Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/259

Rh To Barré, whom Conway had meanwhile invited to join the Administration, Shelburne explained his sentiments on the political situation more fully as follows:

"Our friend Dempster has been with me to desire my opinion whether he should engage with the Duke's Administration, with Lord Rockingham at the head of the Treasury. He had been applied to by Fitzherbert, but declined going to Lord Rockingham till he had seen me, upon which it was given him to understand that he would do a very agreeable service by finding out my opinion in this crisis, both as to myself and as to you. I returned his attention by advising him, as he seemed to approve the line of measures, by all means to assist the King if it suited his private arrangements. As to myself, I told him the less that was said of me the better; that I had lately entered into engagements of a domestic nature, which I did not choose to break through; but that, besides the affection I originally had for the King, I could not help feeling for him on this occasion, and commending a great part of his conduct, and would undoubtedly, when winter came, whoever was his Minister, if he proposed right measures, support them; as to you, that you must answer for yourself, when you came over; that I could not take upon me to conjecture even what your sentiments might be; that I influenced no man, not even my brother. There have been communications from other quarters, which I cannot trust to paper, but they ended in nothing particular, and in general have been upon the same line as this I mention, accompanied with the most moderate language towards particulars of all sides, and as much respect and affection to the King as I could convey through a third person. I wish I could give you further light out of this chaos which at present reigns throughout, in which the only wise plan appears to me is to stand still yet awhile. When you come over, you may be able to see clearer, but as I know by experience, it is pleasant at a distance to be advised freely, I would advise you by all means to prosecute your tour,