are pleased to reckon upon, will be no greater than they are. And though you thought it paradoxical, I still think it true that abilities will not signify much. The additional load of unpopularity I shall bring to Lord Bute will more than overbalance them, and the more conspicuous I am made, the less use it may be I shall be of.
"I expect a return to my express sent my brother, to-morrow. I expect to see the Duke of Cumberland, my conversation with him shall remove all doubts, if there are still any, of my being warp'd up to his opinion. And till Monday therefore, I cannot wait on Lord Bute, who I hope will in the meantime take into consideration what you shall please to tell him out of these two papers. "Does not your Lordship begin to fear that there are but few left of any sort, of our friends even, who are for this peace? I own I do."[1]
The interview with the Duke of Cumberland took place on October 11th. The Duke proposed that Bute, after having received the most conspicuous marks of royal favour in the shape of rank and titles, should then retire from the Treasury in favour of Fox. This proposal Fox—much to his credit—refused to entertain, and the connection between him and Cumberland was in consequence finally severed. In his perplexity he then applied for advice to his friend Mr. Nicholl,[2] who strongly urged him to take the seals as necessary to the dignity of a leader of the House of Commons not First Lord of the Treasury. Fox remaining unconvinced, Mr. Nicholl returned to the charge. "My heart," he said,[3] "is so anxious for the success of what you are on the brink of sacrificing, your ease, quiet, credit, and health to effect, that I persuade myself you will pardon though you should
- ↑ Fox to Shelburne, October 10th.
- ↑ Mr. Nicholl is frequently mentioned in the letters of Horace Walpole, whose intimate friend he was. Correspondence, v. 416, 448, 463, 467. His son is to be recognised in the following passage: "I was excessively amused on Tuesday night. There was a play at Holland House acted by children—not all children, for Lady Sarah Lennox and Lady Susan Strangways played the women. It was 'Jane Shore.' Mr. Price—Lord Barrington's nephew—was Gloster and acted better than three parts of the comedians. Charles Fox, Hastings, a little Nicholl, who spoke well, Belmour, &c."
- ↑ From a copy at Lansdowne House where the letter is wrongly attributed to Colonel Barré. The original is at Holland House.
