Lord Cardross (fl. 1763-1791) to Catharine Macaulay
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01794.32 Author/Creator: Lord Cardross (fl. 1763-1791) Place Written: Walcot, England Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 July 1766 Pagination: 4p. : docket ; 22.9 x 18.5 cm Order a Copy
He comments on Mr. Pitt and the present schemes of administration. Pitt's opinion on the affairs of America differ from those ministers who appointed him, creating an "instance of duplicity." He comments on "the total neglect of Continental affairs."
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After the death of her husband George Macaulay in 1766, Catharine Macaulay married an Anglican minister William Graham. Letters from her female descendents are in GLC 1795. Notable in that collection are letters of her daughter, Catharine Sophia Macaulay [Gregorie], to Macaulay while the latter toured America and France. This collection of Lady Catharine's correspondence was broken-up for public sale in 1993. The Gilder Lehrman Collection has also acquired other letters written to her, including GLC 1784.01-1800.04. There are approximately 190 items between these accession numbers. GLC 1784-1793 and 1796-1800 are individual documents written by important American figures including John Adams, Ezra Stiles, John Dickinson, William Cooper, Richard Henry Lee, Mercy Otis Warren and the pseudonymous "Sophronia." Most of the documents relate to the events leading the Revolution. A few, notably the letters from Mercy Otis Warren and "Sophronia" concern the new Constitution and the French Revolution.
Walcot near Bath July 2d. 1766.
Dear Madam,
I had by yesterdays Post a long & affectionate letter from Mr. Pitt which gave me more Pleasure then I Can Express as It informed me of his being in - better health & Spirits than he has been for a long time Past, he says he finds the Air of Burton Pyrsent Agree better with him then that of Hayes, & I am not Surprised at it for I never thought that part of Kent Wholesome. I think of going next week to Ld Shelburnes & then to Mr. Pitts after which I intend to take a Jaunt into north & South Wales, where I have never as yet been. I am Inform'd that things are not yet Settled, & no wonder, for what fellowship has light with Darkness, or how can a faction ever Prosper after it is exalted by Intrigue upon the Ruins of Public Spirit-when Mr. P. was here he knew nothing of the Schemes of Administration - he went [2] up to Town at the meeting of Parliament tho very Infirm to give his Opinion with Respect to the Affairs of America, he had Seen by the Public Gazzettes the appointment of Ld. George S. to the Vice Treasurship of Ireland - which of Course must have Unhinged him altogether in his Ideas of the Principles of Administration when it was asked why this Promotion took Place, it was Answered that So Able a Speaker & So well informed a Person could not but be of great Use in the Support of a good Cause - a Spurious Apology - but how great must his Surprise have been when he found this Noble boasted Coadjutor - a Wolf in sheeps cloathing appearing in a Direct Opposition in the Affairs of America [3] to those very Ministers who had Appointed him-This was an Instance of Dupplicity not to be got over - I shall lay nothing of these fine Unmeaning Compliments thrown out in both houses to our Illustrious friend or of a Noble Old Duke professing that he was very willing to Resign if it was agreeable to that Gentleman - but I cannot help mentioning a Recent instance of impropriety in the Affair of a Scotch Election where A Councellor was procured to Persuade his Client to drop his petition by a lusty Pension for his Sister, after it is certain that to get the other member Returned the Officers of the Revenue in the boroughs had been pubicly & notoriously tampered with. [4]
The poor outwitted Client Signed a paper being purblind on which he professed the deed of-Relinquishing his Petition to be Spontaneous - as for the total neglect of Continental affairs the strange omission of so glorious an opp. for an Ultimatum is to the Manilla Ransom the State of the several funds, the Supplies of the Year, the Additional Land had by way of Windows, & the Curious Compromise with the Cyder Counties for gaining other Ends not from a Motive of Justice I shall be silent upon these heads & beg to hear from the Doctor how he is, & whither my little Parcel to Mr. Craig was Delivered, I am Dr. Madam
with great Truth
your most Obedt.
& faithfull Servt.
Cardross.
kind compts. to yr. Doctor.
[docket:]
2 July. 1766. Ld. Cardross. (39)
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