Mr. Pitt to the Earl of Shelburne.
July 23rd.
Being obliged from my present state of health to get back to the air of North End to dinner, I can only have the honour to transmit His Majesty's most gracious commands to your Lordship to attend him to-morrow at twelve at the Queen's House by this hasty line, instead of waiting on you in person to express my joy at the choice the King has made of a Secretary of State every way so advantageous to His Majesty's service as well as flattering to all my wishes, public and private. Lord Northington, President of the Council; Lord Camden, the Great Seal; your humble servant, Privy Seal. As yet the arrangements are in the King's intentions only. Colonel Barre, Vice Treasurer. The fever still continuing in a small degree, together with some fatigue, forbids me to add more. Words cannot convey my sense of the Royal goodness. I am ever, with affectionate respect,
My dear Lord's
Most faithful friend and humble servant,
William Pitt.
Shelburne replied as follows:
Hill Street, July 24th, 1766.
Dear Sir,—I am this moment honoured with your letter, and am as much obliged to you for the contents as my sense of my own inability will allow me. Your private wishes being engaged in my fortunes is indeed most flattering to me, and though I suspect they have already led you further on my account than you have told me, I cannot now help requesting most earnestly their continuance as they alone can make the situation you mention honourable or happy, and I can with the greatest truth affirm that they alone encourage the undertaking it. I shall take care to be prepared to attend His Majesty at twelve to-morrow to receive his commands. I shall be very desirous for a few minutes' conversation with you afterwards, and will call at Hampstead in the evening in
