CONTENTS
xv
PAGE
the Board of Trade—Correspondence with Bute—The renewal of proceedings against Wilkes—Shelburne speaks against the Government—He is removed from the post of Aide-de-camp to the King—Barré loses the Adjutancy of the Forces and the Governorship of Stirling Castle—Shelburne breaks off relations with Bute—The King shows his dissatisfaction at Court |
198 |
Shelburne retires to the country—Wycombe Abbey and Bowood—Books, manuscripts, and wild beasts—House in Hill Street—Political and personal friends—Letters from Blackstone and Hume—Dunning and Franklin—Shelburne's marriage with Lady Sophia Carteret, daughter of John, Lord Granville—The Stamp Act becomes law—Barré opposes it His speech on the "Sons of Liberty"—Opinion of Jackson "the Omniscient" on Colonial rights—Communications with Pitt—He expresses a desire for Shelburne's support—Opposition to the Regency Bill—Weak position of the Grenville Ministry—He resigns—Pitt's failure to form an Administration—Lord Temple—Lord Rockingham forms a Ministry—He offers a place to Shelburne, who declines it—Lord George Sackville becomes Vice-Treasurer of Ireland—His character as depicted by Shelburne |
216 |
Attack by Shelburne on the Stamp Act—Negotiations between Pitt and Shelburne—Speech of Pitt on the taxation of America—Account of these events subsequently given by George III. to Lord Ashburton—The Bill to repeal the Stamp Act—The Declaratory Bill—The King's offers to Pitt—He declines them—Shelburne's vote in the House of Lords against the Declaratory Bill—Correspondence with Pitt—Internal and external taxation—Conflicting theories—The Imperial power—Commencement of the great schism of the Whig party—Burke and Pitt—Discussion of responsibilities—Extracts from the Diary of Lady Shelburne—A letter from Pitt—New Ministry—Grafton First Lord of the Treasury—Pitt becomes Earl of Chatham and Privy Seal—He makes Shelburne Secretary of State for the Southern Department—Choiseul's views on the situation |
252 |
Division of the office of Secretary of State—The Northern and the Southern Departments—Proposal to create a third Secretary of State—Condition of Foreign Affairs in 1766—Choiseul and Grimaldi—Their peaceful professions and warlike instructions—Questions immediately at issue with the European |
