CHAPTER V
THE ADMINISTRATION OF LORD SHELBURNE
1782
On the 2nd of July, Lord Shelburne received the following letter from the King:—
"Lord Shelburne must remember that when in March I was obliged to change my Ministry, I called upon him to form a new one, and proposed his taking the employment of First Lord of the Treasury, which he declined to accommodate Ld Rockingham. The vacancy of that office makes me return to my original idea, and offer it to him on the present occasion, and with the fullest political confidence; indeed he has had an ample sample of it, by my conduct towards him since his return to my service. I desire he will therefore see the Chancellor, the Duke of Grafton, and others, either in or out of office, and collect their opinions fully, that he may be able to state something to me on Wednesday. He is at liberty to mention my intentions with regard to him, and to set forward in forming a plan for my inspection. The letter I wrote this morning and the conversations I have held with him previous to it, are the fullest instructions I can give on the subject. G. R.
"Windsor, July 1, 1782."
The same day Shelburne communicated the royal intentions to the other members of the Cabinet. The Whig party at once objected. The King according to their
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