[270] Two letters, from Mr. Townshend to Mr. Pitt, on the offer of the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, are given in the Chatham Correspondence, vol. ii. pp. 456, 464.—E.
[271] Sir Charles Pratt, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
[272] He was Lord Chamberlain, and had married the only daughter of the late Duke of Devonshire, niece of Lord John Cavendish.
[273] Lady Henrietta Harley, sole daughter of Edward second Earl of Oxford, and widow of William third Duke of Portland.
[274] They contested the Parliamentary interest of the counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, where their estates lay. More of this rivalship will appear hereafter.
[275] Sir James Lowther had married Lady Mary Stuart, eldest daughter of the Earl of Bute.
[276] Francis Russell, Marquis of Tavistock, only son of John Duke of Bedford.
[277] Richard Vernon, Esq., had married the Countess-dowager of Ossory, youngest daughter of John first Earl Gower.
[278] He continued the leader of the Rockingham party in the House of Commons until his death, which took place at Nice in 1775. He left a family of eleven children, of whom one of his younger sons, the Rev. Dr. Dowdeswell, Canon of Christ Church, and Rector of Stansford Rivers, is the present possessor of his estates, having succeeded General Dowdeswell, an elder brother.—E.
[279] Neither had he neglected his interests whilst he held the Great Seal. He had actually given a great sinecure to a trustee for his three daughters.—E.