they felt they did not deserve, and were therefore the more easily wounded.—He again and again most solemnly protested that he firmly believed you to possess the King's confidence; that he knew it from infallible symptoms; and that he was well assured it was perceived, and perhaps in some instances thought too strong, by certain little beings about the Royal Person; that he is sure there never was any design of breaking good faith with you; that the King had taken decisive steps with regard to them and to Lord North, to whose base and unexpected falling off was to be attributed and not to the insincerity of His Majesty, the defection which ensued; that he had reason to believe, it occasioned very real concern and disappointment indeed to the King, when he perceived that it seemed to require more than his warmest assurances to convince you of his good faith and desire of your continuing services; that he was convinced, there existed in the Royal Mind no conception of any plan, but under your Lordship's management, in possession of confidence and favour.
"It is impossible and it would be tedious for me to repeat what more he said upon the same subject, all tending to an earnest assurance of the King's sincerity to you, while your Lordship was in his service; of his concern and distress at your seeming to doubt it; of the confusion, which was brought on, by the unforeseen coalition against your Government, &c., &c.; concluding always with an idea, that some communication must have been made or been desired to have been made to you on the present occasion."[1]
To this letter Shelburne replied as follows:—
"You may tell Mr. Jenkinson what I have already wrote to you that I have heard from nobody but you and Sir J. Jervis. As to Mr. Baring it is not worth the mention, for it was merely what regarded the Company; since which I have not heard from him; and as to Lord Mahon, I considered his sending me
- ↑ Orde to Shelburne, December 16th, 1783.
