Overwhelmed with the extent of his Majesty’s gracious goodness towards
me, I desire the favour of your Lordship to lay me at the royal feet,
with the humble tribute of the most unfeigned and respectful gratitude.
Penetrated with the bounteous favour of a most benign sovereign and
master, I am confounded with his condescension in deigning to bestow
one thought about any inclination of his servant, with regard to the
modes of extending to me marks of his royal beneficence.
Any public mark of his Majesty’s approbation, flowing from such a
spontaneous source of clemency, will be my comfort and my glory; and I
cannot but be highly sensible of all those circumstances, so peculiarly
honourable, which, attending the first of the two ideas suggested to me
by his Majesty’s direction, have been mentioned. Commanded, however, as
I am by the King, in a manner so infinitely gracious, not to suppress
my thoughts on a subject of this extreme delicacy, I trust it will be
judged obedience, not presumption, if I express the doubts I have as
to the propriety of my going into either of the offices mentioned, or
indeed, considering that which I have resigned, going again into any
whatever.
Thus much in general I have presumed, not without pain and fear, to
submit to his Majesty’s consideration; too proud to receive any mark
of the King’s countenance and favour, but above all doubly happy could
I see those dearer to me than myself comprehended in that monument of
royal approbation and goodness, with which his Majesty shall condescend
to distinguish me.
I cannot conclude this letter, already much too long, without
expressing my warm thanks to your Lordship for the most obliging manner
in which you have conveyed to me his Majesty’s gracious intentions, and
assuring your Lordship, that I shall always set a high value on the
favourable sentiments which you are pleased to express on my subject. I
have the honour to be, with great truth and respect,
Yours, &c.
W. PITT.
_The Earl of Bute to Mr. Pitt, October 8, 1761._