ed your packet late on Thursday night, or rather, I
believe, early on Friday morning. As soon as I was up I sent the
enclosed letter to Lord Shelburne and to Townshend. I received
from Lord Shelburne an answer appointing me in an hour's time.

When I went there, after waiting a considerable time (which I
can easily excuse when I reflect upon the business of this
moment), I was shown into a room, where he was with Townshend.
It is difficult for me to say whether I was more surprised or
mortified at his telling me, as soon as I came in, that he could
only see me for a minute or two. He then entered upon the
subject of your letter, by saying that he had not read Mr.
Townshend's despatches, but only your letter to himself and the
bill which you enclosed to Townshend. With respect to the bill,
he said nothing could be done without consulting the Chancellor
and the other lawyers of the Cabinet; that I must see the
Chancellor, and explain the business to him; that the rendering
a judgment null might be objected to. I answered that I was
persuaded _that_ was the part on which you was least bent, and
that you would be fully satisfied if the enacting clause went
only to prevent any future decisions, provided the preamble
expressed the principle. To this he said, that it was impossible
to go on if everything of this sort made a necessity for new
measures, and that when a ground was once taken, it ought to be
stood to. My answer was, that your ground was very materially
changed, and that this overturned the only reasoning upon which
you had been able to go on at all, namely, the pledging your own
personal faith, and the honour of Government here, that the
repeal of the G. I. was considered as a renunciation on the part
of Great Britain of all legislation and jurisdiction. He asked
whether I meant external as well as internal? I said,
undoubtedly. He said, that he had understood from your
conversation before you went, "that you meant to make your stand
upon the external legislation;" and for this he appealed to
Townshend, who said he had understood the same. It was
impossible for me to contradict this, as it referred to
conversations to which I was no party. He said that he thought
you was reasonable upon the subject of the dissolution, and that
this other business was not to be taken u