Rigby came to me in the House last night to know if I had heard from
you, adding, "I hope to God that he will accept the Bedch(amber)." I
was not more desirous that you should, because that was his opinion.
I thought that Lord G(ower) had been talking to him, but he assured
me that he had not; so from what quarter his intelligence came I
know not. Lord G. thought that it was most probable from Lord North.
If you had made that your option, I should have proposed that you
should at the same time have been sworn into the Privy Council, as
an earnest that more was intended, and in a Line of Business, and I
think that they would not have objected to it.

Adam Hay, Lord March's Member for Peebles, died yesterday, I am
afraid to say suddenly, because it is a suspicious word, and will be
more so in his case, as I believe Fortune has not been favourable to
him. But I do not believe anything of that sort; his general state
of health has been bad for some time, and I was told that his last
and fatal attack was in his bowels. The two Lascells and (sic) dined
at his house not a week ago. Sir R. Keith comes in, in his room.
Lord N(orth) and Lord Suffolk recommend him. March has demurred upon
it, but seems not determined for particular reasons. I have been
employed about this, this whole day at Court, and then with Lord
North, and going backwards and forwards. March will not do what he
should, at the time it ought to be done, and then things are in
confusion, when they should be adjusted, and carried into execution.
It is to no purpose endeavouring to persuade him; if you tell him
what may happen, he silences you with some adage, or a qu'importe,
and so drives everything off till he does (not) know what party
(parti?) to fix upon.

(127) Lord Carlisle declined the offer of a Lordship of the