forbear," he wrote to Pitt, "making one more remark on the different arrangements and promotions which have taken place, and expressing concern, that in the course of them Lord Shelburne was not taken some notice of. For office I put him out of the question; but in the promotion of the peerage he might have been offered a step, and I have reason to believe, that though he has entirely relinquished all views of business and office, yet some mark or distinction, such as that to which I allude, would be peculiarly gratifying to him. The Government (in which my principal object is completed by seeing you placed of the head of it) was first formed under his auspices, and by the quiet manner in which he has quitted his pretensions to any share of it, certainly owes him some compensation; and except there are reasons with which I am unacquainted, I still hope to see him repaid."[1]
Four months afterwards Shelburne received the following letter from Pitt:—
"Downing Street, Oct. 21st, 1784.
"My dear Lord,—A natural ambition that the present system of Government should receive the most public marks of your Lordship's approbation, and an earnest desire to satisfy on all occasions the sentiments of personal respect and regard which I am proud to acknowledge, render the occasion of this letter peculiarly interesting to me. I have the King's commands to desire to know whether it would be agreeable to your Lordship to receive the rank of Marquis, as a proof of his Majesty's gracious remembrance of your Lordship's services. The King has declared to me positively his intention of reserving the first rank in the Peerage for his Royal family; if this were not the case I am persuaded he would have been equally ready to give your Lordship that distinction, and I have his authority to assure you, that if any other Dukes are made hereafter, it will be his Majesty's desire that your Lordship should be included in the number. Nothing can give me greater pleasure in a public or private capacity, than to learn that the proposal I have the honour
- ↑ Rutland to Pitt, June 16th, 1784.
