to give way; that if he could not make any use of the two last, it was not impossible but that a portion of the indecision of which he felt and remembered so much, would procure support to any Administration he could form. Lord Gower and Mr. Thomas Pitt were talked of again.
"About two o'clock I received another summons. The King told me he had seen Lord North with a view to Lord Gower, and had sent the Chancellor a note, who had had Lord Gower with him, but the latter had declined going to Thomas Pitt, and acknowledged now, that he had consented to stand forth, if William Pitt would; and then he, the King, had sent to Thomas Pitt, and had understood from him that he would be in town as soon as he could. He was willing to persuade himself that something would come of this. He desired me to come to him again that evening, as he wished to communicate what might pass, and afterwards sent me a note, appointing 8. I went and found that nothing could be made of this; that Thomas Pitt had talked of the necessity of raising large sums which would make those who should do it odious, and thought it was time for his cousin, who alone could save the nation, to step out. The Chancellor was mentioned as likely, if Pitt took the Treasury, to call out the Advocate, Jenkinson, etc. The King desired me to see him. I found him out that night, but saw him the next day; found him adverse to the Treasury and to the King's plan. Lord Temple was then suggested, and he proposed to see Lord Gower, if he would not decline. I urged him again to try Lord North, which he consented to. I had understood in the evening, imprimis: that he had written to both Lords with Mr. Pitt, and expected a letter from Lord Temple, but desired to see me at 10 when he should have seen Lord North. I went and found both had failed."[1]
The majority in the House of Commons had meanwhile grown furious.[2] The King at length saw that he must give way. Shelburne informed him that it was
