very
much disliked Lord Liverpool being at the War De-
partment. He saw Mr. Canning, and read all the
papers he put into his hands ; after which he said he
had a strong impression that that gentleman's conduct
is utterly unjustifiable, and that he Avas persuaded he
now repents of the step he had taken ; of which I
entertain no doubt. His Royal Highness desired me
to read Cobbett's paper of last Saturday, in which he
attacks Mr. Canning's conduct with great severity ; —
this, however, I feel no disposition to read.
Wednesday, November \st. — The persons who kissed
bands to-day were Mr. Ryder, Lord Liverpool, Lord
Palmerston, and Mr. Manners Sutton, for the offices
before alluded to.
Addresses were presented to the King at his levee,
from the two Universities, and the City of London :
the latter remarkably loyal and very well expressed.
Thursday, November 2c/. — I dined with Lord Cam-
den. Met Lord Bathurst and Lord Han-owby. The
Chancellor too ill to be there ; and Lord M nigra ve
prevented by Lady Mulgrave being dangerously ill.
No account yet from Lord Wellesley. A conjecture
entertained that he may endeavour to eft'ect a recon-
ciHation between Mr. Canning and the present Go-
vernment, from a difficulty he may find himself under
430 DTATIIES AN'l^ rORRESroXDKNCE OF
to choose, between them, which siile he will take.
Rut I am persuaded that wliatever his wish may be,
he will liardly make an attempt so desperate. It is
not to be expected, that if .Mr. Canning would not go
on with the Ciovernment under a First Lord of tlie
Trea.^urv, who lie miicht liave chosen hiiustlf, l)ecause
Mr. Perceval would lead the House of Commons with
a little more consideration than he had before, that he
would now reunite himself with it itndcr Mr. Perceval
at the head of the Treasury.
The terms of the peace between Austria and France
not vet known. The Tvrf)lians arc determined not to
be parties to it, whatever the conditions may be. Two
of them arc come here in the hope of getting some suc-
cour bv private subscriptions. They are very little in
want of arms ; powdi'r is their most important need.
The account Lord Uathurst gives of them, which he
believes, appears almost fabulous. That they are now
nearly 120,000 armed ; that they have given up to the
Emperor of Austria 20,000 prisoners they had made,
French and Bavarians, and have 25,000 still in
their possession. The two persons at their head are
a publican and a peasant, under whom nobles are
serving.
The deputies state that they received from the
Emperor of Austria solemn assurances, on the 20th of
September, that he would not abandon them ; and on
the 25th, it is understood, he signed the treaty,
leaving them at the mercy of Buonaparte.
Satiirdoi/, November \lh. — Lord Bathurst desired
nie to inform my son that he had seen letters from
THE RIGnT HOy. GEOEGE ROSE. 431
Lord Wellcsley, which induced him to be persuaded
that the ]\Iarquis would accept the seals of the Foreign
Department, although in these letters he had not
expressly said that. His Lordship is certainly on his
way home ; but without knowing one syllable of what
he has actually written, or to wdiom he has written, I
entertain very great doubt whether he has decided
what he. shall do. I am strongly inclined to believe
he will not take his final determination till he informs
himself on the spot of the state of things. In any
event, my son's claims are strengthened in every way
by the offer made to him. Lord Wellesley must feel
that his acceptance disappoints my son of the situation
of Under-Secretary, which, combined with his own
just pretensions, Mr. Pitt's earnest wish, expressed
under his own hand, and the Marquis's friendship
for me, must, I think, insure to my son almost any
opening in the foreign line that can offer. On the
ground of public good, I must rejoice if the Marquis
shall accept ; wdiich at any time, but most peculiarly
at the present, should supersede all considerations of
private advantage.
Wednesday, November Si//. — ^Ir. Wharton is ap-
pointed Secretary to the Treasury, who is likely to fill
that situation extremely well and usefully; wanting,
of course, experience in the business of finance and
of the office, as most persons have done when first
appointed to that office.
Saturday, November 11///. — I gave ]\Ir. Perceval a
long paper on Finance, to prove the absolute and in-
dispensable necessity of a reduction in our expenditure ;
132 DIAllIKS AM) COIUlKsrONUENX'K OF
showing tlistiuctly aiul plainly that the expense of
this vear grcatlv exceeds that of ISDO, the last vear of
Mr. Pitt's first Administration, when 1 was Seeretary
of the Treasurv. Tliat after allowinj^ a vi-ry lar^e
sum for necessary increased expenses since that
time, for Mr. Windham's plans, the local militia as
exceeding the volunteer expense, the additional j)rice
of naval stores, and other charges, our expenditure
might be brought so low as to bring the amount of
the necessary loans considerably below the sum aiuni-
allv paid otl" of the National Debt. Showinir, in the
strongest language in which I could express myself,
the infinite importance of the sole controlhng power of
the public purse being in the First Lord of the Treasury;
who alone has the responsibility ; while at present the
lieads of each department dip their hands into it with-
out mercy ; each anxious to have the service umler
his maiuigement j)erformed etVeetually, without con-
sidering the evil brought upon the country by the
expense of the whole. In the Transport I'laneh the
charge for ships for stores alone is more than for the
whole service in ISOO, when there were foreign ex-
peditions. The paper at length will accoiui)auy these
notes; and I tell Mr. Perceval in it that unless the
proposed reduction is zealously set about, I shall cer-
tainly make the same statement in some shape or
other publicly that 1 have done to him privately.
T/itirsdai/, Xovember 2Sd. — Between the 11th and
this day, nothins: worthy of notice occurred.
^Ir. Perceval, this morning, received a letter from
Marquis Wellesley, dated Seville, the 30th of October,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 433
expressing in terras of the utmost cordiality his cheer-
ful acceptance of the office of Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, rendered more agreeable to him by
being to act with persons with most of whom he had
long been in the habits of the closest friendship ; and
adding, that nothing could have been more agreeable
to him than Lord Bathurst having been the person to
hold the Seals in the meantime, from the affection he
had for him in particular. This acceptance of the Mar-
quis before his arrival, in so very unqualified a manner,
somewhat surprised me, at the same time that it
gratifies me, as well on his own account, as on that of
the public. It is a decided and manly conduct, and
will give strength to the Government ; but whether
sufficient to carry it through, remains to be seen. Of
that, from my ignorance of the line several Members
of Parliament will take, I can form no opinion in the
least degree to be relied on.
Saturday, November 2bf/i. — Lord Bathurst having
gone to Brighthelnistone, yesterday, I sent the state-
ment of finance, which I had given to Mr. Perceval, to
his Lordship, with a desire that he would show it to
Mr. Steele, who is there, for his opinion, princi-
pally, on the subject of the increase in the army
and ordnance.
Sunday, November 26///. — The Marquis AVellesley
arrived at Portsmouth, in the Donegal, after a passage
of fifteen days from Cadiz ; nd in the afternoon he
went to meet Lord Bathurst.
Tuesday, November 2St//.. — Lord Wellesley arrived
in town, from Sussex. The King did not come to
vol,. TI. F F
•131' JJlAUllvS ANU LOllRESPOMJKNCK OT
town the next ilav, Wednesdav, the 2ytli : so that the
Marquis coukl not kiss hands tor the Seals.
Tiwadaif, Decmnher 'olh. — Lord Wellcslcy called
upon me to-day, to say that although he did not think
it right to return any visits till he had seen the King,
he could not resist calling upon me, to say how much
gratified he was on hearing the line 1 had taken, and
to assure me of his intention to show the most marked
kindness to my son.
Wnlncxdaii, Ih'cemhcr Qtlh. — Tiie liishop of Lincoln
(who is now in habits of the strictest intimacy and
confidence with Lord Grenville) dined with me alone.
I lis manner was (piite as it had been in Mr. Pitt's
time, free and unreserved. I avoided carefully every-
thing in conversation that could bring politics for-
ward ; but he led to them, to a certain extent, first by
alluding to the contest for the Chancellorship of the
University of Oxford, and afterwards to the prejudice
Lord fJrenville had to mett by njreting the over-
tures made to him for fonning a strong Goveniment,
as well as what he had to encounter on the subject of
the Catholic question. From what fell from the Bishop,
I am most entirely certain that Lord Grenville repents
seriouslv not onlv of not having formed his Govern-
ment by taking into it a part of Mr. Pitt's friends,
in January, ibOG, instead of Lord Sidmouth's; but
that, if he had alone been sent for by the King on
Mr. Canning's secession, in September, he would have
proposed to include in the new Administration several
of the present Ministers. And it is perfectly clear to
me, that his Lordship would have been infinitely
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 435
better pleased to have been sent for alone than with
Lord Grey.
The Bishop gave me a copy of Lord Grenville's
letter to the Head of Brasenose to read, about
which much conversation has taken place; as it was
meant as a sort of statement of his opinions and con-
duct respecting the Catholic question, as it may affect
his election for the University. His Lordship desires
that the Principal of Brasenose will acquaint the
President of JNIagdalen (who had expressed himself
civilly about his Lordship, but objected to the line he
had taken on the Catholic question), that he had a real
anxiety to stand well in his opinion, but that he could
not endeavour to gain that, or even the election for the
Chancellorship, at the expense of abandoning what he
had refused to do, to remain in office. That no man
living was a warmer friend to the Church Establish-
ment of this kingdom than himself. That Mr. Pitt
and himself were completely in unison as to the
propriety of the measures which had been intended
respecting the Catholics : the only difference between
them was as to the time in which they should be
carried into execution. That it had always been his
fixed determination, whenever they should be adopted,
that these should be combined with other measures
which should completely and effectually secure the
Church of England. That previously to the union
with Ireland it had never entered his mind that
there ever could be any further relaxation of the laws
ao-ainst Papists ; but that from that time he had been
convinced that everything necessary for them might
F F 2
wo DIAIIIKS AND COKllKSPONDENCE OF
have been granted without the sHghtest danger to the
Protestant interest ; and that in the hite overture to
liim notliing liad been said on tlie subjeet, but tlmt he
had no security against his being immediately called
upon for 8uch a pledge as he refused when he went
out of office.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 437
CHAPTER XII.
1810—1811.
RECOLLECTIONS RESPECTING SELLIS'S ATTEMPT ON THE DUKE OF CUM-
BERLAND'S LIFE, MAT 31ST, 1810; BY A MEMBER OF THE ROSE
FAMILY — MR. ROSE'S DIARY FROM OCTOBER 30tH, 1810, TO FEBRUARY
9th, 1811 — THE king's ILLNESS, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
REGENCY,
The account of the attempt to murder the Duke of
Cumberland, cannot even at this time be devoid of
interest ; for some false stories in connexion with it
were in circulation at the time, injurious to his Royal
Highness, and the impression still lingers in some
quarters that he was more or less in fault. This
statement of facts therefore is due to his memory.
The plan of the Duke of Cumberland's apartments
will recall them to your recollection. I will as clearly
as I can, and shortly, state the circumstances we
heard at the time, w^hich made an impression on
my mind ; and also some particulars relating to the
coroner's jury, which we learnt from a person to
whom the foreman stated them.
The page in attendance always slept in the room
marked on the plan Neales room. Neale was at that
time page in attendance. His wife was housekeeper,
and lived in the apartments, but on another floor.
The room marked Sehis's, Sellis slept in, when in
438 DIARIES AND CUllRESl'ONUENCE OF
occasional attciulancc (to bo in readiness for a journey,
&c.). He bad a wile wlio cHd not l)elong to tlie bouse-
lK)ld, and lie usually inbabited, witb lier, apartments
tbe Duke bad procured for tbein, in another part of
St. James's palace, within tiic same court.
The liousemaid stated, that she bad as usual placed
the cushions, &'c. removed at night, from the Duke's
bed, in tbe closet adjoining tbe water-closet ; laid tbe
pidl of tbe bell over the end of the bed, and closed
oil the window-shutters of the state apartments ad-
joining the Duke's bedroom. Tbe Duke's sabre lay
on the sofa in his room. Some time ))efore, Sellis liad
observed it wanted repair, lie had, by permission,
had it repaired and sharpened ; and when it came
home, instead of replacing it in the wardrobe, threw
it on tbe sofa, in the bedroom.
When the Duke felt himself wounded in the head,
and bv the feeble lii^ht from the shaded lamp saw
only the glitter of the sabre, he put out his hand to
pidl tbe bell, but could not catch the tassel, which had
been dropped behind the raised head of the bed. lie
then sprang from the bed to the door of the ante-
room, communicating witb the page's room. Whilst
endeavouring to open that door he received a wound
in the thigh, and the door was marked by tbe point
of tbe sabre, which remained bent ; and a picture near
the door had a splash of blood on it.
Neale, on bearing tbe Duke's voice, sprang from his
bed, and from bis room barefoot, and trod on tbe
sabre where marked, in tbe ante-room ; which it
appears must have been thrown forward towards this
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE.
439
1 ~
'j
!^
1 S ^
Boiidoi
r^
^
"
_— 1
f—
b— iJ
'^ L
1
-:h^'^"
,
rA r
.to
v>^
e
i^
1 —
1
"^ 1—
r— 1
A
iJlllll
L
7\\\\
JJ _
I
1
^ o
to O
CO
•i.4 r
■a
«■ 1
1
<^
g
fS
1
\|
1/
«^
-^ ^
n^
-<
— !:!.:: —
'o i^
§^
^1 ^^ "^
<5i
«
•iw
f^
^
■^v
- .J
■
- 1—
§^
.
5.-</^
1
S E
^v
^ §
1
•AIO 1)1 A III KS AND COllRKSPONDKNCK OV
room by the assassin, when the Duke openeil the
door.
Neale supported the Duke towards tlie principal
staircase, and called for help. Some servants came,
and Neale's wite ; and they called in the sentries and
the serjiant on guard, who hegan to search the house
below tor thieves.
The Duke earnestly asked for Sellis, and a servant
went across the court to his separate apartments to
call him. One of his children replied, that her father
slept in the Duke's apartments. On the return of this
messenger, the steward went to the door of Sellis's
room, opening from the passage and staircase : it was
locked, and no answer returned to their calls. One of
the soldiers observed that he heard a gurgling noise in
the room. On repeated messages from the Duke for
Sellis's attendance, Mr. Neale recollected that there
was another door to his room from the state apart-
ments. They went to those rooms from the principal
staircase, and as it was then light, observed that tlu'
ujipcr shutters of the windows were open. The door
to Sellis's room was unlocked ; they found him as he
was afterwards seen lying, or rather sitting, on his
bed, dead, half undivssed. On a chest of drawers,
near the bedside, lay a razor, and a basin, with water
tinged with blood, in which it was supposed he had
washed his hands before he began to undress, or was
disturbed by the knocking at his door. I have re-
peated shortly what was I believe printed in the news-
papers at the time, supported by authentic accounts,
to make what was otherwise obscure more clear.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 441
It was noticed, that there was a smear of blood on
the ie/t-\mm\ side of the door case, from the Duke's
bedroom, to the state apartments, — between four and
five feet from the floor; — and some unfavourable in-
ferences seem to have been drawn from it.
Sir Thomas Dyer told us, that he saw Sellis's body
and the room, exactly in the state it was found in;
that he sat, lying back upon the bed, his hands
on each side, and his face composed, with rather
a smiling expression. That his coat was off", and
hanging on a chair, as far as it could be from the bed
in so small a room. He observed that it gave proof of
the blood that had gushed from the wounds given
while it was worn ; for that the left sleeve, between
the shoulder and the elbow, was soared with blood,
which must have streamed on it from the sabre blade
held by the right hand. One of his half-gaiters was
off", the other, half unbuttoned ; in short, he had the
appearance of having been interrupted in undressing,
and of having thrown himself hastily on the bed.
Sir Thomas described the basin with the bloody
water and razor by the bed-side, as before stated.
I observed that the blood on the sleeve accounted
for that on the door-case ; — he said, he had not
seen it, nor heard it noticed ; but afterwards
remarked, on inquiry, thjit Scllis coidd not have
taken his coat otf, and })laced it where it was after
having cut his throat. It seems clearly to have ap-
peared, therefore, that Sell is was undressing when
every one else in the house had long been in their
beds (for the Duke, and afterwards the household,
11:2 DIAIUES AND COllRESPONDENCE OF
had gone to rest at an early hour, and it was then
just daylijjjlit) ; and that he was found in the state Sir
Thomas Dyer saw him iii, hy the servants who wvrr
awaked 1)V the; Duke's and Xcale's voices, ami hv the
soldiers ealKd in hv thrm. On iminirv wiiy Scllis
slej)t in hisroom in tlir Duke's aj)artmcnts that nii;ht,
it appeared, tliat lir told the housemaid, before sonu*
livery servant in the kitchen m the eveninp:, to j)re-
pare tin; room for him; that the Duke would «;o to
Windsor earlv in the morniuLr, and that he nuist
he in readiness to attend him. lie <;ave his wife the
same reason for leaving her that night. The Duke
had not intended to go the next day to \\ indsor, and
no other servant had understood that he had. Vou
will have reeolleeted the eirrumstances I liave omitted
of the a|)pearanee of a person having been concealed
in the small closet adjoining the water-closet, where
the dress-cushions from the Duke's bed were thrown ;
and of one of Sellis's slippers and a bottle of water
(not there wh(>n she placed the cushions) being found
there, and the injury that the tassels that hung from
the drapery above tht' bed had received from the
sabre,
Wc had heard from undoubted authority a "f'lH'ral
account of the coroner's jury, and of the extraordinary
tone that aj)pcared in their dispositions, after they had
investigated all the circumstances of the case. The
people summoned for the juiy wi-re the principal
tradesmen about Whitehall, Charing Cross, &c., who
were then chiefly supporters of Sir Francis Burdett
and his politics ; and such, from suspicion and curiosity,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 443
were more ready to engage in the painful duty
than indolently loyal men. Several we knew by name
and character, particularly Place, the tailor, whom my
father saw occasionally respecting journeymen's wages,
benefit societies, &c. &c., and was struck with him as
a strong and clear-headed man, well-meaning, though
warped by politics.
Mr. Wakefield, the land-surveyor, was at CufFnells
on business at Christmas, 1815. He is in the first
employment in his line, and is steward to many per-
sons of great property ; appears extremely intelligent,
very conscious of it, and to be just saved from being
a democrat by the power of his judgment and integrity
over his presumption. He stated, that Place, the tailor,
told him, that when he received his summons from the
coroner, he did not know what he ought to do, never
having been summoned on such a jury before. That he
Avent immediately to Clifford, the barrister. Sir Francis
Burdett's friend, to be instructed by him in the duty
and privileges of a coroner's jury. Clifford told him
that a certain nmuber must be assembled to form a
jury, twelve, I beheve, but that it might be extended
to twenty-four ; that the doors must be open ; and
further informed him on several points of law and
custom. Place admitted that his mind was preju-
diced, but that he resolved to do his duty. This visit
to Clifford had consumed so much time, that when he
reached St. James's a jury was already formed, and
he was refused admittance by the people without. He
inquired how many the jury consisted of, and insisted
on seeing the coroner, who came immediately, and
Ill iiiAiUKs AND c()KHi:si'()Ni»i;n('k of
adiiiittcd thiit iilthougli thciv wrrc enough to form
the jury, more might he still luhk'd, to tlic mimln'r of
twenty-four IMacc was then added to the jury, who
found liim so well erammcd hy ClitVord, and so intelli-
gent, that they ehose hifu for their foreman.
lie told Mr. Wakrtitid that it was impossible that
better evidence could luivi- been giv«'n, or more full
and fair means of informati<in than what was before
them. That there was not an appearance of the ihini^
haviiii/ been managed, or in any way withheld from
them. I'hat, as foreman, he had stated his j)erfeet
conviction of Sellis having been a murderer in inten-
tion, and a suicide; and that no doubt of both lacts
appeared to exist in the minds of the jury. Me
expressed great regret, that the Duke of ('umberland
had prosecuted the editor of the Slnfi'-wiftn, saying,
if the l)iike had not done so, as foreman of the jury
jjc should; since the libel, in fact, accus<'d that jury
of perjury. That if the assertion mailc in tho SfnfrM-
mnn had been foimd -d on truth, they nnist have liad
the means of ascertaining it from the « vidence l)efore
theuj.
Place mentioned a circumstance that was curious,
thouurh unconnected with this matter. ThomaN the
Butcher, at C'ha'^ing Cross, a juryman, turned sick
when he went into the room where Sellis's body lay,
and could not assist in examining it.
Other cirenm.'^tances, ascertained after the first
examination, were, that Mr. Harvey Combe, the
Alderman, found that his housekeeper said, she had
formerly lived in the same service with Sellis. and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 445
that she also named some matters reflecting on his
character. On her master's inquiry, she stated that it
was in the service of Mr. Chant the American. That
frequently in the servants' hall Sellis used language
so disrespectful to the royal family, and so irreligious,
that it was offensive to her and to others of the
household, and that she had expressed her surprise
when she heard of Sellis being in the Duke of Cum-
berland's service, to a former housemaid and groom
of Mr. Chant's, then married and keeping a shop in
London. These people confirmed her statement. It
was found too, on further inquiry, that when Mr. Chant
returned to America, he carried Sellis with him to
New York. While there, a chest of Mr. Chant's was
broken open and a considerable sum in cash taken
from it. A strong suspicion fell on Sellis, from a
hammer being found in his possession which fitted the
marks made by the instrument with which the chest
had been forced open. When that was discovered,
Mr. Chant recollected having fallen asleep while alone
after dinner, awaking suddenly, and seeing Sellis start
back and close the door ; he was at the moment
scarcely conscious whether he was aw^ake or dreauiing,
and it passed from his mind, till the discovery of the
hammer revived the recollection with so unpleasant
an impression, that though he had no proof against
the man, he parted with him, paid him liberally, and
sent him back to England. Whether Mr. Chant
refused a character, or that Sellis believed he should
not benefit by it, I do not recollect to have heard ;
but I understood he returned to Piedmont, where he
1 1() DTARrKs ANT) COUrvrsPOyiJENCK OF
was met with aiul cngagid In [juvd .Mount- lidgcciiiiibc,
in whose service lie was when the Duke ol" ('uinl)i'r-
huid Hved much witli Lord .Mount-E(lgccuml)e. \\'lieii
the Duke's income was increased and he formed liis
household, lie asked Lord Mount- Kdgecumhe to let him
have Sellis, who had often waited on him.
After a time, Sellis grew weary of constant attend-
ance ; for though the other pages took their turns of
waiting, the Duke preferred Sellis's assistance in
dressing, tSre., and he usually travelled with him. lie
was married, and wanted an ;ipj)()intment that would
enable him to quit service, and secure him a main-
tenance for life. The Duke refused to ask a favour
for him, hut gave him apartments for his family, to
whom he was very liberal, lie complained heavily that
the Duke would not solicit some employnu-nt lor him.
and stated his grievances, amongst others, to a (Jer-
man page of the Duke of Cambridge, a man of excel-
lent character. That man asked him why he did not
quit the Duke's service for a j)rivatc one ? He
replied, if the Duke would not ask for a place for
him, he had no resource, for that no private gentle-
man would like to take a servant from a roval house-
hold. He attributed the Duke's refusal to a selfish
wish to retain a useful attendant.
Sellis had nothing marked in his countenance. His
face and figure were mean, but his intelligence and
attention attracted notice even in his waiting at table.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 447
[Mr. Rose's diary of this period, comprising the end
of 1810 and the commencement of 1811, gives a
minute detail of the varying symptoms of the King's
illness, with respect to his mental derangement ; the
ever-shifting rumours of the Prince's intentions during
the establishment of the Regency ; and, when that was
finally effected, the disappointment and rage of the
Opposition, when, under the influence of right and
dutiful feelings, for which the world gave him little
credit, and which are still attributed to Mrs. Yitz-
herbert's advice, he determined to retain his father's
Ministers in office, because the physicians spoke so
confidently of the Monarch's recovery. One of those
Ministers, Lord Wellesley, obtained the Regent's
sanction for sending Mr. Rose's son as ambassador to
the Court of Constantinople, — the same Court at
which his grandson has since obtained so much
diplomatic distinction at the beginning of the Crimean
war, — but he declined. — Ed.]
Biaiy, T/fesdriy, October 30, ISIO. — This morning
Lord Bathurst, who w^as sent for from Worthing, came
in to me, lying on the couch with the gout, and men-
tioned that the King is again unhappily in a state of
derangement in his mind. The first symptoms, he
said, appeared on Wednesday last, at Windsor, by
talking very fast and loud to those about him ; since
which time they have considerably increased.
Dr, Baillie thinks the malady is likely to last
some months; Sir Henry llalford thinks not so long;
448 DTARTrS AND CORTlFSrOVDFXrK OF
and Dr. Ilcbcnlcn that it may pass over in a sliort
tine ; and lio apj)ears to bo the most confident of the
three.
Tlie King broke out, as in tormcr instances, in
most unfit language to tiie l^rincesses ; and was
giving away to tliem and others about liim, many
very vahiable little articles, such as geius, &c., and
turned away some of his j>ages capriciously. Hut
])r. Ileberdeu liad i?if1uence enough with him to
j)revail on him to lock up all his valuables in a drawer,
and to give the key to the Queen ; and also to re-
instate the pages he had removed.
This happens at a most unfortunate crisis, as the
commission for proroguing the Parliament (pursuant
to the Order in Council of last week) to the 20th of
next month, has not been signed ; and the ])hysician9
were yesterday of opinion that his Majesty was not
well enough to put I lie Koyal signature to it.
The Chancellor and .Mr. IVrceval went to Windsor
yesterday, and the physicians thought, upon the
whole, it was most desirabh* the latter should go in
to the King, which he did accordingly, and found
his Majesty considerably deranged ; but he talked to
Mr. P. very affectionately, spoke with much regard gf
his family, and with great earnestness about the
Government, declaring his fixed determination to give
them his utmost and most cordial support as long as
they would be firm, and stand by him ; and expressed
a conviction that if that should be made known, it
would fix many people in their politics who would
otherwise be likely to waver.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 449
The three physicians agree that the King's consti-
tution will carry him throno;h this afflicting com-
plaint ; and they concur also in the certainty that it
has been brought on entirely by his anxiety and grief
at the Princess Amelia's illness and sufferings, whose
name his Majesty has not, however, even mentioned
since his illness.
A bulletin is intended to be given out to-day of the
state of the King's health.
I had not the remotest suspicion that there was
any ground of apprehension respecting that, till
Lord Bathurst came to me. He had dined with
Mr. Perceval at Eahng yesterday, where he was joined,
at half-past seven, by that gentleman and the Chan-
cellor, on their retm^n from Windsor, who ^vere
overset in their chaise coming back, in the dark, near
Brentford.
A Cabinet is to be held to-day to deliberate on
what shall be done in the event of the King not
being well enough to sign the commission for the
prorogation before the Houses meet to-morrow.
It appears to be most extraordinary that the King
should have been deranged to such an extent, as he
certainly has been for six days, without the public
havinof had the least intimation of it. Not an allusion
of the most distant kind in any of the newspapers of
to-day. In the Morrdng Chronicle it is stated that
the King has had a cold, but that last night he was
better. Government have not (at one o'clock) had
the account from Windsor.
Surprising as this secrecy appears, and akhough
VOL II. f^' c;
4r)() DIARIES AND ('ORRKSPDNTiENCi: OF
(jovcninifiit had no information of any symptoms of
derangement before tlic 24tli, I tliink there must
have been a strong susj)icion earher tlian tliat in the
minds of tliose immediately al)0ut his Majesty ; be-
cause 1 liiul urgent letters from Lord A\'alsinrrham,
who lives near Wimlsor, and is much with the Kinj^
in private, dcsirin|j; me to search for precedents (to
which he referred) in the reigns of Klizabeth and
George 11., of the Great Seal having been put to
Parliamentary conunissions without the signature of
those monarchs. llis Lordship's first letter was dated
the L"^th of the month.
Mr. Perceval saw the Prince of Wales at Windsor,
who talked a great deal, but entirely in general terms.
The Duke of York told Mr. Perceval that the Prince
of Wales said to him he should be very nioderate and
guarded in all his proeiedings, in the event of a con-
tiiuiance of the calamity.
The Chancellor called upon me at three o'clock,
from the Cabinet, and read Colonel Taylor's letter to
me, in which he tells his Lordship that the physicians
thought it utterly unfit that he (the Colonel) should
give the commission to his Majesty to be signed,
which the Chancellor had left with him, for pro-
roguing the Parliament ; in consequence whereof, the
Cabinet had decided to get Members enough of the
Commons to make a house on Thursday, and thus,
on the meeting of the two Houses, adjourn for a
fortnight. I therefore wrote to my son, and to
Mr. St urges Bourne, to come uj) for that day, if they
should find it practicable to do so.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. -451
The Chancellor told me that Dr. Baillie had named
three months to him as the probable period for the
King's recovery ; but admitted that he was not at all
familiar with the sort of case. His Lordship was
very strong against putting the Great Seal to the
Commission withont the King having previously
signed it. I showed him one in the 28th of Eliza-
beth/or opening the Parliament, when the Queen was
ill, without the royal signature.
The Prince of Wales observed, on Monday, to the
Duke of York, that he conceived the King Avas not in
so perfect a state of mind as he should have been in,
last Wednesday, the 24th, to transact business of any
importance, when the Council was held on that day
for deciding on the prerogative of Parliament, but
that he did not believe the Ministers were aware of it.
Soon after the Chancellor left me. Lord Bathurst
returned. Prom him I found that Mr. Perceval had
apprised Lord Sidmouth and Mr. Canning of the
King's situation ; and that from the former he had
received the most cordial assurances of every support
in his power to see him through the difficulties conse-
quent on his Majesty's illness. From the latter no
acknowledgment of the communication had come to
hand.
The Prince of Wales was in town two hours to-day.
The servants told Sir Walter Parquhar, when he
called at Carlton House, that the Prince would see
nobody.
Wednesday, October '6\st. — Nothing interesting to-
day. Lord Bathurst told me that the private account
G G 2
ir)2 DfAIlIES AND CORKKSPONDENCK OF
of the King, though written by i)r. liaiilio, was more
favourable tlian the puhHc bulletin. lie said the
KiuK talk«'(l sillilv last uiLrht, but that there had not
been anv unusual excitation.
Tlmrnddy, ISovemher \st. — The Ku«g not having
been well enough to sign the commission for })ro-
rofjuinj; the Parliament this dav, the two Houses
met, and adjourned themselves to the 15tli. In the
House of Commons there were more than a hundred
membiTS, and in the House of Lords about fourteen
or til'tcc n. Very few of the Opposition attmdcd in
either Hoiise.
Friilai/, Novemher 2(1. — A'er}' little variation in the
state of tlu^ King's health. In the course of yesterday,
while talking to himself, he enumerated the causes of
each of the derangements with which he liad been
afflicted, and conchuled with saying, " This was oc-
casioned by poor Amelia."
At twelve o'clock to-day the Princess Amelia died !
Mr. Canning's answer to Mr. Perceval was, thank-
ing him for the comnumication, and adding that he
should be in his place in the House.
SirAValter Farcpdiar told me to-day, that the Prince
of Wales's disposition was strongly towards Lord
Grenville ; but that his Royal Highness had left oti'
talking to him (Sir Walter) for some time past. This
partiality to Lord Grenville is somewhat singular, as
the Prince complained loudly to Sir Walter and others,
on Mr. Fox's death, that from that event the Ministers
had left off making any confidential communications
to him, which he took exceedingly amiss.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 453
Lord Eardley's account of Mr. Davonport Sedley's
success in attacking his Royal Highness, and other
anecdotes of the same sort.
Saturday, November 'del. — The King was in so
irritable a state during a part of the morning of
yesterday, that the physicians in attendance were
induced to send for Dr. Symonds, whose practice
is in that line ; who went accordingly, but refused to
be in attendance on his Majesty, unless his son should
be alloAved to attend him also ; and that being refused,
the doctor left Windsor ; and no other resource oc-
curring, a person at Kensington, who has the care
of insane patients, was sent for. And a Cabinet
is to meet this evening, to decide whether Dr.
Symonds's demand about his son, shall be acquiesced
in or not.
No other alteration in the state of his Majesty's
health. The physicians say, that when they commu-
nicated to the King the account of the Princess Amelia's
death, he not only understood, but anticijjated it.
I have a letter from Lord Walsingham to-day, in
which he seriously assures me, that when he first
wrote to me to inquire about the Great Seal having
been put to commissions without the King's signature,
he had not the most distant idea or expectation of the
King's illness ; adding he had never seen the King
better in health, and in all respects, than he has been
during the whole svunmer.
Sunday, November Mh. — Mr. Perceval told me that
the King yesterday mentioned the Princess Amelia's
death, ^^ ithout aiiy appearance of increased agitation.
451; DIARIES AND fOUUKSPnNDFNCK OF
Mondia/, yovember bf/i. — Sir Walter Farqiilmr told
me lie heard from Lord Yarmouth, that tlie King had
had a hicid interval of two hours yesterday. In a
letter from T^ord Walsingham 1 received this day,
he says, If 1 had been asked to say when I had ever
seen the Kinjjf's mind strouf^'cr for accuracy, reasoning,
judgment, and memory, I should have answered
that it has })cen for tlie last ft)>ir months ; and. there-
fore, I trust in (Jod that it may st)on resume its
wonted powers." This is (evidently in continuation,
to do away all suspicion of his having made the
inquiries hereinhefore alluded to, from an apprehen-
sion that the King was going wrong: though I
verily hclit've he expressed his true opinion in the
letter of this da v.
Dfrsda//, Xovember C)f/t. — The bulletin to-day is much
less favourable than tlie preceding one.
Friday, Xovcmhrr 9f/i. — Lord llarrowby sat with me
for some time, and gave a very favourable statement
of the King: much sleep last night niul this morn-
ing, and less agitation, lie knew Dr. Willis was in
attendance on him, and was not affected by it ; which
I was very apprehensive he would have been. His
Lordship agreed with me as to the fitness of another
adjournment on Wednesday next for a fortnight
more.
Sir Walter Farquhar told me he hud seen Colonel
McMahon, who expressed great delight to him at Mr.
Tyrwhytt and himself having dined the day before
with the Prince of Wales : who soon after dinner sent
Tyrwhvtt awav, and wejit through with the Colonel
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 455
all the important matters then depending, and which
might occur, in the most confidential manner ! !
Monday , November 12///. — The Chancellor and Lord
Westmoreland were at Windsor vesterdav, and the
loriiier had nuich conversation with the King's physi-
cians. They told him the King asked in the morning
how long he had been confined, and whun they told
him, he said he had no recollection of the time ; that
this was the fourth blank in his life ; enumerating
the three former ones, and the periods of them. He
then asked if the Princess Amelia was buried, and on
being told 7iof, he desired that the directions he had
given about her funeral might be carefully attended to,
unless she had left any in her wdll ; in which case
those should be attentively observed.
The private and public account of the King's health,
much the same as yesterday ; but little rest in the
night ; asleep, however, when the messenger came
away.
Titesday, November 13///. — The jMinisters all went
to Windsor this afternoon, to the funeral of the
Prhicess Amelia; the King having expressed a wish
that they should do so, before he was taken ill, though
he did not issue any command for it.
Wednesday, November 14///. — On Lord Bathurst's
return from Windsor, he wrote me a note to say,
" the bulletin announces some sleep and amendment :
the looks of the physicians, whom I saw, and their
general conversation, were very flattering."
The Portuguese ambassador, w^ho came to me, was
very sanguine about the result of matters in Portugal ;
1-50 DFAIIIKS AND COK KKSPONDENCE OF
conceiving Musscna cannot long subsist liinistlf in liis
position, and must, therefore, attack Lord Wellington
in his strong one, or utteiupt his retreat. The dit-
ficnltics attending the latter (which he explained), he
conceived to be verv great.
Thursday, November 15///, — The physicians to-day
announced the King to be in a progressive state of
amendment, atid the account they gave to Ministers
was extremely encouraging, hohling out the best ex-
pectation. Tile principal fear they entertain is that
as recovery advances, the King's anxiety about public
affairs will increase, and may throw him back.
Me was quite awan- of tlie (htlienltiis that would
arise from the connnission for prorogation not having
been signed.
Fridnij, Xovemhrr 1 0///. — Thi* K ing yesterday was not
quite so well as the day before, which was attrii)uted
to a long detailed arrangement he went through,
perfectly collectedly, respecting the Princess Amelia's
attendants, t\)r whom he had made provision in several
packets, which Ih^ stated were to be f(»un(l in a
particular drawer, all regularly marked. But at the
end of the business he was a])parently worn out ami
affected.
Saturday, November \ll/i. — Rather more fever, and
not much rest, was the account from Windsor to-day.
Stoiday, November lS//t. — The bulletin stated some
amendment to-day ; and the private account more en-
couraging.
Monday, Novembrr 19///. — The King slept nmch
yesterday, and was better in the evening. And to-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 457
day he is announced to be quite as well as yes-
terday.
Mr. Samuel Thornton applied to me to-day to know
if a large quantity of lead and saltpetre could be
allowed to be sent to Russia ; which I explained could
not be done without a communication from the Foreign
Secretary of State. This led to a confidential com-
munication with him on the subject of Russia ; from
which I learned, that there is an entire disposition on
the part of that country to co-operate with us, as far as
depends on the Emperor and some of his Ministers ;
and that it will not be the fault of his Imperial
Majesty, if that is not manifested by the month of
April next. And it seems quite clear, from late
occurrences, that other northern powers are disposed
to take the same line, if the French shall be decidedly
worsted and disgraced in Portugal. Russia has been
told that we will not invite her. There is now again
a confidential private friend of the Emperor's to be
employed in this business, of the name of Parensky,
in the same manner that was on a former
occasion.
Tuesday, November 20t/t: — The account of the King
varies very little from yesterday. Lady Neale's ac-
count, from the royal family, is, that from the beginning
of the disorder they had entertained better hopes
of his Majesty than on any former occasion. He had
told the Princess Amelia, some time before, that he
was afraid he should be so afflicted, and that he trusted
God would give him strength to go through the trial.
WednenrJaj/, November 1\f<t. — Sir Walter Farquhar
•158 DIARIES AND COKRESl'ONDENCE OF
tiild me tlitU the account lie liml t'rum tlic Princt^ of
AVales of the state of the Kiiifj's liealtli, corresponded
very much witli wliat was stated hy the pliysiciaus out
of doors. His Ki>y:»l llii^hness had talked with Mr.
Home, the surgeon, on the deterniination of the King
Uiiainst bein«r l)led, wliirh cotnixlled them to have
recourse to leeches; wliieli K-d Mr. Home to say,
" he would have hied him till he fainted 1 "
Little variation in the Imlhtin.
7ynir.'s(/f/y, Norcitthrr 'Z2(/. — 'I'he accounts to-day
less favourable than for some davs ; increase of fever
and distiubetl rest.
Lord Ilarrowbv came in, and said the j)rivate
accounts were not more pleasant.
He said tlu'y found by Lord Wellington's last Irtters,
that Massena subsisted himself in his position better
than had Imh ii cxpecti'd ; that the l\)rtngncsc had not
driven the countrv as thev had been instructed, which
left both cattle and grain, as the Indian corn was in
the cround : still his limits were narrow. Lord liar-
rowbv added, that Lord Wellington had no appreheii-
sion of reinforcements to Massena except from Seville
or Cadiz.
Friday, Sovi'iithcr '23(/. — Some increase of fever,
and bad rest, is the account from Windsor to-day.
The Duke of Cumberland called here and sat an
hour ; could give no other information about the King
than what I had heard. He was full of commendation
of the Prince of Wales for his prudent and temperate
conduct : said he had seen none of the Opposition ;
that he had no objection to the present Ministers, and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 459
insinuated very strongly that his conduct, in the event
of a regency, would depend upon theirs towards him ;
alluding evidently to the restrictions in the Regency
Bill, if one should be brought in. That he should
expect to be treated like a gentleman, not like a
ruffian.
Tuesday, November 27f/i. — No change has taken
place since the 23d, in the King's health, worth notic-
ing, nor has anything occurred till this day, when it was
decided in the Cabinet, very reluctantly, as expressed
by Lord Bathurst, for an examination of tlie physicians
by the Privy Council; as the Ministers were not enabled
to say the King was better than when the Houses last
met. The examination to take place to-morrow.
Wednesday, November 'ISfL — I received a long note
from Mr. Perceval, desiring my opinion on the mode
of proceeding to-morrow, and stating the course he
thought the Opposition Avoiild propose. His intention
is to present the report of the examination of the phy-
sicians, and then to propose another adjournment for a
fortnight, which I entirely approved of, as consonant
to the spirit of the precedent in 1788, though not to
the letter of it,
I was present at the examination of the physicians
before the Council. The attendance very full, both of
members on the side of Government and of Opposi-
tion. Those examined were Dr. Keynolds, Sir Henry
Halford, Dr. Heberden, and Dr. Willis. The im-
pression on my mind was, that there was no doubt
entertained by any one of them of the King's recovery ;
but neither of them could speak as to any probable
too DIARIES AND CORRESPONDKNCE OF
time. Dr. Reynolds and Dr. llebLrdcn were the most
sanj^uiiR' ; l)iit all agreed entirely that it" his Majesty
should recover, his understanding would be as perfect
as it ever was.
Thursday, Xovembcr 'l\)fli. — Attended the Privy
Council again, when Dr. Haillie was examined, who
could not leave the King yesterday when all the other
physicians were from Windsor. He concurred in the
opinion of those who were examined yesterday,
especially as to the perfect sanity of the King's mind,
if he should recover.
I was afterwards at a j)rivate meeting at Mr. Per-
ceval's, at three o'clock, when the proposal he suggested
to me yesterday was unanimously concurred in.
In the House of Commons the measure was accord-
ingly proposed by Mr. Piictval, and carried by a
majority of two to one. Mr. Ponsonby then moved
that a committee should be appointed to examine the
physicians during the fortnight's recess, whicli was
negatived two ti) one. Tlin House then adjourned to
the 13th of December.
Satiirdai/, Drcemhrr \st. — 1 lift London for Cuti-
nclls, very imperfectly recovered from the gout, where
I arrived the next dav.
Tuesday, December \th. — Received a letter from
Lord Bathurst, that the private accounts from Windsor
were encouraging ; the principal reliance of the phy-
sicians, and the circumstance which appears to them
the most favourable is, the long interval of quiet
There continue, however, strong syiuptoms of dis
order, but his Majesty corrects himself frequently.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 461
and almost always allows otliers to correct him on
these occasions. He is fully aware of what is going
on, and observed, two days ago, that Mr. Perceval
must have had some difficulty in carrying the second
adjournment, considering the length of time his dis-
order had lasted.
Tuesday, Becemher Will. — A letter from Lord
Bathurst, of the 10th, stating that Mr. Perceval was
very anxious I should not go up for the meeting on
the 13th, as a few days more in the country might
give me strength to attend Parhamentary duty, as well
as other matters.
Says he was at Windsor the day before (the 9th),
and wished he could give me a favourable impression
of the case : much would depend upon the manner in
which the King will recover /)-o;m the relapse.
Wednesday, Becemher Vdth. — I returned to London
with considerable weakness remaining from the gout,
and attended at a meeting at Mr. Perceval's, when he
opened his intention of proceeding in the House to-
morrow, according to the precedent of 1788, by pro-
posing the three resolutions then adopted for providing
for a Regency ; but did not name the restrictions he
meant to propose on the Regent.
Friday, Becemher %\st. — In the bulletin to-day
the account was good ; but the private statement was
still more encouraging. The expression is, that the
King is very considerably better, and his pulse is
reduced to its ordinary state.
1 had a return of the gout, so strong as to compel me
to go home at 10 o'clock. The House sat till near 12.
402 DIAKIKS AND CORKKSl'UN D1:M.1: Of
Sdturdai/, December 22^/. — ^Tlic account from
\\'iiitlsor to-day not favoiiral)le. The King was going
on extremely well till noon yesterday, when without
any obvious cause he had a violent tit of passion,
which left him under great agitation and irritation
until late in the evening. He passed the night (piietly,
but appeared to-day irascible ; in other respects the
same as yesterday.
Wc may perhaps flatter ourselves that this is the
state of a fiian whose mind i>? recovering, and that
vpon the whole the symptoms are, therefore, not un-
favourable.
M(j/i(lai/, December 24///. — By the private account
of la^t night nothing favourable is to be expected ;
but there does not yet appear any danger of a
relapse.
The bulletin was unfavourable, for it gave a very
unpromising account. The King was alarmingly ill
last night.
Tuesdni/, December 2bth. — Lord l^athurst told me,
the King's attack was a very severe one ; enough to
give hope to some persons I need not name, and who
hastened to Windsor on the occasion. 1 think we
may flatter ourselves that the alarm has passed over,
at least for the present.
Wechiesdai/, December 26///. — No alteration in the
King.
TJmrsday, December 21th. — No material alteration
in the King's health.
The resolution sent up from the House of Com-
mons to the House of Lords for providing for the
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 46^5
exercise of the Royal Authority was debated in the
House at great length. Lord Grenville, whose speech
in the House of Commons, lately printed, had been ex-
tensively circulated, was not present ; neither were his
brothers-in-law, Lord Fortcscue, and Lord Braybrooke.
His other brother-in-law. Lord Carysfort, was present
and voted against the resolution, so did all the Princes
of the Blood Royal ; who had, before the agitation of
the question in the House of Commons, written a letter
subscribed by every one of them, to Mr. Perceval,
declaring it to be their unanimous opinion, that the
Prince of Wales should be requested by address to
accept the Regency without any restrictions. The
offence and disgust which this occasioned, to the
country gentlemen in particular, was beyond anything
I ever remember. Many spoke to me of it in teniis
of the strongest disapprobation mixed with great resent-
ment, — which I most sincerely endeavoured to soften
and abate, from a principle immovably fixed in my
mind, that every man in the country who holds a station
in it above the very lowest, has an interest, which he
should neve;r lose sight of, in preserving respect for the
royal family, in every branch of it. This observation
was met in a very particular instance, by another, that
this sort of conduct would disable the Princes from
any influence to do mischief! One that offered no
consolation to my mind.
Tuesday, January U'/.— On the question for the
amendment in the debate on the restrictions upon the
Regent, which was that such portion only of the house-
hold should be in the control of her Majesty as may
tOl DIARIES AND COR KESPONUEN( K Ol'
l)e deemed necessaiv for liis Majesty's royal dignity,
the numbers were —
226 for it.
213 against it.
13 for the ameudmeut.
On this question, Mr. Caiinini^ and liis fricntls Mr.
Wilhiiforce, Mr. Bankcs, and some country pjentlemen
usually su])|)ortinj:f Ministers, were in the majority —
Sir James Mordaunt, .Mr. Du^dalc, Mr. Lethljridcfe,
and Mr. Brandlinij.
Lord lluntinuticld, Mr Miles, l\'ter Andrews,
and General I'orter, went over; and Lord Hertford's
friends as before — Lord Casllereaf^h also in the
majority.
Lord Porchester gave notice that he should to-
morrow divide the House on the report of the
resolutions.
WedncHdntj, Jmn/nn/ 2'2(/. — On bringing uj) the
report of the resolutions, .Mr. Perceval moved an
amendment respecting the care of the King's person
being committed to the Queen, to restore it to the
shape in which he moved it in the committee, in
order to give the Queen the power over the whole
household ; on which he was in a majority.
For ^fr. Perqeval's amendment . . 217
Against it j 1 4
3.
Several members had paired.
TJiursdaii, January 3r/. — The resolutions were de-
livered to the Lords at a conference bv Lord Clive.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 465
Friday, January ^th. — The resolutions were de-
bated ill the Lords with great heat.
The Marquis of Laiisdown moved an amendment
similar to the one moved in the Commons by Lord
Porchester, to leave out of the first resolution the
words, " subject to such resolutions," &c., which after
a long and warm debate was carried : —
Contents 105
Non-contents 102
. ^ Majority for the amendment . :3,
In the majority were Lord Grenville and his friends ;
the Earl of Chichester, Postmaster- General ; and his
brother the Bishop of Exeter ; the Bishop of Oxford,
Moss ; and Bishop of Rochester, King. The Duke of
Rutland, Lord Chatham, and the Bishop of Lincoln,
purposely stayed away. Lord Alvanley went over at
the instance of the Duke of York.
Proxies were refused on the House being resumed.
102 against them
99 for them
An amendment was moved in the Committee to
leave out the permission for making naval and military
men Peers on their distinguishing themselves, by Lord
Liverpool, and carried ; and the question for restric-
tion of creating Peers generally was carried by the
aid of Lord Grenville and his friends. Strange in-
consistency ! ! His Lordship stated that he trusted
it would be for six months only : — to cover his
VOL. H. 11 II
'1()() DIARIES AND COURKSPONDKNCK OF
Lordship's ival inconsistency this (lucstion was
carried : —
106 for
1CH1 ugttinst
G.
And on Lord Liverpool's motion to phiec the wliolc
of the househoUl under the Queen's control, the inuii-
bers were —
<J7 for
1 10 agiiiiiMt
i:j majority ngninst it.
In the House of Commons, this (lay, Mr. iVreeval
niovL'il a resolution niandatory on the Treasury and
Exchequer to i.ssue money for the Army, Navy, and
Ordnance, without the usiial authorities of the Privy
Seal and Si<?n Manual. The necessity for which arose
from Lord rirrnvillc, as auditor, having; refused to
direct the tellers to make the issues without the usual
and regular autliority under the Privy Seal and Sign
Manual. I'o which ohji-ction he was led by the opi.
nion of the Attonn.'y and Solicitor General, contrary
to the plain and express words of the Loan Act and
the Appropriation xVct ; insisting, as they stated, that
these wt)r(l.s had been invariably used in all similar
Acts, and that the invariable practice had been to issue
only under the King's authority. After a debate of
some length, the resolution was agreed to without a
division. The Opposition were temperate, but pressed
upon Ministers that they should have taken the re-
sponsibility upon themselves instead of coming to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 4'67
Parliament, by the Chancellor putting the Great Seal
to the instrument, which he might have done under
the provisions of the Act of the 8th and 9th of King
William for regulating the Exchequer. The Chan-
cellor justified himself to his colleagues for not doing
so, by saying there was no instance of the Great Seal
having been so used ; which is true. But it is equally
true that the necessity for it never before arose ; for,
in 1788-9, there were sufficient credits for all the
public services till after the recovery of the King in
March, 1789. The reluctance on the part of lawyers
to take responsibility upon themselves, which 1 have
frequently observed in the course of thirty years' expe-
rience, was strongly marked in this instance. The
Crown lawyers might at least have stated the precise
w^ords of the two Acts and the force of them, and
observed upon the practice being against them.
Let it be noticed that these are Acts of the last ses-
sio7i, not, therefore, antecedent to the practice ! In
the debate, I desired these gentlemen to tell us,
whether, if the Lords of the Treasury, Auditors of the
Exchequer, &c., had issued the money under the
authority of these words, they thought their Lordships
and the officers could have been proceeded against
criminally for having so done ? To which the Crown
lawyers gave no answer.
Sunday/, January Q>th. — The accounts of the King's
health have been uniformly favourable during the
whole of this week ; not stating amendment, but quiet,
and frequently sleep. On comparing them with those
from the 1st of February to the 9th of the same
H H 2
168 DIARIES AND COIlKlvSFONDENCK OF
month, in 17S9, they are ns nearly siinihir as
possible ; after whicli last-mentioned day in that
year, an anundnient in tlic Kinj^'s health ajjju'ars
to have taken place gradnally, — whicli atiords Some
gronnd for hope now. And the ))rivate information
from A\'indst)r, din-in^ the whole of this week, tends
very nnieh the same wav.
Tuvxdtiji, JatuKtrji t>(li. — Lord Bathnrst sat a long
time with mc. 'riic aeeonnt he yrave of the Kiiiir
tended very mnch to raise my expectation of recovery.
'J'he physicians think him inneh better than he was
ten days ago, and wonld last Snnday have prononnccd
him in a state of amendment, but from an ap|)rehen-
sion of being harassed with examinations. I lis Majesty
is quiet, and on all points, (wa-pl hro^ is rational ; but
on those his impression does not vary. One is, that he
is Elector of Hanover; the otlur- was not mentioned
to me. it has been thought also, rather an unfavour-
able symj)tom, that he had not spoken of public
affairs, or of the (iueen lately ; but this morning he
did converse about the (iuet n, which has revived the
hopes of the medical gentlemen. His bodily health
has improved so much that in that respect he is
nearly well. A paroxysm is expected in a very few
days, less violent than the last, and from which the
King will recover sooner than from that ; after
which, all the physicians think he will go on progres-
sively, till he gets entirely well. Dr. Willis expresses
himself perfectly confident of complete recovery.
Lord Greuville was with the Prince of Wales on
Sunday last for three hours ; and it is clearly under-
THE KIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 469
stood that his Royal Highness is to change the
Administration as soon as he shall be invested with
the Regency. Lord Moira, indeed, stated that dis-
tinctly yesterday to Lord Liverpool ; observing at
the same time, that he would not have done so if
Mr. Perceval had not fettered him with restrictions.
Lord Grey, who has been in Northumberland during
the whole of these discussions, is expected imme-
diately, and until he arrives nothing is to be decided
respecting the political arrangements. It is conjectured
that Lord Grenville is inclined to a junction with Mr.
Canning ; which will not be practicable if Mr. Whit-
bread has anything to do with the formation of
the new Administration. Lord Grenville's friends,
however, hope that Lord Grey will give up Mr. Whit-
bread, and that the taking in Mr. Canning will be
practicable. In thg meantime, that gentleman is well
at Melburne House, through the connexion of Mr.
Huskisson with that family.
Mr. Perceval has determined not to resign ; which
I do not regret, as there is a certainty of our being
turned out. I should otherwise most deeply lament
our going on in a miserable way, dwindling daily,
with the Regent })rivately against us. But as we
are to be set free, it is nuich better the removal should
be with the Regent than with ourselves.
The new Ministers will dissolve the Parliament at
the end of March, if the King should not recover in
the interval ;— fearhig to wait till the natural end of the
session, lest that delay should admit of a recovery
before they dissolved.
J.70 i)i\im:s AND coiuiEsi'DNDKNci.: f)r
Friday, Januari/ 11///. — Mr. Sheridan, by nut dis-
cluiniing any intention not to oppose the measure
for })utting the Great Seal lo a coniiuission for holding
the Parliament, afforded an ojjportunity for adjourning
to Monday, instead of till to-morrow ; hy whieh two
days are gained towards the recovery of the King.
Sdfurdai/, Janttan/ 12///. — The bulletin to-day less
favourable, " His Majesty is not ((uite so well this
morning as he has been for some days past." But as
a paro.xysm was exj)eeted this week by all the physi-
cians, t/iis alteration for the worse should not occasion
despondency.
Sundu/f, Janiian/ 13///. — Tlie rej)ort of the pliysi-
cians to-day, " His Majesty has had a good night,
and is better to-day."
T/nirsdai/, Januarij \l(/i. — Lord Hathurst was at
A\ indsor, and with theCiueen and physicians for nearly
three hours. He tells me the real condition of his
Majesty is, that he has been for son^e days in a state
of (juiet ; that the alteration of Saturday last was not
a paroxysm, but a .sligiit nturn of irritation. The
opinion of the physicians is more than ever contidcnt
of recoverv, but still uncertain as to time. Dr.
Willis has not the slightest apj)rehcnsiou of another
paroxysm now ; he thinks that oitt of all pro/jaU/Hy,
and speaks of it with as nmch certainty as he can on
(tnylhin(j dependcnf on Ihc .slate of ant/ complainl. The
unanimous opinion also of the })hysicians is, that a
state of some irritation umst precede recovery, but
that recovery is as certain as anything can be.
The King, on the subjects on which he docs talk,
THE EIGHT HON. GEOllGE ROSE. 4^71
reasons very rationally. He had great curiosity about
the Duke of Qaeensbury's will, desii'ing to be in-
formed of all the particulars of it as accurately as
possible, and remarking on each legacy with the most
perfect judgment.
Lord Grey was with the Prince of Wales on the
15th, and agreed to accept the situation of Yirst
Lord of the Treasury, on the express condition
that his Koyal Highness should engage to consult
only /d.s Minisfers, excluding thereby Lord Moira
and Mr. Sheridan, even from thai time, before he
assumed the Regency. Lord Grenville to be Presi-
dent of the Council, giving up the Treasury from
necessity, having rendered his holding that situation
difhcult, if not impracticable, from the line he took
in making the difficulty to obey the orders of the
Treasury, as Auditor of the Exchequer, on the late
occasion, when there was a pressing demand for
money for the army, navy, and ordnance, from the
want of a Privy Seal in one instance, and of a King's
warrant in another; — without which the Exchequer,
it was stated, would not issue the money.
Of these hard conditions made wdth the Prince,
his intended Ministers speak without reserve, which
seems to be unnecessary and somewhat indelicate ; for
although it might be fit, and perhaps indispensable,
to impose, there could be no use in publishing them.
It is understood that his Royal Highness had com-
mitted himself to make Lord Erskine, Chancellor ; and
to put Lord St. Vincent at the head of the Admiralty ;
which, of course, must be afloat now. It is not
472 T)I.\IITK<S AM) COllKKSl'ONDKNCi: OF
unlikely, however, but that Lord Grey may l)e disposed
to acquiesce in the appoiutinent of Lord St. Vincent.
No furtlier arrangement is as yet spoken of tor the
offices, except a loose conversation for Mr. Whitbread
to be Secretary-at-War, and in the Cabinet. Nothinj^
seems to be known respecting Mr. Cainiing being
admitted into the new .Vdmiiiistration ; but the preva-
lent opinion is that Mr. Whitbread will, on no con-
sideration, listen to a junction with him. And amongst
the hiwyers the impression is, that Sir Samuel Uomilly
will liavc no connexion with the new Government if
Mr. Canning is to form a part of it.
It liMs been suggested as possil)le that Lord
Manners may be sent for from Ireland, to have the
Great Seal.
JU' this reliiKjuishment of the Treasury on the
part of Lord (Jrenville, rendered necessary by liis
conduct in opposing, as Auditor, the issue of the
money for [)ublic services, he is properly reicardcd.
For, after all, tliis is a sacriticc he hnils himself com-
pelled to make from public opinion, much more than
from any real or solid objection to the offices of First
Lord of the Treasury and Auditor bciuK held bv the
same person.
Throughout the whole of the debate — not, indeed,
ui this instance only, but in eveiy stage of the Regency
business, from the first introduction of it — Mr. Per-
ceval has conducted liimself with a degree of talent,
manliness, temper, and perseverance equal to any-
thing I ever witnessed in Parliament, except that in
eloquence he fell somewhat short of Mr. Pitt and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 473
Mr. Fox ; but, upon the whole, combiniug all jjoints,
I am bound to acknowledge that I think Mr. Pitt, if
he had been living, could hardly have produced mere
complete efiect. Mr. Perceval's ability and his con-
duct, in all respects, have forced from his enemies an
applause and approbation hardly ever bestowed by
political adversaries ; and I am very much mistaken
if the Regent will not find it necessary to resort to
him for protection against his intended Ministers
before two years elapse. I think I have given a
long period.
Friday, Januarij ISf/i. — The King walked out yes-
terday upon the terrace, for an hour, for the first time.
On former occasions, his first going out led to a
good deal of irritation, and it was supposed that the
same effect would have been produced in this instance ;
but fortmiately he had a tolerable rest at night, and
was this morning as well as he has been for some
days ; which leads to a continuation of the hopes
entertained.
The Committee went through the Regency Bill
to-day without any division on the names of the
Queen's Council, as was expected, or upon the clause
respecting the provisions for the resumption of the
King's authority eventually, without a division on any
of them ; but several amendments were proposed
Every point has, therefore, been carried in the pro-
gress of the Bill by Ministers, although they were in a
minority on one of the pi-ovisions, even after a j)revious
resolution for the measure was discussed.
JFeducsda//, Jaiuinrii 22d — On f^nndav last 1 lie
17 1 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE (JF
King was in a state of some irritation during a part ol'
the tlay ; but from that time he has been rather in an
improving way, witliout the sHghtest return of excite-
ment.
Fridai/, Januani 'Ihth. — The Hegency l>ill in a
committee in tlie House of Lords to-dav ; and llic
clause for vesting the houseliohl in the Uueen tlirown
out upon a division — lOS to UG. Of course no proxies
were used in the committee.
Safurdai/ JdNiianf '2.(Sf/i. — Tlie Cliancellor and Mr.
Perceval saw the King this forenoon for an hour and a
(juarter, during the whole of which time he talked
with them in the most collected manner, anil spoke of
the Princess Amelia with great feeling, but with perfect
composure.
\\\\{\i seems most extraordinary is, that his Majesty
is restored to a degree of sight. lie lot)ked at Mr.
Perceval, and said he ftaw his eyes and nose, but could
not (Jislint/t/iif/i his features sutliciently to know it was
him ; but, turning to the Chancellor, and l(X)king in
his face, observed that it was larger, and that he
should have known him.
For these last eight or ten days the reports of the in-
tended arrangements, as proposed, for forming the new
Government, have fluctuated very much. The only
certain allotment of otRces seems to be : Lord Grenville
at the Head of the Treasur}', contrary to the determi-
nation of last week against his receiving it, on account
of the audit orship. He has either grown more bold, or
his friends have conceded to him. Lord Grev to l)e
Foreign Secretary of State, and Mr. Ticrnev to be Chan-
THE KIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 475
cellor of the Exchequer. Conjectured that Lord Erskine
woidd be Chancellor ; Lord Moira to go to Ireland.
Mr. Ponsonby, Lord Lansdown, Lord Holland, Lord
Lauderdale, and Mr. Whitbread, Cabinet offices. No
overture to Mr. Canning ; but a disposition shown to
Lord Sidmouth : and an offer to Mr. Huskisson to be
Secretary of the Treasury, which he declined, as below
his pretensions, or from an adherence to Mr. Canning.
Mr. Abercrombie and Mr. Freeinantle to be Secre-
taries to the Treasury. Sir Samuel Romilly spoken of
by some to be Attorney-General, by others Assistant-
Master of the Rolls — a new office.
Sunday, January 21 th. —I dined to-day with Lord
Camden, who had been at Windsor, and had a long
conversation with the physicians who are in attendance
on his Majesty. They are still entirely confdent of
ultimate recovery, but uncertain as to the period.
They acknowledge, however, disappointment at the
interview with the Chancellor and ]\Ir. Perceval not
having produced the effect they expected, as it had not
awakened his ^lajesty's attention to public affairs in a
more animated manner than before that interview took
place ; at least, not in a degree worthy of notice. The
Chancellor and Mr. Perceval tried repeatedly to bring
the King to talk of public matters ; but, as often as
they did so, his Majesty turned the conversation with
much dexterity, without appearing to avoid such sub-
jects.
Monday, January 2%lh. — The report of the Regency
Bill, in the House of Lords, was made to-day, when
the clause respecting tiie household, which was kft
no DIARIES AND CORIIKSPONDENCK OF
out of it ill the comniitttr, was restored on ii division.
For restoring it —
Present 88 84
Proxies . . r,l 38
Majority for the clause in favour of Ministers 17.
Ill two of the divisions tin- Dukes of York aud
Cambridge diviilcd with Ministers.
irci/ni'sdai/, Janiiarf/ 3()///. — Mr. I\rceval was with
the King again, yesterday, for more than an hour, and
found a crrtain improvement in him from Satnrdav
hist. His Majesty talked freely of pubHc matters, and
witli just reflections on them. He was (jiiite aware of
the probable dilfienlty of getting money out of the
Exchefpier for the services of the army, navy, &c. ; and
asked if any resistance had been made to that. On
being told there had, he desired to know from what
tpiarter it had arisen. On being told, " from Lord
(irenville," he made no reply ; but bowed his head
in a manner conveying that it did not surprise him.
Mr. Perceval, in the course of the conversation, stated
to his Majesty the stage of the Regency Rill, and the
principal occurrences during the progress of it.
T/iin-ftdai/, Januarij Zlst. — The Regencv Hill was
this day read a third time with the amendments from
the Lords, ami passed.
iMr. Perceval, on Tuesday last, wrote to the Prince
of Wales to acquaint him that there is money in the
Exchequer to meet all the demands for various services
till the end of February ; and that, if the Honse of
Commons shall be in a state to proceed to business on
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 477
the 12tli, there will be sufficient time for the neces-
sary stages to be gone through for making a further
provision of money by the end of the month. To wliich
communication Mr. Perceval this afternoon received
an answer, saying that his Royal Highness learned
with sm'prise and concern, that so short an interval
would be allowed him to settle great and important
matters, as the period between the Regency Bill receiv-
ing the Royal assent (probably the 5th) and the 12th.
Friday, Fehruary Xst. — The Chancellor and Lord
Liverpool were with the King yesterday for about an
hour. His Majesty more hurried in his manner than
when Mr. Perceval was with him on T'uesday, but no
derangement nor delusion His agitation was attri-
buted to the latter having opened to him some public
matters, going forward beyond the mere detail of
business ; but after the hurry subsided (which betrayed
itself only in passing from one subject to another) his
Majesty was very collected, and showed an anxiety to
know how persons had behaved on the questions in
Parliament : about Avhich the two Lords satisfied him
as to those who had acted steadily, but avoided men-
tioning others who had pursued a different line of
conduct. He then inquired whether it was the inten-
tion of the Prince of Wales to change the Govern-
ment, to which the Chancellor answered affirmatively,
according to the best information that Ministers could
obtain ; on which his Majesty said he would bring
his present servants back, but desired to have time,
requesting that he might not be brought forward too
soon.
17S DIARIES AND COURESrONDF.NCi: OF
It seems to be decided to-diiy, that there is n fixed
deteniiinatioii in liis Koval lliirhiiess to change the
Ministers immediately after the Regency l^ill >liall
pass.
Sr/ /!//•(/(///, Fehnuirji '2//. — Mr. Coutts Trotter called
on me this morninj:, liaving just h-lt liord Moira,
who tohl liim he was going Lord-Lientennnt to Ire-
land, which seems to render the removal of Ministers
certain. Notwithstanding which, Mr. Hroiigham told
Mr. Arhuthnot, last night, tliat the Ministers certainly
wonid not he changed immediately; and Mr. Perry,
of the Morniny Chronicle, repeatetl confidently the
same to-day.
in the afternoon, it was generally known and ascer-
tained that the Prince of Wales, last night, sent a
message to Lord Grenville, hy .Mr. Adams, his Chan-
cellor, to commnnicate to him the determination \\v.
had taken not to change his father's Ministers in the
state of his Majesty's health, so promising for re-
covery; assnring him CLord Grenville), at the same
time, of his confidence being entirely with him.
Lord (irey, and his other friends. Which messag«'
was received with external marks of respect and satis-
faction, but in reality with little content.
Sundd//, Fehrufirt/ Sd. — The friends of Lord Gren-
ville were going about the whole of this iUy, express-
ing in unqualified terms their strong disappn^bation
of the conduct of the Regent ; complaining bitterly
of not having had earlier information of his change
of sentiments, the inconvenience of which they must
have felt to a considerable extent, from many of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 479
their party having discovered that they were to have
been left out of the intended arrangement. Sir Arthur
Pigott and Sir Samuel Romilly were to have been put
aside from political situations. Mr. Sheridan, who
would take nothing out of the Cabinet, was positively
refused admission to it. Others were spoken of with
much uncertainty.
This change in the Prince's intentions was brought
about by a letter from the Queen to him, suggesting
the serious ill consequences that might attend a
change of his father's Ministers, by retarding his
recovery, and eventually endangering his life ; which
his Royal Highness answered very dutifully, and
acted as has been stated.
Mondaij, February/ A^ih. — Yesterday, Lord Grenville
and Lord Grey were with the Prince of Wales for
more than an hour. They deny having attempted to
shake his determination respecting the not turning
out his father's Ministers, and say they advised his
Royal Highness to give liis confidence to Mr. Perce-
val, as he meant to keep him in the Govermnent ;
which {inler alia) is taking a ground to justify their
opposing his measures.
- Lord Hertford told Lord Camden to-day, that the
Prince had never entertained a thought of removing
the Ministers, if the prospect of his father's recovery
should be a flattering one when the Act of Regency
should be complete ; and liad only called upon Lord
Grenville and Lord Grey to be prepared with an
arrangement for an Administration, in the event of
his thinking it proper to make the change in his
180 DIARIES AND CORRESPON DENCK OF
Councils. lUit SO lute as this evening, Mr. Perceval
has received no intimation of his lioyal llighness's
intention to ntaiu him in his situation. The tirst
overture to Lord (jrcnvillf, it seem.-^, was through
Lord Buckingham, who otlcred to senil his l)rother to
his Roval Hiirhness, who attended him accordinf^lv,
and at his instance prepared an answer for his Royal
1 1 ighness to the communication from Mr. Perceval of
what was intended as to the restrictions to be pro-
posed on the Regent. In which answer his Royal
Highness made some important alterations, that gave
great otlence to Lord Grenville, who grew extremely
sulky upon the occasion ; but peace was made with
him bv the intervention of Lord Holland, to whom
his Royal Highness applied personally for the attain-
ment of the object.
A conference was this dav had with the Lords on the
commission for putting the (jreat Seal to the consent
to the Regency Act. After which, there was some
discussion upon it in the committee of the whole
House upon the state of the nation ; in the course of
which the Speaker made a most argimientative and
constitutional speech, stating, in substance, that he
had observed a strict silence during the whole of the
discussion of the several questions which had arisen
in the course of the business, thinking it right never
to mix in any debate upon points partaking of party
interests and feelings ; but having heard [)ositions laid
down by gentlemen (Mr. Ponsonby, ^h'. Eliot, and
Sir Thomas Turton) attacking the principle on which
the two Houses had proceeded ; and thinking, as he
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 481
did, that the measures which had been adopted in
carrying into effect the appointment of a Regent by
bill instead of by address, was the only safe and con-
stitutional mode ; he felt it his indispensable duty, in
the situation he filled in the House, to state his
opinions distinctly, and his reasons in support of
those, which he did most ably.
Tuesday, February "bth. — The Chancellor went to
Windsor to see his Majesty, in order to satisfy him-
self that he was not well enough to make it unfit for
his Lordship to put the great seal to the commission
for giving the royal assent to the Regency Bill ; and
found the King so well (though not recovered) as
somewhat to embarrass the noble Lord. He however
returned, and sealed the commission ; after which the-
bill received the royal assent.
Wednesday, February Qth. — This day I attended a
Privy Council at Carlton House, at which the Regent
took the oaths, in the presence of all the Privy Coun-
sellors who were there, ninety-two in nundoer ; after
which every one of them kissed his Royal llighness's
hand, as tliey went up to him. Nothing was said
to auy one, except a few words in two or three
instances.
" Thursday, February 1th. — The bulletin this day was
the first in which "recovery" was mentioned. The
words were, " His Majesty seems to be making gra-
dual progress towards recovery."
Friday, February 8M.— The statement from Wind-
sor to-day was, " His Majesty continues to make gra-
dual progress towards recovery."
VOL. II. I ^
182 DIARIES AND COIlRESrONDENCK OF
The Regent gave aiulicnce to nil the Ministers this
d.'iy. To .Mr. Perceval he was most cordial, as was
stated to nie hy Mr. Arhuthnot, for 1 did not sec
himself; hut Lord Welie-sK-y came to tell me he had
proposed my son to his Royal llii^dmess as Ambassador
Extraordinary and .Minister Plenipotentiary to Con-
stantinople, which he had ac(piiesced in very gra-
cionslv. Tliis communication I received j^ratefullv,
cxpressiuLT, however, great douhts whetlier my son
could accept, t'(»r reasons not necessary to detail
here. Put I told his L()rd.^hip that ho should have
an answer in two or three days, he having allf)wed
my son to talk on the subject with .Mr. Arhuthnot,
who had been there.
Lord Wellcsley said nothing could exceed the grace
and condescension of his Koval liii^luuss, nor the
pleasant manner in which he transacted business with
him durinjj an hour. His Roval Iliuhness mentioned
the vacancies of a liluc, a Green, and a Red Riband,
and said he shoidd reserve them all, to lay at his
father's feet on his recovery ; but that if his Lordship
had any one in the diplomatic line to recommend for
the Red Riband, he would join in his recommendation
to the Kinnr for it.
The Mission to Naples is to be joined to the situa-
tion of Commander-in-Chief in Sicily ; otherwise my
son would have intinitely preferred that to Constanti-
nople, though inferior both in rank and profit.
Safi/rdaj/, Fehruari/ ^fli. — The Queen and the
Princess Auijusta saw the Kiiisr vcsterdav, and his
Majesty has shown no agitation in consequence of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 183
that visit ; and it is understood the Duke of York is
to see him this day.
The bulletin is, " that his Majesty is quite as well
as he has been during the two last days."
The Regent has given notice that he shall hold
his first levee next Tuesday ; and that he shall give
audiences to his Ministers on Thursdays.
I have heard from one channel that his Royal
Highness, in forbearing to change the Administra-
tion, acted upon the advice of Lady Hertford and
Mrs. Fitzherbert ; and, through another channel, that
Mrs. Fitzherbert was sent for to London, and that the
Prince was some hours with her. After which she told
a person who talks freely with her, that she was not
at liberty to state any particular, but " that some
people would meet with a disappointment they were
not in the least aware of;" alluding to the Opposition.
I I -2
iSlt DIARIES AND CORHESVONDENCi: OF
CHAPTER XIIT.
1810—1818.
CORRFSrONDEXCE BETWEEN MR. ROSE, ME. PERCEVAL, LORD WELLESLEY,
LORD DATHUItST, LORD MELVILLE, LORD WAL.>-IXOHAM, LOUD LIVER-
POOL, SIR W. GRANT, AND LORD C.\STLEREAGH— DEATH OK MR. ROHE
AT CDFFNELL8, IN 1818.
The letters of tliis year (IS 10) sliow how imicli
some of the luatliiig men of tliat day valued the opinion
of Mr. Rose. Lord Hathinst thought it of siittieient
imj)ortanee to suspend a decision of the Cabinet;
and Lord .\Ldmesbury related iiow he liad sought
him out to discuss a rpiestion during tlic Adding-
ton Administration, which produced this remark from
Mr. l^itt to himself: "What you hinted to Rose set
him, and he set me, on thinking; and, on dispassion-
ate consideration, we agreed you were quite right. I
am now decided to stav." And a little while after he
writes: — "G.Rose was with me; he talked very
well, and much t(j the purpose." Lord Eldon was in
great despair, when he heard that Mr. Rose and liis
friends were about to join Canning in his secession.
He writes to Lady Eldon, September ISOi) : —
" Shocked as I am to say it, George Rose has de-
clared his attachment to Cannincr. Iluskisson has
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 485
done the same ; also Charles Long and Sturges
Bourne. As these are the four men of business, it
appeared to us, last night, that without junction
the King must be sacrificed."
But of these four, two soon repented, and remained.
Rose was one of them, and appears to liave been
rather sore that Bourne did not follow the same
course, since it was to him that he owed his scat in
Parhament. Feeling this to be the case, Bourne
offered to resign his seat. This led to an expla-
nation. Mr. Rose's answers have not been pre-
served; but it appears that he sent his notes of the
Canning correspondence, which Mr. Bourne returned
in September, with his comments upon them, in
which he admits the blamable ambition of his leader.
It will be seen that Lord Mai mesbury, in his letter,
bewailed the loss of Mr. Pitt, — though it was no longer
a recent loss, — -because the Government of that day
was too mild, in his opinion, to encounter the vigo-
rous virulence of the Opposition. J\Ir. Perceval,
indeed, had not splendid talents to bear him up under
the onerous task which now devolved upou him, of
conducting the debates in the House of Connnons
almost alone for the Cabinet ; but yet he won golden
opinions from all parties as an amiable and con-
scientious Minister ; and three evidences of this are
disclosed in the correspondence.
1. When Mr. Rose heard that a place in the Customs
at Southampton, which, relying on his right to the
480 DIAKIKS AND COUllKSl'ON DKNCK OF
patronage in his own nciglibourliood, he liail promised
to a friend, liad been given to the Kyders, lie warmly
remonstrated ni^ainst the sHj'ht whieh was thus cast
upon his just })retensi{)ns. Mr. IV'rceval immediately
apologized tor his inattention, and promised to jyer-
suadc the Kyders to kt him withdraw IVum his en-
gagement to them. Mr. Kooe, tlK)Ugh full of vexa-
tion, declined an ofl'i-r wliieh would oti'end pirsons
of so nmeh importance to the Administration ; hut
Perceval insisted upon it, and found something else for
the man j)atronised hy them.
2. \\ Inn the house of Goldsmidt was in dang( r of
heing declared bankrupt, and it w as proposed to issue
an Extent, to save the Cnnvn from loss, I'erceval, un-
willing to contribute to the ruin of so many private
families, preferred to take upon himself the [)ei*sonal
responsibility of getting the liank to assist the totter-
ing tirm, which, if the measure liad failed of success,
would have been attended with very serious conse-
(piences to himself.
3. Mr. Chinnery had exposed himself to so much
animadversion for extravagance in his expenditure,
that his integrity as a j)ublic officer was suspected ;
and ^Ir. Rose thought it necessiiry to caution him, in
the following letter : —
Dear Sir,
" I should not act fairly or kindly towards you,
if I were to conceal from vou that I have heard
THE RIGHT HON. GEOllGE HOSE. 187
observations frequently made respecting the expense
at which you have for a long time been living, and
that inferences are drawn therefrom of an unpleasant
nature. On the conduct of those who are in no
public trusts, neither well-meaning nor impertinent
persons have anything to do ; but it is otherwise
when parties whose conduct is connnented on are en-
trusted with the care or expenditure of public money.
You well know that this was a subject of consider-
able anxiety to me before I left the Treasury. In
truth, it has never ceased to be so ; but the conunents
upon the extent of expense you must be unavoidably
incurring are become so unqualified and general, as
to compel me, most reluctantly, to depart from that
silence which I have long observed about it. It w^as
my intention to have had a quiet and full conver-
sation with you upon it, previously to my leaving
London ; but, finding you are absent, I have no
choice as to the mode of communication. Under a
perfect conviction that the reports to which I have
alluded must have reached Mr. Perceval, I thought
beyond comparison the best course would be, to enter
on the subject with him myself; which, indeed, I
should have felt it a duty to do, in any event. I
have, therefore, requested him to talk to you upon it,
in order to afford you an o})portunity of satisfying
him that there is no ground of alarm respecting the
trust reposed in you ; and I Avill not conceal from
you that I have advised him, if you should fail to do
so, to withdraw the public money from your custody ;
M'hich I am sure, if he should find himself comi)elled
488 DIAUIES AND COKUKSI'ONIJKXCK OF
to do, he would (111 in a iiiauniT the least |)aiiiriil
to you. Ill doing this, 1 ihink, as I have already
said, I am aciing kindly towanls you, as well as with
a proper regard to puhlie opinion. Vou will dt) me
the justiee to admit thai 1 always treated you with
marked kindness; and that when 1 found myscU'
rompelled to remonstrate with vou ahout vour stvle
of living, 1 did it with reluetanei, from what appeared
to me to he a strong duty. If Mr Perceval shoidd
not send for vou, 1 entreat that von niav see him,
and tell Inm your desire to do so in consecpicncc
of an intimation from me. He will then, I am very
certain, listen to you with kind attention ; and I wish
from my heart vou may satisfy him that you are not
m the course of expenditure whieii nuiy render it
unsafe to contiiuie to place public monies in your
hands. Let me know the result after you have
seen him."
[In consecjuence of this notice, Mr. Perceval seems
to have had an interview with Mr C'hinnerv, and to
have inspected very minutely all iiis accounts, and
had satisfied himself that, as a public accountant, he
had been guilty of no malversation. It is not neces-
sary to go into all the particulars of this investi-
ijjation : it is enough that he cainc to the conclusion
that " on the general face of the accounts, as far as
the documents go, nothing can well be fairer, more
creditable to an accountant, or less calcidatcd to
create any reasonable apprehension or suspicion "
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 489
The correspondence of this year closes Avith n
mixture of good and evil — the last illness of the
King, the appointment of the Regent, and the retreat
of the French army from Portugal, which was the
turning point of Napoleon's fortunes, and the com-
mencement of his reverses. — Ed.]
Mr. Perceval to Mr. Rose.
"Ealing, Monday Evening, Sept. 20, 1810.
" Dear Rose,
^~ " After many delays and interruptions, both
from occupation and from indolence, I hope at last
to furnish you with a general view of the result of my
inquiries into Mr. Chinnery's accounts.
" I have already told you that I think the view
which Mr. Chinnery has given me is satisfactory ; and
that I am under no apprehension of the public being-
exposed to any risk from the amount of the balances
in his hands. The first statement, indeed, which
I had from him satisfied me on this point.
" Upon the general face of his accounts, as far as
the documents go, Jiothing can, I think, well be fairer,
more creditable to an accountant, or less likely to
excite any reasonable apprehension or suspicion.
" Knowing the attention wJiich the Commissioners
for Audit pay to the balances in the accountant's
hands, 1 confess this report is perfectly satisfactory to
my mind, to the extent of showing that there is
nothing unfavourable in the least degree to Mr. Chin-
nery in the state of his accounts, and no improper
accumulation of balance in his hands.
490 DIARIES ANB CORRESPONDENCE OF
" Having thus satisfied inysclf on the tairntss ot" liis
account as a public accountant, I confess I do not
think that I have any right to (|uariel with him for
anything in his style of livini;, which may ni)[)ear to
me or others perhaps too expensive for the situation
which he holds, or to trv him with anv ''reat minute-
ncss as to the source from wlu'ncc lie has derived his
pecuniary means of supporting such expense. On
this point, however, he has voluntarily told me that
lie has for many years been living with very exact
economy, without a house in town, and at an expense
greatly within his income. That he has derived from
the friendship of some very old connexions formed at
school, means of pecuniary resource and of increasing
his fortune, which were independent of his ollicial
situation.
" My conceru with his affairs, certainly, is only upon
public grounds, and 1 do not think I have any right
to interfere further than to satisfy myself that the
public is safe.
" With regard to the situation of the balance in
Mr. Chinnery's hands, though lie has satisfied me
that its present custody is quite safe, and within the
reach of an immediate call, yet I confess I am not
quite satisfied with the nature of that custody, as it
rests upon private security. And although not only
^Ir. Chinnery but myself are perfectly satisfied that
bis personal scciu'ity is at jjresent quite safe, yet there
is no being sure of anybody in these times. I have,
therefore, desired that the fresh issues shall be vested
in ExcluMpier Bills, and so kept till called for. lie
THE RIGHT HON. GEOKGE HOSE. 491
promised mc that should he the case, and has assured
ine that it has been done, and 1 confess I have a
perfect reUance on his word that it is so. But I do not
mean, and it is not fitting, that the pubhc security
should rest on his or on any man's word. I have, there-
fore, determined to establish some regulation which may
make the public quite safe on this point. My present
idea is to adopt the following regulation, or something
to the same effect, viz. that, taking an estimate of the
largest amount of balance, wliicli the agent has in his
hands at any period of the year, to require him to
give security to that amount ; and that the Treasury
shall not at any time issue to him a larger sum than
that which, together with the existing balance shall
amount to the sum for which security has been given,
without requiring a proportionate increase of that
security.
" I am very sorry for both our sakes to have been
obliged to have troubled you with such a detail at
such a length, but your friendly anxiety on this
subject required it of me, and I hope you will excuse
my not having given it you before. I do not in the
least degree regret my own trouble in it, as it has
brought under my consideration a very inq)ortant
subject, which, if placed before me in Parliament
by some political adversary, when I was unapprised
of the state of it, miglit have been attended with
great inconvenience. One excuse that I have for my
delay is, that out of delicacy to Mr. Chinnery, I have
not thought it fair to put this letter into the hands of
a secretary to copy.
\'\)2 DIAIUKS AND rOKHKf^rONDKNfK OF
" I rctunu-d tVoin Nortliainptonshiro on Monday
last. Mrs. V. and I sliall liope to sec you here in the
course of the next week. I hope you will take a bed.
We shall l)e in town Tuesday and Wednesday, and if
you could come to us on Thursday, or any follow-
ing day that you can appoint — perhaps Saturday,
and stay till Mondiy, — vou will make us very
glad.
' I am, dear Kosi-,
'■ Voiu's very truly.
" Sp. Pku( r.y.M.."
[And yet, after all this kindness, Mr. IV-rceval
foiuid ]iim>elf the victim of Mr. Chinncry's cunnino:.
The accounts had hien cooked (to use a modern
phrase), so as to dcceiye him, and in a yiar or two
after, he owned to Mr. Rose the imposition that had
been practised upon him. — Eu.]
Mu. PERCEyAL TO Mu. UobE.
" My dear Rose,
" I have to accpiaint you that all your fears
respecting Chinnery are realized, lie deceived me
most terribly in 1810, and he is in arrear beyond
even your conception. I have put the aftair into the
hands of the Solicitor of the Treasury, and have
directed him to be removed from his situation at the
Treasury and all his agencies. You at least have
THE RIGHT .HON. GEORGE ROSE. i93
the satisfaction of feeling that you did all you
could. j\Iy confidence certainly has been imposed
upon,
" Yours most truly,
" Sp. Perceval.
"Downing Street, March 10th, 1812.
" Do not mention this melancholy subject till I see
you."
Mu. Perceval to Mr. Rose, on ike Kinys illness.
[Private and conjidential?\
" My dear Rose,
" Thinking that you would wish to know, as
accurately as I can tell you, the course hitended
to be pursued to-morrow, I trouble you with this
line to say, that if the examination should close as
favourably as it ])roniises, my intention is to present
the Report; to move that it be read, and then to
move an adjournment for a fortnight. The course
which we may expect the Opposition to take will be,
to move that the Report be printed, and that the
further consideration of it be deferred to iMonday,
and on Monday to ap[)oint a Conunittee to examine
the physicians ; and they will have the advantage of
the letter of the precedent of 1 788 in their favom*;
but as to the spirit, unless the House should be of
opinion that we should immediately proceed to supply
the deficiency, T apprehend the spirit of that prece-
dent docs not apply. At that time tlie general
feeling was against the probability of recovery,
and there was no trace of any amendment begun.
V,)\ DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
Now it is in evidence that consitlcial)lc' anuMuIinent liiis
taken place, and tliere is the most conficK'iit Iiojh- of
recovery. Tlie cases, therefore, are qnite dithnrit, at
least so it seems to me, to wliich tlie prineiplf of the
precedent of 17SS was applied, and is now to he
applied.
'■ If anything occnrs to yon npon this, 1 shonld be
triad of a line from yon ; hut if von sec it in the same
point of view, yon need not tronhle yonrself to write.
1 shall have a mectinix of House of Connnons' frit-nds
at three o'clock to-morrow, and shall he glad to see
yon amongst them, nidess yon lind it better to spare
yonrself.
" I am, mv dear Rose,
" Yonrs most trnly,
" Sp. Perceval.
" Downiug street, Nov. 2sth, ISIO."
[At the end of this year (1^11) Mr, Rose's Diary
discloses to ns the remarkable negotiations coimectcd
with the financial arrangements of the Regency. They
arc chieHv remarkable on accoimt of the broad light
which they throw npon the faithlessness of the Prince,
and the gigantic statnre of his egotism : for thongli
Charles Fox was the Gamaliel at whose feet he
learned the strictest doctrines of Whig ethics, and
thongh he was familiar with tho cant of spnrions
liberality, which pinnies itself npon taking muler its
wing popular licence in the name of liberty and re-
sistance to oppression, whether real or imaginary, and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 495
repugnance to raising taxes from the subject for the
benefit of rulers, — he nevertheless thought, that to
him everything else must give way ; rights, princi-
ples, consistency, the peace of the nation, and the
dignity of Parliament. For he contended that the
country was responsible for his debts, whatever they
might be, and in whatever way they w^ere incurred.
He saw no shame in the discovery that he had en-
couraged his two next brothers, the Duke of York
and the Duke of Clarence, to imitate his own extra-
vagance, by becoming security for sums lent to them,
to a very great amount, though he was habitually
living far beyond his income, because his debts were
sure to be paid by Parliament ; and all the engage-
ments which he entered into, to practise more economy
and pay his debts, like Samson's withies, had no power
to bind him, because his creditors would, as a matter
of course, receive their money from the nation. It is
a great blessing, and perhaps one not sufficiently ap-
preciated, to mark the contrast between the occupants
of the throne at that time and at this.
But as the greater part of the Diary consists of com-
munications between Mr. Adam on the part of the
Prince,and Mr. Perceval on the part of the Government,
on the subject of the allowances claimed from Parlia-
ment by the former, for the Royal family as well as for
himself ; the perpetual recurrence of figures discussed,
contested and altered, would be too wearisome, and it
will be sufficient to extract the most important passages
4)96 DlAlllES AND COKKKSPONUKNCK OF
on till' subject alivady indicated. I'o tlic j)r()|)(isal
l)ol(li} put forth \)\ till! Prince's IVicnds that Parliament
should pay his debts, the answer of tiie Cal)inet was
thus — "That it was the clear, decided, and unanin.ous
opinion of Mr. Perce\al and all his collea<^ues, most re-
luctantlv and unwillini^lv adoijti-d, that to brintr these
debts before Parliament for the purpose of dis('liar|j;in<^
them, by whatever gradual instalments, out of money
to be raised on the people for tjiat purpose, would be
most inconsistent with the true interests of iiis Royal
Highness himself. That it was also the unanimous
opinion of all, that the idea of founding or strengthen-
ing any claim u[)on the public for the discharge of
these debts, by any reference to the former demands
on account of the Huehy of Cornwall, after the manner
in which the determination to abandon the suit for
that demand was received in Parliament, would not
be consistent with what appeared to Ix tla; plain
meaning of that transaction; ami that his Royal
Highness could not be properly advised to distin-
guish between that abandonment of the suit and an
absolute abandonment of the claim."
On the following day a paper was delivered to Mr.
Perceval, in wliich it was stated, that his Royal High-
ness considered the claims and arrears which he was
bound to discharge, as staiiding not in the unfavour-
able light in which Mr. Perceval placed them ; a^ his
Royal Highness considered all his creditors entitled
to the protection of Parliament, on tin- .sou/ulr.sf priit-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 497
ciples of equity and fair dealiny. But Mr. Perceval
was not a man to curry favour with the Prince by
doing that Avhich was morally and politically wrong.
Two days afterwards, on the 12th of December,
his reply was sent; in which he showed, from the
speeches of the Prince's own friends in 1803, the
engagement which he had made to withdraw his
claims to the arrears of the Duchy of Cornwall, and
the pledges that he had given for the payment and
liquidation of his debts at that time. Mr. Perceval
then strongly urged the extravagance of the proposition
(though not in these exact words) of the creditors
having a claim, on the principles of equity and fair
dealing, and making Parliament responsible for the
debts. "Further, he stated plainly that " an attempt
to persuade Parliament to that vrould be a gross breach
of duty in him, and as great a one as he could com-
mit towards the Prince. He was convinced that any
reference to what passed in ParUament in 1803
woidd make a very different impression from what
his Royal Highness seemed to think, and that it
would have the very worst effect upon his Royal
Highness's estimation in the country, if he were to
be advised to act as if he thought Parliament had
any oblif^ation whatever to provide for the protection
of his creditors,"
The letters belonging to this year are few and un-
important ; but as we are accompanying Mr. Rose in
his passage through his official life, it would be unjust
VOL. II. K K
198 DIARIES AND COURKSVONDENCK OF
to him to omit two instances in whicli his influfncc
upon our foreign and domestic policy was gratefully
acknowledged by those wliom it concerned. The
Portnn;uese Ambassador, the Chevalier de Souza,
offered him his most sincere and warm thanks fi)r
the part he took in a liberal nioditiration of an article
ill the treaty concerning ships of foreign construction.
It was a favour hi^'hlv valued, ami more in conformitv
with modern views than with those which were usually
entertained bv statesmen of that day.
But while Mr. Rose was not unwilling to favour
foreign trade, he took a more lively interest in its
prosperity at home. The Spitaltlelds weavers were
anxious to express the gratitude which they and their
fellow-workmen felt for his attention to their concerns,
and his readiness to redress tluir grievances. " We
trust," say they, " we are deeply sensible of the very
many obligations we are under to you, Sir, for the
unmerited kindnesses you have so long shown for the
welfare of our trade, and we cannot but look back
with peculiar pleasure, when troubles have threatened
to overwhelm our trade, to beholding in you a friend
and father to the poor weaver."
Before the close of the year, the inconvenience of
heads of departments acting upon their own respon-
sibility in important matters without conununication
with their colleagues, is curiously exemplitied by the
too quick resolvedness of Lord Wellesley. In answer
to a remonstrance from ^Ir. Rose, who strongly
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 499
objected to tlie appointment recently made of Com-
missioners, who were to mediate between Spain
and her revolted colonies, the following explanation
is given by Lord Bathurst : " Very early in the revolt,
a wish was expressed on the part of the revolters,
that we should act as mediators, which was for
many reasons not complied with. Om* making the
offer immediately would have been considered by
the Spanish Government as giving encouragement.
During the course of last autumn and the beginning
of the spring, the jealousy of the Spanish Government
towards us very much increased, and we had some
reason to apprehend that the measures which were in
contemplation to act vigorously against the colonies,
would be attended by so violent an attack upon our
trade as would occasion the danger of a rupture:
The French party in Cadiz were very active in this
business, and we had at the same time reason to
believe, that the alarm at the success of the insurgents
was such, that an offer of our mediation would be
accepted; that at all events we should probably by
that be enabled to suspend active hostilities between
the two parties, which would gain time. Under this
persuasion the offer was made. It had been well
received ; but since that, the declaration of the Spanish
Government, to which you referred, has been made,
and we have had reason to doubt whether our Com-
missioners will be received in America, and to believe
that our proposition will be considered as unfavour-
K K 2
500 Dl.VlUKS AND COUlltSPONDr.NCE OF
ably intended towards the insurgents. Tlie utmost
that will happen, therefore, is that we shall he exposed
to some little mortitication in having appointed Com-
missioners without being able to send them. Under
these circumstances, it might perhaps have been better
not to have made the actual appointuu-nt until some
answer was receiveil from America. And I confess
1 was surprised, when I read the appointment in the
newspaper on my arriving in London. Upon intjuiry,
1 found most of my colleagues had read it with eijual
surprise, and (to speak most confidentially) not one of
them knew of it, except Lord Wellesley of course,
above a day or two before the ap[)ointmont appeared.
The true reason a^ the hurrv was, I believe, an im-
patience to provide for Mr. Sydenham : but the alleged
reason is that the Duke of Infantado presses it.
Lord Wellesley had exercised absolute power so
long in India that he had no great taste fur consul-
tation with others in the Cal)inet ; but if it be true,
that the Spanish noble's importunities drew him into
that humiliating position, it will account in some
degree for the vexation and discontent with our
Peninsular allies which he manifests in the following
letter. — Ed.]
Lord Wellesley to Mr. Rose.
[Private.]
"Dorking, Nov. 7th, 1811
" Mr DEAR Sir,
" I return the draft which you have been so kind
as to send to me, with a few suggestions in the margin.
THE TIIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 501
" The conduct of Portugal, or rather of the
Portuguese Government, is a good exercise of political
patience for a young minister. I have been engaged
in one continued squabble with that Government
and our other dear ally of Spain since I have held the
seals ; and if any statesman can point out to me the
means of inducing either to attend to reason, truth, or
justice, I shall be much obliged to him.
" Always, my dear sir,
" Yours most truly and sincerely,
" Wellesley."
[This was an important year (1812) in the quiet tenor
of Mr. Rose's life, for in the course of it he resigned his
offices, his motives for which are not explained. It
was certainly not on account of ill health, for that he
distinctly disclaims ; either it was the prospect of Lord
Sidmoutli's admission into the Cabinet, whose conduct
to Mr. Pitt he had never forgiven ; or it must have
been some dissatisfaction with the mode in which
the Government was administered by Mr. Perceval,
who, though expressing very strongly in reference to
his resignation, his respect for Mr. Rose personally,
yet evidently designs to draw a distinction between his
personal and his political character. Still the whole
letter is full of the most delicate attention to his feelings,
and of a desire to avoid anything that might hurt them.
But after the assassination of that most amiable and
intrepid minister in the course of the year, Mr. Rose
502 DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
resumed his post as Treasurer of the Navy, possiljly
witli the view of carrying into execution tliose refurins
with respect to prize-money, al)()Ut wliieli lie hail ex-
pressed liis anxii'ty to Mr. I'ereeval ; hut tlicre is
ueither (Uary nor correspondence to throw any hj^dit
upon the subject. — Ed.]
Mr. 1\.usi; tu Mr. I'kkceval.
" Dkar I^krceval.
" I avoided saying anything to you ahout an
intention of resigning tlie Tnasurersliip of thr Navy,
while a douht remained respecting the contiiuiance of
tlie Administration in ollice. Hut as there no U>nger
exists any, 1 shall esteem it a favour if, in tlie arrange-
ments about to be made, you will propose to his
Royal Highness the Prince Urgent a successor to me
in that situation and at tlic l^»ard of Trade."
[Lord Hathm'st, as a eommon friend, was chosen to
be the medium of those explanations which the occa-
sion might require. — Ed.]
Lord Batucrst to .Mr. Rose.
(( T)u . T, "Rosv " ^''^rtman Square, March 8th, 1812,
" I have received a long letter from Perceval on
the subject of your proposed resignation, niul I think
it the shortest way to send it to you. It will put you
in fuller possession of his sentiments and feelings on
tlie subject ; although there is one part in which
I think he has misunderstood me. When I first
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 603
suggested to him the possibiUty of his losing your
assistance, he expressed his hope that you had at
least no intention to resign immediately, as that might
have embarrassed the Government, and begged I would
prevail upon you, if you had such an idea, to defer
it. But he seems to have forgot, or possibly not
thought it necessary to add, that I then told him I was
sure you would do nothing to create embarrassment ;
and that if the state of your health should induce you
finally to come to such a resolution, you would be
easily induced to suspend the execution of your
intention.
" His observation on the subject of the prize-money
business is not material.
" I shall be obliged to you to return me the letter.
" I am, yoiu's ever,
" Bathurst."
Mr. Perceval to Lord Bathurst.
{Enclosed in the foregoing?}
" Downing Street, March 8th, 1812,
*' My dear Lord,
" I return your memorandum of the result of the
conversations which have passed between you. Rose
and myself, on the subject of his resignation of the
office of Treasurer of the Navy. It contains nothing
but what I understand to be the fair result of those
conversations, except so far as relates to a note of
Rose's respecting some future arrangement of the
interests of Greenwich Hospital in prize-money, of
which proposed arrangement I do not recollect to have
501 DIARIES AND CORIlESrOXDEXCE OF
heard hoforc, and wliicli T do not sufticicntly nndcr-
stnnd, on the first stntcnient of it, to feci confident tliat
it onght to 1)0 adoj)ted. l^iit altliough your menio-
randum contains nothing wo/v than what is the fair
result of those conversations, vet it omits n>ueh which
I think is necessary to give them their true character;
nt least, it woidd be very unsatisfactory to my feelings
if that memorandum were, without anvthiuK more, to
remain as a ncord or history of tlie conversations
tluuiselvcs. I hope, therefore, you will have no objec-
tion to engraft into your memorandum the circum-
stances out of which the conversations arose. For
with my sincere regard and respect for Rose pc^rxonuUy,
with the sense I entertain of personal obligations to
him for the manner in which he has assisted me ever
since I have been in my present situation, and with
the feeling I have of the gnat value of his public and
olHcial services, I should be extremely sorry that
ill a pajMT which I am to sanction, as containing a
true account of his resignation, it should be left in
doubt with whom the idea of that resignation
orirjinatcd. I am snre when yon consider, not onlv
his claims npon mc personally, but his claims upon
every friend of Mr. Pitt, arising out of his long
attached, confidential, and useful services to Mr. Pitt,
von will easily enter into my feelings, which make me
most anxious to have it remembered that the idea of
his resignation did not originate with me ; that his
desire to resign, founded on the apprehension of the
effect upon his health of continual labour and fatigue
in the public service, was communicated from you to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 505
me, and that I had begged you to parry, at least for
the time, the execution of his purpose of resignation ;
as at that time it appeared to me that it would be
attended with considerable inconvenience to the
Government; although, at no very remote period, I
certainly felt that his office, as he was himself desirous
of leaving it, might open to me the means of fornung
an arrangement beneficial to the public service.
" Under these circumstances, when the consideration
arose of making an arrangement to admit Lord Sid-
mouth and some of his friends into the Government ; —
which arrangement, but for Rose's proposal, only ap-
peared to me practicable through the retirement of
Ryder, I certainly felt that I was not only at liberty, but
that I was contributing to Rose's own purposes, which
you had communicated by message from him to me,
when I opened the discussion with himself as to the mode
and time of his retirement, and the convenience which
would result to me from it. When, however, I found
from you that you collected from his report of my
conversation with him, that he was indeed perfectly
ready, in compliance with what he found to be con-
venient for my arrangements, most good-humouredly,
to retire immediately, yet that he would, but for the
consideration of that convenience, have preferred
waiting to the end of the session ; the same feeling
which would have prevented me from entertaining the
idea of my originating the proposal of his resignation,
did not suffer me to hesitate a moment in re-
linquishing the notion of that resignation being
immediate, and of determining to postpone the period
50(3 DIARIKS AND CORllESPONUENCE OF
for executing tliat part of the arrangement wliich was
to depend on liis olliee, till tlie time when Rose's own
deliberate view of the suhjeet would render his retire-
ment pcrfeetly agreeal)le to himself.
" If, in eonse(iuenec of these renwirks, you will
insert into your memorandum a rejjresentation of thi;
cireumstanees out of whieh the eonversation referred
to originated, 1 ean have no objirtion to the statement
itself. 1 am sorry to give you this trouble, but 1 am
sure it would disapj)oint your object in recording any
part of the transaction if your statement dt)es not
include the parts so essential to my justification, not
in proposing (as might appear to iiave been the case
from your paper as it now stands) ])nt in aecejjting
Rose's resignation.
" If you should wish to show this letter to Rose, as
accounting for any alteration you may have to make
in your memorandum, 1 cannot have the least objec-
tion to his seeing it.
" I am, my dear Lord, yours most truly,
"(Signed) S. Perceval.
" In reading: over this letter, I think I ought to add
that I was certainly desirous of avoiding, if I could,
the necessity of accepting Ryder's ofler of resignation
to accommodate mv arrangements ; but what I wish
to be remembered is, that I liad not contemplated the
idea of avoiding tliat necessity by means of Ro.'^e's
office, till his offer to resign it, on personal considera-
tions of his own, had appeared to open the way to so
doing, without any interference with his wishes ; but,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 507
on the contrary, by a compliance with them. And I
am sure you will do me the justice to recollect, and to
record in your paper, that, although what I understood
from you was only that Rose wished to postpone the
execution of his purpose of resigning till the end of
the session, or about that time, yet I distinctly stated
to you, that if, from finding his health improved, or
from any other cause, he wished to rehnquish the idea of
resigning altogether, I was so far from having any idea
of taking him at his first word, and of catching at
his offer, that I was determined not to accept his
resignation at all, unless, upon his deliberate review of
the subject, he continued still to desire, for his own
sake, that it should take place.
" He may think it strange that I have not men-
tioned the subject to him since our first conversation.
I wish, therefore, you would tell him that I avoided
talking to him upon it purposely, because I thought
he would naturally feel himself much more at ease in
explaining himself fully through you than in a direct
communication with me."
Mr. Rose to Lord Bathdrst.
"Old Palace Yard, March 8th, 1812.
" My dear Lord,
" I found your letter, including Mr. Perceval's,
on my table when I came home from a late ride at
six o'clock, and had not time even to read the letter
attentively before I dressed for dinner. On the best
consideration that I can give it this evening, I have
reason to regret that anything should have induced
508 DIARIES AND CORUKSI'ONDKNCE OF
you to propose a incinoranduiii being made on tlie
subject of my resinriiation. I expressed tliat to you
yesterday, and it i.s my anxious rrtpiest to you now,
that the one you pre])ared may l)e burnt, as al)so-
hitelv useU'ss. I shall write to Mr. Perceval, to state
to him my wish to resign in an umjualified manner,
to put hiiii perfectly at ease, as to liis having sug-
gested it, which he never conveyed the remott st idea
of previously to the communication from nu^ through
you. The determination certainly origimitcd with
myself; with which, however, the state of my health,
as I admitted to you, had not nuich to do ; that having
been niucli improved within tlh- last few months.
1 think, from Mr. rcrceval's statement, ho iiHi.st have
mismiderstood you with respect to mv preferring to
defer my resignation to the end of the session, as
I had no wish to protract it, unless that should
be desirable to him ; which misconception you seem
to be aware <»f. If I could have accomplished the
object I alliuled to respecting naval j)rize-m()ney,
I should have liked to liave remained two or three
months lat»r ; but ditlicidties have since appeared to
me to be in the way of that, and I am desirous to be
set at liberty whenever it shall be convenient for
]\Ir. Perceval to make his arrangements ; not meaning,
nevertheless, to urge him to that inconveniently.
" I aiu, &c.
" I have written tliis letter in much haste, thinking
an early explanation due to Mr. Perceval ; but I can-
not close it without adding how deeply T feel your
THE RIGHT HON, GEORGE ROSE. 509
kindness towards me respecting what has passed
relative to my retiring, of which I shall retain a lasting
remembrance."
[The death of Mr. Perceval left his Government a
headless corpse, wherefore the Prince Regent gave
full authority to Lord Wellesley to form a new Ad-
ministration as best he might ; a task which he under-
took earnestly and with much disinterestedness : for
he required no office for himself, if that was the only
obstacle. And first, he proposed certain terras to the
now defunct Cabinet, which they rejected unanimously,
as contrary to their principles, though they were so
vaguely worded as might entrap many a conscience.
After this repulse Lord Wellesley betook himself to the
Whigs, and they seemed to have a very reasonable
prospect of returning once more to power ; but their
arbitrary temper, which insisted on interfering with
many of the household appointments, and their aversion
to coalesce wdth any whom they could not hold in sub-
jection, defeated every attempt. The Prince, there-
fore, had no option but to reanimate the late Cabinet
unconditionally, and to rely upon the support of the
country, which was disgusted by the haughty ambi-
tion of the Whigs. It was on this occasion that
Sheridan observed, they had built up a wall to knock
out their own brains against it. Lord Bathurst com-
municated a short summary of the negotiations to
Mr. Rose in the following letter. — Ed.]
mo diaries and coutiespondenck of
Lord Bathiiist to Mk. IIosk.
" Portiuan Square, May 21th.
" Dear Rose,
" Caiiniiipj called upon hovd Liverpool, l)y desire
of Lord Wellesley, to know if he, or any of tiic present
Administration were inclined to belong to the Admi-
nistration now formiiiL;? The basis of this new Ad-
ministration was stated to l)c, the taking into serious
and immediate consideration the Catholic claims, in
order to conic to a final and satisfactory arrangement
of them ; and to prosecute the war in the Peninsula
with the 6r.sf means of the country. You will observe
that each of these principh-s are conveniently lav in
the expression. The answer which we gave last night,
was, that all of us thought we were bound to decline,
csj)ecially after recent events, to accept the proposal
of belonging to an Administration to be formed Ij^
Lord irrlh'slry.
" Canning informed Lord Liverpool, that Tjord
Wellesley had made a similar proposal to Lord Moira,
and Lord Grey. There is, 1 understand, no conclu-
sion. I believe that Lord Wellesley has also seen
Lord Grenvillc. I should have added, that, in the
proposal made by Canning to Lord Livcrpo(^l, and in
that made to Lords Grey and Moira, it is stated that
with respect to offices, there is none claimed by Lord
Wellesley. I think the Opposition will take him at
his word.
" You are at full liberty to mention the whole of
this. " Y''ours, ever sincerely,
" Bathcrst."
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 51I
[The following letters between the First Lord of
the Admiralty and the Paymaster of the Navy reflect
so much credit upon them, not so much in their
private capacity as in the light of servants of the
Crown responsible to public opinion, that they alone
would justify the publication of this correspondence ;
because they show (of which English jealousy of
power is apt to be incredulous), that as much atten-
tion was paid (at least under a Conservative Admini-
stration) to the claims of the poorer and most power-
less members of the community, as to those w4io
enjoyed the greatest share of wealth and influence. —
Ed.]
Lord Melville to Mr. Rose.
[Private.^
"Admiralty, 15tli Sept. 1814.
" Dear Rose,
" I do not trouble you with the inclosed from
any special consideration of the particular case, but,
as a specimen for your information of a considerable
and increased number which I have of late received.
The circumstance may be accidental, and I have
little doubt that the several instances may be satis-
factorily accounted for ; but though this is undoubt-
edly the case in some of them, on their own showing,
yet there are many where the parties appear to have
done all that was required of them and to have been
left afterwards in ignorance (notwithstanding re-
peated applications) of the causes which prevented
their recovering what they conceived to be their dne.
512 DL\RIES ANU CUKULSI'ONDENCE OF
In an otlicc like yours, — in the business and corre-
spondence of which the meanest cottager in the king-
dom, and a multitude of them, may be personally in-
terested, — I know too well your general sentiments on
such matters not to be persuaded that you will agree
with me in thinking it fit aiul proper, even at some
moderate expense to the pid)lic, that satisfaction
should, if possible, be given to those classes of the
people, and that they should he nuide to feel that
their concerns are not neglected. I have no dou])t
that rrn/ neglect does not occur ; but it is very
desirable that there should not even be the appear-
ance of it.
" I have nothing further to add, except to apo-
logize for this intrusion ; but I thought it right to
state the matter for your information. On your return
to town, you will probably examine into the subject,
witli a view to ascertain whether in the inferior
branches of the Pay OtHce, which have the charge of
that correspondence, the business is conducted to
your own satisfaction.
" BeUeve me always yours most truly,
" Melville."
Mk. Rose to Lord Melville.
"Cuffnells, Sept. 18th, lbl4.
" My dear Lord,
" I receive your letter of the 15th, which did not
reach ine till yesterday (as I am quite sure it was meant)
as a mark of personal kindness and attention to me ; but
haviug assured you of that, with the most perfect sin-
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 513
cerity, I feel it indispensably necessary, in my own
vindication, to state to you the indefatigable pains I
have incessantly taken from almost the first day of my
entering on my office to give the fullest possible satis-
faction to the seamen in his Majesty's service, and to
the relations of those who have died in it.
" Very soon after my appointment to the Treasurer-
ship I sent to every parochial clergyman in England,
Scotland, and Ireland, to the number of 15,000 or
16,000, complete information of the steps necessary
to be taken by any of their parishioners who might
have, or who might suppose they had, claims to wages
or prize-money, due for the services of themselves or
of deceased relatives.
" I then gave the most positive orders, accompanied
by strong assurances of my severe displeasure if they
should not be complied with, for insuring early answers
to all applications; and finding these ineffectual, from
not knowing on whom individually to fix blame, wiiere
there was an appearance of neglect,! divided the alphabet
amongst the clerks in the inspection brand), assigning
to each certain letters in it, that I might know with
whom the responsibility rested, who should not perform
his duty. That has been followed up by mulcts (which
perhaps I had no right to impose) and reprimands. At
one time I had the whole branch into my room, and stated
to them, in the most impressive terms I could find
language to express myself in, my fixed determination
to dismiss the first person against whom a well-founded
complaint should be made; on which I had remon-
strances for having disgraced the branch.
VOL. II. L L
oil DIAIUES ANlJ CUKilLSPUNDENCJi OF
"I can say, with coufiilcnce, that there is not a
man in existence who feels a more lively anxiety to
do what is retiuired of him in any department, than I
do to give the most entire satisfaction to the otticers
and seamen in the navy, in order to which 1 have not
confined mvsclf to official orders and regulations, but
have given up a very large portion of my time at
home for the attainment of that ohjcct. Not a letter
is addressed to me, either to Palace Yard or here — of
which there are hundreds in a year— that is not answered
by myself, in my own writing ; and when personal
applications are made at either, which are numerous,
the parties never go from my door without my
seeinu: them, and verv seldom without money ; in many
instances sufficient to carry them home when they have
unnecessarily come from a distance. My servants
have general orders, never, under any ])ressure of
business, to refuse admittance to seamen or their rela-
tives ; or, indeed, to any poor incpiiring j)erson. I
have, sometimes, picked up stragglers in the country
and maintained them till I could ascertain whether I
could be useful to them, either in getting them prize-
money or obtaining admission for them into Greenwich
Hospital, of which the Secretary, but more especially
the Clerk of the Cherpie of the Royal Hospital, can
atl'ord ample testimony. In short, officially and pri-
vately, I have left nothing undone that I thought could
contribute to the advantage or the protection of the
seamen ; and 1 am not without a hope that justice is
done to me by every officer in the navy with whom I
have had correspondence. T have, by the aid of a law
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 515
I brought in, punished frauds of every description
practised upon the seamen, even in cases where only
larger prices have been exacted than ought to have
been for articles sold to them.
" I will make no invidious comparison wdth what has
been done in former Trcasurerships to satisfy those
who have irresistible claims on the person holding my
office ; and I should think it contemptibly ostentatious
to refer gratuitously to my own exertions. It is purely
to persuade your Lordship, if I can, that I have per-
formed my duty most zealously and conscientiously. I
know your partiality to me leads you to think I have
not intentionally neglected anything on the subject of
your letter, but I am desirous of convincing you that
all that is possible has been done, unless the appoint-
ment of a clerk to be at the elbow of the Paymaster to
assist him, overloaded as he is with his business, can
be found useful. You are aware that a measure is
now in progress, with the approbation of your Board,
for giving satisfactory information to persons in Ire-
land, and to prevent their ever having the trouble,
or being put to the expense, of repairing to London for
it, which will be attended with a saving to myself, as
well as advantage to them. With a view to assisting
them, I had become a member of a new institution for
the relief of the poor Irish.
" The cases which have been sent from the Admiralty
have invariably been investigated under my own care,
and to the best of my recollection there was not one
where I found just ground for blame. In some in-
stances reports were made to their Lordships ; but
L L 2
51 n DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
latterly that was omitted, under an iinj)rc'ssi(jn that
reliance could be placed' on my attention. I shall,
however, not have the slightest objection to a special
report being made on each reference if that should be
desired.
" I know that complaints of neglect in my office
have been so frequent as to obtain some degree of
credit. I will, therefore, certainly transmit to your
Board all the proceedings I have had on the subject,
without any reference to your private letter ; and I wish
my doing so may lead to my receiving assistance from
any quarter, which I should be heartily thankful for.
I am under one ditliculty, no light one, which I fear
you caimot relieve me from.
" I have only to add, that if I could conceive it pos-
sible that my going to London would have a chance
of enabling me to devise further means for eti'ecting
the object 1 have so anxiously endeavoured to obtain,
I should think myself utterly unjustifiable if 1 were to
remain here eicrht-and-fortv hours. While here I am
far from being idle, for hardly a day passes in which
I am not in correspondence with the Paymaster, about
whom I have written you a separate letter of this
date."
The E.vri. of Walsingu.vm to Mr. Rose.
" Staines, Nov. 12tb, 1»14.
" My dear Sir,
" Nothing can be more obliging than your letter
to me upon signing the address of the House of Lords,
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 517
or more friendly than the sentiments expressed by
yourself upon the occasion.
" What are the merits that would not be more than
amply rewarded by such an address? Indeed, I know
no instance where our indulgent masters have signified
their kind and flattering approbation in lessons which
should make a more deep impression upon a grateful
and feeling mind.
" The unanimity which I have always experienced
from the House, is indeed, as you say, not only con-
soling to myself, but most encouraging to my successor,
who, I am sure, will deserve and obtain the confidence
of the House.
" I am much obliged to you for your good wishes
respecting my health. 1 suffer nothing from pain
when I keep clear of gout ; bat I fear I cannot
expect to recover the use of my limbs.
" Believe me, my dear Sir,
" Most truly, yours,
" Walsingham."
1815, 181G, 1817.
[During these three years, Ur. Rose's activity was
subsiding into the grave. Still there were some
points of policy in the administration of our domes-
tic affairs which gave him so much disquietude,
that he thought it his duty to remonstrate. The
proposed alteration in the corn laws, and the question
AlS hi VKIKS AM) ( OiUCl.si'ONDENCK OF
of partiiipj witli tlio |)r()[)«rty-tax, gasc imirli occupa-
tion to his thoughts ; and his remarks were thaiikl'uliy
acknowlcdgrd l)y liord Iii\erpool. On these two
topics he spoke in Parhanient, and printed Ids
speeches ; tVoni wliich it appears, tliat on tlie first of
them lie was on tlie poj)uhir side, not in the sense in
which it would now he understood . fne trade m
corn was a thing of winch nobody then dreamed.
Rut he was opposed to a very nnwist- attempt made
by the landowners to obtain extravagantly high
prices. The people of Southampton petitioned him
to oj)pose that project ; and as he considered himself
the locum Imom of his son, the rcpreM-ntative of that
l)orough, who was then our andmssador at ]J«rlin, he
readily consented to their wish. He hehl that the
grower of corn should be very cflfectually protected to
the extent of tlie price bein? high enough to insure
liis being able to pay a fair rent, and to have a
reasonable protit for himself; but when that should
be secured, the consumer should then have every
possible facility of supply at a price not exceeding
the protecting one. The same sentiments, which
in those days were very liberal, he rej)eale(l in a
letter to Mr. C'urwen, and concluded with a few
remarks upon a subject which is now exciting much
attention.
" I have long," he says, " thought ^ith you, that it
would be most desirable to ascertain the quantity of
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 519
provisions raised within the kingdom, but I have
never been able to devise any possible means of
attaining that object ; and I am perfectly aware that
the mode suggested by you is not a practicable one.
If there was in the clergy a more ready disposition to
be active in matters out of the immediate line of their
duty, than after repeated experience 1 have found in
part of them, there would still be a powerful difficulty
in the w^ay of your plan. I mean the utter hope-
lessness of the farmers giving to the clergy a true
account of the various articles of produce raised by
them, for reasons too obvious for me to enter into any
details."
Mr. Curwen's plan of turning the clergy into clerks
of the Treasury employed in collecting agricultural
statistics, and the rejection of that plan, not on
account of its impropriety, but its inefficiency, are
remarkable proofs of the disposition prevalent at that
time to view the clergy of the Established Church as
servants of the State, rather than as servants of a
hioher jMaster, and to exact secular services from
them inconsistent with their spiritual functions. And
in this case nothing could have been devised more
likely to engender suspicion and dislike towards
them in the minds of their agricultural parishioners.
On the other subject, Mr. Rose was not on the popular
side, for he was in favom* of the property-tax. He held,
what many still hold, that if it could be made less
vexatious on some points, it would be the fairest, the
cheapest, and the most productive of all taxes.
520 DIAUIKS AND COUUESPONDKNCK OF
Writing on this subject tt) Lord Liverpool, he says :
— " I ciiii wish nothing more iirdently than tliat 1
may prove to be mistaken in tlie opinion I have
stated respecting the iiiipracticabihty of I'nuHng pro-
ductive taxes to an amount ecpial to one half of tliat
on property. I will oidy say now that 1 could not
have thought myself justified in expressing that to
you \vithout having previously considered most de-
Hberatciy every article of consumption su])ject to
duties of excise and customs, and also the other
sources of revenue; to some of wliich large ailditions
nuiy certaiidy be made. Li the event of these proving
moni vexatious ti) individuals than the property-tax,
they may be truly told tliey liave made their choice.
My apprehension is that the present revenue, even in
the assessed taxes least of all liable to evasion, may
be injured to a wry great amount by increase."
Jjord Liverjiool's answer to this remonstrance, shows
how the cool judgment of the veteran Secretary to
the Treasury, who had devoted his life to questions
of tinancc, failed to move those who bore the resj)on-
sibility of confronting the ignorant impatience of
taxation in Parliament, and were constrained to act
contrary to their own judgment by a force superior to
their own — the force of public opinion. — Ed.]
Loud Liverpool to >rK. Rosk.
"My DE.\R Sir, "Fife House, id Feb. 1815.
" I am much oblijjed to vou for vour letter,
which I received yesterday. I will fairly own to you
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 521
that I believe it will be the deterininatioii of Govern-
ment not to press the renewal of the property-tax.
In the present state of the public mind on that
question, I very much doubt whether it could be
carried with any modifications. But I am quite con-
fident that there woidd be no end of the difficulties in
which we should involve ourselves by any attempt,
under present circumstances, to modify this tax ; and
that it is far better to get rid of it altogether, and to
look to it as a resource hereafter, in case an exigency
should arise which might render it desirable to resort to
it, than to attempt to new model it at present, with all
the prejudice which unfortunately exists against it.
If we could have preserved it as it now stands for
one year, at ten per cent., or for three or four years
at five per cent., it would have been a great relief to
our financial system.
" I am, with great truth, my dear Sir,
" Yours very faithfully,
" Liverpool."
[The following extract of a humourous letter from
Sir William Grant must not be omitted, written after
the thanks of the House of Commons had been voted
to him for the distinguished ability with which he
had discharged his office, and when the English of
every grade in society were flocking over to Paris,
after the peace of 1815. — Ed.]
52*J DIAIUES AND CORKtSPONDENCl!: OF
Sir William Gkant to Mr. Kosk.
"Lomlon, IGth Nov. 1815.
" My dkar Sir,
" The thanks of the House came upon nic very
niucli l)y surprise, and I have not yet ceased inarvel-
\\n<^ how T, ulio ouf^lit naturally to have heen the
thankr/-, should have to sustain the eharacter of the
tiiankd'^'. However, if to have experienced a {^rcat
deal of liospitality, and carried away a great deal of
health, ho merits, mine an- certainly considerable ;
and if thanks be due to such desert, I >hall be always
very well disposed to earn and receive them.
" In the legal world I find little that is new, unless
it mav be so reckoned that three or four of our
.Masters in Chancerv have l)een at l*aris. .Ii kvll says
that when the Duke of \\ ellington discovered them,
he took them for anti([ues stolen from England, and
insisted on having them cased uj), and sent back at
the time of the general emballa(j/e. This accounts for
the concern the English troops took in the business.
Chambre, it is said, is about to retire. Heath,
now eighty-four, says that some years hence lie shall
probably do the same.
" I remain, my dear Sir, most truly yours,
" W. Grant."
[On the 1 3th of January, ISIS, Mr. Rose died at
Cuffnellj, HI the seventy-fourth year of his age ; and
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 523
his death was notified by Lord Castlereagh to his son
at Berhn, in the following very kind and considerate
letter. — Ed.]
Lord Castlereagh to Sir George Rose.
" My dear Sir, "London, 16th Jan. 1818.
" Although the advanced age at which your
father had arrived, and the visible shock which his
health had sustained in the course of last year, must
have prepared your mind for the melancholy event of
which the present messenger will be the bearer, yet
I know how deeply you will feel the loss of a father
whom you valued so much. It must be no small
consolation to you, however, to know that you will
not have to grieve alone, but that the public generally,
and many, many friends, amongst whom I beg very
sincerely to be ranked, will long continue to regard
his loss.
" The letters which I transmit from Cuffnells will
no doubt convey to you all the particulars of your
father's last moments, and as I am sure your imme-
diate presence in England must be necessary, both for
the relief of your personal feelings and for the arrange-
ment of your family affairs, I lose no time in despatch-
ing a messenger to apprize you of this much to be
lamented event, and to convey to you the necessary
authority for coming to England, leaving the mission
in Mr. Douglas's charge.
" With a very cordial participation in the affliction
521 DIARIKS AND CORRESPONDENCE OP
which vou will uxpcriiiici', hilievc iiic, inv dear Sir
with sincere regard,
" Ever most faitlifnlly v^^Hra,
" CASTLEREAfWI."
[Having now followed Mr. Koso from his cradle tn
his tonil), through the scanty memorials whicli lie lias
hit heliind, kt us mix for a hrief sj)ace with the
mourners who regretted the loss of the useful and
distinguished character who had just passed away
from the stage of life. 1 1 is contemporaries were the
best judges of Ins \alue, and they liave added their
testimony to that of the iiigh-minded statesman which
has just been given. A writer in the Hampshire
newsj)aper of that year speaks of him in these terms —
" As an old and respected inhabitant of this county, we
are called to speak of him as a private man. The lists
of subscribers to the patriotic and charitable institu-
tions of the county are the best proofs of his benevo-
lence, which prompted him to be always ready to
contribute to them ; and his unostcntiUious and
unobtrusive interference wherever he could be useful
proved the urbanity of his manners and the sincerity of
his feelings. His whole life was active, laborious, and
useful, and his death will be greatlv felt and regretted.
In his will he left lOs. to every man attending divine
service either at Lvndhurst or at Christ Church on
m
the Sunday after his funeral, who was poor enough to
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 525
accept of it. We must not omit the high satisfaction
with which he declares that his children never gave
him an hour's pain." Another writer portrays his cha-
racter most correctly. " It was he who first conceived
the idea of putting down smuggling, and improving
the income of the state by decreasing the amount of
duties exacted at the Custom House. . . . His love
of order, his attention to details, his regularity and
sober habits extended from the Treasury to the Long-
room ; and all the public boards were kept on the
alert by his vigilance and industry. ... As a man
of business he was indefatigable, being both early and
late at his desk, and consequently an invaluable
acquisition to any Administration. While other mem-
bers of the Cabinet retired to enjoy their pleasures,
he withdrew to his office, where he arranged and pre-
pared everything for the succeeding days. No man
of his time was more intimately acquainted with the
trade and manufactures of this country, the assistance
which they wanted from the state, or the resources
which might be derived from them in return. As a
Member of Parliament he proved highly serviceable to
the public on a variety of occasions. In him the new
and excellent system of Savings' Banks found an
active friend and patron ; he placed the property of
Friendly Societies under the protection of the laws ;
he produced an enumeration of the inhabitants of the
island, and thus demonstrated the immense increase
of our population. ... As a writer he did not aim
i')'2() DIARIKS AND COKJIKSIMJNDENCK OF
at l)eing decant or refititcl ; but on the other liaiul.
he was accurate and able, althougli somewhat vohiini-
nous. . . . On the subjects of revenue, commerce,
and finance, he was a decickd optimist. No gloomy
predictions are to be found in any uf his numerous
pamphlets. ... In the worst of times he was
accustomed to felicitate the nation on the flourishing
situation of our commerce and tinances. Nor was he
ever at a loss to reply to those who constantlv
augured disnuiy, ruin, and destruction from long and
expensive wars. His speeches, like his writings,
although somewhat ditline, were aj)pro|M*iatc and
pcculiiu' to himself; they were unadorned with any
tropes or similes; he never afi'ected the hulicrous or
satirical ; he never exhibited the sallies of a lively
imagiiuition ; he never daz/.led his auditors by any
sudden and unexpected burst of elo(iuence. But if
cold, he was correct ; if monotonous, deep ; and if
sometimes prolix, he was generally clear, unem-
barrassed, and comprehensible. Thus, while many of
his orations smelt of the lamp, and were the sole j)ro-
duce of otticial intercourse and calculation, they at
least displayed great accuracy and correctness, and aa
they were usually supported by whole columns of
ti^ures, it was no easv matter to overcome his calcu-
lations, or set his arithmetic at detiance." '
It will no doubt occur to every serious reader,
that eulogy is sadly imperfect in which all mention of
' Gentleman's Magazine for 1811). p. 529.
THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. 527
religion is omitted. Mr. Rose was not disposed to
make a parade of his Christianity any more than of
his charity ; but there is much incidental evidence,
not only that he observed the ordinances of religion
himself, but that he was anxious to impart the know-
ledge of it to others. He took an active part in the
formation of the Westminster Auxiliary Bible Society,
and was enrolled amongst the vice-presidents of the
Hampshire Bible Society, in virtue of which office he
presided at the formation of a Branch Society at
Southampton.
THE END.
H. Cr.AY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.
UNIVERSITY (>I ( VLIFORNIA LIBKARV
Los A littles
This book is DUE on the la»t date stanii>cd below.
'iPfi
HECE\
,^ MAIN LOAN
^ E D
DESK
NOV 2 V.
Jo4
A.M.
7|oi9lip'Mimi
p.ti
I2I3I4I6I6
k
.^
;
& M4Y2 9'/.
•MAY 3 1 ]^/'c
Fo
> M4
-l'^'^^r^^ ,,,
>k'"^/?
• ^ ^ » » - «'-•
^^^<
:3C!^ir
^Z^^'yn
Illlllilliliillilill
3 1158 01099 0546
?^^A^'
^^'s^^aI
■^^^f^
.>^^M^
:^ ^'<&
,if>fy^.
[t^hf)
■^-^^..,
>J^^Ai.i^^^^
'/'•■'^-
■«A<S\rt.,
•?->>t5*^A
'M^^^^^^
'^^>>^.*Ak'*
^^i^'^wiii
«1
-'^^^:
^ '>;#
l|/(llS/ffii!S'0~^LL/BRARy
'FACILITY
AA 000 427 467
"b5««''?'^>'