of the debate, "I am happy to hear of your success the American day. It must give your friends in America the greatest pleasure. How wonderful the division!"[1] The numbers handed in by the tellers had been 249 and 49.
Shelburne was now in frequent communication with Pitt through Calcraft. "I was able," writes Calcraft, "to pay my intended visit to Hayes yesterday, where I was received in the most kind manner, and spent three hours in more intimate and confidential conversation than ever. … I will convey a short sense of your situation in Mr. Pitt's opinion by his last words to me: 'Assure Lord Shelburne he may depend on hearing from me the instant an opening comes from any quarter; that I will ever avow his conduct from our first beginning. Let him stick to measures. Connections as to men are mean, but on measures commendable. I make no professions, but Lord Shelburne will infer.' He also strongly commended Barré's conduct, to which I did all the justice in my power. We laughed about the fifteen expresses reported to be sent him from Administration, and he remains not a jot nearer Lord Bute, the Duke of Bedford, or Mr. Grenville, though he thinks Lord Bute means some change and foresees confusion. He is against any Regency Bill, on which subject I will enlarge to your Lordship on meeting. He is also strong against the American Mutiny Bill,[2] as an oppression they ought not to be subjected to, and in a great measure unnecessary. He thinks the King sending for the Duke had some serious meaning, but has not heard what. I was glad to hear him speak most highly and affectionately of Lord Temple again.[3] Lady Chatham had dined with him yesterday. He begged me to make many apologies for not having been to visit you, which he will do here if he can, but has been confined ever since your Lordship saw him, and is not able to stand yet. The two friends Mr. Pitt talks of as those he will advise
- ↑ February 1765.
- ↑ The Mutiny Act was this year extended to America. Its clauses compelled the colonies at their own expense to furnish the troops.
- ↑ There had recently been some coolness between Pitt and Temple owing to the conduct of the latter on the American question and his violence on behalf of Wilkes.
