Whitehall, Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, 1788.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I have nothing of any importance to add to my letter of Sunday,
everything remaining here precisely in the same state. It is
determined to proceed, after Thursday, without any further
adjournment. A Privy Council is summoned for to-morrow, to which
_all_ the Privy Councillors are summoned; those of the Royal Family
by letters from the Lord President. The physicians are ordered to
attend, and questions will be put to them, to which they will be
to give their answers on Wednesday. It is then meant, that on
Friday, the Lord President in the House of Lords, and Pitt in the
House of Commons, should communicate these questions and answers,
but not as a message, from the Privy Council. We hope that
Parliament will be disposed to proceed, without any inquiry, by
themselves; but on the ground of the examination of the Privy
Council, a Committee is then to be appointed to search precedents,
so that it will be more than a week from this day before the
propositions can formally be made. They will, I believe, be nearly,
if not exactly, the same as I have already stated them to you. The
point, on the prudence of which you had doubts, is of such absolute
necessity, that I am sure, by a very little conversation, I could
satisfy you in a moment that it must be taken care of. It is
intended to say of the whole plan, that it is merely temporary,
adapted to the present circumstances, when we are obliged to act
after the King has been ill a very short time, and when there is
much uncertainty with respect to the nature of his complaint, and
an absolute ignorance as to its probable duration; that if, under
different circumstances, and after a longer and more defined
illness, Parliament shall think it necessary to make other
arrangements, that power must rest with them, which cannot, indeed,
be taken from them. This would, I think, cure your difficulty.
Pray tell Bernard that the sooner he returns the better, and that I
will engage to find him full employment.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
I hope Bernard is not necessary to you in Ireland, because I think
he is already seriously wanted here. He will tell you for what.