which has tormented me
for some days, is now so far abated, that, although it will not
permit me to have the honour to wait on your majesty, yet is
kind enough to enable me so far to obey your orders, as to write
my sentiments concerning that troublesome man, Mr. Pulteney; and
to point out (what I conceive to be) the most effectual method
to make him perfectly quiet. Your majesty well knows how by the
dint of his eloquence he has so captivated the mob, and attained
an unbounded popularity, that the most manifest wrong appears to
be right, when adopted and urged by him. Hence it is, that he
has become not only troublesome but dangerous. The inconsiderate
multitude think that he has not one object but public good in
view; although, if they would reflect a little, they would soon
perceive that spleen against those your majesty has honoured
with your confidence has greater weight with him than
patriotism. Since, let any measure be proposed, however
salutary, if he thinks it comes from me, it is sufficient for
him to oppose it. Thus, sir, you see the affairs of the most
momentous concern are subject to the caprice of that popular
man; and he has nothing to do but call it a ministerial project,
and bellow out the word _favourite_, to have an hundred pens
drawn against it, and a thousand mouths open to contradict it.
Under these circumstances, he bears up against the ministry
(and, let me add, against your majesty itself); and every useful
scheme must be either abandoned, or if it is carried in either
house, the public are made to believe it is done by a corrupted
majority. Since these things are thus circumstanced, it is
become necessary for the public tranquility that he should be
made quiet; and the only method to do that effectually is to
destroy his popularity, and ruin the good belief the people have
in him.

"In order to do this, he must be invited to court; your majesty
must condescend to speak to him in the most favourable and
distinguished manner; you must make him believe that he is the
only person upon whose opinion you can rely, and to whom your
people look up for useful measures. As he has already several
times refused to take the lead in the administration, unless it
was totally modelled to his fancy, your majesty should close in
with his advice, and give him