Whitehall, Jan. 10th, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I send you a letter of Camplin's, about an exchange which had been
proposed. We have no news here--everything remaining in precisely
the same state. The Committee, will, I think, most probably not
make their report to-day, though we meet for the chance of it. In
this manner, it will be impossible that the restrictions can be
opened before Tuesday or Wednesday. The debates of the Committee
have been conducted with great heat and violence on both sides, and
much indecency towards the King, particularly from Fox and Burke.
They are now endeavouring to turn it into a personal attack upon
the Queen, for having wished to make one of the reports of the
physicians more favourable, and for having dismissed Baker from her
service, on the ground of the great inattention towards the King
and his family, which appears on the face of his former
examination: he having perceived symptoms of this disorder so early
as the 22nd of October, and having, subsequent to that time,
entirely left the King.
The examination of Baker and Warren state the probability of
recovery as being nearly the same as when they were before
examined, but rather less. Willis and Pepys state it as much
greater; particularly the former of these two, who speaks in the
most sanguine terms. The answers of Reynolds and Gisborne are also,
as I believe, favourable.
These delays put all idea of dissolution out of the question, till
the end of the present session, at soonest; and that cannot take
place, according to my calculation, till the end of June. People
begin to speak doubtfully about the Regent's making any immediate
change, and I know that some of their friends affect to hold that
language; but I am inclined to think that, however difficult it may
be for them to undertake the Government under the existing
circumstances, it is absolutely impossible for them to satisfy the
Regent, or to quiet their own dependants, without running that
risk.
Fox is apparently recovering, but slowly.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.