66 To DUKE OF GRAFTON 25 NOVEMBER 1766 that party to Mr Conway,* though varnished over with many com­ pliments. May I take the liberty of begging your Grace to urge this home to him, and to show him how little they deserve the struggle he is making for them. Surely it dispenses him from trying it farther. I have just told him so, and that when they abandon him, he is free from all engagements with them. They have left him for George Grenville,* whom they had so much disclaimed; and the very cautious Mr Yorke6 has stepped forth into strong opposition. I am sure that the more your Grace shall paint this to him as factious behaviour, the more impression it will make on him. If Lord Chatham would throw in a friendly word or two to him, it will make him feel their ill treatment more strongly.? I beg pardon for using so much freedom, but should be so hurt at seeing any sepa­ ration between your Grace and Mr Conway, whose integrity was so made for each other, that I cannot resist any occasion of doing all in my power to preserve that connection, and of both with Lord Chatham. I am my Lord Your Grace's most obedient humble servant HOR. WALPOLE the Rockingham ministry, he declined 1852-3, iii. 389; see also Correspondence Chatham's offer of a place in the new gov­ of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, ed. ernment, refusing to separate himself W. S. Taylor and J. H. Pringle, 1838-40, from the Rockingham Whigs. iii. 126-9; Mem. Geo. Ill ii. 266-8; Brooke, 4. Conway, who had agreed to serve op. cit. 53-6). under Chatham as secretary of state for 5. The policies of Grenville and his the northern department, was offended followers are discussed in Brooke, op. cit. by the recent dismissal of Lord Edgcumbe 262-75. (the friend of Conway's late patron, the 6. Hon. Charles Yorke (1722-70), second Duke of Devonshire) as treasurer of the son of the 1st E. of Hardwicke; attorney- Household, and hinted at resignation. general 1762-3, Aug. 1765 - Aug. 1766; At a meeting of the Rockingham party lord chancellor, 1770; M.P. chiefs on 19 Nov., Lord John Cavendish 7. HW reported to Mann 8 Dec. 1766: and others argued for further resignations 'Lord Chatham paid him [Conway] the from the administration as a show of greatest compliments, and declared how support for Conway. George Grenville's difficult it would be for him to go on diary describes Lord John's speech in without him. The Duke of Grafton was the Commons debate on the 25th as 'a alarmed to the utmost from his affection farewell speech to the administration' for him, and Lord Hertford and I, seeing (The Grenville Papers, ed. W. J. Smith, the factious and treacherous behaviour of .