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devise the means of bettering the morals, augmenting the com-forts, and lessening the expense of maintaining the poor.

I sent to the Duke of Grafton the following letter, on his havingdesired my opinion concerning a project, then in agitation, re-specting a number of Peers going in a body to the King tocounsel His Majesty to open a negotiation with France: —

“ My dear Lord Duke, Calgarth Park, June 6. 1796.

“ Since the receipt of Your Grace’s letter on Friday last, Ihave done nothing but think of the subject of it; and I feel stillsome hesitation of judgment as to the propriety or impropriety ofthe measure mentioned in it.

“ That Mr. Fox ought not to be consulted, or made acquaintedwith the plan, is evident to me, not only out of regard to himself,but lest his interference might render the measure more ex-ceptionable in the estimation of the court and of the people thanit otherwise would be. For though Mr. Fox ought to be esteemedby both as highly as any man in the country, yet it is certain thathe is not, at present, so esteemed by either.

“ With respect to the measure itself, the first thing to be con-sidered is — What precedents there are of a small number ofPeers going in a body to offer their advice to the King: — ad-mitting that precedents may be found, are the precedents in goodtimes and fully in point? Admitting the precedental proprietyof the measure, may not the King make a reply to the followingpurport: — £ I take in good part this interposition of your advice,believing that it proceeds from loyalty to me, and zeal for thepublic good. All such acts of my government, as have originated