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246 the most humiliating which could be invented. It was understood that his life was spared out of regard to his family, and to the earnest intercession of his father.

"The old King wanted him expelled the House of Commons, and pressed the measure upon Mr. Pitt in the presence of Lord Holdernesse, who persisted in declining it, alleging that if he was expelled and afterwards came to be re-elected, which might happen for some family borough, he did not see what the House of Commons could do, which marked a sagacity in Mr. Pitt which did him the highest honour, considering all that since happened upon Mr. Wilkes' expulsion; the King finding Mr. Pitt persist, turned round to Lord Hardwicke and said: 'Then I do wish Pitt very much joy upon the company which he wishes to keep.' After this Lord George sank into obscurity and general contempt. No man would be seen to speak to him in the House of Commons or anywhere else. However, he persevered, till men grew weary of showing him a contempt which did not abash him. At last the Rockingham party in 1765, who wanted equally both penetration and fortitude, were the first to whitewash him, for no other reason than that they were under an apprehension that they should have nobody to speak for them the first day of the Session, on account of the seats of the principal persons of the party being vacated in consequence of their accepting office till they could be re-elected. They did not venture to restore him to his military rank, but they brought him back to the Privy Council, and appointed him Vice Treasurer of Ireland. Lord Chatham coming in the following year dismissed him from being Vice Treasurer, while, however, both he and the Court had gained the grand point of his being once more producible to great employment. To this end he continued taking the most popular part he was capable of, and recovering as much consideration as he could, which his new friends were very well calculated to give him, while he took care to have the advantage of them, till the Court, with which he was always connected underhand, thought it proper to call him forth to be American Secretary. The Court itself, and indeed most