give this subject a thorough examination before you determine upon a matter of this infinite moment; that if you still persist in your former resolution of retreat (which I most earnestly wish you if possible to reconsider), the establishment which the King shall now think fit to make in his Government may be such a one as will reflect honour on your Lordship who advised it, and give that permanency and stability which, in the present crisis, is essentially necessary to his administration.
"I am now only to ask pardon for the length of my letter; this interesting subject made it unavoidable, and I have explained my sentiments thus fully to your Lordship, not only that you may be apprized of them, but that you may be able to represent them in their true light to the King, if he should ever condescend to enquire about them, and that he may not think me more unworthy than I am of his royal favour; give me leave to add that I esteem it a peculiar happiness that they will be transmitted through the channel of a friend so partially disposed to me, and to whom I feel myself so sensibly obliged."[1]
Shelburne, on finding that the views of Bute as to his own advancement were not shared by Grenville, expressed his complete readiness to stand aside "that the ground might be enlarged by more necessary people."[2] Bute, however, still insisted on his forming a part of the new arrangements, and again offered him the Board of Trade.
It is probable that the anxiety of Shelburne to serve in a Ministry which was to be under the secret influence of Bute, and stood condemned by popular opinion to fall within the year, and probably even before meeting Parliament, was not very much greater than his anxiety had been to serve under Bute when Prime Minister. But the ambiguous position then occupied by the Board of Trade was another reason for declining the offer now made to him. The Board at that time had only a quasi-independent position. It framed instructions without power
