Murray's situation have allow'd him to be placed at the head of the House of Commons, I shou'd have served under him with the greatest pleasure: I acknowledge as much as the rest of the world do his superiority in every respect. My mortification arises not from silly pride, but from being evidently excluded by a negative personal to me (now and for ever) flowing from a displeasure utterly irremovable. As to the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, I hope your Grace cannot think me fill'd with so impertinent a vanity as to imagine it a disparagement to me to serve under the Duke of Newcastle at the head of the Treasury: but, my Lord, had I been proposed for that honour and the King been once reconciled to the thought of me, my honour wou'd have been saved and I shou'd with pleasure have declin'd the charge in favour of Mr. Legge from a just regard to his Majesty's service. I know my health, at best, is too precarious a thing to expose his Majesty's affairs in Parliament to suffer delay, perhaps in the middle of a session by being in such improper hands. As to the other great office, many circumstances of it render an uninterrupted health not so absolutely necessary to the discharge of it. Were I to fail in it from want of health, or, what is still more likely, from want of ability and a sufficient knowledge of foreign affairs, a fitter person might at any time be substituted without material inconvenience to publick business. To conclude, my Lord, and to release your Grace from a troublesome correspondent, give me leave to recur to your Grace's equity and candour: when the suffrage of the party in one instance, and a higher nomination, the Royal designation in another, operate to the eternal precluding of a man's name being so much as brought in question, what reasonable wish can remain for a man so circumstanced (under a first resolution, on no account to disturb Government) but that of a decent retreat, a retreat of respect, not resentment: of despair of being ever accepted to equal terms with others, be his poor endeavours ever so zealous. Very few have been the advantages and honours of my life: but among the first of them I shall ever esteem the honour of your Grace's good opinion: to that good opinion and protection I recommend myself: and hope from it that some retreat, neither disagreeable nor dishonourable, may (when practicable) be open'd to me. I see with great joy Sr George Lyttelton and Mr. Grenville in this arrangement, where they ought to be. I am persuaded they will be of the greatest advantage to your Grace's system. They are both connected in friendship with Mr. Legge and with Mr. Murray, who in effect is the greatest strength of it in parliament. May every kind of satisfaction and honour attend your Grace's labours for his Majesty's service.