George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

[391] knowledge of finance, ‘expressed to his brother-in-

chap. XVII.} 1761. March

law his desire of the vacant place; but Pitt took no notice of his wishes, upon which a coolness commenced between them.’ ‘Fortune,’ exclaimed Barrington, on receiving the appointment, ‘may at last make me pope. I am equally fit to be at the head of the Church as of the exchequer. But no man knows what is good for him. My invariable rule, therefore, is, to ask nothing, to refuse nothing.’ He was willing to serve with any ministry, making the king's wish his only oracle.

Two days later, the resignation of Holdernesse was purchased by a pension, with the reversion of the wardenship of the Cinque Ports for life; and Bute, on the king's own recommendation,¹ accepting Charles Jenkinson, afterwards Earl of Liverpool, as his confidential secretary, took the seals for the Northern Department.

At the same time an office was given to Sir Francis Dashwood, the open and resolute opponent of Pitt's engagements with Germany; and Charles Townshend, described by Hume as ‘the cleverest fellow in England,’ celebrated for his knowledge of America, and his zeal for new-modelling its governments, ‘swore allegiance to Bute,’ at least for a time, and was made secretary at war. He who holds that post is not a member of the cabinet, but rather the king's military secretary; and, as such, is frequently admitted to the closet. Townshend was ever careful to cultivate the favor of his sovereign. He was, in parliament and in life, ‘for ever on the rack of exertion;’