Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/294

258 find some name in the House of Commons less unpopular than Townshend and the Lord Advocate; none occurring to me, he mentioned Thomas Pitt. I thought him a wrong-headed man. He said the Chancellor appeared to be inclined to give way, but that he would send for Lord Gower again, and try what could be done with him, together with the Lord Advocate. If he declined he thought of the Duke of Northumberland."

"On March 26th," Lord Ashburton continues, "I received a note informing me that the Chancellor was to call on me in his way to London, and desiring me to come to the Queen's house where I had seen him. The Chancellor called soon after 11 to learn from me how the numbers were to be made up, which could carry measures through, and said he understood from the King that I could explain it to him, and that the King was much encouraged by what Mr. Pitt had said to him. I told him I had undertaken no such part; that all I had said, was that Lord Gower, Mr. Townshend, and the Lord Advocate appeared to me a band to stand out upon, in the hope that numbers would follow, when a standard was raised; and if not, no harm was done. He said if he saw a man of force in the House of Commons, and had a board of his own, he would offer himself; but did not know any one else that would; that he had advised the King, seeing no more bright proposals, to send to Lord North, Mr. Fox etc., and to Lord Loughborough, as a man who would keep a sort of middle line. At half-past twelve I found the King had not misunderstood me, nor misrepresented me; but on the contrary had told the Chancellor that I had disclaimed to him any knowledge of numbers; that the Chancellor had left him to see the Lord Advocate at breakfast, and to call on me to talk with me about what could be done; that he had himself seen Lord Gower, who declined, and Mr. Jenkinson, who was ready to act as he should direct; that if he should listen to the Chancellor's advice, he would have Lord Weymouth present at the conversation,