But good God! what a Government is this! if the King has not the power of choosing his own Ministers.  It is enough, when he has chosen them, that they are amenable to Parl(iamen)t for their conduct.  But if it is in the power of any man, on account of his Parl(iamen)t[ary] talents, to force himself upon the King and into Government, when his private character would exclude him from ever(y) other station, or society, I wish for my own part not to belong to that Government in any shape whatever; and it would satisfy my mind infinitely more, that, while things remained upon that foot, that neither of us were in any kind of employment whatsoever.  But I do not presume to dictate to you.  You can see and feel for yourself, with as much discernment and sensibility as another.

Lord North was thought to speak better, and with more spirit than before.  I could not go down into the H(ouse) to hear the Advocate, I was so oppressed with my cold.  You will see the substance of the speeches in the Chronicle; I suppose that you have all our papers.  Storer will write to you, and tell you of his conversation with Charles, but do not say that I anticipated the account.  I must talk with Gregg upon the subject of your return here, for neither the removal, or the mode or the time, will be weighed by any other scales than those of their own convenience.

The Fish voted with us, and upon the merit of this assistance, and at this important crisis, I suppose something was founded, for when the H(ouse) was up, he was never from Lord North’s elbow.  Notwithstanding Charles’s impatience, it will not be settled all this (month?) till the Easter holidays, and how it will be settled then, I do not conceive.  They talk now of Barre for Rigby’s place.  I have never once heard my nephew’s(218) name in any part of the arrangement, but he has, I presume, a situation fixed in his own mind, as adequate to his consequence.  Young Pitt expects to be sent for from the circuit to the Cabinet, but not in a subordinate capacity.  George has not sent from Neasdon any proposals to the K(ing), so I suppose (e is)waiting till he can negotiate a Peace.  I wish that I could overhear him in his rhetorical mood.

(218) Thomas Townshend.

(1782, March 16,) Saturday noon.—­Lord G(ower) assured me that he knew that at this juncture there was no arrangement; that there certainly would be, and soon; that it was impossible to guess at the disposal of the parts.  That Charles would be, and has been, a thorn in the side of his party; that the Ministers would not suffer him to rule, nor would the country gentlemen endure him.  But you might be recalled; that it was not now an object of ambition to be the Governor of Ireland; that he thought it would have been a lucky event for you, and that it would have afforded you an occasion of resigning, the best that you could have had; for things would grow worse, and that hitherto all had been well, and that you might now come away without reproach; but that your circumstances opposed this option..  He was, on account of the great expense and your love of show, afraid how these would be hurt; that he could not help being alarmed, notwithstanding the prospect Mr. Gregg held out of saving, at one time, to provide against the extra charges of another.