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 with Pitt and Pitt's elder brother, Lord Chatham, after the loss of the election. On Pitt's appointment in December 1783 as first lord of the treasury, Tomline became his private secretary, but did not at first bear the name of secretary, as the minister thought it might be detrimental to him in his profession. He continued in this position until 1787. In 1782 he was collated to the sinecure rectory of Corwen, Merionethshire; in 1784 was appointed to a prebendal stall at Westminster, and the same year was created D.D. In 1785 he was presented by George III to the rectory of Sudbourn-cum-Offord, and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. Tomline's mathematical abilities enabled him to be of great service to Pitt during the conduct of the latter's financial proposals. He formulated the objections to Richard Price's scheme for the reduction of the national debt, and performed most of the calculation involved in Pitt's plan for the same purpose. In January 1787 Tomline succeeded Thurlow as bishop of Lincoln and dean of St. Paul's. It is said that on Pitt's application on behalf of his friend the king remarked, ‘Too young, too young; can't have it!’ but that on the minister replying that had it not been for Tomline he would not have been in office, the king answered, ‘He shall have it, Pitt; he shall have it, Pitt!’ Though Tomline ceased to act as secretary on taking up his episcopal residence at Buckden Palace, his very close intimacy with the prime minister was not relaxed, and he frequently visited him in London for the purpose of conferring with him and doing secretarial work for him. From 1787 to 1806 the bulk of the ecclesiastical patronage was exercised according to his advice, and his opinion on the general conduct of political affairs was generally sought and not infrequently followed by Pitt (, Diary and Correspondence, i. 323).

In 1799 Tomline justified his episcopal appointment by his publication of the ‘Elements of Christian Theology’ (London, 2 vols. 8vo; 12th edit. 1818). This work, which was dedicated to Pitt, was composed for the use of candidates for ordination, the idea being suggested to the bishop owing to the ignorance displayed by most of the candidates who presented themselves to him. Though ‘without pretensions to depth or originality’ (, preface to ed. Elements of Christian Theology), the work became very popular and went through many editions. It was revised by Henry Stebbing (1799–1883) [q. v.] in 1843. Several abridgments appeared, and the first volume was published alone in 1801 and 1875 under the title ‘An Introduction to the Study of the Bible.’ On the question of catholic emancipation Tomline took up so strong an attitude that he was prepared to oppose the measure even if brought in by his patron (letter, Mrs. Tomline to Tomline, 8 Feb. 1801, Orwell Collection), but on his urging his arguments on Pitt ‘did not seem to make much impression on this point’ (, Diary and Correspondence, i. 443).

Tomline was much opposed to Pitt's negotiations and intimate relationship with Addington in 1801 (letter to Rose, 19 Nov. 1801, Orwell Collection). Addington he appears to have despised and distrusted, and he did all in his power, eventually with success, to induce Pitt to withdraw his support from the ministry. He was especially anxious that all matters in doubt between the king and Pitt at this period should be cleared up, and suggested the wording of Pitt's guarantee to the king never during his majesty's life to bring forward the catholic question (, Correspondence, i. 407). When in 1801 the question arose among his most intimate friends as to how provision should be made to meet Pitt's most pressing debts, Tomline undertook the task, and somewhat nervously broached the subject at a tête-à-tête dinner with the ex-minister. He successfully arranged this delicate matter, and himself contributed 1,000l.

In June 1803 the bishop of Lincoln took the name of Tomline on a considerable estate at Riby in Lincolnshire being left him by the will of Marmaduke Tomline. Between the testator and legatee there was no relationship, and but very slight acquaintance, the bishop not having seen Tomline more than five or six times in his life (letter to Mrs. Tomline, 23 June 1803, Orwell Collection).

On the approaching death of John Moore (1730–1805) [q. v.], archbishop of Canterbury, Pitt was anxious that Tomline should be appointed, but clearly anticipated a struggle with the king (letter to Mrs. Tomline, 21 Jan. 1805). There are numerous stories as to what was said at the final interview between sovereign and minister on this subject. According to Lord Malmesbury, the king remarked that if a private secretary of a first minister was to be put at the head of the church, he should have all his bishops party men (, Diaries, iv. 383). Lord Sidmouth told Dean Milman that such strong language had rarely ever passed between a sovereign and his minister. Tomline's account of what happened, written to his wife immediately after seeing Pitt on his return from Windsor (23 Jan. 1804),