Laziness and procrastination are poor excuses for silence; yet such
as they are I am too often forced to employ them. However at this
time, I was partly satisfied by the frequent [accounts] I received
from Beriton both by Pitman's journey & the channel of Mr. Porten;
and I might perhaps have remained still longer in my Lethargy, had I
not been rouzed by the unaccountable fate which your last letter has
met with. Thro' some strange jumble between Mr. Porten's servant,
the maid & Luke, it has dropt somewhere by the way. This _upon my
honor_ is the exact truth; so that if there was any thing in it which
requires a particular answer I must intreat you to repeat it.
Baron Wentzel is at last arrived, but says himself that he is at
present overwhelmed with business. I submit it to my father and
yourself, whether it may not be better to wait till he shall be
somewhat more at leisure.
This great public scene is still as noisy & as nonsensical as ever.
Particulars would be endless, & indeed the papers are now so daring
that they almost forestall any private intelligence. Conjectures I
leave to men more idle or more busy than myself. However the general
opinion is that the next fortnight must decide the fate of the
ministry.[130] If Lord North (whose spirit & abilities are certainly
great) holds out till then, the minority will probably divide,
desert, & run away.
A more agreable piece of private news relate to our old arrears,
which we are in a fair way of recovering as the North already have.
Abbot is in town and we are pushing the affair. This will amount to
about £100 for myself, & near double for my father, and with this I
close my Militia service. I have already conversed with Sir Simeon &
propose resigning in a few days. However I will come to the meetings,
if I am absolutely necessary, & should be glad to know the days.
I am, Dear Madam,
Your's & my father's,
E. G.
[130] On the 9th of January, 1770, the Earl of Chatham returned
to public life, from which he had retired in October, 1768. His
reappearance, and his attacks upon the Government, determined
the Duke of Grafton, who had succeeded him as Prime Minister,
to resign office. On January 28, Lord North, who was already
Chancellor of the Exchequer, accepted the post of First Lord of
the Treasury, which he held for eleven years.
[Sidenote: BUCKFORD'S REMONSTRANCE.]
78.
_To his Stepmother._
Pall Mall, March the 20th, 1770.
Two o'clock in the afternoon.