Correspondence of the late JOHN COURTENAY, Esq., with Lord SHELBURNE, Colonel BARRE, the Duke of RICHMOND, Mr. LEES, Mr. BERESFORD, Mr. HAMILTON, Chief Baron EYRE, and Mr. Fox, between the years 1782 and 1792.

VII.

From Mr. COURTENAY to Mr. L.

DEAR LEES,

Lord Townshend told me yesterday (what he should have acquainted me of before) that Mr. Pitt, on his Lordship being created a Marquis, told him that it was neither meant nor expected that any restraint should be laid on his friend Mr. Courtenay's political conduct. This, added his Lordship, will prevent any invidious reflection on your going on in Opposition, after I have received such a signal mark of honour from the Crown. I told his Lordship I was perfectly sensible of the handsome and delicate manner in which he had acted towards me since I was in Parliament; and that on a former occasion I had asked him whether the part I meant to take (on the Irish propositions) would be prejudicial to his interest, as in that case I would instantly accept the Chiltern Hundreds. He told me I might act as I pleased; but his Lordship added, that he thought it right that I should know what Mr.Pitt had said, for the reason he had already mentioned. If the minister meant his explanation to the Marquis as a mark of magnanimous contempt of me, and lest it should be thought that he was affected or discomposed by my personality, as if this had influenced him to any act of political favour towards me: if this was his motive, I like him the better for his spirit. Till his illiberal, mean, and ungenerous attack on me (even in the opinion of his own friends) in Lord Hood's business, I never entertained the least animosity against him. From that time, I own fairly, I did and was resolved to retaliate without any bounds or moderation; and made no secret of my intentions, as many can witness. Mr. Beresford's letter embarrassed me exceedingly, as I concluded from it that my continuing in Opposition might essentially hurt Lord Townshend's interest, and be disagreeable to him. At

the same time my own situation (which I need not disguise to you) and what I have suffered between passion, pride, and distress, and the anguish I have felt at not being able to continue my children's education: all those circumstances, embittered by other reflections, and various disappointments, have wounded my very soul. I have long hated the business and attendance in Parliament, especially in my dependent state; and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to get out of it. My sentiments, on taking a part with Administration, I have already given you. I could not reconcile it to myself; I should feel myself dishonoured and disgraced, and my vote one day in the House would make me shoot myself the next. Mr. Fox has always treated me with great kindness, and has laid me under obligations which I shall never forget; and I both love and admire my friend Sheridan. Mr. Beresford, in his letter to you, left me the alternative of going out of Parliament, with which I closed; I thought I might fairly do so. I am sure Mr. B. in my situation (after having, inadvertently perhaps at times, taken too strong a part, and hazarded some imprudent declarations perhaps) would not join Administration. I know his manly way of thinking too much to doubt it. In fact I could not do it even were I to derive the highest advantages from such a step. Be assured, my dear Lees, I consider myself under great obligations to Mr. Beresford, for his so kindly and warmly interesting himself to serve me. I would, as a duty incumbent on me, do any thing to save my children from inevitable ruin (except dishonouring myself). I am perfectly persuaded that must soon be the case, as I have not either of the two modern or fashionable resources, to wit, (if I may use Mr. Ellis's figure) a pack of cards or a dice-box. I have no share in a Pharoah bank, or credit with any bank: at the same time I value a seat in Parliament, as though it does not give me office, it keeps me out of a very disagreeable office-the King's Bench. I have explained my sentiments and situation in this and a former letter. I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Beresford's honour, and shall ever (whatever may be the event) retain the warm

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VIII.

J. C.

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sake both of Mr. Pitt and Courtenay he ought not to have told this conversation at all; but much less ought he to have made the comment which he did: "that it would prevent any invidious reflections on his going into Opposition after the favour the Marquis received." This was absolutely desiring, or at least encouraging him to oppose; when the utmost which a dispassionate man could make of Mr. Pitt's words were, that it was not expected that his Lordship should interfere, to prevent Courtenay

him to me.

Abbeville, December 9, 1787.

MY DEAR LEES,

It is impossible to read Courtenay's letter without great emotions; it is very evident be wrote it in great agitation of mind; he calls upon you as his friend to give him advice, and speedily; and in such cases it is the duty of a friend to speak out, and state things in their true light. You call upon me for my opinion to enable you so to do; and I will give it to you openly and honestly.

I shall begin with our friend the Marquis, and I trust that the conversation which he held in Bond-street was highly ungenerous and improper. If Mr. Pitt bad told him that it was neither meant or expected that any restraint should be laid upon his friend Courtenay's political conduct, he ought to have considered that only so far as it went to himself; he ought to have taken it merely as a compliment to himself; as meaning, that you see, notwithstanding that you have but one seat in Parliament, which is filled by a friend who has constantly opposed me, I have done your business: which shows that I did not attribute his opposition to you; and, should he continue still to oppose, it will make no alteration in my conduct to you. He had no right to take it in any other sense; he could not suppose that Mr. Pitt meant to say, that he wished Courtenay to be told that his opposition gaye him pleasure; but if that were the case, the Marquis ought not to have told this to Courtenay; he ought to have left him to his own judgment and his own feelings upon the occasion; because, first, he ought to have wished that Courtenay did not take a part against Mr. Pitt; and, next, he ought to have considered that if Mr. Pitt meant that he should desire Courtenay to go on opposing, it could only be for the purpose of putting it out of the Marquis's power ever to interfere in Courtenay's favour. So that for the

ment.

Again, if the Marquis, on the Irish propositions, said to Courtenay, that his interest was not concerned, and desired him to go on with his own party, and do as he pleased, he certainly did not act an open and a manly part, because these were not his sentiments, and at the time that Lady Townshend was lying-in at Barre's in Mortimer-street, which was the time alluded to, he held the contrary in a long conversation with me, leaning out of Barré's window. In this conversation, which related to his own conduct, and in which I urged him to leave the management of his pretensions solely to me, and that I would accomplish his purpose if he continued to support government; he very honorably said, he would accept of nothing, unless his friend Courtenay was taken care of. And on my urging him to speak to Courtenay, and to tell him his expectations and his wishes, in order to guide Courtenay; he assured me that the line Courtenay took was in his own opinion wrong, and very disagreeable to him. I was not content with this. I spoke to Courtenay myself. I went as near the wind as I thought I could do; I acquainted him that I had spoken to Mr. Pitt upon Lord Townshend's affairs, both honours and profits, and expected to be able to serve him; nay, I even spoke to him of his own conduct, and advised him to keep himself quiet. I spoke to you after to the same purpose; and I did this, because (I may repeat this to you to whom I have often told it) I had spoken to Mr. Pitt in Courtenay's favour; and had told him, what Lord Townshend said, and had received an answer through Rose, that however well disposed Mr. Pitt might be to oblige Lord T. or me, yet that Courtenay put it out of his power to do any thing for him for the present; that he had wantonly and unprovokedly attacked him from the beginning of his administration; and that it was impossible for

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him to do any thing for him then, as it would be construed into fear of abuse, and buying off those who made use of this means of pushing themselves. Aud Rose added, that he would do Courtenay any service he could to oblige me, but that he was in the wrong line, and must curb himself; that they cared not a farthing what he said; but that while be continued such conduct, Mr. Pitt would never subject himself to the possible supposition of buying off one who abused him; he must therefore hold his tongue on such subjects; and as to his voting, he did not care how he voted. Upon recollection, this passed on former conversation which Lord T. held with me in Tenterden-street, when I first went over upon the Irish propositions. I mean Lord T.'s first declaration to me, of his accepting nothing unless Courtenay was taken care of, and my speaking to Mr. Pitt, &c. happened then; and I recollect my speaking to Courtenay on the subject, and stating to him that the Irish Propositions were a proper opportunity for him to take to defend the measures of administration; and I recollect showing or reading to him a state of the matter which I then wrote, and which Mr. Rose afterwards published, and which went by the name of the Treasury Pamphlet; and this I did to assist him, or give him such an idea of the subject, as might enable him to take that side of the question. I conversed with Hamilton on the subject of Courtenay, who told me he would speak to him; and afterwards, when Lord T. held the conversation with me at Barie's, I asked him how he would conduct himself to a man who abused him in Parliament, when he was Ld. Lt. Thus much I state to you, to shew you the motive which induced me to advise Courtenay to keep himself quiet, and in order to enable you to judge what advice you will now give him.

I must make one more observation upon the words of the Marquis, as stated by Courtenay. The Marquis desired C. to go on with his party, and do as he pleased. What is the meaning of this? Did the Marquis think that C. had a party distinct from himself; or did he mean to convey to C. that he thought so, he might do as he pleased? You must be sensible that nothing but the height of imprudence could have led Courtenay into any party; his line was clear and easy, to live with those he liked and loved; but to keep himself distinct from them in Parliament, which

[Sept. 1,

he had it in his power to do without giving any of them offence. However, he has not followed this line; he has involved himself, I know not how far, and therefore am not capable of saying precisely what he can do; but from his nice and honourable feelings I should suppose he is far involved with Mr. Fox and Mr. Sheridan; although I think this wrong in himself, I should be very far from even wishing that he should attempt to get out of such a scrape, by any means which could dishonor him. I gave you my sentiments before upon this subject, I confess I retain them still; I think Courtenay would be fully justified in following Lord Townshend; but if he does not think so, his feelings must be considered, and some other line struck out.

I admire the abilities of Mr. Fox as much as Courtenay does. I have no doubt, but that such abilities and such connections as he is possessed of, must bring him into Administration in the circle of events; but the opportunity does not appear to be near; and, in the mean time, what is to become of poor Courtenay, if his feelings now forbid him to take the line which is situation demands? Let him ask Mr. Fox his opinion upon the subject. I have such an idea of Mr. Fox's sense and manliness, that I verily believe he would, considering every thing, advise Courtenay to follow Lord Townshend; or else he would devise some plan by which he was to be supported. I wish Courtenay would speak out to Gerard Hamilton, and consult him; he I know is willing to assist him; and will give him his best opinion.

As Courtenay's feelings interfere with with one part of the advice I gave you in my former letter, and there are strong objections stated against his going out of Parliament; and as indeed it does not follow that if he did he would get into office; perhaps the wisest thing he could do would be to follow Rose's former advice; to vote as he chuses, and hold his tongue; but in such case, would he at any time accept any office that could be got for him? For if he would, so soon as he accepted, he would be embarrassed perhaps as much as now, or more.

Courtenay says he had no animosity against Pitt, until after the business of Lord Hood; pray what is that to Pitt? Did he not, without animosity, say all the bitter things he could to him? And, as a public man, it is pretty equal to Mr. Pitt what the motives may be, which in

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duced him to say them. Bitter words answer no purpose to any man; and when they come from a man, who, let his honour, or his integrity, or his character, be what it may, will be looked upon as holding a seat by connection, &c. and that they are pointed against a popular minister, a man of family and connections in his own country, the son of a great and popular minister, who has the nation at present at his back; such words will injure the man who speaks them, but not him against whom they are directed. I see, therefore, no possible good which can arise to C. from a perseverance in such a line; I see much harm. Positively, I think, I fairly confess, C. the first aggressor; and therefore I think he has no right to harbour animosity; he began unprovoked, and attacked Mr. Pitt, who either did not or pretended not to feel. Courtenay, on another occa. sion, as he says, unguardedly attacked Lord Hood. Was it very surprising that

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any man should on such an occasion repay him what he would not do in his own case? I think not.

I have said to you every thing I can suggest. I would not do so, did I not love C.; the advice I gave you before was for the purpose of putting Courtenay within the possibility of being served, by taking away the impediments which stood in his way to office; but not having an office to dispose of, uor being sure of his friends being able to procure one for him; nor being sure, whether if they could, that he would accept of it, or on what conditions; I cannot advise his going out of Parliament in his present circunstances, but I cannot hesitate to advise his conducting himself there with prudence and caution, and his endeavouring to leave it in his friends' power to serve him, if he can bring himself to accept of their good offices, which he ought to explain. Yours sincerely,

J. BERESFORD.

FRANCIS HAYMAN.

IT is well known that Cosway was always in his dress and manners very different from Hayman. One night, at the club held at the Turk's Head in Gerrardstreet, Soho, the former called in after a visit at court in red-heeled shoes, and otherwise dressed à la macaroni, when the room was so full that he could not find a vacant seat. "What, canst thou find no room?" said Hayman to him in a sneering manner. "Come here, my little Jack-a-dandy, and sit upon my knee; my little monkey." "If I did," retorted Cosway, "it would not be the first time the monkey rode the bear."

Hayman and Beau Nash, having one evening been rioting in a tavern, were returning intoxicated, when Nash fell into the kennel. His companion, in endeavouring to raise him, fell down also, on which Nash muttered: "What's the use of troubling yourself? The watch will come by soon, and they will pick us both up."

Hayman, who well deserved the de-, signation of bear, was strongly opposite in behaviour to the polite Carlini, who

ever insisted on seeing him home from the Turk's Head. On parting, his constant manner of thanking Carlini was by saying: "There, Mr. Carlini, now you may go, and be d--d; good night." "Tankee, Mr. Hayman," was the constant reply of the foreigner.

When Hayman was painting the pictures of the British heroes for the room at Vauxhall, the gallant and good natured Marquis of Granby paid him a visit at his house in St. Martin's-lane, and told him be came at the desire of his friend Tyers, the proprietor of Vauxhall Gardens, to sit for his portrait. "But, Frank," said the hero of Minden, "before I sit to you, I insist on having a set-to with you. Hayman, not understanding him, and appearing surprised at the oddity of the declaration, the Marquis exclaimed: "I have been told you were one of the last boxers of the school of Broughton, and I am not altogether deficient in the pugilistic art; but since I have been in Germany I have got a little out of practice, therefore I will have a fair trial of strength and skill." Hayman pleaded his age and gout as insuperable obstacles. To the first