Lord Hertford, impatient to learn the meaning of my mysterious behaviour, came to desire an explanation of it. I told him I had received private intelligence that the Bedfords would soon make an offer of themselves; and that, therefore, he must go to the King, and tell him he came to put his Majesty upon his guard, for Lord Gower had got such an ascendant over the Duke of Grafton, that he could do what he would with him: but his Majesty must ask time to consider; and, above all things, insist that nobody that had stood by him should be given up, lest it should look more like changing than strengthening the Administration. “Oh!” said he, “_that_ I am sure the King will not hear.” “Ay,” replied I, “but he must insist too that there shall be no alteration in the plan of elections.” This, I knew, would strike Lord Hertford, who was dealing largely for boroughs--and so it did. He fired, and said he would press it strongly; but he was sure no offers had yet come, for the King would have told him. I suspected by this that the King did not trust him so much as he thought, or wished to have thought, for I did not doubt but the Duke had already broken the matter in the closet. I said, “My Lord, be not too sure.” “Why?” said he; “have any offers been made?” I replied, My intelligence could not go so far as that; but I suspected there had: and I added, “When you tell the King, watch his countenance. If any offers have been made, he will tell you on this opening; or, at least, you will discover it in his face.” CHAPTER V. Affair of Colonel Brereton with the Duke of Grafton.--Tax on Absentees.--Character of Lord Weymouth.--Attempted Treaty with Grenville.--Successful one with the Bedfords.--Case of the Duke of Portland.--Dunning made Solicitor-General.--Resignation of Conway.--Affair of Lord Bottetort.--Corruption of the Corporation of Oxford.--Bill for Septennial Parliaments in Ireland.--Attempts to repress Bribery at Elections.--Bill to restrain the Recovery of Crown Lands.--Dissolution of Parliament. 1767.