having in consequence of it been entirely dropped, are
circumstances which I think are sufficient to show that he has
not been driven out; and by his retiring, we shall avoid many
other discussions, which would, I am persuaded, have been
brought forward. Pitt's intention is to place his brother at the
head of that department, giving him Sir Charles Middleton and
Hood for assistants; and prevailing with Mulgrave, if possible,
to accept the Comptrollership of the Navy. I have no doubt of
this arrangement being, in general, very acceptable; the great
popularity of Lord Chatham's manners, added to that of his name,
and his near connection with Pitt, are, I think, sufficient to
remove the impression of any objection in the public opinion,
from his being brought forward in the first instance in so
responsible a situation. To those who know him, there can be no
doubt that his abilities are fully equal to the undertaking,
arduous as it is; and to those who do not, Sir Charles
Middleton's name and character will hold out a solution. On the
whole, I am persuaded that this arrangement will not only be the
best that could be made under the present circumstances, but
that it will be a source of real and solid strength to Pitt's
Government, by bringing Lord Chatham forward, and by connecting
the department of the Admiralty with the rest of the
Administration, which has never yet been the case under Pitt's
Government, even in the smallest degree. The opening which
Mulgrave makes, enables Pitt to make Lord Sydney sole Paymaster,
and to give me the Seals of the Home Department. He has shown
much anxiety to bring this part of the arrangement to bear; and
I sometimes flatter myself, that in this part also of his
Government he will be considerably stronger than before.

I have obtained his permission to communicate to you the whole
of this plan immediately after its formation. I think its
execution probable, though not certain. It has as yet not been
communicated even to many of the parties concerned. He is to
begin by his brother, whom he sees to-day, in order to obtain
his final consent, which, from previous conversations, he has no
reason to doubt of. The other persons are to be talked to one by
one, and the whole to be done and declared the day before the
prorogation, in order that my