Lord North thinks it necessary to apprize his Majesty that Lord [Richard] Howe intends to demand an audience of his Majesty today in order, as he says, to tell his own story, & he fears to signify his intention of quitting the service, for, although Lord Howe did not explicitly tell Lord North that such was his design, Lord North apprehends that he will do so, from some expressions that he dropt, & from the general turn of his conversation. Lord North feels the greater uneasiness on this occasion, as he at first proposed to Lord Sandwich the separate command in the river St Lawrence as an expedient to save the honour of the Admiralty, & of Admiarl Shuldham, & to free the Administration from the charge of having advised a harsh measure. Lord Howe looks upon this measure as materially disgraceful to him, & is very jealous of Lord Sandwich, thinking that he does not wish him well, and doubtful that he would not give him a proper support, if he took the command of the Fleet. The appointment of Lord Howe, which begun to get wind, had a very good effect in the Public but, if it is now laid aside, the consequences will be much worse, than if it had never been in agitation. Lord North can not still help thinking that his proposal was well calculated to save Adl Shuldham, & carried no disgrace to Lord Howe, but, as he is quite unacquainted with Military punctilios, he may, perhaps, have done wrong. His Majesty, when he sees Lord Howe to-day, will be best able to prevent his taking a hasty step, till we find some means of accomodating this matter.

Friday morng