(250) During Lord Granby’s absence from the army in Flanders, the command in chief had devolved on Mr. Conway.

(251) The affair of Bucker-Muhl.

(252) On this subject, Sir Joseph Yorke, in a letter to Mr. Michell of the 9th of October, Observes, “All the world is struck with the noble capture of the Havannah, which fell into our hands on the Prince of Wales’s birthday, as a just punishment upon the Spaniards for their unjust quarrel with us, and for the supposed difficulties they have raised in the negotiation for peace.  By what I hear from Paris, my old acquaintance Grimaldi is the cause of the delay in signing the preliminaries, insisting upon points neither France nor England would ever consent to grant, such as the liberty of fishing at Newfoundland; a point we should not dare to yield, as Mr. Pitt told them, though they were masters of the Tower of London.  What effect the taking of the Havannah will have is uncertain; for the Spaniards have nothing to give us in return."-E.

Letter 140 To George Montagu, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, Oct 14, 1762. (page 197)

You will not make your fortune in the admiralty at least; your King’s cousin is to cross over and figure in with George Grenville; the latter takes the admiralty, Lord Halifax the seals—­still, I believe, reserving Ireland for pocket-money; at least no new viceroy is named. mr.  Fox undertakes the House of Commons—­and the peace—­and the war—­for if we have the first, we may be pretty sure of the second.(253)

you see Lord Bute totters; reduced to shift hands so often, it does not look like much stability.  The campaign at Westminster will be warm.  When Mr. Pitt can have such a mouthful as Lord Bute, Mr. Fox, and the peace, I do not think three thousand pounds a year will stop it.  Well, I shall go into my old corner under the window, and laugh I had rather sit by my fire here; but if there are to be bull-feasts, one would go and see them, when one has a convenient box for nothing, and is very indifferent about the cavalier combatants.  Adieu!

(253) In a letter to Mr. Pitt, of this day’s date, Mr. Nuthall gives the ex-minister the following account of these changes:- -"Mr. Fox kissed hands yesterday, as one of the cabinet; Lord Halifax, as secretary of state, and Mr. George Grenville, as first lord of the admiralty.  Mr. Fox’s present state of health, it was given out, would not permit him to take the seals.  Charles Townshend was early yesterday morning sent for by Lord Bute, who opened to him this new system, and offered him the secretaryship of the plantations and board of trade, which he not only refused, but refused all connexion and intercourse whatever with the new counsellor, and spoke out freely.  He was afterwards three times in with the King, to whom be was more explicit, and said things that did not a little alarm.”  Chatham Correspondence, vol. ii. p. 181.-E.