What the Duke had said, was true. He no sooner heard of the reconciliation in the family of Grenville, than he advised the King to submit, and take up with his old Ministers. The reconciliation explained Mr. Pitt’s conduct, and the seeming variations in it; for though in terms he never consented to accept, the Duke owned to Mr. Conway, that he had talked as if actually in place. He had said, “Pratt will be at the head of the law.”--“I said no such thing,” said the Duke; “the King may be engaged to Mr. Yorke; I know nothing of it.” Pitt replied, if he did come in, he could not depend on the faith of the Court, and on influence in the Cabinet; “I do not know, Sir,” continued he, “if I can even depend on your Royal Highness’s influence.” “No, indeed,” replied the Duke, “for I shall have no influence there myself. The King called me to this business, and the moment it is over, I shall retire to Windsor.” But these irregularities had all flowed from the conduct of Lord Temple, who had thrown every obstruction in the way of the negotiation, and had affected even to complain of the Duke of Newcastle, for proposing Lord Lyttelton for the head of the Treasury, though he himself could not be persuaded by Mr. Pitt to accept it. It may be remembered, that in my visit to Stowe, I had discovered how little cordiality subsisted between Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt. From that time, the former had certainly leaned towards his brother George; and, as if the love of confusion predominated even over his ambition, he had selected this important moment to clog Mr. Pitt’s measures by openly rushing into connection with his brother George. Lord Bristol,[134] and Augustus Hervey,[135] had, at Lord Temple’s desire, negotiated the reconciliation; and besides the very lucrative interest that Grenville had in accepting the offer, it was doubly sweetened now by the defeat it gave to Mr. Pitt, who in honour would not, or in prudence could not, enter upon Administration by a breach with his brother-in-law, his benefactor, and popular associate, Temple, and only for being reconciled to their common brother, George Grenville.[136] The reversion of Lord Temple’s estate[137] could make even the inflexible Grenville stoop; and if his acrimonious heart was obliged to pardon his brother, it was indemnified by revenge on his sister’s husband. Mr. Pitt, when Lord Temple and he parted, said pathetically, Extinxti me teque, soror; populumque Patresque Sidonios, urbemque tuam!