More I do not write. The sage Mr. James, when he comes to town, as he knows my whole heart, will open to you every spring of it; though he cannot add any thing, I think, to what you have been told already by the other sage. Pray be so good as to let me have again his Grace's letter.

MR. PITT TO EARL TEMPLE.

Monday, 4 o'clock. [Oct. 2. 1758.]

MY DEAR LORD,

I AM just returned from Kensington, and have the pleasure to find the packet left by your Lordship's servant. Whether the letter, whereof there is a copy, had reached his Grace when I saw him to-day I know not, but he has not uttered a syllable to me on the matter in question ever since he read to me his answer to your Lordship, which I send back herewith. What passed between his Grace and me on that occasion Mr. James will have related.

Ten thousand thanks, my dear Lord, for taking the unnecessary trouble to give me at all the motives of your silence to me on this business; and ten thousand more for the kindness and affectionate nature of those motives. Lady Hester claims warmly her place in this hasty letter, and we jointly offer kind love and compliments, à tutti

quanti, brothers and sisters. I am ever most affectionately, dear Lord Temple's loving brother, W. PITT.

I will not fail to acquaint your Lordship of any new occurrence in the measure mentioned. (1)

THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO MR. PITT.

(Private.)

SIR,

Madrid, Monday, October 9. 1758.

THE Duke of Savoy (2), in my last audience, having recommended to me to assist in placing one of his sisters upon this throne (for the late Queen (3) was then known to be given over), I told M. Wall what had passed with his Royal Highness upon that subject. I gave true characters of those three deserving princesses; but I said that I mentioned this only as a private business; for I had no instructions from my court upon it. I find the ministry will, at the time they solicit his Catholic Majesty to marry, leave him to his own choice,

(1) The two vacant garters were ultimately given to Prince Ferdinand and the Marquis of Rockingham.

(2) Charles Emanuel. He had succeeded to the dukedom on the abdication of his father in 1730.

(3) Daughter of John V. of Portugal. Her Majesty died on the 27th of August, without issue.

unless he ask their advice. Then they will lay before their royal master the different matches that are proper at this time. M. Wall said, that the Catholic King was strongly inclined to the house of Savoy, but that if a princess was brought from Turin, it must be a young one.(')

I am, with great truth and respect, Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,

BRISTOL.

THOMAS POTTER, ESQ., TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Prior Park, October 25. 1758.

YOUR cordial letter gave me strength and spirits to read it; it was, indeed, a cordial in every sense of the word; but nothing can give me the power of expressing how much I owe to Hester's friendship and goodness.

your and Lady

Painful as life

(1) Ferdinand, so far from selecting a young princess for a second wife, was so deeply affected with the loss of his first, that he renounced all company and neglected all business, immuring himself in a chamber at Villa Viciosa, where he gave loose to the most extravagant sorrow. He abstained from food and rest, would not allow his beard to be shaved, and rejected every attempt at consolation. The violence of his grief soon produced an incurable malady, under which he lingered till the 10th of August in the following year, when he expired. By his will, he appointed his brother Don Carlos, King of Naples, successor to the crown of Spain, and nominated the Queen Dowager regent, until his arrival.

is become to me, I would struggle hard to continue it, if I could hope to answer any part of the debt I owe you; but this is impossible, and I feel myself reduced to the distressful state of being miserable in myself, and an object of constant anxiety to those I love. Yet this is not the worst. My doctor (Barry of Dublin) whom I think a sensible man, tells me this must yet continue for years; and by way of flattering me, condemns me to walk on the earth a useless load to others, and a wretched being to myself.

I have been obliged to renounce the project in Bedfordshire, by which I have renounced an establishment for my son; for to him I should have resigned at the general election, depending for myself on the friendship of my good host, who is more to me than a father. This you will think is some disappointment; yet it is the less, as my place at Oakhampton would not, it seems, have been filled (as I trusted it would) by one of your name and family. That name I must honour while I live. Feeble as my voice is, it shall express my reverence and affection, and it would be glorious to me, if my last breath could give a public testimony of my attachment to you.

Your most faithful,

THOMAS POTTER.(')

() Mr. Potter died at Ridgmont, in Bedfordshire, on the

17th of June, in the following year.

LORD GEORGE SACKVILLE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Munster, November 11. 1758.

I HAD the honour of your letter, at the same time I received my commission for commanding the troops here. (') I must confess, notwithstanding the deference I shall always have to your advice, that I felt hurt and disappointed at the alterations made in the instructions, especially as I know it was expected here, by some who have the best private court intelligence, that something marking personal disapprobation would happen upon this occasion. However, I should be blamed by you, after what you have said, if I declined undertaking this command. If difficulties arise in the course of it, from a notion prevailing among the troops, that I have not the necessary favour and support, I then hope I may expect your assistance and friendship in obtaining leave for me quietly to retire from it.

I have endeavoured to express what I feel upon this event in my letter to Lord Holdernesse, with that duty and respect to the King as may give him as little offence as possible. Now, give me leave to thank you in the strongest manner for having endeavoured to obtain this command for me with

(1) Upon the death of the Duke of Marlborough, on the 28th of October, the command of the British forces in the army of Prince Ferdinand devolved on Lord George Sackville; between whom and the Prince, there was understood to be little cordiality.