(729) “The Duke of Devonshire advised his Majesty to comply with Pitt’s demands, whereupon the administration was formed; on which account the Duke was unjustly censured by some unreasonable friends; for he joined Pitt rather than Fox, not from any change of friendship, or any partiality in Pitt’s favour, but because it was more safe to be united with him who had the nation of his side, than with the man who was the most unpopular; a reason which will have its proper weight with most ministers.”  Waldegrave’s Memoirs, p. 87.-E.

(730) Meaning that the Jacobites excited the clamour.

(731) Lord Temple, in a letter to Mr. Pitt of the 11th, says, “Lord Bute used expressions so transcendently obliging to me, and so decisive of the determined purpose of Leicester-house towards us, in the present or any future day, that your own lively imagination cannot suggest to you a wish beyond them.”  Chatham correspondence, vol. i. p. 191.-E.

347 Letter 201 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, November 6, 1756.

After an inter-MinisteriUm of seventeen days, Mr. Pitt has this morning, accepted the government as secretary of state; the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Fox being both excluded.  The Duke of Devonshire is to be at the head of the treasury. the Chancellor(732) retires; the seals to be in commission.  Remnants of both administrations must be preserved, as Mr. Pitt has not wherewithal to fill a quarter of their employments.  Did you ever expect to see a time when he would not have cousins enough?  It will take some days to adjust all that is to follow.  You see that, unless Mr. Pitt joins with either Fox or Newcastle, his ministry cannot last six months; I would bet that the lightness of the latter emerged first.  George Selwyn, hearing some people at Arthur’s t’other night lamenting the distracted state of the country, joined in the discourse, with the whites of his eyes and his prim mouth, and fetching a deep sigh, said, “Yes, to be sure it is terrible!  There is the Duke of Newcastle’s faction, and there is Fox’s faction, and there is Leicester-house! between two factions and one faction we are torn to pieces!”

Thank you for your exchequer-ward wishes for me, but I am apt to think that I have enough from there already:  don’t think my horns and hoofs are growing, when I profess indifference to my interest.  Disinterestedness is no merit in me, ’It happens to be my passion.  It certainly is not impossible that your two young lords may appear in the new system.  Mr. Williams is just come from his niece, Lady North’s, and commends her husband exceedingly.  He tells me that the plump Countess is in terrors lest Lord Coventry should get a divorce from his wife and Lord Bolingbroke should marry her.  ’Tis a well-imagined panic!

Mr. Mann, I trust, does not grow worse; I wish I could think he mended.  Mr. B. is sitting in his chimney-corner literally with five girls; I expect him to meet me to-morrow at Strawberry.  As no provision is made for the great C`u in the new arrangement, it is impossible but he may pout a little.  My best compliments to your brothers and sisters.  Adieu!  Will this find you at Greatworth!