Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice-Admiral R.N., A Memoir | Page 6

must be recorded to his credit.
The decision, however, brought no peace to his mind, and ambition
immediately began to resume its sway. He passed a restless night, and
said in the morning to his wife 'that he would not think of it, for he
found whenever he was inclined to consent he could get no rest, and
want of rest would kill him.' But after another day, Tuesday, spent in
conference 'I believe with Lords Rockingham and Hardwicke,' he was
persuaded, by what means does not appear, to go again to Court. Lord
Hardwicke, who, as Sir George Trevelyan observes, played a true
brother's part throughout the wretched business, thus continues:

'Instead of taking his physic, he left it on the table after a broken night's
rest, and went to the _levée_, was called into the closet, and in a
manner compelled by the King to accept the Great Seal with
expressions like these: "My sleep has been disturbed by your declining;
do you mean to declare yourself unfit for it?" and still stronger
afterwards, "If you will not comply, it must make an eternal break
betwixt us." At his return from Court about three o'clock, he broke in
unexpectedly on me, who was talking with Lord Rockingham, and gave
us this account.
We were both astounded, to use an obsolete but strong word, at so
sudden an event, and I was particularly shocked at his being so
overborne in a manner I had never heard of, nor could imagine possible
between Prince and subject. I was hurt personally at the figure I had
been making for a day before, telling everybody by his authority that he
was determined to decline, and I was vexed at his taking no notice of
me or the rest of the family when he accepted. All these considerations
working on my mind at this distracting moment induced me, Lord
Rockingham joining in it, to press him to return forthwith to the King,
and entreat his Majesty either to allow him time till next morning to
recollect himself, or to put the Great Seal in commission, as had been
resolved upon. We could not prevail; he said he could not in honour do
it, he had given his word, had been wished joy, &c. Mr. John Yorke
came in during this conversation, and did not take much part in it, but
seemed quite astounded. After a long altercating conversation, Mr.
Yorke, unhappily then Lord Chancellor, departed, and I went to dinner.
'In the evening, about eight o'clock, he called on me again, and
acquainted me with his having been sworn in at the Queen's house, and
that he had then the Great Seal in the coach. He talked to me of the title
he intended to take, that of Morden, which is part of the Wimple estate,
asked my forgiveness if he had acted improperly. We kissed and parted
friends. A warm word did not escape either of us. When he took leave
he seemed more composed, but unhappy. Had I been quite cool when
he entered my room so abruptly at three o'clock I should have said
little--wished him joy, and reserved expostulation for a calmer
moment.'

Mrs. Yorke's account of these 'altercating conversations' between the
brothers, at the second of which, on the evening of the 17th, she was
herself present, is naturally much more highly coloured. Charles Yorke
was evidently terribly discomposed by it, speaking of Lord Hardwicke's
language as 'exceeding all bounds of temper, reason, and even common
civility.' 'I hope,' he said to his wife, 'he will in cooler moments think
better of it, and my brother John also, for if I lose the support of my
family, I shall be undone.'
I need not pursue the subject of this distressing difference between the
brothers, which no doubt assumed an altogether exaggerated
importance in the sensitive and affectionate, but self-centred, mind of
poor Charles Yorke, shaken as he was by the strain and struggle of
these days, but which was probably the immediate cause of his fatal
illness.
'We returned home' (from St. James's Square), writes Mrs. Yorke, 'and
Mr. Woodcock followed in the chariot with the Great Seal. The King
had given it in his closet, and at the same time Mr. Yorke kissed his
Majesty's hand on being made Baron of Morden in the county of
Cambridge. Not once did Mr. Yorke close his eyes, though at my
entreaty he took composing medicines.... Before morning he was
determined to return the Great Seal, for he said if he kept it he could
not live. I know not what I said, for I was terrified almost to death. At
six o'clock I found him so ill that I sent for Dr. Watson, who ought
immediately to have bled him, instead