Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/92

70 "Somewhat more might have passed, but I don't think anything material has been omitted. I told him L Mahon was zealous, warm, and not much practised in dealing with men; and therefore any expression of the sort alluded to, ought not to be taken too seriously. The Duke said, 'L  Mahon tells me that if L  Rockingham comes into the proposition of the hundred Knights, L  Shelburne will immediately come to town': I answered, 'L  Mahon may answer for his coming upon such an occasion, but I will not venture to do so.' He seemed very well pleased with our conversation, for I believe he suspected that there was some negotiation going on, and was happy to find that there was no room for his suspicion.

"I met L F. Cavendish in the Park, and we had a conversation of the same nature though a very short one. I told him of what had passed between the D. of R. and me, he expressed much satisfaction, and finished with these words, 'L  Shelburne must with very little attention and management be at the head of us, our body has property, &c., but we have not those powers that enable men to take the lead in public assemblies. You see what has been the case of C. Fox. We must naturally give way to such men.'

"In my last letter I told you Dunning agreed in opinion with you and me; I have not been able to see him since these conversations: he is in good health and spirits. Our business does not I believe come on till Wednesday, as L N. has been very ill, but has got much better. Fox called at my house yesterday after I had set out for this place."

To this communication, which was followed by several others bearing on the same subject, Shelburne replied:

"Be so good to tell the Duke of Richmond that I am extremely sensible to every mark of his attention. He cannot be surprised at my not attending Parliament; on the contrary, he must have a strange opinion of my unsteadiness and irresolution if I did; as he was present