I mentioned Mr. Nicholl's letter, &c., as follows:—That I conceived what had passed very thoroughly convinced him, not only of your desire, to have done soon, but your wishes to do it immediately, if it were possible; that in a matter of this sort, I thought it must be agreeable to him to hear everybody's sentiments; that I conceived the Treasury a political wife, which every man should determine about himself, and a matter upon which it became not a friend even to advise, nor give his sentiments except upon a footing of confidence, which I took the liberty to do, with a view to discharge my mind of everything that occurred to it, for his or the King's interest; that I looked upon it as his duty to look on modesty with regard to himself as out of the question, for whoever looked now upon anything relating to him and his honour, as distinct or separate from the King's interest, must be led, to say no worse, to form a very wrong judgment, upon the present or future state of things. With this view, I communicated to him what occurred to myself, and likewise Mr. Nicholl's letter. He was much pleased with the latter, and praised it much, and desired me to leave it with him till to-morrow.
He asked what you yourself thought; I made him the answer you made to Mr. Nicholl, that you had never looked upon it as the thing in question, or to be considered of.
You must never expect that I shall tell you how much I admire your very handsome conduct both with regard to the King and the State; I reserve that to tell Lady Holland when you are taken up with other business, but you must give me leave for once, not as a private man only, but as a subject of His Majesty, and a free voter of Great Britain, to sign myself,
Yours, most obliged,
Shelburne.
P.S.—He is obliged to stay in town to-morrow about other business, and desired me to tell you he should be glad to see you about twelve, if it suited, in Audley Street.
