could never consent.[1] With these reports in his ear, Shelburne continued in his letter to Barré as follows: "You are to tell Mr. Pitt in regard to the present system of Government, if he means his being at the head of the Treasury, I have no objection to it. I detest the situation for myself, and I shall certainly enter into no cabal against him, neither with any part of the Court nor with Opposition. Further I suppose he cannot mean. If he says anything about my taking employment, you will apply the same language to that, with this additional fundamental circumstance, that I will take no employment, except I know from the King himself that he desires it. I must have a conversation likewise with him upon measures, before I can give ear to it. Or you may leave the whole of this point to a conversation with myself; but I had rather, to avoid misconception, that you touched it, that we may have nothing to treat upon hereafter, if he opens it. In fine, I want no sacrifices to be made to me, any more than I like to make any, but I feel I have already made sufficient, and I have a right to expect that whatever is done, should be done in the most honourable manner it can admit of, which in fact concerns him as well as it does me. I have no further instructions to give you, except that you will be so good as to bring this matter to one conclusion or other. I do not care which, provided it be one which will stand a public test, and which you can justify in the House of Commons; and for this reason I think it desirable the conversation should pass through you. In your manner you will be as frank, bold and open, as his conversation can possibly admit of. I know it is natural in dealing with narrow suspicious people, to adopt their manner, and fight them with their own weapons, but I have always found the contrary succeed against such characters. I do not think it the moment for many reasons to be touchy, or that it be very becoming me to fence with Mr. Pitt. I know the coldness of the climate you go into, and that it requires all your animation to produce a momentary thaw. But I trust that you will
- ↑ Shelburne to Baring, November 24th, 1784. Wraxall, Memoirs, iv. 573.
