tion, which recommended itself to the Bedford party and to the King.[1]
"It is expected every day," wrote Whateley to Grenville, "that Lord Shelburne will be out. …[2] About ten days ago Lord Chesterfield (who has always been remarkable for his intelligence) said to Irwin, 'I think I smell a change: I rather mean two changes; the first inconsiderable, introductory to a greater. During the interval I fancy Lord Barrington will be Secretary of State, but whatever is done, Mr. Grenville must be Minister before the meeting of Parliament.' Irwin thought by his manner that he spoke from some information which he did not explain, but it is certain that part of what his Lordship smelt ten days ago was become a general report just before I left London, where it was confidently said that Lord Shelburne was immediately to go out, and to be succeeded by Lord Barrington. … The present Solicitor-General seems even now in a doubtful situation; his principal connection I suppose to be Lord Shelburne, and the part he has taken in Wilkes' affair cannot recommend him."[3]
Rigby at the same time was pushing Gower and Weymouth to unite with him in insisting with Grafton on the removal of Shelburne, who they said "betrayed them and opposed all their measures in Council." "The accusation," continues Walpole, "was not unwelcome either to the Duke or to the King. The former hated Shelburne for enjoying Lord Chatham's favour, and the King had not forgotten the tricks that Shelburne had played Lord Bute. To make the proposal still more palatable, the Cabal offered to His Majesty the choice of the Duke of Northumberland or Lord Egmont, his own creatures, of Lord Holdernesse anybody's creature, or of Lord Sandwich their own friend, to replace Lord Shelburne. Willing as he was to give up the last, the the King had adopted a rule of turning [out] no single man, both from pusillanimity, and from never being sorry
