of Bedford wish to come into employment? Rigby spoke of Mr. Pitt. Does he or does the Duke of Bedford know anything of Mr. Pitt's inclinations? I write this very much from my [][1] but be assured that no time should be lost in taking some resolution, or knowing these things with some precision, and though I cannot give it to your Lordship, as anything else but my own opinion, yet I flatter myself from the confidence in that on former occasions, you will believe that I would not offer it to you if it was ungrounded."[2]
Gower replied: "There is no person, I hope and believe, wishes more to see the King relieved from his present difficulties, and to see this country settled upon a plan of solidity, than your humble servant, nor will anybody be more ready to give his assistance to the completion of it. Calcraft will give your Lordship an account of what state the matter you entrusted him with is in, and what methods have been taken to sound the parties. The only thing worth observation at Court to-day, was an audience which Lord Chief Justice Mansfield had previous to the levée, and which lasted above an hour."[3]
It soon appeared that Bedford was willing to join with Gower in entering the Ministry. He still however made one condition. It was the banishment of Bute, not only from the royal closet, but even from London. The negotiations in consequence came to a stand-still, for Bute was not yet prepared to suffer so great an indignity at the bidding of his former colleague. This determination on the part of Bute had other consequences. Bedford, in an interview with the King, had led him to suppose on the authority of Bute himself, that it was the intention of the latter to retire from London, as well as from active interference in business. Nothing was further from Bute's intention. Considering that the message from Bute had been originally given to Shelburne, who had confided it to Calcraft, who had passed it on to Rigby, who had given
