to be very uneasy in his situation and at intervals very anxious to quit it. Two applications came to myself from His Majesty, and as I understood with Lord North's knowledge and assent; but as one proposed only a desire to admit Lord Camden and myself, into such offices as should please us best, this overture took but little time in consideration, though it showed how ill-informed they were of our manner of thinking and acting. The second proposition being conveyed through Lord Hertford, and with an intimation at the same time to me, that Lord North was very willing to make room, and give facility in forming a new arrangement without him, the application called for further attention. I saw in the evening at Lord Gower's by appointment the Lord Chancellor and Lord Weymouth. The latter Lord took the principal part. It was confirmed by his Lordship, that Lord North both knew and approved of this meeting; that we might discuss the business as if he was already out of office, and that Lords Camden and Shelburne would find greater facility in His Majesty towards forming an Administration than they would expect. I only replied, that as His Majesty allowed me to consult both Lords Shelburne and Camden, I should be unwilling to risk an answer on a point so important without the sanction of their concurrence. I found them waiting for my return from the meeting; and we sent an answer that very evening Feb. 3, 1779, in these precise words to Lord Weymouth, as they had been drawn up jointly by Lords Camden, Shelburne and myself:—
"'That it is impossible to give an answer to Lord Weymouth, till such time as a proper application can be made to Lord Rockingham and the Duke of Richmond, to know their sentiments.'
"On hearing nothing further from Ministers we concluded that the answer of us three had closed the business, by which it was apparent that the Court were not yet disposed to trust the reins of Government into the hands of the whole Opposition, or to adopt a change of system and of measures. We derived however one essential
