Solemn and unusual Summons of the Council.--Announcement of the King’s intended Marriage with the Princess of Mecklenberg Strelitz.--The Princess Dowager’s aversion to her Son’s Marriage.--The King’s attachment to Lady Sarah Lenox.--Schemes of Mr. Fox.--Remarkable Speech of the King to Lady Susan Strangways.--Frustration of Fox’s Intrigues.--Colonel Graeme despatched to Germany to select a Queen.--The King’s deference to his mother, and acceptance of the Bride she had chosen.--Lady Sarah Lenox.--Serious Crisis in the Cabinet.--Lofty Conduct of Mr. Pitt.--His Draught for a Treaty with France.--Reception of this by the other Ministers.--Arrival of the new Queen.--Her mental and personal Characteristics.--Anecdotes.--Disposal of the vacant Bishopricks.--Lord Talbot.--Coronation Squabbles.--Sir William Stanhope’s bitter Speech against the Scotch.--Lord Talbot and the Barons of the Cinque Ports. While the attention of mankind hung on the negotiation, the King’s messengers were suddenly sent forth to all Privy Councillors to meet at one o’clock, at St. James’s, July 8th, on urgent and important business. The business itself was an absolute secret. Every body concluded that so solemn and unusual a summons of the Council was to give fuller sanction to peace. How great was the general surprise when they heard his Majesty had convened this assembly to notify his intended marriage with the Princess of Mecklenberg Strelitz! A resolution taken and conducted with so much mystery, that till that hour perhaps not six men in England knew such a princess existed. It has been mentioned with what aversion the Princess Dowager had opposed a marriage projected by the late King between his heir apparent and a very accomplished Princess of Brunswick. A wife for her son, not chosen by herself nor obliged to her, by no means suited the views of the Princess. Could she have chained up his body, as she fettered his mind, it is probable she would have preferred his remaining single. A mistress would have been more tremendous than a wife. The next brother, the Duke of York, was not equally tractable, had expressed little reverence for his mother, and much antipathy to her favourite. If the King should die and leave even an infant, a minority did not deprive the Princess of all prospect of protracting her rule.