should know, and naming four of his associates who desired to be empowered to speak.  On Sunday all was confusion on news that the four disclaimed what Mr. Keppel had said for them.  On Monday he told the House that in one he had been mistaken; that another did not declare off, but wished all were to be compelled to speak; and from the two others he produced a letter upholding him in what he had said.  The bill passed by 153 to 23.  On Tuesday it was treated very differently by the Lords.  The new Chief Justice(768) and the late Chancellor(769) pleaded against Byng like little attorneys, and did all they could to stifle truth.  That all was a good deal.  They prevailed to have the whole courtmartial at their bar.  Lord Hardwicke urged for the intervention of a day, on the pretence of a trifling cause of an Irish bankruptcy then depending before the Lords, though Lord Temple showed them that some of the captains and admirals Were under sailing orders for America.  But Lord Hardwicke and Lord Anson were expeditious enough to do what they wanted in one night’s time:  for the next day, yesterday, every one of the court-martial defended their sentence, and even the three conscientious said not one syllable of their desire of the bill, which was accordingly unanimously rejected, and with great marks of contempt for the House of Commons.

This is as brief and as clear an abstract as I can give you of a most complicated affair, in which I have been a most unfortunate actor, having to my infinite grief, which I shall feel till the man is at peace, been instrumental in protracting his misery a fortnight, by what I meant as the kindest thing I could do.  I never knew poor Byng enough to bow to; but the great doubtfulness of his crime, and the extraordinariness of his sentence, the persecution of his enemies, who sacrifice him for their own guilt and the rage of a blinded nation, have called forth all my pity for him.  His enemies triumph, but who can envy the triumph of murder?

Nothing else material has happened, but Mr. Pitt’s having moved for a German subsidy, which is another matter of triumph to the late ministry.  He and Mr. Fox have the warmest altercations every day in the House.

We have had a few French symptoms; papers were fixed on the Exchange, with these words, “Shoot Byng, or take care of your King;” but this storm, which Lord Anson’s creatures and protectors have conjured up, may choose itself employment when Byng is dead.

Your last was of Jan. 29th, in which I thank you for what you say of my commissions:  sure you could not imagine that I thought you neglected them?  Adieu!

(767) The King.

(768) W. Murray, Lord Mansfield.

(769) Philip Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke.

367 Letter 214
To Sir Horace Mann. 
Arlington Street, March 17, 1757.