William Pitt the Elder | Autograph letter signed, to George Lyttelton, on his plans for the new ministry, 1754

William Pitt 'The Elder', 1st Earl of Chatham

Autograph letter signed ("W. Pitt"), to George Lyttelton

outlining the course of action he intended to follow as a member of Newcastle's new ministry (“…I am far from meaning to recommend a sullen, dark, much less a double Conduct: all I mean, is, to lay down a Plan to ourselves: which is, to support the King's Government in present, and maintain the Princess's Authority and Power in a future Contingency [i.e. the King's death]: as a necessary Consequence of this system, I wish to see as little Power in Fox's hands as possible, because he is incompatible with the main Part, and indeed the whole of this Plan…”), and referring in a lengthy post-script to a letter that he has sent for the Lord Chancellor's sight [see lot 128], marked, "Secret", 12 pages, 4to, Bath, 10 March 1754, first two bifolia split at fold, staining, remains of guards

A letter to a close ally on the political manoeuvring that followed the death of the Prime Minister Henry Pelham. Pitt and Lyttelton were both members of the political opposition known as “Cobham’s Cubs”. In this letter Pitt explains his plan to reshape the government from within, and cautions discretion: “in order to profit of this situation; we must not be out of office, and the strongest Argument of all to inforce that is, that Fox is too odious to last forever, and G. Grenville must be next Nomination, under any Government […] Silence is an inestimable Jewel in these nice conjunctures Little said, soon mended is an axiom to be writ in gold". See also lot 128.

PROVENANCE:

George, first Baron Lyttelton (1709-1773); thence by descent; The Lyttelton Papers: The Property of the Viscount Cobham, Sotheby's, London, 12 December 1978, lot 113