was not unsavourably disposed to the King's C*aa friendships, nor even to his partialities. And if we reflect a moment upon the great political ta- i766. Ients of his Lordship, and the wonderful esfects of his return to office in the year 1757, we may safely say, that every public interest, and every private attachment, might have been at this period, as harmoniously arranged, and would probably have been honoured with equal success, and supported by similar unanimity, bad be found the same fidelity in the closet* The restoration of Mr. S. Mackenzie, the sact Mr. Stti. of his own peerage, and his sudden disference j^J^*^, with Lord Temple, gave cause and credit to a stored, suspicion, whkh all the minions of the court assiduously encouraged and circulated, that in a very short time prevailed throughout the kingdom, of his having joined the Earl of Bute- ^ ^ However strong the appearances were, ft is cer- Chatham tainly true, that she suspicion was unfounded.>»united What was said of Lord Rockinghttm, on a similar pretence of suspicion, might with equal veracity be said of him also—*—" That with the Earl of Bute he had no personal connection, nor correspondence of council: he neither courted him* nor persecuted him." f f By Mr. Burk. CHAP. CHAP. XXXII. Embargo on the Exportation of Corn—Stale of Par' ties—Conference between Lord Chatham and the Duke of Bedford at Bath—Conference between Lord Chatham and Lord Edgcumbe—Its consequences—The Admiralty offered to Lord Gower— Conducl of the Court—Second Conference with the Duke of Bedford—Breaks off. Chap. JL HERE never was known in England fo XXXII s-^r^J, wet a summer as that of last year. From the 1766. month of March to the month of August, there Embargo were not successively two fair days. This unon the ex- common season injured the corn harvest prodiof com. giousty. Towards the end of the summer, when the extent of the injury was manisest, ministers held several councils upon the subject. At length they issued a proclamation, commanding an embargo to be laid on the exportation of corn. Lord Chatham did not attend any of these councils. To the second council he sent his opinion in writing, which was in savour of the embargo. When parliament met, ministers desended their conduct upon this particular point, by the same arguments, and avowed the fame doctrines which had been used in desence of 'similar arbitrary measures by the Stuarts. The constitution was very ably supported by Lord Manfoti' Mansfield, Lord Temple, and Lord Lytteltort. And Chap. their arguments were afterwards published in a XXXI^ pamphlet, entitled, A Speech against the suspending j^g. and dispensing Prerogative. Many people ascribed this speech to Lord Mansfield. But they were mistaken. The pamphlet was written under the eye of Lord Temple, by a gentleman at the bar, who was present at the debate, and who was also assisted in the composition by.Lorxl Lyttehon. .7 7 ... i A sew days after the proclamations wee if-. sued respecting the embargo*, Lard Chaibani retired to> Bath, sor the benefit of' hh health. During his stay at Bath, the Duke of Bedford came there for the same reason-. Lord Chatham solicited an interview with his Grace. His Lordship's view was, to detach the Duke from Mr. Grenville. His own penetration suggested to him State of the necessity of this attempt; and however in-Parties' consistent he might seem, in his offers to accomplish his design, the sact shews, that men of the greatest talents are not always influenced by the strictest rules of consistency. Lord Chatham was not unacquainted, that a powersul -and violent opposition was forming against him. It was menaced, that this opposition would consist of the late ministry, whom, for distinction's sake, and because the Duke of Newcastle was yet alive, was sometimes called the Pelhams, of the relations of "his own samily, and their friends, who, though a junior and a minor party, were yet a growing one, and of the Bedford interest, which at that * They were dated Sept. 26, 176& Vol. I. B b timt Ch'it. time was respectable, firm and compact. The XXXJI. two ]aft interests were united. His design was .1766. to separate them, and to strengthen his admini1 stration by an acquisition of the Duke of Bedford. Conse- :He therefore opened bis conference with his rencebe\ Grace, by making the strongest assurances, that Lord be should be particularly happy to see the Chatham. King's administration countenanced and supportDuke of e^ °y his Grace's approbation and interest. The Bedford. Duke making no reply to this exordium, Lord Chatham proceeded, hy saying, that he would frankly lay before his Grace, the principal measures he intended to pursue. First. He intended to keep the peace inviolate, and to keep a watchsul eye over the princes on the continent, that they did the same. ^ • Secondly. He would enter into no continental connections, nor make any subsidiary treaty with "any European power. Thirdly. He would observe such a strict and rigid œconomy, as should command the approbation of the most frugal member of parliament: The Duke replied, that these were the very measures for which he had always declared and contended. They were his measures, and he would certainly support them, whether his friends were in or out of office. Not a word was spoken of America, nor of any arrangements. They parted in similar conceptions, and this : interview was.only a prelude to another. And this, accounts for a great part of the Bedford interest J... interest being neuter at the meeting of parliar PjJA*' ment. \ ,. v-^^, Lord Chatham s next step was, an attempt to ' 1766divide the Newcastle interest. He began .whb. Mr. Shelley, the Duke's near relation. To. him he promised the staff of the treasurer.of the household; which was at this time in the hands of Lord Edgecumbe. In his expectations of accomplishing this design,, he was. too sanguine. It is true, he procured the dismission of Lord Edgecumbe and the appointment of Mr. Shelley.; but the dismission of Lord Edgecumbe was attended with consequences, which rather weakened than strengthened his administration; and so sar from dividing or dismaying his opponents, rather cemented their union, and provoked their resentment. The particulars of this dismission were as follows: *" About the 26th of November, 1766, theConseminister sent a note to Lord E. acquainting his ";enee be" Lordship, " That a great personage had deter-Lord "mined upon making some alterations in his Chatham "servants, and that he [the minister} should be Edge. "glad to see Lord E. in Bond-street, or hecumbe. "would wait upon his Lordship in Upper Gros"venor-street." Lord E. directly waited upon the minister in Bond-street. The minister began with highly commending his Lordship's abilities, his virtues, his integrity, and recited the contents of his letter. Then, aster many pauses, * From the Political Register, vol. I. page 275. B b 2 and |