2  Grenville  Papers,  4,  436.  3  Burke's  Correspondence,  1,  173-179.
THE  FALL  OF  GRAFTON  287

bitterly  complaining  to  Rockingham  that  no  informa-
tion could  be  gained  "  of  the  dispositions  of  Lord
Chatham,  or  of  what  he  would  have  pass  for  his  dis-
positions, with  regard  to  your  lordship  and  your  con-
nexion, and  that  past  experience  had  informed  us  of
nothing  but  his  enmity  to  your  whole  system  of  men
and  opinions."  1

*  Yet,  much  as  Burke  might  dislike  the  man  whom
he  believed  to  be  responsible  for  the  evil  condition  of
the  country  and  the  government,  he  was  not  prepared
openly  to  affront  either  Grenville  or  Temple  because
of  their  alliance  with  Chatham,  and  was  even  ready
to  work  with  them  as  long  as  it  was  understood  that
the  union  was  confined  to  the  question  of  the  Middlesex
election.  He  took  an  active  part  in  promoting  the
Buckinghamshire  petition  which  was  approved  by
Grenville  and  warmly  supported  by  Temple,2  enter-
tained at  Beaconsfield  Thomas  Whately  who  was  known
to  enjoy  Grenville's  political  confidence,3  and  was
largely  instrumental  in  overcoming  Rockingham's
objections  to  the  practice  of  petitioning,4  thus  con-
ducting his  leader  into  line,  not  only  with  the  Grenvilles,
but  also  with  Chatham  who  heartily  approved  this
method  of  bringing  popular  pressure  to  bear  upon  the
crown  and  the  ministers.6  But  further  than  that  Burke
refused  to  go,  fearing  to  purchase  temporary  advantage
by  the  sacrifice  of  a  principle  ;  and  he  did  what  he  could

1  Burke's  Correspondence,  i,  194-197.
» Grenville  Papers,  4,  440-452;  Burke's  Correspondence,  1,  191-194.
