Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/127

Rh

Cabinet being summoned to a meeting this morning on the subject of what is called the Establishment Bill, I late last night thought it right to cast my eye on it, and finding some parts more revolting than others to my mind, thought that the very handsome manner in which Lord Shelburne has spoken on this very unpleasant business to me, demanded my writing without reserve to him on this very personal subject; and my sending the copy I have of the old Bill as printed when Mr. Burke was carrying it through the House of Commons, with written references on the margin, and the fate of each clause in the Committee. When Lord Shelburne has made his use of the Bill, I desire he will return this copy to me, but before I enter on this business it may not be improper for me to state what passed on this measure to the best of my recollection with Lord Shelburne and afterwards with Lord Rockingham.

"When necessity made me yield to the advice of Lord Shelburne in permitting him to offer the Treasury to Lord Rockingham, four propositions were insisted on by that quarter.

"1º. No veto to the Independence of America. 2º. Contractors Bill. 3º. Disqualification of Revenue Officers from voting at Elections of Members of Parliament. 4º. The reduction of several offices proposed in Mr. Burke's Establishment Bill, and a rigid economy in the Administration of the Civil List.

"The answers I gave were I hope cautious and not unsatisfactory as to the three first, and therefore need not be repeated here. As to the last I declared a willingness to introduce the most rigid economy; but that I trusted it could not be meant under that word either to affect the dignity of the Crown, by reducing such offices as had any peculiar attendance on the person of the King, or to