pressing the other, but if it could not be effected, duty to him and the public forbade my running away; provided—
"1. That his Majesty would give me every engagement I had already entered into; clear both as to men and measures, at first setting out.
"2. That the assistance and co-operation of the Rockinghams was to be procured, cost what it would more or less.
"3. Full power and full confidence.
"Supposing the above granted, that I was at His Majesty's devotion, and hoped to prove myself a faithful servant, from whom he might have nothing to apprehend."[1]
It was at last agreed by the King, that he was to accept Rockingham as the head of the Administration, but negotiate with him through Shelburne. The latter then entered into communication with Rockingham on the subject of the composition of the new Cabinet, and the measures to be pursued. Rockingham insisted very rightly that there should be no ambiguity on the latter subject.[2] Shelburne accordingly had another interview with the King, and explained to him that in the existing state of affairs the moment had arrived when he must make up his mind to state definitely to Lord Rockingham that he placed no veto upon American independence. The King unwillingly consented, but insisted on retaining Thurlow as his Chancellor, while Shelburne, partly in order to compensate Dunning for waiving his undoubted claims to the Great Seal, and partly in order to have in the Cabinet some person of equal legal knowledge to Thurlow but with Whig opinions, demanded and obtained a Peerage for his friend with the Duchy of Lancaster either for life, or until the Lord Chief Justiceship became vacant.[3] For this course there was a precedent in the case of the eminent lawyer Sir Nicholas Lechmere, who in 1718 was raised to the Peerage, and at the same time
- ↑ Lansdowne House MSS.
- ↑ Rockingham to Shelburne, March 24th, 1782. Shelburne to Rockingham, March 24th, 1782. Rockingham to Shelburne, March 24th, 1782.
- ↑ See Hansard, Series 1, ix. 201, 202; and infra, Ch. IX. 318, "Character of Dunning."
