Having engaged the King and Duke in so bold and hazardous a step, I trembled lest it should take another turn than I expected: and though my advice had not been completely followed, yet as it sufficed to disgust Conway, I rejoiced that it had ended so fortunately, especially as I doubted from recollecting circumstances and from Lord Rockingham’s demand of a precise message, whether he would not have accepted; in which case the King would probably have flown off and Conway have been offended the other way, if the terms, when offered and accepted, had not been granted. That Rockingham fluctuated between ambition and distrust was evident, for late that very night the Duke of Richmond came to Lord Hertford’s door and sent for me down to his chariot, when, though ashamed of the silly message imposed upon him, he made me this frantic and impertinent proposal from Lord Rockingham, which I was desired to deliver to Mr. Conway,--that the latter would engage the King to allow the Marquis to try again to get the Bedfords--the Bedfords whom, two days before, Rockingham and all his party had absolutely broken with, and published as the most treacherous of men, and who had proscribed Conway himself. Should the Bedfords again refuse, the Marquis notified that he would then deign to accept the Administration. I neither wished his acceptance, nor chose to run any farther risks of it. Conway, to whom I communicated it, treated this senseless proposal as it deserved; and the Duke of Richmond did not attempt to defend it.[32] CHAPTER IV. General Observations.--Attempt to procure an Earldom for Lord Holland.--Reconstruction of the Administration.--Death of Charles Townshend.--Of the Comte de Guerchy.--Of the Duke of York.--Characters of the Royal Dukes.--French Travellers in England and Ireland.--Genius of Conway.--Conduct of Lord Townshend in Ireland.--Meeting of Parliament.--Debates on the Address.--Fresh Negotiations with the Bedford Party. 1767. Nothing now remained but to resettle the Administration as we could on its old bottom, no new forces being to be had. But I must make a few observations.