Whitehall, Dec. 6th, 1788.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I have great pleasure in being able to tell you that, in addition
to what you will have seen in the examination taken before the
Privy Council, a Dr. Willis, whose name you will probably have
heard, saw the King yesterday, and that his opinion is still more
favourable as to the prospect of recovery. I have but just seen
Pitt, who has been at Kew this morning, and saw Willis there. This
general information is all that he had then to mention; but if
there should be any particulars of any importance, I will let you
know them. I am much mortified by receiving half a dozen Irish
papers together this morning without a word from you, as the
speculations on your side of the water are by no means indifferent,
or uninteresting here.
The papers will have told you what passed in the two Houses. It was
too late for me to write; nor, indeed, was Viner's nonsense worth
sending. Fox looked ill, and spoke worse than I ever have heard
him. His object was to beat about, and feel the pulse of the House
with respect to further examination. I do not think he received
much encouragement; but they are so anxious to mend this part of
their case by cross-examining the physicians, that I am inclined to
think they will try it. This opinion of Willis's is some temptation
to us to allow it; but, on the whole, I think it better resisted.
I should be quite clear about it, if it was not from a fear that
some individuals may be caught by the notion of parliamentary
dignity, and that our first division may thereby be less favourable
than if it was taken on any direct question of party.
I send you a note which Wilberforce put into my hands. If the thing
cannot be done, pray send a separate and very civil letter about
it; because this Sir J. Coghill is one of his chief friends in
Yorkshire, and he particularly desires to be able to send him a
civil answer.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
The next day, immediately after this favourable report from a physician
whose experience in this particular branch of practice gave great weight
to his opinions, Thurlow began to veer round again to the Ministry.
"Whatever object he might at one time have had in view," says Mr.
Grenville, "he has now taken his determination of abiding by the present
Government." Thurlow, in short, was exactly the man the King believed
him to be, and always kept in the sun.