to make, is acceptable to your Lordship. I shall be proud and happy to receive your commands and beg leave to assure you that I am, &c. &c. &c.
W. Pitt."
On receiving this communication Shelburne wrote to Barré, that he was not anxious about the promotion in question, more especially as he could have had any he might have chosen to ask for, in March 1782 and February 1783: knowing however how many persons there were who were anxious to prevent any understanding between Pitt and himself, he was inclined to accept the offer, though he would prefer being created alone, to being created in a batch of promotions, especially if the batch was to include Lord Temple. "I see no present alternative," he went on to explain, "between that, and staying out to make an Administration of the King's friends, who have neither principle nor courage to carry one through, or be a minister en potence. It is true that Pitt is an egregious dupe; he has been so, he will be so, and his age and character go to it, but I shall feel myself a still greater, if I don't do everything possible to prevent it; because I am so with my eyes open." He went on to desire Barré to call upon Pitt and ascertain from him by "a free, open, and unreserved conversation" what was to be understood by the offer, and what their political relations were to be.
The office of Privy Seal was vacant, and a rumour was abroad that a desire existed in some quarters that Shelburne should receive it, or that it should be given to Lord Carmarthen, whose ignorance of European affairs, combined with the inefficiency of the Duke of Dorset, the Ambassador in Paris, who was said to speak of the ceded isknds as if he really knew where they were, threatened to be dangerous to the best interests of the country. Shelburne would then, it was said, become Secretary of State.[1] On the other hand, it was said that Jenkinson was to have high office, to which Shelburne
- ↑ Walpole Correspondence, viii. 467. Rutland to Pitt, June 16th, 1784,
