which could only be by settling the Government in the first instance, and by peace in the second. He described the Prince's character, that it was good-natured, quiet, easy of comprehension, with an appearance of unsteadiness arising from people presuming too much upon his affability; and this occasioned what had been called breaches of friendship, and that he lamented sometimes his want of application. I told him that I did not desire to be let into Court secrets; I had no talents for any sort of Court management when young; and now was incapable of anything of the sort, and would only expose myself, if I attempted it; that as to measures, I thought it my duty to attend to them and to give the best opinion I could. He said that the Treasury was at his option long before Mr. Addington was thought of.
"He said that the six mentioned by Mr. Grey would command in his opinion the public confidence; that Lord Thurlow was determined if he had a leg to stand upon to come forth; he talked of the Duke of Northumberland, Lord Bute, and the country gentlemen; of Fox, as wanting to come in for a short time to save appearances, and to go out again; that he had brought the country gentlemen at last to endure him; of Lord Fitzwilliam as possibly to go to Ireland; of a reform of Parliament, not disapproving it altogether, but not cordially; of peace, eagerly; of economy, but not enthusiastically; that Lord Buckingham had applied to him repeatedly about stirring the question of the King's competency (a good instrument to take up ground full of danger and difficulty); the Queen might be gained; the Duke of York not, who had differences with Pitt about Hanover, which was the subject of two or three conversations with the King, in which Pitt proposed its being given up for British objects; that Pitt he had reason to think set out in concert with Addington; Fox was ill with Pitt, but likely to be well with the King if he recovered; Lord Gower and Pitt had had for some time a great coldness."[1]
Several conversations ultimately took place between the
- ↑ Lansdowne House MSS.
