Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/280

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254
WILLIAM, EARL OF SHELBURNE
CH. VII

not followed by any remarkable division. The last was upon the question of adjournment. I had no idea that my conduct in the House of Lords could be remembered beyond the day; but the next day Lord Rockingham sent Sir Jeffrey Amherst to Colonel Barré, and yesterday sent Mr. Dunning to Colonel Barré and to me, with a great many flattering expressions in regard to Tuesday; and in short, what I am almost ashamed to relate, that if I choose to make a part of the present system, he thought he could answer any opening would be made that I could wish, and that Colonel Barr should have rank in the army or anything else added to the Vice-Treasurership, which had been offered him some time since. My answer was very short and very frank: that, independent of my connection, I was convinced, from my opinion of the state of the Court as well as the state of affairs everywhere, no system could be formed, durable and respectable, if Mr. Pitt could not be prevailed on to direct and head it.

"This produced a certain degree of communication on that head, in which Lord Rockingham expressed himself certain of Mr. Pitt's good wishes, and that they were most ready to be disposed of as he pleased, mixed, however, with a great apprehension in consequence of second-hand accounts and anecdotes, which I do not think worth troubling Mr. Pitt with; and a great embarrassment as to the manner of application to Colonel Barre, who returned a still more explicit answer to the same purpose.

"You will not think I have much merit in this conduct when I add that I am astonished at their infatuation in being persuaded, as they appear to be, of the confidence of the Court, notwithstanding a very particular conduct in Lord Bute, and a party constantly pervading it, of Lord Egremont, Lord Chancellor, Charles Townshend, Lord George Sackville, Sir Fletcher Norton, &c., ready at a moment's warning, to embrace any system.

"'Tis you, Sir, alone, in everybody's opinion, can put an end to this anarchy, if anything can.

"I am satisfied your own judgment will best point out the time when you can do it with most effect. You