[32] It appears from the Duke of Bedford’s Journal that he had a long interview with Lord Rockingham on the 23rd, in which the latter behaved very politely and cordially to him, and it was probably out of that interview that the Duke of Richmond’s communication originated. Lord Rockingham subsequently considered that nothing but the interference of the Grenvilles prevented the Duke’s concurrence with him in forming a Ministry. The Duke of Grafton seems to have been of the same opinion.--(Bedford MSS.)--E.
[33] It was after Mr. Pelham’s death, when he had joined the Duke of Newcastle, and was made Secretary of State. He came to me and told me he believed that he could procure for my own life the place I held during my brother’s, if I would be well with the Duke of Newcastle. I replied warmly and peremptorily, “Mr. Fox, do you think that, after laughing at the Duke of Newcastle all my life, I will stoop to accept a favour from him?”
[34] A distinct confirmation of Lord Bute’s statement may be found in the Memoirs of Mr. Dutens, the Secretary to Mr. Mackenzie. His Lordship assured that gentleman “that since the year 1766 he never interfered, directly or indirectly, with public affairs, nor had privately seen the King during that period. He continued to visit regularly the Princess of Wales; but when the King came to see his mother, he always retired by a back staircase.”--(Memoirs of a Traveller now in Retirement, vol. iv. p. 183.)--E.
[35] Lord Beauchamp and Lord Mountstewart, sons of the Earls of Hertford and Bute, had married the two daughters of the late Lord Windsor.
[36] Lord Chancellor Bowes; he was an Englishman who had practised at the Irish Bar, where he had successively filled the offices of Solicitor and Attorney General. He was afterwards Lord Chief Baron, and on the death of Lord Jocelyn obtained the Great Seal with an Irish Peerage. He died in 1767 without male issue. He is said to have been learned and eloquent, and to have presided in the House of Lords with great dignity. Some interesting letters from him to Mr. Dodington are printed in the Appendix to Adolphus’s History of George the Third.--E.
[37] This portrait has the broad lines of truth, and is more to be depended upon than Mr. Burke’s splendid and affectionate panegyric, (Speech on American Taxation;) and yet who can blame the warmth with which this great man claims admiration for a genius which in some points resembled his own? It is to be regretted that of the many eminent literary men who enjoyed Mr. Townshend’s intimacy, none should have left behind any memorial by which his wonderful qualities might be justly appreciated. In the absence of all biographical information, the following loose memoranda from Sir George Colebrooke’s Memoirs are not without value.