Col Bane in a Speech upon the allowance of Provisions to the American Soldiers msisting upon the necessity of that measure received the day following a message from the King intimating that he had no farther occasion for his Services on w^h his Patron Lord Shelburn & himself resigned.

Mr Wilkes is growing vastly in popularity & altho he may suffer from the resentments of Lord & Commens yet he is very much the object of popular affection. Animosity runs very high at home his Majesty remains very determined in his resolutions of supporting his own Ministry & the opposition gathers strength daily, but still the bulk of Numters prevails on the unconstitutional side of the question.

I v^ritc in a vast hurry what I have said has been done in the most dissipated manner k greatly stands in need of your Excel-

808 MANUSCRIPTS OF

lencys Candour Vt^^ I am certain will be shewn to one whose busmess employs every hour of the day without hardly allowing time for meals.

The Sliip New Hope arrived from England on Saturday morning ; in her came an officer who affirms that there is an extreem great outcry against General Amherst w^h is supported by all the Army that served in America now in England & that Col Lee late of y® 44^ is now employing himself in writing upon the Conduct of that Officer during his Command in this Country.

SIR W^. JOHNSON TO JAMES RIVINGTON.

Johnson-hall May 17th 1764. Sir