I am forced to detail these intrigues, because the moment was critical, and because it gave birth to a new party, and to many subsequent events. The Court was the more stiff, because they had conveyed a message through Count Virri,[203] the Sardinian minister in England, to the Bailli de Solar,[204] the Sardinian minister at Paris, desiring to renew the negotiation where it had been broken off. Lord Bute had gone farther: he had ordered Sir Joseph Yorke to treat privately with the Court of Vienna, without the knowledge of the King of Prussia. For some time the Court of Vienna did not vouchsafe an answer. To the confusion of the Favourite, the first news he had of any answer to come, was from the Baron de Knyphausen, the King of Prussia’s minister here.[205] April 28th, the new peers kissed hands. Lord[206] Wentworth and Sir William Courtenay,[207] Tories, were made Viscounts. Lord Egmont,[208] Lord Milton,[209] Lord Brudenel, the Duke of Newcastle, Sir Edward Hussy Montagu,[210] Mr. Vernon,[211] of Sudbury, and Mr. Lane,[212] the two latter Tories, were made Barons, and Lady Caroline Fox, a Baroness. Lord Ligonier’s Irish peerage was entailed on his nephew. Mr. Vernon,[213] clerk of the Council, and Mr. Olmius,[214] were created Irish Barons. The Prince of Mecklenburg,[215] brother of the Queen, was made a Major-General. Lord Bute had often waved her request. She was advised to apply to the Princess, and the favour was immediately granted. Soon after, Buckingham House[216] was purchased and bestowed on her Majesty, St. James’s not seeming a prison strait enough. There the King and Queen lived in the strictest privacy, attended absolutely by none but menial servants; and never came to the palace but for the hours of levies and drawing-rooms. The King’s younger brothers were kept, till they came of age, in as rigid durance. Prince Henry, the third, a very lively lad, being asked if he had been confined with the epidemic cold, replied, “Confined! that I am, without any cold;” and soon after, when the Garter was bestowed on Prince William and Lord Bute, Prince Henry said, “I suppose Mr. Mackenzie[217] and I shall have the green ribands.” CHAPTER XI. Debate in the House of Commons on a Vote of Credit and the Support of Portugal.--The German War.--Pitt’s Speech.--Colonel Barré’s Reply to Mr. Pitt.--Lord Bute’s Ambition.--The Duke of Newcastle’s Resignation.--Fox and the Duke of Devonshire.-- Ingratitude of the Clergy to Newcastle.--Unwise conduct of Lord Bute.--He is declared First Lord of the Treasury.--Sir Francis Dashwood, Chancellor of the Exchequer.--His unfitness for that Office.--His general Character.--His establishment of a Society of Young Travellers.