LE MESURIER begged our attention to a little French Air, “Sous le nom de l’amitié en finesse on abonde”—cursed mal-à-propos.
PITT swore he was insulted, and got up to go away. The Alderman, much terrified at what he had done, protested solemnly he meant no offence, and called God to witness, it was a very harmless song he learnt some time ago in Guernsey—Could not appease PITT—so went away with him, after ordering MULGRAVE not to let SYDNEY drink any more wine, for fear he should begin talking.
PITT desired the servants to put out the flambeaux, as we went through the city—(a sad coward!) asked me if I did not think FOX’s a very able speech—sighed, and said he had promised to answer it to-morrow—wished however to do nothing in a hurry—expressed much diffidence in his own abilities, and paid me many compliments—thought I had a fine opportunity to shew my talents—assured me he should think nothing of waving his right to reply; and that he had not the least objection to letting me answer FOX—begged to decline the offer. N.B. He seemed very uneasy and much frightened—never knew him diffident before—wish to-morrow was well over.
Came home—opened a bottle of champaigne which I brought in the carriage with me from the Directors’ dinner—looked over my list of levee men—found nine field officers yet unprovided for. Wrote to ROSS, enclosing the copy of a letter to be sent to me from Lord C——LL—S requiring more King’s troops—finished my bottle and went to bed.
March 12.—Went to the levee—He looked surly—would hardly speak to me—don’t like him—must have heard that I can govern INDIA without consulting him.—Nothing ever escapes that damned fellow SHERIDAN!
Between four and five went to the House—worse than the levee—PITT would not speak, pretended it was better to wait for FOX—put him in mind of the excuse he made at the end of the last debate, and his promise to answer calumnies—don’t mind promises—a damned good quality that—but ought to consider his friends—GEO. HARDINGE spoke in consequence of my orders—forgot I was sitting below him—attacked Lord NORTH’s administration—got into a cursed scrape with POWIS—won’t do for CHANCELLOR—why not try BURGESS?—SCOTT defended what he had said in the last debate—made it worse than ever—quoted from DEBRETT’s debates—talked about an adder—thought he was alluding to PITT—our lawyers somehow don’t answer—ADAM and ANSTRUTHER worth them all—can’t they be bought?—Scotchmen!—damned strange if they can’t—Mem. to tell ROSE to sound them.
ADAM severe on me and the rest that have betrayed Lord NORTH—a general confusion all round PITT—no one to defend us—VILLIERS grinned—GRAHAM simpered—MULGRAVE growled—by G—d I believe PITT enjoyed it—always pleased when his friends get into a scrape.—Mem. to give him a lecture upon that—MULGRAVE spoke at last—wish he’d held his tongue—SHERIDAN answered him—improves every day—wish we had him——very odd so clever a fellow shouldn’t be able to see his own interest—wouldn’t venture on a reply myself, for fear of another lick from that clumsy boor Sir EDWARD ASTLEY—said my long speech was dull and tiresome—what’s the matter with the fellow?—used to vote with us—believe LANSDOWN’s got him.—Mem. to tell STEELE to look out for another Member for the county of Norfolk.
Jogged PITT—told him SHERIDAN’s speech must be answered—said, I might do it then, for he couldn’t—PULTENEY relieved us a little, pretending to be gull’d by the checks—too great nonsense to have any effect on the House.—BASTARD forgot his last abuse of PITT, and talked again about confidence; but was against the Bill—what’s confidence without a vote?—came to a division at last—better than the former—had whipped in well from SCOTLAND—the House seems tired—hope we shan’t have much more of this.
Mem. to give orders to MANNERS to make a noise, and let nobody speak on third reading—a very useful fellow that MANNERS—does more good sometimes than ten speakers.
March 14th. God’s infinite mercy be praised, AMEN! This is the last day that infernal DECLARATORY BILL stays in the House of Commons—as for the Lords—but that’s no business of mine; only poor SYDNEY!—Well—God bless us all—AMEN!