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Secret Memorandum, March 14, 1783

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2009

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Extract

I had an audience of the K. and thanked his M. for the honour he had done me in appointing me his Amb. to Fr. but begged to represent the very unpleasant situation I should find myself in at Versailles, being sent by those who had so strongly reprobated the preliminary Arties upon which the Defin. Tr. must be founded, H. M. saw the awkward situation I should be in, and only desired me to wait till something was settled, which he assured me was far from being the case; that he had wished to have a neutral person at the head of the Treasury, but however, having at length consented to the D. of P.s nomination, he had desired Ld N. would bring him an answer in two days, but that as yet he had received no answer. H. M. observed he thought neither Lord N. or Mr. Fox had done themselves much honour by the coalition.

Type
Political Memorandums
Information
Camden New Series , Volume 35: The Political Memoranda of Francis Fifth Duke of Leeds , January 1884 , pp. 84 - 85
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1884

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References

page 85 note 1 Lord Shelbnrne's Ministry was beaten in the House of Commons on February 21, in consequence of which he resigned on Feb. 24, recommending the King to send for Mr. Pitt. The next day the King employed every argument to persuade Pitt to take the seals, but without effect. The King then used every effort to form a Ministry without calling on the Coalition of Lord North and Fox, who had npset Lord Bhelburne, but without effect, and the country remained practically without a government. On March 18 Mr. Coke gave notice of an address to his Majesty, asking him to form a Ministry entitled to the confidence of the people. The motion as not brought on till Monday, March 24, and it was this debate to which Pitt refers. The King did not lose all hope of persuading Pitt to come forward till March 31, when he announced to the House of Commons that he had resigned the Chancellorship of the Exchequer.