APPENDIX.

LETTERS AND EXTRACTS OF LETTERS FROM KING GEORGE THE THIRD TO MR. PITT.

[Where in these copies the whole of the King's letter is given, "G. R.," his usual signature in this correspondence, is added at the end. Where it is omitted the reader will understand that only an extract is inserted, and that the remainder is in general of no public interest.]

Queen's House, March 23, 1783, 8.50 A.M. Mr. Pitt is desired to come here in his morning dress as soon as convenient to him.

G. R.

St. James's, March 23, 1783, 11.55 A.M.

Mr. Pitt, I have seen Lord North, and sent him to the Duke of Portland to desire the plan of arrangements may be instantly sent to me, as I must coolly examine it before I can give any answer, and as I expect to have the whole finally decided before to-morrow's debate in the House of Commons. This seems to answer the idea I have just received from Mr. Pitt.

G. R.

I desire Mr. Pitt will be here after the Drawing Room.

Queen's House, March 24, 1783, 11.10 A.M.

Mr. Pitt's idea of having nothing announced till the debate of to-day meets with my thorough approbation. I have just seen the Lord Chancellor, who thinks that if Mr. Pitt should say, towards the close of the debate, that after such conduct as the Coalition has held, that every man attached to this Constitution must stand forth on this occasion, and that as such he is determined to keep the situation devolved on him, that he will meet with an applause that cannot fail to give him every encouragement.

I shall not expect Mr. Pitt till the Levee is over.

G. R.

Windsor, March 24, 1783, 5·12 P.M.

I am not surprised, as the debate has proved desultory, that Mr. Pitt has not been able to write more fully on this occasion. After the manner I have been personally treated by both the Duke of Portland and Lord North, it is impossible I can ever admit either of them into my service: I therefore trust that Mr. Pitt will exert himself to-morrow to plan his mode of filling up the offices that will be vacant, so as to be able on Wednesday morning to accept the situation his character and talents fit him to hold, when I shall be in town before twelve ready to receive him.

Mr. Pitt to the King.

G. R.

March 25, 1783.

Mr. Pitt received, this morning, the honour of your Majesty's gracious commands. With infinite pain he feels himself under the necessity of humbly expressing to your Majesty, that with every sentiment of dutiful

attachment to your Majesty and zealous desire to contribute to the public service, it is utterly impossible for him, after the fullest consideration of the situation in which things stand, and of what passed yesterday in the House of Commons, to think of undertaking, under such circumstances, the situation which your Majesty has had the condescension and goodness to propose to him.

As what he now presumes to write is the final result of his best reflection, he should think himself criminal if, by delaying till to-morrow humbly to lay it before your Majesty, he should be the cause of your Majesty's not immediately turning your Royal mind to such a plan of arrangement as the exigency of the present circumstances may, in your Majesty's wisdom, seem to require.

Windsor, March 25, 4.35 P.M.

Mr. Pitt, I am much hurt to find you are determined to decline at an hour when those who have any regard for the Constitution as established by law ought to stand forth against the most daring and unprincipled faction that the annals of this kingdom ever produced.

G. R.

December 23, 1783, 10:46 A.M.

To one on the edge of a precipice every ray of hope must be pleasing. I therefore place confidence in the Duke of Richmond, Lord Gower, Lord Thurlow, and Mr. Pitt bringing forward some names to fill up an arrangement; which if they cannot, they already know my determination. One will be an hour perfectly agreeable to me.

VOL. I.

T

G. R.

Windsor, January 13, 1784.

Mr. Pitt cannot but suppose that I received his communication of the two divisions in the long debate which ended this morning with much uneasiness, as it shows the House of Commons much more willing to enter into any intemperate resolutions of desperate men than I could have imagined. As to myself, I am perfectly composed, as I have the self-satisfaction of feeling I have done my duty.

Ι

Though I think Mr. Pitt's day will be fully taken up in considering, with the other Ministers, what measures are best to be proposed in the present crisis, yet that no delay may arise from my absence I will dine in town, and consequently be ready to see him in the evening, if he shall find that will be of utility. At all events, I am ready to take any step that may be proposed to oppose this faction, and to struggle to the last period of my life; but I can never submit to throw myself into its power. If they in the end succeed, my line is a clear one, and to which I have fortitude enough to submit.

G. R.

January 24, 1784, 9.17 A.M.

I own I cannot see any reason, if the thing is practi cable, that a Dissolution should not be effected; if not, I fear the Constitution of this country cannot subsist.

January 24, 1784, 6.25 P.M.

I desire Mr. Pitt will assemble the confidential Ministers this evening, that he may state what has passed this day. I should think it cannot give any reason for preventing a Dissolution on Monday; but if it should, he must be armed with the opinion of the other Ministers. I fear Mr. Powys's candour has drawn him into a trap; delay

must be of the worst of consequences, and the Opposition cannot but be glad he should be the author of it. If Mr. Pitt can come after the meeting before eleven this night, I shall be ready to see him; if not, as early to-morrow morning as may suit him.

G. R.

January 25, 1784.

Though indecision is the most painful of all situations to a firm mind, I by no means wish Mr. Pitt should come to me till he has, with his brother Ministers, gone through the various objects the present crisis affords. I should hope by half an hour past nine he may be able to lay before me the result of their deliberations.

The Opposition will certainly throw every difficulty in our way, but we must be men; and if we mean to save the country, we must cut those threads that cannot be unravelled. Half-measures are ever puerile, and often destructive.

G. R.

January 26, 1784.

Mr. Pitt's language in the House of Commons this day seems to have been most proper. The idea of Ministers resigning, and consequently leaving every thing in confusion, was worthy of the mouth from whence it came, but cannot meet with the approbation of the sober-minded.

G. R.

January 30, 1784.

The account of what passed in the House of Commons yesterday, which I suppose by reading the various newspapers may be pretty nearly collected, gives every reason for commending Mr. Pitt's language and for