As your Grace intends to wait upon his Majesty to-day, I must lose no time to desire your Grace would not acquaint his Majesty that I have accepted the office of Secretary of State. But, if his Majesty has already been acquainted with my acceptance of it, your Grace will, I hope, tell his Majesty that I purpose, with the utmost submission, to beg his Majesty’s leave to decline it. It is impossible his Majesty could think of raising me to so exalted a station, but with a design that I should, with and under your Grace, have the management of his affairs in the House of Commons. This was the whole tenour of your Grace’s messages by Lord Hartington, which, in your Grace’s conference with Lord Hartington and me yesterday morning, and with Lord Hartington last night, have been totally contradicted. Unable, therefore, to answer what, I dare say, is his Majesty’s expectation (though your Grace has frankly declared it not to be yours), that I should be answerable for his Majesty’s affairs in the House of Commons, I beg leave to remain where I am, heartily wishing success to his Majesty’s affairs, and contributing all that shall be in the power of a single man towards it. I am, &c. On 16th, Fox saw the King. The former said, with humility, that in seven years he had never presumed to enter first on other affairs than of his province. The King interrupted him, “It was a great place I designed for you; I thought I did much for you; many Dukes have had it.” Fox answered, “Sir, your Majesty has been told that I asked for too much.” The King said, “You did; the Secret Service money has never been in other hands than the person’s at the head of the Treasury.” “Perhaps, Sir,” replied Fox, “I did ask too much; but they were more in fault who promised and broke their word: Lord Hartington is witness. I shall speak with truth, not with modesty. I might be a great man in the House of Commons, if I would be Secretary of State at the head of an Opposition--but I prefer serving your Majesty as a private man, without seeing the Duke of Newcastle. He promised me his confidence: I never can believe him more. I am honest, he is not.” The King concluded, “I know it cannot be made up; you are not apt to depart from your resolution--it is a great office! but I have learned _nemini obtrudere beneficium_.” The triumphant Duke having disabled Fox, and being possessed of Murray, or rather the agent of power for him, had little trouble with the remaining competitor. Sir George Lyttelton, whose warmest prayer was to go to heaven in a Coronet, undertook to be factor for his friends. Unauthorized, he answered for Pitt’s acquiescence under the new plan. He obtained a great employment for himself, overlooked Lord Temple, and if he stipulated without commission for George Grenville, at least it was for a preferment, large beyond the latter’s most possible presumption.