QUEEN'S HOUSE, Nov. 26, 1769, p. M. "LORD WEYMOUTH:- Being this day confined by a severe cold, and imagining that the very agreeable report of the judges may require some conversation on the proper mode of making this known, I desire you will come here at any time most convenient to yourself this day."

"QUEEN'S HOUSE, Jan. 23, 1770, m pt 9 A. M. "LORD WEYMOUTH:-I sincerely congratulate you on the safe delivery of Lady Weymouth of a second son.' The queen has desired me to express the pleasure she also feels at an event that must give you so much joy."

"QUEEN'S HOUSE, April 12, 1770, m pt 11. "LORD WEYMOUTH:- The real regard I have for you would have inclined me with pleasure to have advanced Mr. Thynne on the present occasion, had I not found that his not taking an active part in debate would have hurt those that stand forward in the House of Commons, and knowing your zeal for my service would not make

his head with a bludgeon, of which he died in a few days. The prisoners were respited from time to time till the 8th of March, when they received the king's pardon.

'Lady Weymouth on this day had been brought to bed of her tenth child, George, who, in June, 1826, succeeded his uncle, Henry Frederick, as second Baron Carteret of the Thynne family.

you wish what could be in the least detrimental to it." I

"QUEEN'S HOUSE, April 15, 1770, m pt 9 A. M.

"LORD WEYMOUTH :- Having read on Friday, in your draft to Lord Harcourt, that you had received a private letter from him that requires your speaking to me, after which you will give him a speedy answer, I desire you will call here any time after seven to-morrow evening; as I do not choose to talk on business immediately on coming from the chapel on sacrament days."

"RICHMOND LODGE, Sep. 30, 1770, 6 o'clock P. M.

"LORD WEYMOUTH:- I thoroughly approve of the openness and clearness with which you have, in the enclosed draft, given your ideas to Lord Hillsborough on the necessity of more exactly defining your department, in case war should arise, lest that secrecy and despatch, on which the success of war must so greatly depend, should

'The "Mr. Thynne" referred to in this note was clearly Lord Weymouth's only surviving brother, the Hon. Henry Frederick Thynne, at this time master of the household to George III. In a note from the king to Lord North, dated the same day (April 12th), he intimates the "impossibility" of his complying with Lord Weymouth's request for his brother's advancement, and his intention of writing him a "civil note to that effect. In the month of December following, Mr. Thynne was appointed joint paymaster-general, and, on the 29th of January, 1784, was advanced to the peerage by the title of Baron Carteret. He died on the 18th of June, 1826, at the age of ninety-one.

suffer by extending the business to too many offices.

"Your conduct, during the time you have held the seals, makes me desirous that this affair should be so far accommodated, as to enable you to feel pleasant in your department. On the other hand, I should be sorry Lord Hillsborough felt himself aggrieved. I know your prudence can be relied on, and your wish of no further increase of department than what the good of the service requires. I therefore trust, when you both coolly discuss this matter, that such an expedient may occur as may be satisfactory. I am anxious that this may be previous to my seeing you on Wednesday.”

"RICHMOND LODGE, Oct. 15, 1770,

pt 4 P. M.

"LORD WEYMOUTH:- The Spanish ambassador's being confined to a convention explains his not acting agreeably to what the Duke of Choiseul meant to advise him. I hope his instructions, in consequence of the messenger he will send to-night to his court, will be very ample, and such as may enable him to finish this affair in the manner we have a right to expect, as every delay will augment difficulties."

"By an act of the Governor of Buenos Ayres, in seizing by force one of my possessions," runs the speech from the throne on the 13th of November, 1770, "the honour of my Crown and the security of my people's rights were become deeply affected. Under these circumstances I did not fail to make an immediate demand from the court of Spain of such satisfaction as I had

66

QUEEN'S HOUSE, Nov. 8, 1770, m pt 8 P. M. "LORD WEYMOUTH: Your account of Lord Mansfield is very satisfactory, and ensures a very handsome appearance to-morrow. I can, in return, acquaint you that Lord Talbot will certainly act also as he ought. When you have been at the meeting at the Duke of Grafton's, I wish you would call here this evening, that I may hear some particulars with regard to the appearance there, and also of your conversation at Ken Wood."

"QUEEN'S HOUSE, Nov. 21, 1770, m pt 6 P. M. "LORD WEYMOUTH:-The enclosed project of a declaration, which you have only received to assist your memory, is quite inadmissible. I hope the conversation you have had with the ambassador will make him draw up one more calculated to terminate this affair amicably. This one cannot require my adding anything more.” 1

a right to expect for the injury I had received." The king's speech, on the 8th of May following, announces that he has obtained from his Catholic Majesty the satisfaction he had demanded.

This note of course refers, like the preceding one of the 15th of October, to the celebrated dispute with Spain relative to the right of possession to the Falkland Islands.

CHAPTER VII.

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Connection of the North American Colonies with England — The Americans, and Especially Massachusetts, Take Their Stand Against Taxation by the Home Government — Arbitrary Behaviour of Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of StateAssembly of Massachusetts Abruptly Dissolved by Sir John Bernard, the Governor- "Committees of Correspondence" Established in the Provinces - Infatuation of the English Ministers in Reference to Colonial Affairs - Customs Riots at Boston - Coercion Continued by Government-Organised Resistance in the American Provinces Public Feeling in England.

At the time when George the Third ascended the throne of these realms, the Americans were a free, prosperous, and happy people. "They are governed," were the words of Benjamin Franklin, in 1766, "at the expense only of a little pen, ink, and paper. They are led by a thread. They have not only a respect, but an affection for Great Britain, for its laws, its customs, and manners; and even a fondness for its fashions." When the Americans spoke of England it was under the endearing appellation of "home." Yet, affectionately attached as they were to the mother

I

'Evidence of Franklin before a committee of the House of Commons, February, 1766.