should be tempted to resist in the last instance, which there is the greatest reason to apprehend from the Governor's letter and their address, I think it too plain from the accounts we daily receive that France and Spain would no longer defer breaking a peace, the days of which they already begin to count, though I profess and very sincerely feel the want of that experience and sagacity necessary to form any judgment of the intentions of foreign Powers."[1]
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"Your Lordship will have received the Duke of Grafton's letter with an account of the present state of the Indian business, which I am extremely glad to find meets your Lordship's intention. His Grace, I take it for granted, has enclosed to you the minute of Cabinet, stating their proposal as it stands being unintelligible, with several queries, upon which they were desired to explain themselves. The Duke of Grafton has since seen the Chairman and Deputy Chairman; who said they were infinitely obliged to every Lord of the Cabinet for not commanding their attendance, as they must have been silent. They desired for that reason to put the paper of queries in their pocket, without reading it till they got to the India House, where they would prepare the answer, but were afraid it was impossible to do it so soon as Friday; which leaves it open to Mr. Beckford to state himself as ready, which I understand he is, to go into the inquiry, having delayed it hitherto more out of candour to Mr. Townshend's declaration than his own opinion, which has always been that it could not be transacted out of Parliament, and will give Mr. Townshend and Mr. Conway an opportunity in answer, to state the matter as it is: that there has been a proposal, which, not being sufficiently clear to lay before Parliament, has been returned to the directors for further explanation upon it, which they have promised to give, but has not yet been received. The consequence I suppose must be further adjournment for at least a week longer. If this
- ↑ Shelburne to Chatham, February 14th, 1767.
