not send you details of removals* and preferments, that were the mere business of taking possession, and which affect individuals, not the public, and consequently not you. Since their first entry, the most notifiable event, of that sort too, was the disposition of the Garters, given to one of the Princes, to the Dukes of Richmond and Devonshire, and to Lord Shelburne; the last a little unprecedented, as he is but a recent Irish Earl, and a more recent English Baron. The King had unaccountably reserved four-certainly, not on purpose for the three persons last named! Lord Ashburnham, to whom one had been promised, and who was still more unaccountably saved, as Groom of the Stole, by his Majesty, with the Duke of Montagu, when the new Regents left him the choice of two for mercy, has resigned in dudgeon, and not very gratefully; as two garters had certainly not been left to the King's nomination. The late success of Admiral Barringtont against the equipment from Brest is more substantial gilding, and illustrates the dawn of the new system. I wish I saw any symptoms of peace.

had come into office, they had found many more instances of the shameful neglect and mismanagement of the late Ministers even than they had suspected; such instances of mismanagement, as would render public inquiries on the subject necessary."ED.

* In consequence of the political revolution which had taken place, the Drawingroom at St. James's underwent a considerable alteration in its appearance. The Earl of Hertford, who had held the white wand of Chamberlain for more than fifteen years, and whose presence in the circle seemed almost essential to its existence, was succeeded by the duke of Manchester; and Lord Effingham became Treasurer of the Household, in the place of Lord Salisbury; but no removal was more regretted by the King than that of Lord Bateman, who had held, during many years, the post of Master of the Buck-hounds. On the subject of these re movals, Hannah More wrote thus: "It has affected me very much to hear of our King's being constrained to part with all his confidential friends, and his own personal servants, in the late general sweep. Out of a hundred stories, I will only tell you one which concerns your old acquaintance Lord Bateman: he went to the King, as usual, over-night, to ask if his Majesty would please to hunt the next day; 'Yes, my Lord,' replied the King, but I find, with great grief, that I am not to have the satisfaction of your company.' This was the first intimation he had of the loss of his place." Life, vol. i. p. 251.-ED.

.

† Lord Keppel's appointment, as First Lord of the Admiralty, infused a new spirit into the navy; and several distinguished officers, who had been excluded from employment, were immediately restored to the service. On the 13th of April, Admiral the Honourable Samuel Barrington hoisted his flag on board the Britannia, a first-rate, in which he was despatched with a squadron to intercept a French fleet bound to the East Indies. Of these, the ships under his command succeeded in capturing eleven out of eighteen transports, and the Pégase and l'Actionnaire, men-of-war of seventy-four guns and seven hundred men. The Pégase was engaged and captured by the gallant Captain Jervis, afterwards Earl St. Vincent; who was separated from his companions by a fog. He came up with her at one o'clock at night, and, after a close engagement of three quarters of an hour, compelled her to strike. In his report to the Admiralty of this action, Admiral Barrington said, “ My pen is not equal to the praise due to the good conduct, bravery, and discipline of Captain Jervis, his officers and seamen, on this occasion. Let his own modest narrative speak for itself." The Admiral also, in relating to a friend the result of the squadron's cruize, thus wrote: "But the Pégase is every

Reformation is begun, and is decorated with the King's name, who has given up many employments in the Court and its purlieus. Other popular bills, that aim at ransoming the House of Commons from its late servility to the Crown, do not pass so glibly. The Chancellor resists them tooth and nail in the other House,† and it is supposed, will not want support from his former associates in due time, nor perhaps from some of his new. These hints will prevent your surprise, should the new machine receive any jolt. There is another public business on the carpet, not connected with politics, that is no small one. Sir Thomas Rumbold, a Nabob, swelled from nothing to a million, is likely to be obliged to disgorge.

A much more important, Ireland, is yet unsettled. It must be settled, and to their own liking. These outlines will help you to a clue through the newspapers-I pretend to no more.

One of the Duchess of Gloucester's daughters is married; the ceremony took place this morning. I am just come from Lady Laura's wedding with her cousin, Lord Chewton, at Gloucester House. The Duke himself gave her away. I am returning thither for the Court at night, when the Duchess receives compliments: but the married pair are gone out of town, though it is the depth of winter. Never was there such a spring! After deluges of rain, we have had an east wind that has half-starved London; as a fleet of colliers can

thing, and does the highest honour to Jervis. What a noble creature! were we all like him, what might not be our expectations! Is it not surprising that he should take a ship of equal force, without losing a man? He, poor fellow, has got an honourable mark above his eye, which I conceive will be of no bad consequence, rather the reverse; for as a man of middle age, it may make his fortune. The fair honour the brave, and we suppose, delight in kissing the honourable mark." See the interesting and very valuable Memoirs of Earl St. Vincent, by J. S. Tucker, Esq., vol. i. p. 74.-ED.

* The great plan of reform and economy in the Civil List expenditure was again brought forward by Mr. Burke, now become Paymaster of the Forces, and introduced to the House of Commons, on the 15th of April, by a message from the King, recommending "the consideration of an effectual plan of economy through all the branches of the public expenditure, and stating that he had taken into his actual consideration a reform and regulation in his Civil expenditure, which he would shortly cause to be laid before the House." The address thereon was moved by Mr. Burke; who, in the beginning of May, brought in his celebrated Bill to carry into a law the retrenchments which his Majesty proposed to make in the Royal Household.-ED.

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Two bills, one to prevent Contractors from sitting in Parliament, and the other for excluding Officers of the Excise and Customs from voting at Elections, were speedily carried through the House of Commons; but in their passage through the Lords, they experienced opposition from the Chancellor, as well as from Lords Mansfield and Loughborough. Thurlow," says Wraxall," while holding in his hand the Great Seal, and in his own person a member of the Cabinet, expressed, with that gloomy indignation which characterized his style of speaking, the disapprobation that he felt at such inroads on the Majesty of the Crown as well as on the franchises of the subject. Unawed by the appearance of Fox and Burke, who, to show the interest they took in their success, usually appeared on the steps of the Throne while the bills were debating, the Chancellor animadverted upon them with the utmost severity, and divided in the minority."-ED.

George Waldegrave, eldest son of John, third Earl of Waldegrave; whom he succeeded in the title in 1784.

not get in. Coals were sold yesterday at seven guineas a chaldron; nor is there an entire leaf yet on any tree. Yet I can prove it is past the first of May by a bon-mot of George Selwyn that is much in fashion. He called on me that morning (the day the milk-maids and chimney-sweepers dance about with garlands :) "We have heard so much lately," said he," of the Majesty of the People, that, meeting the chimney-sweepers with their crowns of gilt paper, I suppose they are taken for the Princess of the People, and that this day is a Collarday."

When are you to have the Pope returned on your hands? I hear the Emperor walled up every door but one of the palace in which he is lodged, and set guards at it.

Your last is of April the 13th. You had not then heard of the Revolution, but was still talking of Minorca; which was totally absorbed in the late change, and has not emerged since, nor do I think it will, at least not from want of matter. Such a revulsion as the late one may stun; it does not compose. Virtue and reformation may give the new Ministers some momentary popularity, but it will not be equally durable with the resentment of the displaced and the cashiered; nor do I take the late crew to be so punctilious as the late Opposition: nor is the nation so very virtuously disposed, as to be genuine admirers of reformation. People must be wondrously changed, if they vote as readily from esteem as they used to do for pay. Esteem is no principle of union. When men are paid, they must vote for what they are bidden to vote. They will have a thousand vagaries when at liberty to vote for what they fancy right or not. The Ministers† must continually

*The following is Hannah More's version of George's bon-mot: "Lord Pembroke came in laughing; I asked what diverted him. He told me he had met George Selwyn, who found himself very much annoyed in the street, with chimney. sweeping boys; they were very clamorous; surrounded, daubed, and persecuted him; in short, they would not let him go, till they had forced money from him: at length he made them a low bow, and cried, Gentlemen, I have often heard of the Majesty of the People; I presume your Highnesses are in Court mourning.'' Life, vol. i. p. 254.-ED.

The state of the Rockingham Administration in May 1782, is thus described by Nicholls: "The Cabinet was composed of eleven: five Rockinghams, five Shelburnes, the King retaining one, viz. Lord Thurlow. Every man saw that such a Cabinet was formed for contention, and that it could not long hold together. Every day brought forth new proof of the hatred of the parties to each other. The Rockinghams every where abuse Lord Shelburne for want of good-faith. The reply of the Shelburnes was, that they were noways pledged to Lord Rockingham. If any man applied to Lord Rockingham for an employment, and failed to obtain it, he had but to signify this the next day to the Earl of Shelburne, who immediately got the place for him. On the other hand, if a man went first to the Earl of Shelburne, his answer was You should not apply to me, I am not the Minister: Lord Rockingham is the Minister; he is the man to whom you should apply.' I had an acquaintance who succeeded with both of them: it was Humphrey Sturt, the Member for Dorsetshire. He applied to Lord Rockingham for a writership, in Bengal, for a younger Lord Rockingham answered, After the support you have uniformly given us, Mr. Sturt, you certainly are entitled to ask for such a favour; you shall have it.' A few days after, Mr. Sturt met the Earl of Shelburne riding in the Park. Why, Sturt,' said the Earl, how could you think of applying to the Marquis of

son.

propose or support popular questions, or even yield to those who are running races of popularity with them; while the advocates for prerogative are crying out against inroads made on it. All this, I have no doubt, will happen, unless some master-genius gains the ascendant. Mr. Fox alone seems to be such a man. He already shines as greatly in place as he did in opposition, though infinitely more difficult a task. He is now as indefatigable as he was idle. He has perfect temper, and not on only good-humour but good-nature; and, which is the first quality in a Prime Minister in a free country, has more common sense than any man, with amazing parts, that are neither ostentatious nor affected. Lord North had wit and good-humour, but neither temper, nor feeling, nor activity, nor good-breeding. Lord Chatham was a blazing meteor that scattered war with success, but sunk to nothing in peace. Perhaps I am partial to Charles Fox, because he resembles my father in good-sense-I wish he had his excellent constitution too; yet his application to business may preserve his life, which his former dissipation constantly endangered. Another advantage we have is in Mr. Conway's being at the head of the Army. With him no body stands in competition. His military knowledge is unquestionably without a rival. His predecessor, Lord Amherst, was as much below all rivals. There is no word for him but downright stupidity. Had five thousand French landed while he commanded, he was totally incapable of preparing or putting in motion the least opposition. I could tell you facts that would not be believed, though known to every ensign in the army. The Fleet will now be united, and want none of its best officers. Lord Sandwich, though certainly a man of abilities, was grown obstinate, peevish, intractable, and was not born for great actions. He loved subtlety and tricks and indirect paths, qualities repugnant to genius. Still, I conclude, as I used to do before the change,

6

Rockingham for a writership for your son? I thought it would suit you, and I kept a Bengal writership for you.' My Lord, I have another younger son; give me your writership for him.' Lord Shelburne could not disengage himself from this voluntary offer, and Humphrey Sturt got both the writerships." Recollections, p. 46.-ED.

*This session," says Nicholls, in his Recollections," was the glorious campaign of Charles Fox; his health was entire, his troops followed him with confi dence; he felt that he was gaining ground on every debate,

'His spirit lent a fire

E'en to the meanest peasant in the camp.'

I still retain the remembrance of the pleasure which I experienced from the events of that session; and, whatever mistakes Charles Fox might afterwards make, the service he did his country at that time can never be forgotten. His exertions terminated the contest: had it been continued much longer, the country must have sunk." Speaking of Mr. Fox in the following year, Mr. Burke said, "He has faults; but they are faults that, though they may in a small degree tarnish the lustre and sometimes impede the march of his abilities, have nothing in them to extinguish the fire of great virtues. In those faults there is no mixture of deceit, of hypocrisy, of pride, of ferocity, of complexioned despotism, or want of feeling for the distresses of mankind."-ED.

let us have peace! We certainly are so far nearer to it, that these Ministers will leave nothing vigorous unattempted while the war lasts. The last neither thought of peace, nor took one proper step towards success in the war. The nation must have been utterly undone, had they remained a year longer in power. They thought their power secure, and really cared about nothing else; and many of them and all their tools and creatures wished for, and talked for, arbitrary power, as a cempensation for all our misfortunes and disgraces. Indeed, I tell you the truth. I have seen it and known it long, and have not the smallest private interest in my opinions. From my father's death to my own it will be evident, that I never received a favour for myself from any other Minister of whatever party.

LETTER CCCLXXVI.

Berkeley Square, May 18, 1782.

FORTUNE'S Weathercock has changed once more in our favour; we were drowning, but now ride again in triumph through the streets of our capital, the Ocean. Two days ago we learnt the conquest of the principal Dutch settlement-on Ceylon; and, as we have not many tributary monarchs left, I suppose, shall bully that Emperor, like our predecessors. We expect to be up to the ears in rubies, elephants, cinnamon and pepper. However, as the House of Commons has at last had the decency to call some of our abominable Nabobs to account, and are going to squeeze Sir Thomas Rumbold's sacks of diamonds, and rupees, it is to be hoped that the poor Ceylonists will be plundered less impudently. I am partial to them, having been intimate with them as the isle of Serendep, from the days of the Arabian Nights.

But riches and cinnamon are baubles in comparison of glory. Today we hear that Sir George Rodney has defeated-ay, and takenMonsieur de Grasse in his own ship, La Ville de Paris, of a hundred and ten guns, three others of seventy-four, one of sixty-four, and sunk another of the line. We have lost three hundred, have seven

* On the 11th of January, the Dutch forts and settlements of Trincomale in the island of Ceylon, celebrated for its produce of the cinnamon-tree, were taken possession of by the combined forces, under the command of Sir Edward Hughes and General Sir Hector Monro.-ED.

On the 18th of May, the country was thrown into a delirium of joy, by receiving the intelligence of Admiral Rodney's victory over Count de Grasse, on the 12th of April. The scene of action lay between the islands of Gaudaloupe, Dominique, the Saints, and Marigalante; and bounded both to windward and leeward by very dangerous shores. The battle commenced about seven in the morning, and was continued with unremitting fury until near the same hour in the evening. Thirty-six chests of money, destined to the pay and subsistence of the troops in the designed invasion of Jamaica, were found in the Ville de Paris; a ship remarkable for her size and beauty, and which had been a present from the City of Paris to Louis XV. in that fallen state of the French marine which prevailed towards the close of the VOL. II.-21