Volume I Part 15 (2/2)
GENERAL CUNINGHAME TO LORD TEMPLE.
London, March 1st, Eight o'clock, P.M.
My Lord,
Lord North is now with the King. The Duke of Portland, or Mr.
Fox, will be sent for to-morrow.
I have the honour to be, my Lord, Your most obedient humble servant, Robert Cuninghame.
Mr. Fox, however, was not sent for. The King's reluctance to negotiate with him could not be overcome: upon that point His Majesty was inflexible; and interview after interview followed, ending in the same unsatisfactory way, the country continuing to be kept in a state of uncertainty and alarm, and, as Mr. Grenville describes it, ”wholly without any Government whatsoever.”
GENERAL CUNINGHAME TO LORD TEMPLE.
London, March 4th, 1783.
My Lord,
In these uncertain times, it is difficult to relate events with precision; but I believe there is no doubt of Lord North's having been near three hours last night with the King, and that they parted without agreeing to any Administration. It is said, His Majesty offered to consent to any arrangement that excluded Mr. Fox and his a.s.sociates, and that Lord North thought it was impossible to make up any Administration, to have the appearance of permanency, without them. What is to happen next, G.o.d alone knows! All is confusion; and the gentlemen of landed property are seriously alarmed. I have the honour to be, with the most perfect respect,
My Lord, Your Excellency's most faithful and obedient humble servant, Robert Cuninghame.
His Excellency the Earl Temple, &c., &c., &c.
GENERAL CUNINGHAME TO LORD TEMPLE.
London, March 5th, 1783.
My Lord,
I continue to write in these curious times, though I am confident you must have better intelligence from a variety of other authorities. Lord North's interview, last night, with the King did not last above ten minutes. His Majesty again asked him if _they_ (meaning Mr. Fox and his a.s.sociates) would be satisfied with a neutral person being at the head of the Treasury: his Lords.h.i.+p replied, they would only be satisfied with the Duke of Portland. His Majesty then asked Lord North if he would accept of the Treasury, which he declined; and so they parted. This, the Duke of Portland told me himself, last night, at Brookes's. Mr. Fox said something to the same effect; but it was too late before Lord North left the King, to write by last night's post. His Majesty looked very firm; but what course he is to steer is not yet known.
I am happy to find, from all sorts of people who may be supposed to know something of ideal arrangements, that there is no intention anywhere of your Excellency not having the option of remaining in Ireland; and that it is the universal wish you may continue there, for the sake of this as well as of that country.
If you happened to be here now, you would have the Treasury laid at your feet.
I have the honour to be, with perfect respect,
My Lord, Your Excellency's most faithful, obedient, humble servant, Robert Cuninghame.
His Excellency the Earl Temple, &c., &c., &c.
MR. W. W. GRENVILLE TO LORD TEMPLE.
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