Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/283

Rh Strachey as Secretary to the Treasury, running as follows: —

"I cannot help troubling your Lordship with this hasty line merely to communicate a conversation I have just had with Mr. Hatsell, to whom I had gone for information on the subject of the division of Monday.

"He observed to me, that he would not ask about your Lordship's intentions, but he would merely in confidential talk with me throw out his own idea and firm belief, that the question of stability or downfall to your Administration depends solely (as your Lordship has always said) upon the Highest. It is not the difference of the peace. It is his will. Lord Guildford is notoriously liable to his influence in a complete degree—and Lord North is not less so to Lord Guildford's. That it would therefore be only necessary to represent to the King that the matter solely depended upon him; that if he was solicitous to continue the Government in the present hands, he should speak to Lord Guildford and to such others, as will be moved by the certainty of his interference; such as Sir G. Osborne &c. &c.; that it would not answer to take any power yourself to treat, for experience had formerly shown, that nothing less than the King's earnest co-operation and immediate address could do. If he declines this, it should be taken as an infallible evidence of his indifference, at least about the event, and of course your Lordship would consider whether it would be comfortable, creditable, or safe, to continue efforts in his service under such disadvantage.

"I must own, that this opinion, though not meant to be conveyed to your Lordship, and without the most distinct intimation from me, that I designed to do so, so entirely coincides with my own, and which I in part took the liberty of opening to your Lordship this morning, that I cannot help writing it, as soon as I have got back to the Treasury.

"I am convinced, that it would be of the first con-