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126 Two days after Fox replied:

"I will be at twelve in Audley Street, and wherever I am desired to be from this day forward. The part is taken, you shall hear no more of fears; I shall not deceive you, but nobody else shall see that I am not fond of my situation. I am quite sure I shall please my superiors; it is a chance as to others (particularly Tories) but the dye is thrown and I will stand the hazard as if I had thrown it myself."

Thus was the negotiation ended, and Fox accepted the lead of the House, practically as Minister sans porte-feuille. Bute expressed his own satisfaction in the following letter:

—I return the enclosed after having thoroughly weighed the contents of it, as well as the suggestion of the Duke of Cumberland that corresponds with it. I have considered the idea in one point of light only, the same that struck me when I placed it before your Lordship; for as to the additional thoughts of the Duke of Cumberland, titles, &c., had I ever been weak enough to ambition such trifles, all that the Crown could possibly bestow has been most certainly within my grasp ever since the King's accession. The only question then that occurred with me was, how far this (or any other) alteration in the plan proposed, could have more effectually supported the King's Honour, facilitated his measures, and produced the Peace, for to the accomplishments of these great points every pulse beats, and every wish of my soul turns, holding the sacrifice of myself as nothing if it procures any real advantage to my country, and to him, who is at once my King, my Master, and my Friend. Upon the most thorough and most disinterested examination therefore of this delicate point I am satisfi'd that any deviation from the plan proposed, will prove destructive