N. B. The statement in the Annual Register does not express that the prices are by the Winchester bushel: but, from 1771 to 1788, they exactly correspond with Mr. Anderson's account, which does express it; whence it is presumed that the whole is by that measure.

VOL. IV.

30

ARTICLE

ARTICLE IV.

ADMINISTRATIONS.

THE writer was induced to give the following account of the appointments to the chief offices of state in the several administrations formed during this period, and of the several partial changes which have been made in them, by its obvious utility in the perusal of this or any other contemporary history of the English transactions.-The household appointments are also given on account of the frequent changes between these and the state offices.

The following persons filled the chief offices of state in 1753, under what was called Mr. Pelham's administration.

Philip Yorke, earl of Hardwicke, was lord high chancellor.-The honourable Henry Pelham was first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer, and prime minister.-The earl of Grenville was president of the council. Lord Gower was privy seal. Lord Anson first lord of the admiralty. The duke of Newcastle and earl of Holderness secretaries of state. The earl of Halifax first commissioner of trade and plantations. Duke of Grafton chamberlain; duke of Marlborough steward, earl Fitzwalter treasurer, and sir Conyers d'Arcy comptroller of the household. The honourable Bilson Legge treasurer of the navy. Duke of Montagu master of the ordnance. Henry Fox, secretary at war. William Pitt paymaster.

-The duke of Dorset was at this time lord lieutenant of Ireland.

3 U 2

(1754.)

515

(1754. On the death of Mr. Pelham this year, the following changes were made in the offices of state and household.-The duke of Newcastle succeeded his brother as first lord of the treasury and prime minister. The earl Holderness succeeded the duke as secretary for the northern department, and was succeeded by sir Thomas Robinson in the southern. H. Bilson Legge was appointed chancellor of the exchequer: G. Grenville treasurer of the navy: the earl of Hillsborough comptroller of the household.

(1755.) At the beginning of this year the duke of Marlborough was appointed privy seal; but, before the close of it, he was succeeded by earl Gower, and was appointed master of the ordnance.-In the autumn, new arrangements were made in the ministry, agreeably with the wishes of the duke of Cumberland.-Henry Fox succeeded Mr. Robinson as secretary, and was succeeded by lord Barrington as secretary at war. Sir G. Lyttleton succeeded Mr. Legge as chancellor of the exchequer and George Doddington was made treasurer of the navy. The duke of Rutland was appointed lord Steward, lord Berkley treasurer, lord Hobart comptroller of the household, and earl Darlington and lord Dupplin joint paymasters.

In the mean-time the duke of Dorset had been appointed master of the horse, and was succeeded by the marquis of Hartington as lord lieutenant of Ireland.

(1756.) In the autumn of this year, his majesty was constrained by the exigency of public affairs to form a new administration.-Mr. Pitt, succeeding Mr. Fox as secretary, took the lead in it. The duke of Devonshire was made first lord of the treasury. Mr. Legge chancellor of the exchequer. Lord Temple succeeded lord Anson at the head of the admiralty. The earl of Hertford was made chamberlain, viscount Bateman treasurer, and lord Edgecombe comptroller of the household.

On the resignation of the earl of Hardwicke, the great seal was committed to Willes, Smythe, and Wilmot, november nineteen.

(1757.)