after the first answer, which was that the King would take time to consider of it; which convinced me that it would come to nothing. A week afterwards I heard of the final answer. I asked if Lord Shelburne had been consulted or communicated with, and hearing he had not, I expressed my surprise and said that he ought to have been and was highly entitled to it. I never consented to or approved of that business. I could not I thought with decency sit at the same council table with Lord North, whom I had been for years accusing and charging as a criminal, yet even that I might be brought to, upon the condition of Ld North sitting there for the purpose of assisting to undo all that he had been doing for years back. I will tell you fairly, says he, I never as long as I breathe will make a part of any Administration that will not do something to mend the Constitution.' He then went back to the prejudices and dislikes, and mentioned an instance of Ld R. taking offence at some want of attention in you, but desired I would not mention it to you. Indeed it is not worth repeating.
"In answer to all this, I said that I had heard of that negotiation, but that in the present situation of public affairs, if we meant to do good by acting together, it would be better to have no retrospect whatsoever; that I knew the shape of your mind and your wishes for the public, placed you far above little prejudices or personal hatreds; but that after what had passed there was no way of drawing the eye from retrospect but one, and that was to hold out a fair, distinct, and flattering prospect: no clouds, no doubts, no knotty points. I added, my Lord, 'that time is not yet come, even by your Grace's confession, and therefore I can only write to Ld Shelburne, state our conversation to him, and still adhere to my opinion against his coming to town. You are the best "middle man" in the world to settle this business; your Grace is correct; you will best see what can be done with Ld Rockingham, and when you see daylight such as I have been speaking of, Ld Shelburne, I am confident, will listen to you sooner than anybody.'
